Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club

Sandy Park Stadium and Training Pitches

Client:
Kestrel Contractors Limited

Date:
2006 to date

Services Provided:

Site Appraisal - topsoil assessment, drainage, topography.
3 Dimensional computer generated ground modelling.
Detailed design of drainage and pitch profile design.
Preparation of Specifications and Construction Drawings for natural grass rugby pitches.
Assessment and approval of construction materials.
Ongoing site monitoring.

General:

The scheme involved the construction of natural grass pitches to provide stadium and training facilities of the highest standard. The stadium pitch construction essentially comprised a system of perforated pipe drains laid in the laser graded formation connected to a perimeter carrier drainage system. The pitch base consists of a grit drainage layer placed over an intensive pipe drainage system. The upper form of pitch construction consists of site derived topsoil placed over the grit drainage layer with a system of slit drains cut through the topsoil to provide the necessary surface drainage. The surface of the profile was ameliorated with approved medium-fine sand immediately prior to seeding. At the appropriate stages during construction the pitch irrigation was installed. The scope of the stadium and training pitch construction and associated works included:

Natural Turf Stadium Pitch:

Earthworks cut and fill.
Installation of cut off and pitch drainage systems and connection to main perimeter drainage carrier pipes and outlets.
Supply and spread drainage layer consisting of clean grit.
Supply and spread site derived topsoil.
Installation of forced slit drains.
Sand amelioration of topsoil.
Consolidation and preparation of rootzone material for sowing.
Sowing approved grass seed mixtures.
Topsoiling of outer pitch margins.
Initial maintenance to establish the grass cover.

Natural Turf Training Pitches:

Subsoil laser grading.
Topsoil replacement.
Installation of cut off and pitch drainage systems and connection to main drainage outlets.
Topsoil sand amelioration.
Sowing of approved grass seed mixtures.
Initial maintenance to establish the grass cover.

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