Stay off the grass appeal as vandals damage fencing

Published: 15 August 2024

People are being reminded to keep off newly seeded sports pitches to enable the grass to succeed, after vandals damaged protective fencing around the site.

The damage was done at Bromham’s Farm Field next to the Exeter Ship Canal, where three quality surface football pitches and a baseball diamond are being created by the City Council.

The work is being carried out by top playing surface creator Carrick Sports and the project funded by the Environment Agency, which used the location as a site compound for the city’s flood defence scheme. The fields had been used as sports pitches before the flood defence work started.

Cllr Ruth Williams, Lead Councillor for City Management, said a fence panel had been bent downwards in what appears to indicate someone trying to gain access to the site.

“It’s frustrating as we’re trying to do everything possible to allow the grass to succeed. We want people to enjoy the sports pitches but not right now.”

Carrick Sports have already cleared the site of rubble, levelled the surface and created a soil base that has already produced some grass. The site will then be further seeded next year and the pitches available for use in 2026.

“The fences were put up for a good reason and if we allow people on to the surface now, we run the risk of ruining all the good work that has been done already,” added Cllr Williams.

“We are putting signs up explaining why we have fences around the site and what we are trying to achieve. In the meantime, I would appeal to everyone to be patient and stay off the site and let the grass do the growing. What we are trying to create here is quite special for Exeter.”