Tag Archive for: Duncan

Duncan Ross Rejuvenates Broughton High School

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Duncan Ross Rejuvenates Broughton High School: Broughton High School is ecstatic that the school field, which has been closed for eight years due to a large hole appearing, has finally seen extensive works carried out by Duncan Ross Ltd, bring it back to life and with it, extending the fantastic sporting facilities on offer.

Over the course of the last year, Lancashire County Council brought in drainage specialists Duncan Ross who were able to suggest a lasting solution and action the change over the summer holiday period.

Duncan Ross Rejuvenates Broughton High School

Duncan Ross Rejuvenates Broughton High School

Based in Burscough, Lancashire, Duncan Ross Ltd has built a reputation as one of the UK’s leading sports turf contractors, with decades of experience in natural turf construction, drainage, and renovation. The company is regularly commissioned by schools, councils, and sports clubs to deliver robust, long-term solutions that combine technical expertise with an understanding of how facilities are actually used on a day-to-day basis.

“Concerns were raised by the school, to the Local Authority, about the safety of the field”, recalls Mark Hodges, Contracts Manager at the Council. “We got a range of other contractors in, and drainage specialists, and they came up with some proposed solutions, but we didn’t fully understand what the issue was.”

The school began using a small section of the field two years ago. However, in bad weather, it quickly became unplayable, underscoring the need to identify the underlying issue. To do that, Mark approached Duncan Ross.

Duncan Ross initiated a thorough investigation, utilising site knowledge and aerial imagery to pinpoint the fault. The team traced the issue to a broken main drain, which was likely damaged years earlier when heavy vehicles became bogged down on the pitch. Since then, the old network of drains beneath the surface had silted up beyond repair. The clear choice was to replace the entire system.

“It was cheaper to install new drainage,” Mark explains. “So again, we got Duncan to design the system.”

The company specified a comprehensive scheme, installing carrier, main, and lateral drains at five-metre centres. Inspection chambers, junctions, and outfalls were included for ease of future maintenance. Once installed, the field received a full programme of post-drainage operations including decompaction to relieve construction compaction, sand topdressing to improve infiltration and surface regularity, overseeding for density, and targeted fertiliser applications to drive establishment. Final as-built drawings provided the Council with a clear record for future stewardship.

After a journey spanning Mark’s five years at Lancashire County Council, experiencing the way Duncan Ross operated brought confidence that the project would be a success. “It was reassuring, to be honest, working with somebody who understands the needs of the school, understands what we’re trying to achieve, and coming up with a solution.” That confidence was rewarded as the project moved from design to delivery.

With the core works complete, the next phase is about consolidation. “All the drainage works are complete,” Hodges says. “We’re waiting for the weather to improve so we can do the next phase, which is top dressing and overseeding. The field will see limited use this term, with full availability expected by next spring once the surface has bedded in.”

“That bedding-in period will be carefully managed. I’ve got to work with the school to be able to manage the pitch and make sure they don’t overplay it in wet weather and damage the surface.”

Speaking about the project, Headteacher David Botes added: “I’ve been extremely happy with the work carried out by Duncan Ross. Throughout the project, the company were professional, amenable, polite, on task and approachable. The work on the field is to an excellent standard, and we are extremely pleased.

“Duncan and his team are, as one, very easy to work with and we would not hesitate in recommending them to others or using them ourselves for future projects.”

For Broughton High School, the project marks the end of years of uncertainty and the beginning of a reliable new chapter in sport, while for Lancashire County Council, it represents a demonstration of evidence-led planning and investment.

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Duncan Ross continue school field transformation

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Duncan Ross continue school field transformation: Following Phase 1 of works with Duncan Ross Ltd, Altrincham Grammar School for Boys addressed critical drainage issues and drastically reduced match cancellations. Phase 2 has built on these successes by further improving the school’s sports facilities.

The school has been dedicated to its ‘Sport for All’ campaign, which seeks to improve access to quality sports facilities and ensure students of all levels have the opportunity to engage in physical activity. Duncan Ross Ltd.’s project has been integral to bringing that vision to life, enabling students to enjoy well-maintained and high-performing sports pitches throughout the year.

Duncan Ross continue school field transformation

Duncan Ross continue school field transformation

Neil Brown, Head Groundsman for the Hamblin Trust, highlighted the significant impact of the improvements made during Phase 1 and Phase 2. “Since we’ve had the drains done, the pitches have been fantastic,” he said. ”

In the last 18 months, we’ve only had two games called off, and even then, it was our decision to be extra cautious due to upcoming cup matches. The fields are now miles better for the kids to play on, with improved surfaces and more grass coverage, and the teachers and students are really pleased with how well they play.”

