Landscape & Amenity Product Update February 2022

Government announces £39m levelling up fund for parks and green spaces

The Government has announced a total of £39 million to refurbish parks in areas of the country with the lowest access to green space has been welcomed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy.

Alongside the existing £9m UK-wide Levelling Up Parks Fund which provides direct grants to deliver over 100 green spaces in the communities with the lowest access, a new £30m parks fund will deliver up to £1m to at least 30 local parks in England for refurbishment with an emphasis on facilities for young families.

Over the past two years, we have seen how essential parks and green spaces are to people’s well-being and this much-needed investment was described by the charity’s Chief Executive today as a welcome first step in the drive to ensure that everyone in the country has access to a quality park, regardless of where they live.

Keep Britain Tidy manages the Green Flag Award on behalf of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and, while the number of parks reaching the international Green Flag Award standard – the mark of a quality green space – has increased each year, there are far more awardwinning parks in London and the South-East than in the rest of the country.

The charity’s Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: “It is fantastic to see the Government recognise that access to quality parks and green space must be part of the levelling-up agenda.

“We know from our research that for parks to be able to contribute to improvements in health and wellbeing, they must be accessible, wellmanaged and maintained and offer something for everyone within the community.

“Parks funding has been significantly reduced over time

but this targeted money is a first step in the right direction and an acknowledgement that parks are a vital part of our country’s green infrastructure.”

Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said councils were pleased to see culture, heritage and sport recognised for their impact in communities and be placed among the list of priorities in the white paper.

“As well as making a fundamental contribution to pride of place, they support local literacy and skills, and boost wellbeing, productivity and innovation,” he continued.

“They also form a crucial basis for the creative and visitor economies which help form our international reputation and bring our places to the world stage.

“The specific funding investments, such as for football, will make

a local difference, but it is important that councils are given the funding flexibilities to invest in the facilities and activities that will make the biggest difference for their community.

“We look forward to working with government to ensure the insight of local councils contributes to the Levelling Up Advisory Committee and its sub-groups.”

New mixture for 2022 from DLF

In response to the increase in reported instances of Brown Patch in the UK football industry, DLF have undertaken a screening programme for the last two years to analyse the tolerance of different varieties.

The results of the trial highlighted the strong tolerance of certain DLF diploid varieties together with 4turf, which now forms the basis of a J Premier 4Turf – a brandnew Johnsons Sports Seed mixture launching in 2022.

Johnsons Sports Seed have launched J Premier 4Turf. New for 2022, it is the first mixture of its kind to combine the top-performing perennial ryegrasses from the trial

to deliver improved tolerance to Brown Patch, together with the outstanding wear tolerance and visual merit of the original J Premier Pitch mixture. J Premier 4Turf takes full advantage of the most tolerant diploid and tetraploid varieties, with 20% 4turf – formulated with 10% FABIAN and 10% TETRAGAME.

Following ongoing dialogue with the DLF technical team since

early 2019, Head Groundsman at Reading Football Club Chris Last became the first to trial the new J Premier 4Turf mixture.

In conjunction with the trial results, the objective was to deliver a mixture with even greater resilience, even faster establishment and improved wear tolerance.

DLF Enquiry 2

Collaboration is key to #GroundsWeek

Bolstered by the success of last year’s #GroundsWeek campaign – the GMA’s annual awareness week that celebrates the vital role grounds staff and volunteers play in making sport possible – this year’s campaign, from 28 Feb to 6 March, will encourage more people to work or volunteer

Last year’s #GroundsWeek campaign reached more than 135 million people, secured support from 1,193 organisations and individuals across sport

and generated more than 3,000 mentions on social media.

The UK’s ‘Great Resignation’ has seen many individuals quit their jobs, re-consider their priorities and seek different career opportunities. The GMA wants to use #GroundsWeek to highlight the personal and professional benefits that a role in grounds management can offerfrom a volunteering, job change, or career pathway prospective.

The GMA Enquiry 3

Green Flag Award Enquiry 1

It has been an interesting and informative start to the year and on the face of it should inject some much-needed optimism into the industry moving forward through 2022. With the Government setting out its Levelling Up strategy, there was good news for parks and green spaces and for grassroots and community sport too.

The Government announced £39m funding for parks and green spaces and also announced plans for improving health and well-being that feed directly into the programmes set up by Sport England.

On the face of it, good news. But in reality, these announcements will only be worthwhile if they actually signal the start of a long-term commitment from the Government to invest in our parks, green spaces and sporting facilities. The worry is that these plans are a one-off, not the start of sustainable programmes that will boost the industry for years to come and make up for more than a decade of under-investment. We have a genuinely world-industry and this Government has been too quick to claim that title for other sectors and schemes.

It would be timely if the Government started to recognise the global impact our industry enjoys and signal that the Levelling Up plans are not a one-off, but part of a long-term strategy that will lead to further investment in the years to come.

This month, we take a look at a wide-range of sectors within the wider industry. From Play & Activity and the campaign to improve facilities around the country, to Jane Carley’s in-depth review of how robotic technology is shaping the hedge and verge mowing market, we show how significant the industry is to the success of the UK.

We also take a look at Hard & Soft Landscaping, latest news from the urban environment and a focus on Sweepers, Collectors, Blowers and Vacs for the groundscare, greenkeeping and amenity markets. To keep the momentum going, next month we will take a detailed look at the re-arranged BTME at the end of March.

Editor

Paul Groves,

New CPRE research has found that a total of 6,515 Local Green Spaces have been designated in the decade since their introduction.

Combined, they total 30,000 acres of protected green space – an area greater than the city of Manchester.

The majority of these spaces are not open countryside, but the small, undeveloped patches that provide millions of appreciative people with a daily dose of nature.

That’s why CPRE has conducted the first ever study of the impact of the Local Green Space designation, which allows local people to protect places of special value to the community.

The analysis estimates that over 80% of Local Green Spaces have been designated partly for their recreational value –highlighting their importance for people seeking the outdoor exercise that is so vital to our health and wellbeing.

Meanwhile, the richness of their wildlife was a factor in over a third of designations, suggesting that Local Green Spaces can play a major role in reviving the UK’s biodiversity.

The Local Green Space policy was introduced in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) of 2012, after CPRE had campaigned for more powers for local people and protection for green spaces with ‘intrinsic character’.

The policy gives communities the chance to apply for a Local Green

Space designation affording the same level of protection as Green Belt or National Park status.

Spaces valued on account of ‘a particular local significance’ are deemed suitable, as long as they are close to where people live and not ‘extensive tracts of land’.

The Local Green Space designation has become a cornerstone of local democracy and is unique in protecting land according to its importance to the community.

Yet, our new analysis – the first to explore how and where Local Green Spaces have been created – has revealed that there is considerable scope for greater take-up.

The north of England, for instance, has half as many designated Local Green Spaces as the south, and third of those found in the midlands.

And while it’s promising that 38 of the 100 urban councils with the most nature-deprived neighbourhoods have at least one

designated Local Green Space, it’s a travesty that the other 62 are not taking advantage of the opportunity to protect their precious green oases.

Across the country, so many places that have real meaning for people, and real value for nature, remain undesignated and vulnerable to development.

So we’re calling on government and local authorities to step up their support for Local Green Spaces and really promote this policy – which could also be a valuable tool for engaging people with the wider planning system.

CPRE chief executive Crispin Truman has set out an ambitious target for every neighbourhood to have a protected place for community wellbeing, saying: “It should be a national priority to protect our local green spaces so that everybody, no matter where they live, has access to the benefits of nature.”

CPRE Enquiry 6

Wood Bay Turf Technologies announces new UK importer

Wood Bay Turf Technologies, based in Edmonton in Canada has appointed Henton and Chattell as its UK distributor.

The company is a leading manufacturer of golf, lawn bowling greens and other sports turf maintenance equipment.

