Whilst the sports pitches cannot be used due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, our Grounds Sports Team have continued to take this opportunity to carry out improvement works at our Topsham Sports Ground.
This week they have reinstated the overgrown footpath that runs along the side of the 1st team rugby pitch, by digging out the overgrown grass and levelling it off; reinstating it back to a standard not seen for many years.
Before – overgrown footpath
After – reinstated footpath
Whilst the sports pitches cannot be used due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, our Grounds Sports Team have taken this opportunity to add extra drainage in some of the wet areas at the Topsham Sports Ground.
This is a great initiative by the team and should really help improve our sports pitches so that they are in tip top condition when they can be used again.
We have just finished grass cutting at Duckes Meadow Sports Ground using some new equipment and are happy with these results!
Although our Grounds staff have a range of skills, the effects of Storm Angus have got the better of them. Our sports pitches at Duckes Meadow have suffered the effects of the River Exe breaking banks and flooding the sports pitches. A real challenge for our Groundsmen!
Our beautiful campuses at Streatham and St. Luke’s have once again been awarded the Green Flag Award this year and we are now proudly flying our new flags on both campuses.
On the 4th September the Grounds Teams got together to celebrate our achievements this year, including retaining the Green Flag Award for both campuses and for another successful Graduation Week.
We enjoyed a barbecue at Holland Hall with some fun awards and a quiz, which really brought out the competitive side of some of our gardeners! The weather wasn’t quite up to snuff – hence the dark photos – but we are a hardy lot in the Grounds team and it takes more than an overcast day to stop us!
Ross, from our Sports Team, was awarded the ‘Star of the Year’ award, and, as with all the best award ceremonies, he was not available on the day to collect his award, so our Grounds Operations Manager, David Evans, presented him with his trophy the following week.
Awards were also received by Helen, Clive, Luke and Derek for being all round good eggs.
Our Assistant Grounds Manager Mark, who is based at Duckes Meadow sports ground sent in the picture of Duckes looking moody and misty.
Our new Groundsperson, Ross has been kept busy in his first few weeks working with the University. He has been improving areas at Topsham Sports Ground and planting trees – this is part of a project to enhance the biodiversity at the sports ground. He will also be adding a bug hotel, bird boxes and hedgehog nesting boxes in the near future.
Kevin, the Grounds Manager for the Sports and St. Luke’s teams is featured in the ‘Exeter’ magazine for alumni and supporters. In the feature, Kevin talks about his work at Topsham sports ground as well as his teams duties at Duckes meadow and the Sports Park at Streatham Campus.
As you may be aware, the University of Exeter is to host the Tongan team for the Rugby World Cup next year. As part of the selection process our sports grounds at Topsham were subject to rigorous testing to ensure their suitability.
Here are some pictures on the testing in progress:
Testing the pitches!
Science!