Phase 2 of the project concentrated on the training areas which had significant unevenness, with noticeable dips and slopes that made play difficult. As a result, a decision was made to level the entire area to create a more functional and versatile space.

Duncan Ross Ltd executed this transformation with precision. “The team at Duncan Ross went over and above, using various equipment for stone burning, flattening, and levelling,” Neil explains.

“The work was done so well that, when it was fully grassed in, we decided to convert it into a football pitch instead of just a training area because it was just too good only to be used for training.

Alongside the levelling work, extensive drainage improvements were made, mirroring the successful approach taken in Phase 1. Drains were installed at five-meter intervals with sand slits at half-meter intervals, significantly improving water management on the field. Previously, areas of the Year 7 field would become waterlogged and unplayable for months at a time, but that issue has now been resolved.

Looking ahead to Phase 3, the school is set to benefit from additional enhancements, including the installation of an Olympic-style long jump and triple jump area and another synthetic cricket wicket for match play. The ongoing collaboration between Altrincham Grammar School and Duncan Ross Ltd continues to elevate the school’s sports facilities, fostering greater student participation in various sports.

“There are a lot more kids playing cricket now using the practice nets,” Neil explains. “With the extra football pitch, we have better facilities all around. Before, the fields would turn into a mud bath in winter, but now we have quality playing surfaces all year round. It’s just a much better environment for the kids to play and develop their skills,”

With Duncan Ross Ltd.’s expertise and commitment to delivering top-quality sports surfaces, Altrincham Grammar School for Boys is well on its way to achieving its ‘Sport for All’ vision, ensuring that students have access to excellent facilities for years to come.

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Communication key to Duncan Ross pitch refurbishment

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Communication key to Duncan Ross pitch refurbishment: Cheshire West and Chester Council has cited communication as one of the key factors behind Duncan Ross Ltd.’ successful pitch refurbishment, which has seen an out-of-use football pitch turned into a ‘billiard table for rugby.’

For John Seiler CMLI, Landscape Architect at Cheshire West and Cheshire Council, this is the best quality pitch that he has worked on over his 19-year period with the council. The transformation was much needed, with the 40-year-old surface left unused for many years due to drainage problems.

Communication key to Duncan Ross pitch refurbishment

Communication key to Duncan Ross pitch refurbishment

Thriving local rugby club, Northwich RUFC, who play on the Moss Farm Leisure Complex, wanted to use the pitch for their first 15, and after a competitive tender process, John began working with Duncan Ross Ltd for the first time.

“This was my first time working with Duncan Ross Ltd, and I’ve been very impressed,” John said.

“Communication was vital to the success of this project because of the challenges we faced. One of the drainage issues was the outlet, which was blocked. We had to collaborate with the other landowners to gain access to the blockage, and what could have been potentially very challenging felt easy because Duncan Ross Ltd handled it so well.

“Duncan and Joe Ross ran the site, and their expertise and attention to detail were extremely good. They were both very approachable, professional and easy to get on with, which made an enormous difference.

“When running landscape contracts, we need to know what’s going on, and we can’t be on the site 24 hours a day. So, we need to have that level of trust, openness and transparency with regard to each work stage.

“They were also taking pictures of every stage of the process. So, from the grading, drains, and slitting works, they also had drone footage, which was fantastic for us and PR on the site.

“As a landscape architect having worked on many landscape and sports pitch contracts, I really value that close working relationship with a contractor.”

Investigation work revealed that the pitch’s drainage outlet was severed and blocked. Working with the landowner opposite, Duncan Ross addressed the issue and began installing the new outlet and carrier drains before constructing the pitch.

In mid-September 2023, a month after seeding, John describes the pitch as looking “absolutely beautiful.” Whilst he has been impressed by the communication and finished product, he also thinks Duncan Ross Ltd.’s high-quality machinery has heavily contributed to an outstanding product.

“The level on the pitch is absolutely incredible. It really is the best pitch I’ve worked on,” John said. “The rugby club are extremely grateful and have been blown away with the result, but so much of that is down to the professionalism of Duncan Ross Ltd and the machinery they use.

“It’s all absolutely first-class. For every single aspect of the various stages of the works, they have the equipment from laser-levels to trenchers to get the best results. What it also meant was they got the job done quickly. Because of the nature of the weather and having such a wet summer, it made it difficult, and potentially could have been very difficult, but because of the machines they had it enabled them to get the job done and to a high standard.”

