A DAY OUT AT WIMBLEDON
An exclusive behind the scenes tour for Simon Gray and Charles Blumlein conducted by Head Groundsman, Eddie Seaward.
It’s not everybody’s cup of tea to go to Wimbledon in the winter, but, if you want to see just what goes on behind the scenes and what lies beneath the ‘hallowed turf’’, you go whenever the opportunity arises.
Thanks to our local turf industry expert David Jenkins, a visit was arranged and armed with notepad and camera we arrived at the gates.
You might think that Wimbledon goes a bit sleepy over the winter but not a bit of it. A number of major works were underway on various courts including the construction of the new roof for Centre Court, the major focal point of the ground. The new roof is impressive to say the least. This year’s crowds for Centre Court will be as much in awe of the roof opening and closing (particularly if it’s a showery match) as they will be with the tennis.
We were intrigued about the construction method, as the whole roof is built whilst remaining clear of the sacred lawn tennis court. The turf you appreciate is sacrosanct and on no account (new roof or no new roof) must it be so much as breathed on by any but a privileged few. A couple of the builders working on the roof project thought it would be fun to walk across the centre court. They were fired on the spot and immediately escorted off the premises.
You may think, when you walk over a fine lawn that its pretty simple stuff after all, grass just grows doesn’t it? Well talking with Eddie, even from my professional experience, we realised that there is no more manicured, more wired to sensors, more subject to spot checks or more thoroughly controlled growing environment than the turf of Wimbledon.
The turf itself is a blend of dwarf perennial ryegrass designed for excellent wear tolerance and to bounce back after rigorous usage. Wimbledon, as you can appreciate is all about having the best and most resilient turf for the annual tournaments. Nothing else matters.
An exclusive behind the scenes tour for Simon Gray and Charles Blumlein conducted by Head Groundsman, Eddie Seaward.
It’s not everybody’s cup of tea to go to Wimbledon in the winter, but, if you want to see just what goes on behind the scenes and what lies beneath the ‘hallowed turf’’, you go whenever the opportunity arises.
Thanks to our local turf industry expert David Jenkins, a visit was arranged and armed with notepad and camera we arrived at the gates.
You might think that Wimbledon goes a bit sleepy over the winter but not a bit of it. A number of major works were underway on various courts including the construction of the new roof for Centre Court, the major focal point of the ground. The new roof is impressive to say the least. This year’s crowds for Centre Court will be as much in awe of the roof opening and closing (particularly if it’s a showery match) as they will be with the tennis.
We were intrigued about the construction method, as the whole roof is built whilst remaining clear of the sacred lawn tennis court. The turf you appreciate is sacrosanct and on no account (new roof or no new roof) must it be so much as breathed on by any but a privileged few. A couple of the builders working on the roof project thought it would be fun to walk across the centre court. They were fired on the spot and immediately escorted off the premises.
You may think, when you walk over a fine lawn that its pretty simple stuff after all, grass just grows doesn’t it? Well talking with Eddie, even from my professional experience, we realised that there is no more manicured, more wired to sensors, more subject to spot checks or more thoroughly controlled growing environment than the turf of Wimbledon.
The turf itself is a blend of dwarf perennial ryegrass designed for excellent wear tolerance and to bounce back after rigorous usage. Wimbledon, as you can appreciate is all about having the best and most resilient turf for the annual tournaments. Nothing else matters.
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