Landscape & Amenity Product Update June 2022

Protecting public parks is key to achieving the Levelling-Up ambitions

If progress is to be made on the Government’s flagship “levelling-up” agenda the nation’s parks must be protected from further loss, according to green space charity Fields in Trust.

Their annual ‘Green Space Index’ report suggests Britain’s local parks and green spaces have a significant role to play in

restoring a sense of community and local pride as well as contributing to health, wellbeing and climate change resilience.

Local authorities in the Government’s priority levelling-up areas have, on average, 10% less green space provision when benchmarked against the amount communities need to thrive. The amount of green space per person

in these priority levelling-up areas is set to decline by 2040 as population grows.

The unequal distribution and access to local parks is stark and felt the most in those left behind neighbourhoods which are already missing out on the physical health, mental wellbeing and environmental impacts of local green space. Earlier research from Fields in Trust valued the health and wellbeing benefits for park users at more than £34 billion each year. Regular users of parks have fewer visits to their GP resulting in an annual saving to the NHS of £111 million.

Fields in Trust’s Green Space Index analysis demonstrates the disparities between nations and regions that the Levelling-Up programme is attempting to rectify. Fields in Trust found that Yorkshire and the Humber and the north west region fall well below a minimum standard for green space. Scotland, at 41 square metres per person, has more green space provision than

both England and Wales. As a region, London’s green space is very accessible, but the region has the least green space per person, at just 19 sqm.

Speaking at the Westminster launch of the charity’s new analysis, Clive Betts MP, Chair of the DLUHC Parliamentary select committee and a Trustee of the Fields in Trust charity said “The role of green infrastructure in planning and healthy placemaking should be central to government ambitions to rebalance geographic inequalities. Yet 2.8 million people already live more than a ten-minute walk from a public park, with levelling-up target areas having around 10% less green space than the average across Britain.”

Fields in Trust’s analysis suggests that, unless local parks and green spaces are protected in the long-term, any levelling-up interventions will be transitory.

Fields in Trust Enquiry 1

OneAgency to support SALTEX 2022

Following a successful competitive tender, Norwichbased marketing agency, OneAgency, has been appointed by the Grounds Management Association (GMA) to lead the marketing communications activity for this year’s SALTEX.

Now in its 76th year, Europe’s largest sports amenities and landscaping trade exhibition, SALTEX, will be held at Birmingham’s NEC over two days 2-3 November.

GMA Commercial and Events Director, Sarah Cunningham says: “We have every confidence

that OneAgency’s digitalled, integrated marcomms approach will help us to realise our ambitions to attract record visitors and make this year’s SALTEX one of the best yet.

“People are keen to get back to face-to-face events, to network with industry colleagues, learn about the latest innovations, and see what manufacturers and industry suppliers have to offer. We are delighted to welcome the OneAgency team into the SALTEX family.”

SALTEX Enquiry 2

Chair of Fields in Trust, Jo Barnett, said: “We know that parks and green spaces play a vital role in people’s health and wellbeing, yet the Green Space Index demonstrates uneven provision across Great Britain, and our most vulnerable communities are impacted negatively.

“Although the scale and interdependency across the levelling-up portfolio is intensely complex, parks and green spaces deliver impacts across the range of social policy agendas yet remain undervalued for the multiple benefits they contribute to our communities. The climate crisis adds a new impetus to protect urban green space and as our work in Liverpool shows local authorities are recognising the important part green space plays in our neighbourhoods, towns and cities and stepping-up to ensure it is future proofed.”

BIGGA launches major survey

The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) has launched an industry-wide survey that will quantify information relating to a perceived ‘crisis’ within the greenkeeping and wider golfing sector.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that golf clubs are struggling to fill available vacancies, particularly in the greenkeeping department. Reasons generally put forward for this include the requirement to work anti-social hours, lack of appreciation and a relatively low entry salary. However, for those who do embark upon a career in greenkeeping, the positives are many.

said: “With the ongoing cost of living crisis at the forefront of our minds and the COVID-19 pandemic having caused many people to consider their priorities, the golf industry faces a very real challenge to engage suffi cient staff at club level, to effectively deliver the sport to the nation’s five million

regular golfers. Participation in the sport is booming at just the time that recruiting and retaining greenkeeping staff is at its most challenging. It is vital the golf industry – utilising real data –considers positive solutions to the ongoing labour issues.”

BIGGA Enquiry 3

BIGGA Chief Executive Officer Jim Croxton

The Government’s attempts at Levelling Up have so far followed a bit of a roller coaster route, plenty of ups as the aims of the policy would suggest but also quite a few downs too. Despite criticism from an influential committee of MPs on the way the hundreds of millions of pounds in funding and investment is being allocated, there is still plenty of scope for the Government’s grand plan to provide a significant boost to our industry.

Indeed, the Fields in Trust has highlighted the opportunities the Levelling Up agenda can provide for parks, green spaces and community enhancement. It comes down to making industry voices heard in the right places – often at the right time – and showcasing just how influential and important the various sectors within the wider industry are to the economy, social improvement, health and wellbeing.