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Duncan Ross completes project

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Duncan Ross completes project: Specialist sports turf contractor Duncan Ross has completed a multiple-pitch construction and drainage project as part of the £18.5 million Skirting Beck and Whangs Beck Flood Risk Management Scheme in Egremont on behalf of the Environment Agency who have completed this project’.

Formally opened on the 9th December 2022 by MP for Copeland, Trudy Harrison, the Environment Agency project scheme reduces the flood risk to properties in the area while improving sports surfaces and facilities for the local community.

Duncan Ross completes project

Duncan Ross completes project

Paul Robertshaw, Project Executive at the Environment Agency said:

“We are delighted that the £18.5 million flood scheme is now complete, reducing the flood risk to 220 properties, ahead of winter this year.

“The scheme not only better protects people and properties in the area from flooding but has created a better place for the community by providing, improved community amenities and an enhanced environment for wildlife to thrive.

“The help and cooperation of local residents, West Lakes Academy, the Falcon Club, schools and nurseries has helped this scheme and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their support over the years.” 

VolkerStevin Ltd and the Environment Agency created a flood storage reservoir to intercept and attenuate flood water from Skirting Beck before it reached Egremont Town, causing flooding in periods of heavy rain.

The area chosen to create the flood storage reservoir and surface water control system was on a 2.7-hectare disused hard porous pitch and tennis courts attached to West Lakes Academy. During design works, Sport England stipulated that the site had to remain suitable for sports.

The flood storage reservoir is designed to retain flood water by the construction of a retaining wall around the outside of the site, with the beck then being choked at the outlet end and open at the inlet end.

The beck then flows into the flood storage reservoir/sports pitch area and is retained until other flood levels reduce.

Once the flood storage reservoir has drained down, it needs to again be suitable for sport. For this reason, Duncan Ross Ltd was employed under the design of the drainage system by professional design consultants PSD Ltd.

The upper 150mm thick surface was removed from the hard porous area and tarmac tennis courts and replaced by imported topsoil. A GPS grade control bulldozer graded the topsoil to create the exact gradients of the existing area so as not to decrease or increase the holding capacity of the flood storage reservoir.

A new drainage system was installed by our GPS guided 15/15 Mastenbroek trencher. The Environment Agency monitored all works to prevent any contamination to Skirting Beck.

The area was then sand ameliorated with a 50mm layer thickness of medium fine sand and seeded. Once the sward had established, the area had slit drains installed at 1m centres and all spoil was removed from site, the area was then top-dressed at 180 tonnes/hectare vertidrained and fertilised.

Some of the difficulties encountered were the sourcing of a suitable 6000 tonne topsoil to match as near as possible local soil, working within such a narrow access site, sourcing materials to Egremont, the weather and working on site during Covid and all that entailed.

One of the many positives was working with VolkerStevin staff on this project, who provided excellent leadership and whose attention to all health and safety matters was exemplary.

The works will be completed in May 2023.

On the project, MP Trudy Harrison said: “This is a milestone day for the Egremont community. This area has suffered the devastating impact of repeated flooding for many years, and this significant investment will now make a real difference to families and businesses locally.

“I’d like to thank the Environment Agency and all the partners for working together for the benefit of the community.”

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New GKB Drainmaster for Duncan Ross Ltd

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New GKB Drainmaster for Duncan Ross Ltd: Specialists in all aspects of Sportsturf, construction, drainage, renovation and maintenance.  The Company originated in the 1960s from a background in agricultural land drainage. Duncan Ross Ltd, have invested in a GKB Drainmaster for full drainage schemes for a variety of clients.

Joe Ross, Manager at Duncan Ross Ltd, explains how impressed they were with their new GKB Drainmaster.  Duncan Ross – Managing Director had initially seen the machine exhibited at BTME and was so impressed by the design and quality of the workmanship.” He adds, “ultimately, this was a key factor which encouraged us to purchase the reliable and refined machine.”

New GKB Drainmaster for Duncan Ross Ltd

“We have been delighted with the service and attention we’ve received from GKB since purchasing the GKB Drainmaster, Joe Ross explained. The machine is very well engineered and makes the job easy!”

Having been in continuous development since 1985, the concept of the GKB Drainmaster has been completely refined. The system has been developed not only to improve the drainage of surface water but also the acceleration. Duncan Ross Ltd have used their machine to “complete a full drainage scheme and intensified the system using the GKB Drainmaster. The results were excellent.” With the GKB Drainmaster, the stability and quality of your grass will improve.

For more on GKB Machines and their reliable and robust range of machinery for natural, hybrid and synthetic turf, please visit www.gkbmachines.com or contact Tom Shinkins on 07495 883617.

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