Northwood Cricket Club Scores £10,000 Grant to Boost Sustainable Ground-Keeping

Northwood Cricket Club is set to take its commitment to sustainability to the next level, thanks to a £10,000 grant from Wightlink’s Green Innovation Fund.

The funding will allow the club to install a rainwater harvesting system, enabling it to water its playing square using rain collected from the roof during downpours.

This will help keep the pitch in top condition, whatever the weather, and allow the club to host more matches and training sessions — including activities for local children.

“Rain usually stops play, but in this case it will help us manage our ground in a much more sustainable way and bring it into even greater community use,” said Martyn Richard, a Northwood CC committee member who successfully applied for the grant.

He added that the system could save tens of thousands of litres of mains water each season, cutting costs while preparing for warmer summers brought by climate change.

The Wightlink grant will also support other eco-friendly improvements at the club, including waterless urinals, planting native species to boost biodiversity, new LED lighting in the clubhouse, and public recycling bins.

Louise Lea, Wightlink PR and brand manager, said:

“Northwood CC runs cricket for adults, children, and women’s and girls’ teams.

"We were really impressed by its dedication to being an inclusive community hub while taking sustainability seriously.”

Launched in 2022, the Wightlink Green Innovation Fund encourages Island communities to advance environmental projects.

Initially supporting local schools, the fund has expanded to include wider community initiatives, helping organisations across the Isle of Wight push for more sustainable futures.