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Custom solution for AMBC cemetery

MJ Abbott Limited has secured the contract to install a new Toro irrigation system at the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial in Madingley, Cambridge.

The MJ Abbott team is currently on site installing the system, which will provide automatic watering to the turf between some 3,812 headstones within the 30-acre site.  The system will also provide automatic watering to public walkways and landscaped areas in the cemetery mall, west mall, the flagstaff and around the chapel.

Due for completion in February 2010, the installation is a combination of spray and drip irrigation using equipment specially manufactured by Toro.  It will operate from a GDC irrigation controller complete with hand-held radio remote control and a weather station.

Nathan George, our contracts manager comments: “The turf between the headstones will be irrigated using purpose-made nozzles produced by Toro for use on all of the ABMC sites across the world.  The nozzle, fitted to a Toro 754 rotor, will produce a very steep spray trajectory to clear the Italian marble headstones.  All of the sprinklers will have to be installed to precise locations and will need to be set perfectly flat, to enable the sprinklers to work effectively.”

Nathan concludes: “This is a very high-profile and complex project that requires utmost attention to detail.  The cemetery will remain open to the public during the five-month contract period so efficient methods of working, tidiness of reinstatement and a respectful and sensitive approach to working is of paramount importance.”

November 2009