College Takes Control Of Pitch Renovations
Gives grounds team greater flexibility
Radley College say they have invested in a Redexim Overseeder 3D 1575 to give their grounds team greater flexibility when carrying out sports pitch renovations around increasingly unpredictable weather.
Head of grounds Adam King, who has worked at the independent school for 26 years, purchased the machine two years ago as a replacement for a previously owned Redexim overseeder.
The college maintains an extensive sports estate, including 14 rugby pitches, which convert into 16 football pitches during the winter, nine cricket squares and a nine-hole golf course.
Adam said owning its own overseeding equipment, alongside a top dresser and other machinery, had allowed the team to move away from relying on contractors for its annual renovations.
“We used to bring contractors in every March to carry out the work. But with the weather becoming so unpredictable, we’ve moved away from that,” he explained.
“Now, because we’ve got our own equipment, we can spread renovations through April, May and June, and continue them into the autumn when conditions are right. It allows us to work around the weather rather than sticking to a fixed timetable.”
The 1.6m-wide Overseeder 3D 1575 is used across the college’s football and rugby pitches, golf tees, aprons and fairways, as well as larger lawn areas.
Adam highlighted the machine’s weight as a particular advantage, helping it achieve the required seeding depth even when ground conditions are hard.
He added that its manoeuvrability also made it suitable for use across the estate’s varied playing surfaces.
