RGS Worcester Grounds Team’s Lent Term diary: rain, fixtures, and turf management challenges.
Lent term traditionally the Football term here at RGS Worcester started as for many as 2025 had finished “RAIN” and then we had more rain, in fact we had 22 days of rain in January and a further 20 in February. This obviously had a huge impact on both the number of fixtures completed and the works we undertook.
We did manage to get some fixtures on during January and February and then pretty much a full fixture list after half term amounting to 147 fixtures across the schools.
New Kit
The capital purchases of the Redexim Verti Quake and Sisi Quadriplay proving invaluable in keeping grounds playable {many thanks Rd Sports for the supply}, as you’d expect with a heavy workload for the pitch both fixtures and practice this had a knock-on effect later in the spring. The XDC Rm21 also proved its worth mowing wet areas where heavier machinery couldn’t get at and marking pitches with its low ground pressure leaving no damage.
January is a month of Open Days and events across the three schools and nursery keeping the team busy away from and off the wet pitches. We also undertook painting, back lapping, service and repairs, cleaning, tidying, prepping for the Spring, machinery and materials orders and new storage containers within the works yard to keep busy. There is only so much painting a ground team can do.
Patience and waiting for the correct ground conditions is key during these poor conditions.
Change of Weather
The weather finally broke to the relief of everyone, and we were able to get back out on the grounds and aeration of winter pitches/cricket outfields being undertaken 21 pitches plus training areas were vertiquaked. The program of deep drilling the squares and vertidraining to 9 and 6 inches, continued to allow us to maintain the cricket squares through the winter until able to undertake the normal spring preseason duties over the 9 grass squares, changing from rotary mowing to cylinder and gradually increasing the weight of pressure up to the Eroll at 1950kg.
I’m sure all school grounds persons will relate Half term {early this year} is a crazy 8 days, all winter pitch goals away 23 here, winter pitch, cricket outfield renovations. Cricket square and pitch prep, athletics tracks and field events marked, athletic infrastructure{discus cages, long jumps, shot boards etc, sight screens and covers erected, cricket nets and cages etc etc.
Add in annual leave and there’s not enough time in the day, again our gps marker RM11 plays a huge roll in reducing time spent marking and the accuracy allowing staff to complete other tasks whilst it is marking, three athletics tracks here. “Of course the teaching staff return and ask their normal polite question ? did you have a lovely break !!!!””
We undertake all renovations in house both winter and summer, this not only saves the school a huge amount on contractual cost but is also vital for staff development and experience. I like the Agrivista range. They give great service and pricing , using Barenberg seed and the Agrivista range of control release, fineturf and soluble fertilisers.
Half Term-Embracing the Future
School broke up on the 3rd April and we were hosting a preseason friendly on the 12th April.
Again, this year the 4th we will be undertaking all cricket square and pitch prep via electric machinery running the fantastic all electric Eroll, Electric Alletts. 2 of the new electric Cobra mowers and a Ininicut. All have reduced noise, vibration, exposure to hazardous substances and fuel costs.
I always enjoy looking at all the great works and successes and occasional failures everyone posts of great work and skill out there!
Sean and Team
If you enjoyed this blog, why not see Sean’s last blog-Michaelmas Term Time Tasks of The Grounds Team at RGS Worcester |
