Immediately following the end of the 2002/3 season, the threadbare
  grass of The Den was stripped off, exposing the brown soil beneath. The
  fresh soil was seeded and fertilized, then covered with a "germination
  sheet" to retain the soils precious moisture, and to protect the new seeds
  from the beaks of South Bermondsey's scavenging bird population.
 

Out with the old.....

Seeding time

After seeding: Wednesday 04.06.03

After seeding: Monday 09.06 03

 
  Within a month, the new seeds had germinated producing a luxuriant
  new mantle of green, which even now shows remarkably few signs
  of wear. This rare event, captured on camera, is reproduced here
  showing the complete transformation from the bare earth to the rugged
  green playing surface you see today.
 

 After seeding: Tuesday 10.06.03

After seeding: Wednesday 11.06.03

 

After seeding: Thursday 12.06.03

After seeding: Friday 13.06.03

After seeding: Tuesday 17.06.03

After seeding: Friday 20.06.03