The off-season outdoor checklist for club volunteers

Fixtures have slowed down and members are spending less time on site.  For most clubs, though, the end of the season isn't the start of a rest. It's when the volunteer jobs list gets longer.

The official unveiling of 10 benches at Thornton Bowling Club

Grounds staff rightly focus on the pitch, green or course. The spaces around it often get less attention: the benches, the clubhouse terrace, the paths and the planters. Yet these are what members, visitors and potential sponsors notice first when the new season starts. A little time over winter avoids a last-minute scramble in spring.

Here's a simple checklist for the outdoor spaces around your club.

Walk the site with fresh eyes

Before anything else, take a slow walk around the whole site with a notepad or phone. Note everything that looks tired, damaged or unsafe. It's much easier to prioritise when the full list is in front of the committee, and photos help when it comes to agreeing a budget.

2. Check every seat and table

Outdoor furniture takes a battering over a season. Look for:

• Rot, soft spots or splitting in timber
• Splinters and rough edges, especially on seats used by juniors
• Loose bolts, wobbly legs and fixings that have worked free
• Flaking paint or treatment that will let water in over winter

Decide what can be repaired and what needs replacing. Anything unsafe should be taken out of use now, not left until spring.

Don't forget memorial and sponsored benches

Many clubs have benches dedicated to much-loved members or paid for by local businesses. Check plaques are secure and readable, and that the bench itself is sound. If a memorial bench needs replacing, talk to the family early. It's a sensitive conversation, and they'll appreciate being involved rather than finding a gap where the bench used to be.

Make paths and surfaces safe

Wet leaves, moss and frost make paths slippery. Clear leaves regularly, treat moss on paving and steps, and check that handrails are secure. Look at uneven slabs or potholes around the clubhouse and car park, which are easy to miss on short, dark days.

Secure the site for quiet months

An empty club is a target for theft and vandalism. Bring in anything portable, such as small tables, chairs and equipment. Make sure fixed furniture is anchored, sheds and stores are locked, and any security lighting works. A quick check by a volunteer every week or two can catch problems early.

Look after planters and green spaces

Clear out spent summer planting and add winter bedding or spring bulbs for colour in March. Winter is also a good time for a few wildlife-friendly touches, such as a bird box, a log pile in a quiet corner or a hedgehog house. They cost little and are a nice project for junior members.

Plan and budget for spring

Use your walk-round list to plan what needs doing before the season starts, and what it will cost. Look at grants from your governing body or local council, and consider a sponsor-a-bench scheme. Members and local businesses are often glad to put their name to something lasting.

Think about the long term

If the same jobs come round every winter, such as sanding, painting and treating timber benches, it may be worth asking whether there's a better option. Volunteer time is precious, and hours spent on maintenance are hours not spent coaching, fundraising or welcoming new members.

Modern recycled plastic furniture, for example, doesn't rot, splinter or need painting, and can last for decades. (TDP's benches are made in Derbyshire from 100% recycled UK plastic waste and come with a 25-year warranty.) For many clubs, replacing worn-out timber once means one less job on next winter's list.

A few hours now, a better season later

None of these jobs is complicated, but together they make a real difference to how a club looks and feels when members return. A tidy, safe and welcoming site helps keep existing members and attract new ones - and shows sponsors that their support is well looked after.

Rob Barlow is Founder at TDP, a family-run manufacturer of recycled plastic outdoor furniture based in Wirksworth, Derbyshire. TDP received the King's Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development in 2023