Let there be more light.
It’s a law of nature that healthy trees get bigger. And that’s certainly true of the trees surrounding our green. Whilst they are beautiful in their own right and provide a marvellous backdrop to our bowling you may have noticed that certain parts of our green are not as good as we would wish.
A photo speaks a thousand words.
And two photos...
Grass doesn’t grow well in the shade and it’s been a very difficult season due to the heat and lack of rain.
On Monday 14th September “The English Tree Company” arrived to help put things right.
Norman tries to look relaxed.
The plan was to cut back all branches overhanging the green and path to enable light and air to access the green on the damaged corners.
This should give us more chance to reseed and hopefully get grass growing again in the damaged areas.
The branch lopping begins...
... and the first branches are off to the shredder.
Ground control to...
...Major Tom.
Yet more branches and it's early days.
'Old tech' is still needed.
At the same time the council authorised and paid for the difficult task of removing a dead tree that was leaning over the equipment shed. And it was right next to our precious water storage tank.
Beginning to see the wood for the trees.
Cut by cut it comes down.
A number of bushes around the tree were cleared at the same time. And the water storage tank is still intact!
The finished job.
Our sincere thanks go to the team from “The English Tree Company” for all their hard work over the four days they were with us.
We hope this will sort out the problems we’ve had, give us an even better green to bowl on and won't need to be repeated for a good few years to come…
Norman Jackson,
Green Team Leader
Footnote:
When the bowling season ends it’s still necessary to look after our green. It’s an all-year-round task. Led by Norman, club members work hard to ensure it’s in the best condition possible in readiness for the next season.
Thank you Norman, thank you ‘grass cutting teams’ and thank you all you ‘swishers’, ‘dewie-ers’ (that can’t be a word), ‘blowers’ and 'autumn leaf clearers'. You are all very much appreciated.
Editor/Photographs: Jeff Jaycock