The summer will once again showcase the best of our industry, from a long season of world class sport to increased use of our high-quality parks and green spaces. This month we have two special features, the first a look at the Play & Activity sector and the latest innovations, case studies and news from that sector. We also look ahead to SAGE 2022 next month, the second outdoor exhibition and product demonstration event taking place at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern.

We have Jane Carley taking an in-depth look at 2 and 4-wheel tractors, with an emphasis on how technology is helping to improve the models currently available and bring forward a number of important new launches. There are also specific product spotlights in the areas of groundscare, greenkeeping and landscaping. We have the usual industry

and the urban environment. We hope to see you

Bodies unite to improve equity, diversity, and inclusion

to produce a detailed plan of work to tackle each objective and start making progress towards delivering a more inclusive sector. A collectively agreed action plan will be published later this year.

Sue continued: “I look forward to working more closely with our partners in the coming months and years, and to seeing a long-overdue evolution of the built environment sector into one that is accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to all.”

Robust machines from GKB prove the perfect partner

A fleet of orange and blue is forming for the team at Premiership Lawncare, as continued investment sees a bank of equipment from GKB Machines trusted to deliver projects for a growing range of sports turf customers.

MEET THE EXPERTS!

Who are ELIET?

Today ELIET are a market leading lawn care, green waste shredders and debris clearance manufacturer based in Otegem, a small town in the Belgian countryside. ELIET products are distributed worldwide in over 35 countries. The ELIET product range offers high performing and high efficient solutions yet are simple to operate. ELIET was founded by Emiel Lietaer and what started out as a business run by one person has grown to the business it is today, employing an enthusiastic team of 85 people. Frederic Lietaer (Emiel’s son) has been involved in the family business since his childhood, after completing his studies as an engineer and an additional MBA degree, he joined the company to become Managing Director in 1997.

Key membership bodies in the built environment sector have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to drive the creation of a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive sector, ensuring it is more representative of the society it serves.

The MoU brings together six organisations from across the sector: the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), Landscape Institute (LI), Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), who collectively represent around 350,000 members.

“I’m proud that the Landscape Institute is part of this crosssector partnership,” said LI Chief Executive Sue Morgan. “As designers, we seek to transform the world for the better. But to do this, we must understand and represent the interests and experiences of all the communities we serve.

“To transform the world for the better, we must understand and represent the interests and experiences of all the communities we serve.

“We know that there are longstanding issues with diversity in the built environment workforce. By identifying the gaps between education and practice, our organisations seek to establish the root causes for this. And by pooling our collective resources and intelligence, as well as standardising our approach to gathering information, we will be able to put this data to best use – addressing systemic barriers and ultimately bringing about real, positive change.”

At present, the profile of the UK’s placemaking workforce is predominantly white, male, heterosexual, and able-bodied. According to CIOB’s 2021 Special Report on Diversity and Inclusion in Construction, women make up around 12% of the country’s built environment workforce; and only 1–2% of the site-based workforce is female. Just 5-7% of people in UK construction are Black, Asian, or from other underrepresented racialised groups, dropping to 1% or fewer among senior industry roles. And less than 3% are part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Over the next few months, the organisations will work together

The Landscape Institute Enquiry 6

In the last two years, Owners Josef Farrow and Mark Pettit have purchased a Deep Tine Aerator (DTA), SP100 topdresser, Dragmat and, most recently, a GKB Combinator –enabling the team to expand their range of services to both football and cricket clients.

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Recognising the requirement for a bigger, more robust aerator to cope with the demands of challenging ground, Premiership Lawncare became one of the first contractors in the UK to purchase a Deep Tine Aerator (DTA) almost two years ago.

What type of customer benefits from the ELIET ranges?

ELIET are one of the most recognised and trusted manufacturers of high end domestic and professional lawn care and green waste shredders to municipalities, landscapers, contractors, groundskeeping and ambitious private users with a passion for fine gardening.

• Developing a robust, evidence-based understanding of the disparity between the diversity of students that start on institute-accredited courses and those that join the workforce.

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The latest addition to the fleet is a GKB Combinator, delivered in May 2022 and put straight to work on a football renovation project. “With our sports-turf client base ever-increasing we decided the time was right to purchase our own machine to strip surfaces and after comparing the options, the GKB CB120 came out on top,” said Josef.

“In its first week it removed around 80 tonnes of vegetation which is impressive for a machine that’s only 1.2m wide.”

GKB Machines Enquiry 7

How have

ELIET

managed the challenging last few years?

After the Covid-19 pandemic challenges Brexit hit as a very unpleasant surprise hitting our 3rd best export market. Thanks to our excellent contacts with our carriers and customs agencies it has been relatively smooth to date. More of an issue for us is the continued supply chain issues like we have never experienced before. The biggest issue for us has been getting the required parts from our suppliers, however we have invested heavily in both raw materials and in the purchase of components such as engines, hydraulic components etc. to minimise any impact on our customers.

ELIET are experts in Green Waste Shredders but what is green waste shredding and what are the advantages over chippers?

