We specialise in the design and installation of quality drainage systems for sports pitches, golf courses and amenity areas. Turfdry's drainage services include site surveys (with full GPS survey facilities), drainage design, and the installation of a wide range of drainage systems including conventional plastic pipe drainage schemes; secondary treatments such as gravel/sand-slitting; and the unique Turfdry Drainage System which provides maximum efficiency with minimum disruption to existing sports turf. Teams of specialist manpower and equipment undertake all drainage works in-house.
Our sports pitch construction team can provide a complete service from conception to completion for all grass playing fields, football pitches, rugby pitches and cricket fields.
Full-computerized design facilities are available and our contracting services cover every aspect of sports field construction, including: major earthworks with laser controlled D5 and D6 bulldozers; cultivation; stone-burying; seedbed preparation; seeding; turfing; aeration treatments (earth-quake & verti-drain); top-dressing; fertilizing; and other initial maintenance works.
"As president and on behalf of Hellingly RFC, I would like to express our thanks to you and your team for the excellent work carried out on our first team pitch in September (2017). In the past 5 seasons we have had to cancel an average of 8 home games over the winter period, we haven't cancelled any this year, and Saturday was the hardest test and the pitch stood up to the task.
The fact we can play games through the winter is marvellous as it also helps the club with bar revenue after the game and keeps all aspects of the club alive. Thanks again for your help, and please use us as a referral."
"Turfdry have completed an amazing job at our athletics facility ensuring usage all year round with the new drainage system. Since installation of the drainage system at the end of 2016 there has been no flooding in evidence, which was a major issue previously."
SPORTS PITCH DRAINAGE & REMEDIATION
"The works undertaken were completed to a very high standard. We are delighted with the results and would have no hesitation in recommending this contractor to others."
NATURAL TURF SPORTS FACILITY FEASIBILITY, DESIGN & BUILD
"Turfdry were a pleasure to deal with, the job was bought in to a high standard on time and in budget. I wouldn’t hesitate to use them again in the future."
SPORTS PITCH DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
"Excellent work with minimal disruption to the course and members."
"Thank you for the huge amount of time and effort that you have put into preparing the documents, contributing to numerous e-mail discussions, and for the advice given. Everything you have done is much appreciated, and we have benefitted enormously from your expertise. "
NATURAL TURF SPORTS FACILITY FEASIBILITY, DESIGN & BUILD
"Turfdry did an exceptional job, despite extremely bad weather conditions during the course of construction. The finished result is a credit to their professionalism, and one that GHRFC are delighted to be playing on."
SPORTS PITCH DRAINAGE
“The fields at Freeston are excellent and probably one of the best around for school fields. Many of our visiting schools regularly moment on how good they are particularly through the bad winter months. Many games remain playable due to the excellent state of our fixture, whereas many of our opponents have to call fixtures off. This has obviously made a big difference in allowing outdoor lessons to remain outside.
I was here before 2003 and the difference is considerably noticeable. Thank you for the excellent job your company did. We are still benefitting from it and will do for a number of years."
SPORTS PITCH DRAINAGE
"The Turfdry installation has been a revelation."
SPORTS PITCH DRAINAGE
"By analysing rainfall data we have proven that the drainage works designed and installed by Turfdry has slashed the number of course closures. The works were carried out in a clean, tidy, prompt and efficient manner and Turfdry would be our first port of call for any future works".
GOLF COURSE GREENS DRAINAGE
"The Turfdry Drainage System has improved the greens dramatically."
GOLF COURSE GREENS DRAINAGE
"All of the work started and was completed on time. The work as always been carried out to a very high quality and success rate. All of the operatives working on sites have been very pleasant and helpful. I can fully recommend Turfdry."
SPORTS PITCH DRAINAGE
"I’ve inspected the field and the pitches, despite recent heavy rain, are in excellent condition. The work seems to be to a high standard and the spoil created has been incorporated into the surrounding borders with no ill effect."
SPORTS PITCH DRAINAGE
"I was very much against any drainage work being done on the greens, but the results have been magnificent!"
GOLF COURSE GREENS DRAINAGE
"I'm very happy indeed with the greens drainage, and so are all the members. Firmness of the greens is good and we can get machinery on when it's not normally possible at this time of year".
GOLF COURSE GREENS DRAINAGE
"Turfdry were excellent from day one!"
SPORTS PITCH DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
"The drainage is working wonderfully and the appearance of the course has improved dramatically as a result. In the two years since the drainage we've had no closures."
GOLF COURSE DRAINAGE
"Thought I would get in touch to say that the drainage work is helping us out quite well at the moment!"
GOLF COURSE DRAINAGE
"I can confirm that I'm happy with all the work that's been carried out... please pass on my thanks to the guys for all their hard work".
GOLF COURSE FAIRWAY DRAINAGE
"The combination of modern equipment and experienced manpower enabled an intensive drainage system to be installed quickly with minimum disturbance".
GOLF COURSE FAIRWAY DRAINAGE
"I have never seen drainage work like this in my life! What was the wettest area of the course is now one of the driest."
GOLF COURSE GREENS DRAINAGE
"We gave careful consideration to the proposals submitted by Turfdry and to alternatives from other drainage companies, and we are very happy with the outcome."
GOLF COURSE FAIRWAY DRAINAGE
"Super job! Great people to work with."
GOLF COURSE DRAINAGE
"I have worked with Turfdry Ltd for the past five years and found the service provided to be of a very high and professional quality. Their attention to detail, approach to problem solving, and reliability has been very good. I wouldn’t hesitate to use this company again in the future."
SPORTS PITCH DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
"Can I express our delight and satisfaction to you for the work that your team carried out. It has been a tremendous success. We are more than happy to endorse you in any way. Good luck for the future, you thoroughly deserve it."
GOLF COURSE DRAINAGE
"Langley Park Golf Club has enjoyed a long association with Turfdry, who have worked with the Club over the past 12 years to improve our winter playing conditions. Their work has always been effective and the Club has been very pleased with the results. Personally, I have worked with Turfdry on a number of projects at the Club and have always found them to be a professional and diligent company who have provided cost effective solutions."
GOLF COURSE DRAINAGE
"The sports field drainage has proven very successful."
SPORTS TURF DRAINAGE
"The Turfdry Drainage System has improved the greens dramatically."
GOLF COURSE GREENS DRAINAGE
I have found the attention to detail and professionalism of this company to be of the highest standard, this has resulted in the construction of four very high quality pitches with the minimum of disturbance to those using the parks. The customer care was of a high degree and they always ensured to meet every wish of the client and they were always very easy to communicate with when required. During the project Turfdry demonstrated the ability to undertake works to a high standard with the minimum of input from the client.
I would not hesitate to recommend this company to anyone considering constructing or renovating sports pitches."
SPORTS PITCH DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
As a project that been an active concern for many years, Turfdry were delighted to finally get the go-ahead for sports pitch construction works at OD Murphy field in Telford, Shropshire.
Although the site was already valued by the local community as an open green space with an active ecosystem of fauna, the council sought to enhance the space further through the construction of a new, high-quality football pitch. The proposals also included the construction of a new perimeter path, car parking area, and wildflower bund to further enhance the local ecology, and enhance the aesthetics of the space for all users.
Following successful works in late summer 2022, Turfdry was delighted to be invited to return to The Savill Garden to expand its drainage improvements.
When Turfdry was first engaged by The Crown Estate to develop drainage improvements for The Savill Garden, a number of areas were identified as posing persistent problems. In order to manage the disruption to the Garden's activities, as well as to assess the effectiveness of the solutions provided, The Crown Estate opted to split the works into multiple phases. As such, we were delighted to be invited to return to the Garden this summer to expand the new drainage system into Phase 2.
Dave Taylor - Course Manager at The Bristol Golf Club - first approached Turfdry regarding potential course drainage improvements in November 2021. Following a change in the club's ownership, significant investment had already been made into other key areas of operational activities, including new greenkeeping machinery and equipment, so the generation of a new drainage strategy was a crucial 'next step' in the club's continued development.
The use of Turfdry's unique Hydraway Sportsdrain is most often motivated by the superior drainage performance provided by its rapid water intake rate, or the longevity delivered by its high-quality construction; however, some sites have particular features that present additional challenges for successful, cost-effective drainage solutions, for which Hydraway is uniquely suited.
The ongoing wetlands construction project at Oakwood Park in Enfield continues to progress well, with many of the larger wetland cells taking shape as the construction phase continues.
In addition to its commitment to enhancing the natural environment, Enfield Council has a well-established commitment to historical documentation, and works in concert with Enfield Archaeological Society to inspect and document excavation projects when possible. In keeping with its goal of delivering projects in a responsible, sustainable, and thoughtful manner, Turfdry is happy to help integrate these activities into its projects when requested, improving the natural environment for the future, whilst ensuring nothing of value is lost to the past.
Nestled in the bounds of Windsor Great Park, The Savill Garden has been recognised as one of the finest ornamental gardens in Britain since its creation in the 1930s. Boasting 35 acres of interconnected gardens and woodland, it offers visitors a kaleidoscopic journey through a bountiful selection of rare and beautiful flora.
