The Duke’s Green Keeping

The past few weeks we have been carrying out some sand-banding work. This is basically installing a secondary drainage system which links into the existing drains, So far the approaches on 1,2,11,12 and 16 have been done. Sand-Banding involves the Blec sand-master machine making a slit in the ground then installing sand into the slit. We have been aiming for a depth of between 6-10 inches depending on each hole. The job has been going extremely well with minimal disruption. We will also be aiming to continue this work over the next few weeks on more approaches as this is the start of a push to improve the approaches, which in the past few years have become infested with leggy rye grass which has enjoyed the wet surfaces. the plan is to follow up the sand-banding work with hollow tine aeration, scarify with a graden machine, an application of graminicide to remove the rye grass and then overseeding with fescue/bent.

Also in the past few weeks we have started the drainage project on the range. The back part of the range has now had the drains installed and the rain at the end of last week proved a good test for it where it appeared to be working well. Work on the front part of the range will resume this week. Once the snow lifts I will get some more pictures to keep everyone up to date on the project.

Not long now for Jon who is due back from New Zealand on the 1st April.  Don’t worry Jon, we have enough work to keep you going on your return.

Derek