Shenfield Cricket Club

Established 1921

Members of the Shepherd Neame Essex League(The ECB accredited Premier League of Essex)

Members of the Essex Sunday League

Affiliated to the Club Cricket Conference

Ground Renovation

Season 2005 should see a vast difference, particularly for the bowlers run-up to the crease, as the whole square has been korrowed and re-seeded with all saddles and high and low areas levelled.

The work was carried out during the week commencing 13th September 2004 by Norman Hollingsworth with his KORO FIELD TOPMAKER machine.

The machine was invented in Holland by the Koro company and is revolutionising the sports turf industry. The machine effectively grinds the surface back to soil, like planing wood, throwing it via a conveyor belt into a trailer.

The actual contract was for the following:

  • To koro the square, remove the saddles and level the area.
  • To scarify in two directions to key in new top dressing.
  • To supply Ongar Loam top dressing and spread on the square.
  • To grade to finish level.
  • To supply and sow top quality seed from the STR1 list supply and spread pre-seed fertiliser.

Below are some photos of the work as it took place.

The Korrowing
Tractor and Field Topmaker arrivingThe Field Topmaker Earth being skimmed off by the Field Topmaker and sent down a chute to a tractor Earth being skimmed off by the Field Topmaker and sent down a chute to a tractor Part of the square where skimming finished Earth being skimmed off by the Field Topmaker and sent down a chute to a tractor The square completely skimmed The square completely skimmed The groundsmen surveying the square Preparation for seeding Preparation for seeding The square ready for seeding Topsoil for covering the seed The seed sowing machine
25th September – new grass just beginning to make an appearance.
The square with new grass just beginning to show through The square with new grass just beginning to show through The square with new grass just beginning to show through The square with new grass just beginning to show through
3rd October – after just the right weather to help the new grass get established.
The square with new grass more established The square with new grass more established The square with new grass more established The square with new grass more established
9th October – growing well.
The square with new grass growing well The square with new grass growing well The square with new grass growing well The square with new grass growing well
16th October – still a few bare patches, but looking good.
The square covered with new grass except for a few bare patches The square covered with new grass except for a few bare patches The square covered with new grass except for a few bare patches
7 months later. 30th April 2005 – the renovated square being prepared for the first match of the season.
Groundsman cutting the square The square The square The square Close-up of the square The square covered with new grass except for a few bare patches Groundsman cutting the square