There is often confusion around the general terms shredders and chippers as to what these terms mean. Most commonly known are chippers, and the word “chipper” has become the generic and very often wrongly used term for shredders as well. However, there is a big difference. The counter-knife cutting principle of a typical chipper (disc or drum) is mainly designed to deal with wood waste. As these systems are quite sensitive for the foreign objects (sand, soil, stones) that might coincidently end up in the machine when processing the more general garden clippings, it is preferable to avoid chippers for that purpose. On the other hand, shredders have a different knive configuration that is less vulnerable which makes those machines more versatile to handle a large variety of green waste such as hedges clippings, trees, ivy, brambles, bushes, conifers, bamboo, tall grasses etc. in addition to the wood waste from tree pruning.

For many landscapers and gardeners the bulk of waste they gather in their daily work is green waste material.

To process this type of green waste a shredder will work faster and more efficiently than a chipper. Moreover, the overall running cost and the down time for service will be a lot less for a shredder than a chipper. With an ELIET Green Waste Shredder, the waste material is cut by an open blade system where the blade exploits the inherent weakness of the wood, splitting down the length of the grain of the wood rather like the action of an axe splitting logs.

How are ELIET’s products distributed in the UK?

ELIET sales worldwide are through a carefully chosen network of specialist distributors and in the UK this is through PSD Groundscare. We have partnered with PSD since 2013 and together we have streamlined the UK distribution channel. Our partnership with PSD is a perfect match with a long-term commitment from both sides and very similar working values. With over 20 years experience advising customers with specialist landscaping solution, PSD are also experts in the field.

What’s new for the 2022 season?

We have recently launched a new semi-professional green waste shredder, the Vector 4S which has the ability to shred material up to 8cm diameter and is available as push or self-propelled on wheels or on tracks and is available now. This new entry model Vector 4S nicely complements the existing line up of our famous professional shredders. Another new innovation now available are the new E450 ZR, E550 ZR and E650 ZR self-propelled scarifiers where the blades rotate in the opposite direction to the drive giving a 30% improved dethatching results. Other exciting plans include the further development of our lawn maintenance and renovation range.

What developments are ELIET planning for improving their sustainability?

We are constantly monitoring our environmental impact and we will launch a battery-powered shredder for domestic use next September and it goes without saying that this is only the beginning of a long series of developments to improve our sustainability.

Contact PSD Groundscare to find out more or to arrange a demonstration:

MANAGING DIRECTOR: FREDERIC LIETAER

Green space provision in England and Wales collapses

Neighbourhood green space provision has declined by one third in 21st-century developments, resulting in 9m fewer trips to green space every year. New analysis by New Economics Foundation reveals a much broader decline in green space provision, linked to how the UK planning system is designed and how it builds communities.

The NEF combined data on public green space provision from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), data on the average age of local housing stock from Datadaptive and new national survey data on public perceptions of local green space from Natural England.

That allowed it to compare experiences of green space in communities across England and Wales based on the generation of housing which dominates in the area, and hence the generation of planning law which governed its design.

The NEF has discovered stark

differences in green space provision across development periods. For example, in neighbourhoods where most of the housing was built between 1930 and 1939, the median size of a neighbourhood’s nearest park was around 61,500m2 (around 8.5 football pitches). The equivalent figure for developments dominated by post-2000 housing is 36,200m2 (5.0 football pitches) – a 40% decline.

The total amount of green space found within 1km of a development declines steadily the younger the housing stock. For example, around 13% of the space found within early 20th-century developments is typically devoted to green space, compared to just 9% within post2000 developments – a decline of around a third.

This is driven by factors such as the collapse of council house building and the freedom given to developers to cut public amenities like green space in order to make higher profits, has a societal impact. The provision

of green space in our newest neighbourhoods is substandard, and the impact can be seen in individual behaviours.

Local public green space is not just window dressing: it is a fundamental building block for a good quality of life. Its benefits, and role as an equaliser of wellbeing and opportunity have also been the subject of a recent surge in scientific investigation. New research demonstrating the role public green space plays in better educational outcomes, physical health and multiple dimensions of mental and social wellbeing, resilience, and recovery has edged green space provision into the scientific and public health mainstream.

The NEF is supporting the Nature For Everyone petition, which is calling for a legal right to nature. The Nature for Everyone coalition, comprised of more than 80 nature, planning, health and equality organisations, is calling on the government to make equal access to a highquality natural environment a key measure of success for the levelling-up agenda, establish a new legal duty for developers and public bodies to provide equal access to nature-rich green and blue spaces, and extending the Levelling Up Fund to green infrastructure projects.

NEF Enquiry 10

Ludlow Castle ‘smitten’ with Dennis FT610

After trying various mowers, Ludlow Castle Croquet Club has finally found the one it was

looking for in the Dennis FT610 interchangeable cassette mower.

Bob Purcell, who leads the voluntary group that maintains the lawn, certainly leaves no stone unturned and thanks to a generous grant from the Mid Counties Co-Op they opted for a more up to date cylinder mower from a professional manufacturer.

“Discussions continued among the members and we agreed to try out a 13-bladed cylinder mower; it was good but then Dennis came along,” he explained.

“A demonstration was quickly arranged and we saw a couple of mowers and the one that stood out for us was the 24” version of the FT cassette system.”

