Revamp for Borough Grounds

Dogs can now go back to enjoying agility training at the Borough Grounds in Port Shepstone after Tidy Towns Shelly to Margate improved the condition of the field last Wednesday.

The chairperson of the Hibiscus Kennel Club, Tracy Norton, said all their activities had come to a grinding halt in February due to rain and floods.

Norton said loads of alluvial mud, branches and litter were washed across the fields from the overflowing Mbango River.

She said the heavy rains damaged the clubhouse and also affected the soccer and cricket matches that were played at the grounds.

“The kindness of Scott Kvalsvig to motivate the repairs using his private vehicles and his precious time on a busy business day is appreciated by Hibiscus Kennel Club and the sporting community as a whole. We also appreciate the accounting firm that donated 20 tons of topsoil and grass, and the towing company that transported the tractors, quad bike, and trailer to the grounds,” she said.

Kvalsvig said the upgrade was a Tidy Towns initiative.

He explained that when it floods, an alluvial silt settles on the ground, which is thick, slimy, slippery and hard.

“When you run on it, you get shin splints, and for dogs their paws crack. The alluvial silt also prevents grass from growing, and the ground becomes slippery. For the field to be in tip-top condition, you have to emulate your soil, then put a sandy topsoil so it’s not slippery. This allows the roots to penetrate and get the nutrients from the soil,” he said.

He added that the Borough Grounds is a community field that needed a collaborative initiative.

Kvalsvig, who is also a farmer, said the rain on Monday and Tuesday last week will help with the work they have done on the field.

“We hope to get this ground back in good condition so that the kids and dogs can continue using it. We don’t want to race cars here. The field is meant for people and not for spinning donuts,” he said.

Meanwhile, Norton said it was time for dog lovers to place their collars back on their pets and join them on Saturday afternoons for fun obedience training.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram