Opened at an official ceremony headlined by Stoke City’s Junior Tchamedeu & Port Vale’s James Wilson, Jason Lowe & Sian McHugh in November 2023, Sandon Primary Academy’s brand new sports pitch has already proved a fantastic addition to the school’s outdoor facilities.
With the front approach to the school already covered with LazyLawn artificial surfaces, this latest 2000 square metre installation extends the School’s sports provision and will be an invaluable space for outdoor learning activities into 2024 and beyond.
Responsible for all the site’s artificial grass and resin-bound surfaces, Steve Johnson of LazyLawn Sandbach returned to the site in this latest project, just one in a number completed over the last eight years. His team are experts in the supply and installation of synthetic surfaces and wet-pour safety surfaces.
A level playing field
The 7-a-side pitch was fitted with LazyLawn Vitality product in a 30mm depth in a project that took just over three months to complete. The install was slightly hampered by contending with British wintry conditions, the additional complication of groundworks and surface preparation and levelling out a natural dip that was discovered in the area. The surrounding fencing had been removed and there was additional remediation of the ground and replacement of the pin curbs to rectify.
Right product for purpose and budget
“We’ve worked with Steve and his team at LazyLawn and Xternal Worx since 2016 – the quality and the choice of product is superb.” explains Head Teacher Rachel Beckett, who was keen to ensure the high quality and finish had continuity across the playgrounds and sports surfaces at the Academy. She also wanted to make sure the right product and specification was selected for purpose and budget. She continues: “Other suppliers were keen to push 3G and 4G pitches but Steve understood exactly what we really needed – this is a pitch for small children, after all!”.
Rachel and her grounds team were also impressed with the striped finish the Vitality 30mm created. With the fence removal, she could ensure the view from her office was unencumbered, perfect for her to enjoy the open space and keep an eye on the sporting activities of the pupils easily.
Continuity and professionalism
In addition to the dip remediation, there was an 820 metre stretch of resin-bound bark-effect perimeter installed – in black for a stark contrast to the lush green of the pitch. With Steve’s 10-strong team enlisted as needed for concreting, grass installation, resin bound mulch and white-line marking, the project began at the start of July and saw its conclusion in late October. Normally requiring 300 tonnes of in-fill prior to artificial grass installation, the additional dip fill meant over 530 tonnes of MOT type 1 aggregate and 6mm-to-dust granite was delivered across the project.
“Steve and his team are a credit to your company.” continues Rachel. “He takes time and would never cut corners – that’s why he continues to be our preferred contractor”.
Not a blade of natural grass was removed, with all of the turf being re-laid across the wider perimeters encircling the pitch itself.
