Bowling green

Before 1830, when Edwin Beard Budding of Thrupp, near Stroud, UK, invented the lawnmower, lawns were often kept cropped by grazing sheep on them.

[1] When the French adopted "boulingrin" in the 17th century, it was understood to mean a sunk geometrically shaped piece of perfect grass, framed in gravel walks, which often formed the centre of a regularly planted wood called a bosquet, somewhat like a highly formalized glade; it might have a central pool or fountain.

The green should have a suitable level playing surface made of grass or of an approved synthetic material.

Generally, greens are built in a square shape as close to 40 metres as possible.

In cities, where outdoor space is limited, greens are rarely 40 metres in length (they are generally still square, however).

The centre line of the rink can be marked along the surface of the green starting at 2 metres from each end ditch.