Turning the tide at Cockermouth CC after the 2009 Cumbria flood
On November 19th 2009 the Cumbrian town of Cockermouth suffered its worst flood in history. The two rivers that converge in the town, the Derwent and the Cocker, both broke their banks and the town centre was deluged, forcing residents to abandon some 900 homes and businesses for the safety of temporary shelter.
Located on the northern edge of town, Cockermouth Cricket Club did not escape the flood lightly. In addition to its ground being inundated, destroying the natural match pitch surface and non-turf practice facilities, the recently refurbished club house suffered significant damage as George Todhunter, club Chairman, explains:
“Despite the fact that we had installed floodgates 1.2m high they were no match for the water in this area, which reached about 2.4m in depth. However it wasn’t until the flood waters started to recede, taking about four days, that we could gauge the full extent of the damage.”
Following consultation with the ECB the decision was made to appoint a specialist to advise on, and manage, the entire project. A feasibility study was carried out and the decision made that the playing surface had to be totally reconstructed; time was of the essence in order that reconstruction could be complete in time to allow the maximum growing season for 2010 with the objective of the ground being fit for play in 2011. TTS was selected to undertake the project based on its robust feasibility study alongside its quick response in producing the specification and tender documents.
To ensure the ground was fully clear before reconstruction commenced Club members pulled together and, working over several weeks, removed over 250 tonnes of material from the site. Following initial clearing work the contracting team arrived on site to face its first challenge; to thoroughly clear the site of the fine silt debris deposited by the flood. This was essential both from an operations perspective, to avoid damage to any machinery or operatives, and for the viability of the natural turf pitch in the future. Silt has a very small particle size and will ‘cap’ off the soil surface, reducing porosity and therefore the drainage of the facility. This inhibits grass growth and, in turn, reduces the durability of the surface.
In this case the ground had varying depths of organic matter and contaminants, so between 50-75 mm of the entire playing surface – covering some 12,500m2 – was removed. This helped ensure the elimination of any remaining silt along with any chemical, biological or physical contaminate materials that could have been deposited by the flood waters.
The square was then re-constructed to a depth of 75mm using laser guided machinery and a selected screened loam, and the outfield was cultivated prior to re-levelling. The site’s indigenous soil profile provided a good depth of material which served to help the re-grading operation and to improve existing surface levels.
The next challenge was to prepare the site for re-seeding. To ensure the healthy growth of Perennial Ryegrass, the preferred grass species for cricket, the site’s pH needed to be lowered to the optimum 6.5. This was not only to encourage maximum growth for a surface with durability and playability, but to ensure nutrients would be able to move freely through the soil and provide the grass plant with all it needs to flourish.
The project was completed in May 2010 and the ground is now on track to be ready for play during the 2011 season.
George says:
“We’re delighted that the ground is well on track to recovery thanks to TTS’s quick response, their forthright, honest advice and the fact that they clearly understood the project and how to overcome its complications.”
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