Keeping Twickenham open for business.

During the sudden winter freeze of 2010, one of the casualties of the snow looked like being the home of English rugby. The snowfall caught Twickenham by surprise; the tent that usually protects the turf from snow and ice was at Gloucester. Ground staff had sheeted the pitch, but further snowfall had covered it to some depth. To make matters worse, there was an important England v South Africa game just a few days away and no sign of a thaw.

When the Head Groundsman called us in to help we sent an emergency team to the ground right away.

First we had to clear the top snow without damaging either the sheeting below or the pitch underneath. We swept a lot of the snow to the side with a tractor mounted brush. We then used a JCB fitted with turf tyres, bucket loader and dump trailers to clear the bulk of snow and ice from the sheet, which was deposited in the car park behind the stadium.

The remaining snow was cleared using mechanical rotary brushing and manually, with our ten-man support team, armed with shovels and brushes; after which the sheeting could be lifted.

Before the match we completed preparations by brushing, cleaning and striping the turf for that immaculate Twickenham presentation.

The whole process was completed inside two very full days and our team remained on stand-by throughout the game, in case of emergencies.

Despite our efforts, the Springboks soundly beat the English team, but at least we had the consolation of knowing that without us, the match might never have taken place.

St Mary's School, Menston.

CH Grounds Maintenance were awarded this project by Interserve and worked in close conjunction with Andrew McLeod of Total Turf Solutions who designed and managed the project.
The company had to meet the stringent demands expected by the client in respect of Health and Safety, Management Strategy, Certification of Machine Operators, COSHH and Risk Assessments.

Satisfying these requirements was reassuring as it proved that the company's current standards are of a sufficiently high standard to be invited to undertake projects for the largest of clients.
The School's pitches suffered from poor drainage during the winter months and the specification determined was designed to improve the rapid passage of surface water into the adjoining river.

An attenuation tank was installed to control the flow of water into the river at the request of the local authority. Lateral drains were then installed at 5m centres, using laser-guided machinery, connecting to a main and thereafter the outlet. Sandbands were introduced to facilitate the passage of the surface water from the area between the laterals into the drains.

The project commenced in September 2010, but due to weather conditions was delayed in the autumn and completed in March 2011.
It is envisaged that the drainage characteristics of the playing surface will be much improved, enabling an increased number of pupils to reap the benefit.
Stephen Renals, Contract Manager says "we were delighted to be awarded this contract by Interserve and look forward to working on their behalf on future projects".

Moulton Magpies Football Club.

CH Grounds Maintenance, contractors for the Football Foundation, undertook this project for Moulton Magpies FC in conjunction with Moulton School adjacent to the site.

The football club have a thriving junior section providing football for children from the ages of 7 up to 18 and the demand for an increase in the number of pitches and training areas had become of paramount importance to the long-term plans of the Club.

The objective of the contract specification was to construct an additional training area on the adjacent school site and improve the surface of the existing pitches.

The training area was sprayed off, cultivated and re-graded to improve the existing levels. At this stage, lateral drains were installed at 5m centres and approved sand was ameliorated into the surface.

Finally, the area was seeded and fertilized. The remaining pitches were verti-drained, top-dressed, seeded and fertilized to improve the surface and playing characteristics.
Germination and establishment of the sward on the practice area was totally successful and the new facility will be used in the spring of 2011. CH Grounds Maintenance are due to return to site in July 2011 to undertake a further drainage, levelling and cultivating programme.