From talking to some of my contacts in the know, it certainly sounds like that the sport of cricket is in the ascendancy once again. 

The recent successes of both the England men's and women’s teams, along with the start of this year’s Ashes for both (despite the men’s hard fought loss at Edgbaston and the women under the pump today at Trent Bridge), seems to have acted as a catalyst for the sudden upturn in interest in the sport. Many clubs are reporting a boost in numbers playing the game.

The first Ashes test underway at Edgbaston - photo courtesy of Mark Allen
 

Rain stops play at Edgbaston - photo courtesy of Mark Allen

From reading many the socials of cricket turf professionals, it has certainly been a tough year for the preparation and maintenance of pitches. The fact that we had a dry February, followed by a wet March / April and then the weather during May and June drying up, has posed a few issues for teams preparing and maintaining their pitches. We are now in the midst of the playing season, with air temperatures recorded in the high twenties, thus drying out the playing surfaces dramatically. Unless you have covers / watering facilities, it is going to be a difficult time for many grassroots clubs to maintain their pitches effectively. 

Steve Rouse HG, watering a pitch at Edgbaston, 2004

Preparing natural grass cricket pitches requires careful attention to detail and several key steps as part of a ten-day pitch preparation. 

Of all the natural turf playing surfaces the preparation of a cricket pitch does take the most time to prepare. Usually the norm is effectively a ten day period of work to get it ready for a match.

Preparing a cricket wicket, also known as pitch preparation, is a meticulous process that involves several steps and considerations. The exact methods can vary depending on the specific conditions, requirements and indeed the weather conditions prevailing at the start of the pitch preparations.

Mowing the pitch a Knowle & Dorridge CC 

The existing grass cover is trimmed to an appropriate length, considering factors like weather, desired pace, and bounce. The soil is thoroughly rolled and leveled using heavy rollers and machinery to create a smooth and compact surface. This helps ensure consistent bounce and pace.
Controlled watering is carried out to ensure proper moisture levels are achieved for the desired balance, as different pitches require varying levels of moisture for optimal playability.

The pitch is repeatedly rolled using heavy rollers to further compact the soil, eliminate air pockets, and provide a hard and even surface. This process aids in achieving good pace and bounce during the match.

To help protect the prepared pitch from external factors like rain, dew, or extreme weather, appropriate pitch covers are used. This helps maintain the integrity of the surface until the match begins.

Prepared pitch at Blue Cote School 

Throughout the ten-day process, the ground staff continually monitors and adjusts the pitch's moisture, firmness, and other conditions to achieve the desired playing characteristics. The goal is to provide a fair and balanced surface that offers a contest between batsmen and bowlers.

Over the course of the allotted ten days, a series of tasks are undertaken. A pitch or track is selected for use and as part of the preparation the height of grass will be reduced over several days from the squares regularly maintained height (15mm-12mm) down to anything between 8mm-5mm. In recent years we have seen a move to leave more grass on the wickets to help with obtaining consistent pace and bounce - and more importantly allow the grass to recover more quickly after games. Also during this time, a series of raking and scarification work will be done to thin out and remove any excess debris from the pitch.

This will be coupled with some ongoing rolling to help consolidate the pitch and firm it up for the match. If you have covers these can be used to control the drying out or maintain levels of moisture in the pitch. 

Rolling at Headingley 

On the day of the match the pitch will finally be cut, rolled and marked out for play.

Painting batting crease 

This is all an often time consuming process, that sees the groundstaff working hard to produce a  playing surface for their clubs’ players to enjoy the delights of a game that should test the skills of both the batsman and bowler - hopefully producing a great match for both sets of players. 

Preparing pitches at Bath CC

Bath CC 

A recent visit to Bath CC allowed me catch up with turf professionals Alex and Cameron, who were busy preparing pitches for the following week’s programme of club matches.

Alex was keen to point out that this year had been a particularly testing time for him in terms of the weather and especially now during this spell of hot weather. He, like many clubs, is struggling to get enough water to help him prepare and wet certain pitches for play and recovery.

