It is no secret that in recent years, despite the outstanding & extensive efforts of Lee Todd, Andy Herlihy, and a great many others, our pitches have shown the effects of the heavy use they endure.

On the one hand, this is a testament to the dedication of our grounds team and, equally, to the fact that our community club is thriving. Our pitches are in constant use, we are regularly chosen to host neutral fixtures, and we are operating close to full capacity. However, as an ambitious club that prides itself on offering some of the best facilities in the region, we also recognise that the ongoing challenges with our pitches must be addressed.

Our objective is clear and simple: to rejuvenate our pitches and make them among the finest natural rugby playing surfaces in the region. To achieve this, we turned to the expertise of the very best in the field – Barenbrug UK.

With this objective in mind, we are delighted to welcome Barenbrug UK into the #buryrugbyfamily as our Official Seed Partner and together, launch #projectbarenbrug.

About Barenbrug UK

Barenbrug is one of the UK's leading grass seed breeders and producers, specialising in grass for sports applications, agriculture, and forage crops. With a strong network of growers, researchers, and distribution teams across the country, we are a business deeply rooted in the UK.

Founded in 1983 as part of the Royal Barenbrug Group, Barenbrug provides high-quality grass seed specifically bred for British farmers, groundskeepers, and land managers. Our range includes varieties designed for healthier livestock, higher yields and improved performance in our evolving climate, including varieties that are drought-tolerant and disease-resistant, all with excellent environmental benefits.

Our "why" is simple: we believe in the power of healthy, sustainable grass and forage crops to benefit both people and the planet. Every seed we produce is aimed at improving productivity, resilience, and environmental stewardship, making a positive impact on farming, sports, and the wider community.

With this mission in mind, Barenbrug UK have kindly provided a generous supply of RPR Sport seed for our Grounds Team to fully rejuvenate our playing surfaces ahead of the 2025 / 2026 season.

The process began in July with the re-seeding of three playing pitches at Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club. Since then, our well-documented challenges with water during the recent drought have made progress stop-start, leaving us effectively back at square one. However, a decision to re-seed again in early August, combined with the generous support of multiple sponsors who helped us ‘sort the pump,’ means we are now on track for a tremendous playing surface in time for the Men’s 1st XV’s first home fixture of the new season on September 13th.

We are confident that with the seed product and expertise of our friends at Barenbrug, alongside the extensive, skilled and relentless work of our Groundsman and his team, we can create exceptional playing surfaces for the whole #buryrugbyfamily.

Throughout the course of #ProjectBarenbrug, we’ll be bringing you along on the full journey as it unfolds. From the early stages of re-seeding to the moment the first boots touch the new surface, we want you to see the transformation take place step by step.

We’ll be sharing regular updates from the grounds team, behind-the-scenes insights into the work that goes into preparing our pitches, and plenty of imagery to show the progress in real time. On top of that, we’ll be using interactive media to give you the chance to engage with the project directly — whether that’s through video walk-throughs, Q&As, or spotlight features on the people making it happen.

Our goal is to make sure every supporter, sponsor, and club member feels part of this exciting development, and that by the time the season kicks off, you’ll not only see the results on the field but also know the story behind them.

Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club Commercial Manager, Will Affleck said; “We are sincerely grateful to the team at Barenbrug for making this project possible. Their generosity through sponsorship has been the foundation for bringing it to life, but equally important has been the kindness, patience, and expertise they have shown us throughout the process.

We are under no illusion as to how fortunate we are to have the very best in the business right on our doorstep — and to be given the opportunity to benefit from their knowledge and support. Barenbrug supply and work with some of the finest pitches, greens, and sporting facilities in the world, and the fact that our club is now part of that family and portfolio is something we are immensely proud of.

On behalf of everyone at the club, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Michael Hales, Neil Stickland, Heidi Teixeira, and Tom Guiver for their ongoing support. We look forward with great excitement to what we are certain will be a long, successful, and prosperous partnership.

Neil Stickland, Marketing Manager at Barenbrug said: “We are incredibly proud to support Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club as their Official Seed Partner. As a business rooted in the local community, it means a great deal to us to play a part in the club’s journey and to help provide the very best natural playing surfaces for players, supporters, and the wider #buryrugbyfamily. Barenbrug seed is trusted at some of the UK’s top sporting venues, but to see it making a difference right here on our doorstep is something special. We look forward to seeing the pitches flourish and to building a long-lasting partnership with the club.”

We look forward to sharing the story of #projectbarenbrug with you over the course of the 2025 / 2026 season.

Imagery: Beanstalk Media