Visit to Pool Cricket Club

Had a ride down to Pool Cricket Club this morning as they were trying to sort out some drainage issues where the old artificial pitch had been filled in last autumn.

Here you can see where Andy has dug out down to the base of the old artificial pitch base. Where there is a pan, through which water cannot drain as a result it was moving under the surface down to the bottom end and making the new imported soil like very wet and like jelly to walk on.

This is what I like to see the groundsman giving instructions to his assistant who is doing all the digging.......

while the next generation of groundman looks on.

Clive remembered that when the practise pitches were laid, a drain of sorts had been dug -here you can see Andy tyring to find it, which he did first time and it is only a few feet away from the end of the problem area.

On this photo you can see the drainage channel Andy has dug to take the new drain link.

Lets hope that when it is all connected up it will sort out the problem. There is a very important lesson to be learnt here. That is when you take up any artificial or do any kind of excavation work you have to break up the base that you are to back fill. When JCB's or other similar machines take out a channel they leave a smooth almost shiny surface and if you don't break it up you create a layer that moisture cannot get through and a plate where roots will run across horizontally  rather than growing in or through.

Clive in his newly presented Hurrells woolly hat.