La Grande Mare gets ready for a ‘summer of progress’ on site
Work on the redevelopment of La Grande Mare has entered its next phase, just over a year since it started.
The completion of phase one of the golf course saw six holes created, the course extended towards the south and east perimeters, and the new driving range completed.
Over the winter, specialist contractor MJ Abbott did some preparatory work on the second phase of the golf course.
Meanwhile, Ravenscroft Construction – the main contractor on the first phase of the buildings – is now four months into its programme, which includes the new golf academy, greenkeepers’ storage and the new car park and entrance from Rue du Gele.
The slab of the academy – which includes 10 bays, tuition studios, a classroom and a cafe – has been laid and the block and beam flooring will be completed over the coming weeks and then work will start on the external walls and roof cladding.
The steel frame for the greenkeepers’ storage is also up already, while the sub-base for the new car park and the access road from Rue du Gele are due to be laid next month.
MJ Abbott’s new compound on the old driving range allows easier access to the second phase of the golf course, which will cover the remaining holes.
‘After a very wet winter, the recent dry spell has enabled both contractors to make very noticeable progress on the academy and greenkeepers’ storage, as well as the groundworks to the rest of the golf course,’ said a spokesman.
‘The grass on phase one is well established and we are delighted with how that part of the course is looking and it shows how quickly everything becomes green again.
‘This summer will see considerable progress across the whole site before work focuses on the country club.’
The recent warm weather has seen the return of a number of migrant species such as swallows, yellow wagtails, sand martins and wheatears.
With the start of the survey season, La Grande Mare’s ecologist and volunteers will continue looking for birds, bats, invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians and orchids across existing and new habitats.
‘It has already been an exciting start to the season with species already recorded such as blue tailed damselfly, small tortoiseshell and brimstone butterflies, common pipistrelle bat and Cetti’s warbler and greenshank,’ he said.
