Eight new pitches at Bromsgrove School

The brief

With its proud sporting history and extensive facilities, this 500-year-old co-ed day and boarding school was looking to upgrade the existing natural cricket pitch set within its 100 acre grounds. The aim was to provide a future-friendly facility that would provide pupils (the school has successful teams for boys and girls) with the optimum level of play.

The solution

Following discussion with the school and a thorough site investigation, a series of options was put forward to the client. However, as it was not essential that the pitch be in play for the 2011 season due to the school being able to make use of outlying facilities, it was decided to embark on a full reconstruction programme whereby a number of new pitches be constructed and the main square be re-aligned accordingly.

A total of eight new pitches were constructed in the middle of the square in late summer 2010, with the timescales involved enabling the total-play team to build to the optimum depth for the local soil profile and laying a deep cricket loam specifically selected for the site. Construction work on the square and pitches was completed over a single week, with a total-play representative regularly visiting site since to monitor progress, offer advice and assist with maintenance. The facility is becoming well established and is on track for play in the 2012 season, with the school aiming to attract and host county representative matches.