The company has been creating world class turf maintenance equipment since 1987, with leading products in the range being the greensIRON 3900 and greensIRON 6200 turf rollers; the fds9200 multi-purpose turf dethatcher and the famous tungsten carbide tipped vertical cutting blade, dynaBLADE.

“The company will work closely with dealers, building on the existing network and will support them with pre-sale enquiries, training and on-going aftersales assistance,” explains Lyall Adams,

President and CEO of Wood Bay Turf Technologies.

Henton and Chattell is a family owned business based in Nottingham. “Over the last 32 years Wood Bay Turf Technologies have developed the highest quality products for turf care applications ranging from golf course management, lawn bowling greens and field sports,” explained Peter Chaloner, Managing Director of Henton and Chattell.

“Whether your turf is Natural or Synthetic we have the best equipment, precisely engineered to handle its care and maintenance,”

Along with turf specialist machinery, the company manufactures dynaBlade verti-cut blades for all leading brands of turf machinery.

Henton and Chattell Enquiry 7

Kubota teams up with Wales for Guinness 6N

The Welsh Rugby Union and Kubota dealer Hopkins Machinery Ltd have enjoyed a long and fruitful partnership, dating back to the 1960s when Cardiff Arms Park was still the home of Welsh rugby. In 2005 the Newport-based dealership took on the Kubota franchise, and Kubota machinery has been an important part of the armoury ever since.

Kubota tractors and RTVs fulfil various roles at Principality Stadium, home to international rugby tournaments including three World Cups and the Guinness Six Nations, which is set to thrill capacity crowds again this spring with the lifting of Covid19 restrictions. Paramount in the

qualities of a tractor to be used in the Stadium is dependable reliability, and the 2016 Kubota STW 40 currently in use is a perfect example. The tractor is fitted with a Kubota LA 454 ST front end loader, and tasks range from loading grass clippings

from buggies on the pitch into a skip for collection by the local authority to pulling a harrow to maintain the artificial turf surrounding the pitch and positioning goalposts.

Kubota Enquiry 8

STIHL will be hitting the road throughout March with a new Professional Cordless Roadshow UK tour. The STIHL Fully Charged Cordless Roadshow will allow larger professional users, such as councils and major landscaping contractors, exclusive access to its extensive range of cordless machines, as well as providing local dealers with more support than ever before.

Professional users will be able to get hands on with STIHL’s latest range of cordless products, as well as gain insight from STIHL’s team of trained experts who will

be on hand to offer advice and recommendations. Refreshments will be available on the day, as well as offers and discounts all redeemable through STIHL’s specialist Approved Dealers.The roadshow starts on March 8 in Stirling and continues throughout the month at various places around the UK, finishing on March 31 at Writtle College in Essex. For more information on the upcoming STIHL Professional Cordless Roadshow 2022, dealers are encouraged to contact their STIHL Area Sales Manager.

STIHL Enquiry 9

Jubilee’.

Three per cent pay rise for grounds staff recommended by GMA

Following research commissioned by the Grounds Management Association (GMA), conducted by Myriad Research, a recommendation of a 3% increase in national minimum salary bands for all levels of grounds staff is being recommended this year by the not-for-profit membership organisation.

In addition, the GMA suggests that the ‘bonus’ amounts paid in recognition of those with GMA qualifications should increase to £675 per band - a rise of 3.8% - extending from £675 for Level 1 accreditation up to £4,050 for Level 6.

The increases outlined in the GMA’s 2022 National Salary Framework report are made against a backdrop of forecast growth in the economy (of 6.5% in 2021 and 6% in 2022), as well as projected increases in both CPI (Consumer Price Inflation) and RPI (Retail Price Index) inflation.

The GMA’s recommended national basic salary bands, with effect from 1 January 2022, relate to the minimum basic salary and are not ‘salary ranges’.

There is no maximum salary specified for grounds staff as experienced staff in some sectors (notably professional sports) would be expected to earn well above the average in other sectors.

If this is the case, these recommendations can be used purely as a recommendation for annual uplift. Bonuses, overtime, and subsistence payments have not been included and are

therefore additional. Regional pay variations have been considered, with higher cost areas of the country expected to make salary awards at the upper levels of the appropriate band.

To accompany the recommended salary bands, the GMA publishes sample job descriptions that reflect the typical job responsibilities and experience required for each level within the industry career hierarchy.

The GMA recommends that competent and effective job performers whose job content relates closely to the ‘standard’ position description should be paid at the mid-point and upper pay levels of the bands.

In addition to the updated salary bands, it is recommended that all grounds staff receive financial recognition within the salary scale for successful completion of a relevant professional qualification, such as those offered through GMA learning.

The total amount received should be directly linked to the

highest level of qualification attained, with the highest amount, awarded for those who hold a GMA Level 6 qualification, being an additional £4,050 to the individual’s existing salary.

Geoff Webb, CEO of the GMA says: “The GMA is working to elevate the sector and its perception so that, in turn, grounds staff get increased recognition and reward – such as salaries that meet the level of skill or demand.

“With a stagnant economy riding the pressures of COVID-19, many industries are facing economic challenges, but our National Salary Framework is imperative to shaping the future of grounds management.

“But we can’t do this alone. We must all work together to educate those outside of our sector to help understand it’s value. You can visit our website to find out more about the practical ways this salary framework can support your role or recruitment.”

The GMA Enquiry 11

EVO 165DT keeps contractor on track

S P Tree & Landscaping have recently taken delivery of a brandnew EVO 165DT woodchipper from GreenMech, to keep pace with growing demand from commercial customers.

After running a GreenMech SAFE-Trak unit for several years, owner Steven Parker decided to invest in the 6” EVO 165DT to benefit from increased processing power - on par with the performance of their existing 8” road-tow machine!

With a client base ranging from domestic customers to commercial outfits, parish councils and building firms, S P Tree & Landscaping often require a tracked chipper for speed and ease of access.

The addition of twin-drive horizontally extending tracks makes the EVO 165DT the perfect ‘go-anywhere’ woodchipper. The track system provides ground clearance of

194mm and a tracking speed of 3.2kph to provide the operator with optimal manoeuvrability and stability when working on uneven ground.

As with the other models in the GreenMech EVO series, the

165DT features a wide infeed chute, twin horizontal feed rollers and a heavy-duty flywheel which delivers unparalleled processing power for a machine in its category.

Enquiry 12

New managing director for Reesink UK

Reesink UK has announced a new managing director has been appointed. David Banks’ role becames effective on 1 February 2022 and he joins after nearly seven years with JCB Industry where he was general manager.

A sales growth leader and marketing strategist, he has significant experience and expertise in building product portfolios, developing dealer networks, distribution and routes to market, sales processes and providing group leadership within both OEM and retail across multiple industries.

David, who succeeds David Cole in the role at the helm for Reesink UK, which incorporates responsibility for the Turfcare, Agriculture and e-Vehicles divisions, says: “I see my area of expertise as growing business across multiple sectors. While at JCB as general manager the business grew by 35 percent.”

He continues: “Coming from an OEM gives a more broad view and I’m looking forward to having an autonomous role, working with Reesink’s dealers, branches and wider teams, building on the fantastic work that has already

been done and expanding into different sectors with a continued focus on providing the very latest technologies as part of our key offering.

Reesink UK Enquiry 13

GreenMech

The FSA 135 and FSA 135 R brushcutters are perfect for mowing tough grass and scrub in noise sensitive areas. Thanks to a wide range of cutting tools that can be fitted to them, you‘ll be able to take on any challenge. And what’s more, the FSA 135 is prepared for STIHL connected - a new way of managing the maintenance and tracking the working time of your professional fleet of tools.

Cold weather working with Snickers Workwear

Continuous work in cold weather produces body heat and sweat.

But when your rate of work slows, the sweat cools and you’ll start to feel cold and damp.

The solution is Snickers Workwear’s body-mapping Mid-layer working clothes that deliver advanced ventilation to control and regulate the heat from your body.

