Andrew Crawford is a Ground Manager working on behalf of Trinity Fields Trust in Wandsworth. He maintains Trinity Fields for Local Community Clubs, Schools and Independent Prep Schools known as The Consortium, with one assistant, Daniel Alexander, who is currently studying for his NVQ Level 2 in Sportsturf and Amenity from Merrist Wood.

Andrew required a weather station for recording data and monitoring the weather to provide “a justification tool for works and cancellations” at Trinity Fields. In previous roles Andrew had used weather stations but his requirements were different now as he has no fixed desktop. Andrew made enquiries with EnviroMonitors for an iPad compatible and internet ready weather station after seeing an advert in The Groundsman. After initial conversation the Davis systems fitted the specification and as his budget for groundscare is limited the Vantage Vue was opted for with the WeatherLink IP data logger. “What really sold the Vantage Vue & IP logger to me, as I am only contracted Mon – Fri, is I can be at home or anywhere in the world and know what weather conditions are at the fields and can make decisions based on information on my iPad”.

The console is connected into a router at Trinity Fields and connects directly to the IP logger through a web browser to see the live weather on-site. When at work the station is not used so much but comes into its own Friday night, Saturday morning and Saturday night to check what the conditions are at the fields. Andrew comments “I can be at work when not at work and that is what I love about the Vue. In this industry we tend to be at work even without having a physical presence on site!”.

Andrew Crawford Trinity Fields Vantage Vue

Trinity Fields Trust has been in existence for almost 15 years and has a remit to provide sports fields for the use of the local community and schools. The calendar at Trinity Fields for the next 4 weeks includes; usage from 1100 to 2000 Monday to Friday and 0900 to Sunset at the weekends, which includes the following on a daily basis; Hard ball and Soft ball, Cricket matches, Rounders, Football Clubs and Tennis Clubs. There are 9 Sports Days, 2 have already taken place, School Fetes and Hog Roasts. Andrew highlights "the Vantage Vue will come into its own at this very busy period of time in the life of Trinity Fields". Current Community users are Wandsworth Raiders u9 RLFC, Balham Blazers FC, Battersea and Wandsworth Ladies FC, SinjunGrammarians FC, SinjunGrammarians CC, Spencer u9 CC and Clapham Chasers Triathlon Club as well as Battersea Ironsides Youth Rugby Club, Harlequins RFC Youth Development Programme, and London & Quadrant Housing Association who are holding an Active Living Event on the Fields which will include Climbing Walls, Zumba classes, healthy eating stalls etc open to 5000 residents! The Consortium users are Finton House School, Northcote Lodge, Broomwood Hall (lower and upper), Thomas's Clapham (lower and upper) and Hornsby House School.

Before the weather station was installed Andrew comments “I would get calls at 7pm on Friday due to the weather forecast for Saturday matches and training sessions” however he has given all users access to the live weather to see conditions for themselves. The Vantage Vue has proved to be a tool for all users and not just Andrew as Grounds Manager. When cancellations do occur Andrew has the data to back-up his decisions and the record keeping with WeatherLink software has been “useful for a justification meeting with 5 Headmasters from The Consortium”.

Andrew has been working on sports pitches since the age of 10 where he helped on the cricket field at end of his back garden. At The Marlborough School, Woodstock, Andrew was easily bored, but his view to life was broadened when he was removed from mainstream schooling for part of the week to take 'Rural Science' classes with the inspirational Mr Adnams who “helped push the chips off my shoulders”.

The Vantage Vue is “Perfect to use, I believe it is essential for the groundsman's tool box”. Andrew can see it “would be great for managing multi-grounds for people who have this to be able to oversee different locations”. He “looks forward to developing the system further, as things progress at Trinity Fields I would like to include soil moisture monitoring and technology in leaf wetness" which would require the Davis Vantage Pro2 weather station or individual meters from EnviroMonitors.