Alex watering a pitch to aid recovery 

Alex is looking at the feasibility of getting an extraction licence to allow him to obtain some additional water supplies from the river Avon that runs alongside the ground. In the meantime, it is the case of making the most of what he’s got. Alex was applying water through a flat hose system that allows him to water a single pitch at a time. 

While on the subject of cricket pitch preparation, you can still acquire a copy of the ECB TS4 Booklet that provides an in-depth insight into the maintenance and preparation of cricket pitches. Also the GMA have developed their cricket toolkit. Both well worth a read.

RHS Garden Wisley has chosen Otterbine to provide its flagship garden with sustainable irrigation. 

The manufacturer's 25HP Polaris Giant Fountain was installed at RHS Garden Wisley in Woking as part of the Royal Horticultural Society's project to create a new rainwater capture lake, providing great quality irrigation to one of the largest plant collections in the world. 

Wisley say in today’s climate, water can be a scarcity and harvesting rainwater supports the conservation of this vital resource. The water has to be good enough quality to use though which is where the fountain steps in. 

Matthew Pottage, curator of RHS Garden Wisley, explained, “The Giant fountain is installed in our new lake which is connected to our garden irrigation system. The lake collects winter rainwater for summer irrigation and the Otterbine aerating fountain makes the water good enough to use.” 

The geyser-like spray of the Polaris throws water droplets into the air where they attach to oxygen molecules that can then be absorbed into the lakewater. 

Matthew, who oversaw the aesthetic of the new landscape and horticulture around the lake, explains there were additional reasons for choosing the fountain. “The Wisley is one of the UK’s most visited and best-loved gardens, attracting around a million visitors each year and we wanted to use the opportunity to create a new atmosphere and beautiful place for visitors to enjoy and relax at Wisley. 

“The lake is designed in an ornamental fashion and the fountain’s visual beauty and the fact that it muffles noise disruption from a nearby road helps bring a sense of theatre and peace to the space,” says Matthew.

Installing the new rainwater capture lake is not the only change to the grounds that RHS Wisley is undertaking. Matthew says, “We are planning a massive new landscape of grasses and perennials with Piet Oudolf, a world-renowned planting designer.”

Derby County Football Club recently won the Sky Bet League One’s 2022/23 Grounds Team of the Season.

Head groundsperson, Paul Thompson, has been the club for 15 years and now oversees the maintenance of the pitch at Pride Park Stadium and the Moor Farm Training Ground. He oversees a team of 12 members of staff, who all worked tirelessly to produce the best quality playing surface in Sky Bet League One. 

Paul says choosing the correct products to apply to the pitch played a part in their success and has revealed how products from Mansfield Sand have always had a place in their maintenance programme. 

“Ever since I’ve worked at Derby County, we have always used Mansfield Sand products,” he said. “My two predecessors used the products and I saw no reason to change at all.

“Throughout the playing season at the stadium we use the kiln dried sand - DM40, and for renovations we use MM40 sports turf sand. We also use MM40 across the 12 pitches at the training ground.”

 
Paul continued, “We always keep a couple of tonnes of DM40 on site, so it is there when we need it, but we tend to apply 10 tonnes in November, and another 10 tonnes in January to the stadium pitch. 

"We have a SISGrass hybrid system, and the kiln dried sand helps dilute any of the algae build up on top of the surface. It also helps with the playability and drainage."

“The company is local to us, they are reliable and always on the phone if we need them,” Paul explained. “If I need a product as soon as possible then they are always quick to help us out. I normally speak to Sharon Morris (Mansfield Sand Sales Manager) and she will often come out and have a look round.

"She will also do soil samples as and when we need them, so we know what materials we are putting on."

Global seed breeders DLF are playing host to the last event in a summer season of seminars and events for the UK Lawn Care Association (UKLCA).

Open to members, the visit to the trial plots and research facility at Hailes Farm, Didbrook, will take place on Tuesday 11th July with only a limited number of spaces remaining. 

Hailes Farm has been home to research and development across the amenity, forage and agricultural breeding programme for more than 40 years. The facility has been deemed a centre of excellency for the trialling and evaluation of grass species in the UK - leading to the emergence of a number of high-performance varieties, used at topflight amenity venues at home and around the world. 