Made to last from sustainable fabrics such as micro fleece and recycled polyester, they’re great for both work and leisure activities.

These garments insulate and keep heat around your body by effectively creating an air pocket inside your clothes.

They complement Snickers Workwear’s FlexiWork Baselayer undergarments that

combine sustainable animalfriendly Merino Wool with polyamide for warmth and ventilation.

As well as the Top-layer or ‘outer shell’ AllroundWork and Flexiwork Weatherproof Jackets and Trousers that will keep you warm, dry and comfortable all day long.

Snickers Workwear Enquiry

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Competitive deals on Toro Flex and Infinity sprinkler bodies

For spring, Reesink Turfcare is offering highly competitive deals on two of Toro’s most popular sprinklers – the Toro Flex and Infinity sprinklers.

At a time of year when many golf clubs are assessing their irrigation needs and perhaps considering an upgrade, the option to buy 10 Flex or Infinity sprinklers and get two absolutely free, or buy three Infinity sprinkler bodies and get one free, will no doubt be extremely welcome.

But this isn’t just an opportunity to add value to your irrigation system, it’s also the chance to benefit from Toro’s leading technology, engineering and true innovation for the most effective irrigation solution on the market, says Reesink Turfcare, official distributor in the UK for Toro professional irrigation products for the golf, sport and amenity sectors.

Robert Jackson, water division sales manager at Reesink, comments: “Course managers

and greenkeepers will know what the course setup is, how the system is performing and whether their irrigation system needs updating or extending. And they will want to know that they are getting the best product and the best value.

“Meanwhile, committee members will have an interest in the business case and want to know they are getting the best return for the club. These deals ensure all parties are happy.”

These deals are for those clubs who want next level sprinkler control, now. Both the Flex and

Infinity sprinklers offer highly efficient and accurate irrigation with clever innovative features to make your job easier.

These include easy arc adjustment, ratcheting risers, higher pop-up heights, Smart Access for ease of service, forwards-backwards compatibility, and some of the most efficient nozzles available.

The sprinkler spring deals are available now and last until the end of April 2022.

Reesink Turfcare Enquiry 17

Maintenance regime keeps park in pristine condition

More on offer from GreenTek

Waterscapes Limited, the UK’s leading water feature and irrigation specialist, is playing an important role in maintaining the landscaped areas at the Triplets Park and Viaduct development, Kings Cross.

The company provides ongoing maintenance of the irrigation system on behalf of the estate’s landscape maintenance company. This includes attending the site

weekly during the main season to carry out inspection and preventative maintenance work which ensures the continuing efficient operation of the Rain Bird irrigation system.

Waterscapes originally completed the extension of the site-wide irrigation system in several phases.

Rain Bird irrigation products were specified to meet the diverse watering requirements

of the site. These included flexible XFD surface Dripline for borders and narrow planting areas, 1806 Pop Up Spray Heads and PGA Series Control Valves.

These were all connected to an existing Rain Bird ESPLXD two wire controller with remote access through IQ Central Control.

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GreenTek is a manufacturer of sportsturf maintenance attachments to fit compact tractors and golf course mowers.

The equipment is aimed at increasing the ease and speed with which sportsturf maintenance can be carried out, making it ideal for busy groundsmen, contractors, and local authorities.

In 2021 GreenTek ran a very successful demonstration

video program which they are looking to add to in 2022.

They are asking for advice from all turf professionals as to what products you would be most interested to see demonstration videos created for this year, and are running a £250 Red Letter Day Prize Draw to find out.

For your chance to win a fantastic £250 Experience Day or Luxury Weekend Break

from Red Letter Days simply visit GreenTek’s website at greentek.uk.com and click on the Videos tab.

And as a bonus, GreenTek are giving away a free baseball cap or beanie hat to everyone that enters the Prize Draw.

Closing date is February 28 2022, so why not enter now, you could be the lucky winner.

Rainbird Enquiry

Headland’s EPH tank-mix helps country club

A nutritional programme from Headland Amenity has been praised by the Director of Courses at Essendon Country Club, for helping them get through the autumn and winter of 2021 disease-free.

After his appointment in June, Marc Winnan had soil samples taken which highlighted extremely high levels of organic matter – the reduction of which was the key to the plan constructed in conjunction with Headland’s Regional Technical Manager Peter Blackaby.

Key to the programme was Headland’s industry-leading 20-20-30+Mantle Enhanced Plant Health (EPH) tank-mix – a combination of Liquid Turf Hardener, Turfite Elite and Seamac ProTurf Fe, proven to deliver turf strength and reduce disease activity when applied as part of a preventative planthealth approach.

“I’ve used 20-20-30+Mantle previously, but where we would traditionally begin applications at the end of September, we brought this forward to the end of August because of the concerns we had about disease, Fusarium in particular.The 20-20-30+Mantle was complemented with applications of DewCure to reduce leaf moisture and this combination, without a doubt, had a massive impact on protecting plant health and saw us get through the whole winter with no disease.”

“In other areas of the course, the goal was to improve the density of the sward via granular feeds. We applied Quickstart Maxi Plus which gave us great results across the tees, approaches and fairways, and then switched this to Multigreen 15-0-22 temperaturecontrolled release fertiliser to see us through the winter months.”

Headland Amenity Enquiry 20

Fuelling the future of garden machinery

Makita UK is offering end users the chance to get their hands on FREE LXT and XGT products with the purchase of selected cordless garden machines. With a wide selection of freebies on offer, the deal is perfect for professionals looking to start or expand their existing Makita cordless range.

Makita’s latest garden machinery promotion gives end users the chance to claim the highly sought after MR002GZ01 Bluetooth Site Radio (compatible with LXT, XGT and CXT batteries), or 18V LXT DMP180Z Inflator, or 18V LXT DUM604ZX Grass Shear with the purchase and registration of a huge selection of its leading LXT outdoor products – including blowers, grass shears, hedge trimmers, line trimmers, brush cutters, split

shafts, lawnmowers, chainsaws and the Twin 18V DDG460T2X7 Brushless Earth Auger.

In addition, those who purchase selected XGT 40VMax outdoor equipment (including blowers, hedge trimmers, brush cutters, linetrimmers and more) can redeem a free MR002GZ01 Bluetooth Site Radio, or MP001GZ XGT 40VMax Inflator, or ML003G XGT 40VMax Work Light.

Makita’s latest redemption offer will run until 30th June 2022. Customers who purchase any of the qualifying models in this period will have 28 days to register their purchase and claim their free product.

Makita UK Enquiry 21

Newark Market Square project stands the test of time

GftK’s vdw 850 Paving Jointing mortar supplied by NCC Streetscape was specified and installed for the refurbishment and repointing of Porphyry Setts in Newark Market Square for the District Council back in 2007.

Following inspection after just over 14 years in late 2021, the conclusion was that the paving and GftK’s jointing is still performing well every day and will continue to do so for many years to comelocal authority cost efficiency and sustainability in paving.

The Newark market square paving is still sound, after more than 14 years continuous service with open

air markets and events 6 days a week as well as Alfresco eating and drinking whenever the weather allows. This includes continuous exposure to all forms of traffic, from pedestrians to heavy duty brewery drays, articulated delivery trucks and other vehicles every day, plus the frequent use of de-icing salts in winter and regular sweeping and washing by mechanical street cleaning machines.

Newark is another project proving the high performance and durability of GftK’s vdw 850 Paving Joint Mortar - every day.

NCC Streetscape Enquiry 22

Landscape design must be led by sustainability

Sustainable design practices must be a top priority for garden design in 2022, according to leading drainage manufacturer, ACO Water Management.

While a number of trends often focus on aesthetic appeal and colour schemes, ACO is encouraging landscape designers and architects to ensure sustainable solutions are the top priority when delivering future projects.

The impact of climate change has already led to the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) creating ambitious targets for its members to reduce carbon, chemical and peat-based products.