The Dennis FT610, along with other models in the FT series, has become the ‘must have’ piece of turf maintenance machinery at bowling clubs around the country. With a 24” working width, the FT610 provides its user with comfort, flexibility and excellent performance. A true sense of control is obtained through the unique roller clutch

drive for a smooth take-up and a variable clip rate helping to create the desired finish. Available with five-bladed and ten-bladed cutting cylinders the machine can be matched to any situation and the interchangeable cassettes can be changed without the requirement of any tools. The range of 12 different cassettes mean that one machine can be used for several key maintenance tasks including scarifying, verticutting or brushing.

Dennis Enquiry 11

GreenMech expands dealer network

In order to deliver improved regional service and support to customers, GreenMech have announced a series of updates across their UK dealer network.

The changes will see an extension to the existing territories of Vincent Tractors and Burdens Group, together with the appointment of B&B Tractors to provide new cover to the counties of Derbyshire and Staffordshire and Hopkins Machinery, who join the network as a Service Support dealer for South Wales.

Effective immediately, longstanding GreenMech dealers for Cornwall Vincent Tractors and Plant will be taking on additional area to accommodate new and existing customers in Devon. Vincent Tractors and Plant pride themselves on supplying the premier technology and machinery solutions to customers across the agricultural, construction and groundcare industries, operating out of three depots across Devon and Cornwall – located in Fraddon, Holsworthy and Smithaleigh.

Also expanding their territory is the Burdens Group who, in addition Lincolnshire, will now be covering the counties of Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. With a large fleet of equipment for both sale and rental, The Burdens Group have extensive experience with customers in various sectors including agriculture and

professional groundcare. Their all-encompassing client-base has embraced the GreenMech range since they took on the franchise in 2016, and with a large after-sales and service division they are well placed to support new and existing customers.

In order to develop the sales and after sales support across Derbyshire and Staffordshire, GreenMech have appointed leading agricultural machinery suppliers B&B Tractors. With a range of brands in their portfolio including Fendt, Sany and Honda, the family-run outfit are well connected to a broad client base and will be supporting the GreenMech franchise from their branches in Tideswell and Fauld.

Finally, and completing the reshuffle, is the appointment of Hopkins Machinery, who will be acting as a Service Support dealer for South Wales based out of their branch in Wentloog, Newport.

Sales Director Martin Lucas commented, “Service is a critical part of the GreenMech offering, meaning we are always reviewing our distribution partners to ensure the very best support for our customers. We are confident that these changes will enhance our aftersales offering and extend our reach to new clients across these counties.”

GreenMech Enquiry 12

Delivering petrol-matching cutting power for those harder to reach jobs. With EGO’s industry-leading ARC Lithium™ battery technology at its heart, the perfect combination of power and torque delivers a best-in-class speed of cut, up to a maximum reach of 4 metres. Specially designed for the professional arborist and gardening professional.

Green-tech takes advantage of Rain Bird Academy

Green-tech is the UK’s largest landscape supplier and key members of the company’s team have participated in a Rain Bird Academy training programme for irrigation professionals.

The course was held at Greentech’s headquarters in Arkendale near Harrogate in Spring 2022 and led by Eric Hendrickx, Rain Bird’s Contractor and Public Agency Specialist for Benelux and UK.

In 2021 Green-tech joined forces with its parent company

Origin Amenity and Rain Bird to provide its customers with access to the world’s leading irrigation product portfolio for the landscape sector. As part of the on-going relationship between the organisations, the two day training programme covered Concepts and Techniques For Designing A State of the Art Irrigation System and The Selection and Adjustment of Irrigation Equipment.

With the emphasis on both theoretical and practical training, the course was tailored to Greentech’s requirements and covered many topics including irrigation system design, sprinkler selection and installation, calculation of flow rates and watering schedules, maintenance of nozzles and the creation of irrigation programs to suit the characteristics of a landscaping project.

Etesia ET Lander becomes even better

Following the successful launch of the ET Lander electric utility vehicle from Etesia UK in 2021, the company has announced the launch of the next phase of production including becoming fully N1 homologation compliant.

Coming off the production line in Wissembourg, France from June 2022, with the fi rst sold machines arriving in the UK July 2022, the new models will be fully N1 homologation compliant meaning that the ET Lander will be fully road legal along with being able to be used off road.

The new models will feature lithium-ion batteries meaning that the range of the ET Lander will extend to 100km and have a charger system compatible with a standard type 2EV car charger.

Built for use on road and off road in both the town and countryside, the Etesia ET Lander is 100% electric, spacious, well-equipped and userfriendly. It is built on a robust chassis and has an array of options including a three-way tipper bed with dual control from the fullyfitted two-seater cab or by remote control when outside the vehicle.

With a length of just 3.72 meters, the ET Lander is very compact. Thanks to the power steering, the short turning radius of 4.40 meters and 360 ° visibility, it goes anywhere. Fitted with a Lithium battery (77.8V 210 Ah producing 10Kw), the autonomy of the vehicle lasts for a full working day – without noise pollution.

