A new scheme is looking to raise the standards of community sports pitches in England.

The new £1.3m Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme is designed to improve the care of natural turf surfaces – as well as the understanding of sports turf management practices among the volunteer groundsmen and women who look after the pitches.

The initiative will see grassroots sports clubs being able to access expert turf care advice, training and technical knowledge as well as guidance on coping with flood and weather damage.

Starting in April, regional pitch advisors from the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) will liaise with the national governing bodies and will report directly to the programme's national manager - former Headingley Carnegie groundsman Jason Booth.

The pitch advisors will provide support services, training and education to grassroots clubs and sites, while also managing the development of pitch performance standards through reporting and advising on grounds improvements.

The three-year programme is being funded by the IOG, the England and Wales Cricket Board, The Football Association (FA), the Rugby Football League and Sport England.

Charles Johnston, Sport England property director, said: "Good quality grass pitches are important for helping people get out and play sport.

"We recognise the real value and importance of the volunteer groundsman in maintaining and delivering quality pitches every week and are very pleased to support this new network of Regional Pitch Advisors who will provide the necessary support and guidance the voluntary groundsmen deserve."

The initiative comes just months after extraordinary weather conditions damaged hundreds of playing pitches and caused disruption to events and competitions. As a result, the FA called for more efforts to be placed in improving existing natural pitches as well as the installation of more artificial pitches at community and club venues.

To read more about the initiative, click here.