#GroundsWeek is taking place between 23rd to 29th March 2026 and is a nationwide celebration of the dedicated professionals and volunteers who work behind the scenes to make playing surfaces and green spaces thrive.
It’s a week dedicated to highlighting the expertise and hard work of our wonderful grounds staff, highlighting their invaluable contributions to local sport!
From dawn starts to late‑evening pitch checks, our grounds team work tirelessly — often in all weather conditions — to make sure local sport can continue safely and smoothly. We’re incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful team at Active!
Our grounds team look after 26 grass Football and Rugby Pitches, three 3G football pitches, 6 cricket pitches, 1 bowling green, 4 croquet lawns, 1 athletics track and field facility, the cycle track at Les Quennevais and Softball diamonds!
That’s the equivalent of 229,000m² of playing surface, and at least 100,000m² of non- playing areas.
More than just team Active!
Did you know that our incredible grounds team also help other organisations when they’re needed?
The team regularly work on school sites, parish greens and parks, government parks and gardens, as well as at the Jersey Rugby Club, Jersey Cricket, and the renovation of many of the local football clubs' facilities.
More recently, our wonderful grounds staff helped with the Island-wide clean-up after storm Goretti.
Our brilliant tractor drivers also form part of the team that salt roads in icy conditions.
We spoke with Scott Ward, Active Grounds Manager, to find out more about the important part he plays in keeping everything running smoothly.
How would you describe your job to someone who has never heard of it before?
I oversee the maintenance, safety, and overall condition of the sports playing fields used by schools, clubs, and the public. It’s a varied role that includes everything from Health & Safety, HR, procurement, organisation and turf management to ensuring our facilities meet safety standards for all types of sport.
What does a “typical day” look like for you?
There’s no such thing in grounds. No two days are the same.
Are there any parts of your role that people might be surprised to learn about?
Many people are surprised by how scientific turf management is. Soil health, drainage, grass species, pest control, and weather patterns all affect how a pitch performs. It’s far more than just “cutting the grass.”
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
Seeing players enjoy the facilities—whether it’s schoolchildren at a PE lesson or island teams competing—is incredibly rewarding.
Knowing the pitches play well and that we’ve contributed to community sport makes the work worthwhile.
What’s one thing you wish people understood better about what you do?
That pitch quality is influenced by many factors—not just maintenance. Weather, usage intensity, and recovery time all affect how a surface performs.
What is the most challenging season of the year for grounds care?
They all have their challenges. The winter weather can make conditions difficult and in the summer grass growth is at its peak so the workload increases.
What are you looking forward to in the next few months in your role?
The weather improving. It’s been such a wet start to the year - it really impacts on how we operate.
Is there a recent project or moment you’re particularly proud of?
Probably the biggest project has been at FB Fields following Storm Ciaran. It’s not every day that a tornado rips through a site. The scale and impact on the site was devastating and the project to get the site back up and running was huge. The team worked incredibly hard to get sport back on site.
The organisation of contractors, suppliers, insurance/loss adjusters, the landlord (JPH), the Law Officers’ Department and neighbours took some considerable time, but to see the site back up and running was worth it and particularly rewarding.
What advice would you give to anyone interested in the Grounds Team as a career?
Get hands on experience, learn about turf science, and be prepared to work outdoors in all conditions. It’s a rewarding career for anyone who enjoys practical work, sport, and contributing to the community.
This #GroundsWeek, join us in saying a huge thank you to the incredible people who keep Jersey’s sport thriving. If you see a member of the team out and about, give them a wave — they make more of a difference than you realise!