Artificial Grass Replacement

Kestrel underway at RAF Odiham

Kestrel have recently begun work on the replacement artificial grass surface at RAF Odiham in Hampshire.

The 13 year old sand filled hockey surface was showing signs of wear and suffering drainage issues and so the decision was made to call in local firm Kestrel to look at a replacement surface.

The scope of works involves lifting up and disposing of the existing full sized sand filled grass pitch and underlying preformed rubber shockpad and replacing the playing system with a new 15mm thick wet pour rubber crumb shockpad and 40mm 3rd Generation artificial grass suitable for football and hockey.

With the Federation of International Hockey now actively endorsing the use of specified 3G grasses for some competition level play it represents a new era for all weather pitches accommodating football and hockey.

Current progress

Kestrel have removed the grass and shockpad and have completed the installation of the new 15mm wet pour rubber shockpad

Remaining Works

The existing 2 layer porous macadam sub base still requires some remediations to correct some minor level undulations and rectify current drainage issues before the new surfacing system can be laid.

A new wet pour rubber crumb shockpad will then be installed to very tight tolerances before a dense 40mm pile 3rd Generation artificial grass suitable for high level football and hockey play up to EH Category 3 (see details below) is laid.

The new state of the art surface is expected to be back in use before Christmas 2009.

         Artificial Grass Installation underway at RAF Odiham

NB: England Hockey will from 1st August 2009 permit the use of EH Category 3 surfaces for local and regional league competition (excepting regional premiership divisions– e.g. the division that directly feed the national league) however it should be noted that the playing surface is characterised by a slower surface speed, poor and sometimes unpredictable levels of consistency and modern hockey skills are much more difficult to execute.

To find out more about our artificial grass services please contact us on 01256 880488, or complete the contact form on the left.