GROUNDSKEEPING
“ For me , I love building up to The Championships . That ’ s what ’ s special . The build-up . You ’ ve got something to aim for . And then it starts all again . That ’ s a great feeling . That ’ s what I love ”.
It ’ s ‘ always like never before ’.
A mantra that emphasises the honouring of iconic history , balanced with continual innovation . To be at the pinnacle of sport . That , in Grounds , includes technology .
“ They ’ ve embraced it . Even down to the machines that we ’ re using on courts . The mowers have gone electric . We ’ re looking at electric sprayers . Although the machines are staying the same , the technology has changed drastically . When we were first looking at electric mowers , you would have had to have dragged the battery around with you .
“ It ’ s improving for the good , and hopefully that will just continue .”
Wimbledon has a pivotal role to play in helping to protect the environment , today and for the future . As part of our ongoing journey of environmental sustainability , electric lawnmowers and horticulture equipment are used around the Grounds . The most famous of which , of course , is Little Nicky , the small GPS-guided robotic mower - trundling up and down the slope of The Hill , trimming back any new growth . Which , Conrad confesses , wasn ’ t love at first sight .
“ I was very sceptical . I didn ’ t like the idea . But when you see what it can do on an area like that ” - one teeming with spectators : sunbathing , sipping and soaking up Wimbledon ’ s atmosphere and giant-screen action during The Championships - it results in an effective reallocation of resource . “ You might have lost two people up there a few days a week .”
Conrad makes clear throughout the conversation the formula for progression in the industry . Innovation is one half of the equation . Collaboration is the other . “ You ’ ve always got things to learn ”, explaining that one of the effects of COVID-19 is now being corrected , “ we have just started doing site visits again ”. During the winter , with the weather unfavourable for attending to the grass courts , our Grounds department use this time to focus on the educational side of the job .
This year the team received talks from various industry partner and supplier stakeholders , including the Marketing Manager of DLF - the world ’ s largest producer and distributor of grass seed and home to one of the world ’ s largest research and breeding programmes for both turf and forage , and the Vice President of Stevens Water Monitoring Systems – experts in Hydrology , Environmental Monitoring , Soil physics and chemistry , and Agronomy , speaking about a new addition to their irrigation department ’ s arsenal .
Externally , All England Club Groundstaff visited The Queen ’ s Club . A useful comparison exercise , witnessing the range of racket sports on offer and how their team adapt and prepare for The Cinch Championships . Outside of tennis , the team travelled to Twickenham in the lead up to England taking on Ireland on Saturday 9 March during the penultimate round of the 2024 Six Nations Championship , to understand the challenges of a sand-based pitch and the differences in maintenance . Finally , the team were hosted by Origin Amenity at their research facility at Throws Farm , Essex , as part of an ‘ Open Research Day ’ to discuss disease pressure monitoring and prevention .
“ It ’ s going and seeing what they ’ re doing , the technology they ’ re using and how we can transfer that across . If we just stay here , in our little bubble , we wouldn ’ t learn . Learning keeps you at the top , keeps you at a high level .
“ That ’ s what I love about this industry . It ’ s so small and everyone respects each other . If you get a question from anyone else , everyone ’ s happy to help and try guide people in the right direction ”.
It ’ s a close-knit , connected community . They look out for each other whilst setting the stages for stories to unfold . The annual campaign of # GroundsWeek aims to raise the nation ’ s awareness of grounds management , celebrating its vital importance within sport . Encouraging those with ‘ career curiosity ’ to take their first steps into pursuing a rewarding role within the sector . To young sports fans everywhere , and to those longing for a career change :
“ Don ’ t be scared to challenge yourself . I left a perfectly good job to risk going into a new industry . It ’ s that hesitancy , but once you do it , you challenge yourself , you ’ re going to get stronger and stronger .”
GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | May / June 2024 19