King George V Crown Green Bowling Club, one of the Midlands' top teams, have found new life at their third home in a decade.
After a series of relocations, the club has finally settled at the Selly Park Tavern in Birmingham, transforming an abandoned and overgrown bowling green into a superior playing surface, largely due to the expertise of Mark Allen, Technical Sales Manager at Agrovista Amenity, and the exceptional performance of MM11 grass seed.
The club’s journey to Selly Park Tavern followed a run of bad luck. Initially founded at the King George V pub, the club was forced to move to the West Midlands Police Sports Ground ten years ago. Yet, after a decade at the Edgbaston site, were recently ordered to vacate again to make room for more police activities.
Mark Allen recounted, "Luckily, a mile down the road, there was another green at the back of another pub, which was disused. The team that played there had folded five years prior, leaving the green overgrown."
The task of rejuvenating this neglected venue was daunting. "When I first saw it in July 2023, it was in no condition for bowls—certainly not playable," Mark explained. "We decided the easiest way was to start again."
The transformation began on 1st September with an intensive renovation process. The green was cut back, vertidrained, deep scarified, heavily top dressed and overseeded with MM11 grass seed. "The seeding coincided with a 30-degree heatwave, which was ideal for germination. By September 12th, we were already making the first cut," Mark described. "From then on, it just got better and better."
Mike Pritchard, the club’s greenkeeper for over 25 years, praised the transformation. "The change has been unbelievable," he said. "Mark’s plan helped us get everything prepared for the start of September. By January, the stubborn areas were recovered, and we had managed to get grass cover all over."
Mike attributed much of the success to the MM11 seed, which is a traditional fescue/bent mix that germinates quickly and provides excellent disease resistance.
The revival of the green was a collaborative effort. Birmingham Bowls contractor, Andy Hartwell undertook the initial renovation and club members, including Geoff Bagnall, dedicated countless hours to the project. "Without Geoff's help, we wouldn’t be where we are today," Mike emphasised. "Everyone’s put a lot of free time into it."
The transformation has been particularly special for Mike, given his deep-rooted history and family involvement with the club. "The club has been a massive part of my family over the years," Mike shared. "It started with my father, who dragged me along in the early sixties. As soon as I turned 11, I started playing. Then I met my wife, got her involved, and now all three of my sons and even my grandson are part of it." This personal connection made the successful renovation of the green at Selly Park Tavern even more meaningful for Mike.
Mark Allen’s extensive experience with MM grass seed mixtures, particularly MM11, proved invaluable. "I've used MM11 on countless bowling greens, and it always performs well," Mark said. "The seed mix is disease-tolerant and produces a fine, dense sward ideal for bowls."
Working closely with Matt Gresty, MM and Designer Sales and Brand Manager at DLF UK, and receiving continuous support from Agrovista Amenity, the club has set a new standard for bowling greens. "The green plays beautifully, and the bowlers love the fast speed," Mark added. “What could have been a disastrous situation has turned out really well. Everyone at the club is fully invested, and so far, so good—they seem really happy."