In their capacity as sponsors of the UKLCA, DLF will be opening the gates to Hailes Farm next month for members to learn first-hand the science behind some of the most popular lawn mixtures and grass varieties. Following an introduction to DLF, visitors can experience a session on grass identification, an overview of the complex breeding processes and tips for optimising usage of the BSPB grass seed guide. Guests will then be given a tour of the trial plots to see some of the latest work and emerging trends in the world of grass seed.  

“We are delighted to provide an opportunity to our members to develop their knowledge and understanding of grass science and technology- and where better to do that, than at DLF,” said Tom Arnold, chairman of the UK Lawn Care Association. “The chance to visit facilities as established as DLF Didbrook are rare so it’s brilliant to be able to host this event with them and thank them for their continued support of those working hard in the UK lawncare sector.” 

Those interested in attending or who would like further information should get in touch via the UKLCA website - www.uklawncare.net

The new Kress RTKn robot mowers extend unmanned mowing to larger areas. They efficiently operate in parallel lines and autonomously move from an area to another, as if they were driven by humans. No need for boundary wires, nor on-site antennas.

There are many applications that will benefit from Kress RTKn mowers, including residential properties with extensive lawns. The RTKn is perfect for all larger properties, sports fields, golf courses, public parks - you name them. Unmanned mowing is the ideal solution for countless applications, providing quiet, emission-free turf management, with an operating cost that is a fraction of manned mowing.

Other robotic mowers that make use of RTK require the installation of at least one station antenna for each lawn, which needs to be powered and placed in open areas with an open sky. Kress RTKn delivers centimeter accuracy with no station antenna on site.

RTKn is different to others, as it gives positional accuracy to the power of network. To ensure centimeter-level accuracy, Kress’ expanding proprietary network of reference GNSS receivers continuously delivers RTK correction data to each mower via the mobile phone network.

The global navigation satellite system (GNSS) provides geo-spatial positioning with 2 to 5 meters accuracy, then real-time kinematic correction is applied to achieve centimeter-level accuracy. And even if there’s poor satellite signal, due to signals being blocked by buildings and trees, inertial navigation and odometry take over to precisely route the mower until it reaches an open sky area and satellite navigation is restored.

More benefits of RTKn include:

• Quick setup: Once a Kress dealer has mapped the areas and installed the charging station, you’re done − no on-site antennas installation needed.
• Zero emissions: No polluting exhaust fumes, no emission of greenhouse gasses.
• Quiet operation: Hotels can get their lawns manicured when customers are asleep, offices while people work and even educational institutions while people learn.
• Efficiency: The mower works in parallel lines, mowing large lawns as quickly as an experienced landscaper.
• Operational savings: No labour cost, negligible impact on your energy bill and minimal maintenance expense compared to combustion-engine mowers.

Visit https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ for more.

MY TOP FIVE CONCERNS

by guest editor, Andrew Turnbull 

BIODIVERSITY IN PARKS

DROUGHT CONDITIONS PREVAIL

MAY BE BUSY

A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
by guest editor Angus Macleod

TURF HARVEST FESTIVAL

FEEDING TIME

TIME TO GET TOUGH

STAY CURIOUS!
by guest editor, Alex Vickers

A TRANSISTIONAL MONTH

SPRING IS UPON US

HEDGE YOUR BETS

PEOPLE'S PARKS, PUBLIC PARKS - IN PERIL?

by guest editor, Paul Rabbits

TESTING TIMES AHEAD

ROBOTIC POTENTIAL

CHANGEOVER TIME

WE MUST DEVELOP OUR OWN STAFF

by guest editor, Karl McDermott

DOUBLE CENTURY CELEBRATED

OUR PARKS IN CRISIS

AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS

OPTIMISM RETURNING
By Guest Editor, Roy Rigby

WATERLOGGING ISSUES

NEW YEAR, NEW FEATURES

View all of 2022's blogs here

View all of 2021's blogs here

View all of 2020's blogs here

View all of 2019's blogs here

View all of 2018's blogs here

ENSURING FUTURE PROSPERITY
Advice imparted at road shows

INNOVATION & SUSTAINABILITY
A key focus

PHOTINA RED ROBIN
A sensational flowering shrub

VALUING THE GRASSROOTS
We must not overlook those who maintain these grounds

MANAGING WEEDS SUSTAINABLY
In amenity spaces

DETECTING NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS
In turf plants

SPRING RENOVATIONS UNDERWAY
A crucial period

SUSTAINABILITY IN SUPPLY
A focus on those who supply essential inputs to our sector

CHANGING CLIMATE
Is a borehole the key for clubs?

SUSTAINABILITY AT THE SHARP END
How to put into practice when budgets are tight?

ANOTHER NAIL IN THE COFFIN OF GRASSROOTS RUGBY
Clubs are struggling

SUSTAINABILITY IN PRACTICE
Seeking transparent and robust supply chains is essential

TIME FOR ACTION
To reverse recruitment crisis

CONTROLLING COSTS
Planning is crucial

THE SEARCH FOR SUSTAINABILITY
What exactly does the term mean?

CARING FOR THE GRASSROOTS
From volunteers to contractors

DEFRA IS LETTING DOWN THE COUNTRY
Complete failure to address the plastic grass debate

WE CAN ALL DO MORE
To aid biodiversity

MY LIFE IN GREENKEEPING
With Bruce Cruickshank

LEVELLING UP, GETTING SMARTER & GETTING AHEAD
Parks require so much more funding

SWITCHED ON FOR HARD WORK
Putting trimmers through their paces

MACHINERY HIGHLIGHTS
At this year's show

MY SALTEX
Daniel Lewis​, Manchester City Football Club

AWASH WITH LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Two months till showtime

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD
Priorities for the amenity sector

THE DECLINE OF ‘PARKITECTURE’
A symptom of the state of parks in 2022

DEVELOPERS SHIRKING GREEN SPACE RESPONSIBILITIES
Lack of financial commitment

TIME TO COME TOGETHER
For the good of the industry

THE DEATH OF GRASS ROOTS CRICKET
Gathering apace?

ROUTES INTO THE INDUSTRY MUST BE ENSURED
Q&A with David Fisher, Lantra’s head of industry partnerships

STRONG VIEWS ON CRICKET PITCH PERFORMANCE MARKING
A bone of contention

A PREMIUM PRODUCT
Delivered at Naas Golf Club

THE GREEN REVOLUTION
And Esker Hills

MAKING A CHANGE
Laytown and Bettystown Golf Links

A DAY AT THE RACES
Naas Race Course

WORKING TOGETHER AS ONE VOICE
How the industry needs to proceed

OVER 175 YEARS OF EDUCATION
Wesley College

ELECTRIC EXCITEMENT
Dennis's Ian Howard talks electrification

THE HOME OF CORK GAA
Páirc Uí Chaoimh

LONG POLE BATTERY HEDGE TRIMMERS TESTED
STIHL HLA 66 and HLA 86

OVER 800 YEARS OF HISTORY
Johnstown Castle and Gardens

A CLUB GONE WILD
Kilkenny Golf Club

A GOLF COURSE IN THE GARDEN OF IRELAND
Woodenbridge GC

80 YEARS YOUNG
Charleville Golf Club

AN UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE
Bunclody Golf & Fishing Club

GETTING BACK TOGETHER
Albeit gradually . .

GO WEST
Inishturk GAA pitch – one of the most westerly sportspitches in Europe

WORKING ON A TIGHT BUDGET
Nenagh Golf Club

ON A MISSION
Wrekin Golf Club aiming to enrich wildlife and fauna

WILD AND WONDERFUL
Design By Nature

LEARNING HOW TO SURVIVE
Abbey Par 3

TACKLING OBESITY
Vital that schools can provide sport

A LIFETIME OF LEARNING
Vital for turf professionals

CELEBRATING 125 YEARS
Tullamore Golf Club

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGES
At Trinity College Dublin

BLENDING THE OLD WITH THE NEW
Bray Golf Club

A WELL POLISHED COURSE!
Ierne Social And Sports Club

IDENTIFYING THE TRUE VALUES
Of grounds maintenance

THE INDUSTRY WILL CHANGE & ADAPT
But it will survive

WIRRAL GOLF COURSES SAVED
Renewed hope and optimism for the future

GREEN SPACE CONTRIBUTION TO WELLBEING IS UNDERVALUED
Parks invisible on national agenda

