Spruced up football pitch

Published on 22/08/2012 12:00

A FOOTBALL pitch created by a city artist in a woodland has been declared playable ahead of a match on Saturday.

Built using commercially grown spruce trees, which have been felled to create changing rooms, goal posts, seating, fencing and paths, the Selkirk stadium will spend the next 60 years as an art installation.

The original match day last month fell foul of the weather.

After visiting the pitch yesterday, referee Jim Darling said: “The pitch has passed its inspection and everything is ready to go. I really hope that the players and spectators have a great time on Saturday.”

Craig Coulthard, the artist behind the project, Forest Pitch, said: “Everything had been looking good, but it’s tremendous to have the ref’s final seal of approval to say that the pitch has dried out properly.

“Safety has to come first for us.”