WORK has begun on an ambitious landscaping and boundary extension project at Aldbrough St John CC.
The club, which plays in the Darlington and District League, has been working with the village’s parish council on the scheme.
The work has seen the ground reshaped into a more traditional oval and three new drains have been installed into one part of the outfield which has often been wet
Later in the year, some native trees will be planted and seating fixed in place.
The trees will screen the hedge and scrubland of the lower green while the seating should offer nice views of the pitch and up the village green.
Club officials said members, who rent the cricket pitch for a pepper corn rent on a long-term lease from the parish council, are delighted that a long-awaited project is coming to fruition.
The next step, when land conditions allow, is to remove earth banking from close to the pavilion, allowing for a graded boundary at the pavilion side.
Club secretary Michael Priestley said the initiative promised to improve playing facilities as well as the aesthetics of the ground for village residents.
He added: “We have received a lot of hands-on help and technical support from the parish council, for which the club is very grateful.
“The project has been talked about for the last six years or so, and it’s been great to see it start to take shape.
“We hope the improvements make the club more attractive to new players and are appreciated by fellow cricketers from other villages.”