The ET Lander can transport loads of up to 940kgs and can also tow up to 750kgs. With

its all-road tires and powerful transmission, it is a real allterrain vehicle for use in a variety of conditions on slopes and difficult terrain. Furthermore, life is made easier for its users through the integrated loading

Headland C-Complex all season long for club

Great for summer working on site, these lightweight Work Shorts have a street-smart fit with a cool working comfort in warm conditions. They’re made of quick-drying 37.5® technology fabric that delivers efficient moisture transport, ventilation and UPF40 sun protection in sunny weather.

They have a functional design and come with or without extra robust holster pockets. There’s also a 4-way stretch panel at the crotch and reinforcement at critical areas for extra durability. They’re packed with comfort and functionality and specially designed for the fast-paced professional who’s always on the go and always delivering

top class work on site. For professionals who rely on their gear in demanding environments, they’re a must for everyone

The C-Complex range from Headland Amenity is helping the team at Gog Magog Golf Club ward off lush, leafy growth in favour of firm and fast surfaces - in keeping with the course’s downland surroundings.

Estate Manager Andrew Howarth uses various analysis of C-Complex organic mineral fertiliser for feeding and recovery throughout the year, including C-Complex® Sport which was trialled on some of the sites high traffic areas last year with great success.

Gog Magog is a 36-hole complex and, together with boasting one of the largest practice facilities in the UK, is listed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its calcareous grassland.

ramps – which allow for the transport of materials, ride-on mowers and other grounds maintenance equipment.

Etesia

Enquiry 16

This means that for Andrew and his team of 14, there’s certain dos and don’ts when it comes to chemical usage and maintenance

Regional Technical Manager at Headland, Peter Blackaby, suggested the club apply C-Complex Sport. C-Complex® Sport 14-2-5+MgO is designed for use on all coarse turf areas and has delivered exceptional results on golf tees and surrounds where lasting strength is needed.

The homogenous, regular granule features a high concentration of humic acids and other organic material and so breaks down easily on contact with moisture.

Headland Amenity Enquiry 18

Kubota puts operators to test

Operators across the UK and Ireland are being invited to put their machinery skills to the test by Kubota UK, as part of the business’s ongoing celebrations to mark 25 years as the country’s biggest selling mini-excavator manufacturer.

The #Kubota25Challenge is encouraging operators to submit a short video of themselves showing off their niftiest excavator skill while in the cab of a Kubota, with Amy Underwood, aka The Digger Girl, filming her own example to inspire entries Entry to the challenge is open until 30th June 2022, with

videos to be submitted via direct message on Kubota’s Facebook and Twitter social channels. Operators should ensure videos are in line with manufacturer guidelines and safe working practices.

A final shortlist of entries will be revealed in July with the public deciding the outright winner via voting across social media. The overall winning entry will receive a state-of-the-art Makita radio and exclusive Kubota merchandise bundle.

Kubota UK Enquiry 20

Rain Bird Enquiry 15

Snickers Enquiry 17

State-of-the-art in urban paving re-pointing

Get cost efficiency as well as longterm durability in service with GftK’s vdw paving joint mortars.

Pointing, and especially repointing, the difficult so-called ‘smaller format’ urban paving, such as natural stone setts and cobbles used for roads and surfacing public spaces (such as market squares), is now possible for the long term with GftK’s vdw paving joint mortars. This also means completion on time, without delays due to the weather, or extended disruption with area closures, without expensive annual repointing costs, and without yet more costly claims for trips and falls. This durable long-term, costeffective performance also increases your sustainability and is now clearly evidenced with successfully completed all around the UK.

Repointing areas of heavily exposed and frequently trafficked urban paving with natural stone

paving, usually granite setts, was always a difficult and seemingly thankless task for all involved. However, inspections in 2021 were made of major Local Authority natural stone sett repointing projects carried out using GftK’s vdw 850 system from NCC Streetscape, which are now almost 15 years old (Newark Market Square), 13 & 12 years old (Hitchen Market Square & Church Road), and 8 years old (Norwich City Centre & the Arc Development, Bury St. Edmunds). These all showed the paved surfaces to be not only sound, but looking good, in great condition and durable for many more years’ service to come.

In all these busy public spaces, all previous pointing and repointing materials had failed, and usually their breakdown was significant within just a year or two in the demanding environments. This included direct exposure to weathering and frequent vehicular traffic, multiple heavy

duty truck loadings, extensive de-icing salt usage in winter, plus spillages of ‘All-sorts’, requiring frequent jet-washing and mechanical street cleaning. However, this was and is all no problem for the unique GftK vdw 850 paving joint system, plus these projects were completed on time and on budget, because work could continue and be completed on time, even in cold, and / or wet weather, without delay.

These projects all clearly demonstrate GftK is the ideal solution for local authorities and their professional teams, to cost

Tobermore driving a greener future

Figures produced by world-class paving and walling manufacturer Tobermore reinforce the company’s continuous commitment to minimising environmental impact.

Between 2020 and 2021, Tobermore reported a 15% increase in loads delivered across the UK and Ireland, whilst simultaneously increasing the percentage of full load (single delivery) deliveries by a staggering 25%.

Furthermore, in the same time period, the number of deliveries made on multi-delivery loads

decreased by 20%. This success has been firmly placed with Tobermore’s Transport Team, which has doubled its resource in the past year and is responsible for ensuring environmentally focused delivery planning.

