Over the last few years, flocks of birds have been pecking holes in Gerrans’ outfield and cricket square. The situation has got worse and worse in the last few years to the point where hours of repair work were needed every week to get the ground fit for the next home game.

Our feathered friends were searching for their favourite delicacies – grubs and leatherjackets. The damage they were causing to the ground was threatening the very future of recreational cricket in Gerrans.

Of course, we could not let that happen; so we sought advice from both Cornwall’s cricket grounds adviser and also a national body called The Grounds Management Association. They both came to the same conclusion – we had a lot of dead grass and thatch in both our outfield and on the cricket square. This was providing the ideal environment for grubs and leatherjackets to hatch; and as they are a major food source for birds, Gerrans’ cricket ground was essentially providing an ‘all you can eat buffet’ of larvae for the birds to dig up and eat.

To save the ground, we had to remove the birds’ food source – and to do that, we had to get rid of the dead grass and thatch. The only way to do that was to scarify and reseed the entire ground. Take a look at some of our “before”, “during” and “after” photos. We have removed over 60 tonnes of dead and decomposed materials from the ground!

We now have a beautiful new outfield and a much flatter cricket square. Initial signs are encouraging. Whilst we still have some birds on the ground, they don’t appear to be damaging the outfield and cricket square like they have in previous years.

The ground works cost over £8,000 and we are greatly appreciative of Gerrans Parish Council who own the ground for their generous donation of £2,000 towards the cost. For a small Club, this has significantly dented our finances and should anyone wish to give a donation towards the costs, however large or small, this would be greatly appreciated and will go some way to help us keep cricket in Gerrans for many years to come.

To make a donation please send your gift via BACS – Gerrans Cricket Club; Barclays; Sort Code 20-87-94; Account No 63356280.

We’d also like to thank the local community for their co-operation in keeping off the ground whilst the new seed germinated and the grass grew.