Horticulture students get to grips with sport turf management at King Power football stadium

Amy Foxin Industry News

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Students from both the further and higher education horticulture and conservation courses were invited to visit King Power Stadium on Wednesday the 14th October, to learn more about sport turf management from the head groundsman John Ledwidge. Students were given the opportunity to find out how the pitch is constructed, managed and maintained.

In recent weeks, the pitch has had to withstand the demands of World Cup Rugby and Premier League Football, in addition to torrential downpour of rain, so the opportunity to find out how the groundsmen keep the pitch in top condition, in spite of the pressures of professional level sport and unpredictable weather conditions is an invaluable learning experience for the students.

HND student Will Newbury said "It was an absolutely fantastic experience to see the Leicester City pitch close up. I'm definitely now considering taking up a career in sports turf."

Brooksby Melton College has a proud tradition of training top class horticulturists, many of whom go on to become successful sports turf professionals themselves, as well as garden designers and gardeners at large country estates. The college aims to provide students with as much work experience as possible, so that they graduate as confident and practiced professionals, so this visit to King Power Stadium is a fantastic experience for students to learn from the best in the field, and enrich their knowledge of sport turf management.