Moreover, significant factory investment has also enabled the company to ramp up production and capacity to meet the surge in demand for its paving and walling products, thus reducing lead times and maximising full lorry loads.

This year, the company was the first to market in publishing

effectively refurbish and repoint natural stone paving setts on urban roads and all sorts of other exposed public spaces.

With expensive annual paving replacement and repointing works not being required, the cost savings for both authorities have been and continue to be significant – not to mention savings due to the lack of paving related claims.

NCC Streetscape Enquiry 22

Premium jointing solutions for all designs and tastes

Staying ahead of paving trends and industry demands has always been something UltraScape have excelled at.

Providing landscapers, architects and contractors with paving installation materials clients and customers want and need is UltraScape’s area of expertise and their latest product offerings are certainly no different.

UltraScape’s range of premium jointing solutions now include flowpoint fine flowable grout and prem-flex grout, flexible paving grout.

UltraScape have been manufacturing the much-loved flowpoint flowable paving grout for over 25 years. Now in its fourth generation, UltraScape flowpoint fine provides you with all the premium qualities you would expect of a BS 7533 compliant grout but with one added benefit – a joint so smooth it resembles tile grout.

Suitable for joint widths as narrow as 2mm, flowpoint fi ne provides a fl awless fi nish on all popular types of paving including natural stone,

concrete fl ags, porcelain tiles and clay pavers.

For homeowners looking to create a seamless transition between their indoor and outdoor living areas and achieve one of the hottest landscaping trends of the last five years, then UltraScape’s latest jointing offering is for you.

UltraScape prem-flex is a fl exible paving grout specially designed for use with internal and external porcelain stone and tiles. Available in three colours to complement popular stone choices, UltraScape premfl ex is made from a selection of purposely chosen cements, polymers and graded aggregates which provides a stable, superior jointing grout, with a smooth and beautiful finish.

Completing UltraScape’s range of jointing options include flowpoint rapid set flowable grout, flowpoint ECO, which contains 20% recycled material and premjoint, the next generation in brush-in jointing sands.

Instarmac Enquiry 23

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for all its paving, walling, and kerb products.

Following a rigorous Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Tobermore can accurately demonstrate the environmental impact of over 400 products, therefore, enabling construction professionals to compare the environmental impact of different products and make informed decisions about which to choose for their project.

Tobermore Enquiry 24

MEDITE SMARTPLY donates garden to charity Dry-build solutions for earth retention or noise absorption .

Following on from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the entirety of the MEDITE SMARTPLY Building the Future garden will be reused, with a large part being donated to Andover Trees United, a volunteer-led environmental charity which works closely with schools and local authorities.

The charity’s evolving woodland site ‘Harmony Woods’ represents a 10-year planting project, which gives children and young people in local communities the chance to help turn 12 acres of farmland to the north of Andover into a natural urban woodland, increasing biodiversity and providing a wealth of opportunities for learning in and about the environment.

The impressive garden structure, made from MEDITE TRICOYA EXTREME, and including

SMARTPLY STRONGDECK in its roofing, will be relocated to a local school in Andover, who Andover Trees United work closely with. The buttresses and turf will also be relocated to the community school, in addition to the self-binding gravel featured in the garden.

Half of the trees used in the garden will be donated to Andover Trees United to be replanted in Harmony Woods as part of their 10-year planting project. The remaining trees will be reused by the multiaward-winning garden designer herself Sarah Eberle, in her other garden design projects. Sarah will also be reusing numerous plants; some for her upcoming project at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show and others for her personal projects.

Regarding the furniture used on the garden, artists Alex

and Emma Devereux will be returning them to their site in Slough to be used. Even the fencing around the garden is to be reused. Landform Consultants, who are constructing the garden, will keep the 38 sheets of

SITEPROTECT PLUS panels used in the boundary of the garden to reuse them in site hoarding of future projects.

MEDITE SMARTPLY

Enquiry 28

Best known for ground level Grasscrete permeable paving, Wakefield based Grass Concrete has a line-up of vertical landscaping products, the Betoconcept range.

The range meets growing demand for both retaining walls that combines reduced noise levels with attractive vertical landscapes, offering a real variety of planting options as an alternative to what would be otherwise dull and un-inspiring structures.

The Betoconcept range has interlocking blocks made from high strength machine pressed concrete, offering dry build solutions and noise absorption, excellent for external wall solutions in urban and rural areas.

Dry built blocks interlock to form the required face angle, they are easy and quick to construct with a choice of plantable or stonefaced finishes. The contemporary colours include : natural, buff and red will fit in with a variety of environments and tone with natural landscapes.

Green building solutions

Retaining walls on road highways or the simplest garden or boundary walls now feature: planting, colour, shape or textured finish. The Betoconcept range brings different shapes and styles to accommodate planting on high or low walls with; Betoatlas, Betoflor, Betotitan, Leromur, Betojar, Betoplus and Betonap products

With individual interlocking blocks and dry-build interconnectivity the range offers the ability to free-form wall layouts in single or terraced wall format. These interlocking units enable a quick and easy construction process and can cope with complex curves, ground embankments and weight surcharges.