Another key sustainable practice the APL is targeting is that of water management. By 2025, the APL is looking to work with its members to deliver

an aggregate 40% increase in the proportion of water that comes from non-mains and re-used water sources, such as rainwater and runoff capture. As such, implementing sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) should be a key priority for those involved in designing and building gardens.

Oliver Collins at ACO said: “Climate change has meant that water management has moved from a ‘issue’ to an ‘asset’ in garden design. While it could lead to a new outlook in terms of garden design, it also opens up a number of opportunities, particularly as the public continues to reassess its relationship with outdoor spaces following the pandemic. Every house in the UK can have a role to play to support the climate and understanding sustainable best practice is therefore going to grow in importance this year.

By adopting SuDS solutions and

retaining water on-site, we can ensure runoff rainwater does not fill public sewers.”

To support landscapers and designers, ACO has launched a new guide for sustainable

design. Offering guidance on legislative updates, it outlines the opportunities to integrate SuDS into new garden projects.

ACO Water Management Enquiry 24

Green-tech provides protection for over 6,000 trees and shrubs

One of the UK’s longest standing landscape contractors, Frosts Landscape Construction was awarded the landscaping and ground works. Much of which involved the ground preparation for the grassed areas as well as planting of several thousand trees and shrubs.

To protect the newly planted saplings from wildlife damage and the environment, 500 spiral tree guards were supplied, along with over 6,000 shrub shelters and mesh tree guards.

The last thing any contractor wants when they have planted several thousand trees, is for them to be decimated by the local animal population.

Green-tech’s Tubex Shrubshelters help in the early years of planting,

offering excellent protection from grazing wildlife, whilst providing a micro-climate within the shelter to aid early growth and healthy establishment.

The Shrubshelters also have an integrated tie for quick and easy stake fixing and can be collected and recycled as part of the Tubex recycling scheme.

For the plants that need a bit more room, the Mesh Tree Guard has a 12mm plastic netting with an open structure that allows airfl ow and more natural climatic conditions, whilst still protecting the young tree from grazing animals.

Having worked with Frosts for over 15 years, Green-tech was delighted to be able to supply all the necessary guards and shelters from stock. We also supplied over 7,000 tree stakes, controlled release fertiliser and Mycorrhiza Rootgrow.

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Linmere Park is an exciting new ‘urban village’ situated on Green Belt land to the North of Houghton Regis near Luton, close to the new J11A of the M1.

Green-tech Enquiry

Proludic launches its 2022 Catalogue

The start of 2022 sees the launch of our much anticipated new catalogue, packed full of ideas, including over 40 new products added to our play and sports ranges.

So, what are Proludic’s innovative new entrants for this year?

Within our sports range, we have been working on numerous

engaging sports activities for children and teens alike. Our fun and dynamic Ninja trails offer a range of structured activities for developing fitness in children and teens between the ages of 6 and 14 years.

Proludic’s already acclaimed Street Workout equipment has also been much improved and the new designs have received endorsement from the World Street Workout & Calisthenics Federation (WSWCF) for their excellence.

Our MUGA’s (Multi-Use Games Area’s) have not been overlooked as part of this year’s innovations and many complementary add-ons have been developed to improve the user experience and make this equipment even more inclusive.

We have also included lots of exciting additions to our play ranges such as new challenging rope structures and combination metal/wood cableways.

The release of our stylish parent/child swing is

something that clients have been requesting. Designed to be easily accessible, without the need to step over a central fixing.

With over 1200+ pieces of play and sports equipment for you to

choose from, there is something for all the community to enjoy!

Our equipment is manufactured at our world-class manufacturing facility in France – keeping us reassuringly in control of our supply chain for clients!

To arrange a FREE site visit or Zoom call with your Area Manager, please contact our Customer Advisors on 0115 982 3980. To request your very own 2022 New Catalogue go to Proludic.co.uk.

Proludic Enquiry 27

New study finds access to public play spaces is unfair and unequal

Access to public play spaces in the UK is unfair and unequal, according to new research.

A Freedom of Information survey carried out by the Association of Play Industries (API) has revealed that some UK regions have almost five times the free-to-access play provision of others.

The Association of Play Industries (API) is calling on the Government to level up the life chances of UK children by ensuring equal access for all to public play spaces.

In the UK, public playgrounds are the number one location for children’s outdoor play. Free, outdoor play is vital for

children’s physical and mental health and without it normal childhood development is curtailed.

The vast majority of British children live in built-up urban areas, and those from the 1 in 8 UK households without a garden (1 in 5 in London), rely on public play areas for outdoor play and exercise.

For many children, community playgrounds are their only chance to get active and play outdoors. Disabled children’s access to, and enjoyment from, playgrounds also needs to improve.

The research highlights the postcode lottery facing

children and families, with some areas well-served and others seriously deprived of community play facilities:

• Children in London have access to almost five times fewer public playgrounds than children in Scotland

• The West Midlands has the worst play provision in the UK with 929 children per playground. It also has the worst childhood obesity rates in England (Year 6)

• London has the second worst play provision in the UK with 866 children per playground

• Every playground in the North-East and the NorthWest serves over 600 children, compared to just 196 in Scotland

• Welsh children enjoy access to over twice the number of playgrounds than children in London

The API’s Equal Play campaign is calling for: ringfenced central government funding for play, to enable local authorities to provide every child with a safe, highquality playground nearby.

Despite the release of the government’s Levelling Up strategy last week, there was notably nothing specifically related to children’s health and wellbeing.

We are asking the government to allocate monies from the Levelling Up funds towards equal play; this simple ask

would go a long way towards levelling up children’s play opportunities in the UK.

API Chair, Mark Hardy, said: “We are lobbying the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to provide local authorities with access to a national funding stream for public playgrounds so that every child has a safe, local, high-quality place to play every day.

“The Government’s Levelling Up agenda must include children’s access to outdoor play; it is fundamental for childhood development and millions of children are being disadvantaged by this postcode lottery.

“Nationally, play provision is extremely patchy, with some areas well-served and others woefully lacking. Cash-

strapped Local Authorities face increasingly difficult choices in how they allocate their budgets, and funding for outdoor play areas is often sacrificed in favour of other demands, particularly over the last two years.

“The closure of public play spaces during lockdown and the effects on children of Covid restrictions has brought about a renewed appreciation by the public of the importance of these community assets.

“Providing all children with somewhere safe and local to play is a relatively inexpensive and simple public health measure and will help to help to tackle soaring childhood obesity rates and mental health issues - problems hugely exacerbated by the pandemic.”

Star Buddies are the innovative creation of Star Rubber Environmental Ltd, creating bespoke animals, seamless spheres, rock and log steppers from high quality EPDM wet pour surfacing. These buddies give children an extra dimension of play and can even be installed with water jets, ideal for splash parks and holiday parks. Star Buddies bring children face to face with animals they see in nature, read about in books and watch on TV!

Coming Soon, a new line of 2D pre formed graphics for EPDM wet pour surfacing. Made from high quality full colour EPDM wet pour and preformed for ease of installation. Full brochure available on request, please contact info@starrubber.co.uk for more information.

www.star-rubber.co.uk

Makita launches new Brushless Earth Auger

Makita UK has extended its powerful XGT 40VMax range with a DG001G Brushless Earth Auger.

For high performance earth boring with even and consistent holes for fence posts, landscaping, construction and soil sampling, the DG001G is up to the task.

Comparable to a 36cc engine product, this XGT 40VMax machine has a no-load speed of up to 1,500rpm and a maximum drilling capacity of 200mm. It also delivers up to 136nm of torque. With two mechanical speeds to choose from, operators can easily drill into high or low resistance soil – and the reverse switch makes extracting the machine effortless.

improved user handling, the earth auger attachment

includes a bar which receives reaction force and an auxiliary handle which makes drilling holes easier. The DG001G also features Makita’s Automatic Torque Drive Technology which works to ensure that the machine is always working at its optimum.