Despite the diligent maintenance efforts of The Crown Estate however, some sections of the garden have begun to suffer from persistent waterlogging. This not only has a detrimental impact on some of the plant life, but also disrupts visitors and their ability to enjoy the gardens to their fullest.
With a passionate commitment to making pro-active improvements to the natural environment, Enfield Council is one of Turfdry's favourite clients to work with. Having delivered numerous drainage and construction projects in the borough over the past decade - including the award-winning wetlands project at Firs Farm Park - we were delighted to receive an invitation to tender for the construction of a new wetlands network in Oakwood Park.
Following a complex construction - taking into account high-pressure pipelines, wildly fluctuating weather conditions, and the disruption wrought by a global pandemic - Turfdry is delighted at the completion of its sports pitch construction project on behalf of Barrett David Wilson homes for Salesian School in Chertsey.
Though delivery of the project has thrown up its fair share of challenges, Turfdry's carefully considered, holistic approach to the construction of high-quality, cost-effective sports facilities has resulted in pitches to be truly proud of.
Sundridge Park Golf Club boast two eighteen-hole courses tucked away in a beautiful pocket of greenery in an otherwise bustling and urban part of Kent, and has been offering picturesque and challenging golf to members for over a century. In recent years however, one of the biggest challenges on the course – for both golfers and greenkeepers alike – has been increasingly waterlogged greens, diminishing an otherwise superlative golfing experience.
Following a competitive tender process, Turfdry were appointed by the University of Warwick to install new drainage systems on a trio of sports pitches as part of the ongoing £49 million investment project in its sporting facilities. This project is driven by the objective of enriching its students’ lives, empowering and inspiring them to embrace the opportunities offered by sport as part of a well-rounded life, to make the University into the country’s “most physically active campus”..
Located in the historic capital of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia, Repton School has a strong lineage of both academic and sporting excellence, boasting a number of international and Olympic athletes amongst its alumni, as well as internationally renowned figures such as Jeremy Clarkson and Roald Dahl. Taking great pride in not just sporting excellence, but also the integration of sport into a well-rounded and rewarding education, the school has invested over £6 million in its sporting facilities since 2018 to lay the foundations for future generations of budding athletes and sporting stars.
With a reputation for delivering high quality sports pitch construction on-time and within budget, Turfdry’s clientele of major construction firms continues to grow – most recently with the completion of a new sports pitch project in Nottinghamshire for Persimmon Homes.
The Environment Agency’s Salmons Brook flood prevention scheme – constructed in 2014 in response to dramatic increases in high-volume storm events and residential flooding - was called into action for the first time in early 2021. As per the scheme’s design, this deluged the 1st, 2nd, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th & 18th holes, leaving them flooded up to 3 feet deep in places.
Turfdry have begun the installation of an extensive drainage system on behalf of Exeter Athletic RFC, covering three pitches at their Bravelands home. Following the announcement of a landmark partnership between the club and Exeter College in August of this year, investment is being made into the pitches to provide top quality pitches that can withstand not only the elements, but also the high volume of rugby they will host: not only the fixtures for the club, but also those for the Exeter Chiefs Rugby Academy as well.
The Leader’s Council of Great Britain & Northern Ireland is chaired by former Home Secretary David Blunkett, and is tasked with both celebrating and empowering business leaders across the country. Turfdry MD Melvyn Taylor was invited onto the most recent episode of the Leader’s Council podcast to share his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities of business in such uncertain times.
Melbourne Rugby Club, in Derbyshire, is looking forward to the welcome winter sound of cash registers ringing in the bar, now that its 1st and 2nd Team rugby pitches have had new Hydraway Drainage systems installed by Turfdry.
Though Turfdry’s work constructing the facilities at Hanley Town FC Academy wasn’t inspired by whispered words on the wind, but rather by the firm’s impeccable reputation, the famous phrase from 1989’s Field of Dreams – “Build it, and he will come” – could not have been more fitting given Hanley Town FC’s recent signing of The Greatest Football Player Who Has Ever Lived Or Ever Shall Live: Ricardo Fuller.*
As though to mock Turfdry’s efforts to combat the spongey, saturated ground conditions that plagued their pitch construction site at Orleton Lane, Telford, the record-breakingly wet autumn weather was so dramatic that it necessitated the temporary suspension of operations due to the impossibility of construction work on the sodden ground conditions.
Sherborne St John Football Club, based in Basingstoke, has an excellent reputation for strong youth football development, boasting a dozen teams affiliated to the Hampshire FA. Despite the good reputation of its home ground – at Chute Recreation Ground – as being a good playing surface, it has been suffering in recent seasons with persistent waterlogging that has undermined not only individual fixtures, but also the broader operations and reputation of the club.