Betoconcept blocks provide adequate soil pockets for all types of plants, shrubs and climbers. Good drainage and water capture with the stepped bank also helps keep landscape maintenance to a minimum. Using the depth for landscaping means significant growth can benefit both sound suppression and help get quick landscaping results across a wide walled area

Grass Concrete’s retaining wall range bringing together both structural integrity and a variety of landscape design options.

Grass Concrete Enquiry 29

Xeri Bug conserves water on green walls and slopes

Rain Bird’s new Xeri Bug pressure compensating emitter with Check Valve (XBCV) reflects the company’s commitment to the development of products designed to conserve water.

When drip irrigating green walls, sloping landscapes or raised potted plants, a major issue has always been the escape of water and over watering at the base of the installation.

Xeri Bug XBCV overcomes these problems, holding back up to three metres of water by simply snapping shut and then keeping the dripline charged and ready for the next irrigation cycle when the pump or water

source is stopped. Using the Xeri Bug XBCV emitter is simple. Its self-piercing barb is designed to push quickly into the dripline tubing without the need for a hole punching tool.

The emitters can be positioned exactly where they are needed next to any plant to provide irrigation where it is needed at the root base.

Rain Bird

Now Available, 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

Playinnovation creates community activity hub to help tackle inequalities

additional funding provided by Newham Council, Ecosia and Bloomberg Philanthropies as part of the Breathe London network –has given a voice to one of the most environmentally impacted communities in London, and is helping combat social isolation and anti-social behaviour.

Playinnovation founder, Marco Boi, said: “What a day. What a project. What a community.

“We have created a space in which all children and young people, regardless of age or ability, will feel confident to play sport, to be active and to exercise. By doing so, we are helping to tackle the social inequalities in the area by providing the community a space for everyone to get physically active in.

Proludic attributes two decades of success to its core values

June 6 marked a special date in play equipment provider Proludic Ltd’s calendar.

On this day in 2002, the UK subsidiary was officially formed to sell Proludic manufactured play and sports equipment into this new market as part of the group’s strategy to expand its direct representation globally.

Initially, the offices were based in Nottingham, and Proludic then consisted of 9 employees. Fast forward 20 years and the company has expanded to what is almost fifty members of staff based in modern offices on the outskirts of the city. This phenomenal growth has so far left a legacy of over 6000 play and sports areas up and down the length and breadth of the country.

Inspired by its early origins as a family-owned business

created in France in 1988, the UK subsidiary has harnessed a similar close-knit ethos throughout its culture. As a result, the privately-owned company has cultivated passionate likeminded employees supported by a global organisation that combines to make the Proludic family.

Proludic’s 4 core values of Experience, Innovation, Commitment and Proximity have undoubtedly been the guiding formula underpinning success to date. These have inspired the company’s mission to create engaging play and sports areas that contribute to the development and wellbeing of their users and the communities they serve.

Reflecting on the success of the company, Rob Baker, Proludic’s MD, said “I strongly believe our substantial growth can be put

down to the quality of people that we employ, coupled with a strong set of core values that guide the culture and our sense of mission.”

Despite this continued success, Proludic is showing no signs of slowing down! As one of the global leaders in the play industry, offering innovative, inclusive, and bespoke designs, the company will continue to leverage its core values to deliver quality for our clients.

Proludic Enquiry 34

On the 10-year anniversary of the London 2012 Olympics, Playinnovation has helped transform a unused space into a thriving community hub in Newham, North London.

Working together with local residents, Playinnovation completed an incredible refurbishment of two previously unusable ball courts and a central activity zone just a stone’s throw from the Olympic Village.

The new playzone includes four of Playinnovation patented target games, art design basketball backboards and Playinnovation’s signature white “Hype” combi goals with sensory basketball backboards in pinks and yellows to reflect sunshine.

The new playzone in Alma Street – which will be capable of hosting a number of sports and activities – is at the heart of the Greener Together initiative, a project designed to help tackle social and environmental inequalities through community action.

Greener Together is a partnership between local residents, environmental charity Hubbub, the Mayor of London, Ten Years’ Time and Afterparti. The pioneering, community-led project brings residents and local authorities together to take climate action and create a greener, healthier, and more connected neighbourhood.

The initiative – which was funded by Hubbub and the Mayor of London, with

“Working closely with the local community – as part of the Greener Together project –we’re proud to have contributed to something which has not only empowered the residents to create more green spaces for the community to enjoy, but has also helped them combat social isolation and anti-social behaviour.”

Rhiannon Ashley, Creative Partner at Hubbub added: “The Greener Together project has really demonstrated the power of people coming together to take climate action and shown that we can make a difference.

Seeing the Alma Street residents working together to create a greener, healthier and more connected neighbourhood has been incredible and we hope it will inspire many more Londoners to engage with their community as well.”

Playinnovation Enquiry 33

Playrite identify the growing need for more wheelchair sports surfaces

The Disability Discrimination Act specifically requires that sport construction does not in any way impede a person with a disability from enjoying their training.

Yorkshire-based manufacturer of synthetic surfaces Playrite know that the need to specify the right products for sporting facilities is seen as crucial if a whole swathe of the disabled community is to be fully included in UK sport.