As with all XGT machines, the DA001G and DG001G both benefit from the inclusion of Makita’s brushless motor. As there are no moving parts in the motor causing friction, no energy is lost through heat production and tool run time is extended, maximising user productivity.

Brushless motors also do not need regular maintenance or replacement parts, which keeps the lifetime cost of the machine to a minimum.

UK Enquiry 30

DuraPost specified for TV garden transformation

DuraPost by Birkdale was recently featured on ITV’s Love Your Garden, as part of a muchneeded garden renovation in Middlesbrough. The programme’s design team specified the innovative DuraPost steel fence post system in Anthracite Grey due to its complementary aesthetics and impressive space efficiency.

The project objective was to drastically transform the garden belonging to Pip, her husband and two-year-old son Harrison. As a result of suffering from EhlersDanlos Syndrome, a rare genetic condition, Pip is confined to a wheelchair meaning that prior to the renovation, she was unable to play with her son in the garden. The plan for the episode was to create a new garden for the family that would be more accessible whilst also maximising the available space and providing an environment that would encourage Harrison to explore and play.

Consequently, when it came to specifying a fencing system, space efficiency and aesthetic flexibility were important characteristics. DuraPost stood out as the most appropriate solution. DuraPost by Birkdale is manufactured from cold rolled galvanised steel; a material that is 80% lighter than concrete. Possessing an unrivalled strength-to-weight ratio, DuraPost also benefits from a slim and unobtrusive profile.

This ensured that Pip and her family were able to benefit from a strong and space-efficient fencing system that would help to maximise the garden space available.

The transformative design put together by the Love Your Garden team included a host of different plants alongside a stream and an imaginative ‘Dino World’ section for Harrison. To complement the tranquil and imaginative atmosphere of the garden, DuraPost was specified in Anthracite Grey, alongside traditional timber fence panels that were painted to match.

When it came to installation, the Love Your Garden team contacted trained DuraPost installer David Massey of Massey Garden Design. He replaced the original 35m of dilapidated timber fencing, with the selected DuraPosts as well as colour-matched gravel boards, capping rails, post caps and cover strips. Largely due to the light weight of the system, the process was quick and straightforward.

Furthermore, thanks to the durability of DuraPost, the family’s new stylish fencing is there to stay. Tested to withstand wind speeds of up to 110 miles per hour, the system is not vulnerable to the issues usually associated with traditional timber or concrete fence posts, such as cracking or rotting.

Birkdale Enquiry 31

Postsaver launches pre-sleeved posts

Postsaver Post Rot Protectors feature a dual-layer rot shield technology that when heated, shrinks onto the post creating a long lasting, high-performance, air and water-tight seal.

This ensures the post protector excludes all the factors required for decay. By locking preservatives in and locking moisture, oxygen and fungi out, this prevents costly ground-line rot in wooden posts.

As a result of customer demand, Postsaver are excited to launch a new range of fence posts with preapplied Postsaver post protectors. For many years contractors have been saying that the Postsaver technology adds significant value to projects and provide their customers with confidence in the longevity of their posts.

However, time is a contractors most valuable commodity, and the correct application of a Postsaver Post Rot Protector can add to the cost of a project. Presleeved Postsaver posts now save time and money with ready to use protected posts.

The Postsaver guaranteed 20 year long life posts have gone through a tanalised UC4 treatment process, and then fitted with the rot protector for a 2ft burial depth. Application of the post protector is done via a state-of-the-art Pro-mill machine which can process up to 400 posts per hour ensuring each post is fitted correctly with the unique dual layer rot prevention technology.

These new premium, pre-sleeved posts can be ordered in a range of shapes, sizes, and lengths with the added benefit of having them delivered directly to site. No more concerns or hesitation about the application process, there is now a Postsaver long life post that is ready to use or to sell as part of any fencing and landscaping range.

Trusted by Highways England, Network Rail, and the National Trust to name a few. The Postsaver Post Rot Protection range can benefit a huge range of businesses from fruit growers and vineyards to agricultural and domestic fencing, wildlife parks and zoos.

Postsaver Enquiry 32

Survey reveals perimeter safety challenges

Security fencing specialist, Jacksons Fencing, has revealed findings from a survey regarding UK railway perimeter safety. The study found that, according to railway engineers and designers, the threat of ‘vandalism’ was the biggest concern to railway safety. This was followed by ‘trespassers with criminal intent’ (42%) showing the growing need for effective security solutions on the UK’s railways.

Peter Jackson, Managing Director, Jacksons Fencing said: “It’s clear

from our research that transport security doesn’t rest solely on the policymaker’s or owner’s shoulders. Engineering industry professionals also have a part to play in mitigating risks around railway border safety. We can see from our result that this is not always easy, a lack of time at the specifying stage, tight budgets, and gaps in knowledge regarding the product options available are hindering progress.”

Jacksons Fencing

Enquiry 33

For

Makita

Tech for the job

Driverless tractors are still – just – a little way off from commercial reality, but taking the operator away from the mower can have advantages in two diverse scenarios, Jane Carley reports.

Operators can also fine tune performance using the touch screen display and the Ambrogio app via Bluetooth connectivity gives access to all settings. An unlimited number of Ambrogio mowers can be kept in the ‘Garage’ on the app and all managed from the same place.

Multiple Ambrogio robots can share GPS data between each other to mow larger areas. Each robot will know where the other has been so won’t remow that section and can then spend time mowing areas that need the attention.

Typical applications include sports pitches, large public and private gardens, airstrips, industrial estates and distribution centres.

For work on slopes of rough terrain mowing, the new Quad can operate at a 75% max gradient, with a single mower covering a 3500sqm mowing area.

Quad has four-wheel drive, each wheel being fitted with a super flexible soft grip tyre with deep lugs for traction and four-wheel steering, each wheel mounted on its own 360deg gimble for manoeuvrability.

To change direction on steep terrain the wheels turn independently altering course without the machine’s orientation changing, keeping balance and minimising any loss of grip.

A symmetrical design with low centre of gravity allows for stable mowing in any direction, and the Quad has auto docking and departure and radar obstacle sensors. It can also be worked on an Infinity system allowing multiple robots to manage a larger area.

After focusing on large area robotic mowers in recent years Husqvarna has introduced new versions of two of its smaller models.

The Automower 310 Mark II covers a surface of 1000sqm, while the Automower 315 Mark II manages areas of 1500sqm.

New features for both models include systematic passage mowing, frost sensor and a modern updated design that offers easy cleaning.

Automower 310 Mark II and Automower 315 Mark II also offer automatic passage handling which guides both models through narrow passages to ensure a perfectly cut lawn, whilst also having the ability to handle slopes with an incline of up to 40%. Styling has also been updated.

The new Automowers support the latest smart technology from Husqvarna with Automower Connect@Home, a smartphone application that provides management and control via Bluetooth connectivity.

Robotic mowers have gained ground in the domestic market for a customer base which wishes for that designer look without the effort, and as the technology has developed some of the boundaries to commercial use have been overcome.

Some of the unexpected benefits include silent operation from electric power which can be important for schools, hospitals and hotels and the flexibility to get mowing done at unsociable hours when the demand for sports pitches, for example, is high.

Obstacle detection technology protects any bystanders and wildlife as well as cutting downtime, and connectivity

means that the mowers can be more easily monitored than human-operated machines.

Mower Magic is the distributor for the extensive Italianmade Ambrogio range, which includes several models suitable for commercial use.

The L400i Deluxe can mow an area up to 20,000sqm, offering a cut almost triple that of any other robot mower in the range at 84cm. Varied terrain can be tackled with 45% slope capability and each cutter fitted within its own floating mount.

Auto docking and departure means no regular human

interaction is required and schedules can be set to free up the full area, for example on a sports pitch.

GPS technology gives enhances navigation and mowing patterns for greater efficiency, focusing on areas not mown in recent days, and is used for a ‘return home’ function which reduces redocking time and for obstacle mapping. It is also used for tracking and checking the live status of any mower.

