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Groundsman Creates ‘Starburst’ Outfield

February 13, 2019/in Industry News, News, Press Release/by External Source

Groundsman Creates ‘Starburst’ Outfield: TV viewers watching the latest test match at the Darren Sammy stadium in Gros Islet may have been struck by the unusual way the outfield has been cut, mown into the shape of a “starburst” fanning out from the pitch to the boundary. This sort of topiary appears to be unique to […]

New Plant Based Podcast Launched

February 12, 2019/in Press Release, Technical/by Holly Daulby

New Plant Based Podcast Launched: A new podcast has been launched to celebrate a love of all things plants. The Plant Based Podcast, sponsored by Suttons Seeds, previewed on Sunday 3rd February and within less than 24 hours of being available on iTunes had rocketed to the top of the games and hobbies charts, beating all […]

Groundsman Creates ‘Starburst’ Outfield

February 13, 2019/in Industry News, News, Press Release/by External Source

New Plant Based Podcast Launched

February 12, 2019/in Press Release, Technical/by Holly Daulby

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Groundsman Creates ‘Starburst’ Outfield

February 13, 2019/in Industry News, News, Press Release/by External Source

Groundsman Creates ‘Starburst’ Outfield: TV viewers watching the latest test match at the Darren Sammy stadium in Gros Islet may have been struck by the unusual way the outfield has been cut, mown into the shape of a “starburst” fanning out from the pitch to the boundary. This sort of topiary appears to be unique to international cricket but then the man behind it is a one-off too.

Kent Crafton has been groundsman since the stadium was completed in 2002 and for the last six years he has acted as head curator for the whole Caribbean region. He is widely credited with having transformed pitches from “roads” on which batsmen filled their boots to the livelier surfaces that have revived local pace bowling and, in this series, left England’s batsmen hopping.

That is only Crafton’s day job. Manicuring the grass at his home ground is his real passion. During the women’s World Twenty20 in November, he went to extraordinary lengths by creating a Hibiscus shape with his mower.

During this match, a member of Crafton’s groundstaff can be seen walking across the outfield each evening with a paintbrush and tin, dabbing whitewash marks along the edges of each section to help Crafton be precise with his daily cut. Under ICC regulations, the outfield is given a light cut on each day of a Test match.

The outfield for this game has been unusually slow. This is because of the thick type of conch grass on the island but it may also have something to do with Crafton needing thicker-than-normal grass to create his patterns.

Anyone who gets between him and his artwork does so at their peril. A few years ago, in the build-up to a Test match, he severed through a 200-metre TV cable that happened to be lying across part of the outfield. He was not noticeably apologetic. “He has his own kingdom,” said one source.

There is, moreover, another problem taking up any matter with him: Crafton has an identical twin called Alton, who works as a development coach at Gros Islet. It has not been uncommon for people to think they are speaking to one of them, when in fact it is the other.

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New Plant Based Podcast Launched

February 12, 2019/in Press Release, Technical/by Holly Daulby

New Plant Based Podcast Launched: A new podcast has been launched to celebrate a love of all things plants.

The Plant Based Podcast, sponsored by Suttons Seeds, previewed on Sunday 3rd February and within less than 24 hours of being available on iTunes had rocketed to the top of the games and hobbies charts, beating all others to the number one spot in the UK. Since then, three new episodes have been launched with a new episode going live fortnightly on Sundays.

The podcast is a project launched by two prolific gardening writers, bloggers and presenters – Michael Perry, aka Mr Plant Geek, and Ellen Mary. Ellen and Michael have been plant lovers since childhood, and have a combined 35 years worth of experience in the industry as well as a strong, engaged social media following.

It comes at a time when plant based alternatives are increasingly in the spotlight, with names like M&S, Sainsburys and Greggs all recently launching vegan ranges. However, The Plant Based Podcast goes beyond veganism and investigates the wider benefits and uses of plants, as well as the people embracing them in their day to day lives.

In each episode, Michael and Ellen meet someone with a true passion for plants – from a bodybuilder whose muscles are now entirely plant based purely from converting to veganism, to an expert at the Chelsea Physic Garden who discusses home remedies using plants, as well as the owners of a restaurant tipped to be the first vegan eatery to receive a Michelin star. Other episodes explore the importance of bees and how the right plants can make a vast difference; how the urban jungle trend can change our gardens; and how the world of edible plants can tantalise taste buds.

Subscribe to the Podcast via iTunes or Spotify, and visit theplantbasedpodcast.net for more information. On the website you will also find exclusive content and articles to coincide with the topic of each episode.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Groundsman Creates ‘Starburst’ Outfield

New Plant Based Podcast Launched

Groundsman Creates ‘Starburst’ Outfield

New Plant Based Podcast Launched

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Groundsman Creates ‘Starburst’ Outfield

New Plant Based Podcast Launched

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