With substantial drainage improvements being designed to last around 30 years, a crucial ambition of the waterlogging mitigation project was to maximise the cost-effectiveness of the drainage installation, so that the hard work of the club’s volunteers in organising it would continue to pay off for future generations of the club’s players.
Sutton Coldfield Juniors FC the latest club to embrace the technical superiority of the Turfdry Drainage System using Hydraway Sportsdrain as the long-term solution to pitch waterlogging.
Coming as part of a period of consistent investment, which included the construction of brand-new pavilion facilities, the new drainage system - primarily composed of Hydraway Sportsdrain installed at 3m spacings – also included the installation of a number of additional arterial drains to facilitate more cost-effective drainage improvements to the rest of the site, which is located to the rear of Bishop Walsh School.
With Turfdry rapidly approaching the 25th anniversary of its first ever project - a football pitch drainage installation at Garth Park for Rhondda Borough Council, when the entire business comprised himself and Stuart Wormleighton, who remains Turfdry’s Site Manger to this day - it is an increasingly rare sight to see MD Melvyn Taylor digging trenches in the rain.
With the shocking events of the global COVID-19 pandemic throwing much of the world into disarray, there is a dark shadow of uncertainty looming over industry, the economy, and – most significantly – our collective capacity to react to these unprecedented times in a way that minimises the risk to life.
We are pleased that - following consultation with Health & Safety professionals, as well as with the regularly updated government guidelines – Turfdry has integrated ‘COVID-Aware’ practices into every aspect of its workflow, and can confidently deliver projects in a practical, and above-all safe manner.
After the resounding success of the greens drainage works carried out by Turfdry on all 18 greens of Sundridge Park’s West Course in 2015 & 2016, the club had engaged Turfdry to begin two phases of greens drainage to cover all 18 holes of the East Course. However, wet winters have contributed to increased fairway drainage issues on the West Course’s fairways, leaving many of the newly dry greens stranded. Consequently, the club opted to delay the drainage works to the East Course by twelve months in order to focus its efforts on the West Course, installing fairway drainage in key problem areas over four holes.
It’s been another busy couple of days at the NEC, with the Institute of Groundsmanship’s SALTEX show giving Turfdry an opportunity to talk with visitors from all over the world about our nationally renowned natural pitch construction projects, as well as the revolutionary drainage performance of Hydraway. More than that though, the show represents an excellent time to take the pulse of the industry, with people from every role at every level of grounds management roaming the show floor, each with their unique perspectives.
Establishment of the newly constructed pitches at Kingley Gate is progressing nicely, with ongoing maintenance of the project being delivered by Turfdry.
Although a pitch’s construction lays the most fundamental foundation of its quality, the careful, rigorous maintenance required to establish a healthy, durable sward should not be overlooked. Although some of our clients opt to manage this themselves, the majority entrust this process to Turfdry’s nationally recognised expertise in the field.
Although the ripping operations have successfully removed the extraneous and dangerous material from the pitch plateau, the work to finish the construction of new sports pitches at Orleton Lane continues to develop complications. Fortunately, Turfdry didn’t develop its sterling reputation for pitch construction by shying away from a challenge!
Turfdry constructed a new pitch for Great Harwood Rovers FC in 2016, on behalf of Reilly Developments had purchased the club’s existing site for commercial development. Having been engaged to undertake a topographical survey once a suitable site had been identified, Turfdry designed a pitch layout to Sport England recommended gradients, and 3D land remodelling using sophisticated LSS software.
Turfdry’s expertise in sports pitch construction has been called upon once more, with Telford Council engaging the firm to brings its specialist knowledge to bear on a pitch construction project at Orelton Lane in Wellington.
With the high-pressure pipelines safely secured from disturbance by the protective easement, work on the pitch construction at Salesian School has progressed well. Good progress has been made on the formation of the pitch plateaus’ subsoil layers, which was achieved using Komatsu excavators fitted with GPS machine-control. This links the machines to the computer design software via satellite, delivering precise data that relates the actual construction to the 3D design model, facilitating accurate and efficient construction.
A routine site visit to check in on the progress of sward establishment at Barratt Homes’ Kingley Gate development near Littlehampton has revealed excellent growth on the new pitch plateau. Whilst coverage is not yet entirely uniform, we are delighted with the site’s progress, and look forward to handing over some more top-class facilities to Arun Council later this year.
"Reepham High School & College has a new 16 acre sports ground which provides marvelous facilities for its students and community. The project which saw this field converted from a rough rural field to the landscaped sports ground with drainage and almost billiard top finish is down to Turfdry, who were extremely impressive from beginning to end by the professionalism of the company as well as the knowledge and commitment of its Managing Director. I certainly have no reservations at all in recommending them."
SPORTS PITCH DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION