YORK specialist turf grower Lindum has seen its latest order go on display in front of thousands of spectators after winning the contract to supply the bowling green turf at this year's Commonweatlh games.

The business, based near Escrick, has been working on the order since 2010 when it signed an agreement with Glasgow City Council to grow 10,000 square metres of a bespoke greens turf on a special rootzone for the Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls Centre.

Working with John Hacker of PSD Agronomy, a fescue/bent seed mixture was ordered, along with 400 tonnes of Levenseat medium coarse rootzone.

Spreading of the rootzone and seeding was completed at Lindum’s nursery in the Vale of York in May 2010, and progress monitored closely throughout the growing period.

Lindum faced a number of challenges throughout the growth process, including hot weather in June and July 2010 which made is difficult to supply enough water to the young plants in a very free draining rootzone.

Eventually the turf was mature enough for harvesting and deliveries began in July 2011, the final loads going in at the beginning of September.

Stephen Fell, managing director of Lindum said: “It has been fantastic to be involved with the Commonwealth Games.

"The turf looks wonderful and it is a pleasure to see that the City Council’s ambition of the best possible bowling surface has been achieved – a real team effort.”