The country’s first fully recyclable 3G sports pitch has been officially opened at the University of Bath’s Claverton Down campus.
The new 3G pitch | Photo © University of Bath / Team Bath
The pitch complies with FIFA, World Rugby and Sport England standards, which ensures quality, performance, safety and the best possible experience for players.
The artificial turf chosen for the facility is manufactured without latex and utilises the same polymer throughout, meaning the pitch can be fully reprocessed at the end of its life rather than go to landfill.
Instead of traditional rubber crumb, an engineered wood-particle infill was chosen to provide natural cushioning and grip on the playing surface. This is a natural, biodegradable product which reduces the reliance on synthetic materials and waste.
Professor Phil Taylor, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bath, marked the opening by scoring a penalty on the pitch, following a ceremony attended by representatives of the university, The SU Bath, local sporting clubs including Bath City FC, and Bristol-based contractors Verde.
The high-performance shock-pad underneath the pitch, which provides a cushioning layer between the turf and the ground, is designed to be reused multiple times once recycled.
The pitch surrounds have been developed to be environmentally friendly and considerate of important local wildlife habitats, with 4m wooden fencing providing an acoustic barrier and significantly reducing light spill to protect bats in the neighbouring countryside.
Floodlights for the 100m x 70m pitch and the adjoining multi-use games area (MUGA) and existing 3G training strip, are controlled by an app, and so can be quickly and remotely turned off when the facilities are not in use.
Professor Phil Taylor said: “The addition of this new recyclable 3G pitch supports our world-class sporting facilities, and will create enhanced opportunities for our students, staff and the community to take part in sport and be active at the Team Bath Sports Training Village.
“By bringing together a range of materials, technologies and design measures selected to reduce its impact on local wildlife, the environment and over its lifetime through end-of-life recyclability, the pitch is a fantastic illustration of our profound focus on sustainability at the University of Bath.”
The provision of the new pitch has long been identified as an essential part of the university’s strategy for enhancing its sports facilities and maintaining its reputation for elite sport, its provision to students, and its role in the wider community.
The all-weather surface and floodlights will allow more student sport to be played year-round, and the facility is available to book on a pay-and-play basis for all customer groups, including the public.
The company behind the design and build is Verde, a firm founded in 2008 with the goal of providing sustainable and innovative solutions for artificial sports pitch design, construction and maintenance.
Director Jonathan Bland said: “We are incredibly proud to have worked in partnership with the University of Bath to provide this vital facility, which will help develop the next generation of athletes.
“It’s been a real team effort to gain planning permission and bring the project to fruition. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this facility will have on our community.”
