EAST BERGHOLT PLAYING FIELDS COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT
FOR YEAR 2025/2026

Recent compliments from opposition football teams that our grounds are among the best in any
of the local leagues makes all our efforts worthwhile.

The grounds have been seeded, weeded, fertilized and deep tined as required during the year.

The deep tine aeration process allows the grass roots to grow much deeper
This practice is primarily used on sports pitches to improve the health and playability of the
grass by reaching layers of soil that standard equipment cannot. We have done this over the
entire field for the benefit of all. It encourages deeper grass roots that are more resilient to
drought. It allows the ground to breathe and helps improve drainage. However good the
drainage is all in vain when the water table reaches ground level as happened for a short time
this season and matches could not be played.

The committee were successful with a CIL bid for Solar Panels for the pavilion. These have now
been installed and are generating lots! It should be remembered that just less than three years
ago the Sports Council were in danger of running out of money unless the energy expenditure
of over £8,000 a year was tackled. This was done and the final (very large) piece of the jigsaw
was the solar panel installation.
We expect costs to be under £2000 in the next year. We owe a debt of gratitude to Graeme
Woodcock for all his hard work to see this project through from start to finish. Not an easy task.
Thank you Graeme

The tennis project has been completed and should provide excellent facilities for many years to
come. They are no longer dependent upon water, power and toilet facilities in the Sports
Pavilion.
A great deal of hard work has gone in to this project and thanks are due to many people but
particularly to Brian Willsher for seeing it through difficult times to completion.

The area behind the tennis courts know as ‘the jungle’ has been completely cleared in
preparation for the cricket nets but also it was decided to clear most of the remaining area due
to the dangers of sharp low branches and dangerous brambles which had grown to a height of
almost 30 feet!

The new cricket nets are in operation and are the very best in the area. We have a state of the
art four lane net system. They are available for all to use. For this project we owe thanks to John
Hambrook who oversaw the project from beginning to end.
Last year we had a serious rabbit problem causing the football ground staff to walk the pitch
filling in holes before matches.

The PC very generously funded a steel fence along the whole North side of the field with access
gates as required. A rabbit proof net was the dug into the ground to provide a barrier to our little

friends. No rabbit access is now possible from this area and everyone is much happier. The
steel fence also helps prevent balls going into the impenetrable hedgerow. The problem will
never be completely eliminated with our budget but the improvement has been dramatic. Even
the dogs are finding much less to eat on the field now! Our thanks to Joe Bland and his team.

The bowls club are continuing with their cladding project funded by the PC.

At the top of the field along the hedge with the bowls club and at Nottcuts end there were the
remains of some dead and fallen willow trees. These blocked the ditch, were unsightly and
balls were lost amongst them. These have been completely cleared away and new hedging
planted. It has transformed the area.

We had another tree problem beside the Constable Hall when a tall conifer fell into a neighbours
garden and caused the elderly resident to panic. Fortunately, we were able to react promptly
thanks to GK and the tree was cut up and completely removed within a few days much to the
gentleman’s relief.

We had a survey done of other trees and a several overhanging the carpark and the children’s
play area were trimmed back as required.
The playground is well used and regularly monitored. Visual safety checks are made monthly by
our own staff.

The CCTV system has been monitored daily and a few incidents of concern have been sorted
out very quickly.
New sensor lights have been installed around the pavilion to reassure people walking in the
vicinity in the long winter evenings. This was done at the request of the tennis club. We were
happy to oblige.

The boules court project at East End has been completed thanks to the hard work of Graeme
Woodcock and his volunteers.

Finally, and probably most importantly, we all owe a debt of thanks to our groundsman Michael
Hall who does a simply amazing job and always keeps his eye on things when others can’t.
Thank you Michael.

Cllr Hockley
Playing fields Committee Chair