Selly Oaks Cricket Pitch and Outfield Construction

In 2016 Permission homes purchased the former Selly Oak hospital site. As part of a new development of 650 dwellings they asked us to construct a new cricket pitch and pavillion.

Initially, we cultivated the entire site, in multiple directions, and removed any debris. A ring drain was installed around the cricket square and a carrier drain connected to a new attenuation chamber situated on the edge of the outfield.

The formation for the cricket square was excavated, laser graded and consolidated. The loam was spread in layers and each layer was consolidated and laser levelled. 6:9:6 fertiliser was applied and the square seeded with Limagrain MM50 seed.

An artificial wicket was constructed by first excavating a 120mm deep formation and installing tanilised timber edging. A geotextile membrane was laid followed by a 50mm layer of 10mm frost resistant stone. A second geotextile membrane was installed, followed by a 50mm layer of Ollisett self binding stone which was laser graded and rolled. Finally, a shockpad and artificial carpet were laid.

The outfield was cultivated and stone raked. A 20mm sand carpet was spread, followed by a 6:9:6 fertiliser and a cricket outfield seed was sown.

Following the construction we provided 12 months grow in and maintenance. This included mowing, overseeding, fertiliser application and herbicide application. The outfield programme also included aeration.