Rydal Penrhos’ hard-working grounds staff have been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

The school has been shortlisted in the Independent School Grounds Team category at the Institute of Groundsmanship Awards, which will take place in Birmingham later this year.

The event will be hosted by BBC TV presenter Dan Walker and the shortlisting marks a significant achievement for head groundsman Tony Owen and his dedicated team.

Despite overseeing only a small group, Mr Owen has implemented a strategic ground development plan around Rydal Penrhos’ 42-acre site over the last year, with the school’s facilities used by high-profile organisations such as Marylebone Cricket Club and Cricket Wales for their regional development programmes.

Much of the hard work went into constructing a new five-bay outdoor cricket net area that was opened by legendary former teacher Mike Leach earlier this summer.

In addition to the sporting fields, Mr Owen and his team have worked tirelessly to enhance the overall condition of the site, which has seen the implementation of new flowerbeds, a longer cut to bring out fuller lawns and reducing nutrients in the wildflowers that grow around the grounds.

The grounds staff also maintain the Forest School area that has proven to be an immensely beneficial outdoor learning tool for prep and pre-school children.

Senior School Head Sally Ann Harding, said: “This nomination is fabulous news and one that Tony and his team can be enormously proud of.

“Rydal Penrhos School really is one of the most picturesque sites you will ever come across from an education standpoint, and our sporting facilities enhance this and really are second to none.

“All this does not come easy, with Tony and our other incredible staff working so hard to ensure every area of our wonderful school is maintained to an exceptional standard.”