Brewood Bowling Club
The following is mainly a pictorial narrative of selective milestones during the development progress from September 2016 - hope it works!
Virgin Land! - the Site before work
started - prior to September 2016
This sign is acknowledgement of
Veolia awarding us their Grant - 1 Sep 2016
Arc Ground Care Ltd spreading the weedkiller - 19 Sep 2017
The weedkiller has done its work! - 29 Sep 2017
The perimeter fence in the process of being erected by Boundary Services Ltd - 30 Sep 2016
Arc Ground Care Ltd in the middle of building the green - 21 Oct 2016
Arc Ground Care Ltd arriving, to begin construction - 3 Oct 2016
Waterfield Solutions Ltd installing the automatic irrigation system - 28 Oct 2016
Sand spread and concrete ditch liners in position - 1 Nov 2016
E.ON's electric connection, before being insulated with resin - 10 Nov 2016
E.ON excavating a trench, in Engleton Lane, for the Mains Electric supply to be fed into the existing meter cabinet (inside the site) - 9 Nov 2016
The 10.000 litre irrigation water storage tank being moved into position - 11 Nov 2016
Green area ready for turfing, which will take place in 2017 - 25 Nov 2016
PB Maintenance Solutions laying the Sewerage and Mains Water supply pipe - 17 Dec 2016
We were now well into Winter and we were thankful that the majority of the important work had been completed (the Green was now ready for turf laying, the boundary fence was erected, the Irrigation system installed, the Mains Water supply pipe laid - but not yet actually connected to Severn Trent's Water Supply, the Sewerage pipes laid, and the Mains Electricity supply had been installed up to the Meter Cabinet). During the installation of the Sewerage pipes, advantage was taken to dig a further trench, into which the Electric Mains Cables could be laid from the Electricity Cabinet (which had been permanently located at the site boundary) to the position of the eventual clubhouse. This cable was scheduled to be laid during early 2017.
No further work would be possible on the site until early 2017.
However, the committee was not idle! Before the Christmas period, arrangements were made for a shed to be ordered (to enclose the Electrics Distribution Board and the pump for the Irrigation System, both of which were to be installed during the early part of 2017). This shed was actually ordered and delivered during Mar 2017.
It was also arranged for Severn Trent Water to come on 1 March 2017, to connect the Mains Water to our existing pipe.
A tentative 'Opening Day' was also pencilled in - possibly a day in July 2017.
After Christmas, the committee took a well earned 'breather', knowing that there would be intensive work to be done from March 2017 until the Opening Day (hopefully July 2017)
Suddenly, March 2017 was upon us!
On 1 March, Severn Trent engineers arrived and connected the Mains Water supply.
The shed was delivered on 20 March and we finished erecting it on 27 March.
We then 'plodded on' organising other essential work.
Severn Trent connected the Main Water supply - 1 Mar 2017
Shed fully erected - awaiting a coat (or two!) of paint
- 27 Mar 2017
Half way through erecting the shed - 25 Mar 2017
Meter now fitted inside the metal cabinet, for connection to the site's internal electric supply - 3 Apr 2017
The Turf has arrived! - 4 Apr 2017
Starting to lay the turf. Like a jigsaw, the edges are laid first - 5 Apr 2017
Irrigation Pump installed inside the shed - 6 Apr 2017
Irrigation now connected to the Storage Tank. This is the connection fitting, before backfilling with soil - 7 Apr 2017
The final piece of turf! - 7 Apr 2017
Continuing the turf laying - 7 Apr 2017
Testing the Irrigation System - 7 Apr 2017
Doesn't it look good? - 7 Apr 2017
Arc Ground Care Ltd levelled the ground around the outside of the green - 25 Apr 2017
It was now the responsibility of the Club itself to continue the development of the site, and also cut the green's grass.
We were extremely fortunate to have been offered the correct type of Bowling Green Lawn Mower by a relative of one of our Club Members. The cost of a mower was always of considerable concern to the club and we are very grateful to have been able to purchase this mower at such an acceptable price.
Delivery of the Mower - 26 Apr 2017
The Green's first cut and also first use of the mower - 28 Apr 2017
Final part of the fence erecting : the permanent gate fitted - 4 May 2017
Grass was now beginning to establish itself on the outside perimeters of the Green. We have a small mower (again a gift, this time from one of our Committee Members) which is able to cut this grass. Unfortunately, there were numerous stones of various sizes that the grass was growing among. Enthusiatic volunteers came forward to remove these stones - an arduous task that took over 8 weeks to complete (on a virtual daily basis!).
The West Side, before 'stone picking' - 25 Apr 2017
Some of our 'stone picking' volunteers - A special "Thank you" to ALL of our Volunteers: regrettably we don't have the space to be able to show you all. - May to Jun 2017
This pic shows the rapid progress of the grass (which now needs mowing!) - 6 Jul 2017
Actual mowing in progress - 6 Jul 2017
On 5 June 2017 it was decided that we could confidently hold our 'Opening Day' during July/August 2017. The actual date still had to be decided. Even though there was, as yet, no firm date, we knew we now had to concentrate our efforts for the actual day itself:- Refreshments; shelter requirements; seating etc.
However, one particular thing was identified as 'most essential' - a toilet!
We had the necessary mains sewage and mains water supply available. We then also found out that we had people on the committee, who were confident to be able to carry out the necessary plumbing. A toilet pan, plus a wash hand basin was kindly donated, by one of the committee members, to the club. We already had experience in erecting a shed. So.................after long discussions, away we went and ordered another shed.
This shed was delivered on 23 June 2017 and work started with preparing the shed parts, so that erecting it would be easier.
Now...if you say it quickly - "laying the foundation/erecting the shed/plumbing in the toilet and wash hand basin" is 'just another task'.
In reality, it was one of the most difficult and arduous things that we had undertaken!! - the actual period from start to finish was 30 June to 28 July 2017. Hard physical work was done on every day of that time, and completion was not until the day before our official opening.
On 10 July 2017 our Opening Day's date was now confirmed as Saturday 29 July 2017 (less than three weeks away!). We had already started on the toilet shed (it had already been temporarily built, so that we could calculate the base size and the shed's final position on the site). However, because we were encountering some unforseen difficulties, the urgency of the final construction hit us hard.
There are a few more pictures shown of this one task, than were shown for other previous work.
Shuttering in place, ready for filling with cement. Also shown is the skirt, made to lift the height of the shed - 13 Jul 2017
Cement Base now laid - 15 Jul 2017
Half way through the plumbing-in of the toilet and wash hand basin - 19 Jul 2017
Mixing the cement and filling the shuttering - 15 Jul 2017
Toilet Shed in the middle of being erected - 18 Jul 2017
The toilet shed now completed, with slabbed ramp laid up to the door (for people with mobility problems) - 25 Jul 2017
This was the end of our work before our Opening Day (29 July 2017). A condensed report on that day can be seen under:-
"Club Progress" sub-heading "Opening Day"
This is a unique latch (don't ask!). The latch was designed by one of our committee - and it works! It was fitted the day before our Opening Day - 28 Jul 2017
It has been some time since updates on the Club were posted.Unfortunately, your Scribe was taken into hospital for an urgent operation. However, I am now recovering well and can start to give you updated reports.
Those of you that actually played on the Green, last year, were very much aware that the North end (nearest the toilet and shed) was "interesting", to say the least!
The Committee spent many hours trying to find a solution to this problem (and, also, where the money was coming from ). Eventually, after a lot of suggestions were put forward, we felt that there WAS a way of resolving the problem area of the Green - this solution was conveyed to our contractor, who agreed that it was a suitable solution. He gave us a fair quote, which we accepted. Ways were found, to pay for this rectification work.
Our contractor started the rectification on 16 November 2018 and it continued, through to completion, up to Christmas 2018.
Photos were taken of the progress, up to 1 Dec 2018 (two days later, hospital called!)
A selection of these photos are shown below. It is hoped that pics of the finished work will become available soon.
Incidentally, we have been assured that the turf will blend into one colour, as the growing season progresses
%20Start%20of%20raising%20the%20Green%20Fri%2016.jpg)
%20Start%20of%20raising%20the%20Green%20Fri%2016%20.jpg)
%20Raising%20the%20Green%20Tues%2020%20Nov%202018.jpg)
%20Turf%20laying%20started%20morning%20Wed%2028.jpg)
%20Raising%20the%20Green%20Wed%2021%20Nov%202018_.jpg)
%20Raising%20the%20Green%20Thu%2022%20Nov%202018%20.jpg)
%20Laying%20the%20turf%2029%20Nov%202018%201030%20h.jpg)
%20Laying%20the%20turf%20Sat%201%20Dec%202018.jpg)
The turf, at the raised end of the Green, has finally been laid. The following pics this show this progress. One of our Groundsmen - Frank - can be seen carrying out the first cut on this new turf.
The area sloping down to the ditches will be mowed with a rotary mower - the slope is too great for the large mower to be used.
These photos were taken on 17 Jan 2019
