LDCA Drainage Day
LDCA Drainage Day
By Laurence Gale MSc
Four members of the Land Drainage Contractors Association (LDCA) were manning the stand at this years Saltex Show, with the aim of promoting the Association and its activities.
The Land Drainage Contractors Association is a Trade Association whose Membership includes land drainage contractors, manufacturers of drainage machinery, drainage pipes, and suppliers of drainage products.
The main purpose of the LDCA is to promote the benefits of land drainage, and quality standards of good current practice for drainage installation, and the importance of using experienced, properly equipped contractors.
The LDCA publishes Technical Specifications for Field Drainage, Pipeline Reinstatement, and Sportsturf Drainage which provide guidelines for standards of installation which LDCA Members work to.
The LDCA provides a range of technical help and information on drainage and related business topics, a special insurance package, and a Health and Safety service specifically designed for LDCA members.
Through a programme of technical events and other activities the LDCA provides a forum for the exchange of information and discussion of matters of common interest to those in the land drainage industry.
The LDCA also represents the land drainage industry on a number of government and other official bodies, and works closely with other organisations in all sectors of the industry including agriculture, sportsturf, the utilities, and civil engineering. This reflects the diversity of work carried out by Member companies in all these areas.
Sportsturf Drainage Day
The LDCA are currently promoting a sportsturf drainage day on Thursday 20th October 2005 to be held at the National Sports Centre Bisham Abbey.
Now in their eigth year these Sportsturf Drainage Days organised by the Land Drainage Contractors Association, are the UK and Europe's only specialist sportsturf drainage event. The day combines a morning of presentations from well known leading figures in the sportsturf world, with an afternoon of working demonstrations from the country's foremost sportsturf drainage contractors.
The talks cover the principles of sportsturf drainage, drainage systems, installation methods, as well as turf establishment, aftercare and maintenance
The practical live demonstrations are a unique feature of the event. They show a wide variety of different types of equipment installing piped drainage systems with porous backfill, secondary treatments of sand slitting and gravel banding, decompaction, renovation, and overseeding of turf, together with static displays of turf related equipment and materials.
The event is aimed at all providers of sports and leisure turf facilities including sports and winter games pitches, golf courses, equestrian facilities, or amenity areas in parks and grounds. The day will be useful to those responsible for these areas in local authorities, schools colleges and universities, private sports clubs, football and rugby clubs, golf clubs, cricket clubs, racecourses and other similar facilities. For people involved with these areas such as Groundsmen and Greenkeepers the day will be eligible for BASIS points and BIGGA Credits.
The purpose of the event is to raise awareness and highlight the importance of drainage in sportsturf, to provide information on drainage systems and techniques, and to demonstrate good current practice.
The LDCA Sportsturf Drainage Day has become established as one of the 'must see' events on the sportsturf calendar. The last event attracted a capacity audience of delegates from throughout the UK and overseas.
The cost of the Drainage Day is £95 plus vat to include lunch and refreshments and a delegate pack with speakers notes.
Further information on the LDCA and a list of Member companies is available from the Secretary, LDCA, NAC Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2LG. Tel: 01327 263264 Fax: 01327 263265.560