We released part 1 of our blog series looking at the world’s best lawns. It’s only right that we follow up with another four of the world’s greatest and most famous lawns. From the hallowed turf of sporting institutions like Lord’s and Old Trafford to the immaculate oddities at the Garden of Cosmic Speculation, these lawns are some of the world’s best-kept.
Old Trafford (Manchester)
Now, regardless of how you feel about the Red Devils, there’s no denying the greenery at Old Trafford is immaculate. Any number of top-level pitches around the UK or the world could have been the proud recipient of our award, but Old Trafford’s is simply leagues above.
The stadium’s Grounds Manager Tony Sinclair and his team won the award for best pitch in both 2018/2019 and 2020/21 – in a league of high standards, their achievement is particularly impressive. Grass samples are taken weekly, to ascertain whether the grass is low in nutrients or micro-nutrients, and liquid garlic is liberally applied to deter parasites.
The Garden of Cosmic Speculation (Holywood)
Spanning 30 acres, the Garden of Cosmic Speculation in Holywood, Scotland, is the creation of landscape architect Charles Jencks. Taking inspiration from science and mathematics, the garden is home to a range of stunning sculptures and natural landscapes that pair the human-made with nature.
With immaculately-kept lawn-scapes traversing hillside contours and sharply-edged terraces, the Garden of Cosmic Speculation is a lawn enthusiast’s dream. It’s only open one day a year though – so make sure to get your tickets!
Lord’s (London)
The home of cricket boasts a tradition of groundsmanship dating back to the mid-19th century, when sheep were permitted to graze the turf between games. From 1969 to 2018, legendary groundsman Mick Hunt was tasked with keeping the wicket in tip-top shape, and he kept the tradition alive, installing a state of the art drainage system in 2002.
The Lord’s Ground’s new drainage system meant that greater attention to nutrients was required, which Mick and his team handled brilliantly, prepping the pitch to last with the strain of the modern cricket game.
Champ De Mars (Paris)
Located between the Eiffel Tower and École Militaire, the Champ de Mars covers 24.5 hectares, and is one of the biggest parks in Paris. A huge ecosystem of immaculately kept greens, dense treeline and meandering paths, the Champ de Mars has appeared in numerous films, and serves as the backdrop for most pictures of the Eiffel Tower.
This green also offers heritage and history, hosting the first ever Bastille Day celebration, as well as being the site of a notable massacre amid the French revolution. In modern times, it has appeared in the 1985 James Bond film A View to a Kill, and will host Beach Volleyball at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Which of these four lawns is your favourite? Have you visited many already? We want to know! If there’re any lawns want to shout out, let us know on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!