GSM mobile connectivity from anywhere in the world allows the operator to edit key settings and programmes, check status and get alerts is the mower is interrupted etc.

Hedge cutting equipment from Becx

Fentons of Bourne Ltd is the sole UK distributor for Becx Machines, the Netherlandsbased manufacturer of high-end mechanical weed control and hedge cutting equipment for tool carriers and excavators.

Becx hedge trimmers are able to significantly reduce the size of hedges in a single work process, without making concessions to results.

The HS75HR is the smallest machine in the hedge trimmer range. It has two trimmer heads and is an entirely new design. Due to its limited dimensions and small components, it weighs very little making it compatible with even the smallest of tractors.

The HS75ER is the electricpowered version of the existing HS75HR trimmer. The

hydraulic motors have been replaced by 48-Volt electric motors, making it possible to trim hedges without releasing carbon emissions.

Possessing all the same qualities as the HR version it has been produced using the same high-quality materials and components and, apart from using electric motors, is identical to the HS75HR machines.

This means it is possible to convert existing hydraulic HS75HR machines into electric machines or vice versa. Thanks to its two-watt electric motors, the HS75ER has the same capacity as the hydraulic version.

Fentons of Bourne director, Glen Bellamy said: “The quality of the Becx equipment is exceptional and the growth

in their business in just over a decade is testament to the machinery they produce.

“In keeping with the trend for electrification, they have recently introduced their first electric hedge trimmer. With a working width of 75 cm, its two hydromotors have been replaced by 48-volt electric motors and can be mounted on almost any electrically driven tool carrier.

“We have had interest from local authorities for the cut and collect equipment. With the trend for more environmental working practices, this ticks several boxes as the clippings can be collected in a single pass, saving labour, and then composted for internal use or for sale as an income generator.”

Fentons of Bourne Ltd Enquiry 35

Mower Magic

Husqvarna

Optimal return search ensures the Automower easily finds its way back to the included charging station when it’s in need of power.

The Kress robotic mower range includes the new Mega which can cut up to 4400 or 6500sqm depending on model.

The Mega has 35cm cut width from dual blades; cut height is adjusted electronically from 3060mm and it will work on slopes up to 45% (24 deg).

It has in-wheel drive and off-road wheels for work on slippery or steep terrain; the floating mowing deck absorbs

bumps and protects the blades from obstacles such as stones and tree roots.

Kress mowers use a patented ultrasound sensor system to avoid obstacles, and regenerative braking maintains control on slopes while also extending battery life.

The chassis design allows mowing right up to lawn edges using an off centre mowing plate, with a patented safety guard for safe operation.

Navigation is via Intiva technology, and multiple mowing zones can be defined on irregular shaped lawns. Maintenance is eased by IPX5 water spray protection.

Mowers have inbuilt wifi which connects to a smartphone app, calculating the mowing period once the lawn boundaries have been walked.

The app also gathers weather data and adjusts mower working time to match, and can be used to monitor running information.

A multi-mower function allows several robot mowers to work within a single boundary wire, and a ‘digital fence’ cordons off temporary obstacles such as trampolines without relaying the wire.

Early customers have included a hotel, where the quiet running

and flexible mowing is of benefit and a solar park and a football club, where using a robotic mower has cut mowing costs while improving sward quality.

An interesting new machine is due to join the ranks soon, according to distributor the GGM Group, after a successful public demonstration in the apt surroundings of the Manchester City Football Club training ground last year.

The RoviMo is the world’s first intelligent electric vehicle capable of mowing patterns autonomously according to the guidelines of national football associations, UEFA, or FIFA, precisely and over the shortest distance, horizontally, vertically and with chessboard pattern, at the touch of a button.

Supervision of the mowing process by an employee is not necessary.

Operated simply and efficiently remotely via an app, RoviMo can also be used for mowing other large green areas, and will be developed to be utilised by golf courses.

RoviMo is also a multifunctional equipment carrier, which will be able to carry out other work processes such as maintenance of artificial turf, line marking and various other labour-intensive tasks.

Remote control mowers offer the opportunity to tackle hazardous areas such as on slopes or in thick undergrowth with increased safety for the operator, who can remain some distance away.

Many of the established designs are being updated to meet the latest emission legislation, while electric power is also on the horizon.

The agria 9500, available via the Wiedenmann dealer network is a remote-controlled compact mower which can be used at angles up to 50°.

Brushless motors and electromechanical braking give a zero turn performance. The mower has a working width of 80 cm and can mow up to 3,000sqm per hour using specially shaped mulching blades.

Bomford Turner Kress

These swing blades, made of hardened steel, not only mow wild growth, but also leave an even cutting result for visible areas in parks and estates.

Power is supplied by a 17.3hp Kawasaki engine and the 9500 comes with crawler tracks as standard, with optional nonslip cleat profile tracks which offer additional grip for difficult conditions.

Using the has the same handy sized remote control pad as the larger 9600, the operator can position themselves up to 100m away from any dangerous situations, protected from direct emissions such as vibrations, noise and exhaust fumes.

The display on the remote control shows machine status, so that the operator can fully concentrate on navigating the machine. A tilt sensor, which detects a fall of the operator, switches the machine off automatically in an emergency and thus provides additional safety.

Bomford Turner has updated its Flailbot range with the latest Tier IV fi nal emissionscompliant Perkins engines, taking ouputs up from 40hp to 50hp and 70hp to 75hp. A new 60hp model also joins the range.

The company has taken the opportunity presented by engine upgrades to make other improvements including a quick attach headstock which uses just two locking pins to fit and remove the attachment.

A higher capacity fuel tank has also been specified for longer running time. A change of engine supplier from B&S to Honda means that the petrol Flailbot Mini is now 25hp.

All Flailbot models have an extending track base for added stability and an auto tensioning track system, plus a remote control power unit.

Bomford Turner reports demand for diverse applications and thus attachments for

the Flailbot, from a power harrow and seeder used by a local authority to renovate a roundabout in safety, to a set of folding Joskin grass harrows.

“We’re seeing more demand for cutterbar mowers rather than flails for work in SSSI land management,” reports Bomford’s Flailbot specialist Rhys Thomas.

“It’s gentler on delicate plants and the cut material can be removed. A Logic weedwiper has also been fitted to one unit used on the South Downs, replacing a quad-towed system, and barrier mowers have been specified for solar farms.”

Mulching heads remain the main attachment sold, often for work on steep slops, and offering a more selective approach to tackling invasive species, or for work where access is an issue.”

Kilworth Machinery Ltd are the UK importers of the X-ROT

range of remote control rotary mowers which are manufactured in Italy by Barbieri.

In addition to the X-ROT 70 and X-ROT 80 models currently on the market a new larger model, the X-ROT 95, has been introduced for 2022.

All models in the line-up are now available with GPS servo drive which is controlled by a smartphone app or directly off the handheld remote control screen.

This accurate system utilises the latest GPS technology and allows the X-ROT to take full control of the mowing, resulting in efficient coverage of an area and less fatigue for the operator.

All X-ROT machines are fitted with self-tensioning tracks and Kawasaki petrol engines but a full electric version is due in to the UK this spring.

The mower decks remain the same as last year’s models

with two swinging tip blades mounted on a reinforced blade bar. Height of cut is controlled by the operator from the remote control unit.

“The X-ROT will operate safely on slopes up to 45 degrees with no risk to the operator standing in a safe position away from the slope,” explains Kilworth Machinery’s managing director Mark Parnham.

“Not only is the X-ROT safer than using strimmers or

PSD Groundscare

PSD Groundscare

pedestrian mowers, it is also much more efficient due to its ability to mow in either direction – there is no need to turn round at the end of each run. Work lights and safety beacons are now fitted as standard.”

The versatile Koppl Crawler from PSD Groundcare with remote control functionality offers fast, easy and safe mowing even on hard to reach slopes.

The machine is equipped with a 23hp engine and hydraulic drive and is extremely manoeuvrable and predestined for working on slopes as well as in difficult and hard to reach areas.