A SHINING LIGHT IN IRELAND'S SUNNY SOUTHEAST
Wexford Golf Club

GREEN SPACES DO NOT LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES!
Keith Kent says we must invest in people

WE SHOULD TELL THE WORLD ABOUT THE UK INDUSTRY
Right time for all sides to come together

SOIL LIFE IS PRECIOUS
Good-quality soil can help save the planet

MORE THAN JUST CUTTING GRASS
Encouraging the next generation

A BUZZ FROM DOING THE JOB
Wide experience of the turf grass industry

PAYING THEIR WAY
Low wages is the bane of the industry

AMENITY MANAGEMENT IMPACTS US ALL
Professor John Moverley

CARING FOR PARKS OF ALL TYPES
Mary Worrall

TOP FIVE FRUSTRATIONS FOR CRICKET GROUNDSMEN
What causes you the most frustration in your role?

PROFESSIONALS AT THE CUTTING EDGE
Vic Demain and Phil Sharples

BOWLS CLUBS IN PERIL
A sad decline

A VERY SPECIAL INDUSTRY
Loz looks back

SNEAK PEAK AT A ROBOTIC "GAME CHANGER"
Commercial model capable of covering 50,000 m2 teased

HALESOWEN PICK A BIG ROBOT UP FRONT
Invest in mowers

COMPRESSED AERATION
The new way

PARKS MATTER MORE THAN EVER
Recent sector developments

ON TEST
STIHL blowers

THREE CORE VALUES TO SHAPE OUR INDUSTRY
Real concerns for the future

ENGLAND'S GREEN SPACE GAP
A split along racial lines

ON TEST
EGO STX3800 strimmer with RTX2300 Rotocut head

A SECTOR FACING IMPORTANT TIMES
Review of the National Action Plan

PARKS MATTER
The role of public parks in the recovery: a discussion paper

A UNIQUE SPORTING VENUE
Wormsley private estate

A BTME OUTDOORS?
A good bet for the industry

PARKS NEED APPROPRIATE POLITICAL REPRESENTATION
Q&A with Philippa Reece, Parks and Foreshore Manager at Adur and Worthing Council

CRICKET LOAM
What does it mean?

A HERCULEAN EFFORT TO GET PARKS BACK TO NORMAL
Q&A with Chris Worman, Rugby Borough Council’s parks and ground manager

ON TEST
STIHL battery products

TURFGRASS STRESS MANAGEMENT
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and antioxidants during biotic and abiotic stress in turfgrass plants

AUTUMN DISEASE MANAGEMENT
The coming months are going to prove very difficult

THE ABUSE OF PARKS . .
Is the abuse of society

WHY PARKS MATTER?
A statement from the Parks Management Forum to the Prime Minister

THE 21st CENTURY PARKS MANAGER
Innovative, creative and entrepreneurial

EAT, SLEEP, CUT, REPEAT!
Cricket under covid

TIME FOR A SINGLE SHOW?
Debate brought back into focus

A CHALLENGING TWO MONTHS
Running golf design projects from home

PRESSURE SITUATION
Cementing the reputation

A CLUB TO BE PROUD OF
10 years at the helm of Olton GC

GAME CHANGERS IN TURFCARE
The day the Lord's outfield reconstruction proved its worth

THE ESSENCE OF ESSENTIAL
Finding a sensible way forward on defining "essential maintenance"

THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS
2001

HOW TO LOOK AFTER A GOLF COURSE WITH NO GOLFERS
Fundamental to the survival of almost all courses, if not of the game itself

RAIN STOPPED PLAY WOULD BE WELCOME
. . along with ‘lunch is being taken early’

PHYSICAL CONTROL OF TURFGRASS PESTS
An urgent problem

A DIVERSE & ENTERTAINING WEEK
Successful BTME 2020

INTEGRATED PEST CONTROL
Opportunity to embrace new methods

ENVILLE ON THE UP
Major investments taking place

GREEN FLAG AWARDS 2019
A great success

U.S PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT SHOW EXCELS
Buoyant GIE+EXPO

LEGACY OF THE SOLHEIM CUP
At Gleneagles

A DAY OUT WITH THE LADIES
Behind the scenes at the Solheim Cup

COVENTRY UNIVERSITY'S EDIBLE GARDEN SUCCESS
2006 - present

HAIL THE GRASS MASTERS!
Boorish media comments about pitch quality are wide of the mark

CONTRACTOR SEES MULTI-DISCIPLINE SUCCESS
360 Ground Care serving professional facilities

BUSY TIMES
Judging the Green Flag Awards

TAKING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH
What does it all mean in managing turf surfaces?

