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Ditchfil
Ditchfil is a carefully selected rubber particle between 2-5mm in size that is designed to fill the ditch on a Bowling green to prevent damage to the woods.
It is produced from scrap rubber tyres with all the metal and textile removed. It is delivered in 25 kilo bags and approximately 40 bags or one ton is required to fill a 12 inches wide ditch to 2 inches deep and 160 yards long.
This depth is sufficient for the wood to settle and not move sideways.
The particles are inert and non toxic and will last for many years. If they get dirty the Ditchfil can be taken out and washed through a sieve.
The cost in pallet lots of 40 bags is £80 per side as a standard green will take 10 bags
COMMENT ON DITCHFIL
In the July 2002 edition of the “Bowls International” Magazine, Dave Bracey comments on the work he has undertaken with DITCHFIL
“After a long search for a material that can be used in bowling green ditches I have recently changed from Lytag that we have used for many years, to DITCHFIL .Owing to the increased amount of firing in the modern game, when the wood strikes the back of the ditch it is still spinning and any abrasive material can cause severe scratching. The laws say that once the wood is in the ditch, it must not move sideways and there is quite a lot of controversy as to the best material to use. This material can be moved at the end of the season and returned to the bags it arrives in and stored away and of course it will not deteriorate.”
David Bracey is the Grounds Manager at the Metropolitan Police Sports Ground, The Warren, Hayes he writes the Greencraft section in Bowls International.
Coarser materials were tried, but it was found that they attracted too much attention from vandals, the finer material escapes there notice and if it does get on the green it will act like Crown III and reduce the compaction.
Other products for Bowling Greens that can be obtained from Tebbutt Associates:
CROWN III™ is a small rubber particle 1-3mm in size that can be
used on a green as a surface dressing to alleviate compaction. You hollow
or solid tine the area around the edge, drop spread 3 kilo/sq/m, brush
in and over seed.
Ditch Gullies produce from concrete are supplied in sections
Gulley back wall liner is a carpet that is stuck to the back wall to prevent
damage to the woods
Ditch bags rubber crumb contained in a bag to line the bottom of the gulley
Dimpled rubber liner cut to size to line the bottom of the gulley