The Crawler’s traction and load bearing capacity allows it to be used for steep slopes up to 50o. The remote-control functionality with a range of 300m makes it possible to handle the Crawler comfortably from a distance ensuring operator safety and comfort.

A wide range of suitable attachments is available.

McConnel has upgraded the Robocut range with upgrades including a cleaner, low emission Stage V engine, increased durability and added versatility.

Power for the Robocut2 comes from 56hp three-cylinder or 75hp four-cylinder turbo diesel Hatz engines that meet the latest Stage V emission regulations by using a DPF system without the need for AdBlue.

Development has also focused on increased durability and versatility, with greater structural strength.

The twin roll-over protection bars have been increased in size to stand proud of the body panels for greater protection and to enable the new, higher IP-rated e-stops to be recessed within the roll-over bars to reduce the risk of accidental activation.

Track tensioning springs have been uprated for improved track retention in challenging environments; the Robocut2 can work on slopes up to 55 degrees in any direction.

The remote-control unit now features the ability to control electronic switches and functions of attachments directly from the remote control, which has a backlit LCD display have also been introduced for improved visibility in low light conditions.

A Trimble GPS autosteer is available as a plug-and-play option and significantly boosts output by allowing the operators to accurately control Robocut2 to within 25mm over its 150m range, eliminating wasteful overlap with each pass.

The Robocut RC28, a mower developed for fine turf applications where a light footprint and minimal surface disturbance is paramount, has also received a number of enhancements for 2021.

Performance upgrades include an up-rated generator which achieves higher power output and a redesigned fuel system to improve engine performance. Additionally, a redesigned softstart clutch reduces both clutch and belt wear.

Air flow within the hood has been further improved with redesigned lower body panels and the addition of an extractor fan to expel hot air from the engine bay.

Safety upgrades include additional high visibility reflectors front and rear to improve visibility as well as an amber LED beacon which now meets road safety standards.

German-based Irus Machinery has introduced a new range compliant with level V emissions legislation, based on the original concept of high power, low weight and superior stability.

The latest addition to the Deltrak range is the 50 V3

which has a 50hp Doosan common rail engine, variable track width, automatic track tensioning and 80 l/min hydraulic power.

This model has an improved chassis design and various implements are available; for tasks with a higher power requirement the Deltrak 61 V3 offers 61hp.

The company’s range starts with the 27hp Evotrak designed for work on steep slopes where low ground impact is important, while the Deltrak 2.5 is a high performing remote tool carrier, with 38hp Kubota high torque engine, offering a variety of options from mowing seeding and cultivation.

The only double implement machine on the market the Twin is powered by a high torque 75hp Doosan common rail engine, with120 litres/ min hydraulic power, option of three point linkage and PTO and a choice of implements.

“Using an implement at either end offers high productivity and low ground impact as headland turns are not required just lower the second implement and traverse back for the next cut,” explains Irus Mowers UK’s Pete Loxston.

Completing the range is the Quatrak 27hp four-wheel machine, marketed as the only heavy duty option for a wheeled remote tool carrier, with a choice of implements.

Paul Isom, Parks & Premises Manager, Chesham Town Council

McConnel

Irus

Wiedenmann assists Ladybank GC with heather regeneration quest

In a corner of the UK where there are many remarkable golf courses, Fife’s Ladybank Golf Club, sets the bar high. Designed by Old Tom Morris in 1879, and venue for final qualifying for The Senior Open in 2018, Ladybank, has quintessential charm.

Grant Frogley, who joined as Course Manager in August 2021, is conscious of a responsibility to manage golf and the native flora and fauna in harmony across the site.

One of Grant’s first major projects is a programme of heather regeneration, requiring a three-to-four-year timeline to invigorate existing plantations and establish new growth.

“Heather is very much ‘in play’ at Ladybank; it’s a feature of the golf course which claims many golf balls,” explained Grant.

“It predominantly lines the fringes of the fairways on many holes. The acreage of existing areas isn’t known, so part of our new process will be to measure so we can benchmark it year-onyear to chart its increase.

“Not long after I arrived, I ordered a 2.3 m Wiedenmann Terra Rake from Mike Lindsay, Area Sales Manager at Fairways GM. It partners the Wiedenmann Super 500, which I was pleased to inherit.

These are my machines of choice for heather management. Previously as Course Manager at the Roxburghe I purchased a Super 600, so was familiar with that machine, but the Terra Rake is invaluable.

Heather seed is traditionally collected from the end of October, once heather flowers have faded.

Conventionally, rogue grasses that stand taller than the heather plants are removed from the plot where the seed is gathered. The Super 500 fitted with flail blades then cuts and collects the heather pods, or brash. The valuable brash is respread on existing or new areas.

“We have completely stripped the vegetation from a handful of areas, mostly out of play, and the seed heads that have been collected with the Super 500 will be spread in these areas to encourage new growth. In other places we are topping it off and continue to collect more seed. Cutting heather back is an important part of our plan. It means we will return it to that ‘building stage’ of its growth cycle; so next season, it remains youthful, and when it flowers, we would hope to see it with a better, more vibrant colour.”

Wiedenmann Enquiry 43

Transform your Trilo into a maintenance machine for all seasons

While other collectors are now safely stored away following a busy leaf-collection season, the Trilo S3 and S4 models available from Vanmac work on – with optional scarifier and flail shafts making it ideal for spring maintenance tasks.

The range of interchangeable heads can be swapped in and out in under an hour, with minimal tools, resulting in less time spent in the workshop and more out in the field.

The modular design of the Trilo S-Line gives the operator a versatile and adaptable unit, capable of collecting leaves, clippings and other debris in the autumn, with the ability to

then change to alternative heads to suit a range of tasks for the maintenance of golf, sports turf and green spaces.

A scarifier shaft, with a range of knife options allows for the effective scarification of large areas such as parks or fairways, with all material collected in the same single pass.

Alternatively, a flail shaft can be fitted for quick and convenient cut and collection of areas such as golf roughs and roadside verges.

The vacuum power is provided by a 700mm, 4-bladed fan which lifts and holds the grass vertically to deliver a superior cut quality and finish.

The material is then removed and collected into the 3m3 or 4m3 hopper of the S3 or S4 respectively, which can then be emptied with ease thanks to Trilo’s high-tip facility.

The combination of ease of operation and selection of head options makes the Trilo S3 and S4 suitable for year-round operation, with low ground pressure allowing the machines to work under even the heaviest of conditions where others may struggle.

Both models also have full European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval.

Vanmac Enquiry 44

Banish fallen leaves and snow with the ultimate Billy Goat winter clean up Kärcher launches battery-powered range

Billy Goat manufactures a powerful and robust range of industrial blowers for commercial, outdoor property clearance and is the expert when it comes to the maintenance of outdoor spaces. Its range of industrial blowers offer the power and performance to keep these spaces at their best throughout winter

During the winter, lawns should be free of all types of debris to ensure they can benefit from a regular supply of water, air and nutrients. For small spaces or residential gardens, the F602V Wheeled Leaf Blower delivers powerful performance with its Vanguard engine clearing leaves, twigs, branches and other lighter debris from lawns in no time.

Its Aim N Shoot feature directs airflow where it’s needed most and can be locked into place for a single target.

Outdoor maintenance expert, Kärcher, has extended its award-winning professional products to include a full range of professional landscape management tools, designed to meet the needs of heavy users.

The new range features a leaf blower and leaf blower backpack, and brings Kärcher’s quality, expertise and innovation to the world of professional landscape management.

This new addition to Kärcher’s professional range combines the power and functionality that landscape professionals require, with the reliability that Kärcher is known for after 80 years at the forefront of cleaning and outdoor

maintenance technology. Plus, the full range unites professional grade equipment with the flexibility of battery power to provide the performance needed to tackle the everyday challenges faced by the professionals with low noise and zero emissions.