UNDER PRESSURE
Dry weather conditions continue to keep turf managers focused on moisture management

EDDIE SEAWARD
Death of Wimbledon’s influential grounds manager

MAJOR NEW IRRIGATION PROJECT
At Top 100 classic Berkhamsted Golf Club

NEW HORIZONS FOR THE HATTERS
Investment paying off at Kenilworth Road

ELIZABETHAN RESTORATION
At Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens

WHAT IS BIOPHILIA?
The vital impact of parks and green spaces on health and well-being

WORM CONTROL
Without carbendazim

THE TRUE COST OF PETROL
Battery-powered outdoor power tools are now turning the heads of professionals

SANDS OF TIME
Sand-based pitches are now the norm in professional sports

WHY DO WE DO THE RIGHT THING?
We must maintain industry standards

CHASING GRASS PERFECTION?
11 things you need to know . . .

MAINTAINING STANDARDS
Q&A with BASIS ceo, Stephen Jacobs

STRI RESEARCH DAY 2018
Hosted at research trial grounds in Bingley

THE MECHANIC
Leicester City FC invest in new role

LORD'S 'GRASS-GUVNOR' TO RETIRE
Mick Hunt bows out after 49 years

HOLLOW CORING & DEEP SCARIFICATION
Is it really necessary?

This month's Plant Focus, is another one of my favourites.

I first came across this shrub when working in Kings Heath Park, Birmingham. It was a fairly new variety back then and has now stood the test of time and is now a popular choice in many gardens. 

Berberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea', commonly known as the Purple Japanese Barberry or Red Barberry, is a deciduous shrub that belongs to the Berberidaceae family. It is a popular ornamental plant prized for its attractive foliage and compact growth habit. 

 
Key features and characteristics of Berberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea':

Appearance: This cultivar of Berberis thunbergii typically grows to a height of 3 to 6 feet (0.9 to 1.8 meters) with a similar spread. It has a dense, rounded form and produces numerous branches. The leaves are oval-shaped, approximately 1 inch long, and emerge as a deep purple-red colour in spring. As summer progresses, the foliage deepens into a rich, dark purple shade, providing a striking contrast in the garden.

Thorns: One notable feature of Berberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea' is its sharp thorns, which are commonly found along the branches. These thorns can be a deterrent for animals or intruders, making it a suitable plant for security purposes. 

 
Flowers: In late spring to early summer, this barberry cultivar produces small, pale yellow flowers that are arranged in clusters. While the flowers are not particularly showy, they give way to attractive red berries in late summer or early fall. These berries can persist into winter, adding another layer of visual interest to the shrub.  

Autumn colour: As autumn approaches, the leaves of Berberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea' transition to shades of red, orange, or yellow, offering a final burst of vibrant color before dropping in winter.

Growing conditions: Purple Japanese Barberry is known for its adaptability to a wide range of growing conditions. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-draining soil. It is relatively drought-tolerant once established, but regular watering during dry periods can help maintain its vigour. This shrub is also known for its cold hardiness, making it suitable for various regions.

Landscape use: Due to its striking foliage and compact size, Berberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea' is commonly used in gardens and landscapes as an accent plant, in hedges or borders, or as a foundation shrub. Its dense growth habit also makes it effective as a barrier or privacy screen when planted in mass.

It's worth noting that while Berberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea' is a popular garden plant, it can also be considered invasive in some regions. It is advisable to check with local authorities or plant professionals to ensure it is suitable for your area and to prevent it from spreading into natural habitats.

This shrub can be planted all year round if sold as a containerised plant with costs ranging from £10- £30 depending on pot size or size of plant.