Quiet and powerful, the leaf blower is easy to handle and inexpensive to run.

The leaf blower backpack is balanced and almost vibration free for comfort.

With low noise and high air speed, it is ideal for long applications over larger areas.

Kärcher Enquiry 47

The F602VE model also boasts a lightweight design that is 30% lighter than comparable steel units making it easier to manoeuvre and transport. Thanks to its smooth, rounded housing, air voids are eliminated, creating a quiet yet powerful blow.

For larger commercial clean-ups with a large amount of debris and snow, Billy Goat’s F1302SPH Wheeled Leaf Blower is the ideal machine. With a powerful Honda engine and self-propelled blowers, large-scale sites including schools, parks, golfing greens and estate properties are easy to clear meaning even heavy snowfall won’t stop sites from operating.

The F1302SPH model is also a part of the F13 Force Series and is ideal for contractors, municipal use and large areas as it can clear 2,000m2 of debris in under 30 minutes.

This model also comes equipped with the patented Aim & Shoot feature and its ergonomically positioned controls provide operators with ease of use.

For those clearing snow from pathways or fields, the Z3000 Zero Turn Stand-On Blower is a robust model that takes winter maintenance to a whole new level. With a professional Vanguard V-Twin engine and rapid mount and dismount, the Z3000 is a reliable, high performance and exceptionally durable blower.

Its spacious operator platform

with integrated thigh padding provides excellent comfort and its stand-on feature allows for better visibility for its operator; both particularly useful features when clearing thick layers of snow.

The Quad Control Handle System also offers a seamless direction control, including an automatic return to neutral, integrated operator presence control and a self-activating parking brake, providing great manoeuvrability and ease of operation. For greater versatility, its Dual Deflector Air Flow System allows users to change the angle of the air flow

to enhance the depth of cleaning of leaves and debris.

A heavy layer of snow and fallen leaves can increase the risk of unhealthy lawns and cause hazards on pavements on pathways, so it’s important that the debris is removed as soon as possible. Billy Goat provides the ultimate tools for winter maintenance so keeping spaces clear is quick and simple. Billy Goat products are available nationwide through Henton & Chattell’s dealer network.

Billy Goat Enquiry 48

Zero-turns cut it big in half the time

Zero-turn mowing allows you to turn the machine in its footprint, which means you cover the ground a lot faster than with a conventional mower.

It is no wonder so many professionals turn to zero-turn for the ease of use and commercial benefits.

The Ariens commercial zero-turn line-up is impressive, as is the build quality and its reputation for engineering excellence. Take the Ariens APEX, constructed with well-crafted components

and a hardy deck. Its speed and ability to turn on its axis mean you can expect to cut mowing time in half.

The Ariens ZENITH 60 is packed with commercial features and built for durability. The ZENITH’s large 152cm (60”) cutting deck also contributes to greater productivity. The APEX and ZENITH series are now available in a range of sizes and deck configurations.

Built on the fully commercial ZENITH platform, the

ZENITH E is Ariens all-electric commercial, zero-turn mower. It is designed to provide operators with the cutting capabilities of a heavy duty zero-turn with the benefits of low noise and zero emissions when in use. It is perfect for commercial operators looking to access the growing number of ‘green’ contracts.

The ZENITH E provides you with a continuous cutting time of up to 5.5 hours on a full charge, depending on cutting conditions.

Ariens Enquiry 51

Cutting unit maintenance for a cutting edge

A Toro cylinder mower is an extreme precision tool and like with any precision tool, to ensure it delivers the best performance and results, looking after it well is essential.

To make sure your mower delivers the best cut and ultimate finish, regular cutting unit maintenance and the use of genuine Toro parts go hand in hand.

Reesink’s Peter Biddlecombe, who works as Toro Aftersales Manager for Reesink’s South East branch, says calibration and backlapping are probably the two most important things you can do for your cylinder mower.

“For a cutting unit to perform well for the longest period of time without constantly being resharpened or readjusted, then maintaining the parallelism between the bedknife and the cylinder is key,” he says. “If those two components are sharpened, installed and working together

properly, you’ll get Toro’s legendary performance from your cylinders for a long time.

“If your bedknife is too close to the cylinder, not only does it wear the blade and cylinder down faster, but the mower needs more power to propel it along. More power needed means more fuel used, and this is another cost on top of repair and more frequent replacement.

“You don’t want the distance of the cylinder to the bedknife too tight or too slack, there should be light contact, just enough to get a couple of bits of paper in. If it’s too tight, then the component will wear down faster.

“This means that the hydraulic and engine management system will demand more horsepower because there’s more resistance.

Generating more power means you use up more fuel, so your fuel costs go up. The less contact you have, the less energy required from the power unit to drive them.”

Backlapping is another quick and easy method to help maintain the sharpness of the cylinder and bedknife between grindings without having to remove the cylinder and bedbar. Peter says: “Park your machine, turn it on, apply the desired lapping paste to the cylinder and set it to backlapping mode. The machine runs in reverse, the paste acts as a grinder and sharpens the blade.

“The performance of a cylinder mower depends on proper set–up and adjustment procedures, which means that just as important as having the best machine and parts there are, is to have the person who is caring for the machines understand the intricacies of how the components work together.”

INFINICUT mowers land in Latin America

Turf Managers Specialist (TMS) Grass have become the first sports turf contractors in Central South America to own a pair of 34” floating head mowers from INFINICUT.

Having spent years travelling the world to discover the top tools and techniques for grounds maintenance, owner Enio Cubillo began to see the INFINICUT’s at leading venues and decided that

the sustainable credentials would be a perfect fit for their projects around Latin America.

Enio praised the versatility and the adjustable parameters on the INFINICUT, particularly the adjustable bedknife angle which means it has delivered cut consistency on the Bermuda grass construction.

INFINICUT Enquiry 53

Reesink Turfcare Enquiry 52

ISEKI hits the mark for Exeter rugby club

ISEKI UK & Ireland, distributors of ISEKI compact tractors and mowers alongside their local dealer MST based in Tiverton, recently sold a TG6507 IQ to Exeter Rugby Club.

When the pitches were built a couple of years ago the consultant helped specify the equipment required, this included a 35hp tractor, Wiedenmann Spiker, sprayer and zero turn mower.

Head groundsman Max Sandford said: “In order to cope with the larger aerators required we needed a larger tractor so we went out to the market to obtain three demonstrations and quotes. This is where we came across the ISEKI TG6507IQ.

“Scott Struthers, from our local dealer MST Group in Tiverton, brought this machine to us so we could test it out on our site. Its high lift capacity

of 1,580kg, tight turning circle, auto pick up hitch and of course the highly specified cab made our decision easy.

“Another brilliant feature of the TG6507 IQ is the headland management system that can be set to automatically disengage the PTO on lifting and re-engage when lowering, making turning at the end of runs so simple.

This makes such a difference when aerating large areas and numerous runs.

“All these features and then, most importantly, the comfortable air con cab means the staff have no problems working with this machine for long periods of time.”

ISEKI UK Enquiry 69

Redexim Multi-Seeder delivers time-savings

Head Greenkeeper at Eyemouth Golf Club Keith Burgon has praised the Redexim MultiSeeder for transforming overseeding operations at the Scottish club.

Where previously, overseeding the 18 greens would have taken the team of three more than a day to complete, with the Multi-Seeder the task takes just a matter of hours – not just resulting in major labour savings but improvements in germination too.

Since taking delivery of the 1.2m wide Multi-Seeder 1200 in September 2021, it has already helped to deliver important fescues into some of the courses most exposed greens.

“The twin sarel roller set-up is creating double the holes, so double the opportunity for getting seed into the ground,” said Keith. “This

undoubtedly helped us to see good germination, despite us not getting out with it until late November.

“The fact it is equipped with two brushes also means that

an additional member of staff isn’t required to follow the Multi-Seeder round. What was previously a three-man job, is now complete in one pass.”

Enquiry 70

Redexim