Playrite provide the highest quality of sport surfacing products for everyone, from grassroots community sport centres up to elite sporting facilities. In particular they are keen to ensure their products are suitable for all users, in particular those who use wheelchairs in grass-based sports.

To guarantee that their products will serve the next generation sporting greats Playrite submitted their Matchplay 2 surface for testing to determine the coefficient of friction when the surface is in use by wheelchairs. Surfaces require coefficient of friction between 0.75 μ – 1.0 μ to be deemed suitable for wheelchair sports.

Tests conducted by Labosport determined that Matchplay 2 had a rating of 0.96μ which deems it safe for wheelchair users and suitable for a number of sports including: Tennis, Hockey, Football, Netball and Basketball.

Chris Pickles, Sales Director, Playrite Ltd, commented, “We have had a large increase in demand from the

Enhanced play facilities open in Jubilee Gardens

A reopened playground overlooking the London Eye offers new nautical Thames themed play equipment for younger children and for those with differing abilities as well as more sensory sound vision and touch experiences.

Local MP Florence Eshalomi and Cllr Claire Holland, the Leader of Lambeth Council, joined local councillors and Jubilee Gardens Trust Members along with children from Oasis Academy Johanna and Coin Street Nursery to celebrate the reopening of the new and enhanced playground at Jubilee Gardens on Belvedere Road, SE1.

The design of the playground, by Timberplay, caters for all children from toddlers to age 11 by offering enough risk that users with high physical ability

have opportunities to push themselves while also ensuring there are numerous accessible opportunities for play for those with disabilities to engage with and join in with other children.

The works have been funded by Lambeth Council using developer contributions towards improvements for the local area.

The new large Play Ship, by Richter Spielgeräte, is ideal for younger children providing unlimited opportunities for adventure from climbing and a double slide to imaginative play as ship’s captain on the bridge. New sensory and accessible items such as Conferences, talking tubes installed along the perimeter of the fence including some at seated height, help to create safe spaces which are accessible and

enjoyable for many people that are neurodivergent.

Wheelchair users and those in prams have been considered in the design with a Rocking Plate located near to the entrance, a bespoke Pairs Game, including icons associated with London and the South Bank and a Stroking Stone Seal a friendly creature to touch, sit and play on. The smooth shapes of the concrete form provide a different tactile experience for all users.

For children with limited mobility a Sea-Roarer can be tilted and rolled by shifting their weight on the large steel disc creating crashing wave sounds of a rolling ocean. Timberplay Enquiry 36

wheelchair sporting sector for our Matchplay 2 synthetic grass surface. It seemed more than prudent to have our Matchplay 2 product tested by a recognised body. It’s crucial that sports surfaces meet the required friction ratings for wheelchair users.

“The Labosport report quite clearly shows that Matchplay 2 is more than fit for purpose in this sector.”

Free entry for the UK’s largest outdoor tradeshow

SAGE 2022 takes place on 6-7 July at The Three Counties Showground in Malvern, and it is going to be a very valuable event for professionals in the sports, grounds and landscape industry.

The event is completely free to attend and there is a great deal on the agenda this year.

The stunning location has been selected specifically so that there is plenty of room for live demos from all types of businesses from across the industry. Visitors also have the opportunity to register for free training courses delivered by Sampson Training and hear from the leading experts as they discuss hot topics for the season and the future.

Sustainability will be a key theme at the event, with the first ever Sustainability Solutions for Grounds Specialists Summit being hosted at the event in partnership with Bio-Circle. SAGE has also been named the home event for GRASS (Ground care Resources and Sustainability

Solutions), which is a newly launched forum for ground care specialists who are passionate about driving a more sustainable future for the industry.

With sustainability becoming an increasingly important priority, attending SAGE 2022 will enable visitors to find out how to implement sustainable solutions into their business, and to help ensure they are able to meet future government targets.

What’s on at SAGE 2022?

Wednesday 6th July

9.30 – 10.00: Open Session with Sampson Training director Martin Sampson, Lantra trainer and assessor along with his colleague Geraint Jenkins, (Lantra trainer and assessor).

10.30 – 11.00: Appropriate Selection of Training Courses for your Team

11.15 – 11.45: Adam Sedgewick presents, “Gathering data, for better turfgrass decisions”.

Ventrac –versatility that works

12.00 – 12.45: Calibration of a Handheld Applicator (Knapsack) and Boom sprayer

Scheduled Demos: 13.00 – 14.15

TRIMAX, TH WHITE, REDEXIM, KERSTEN UK, TORO UK & More

14.30 – 15.45: Sustainable Solutions for Grounds Specialists Summit in partnership with BioCircle

16.00 – 18.00: Networking event in partnership with Sponsors Fleet Line Markers, bar and live music

Thursday 7th July

Scheduled Demos: 9.30 – 11.00

TRIMAX, TH WHITE, REDEXIM, KERSTEN UK, TORO UK & More

11.15 – 11.40: Maintaining your marking equipment: Led by our sponsors Fleet Line Markers Ltd

12.00 – 13.00: Sustainability Summit Overview & Open Workshop in partnership with Bio-Circle

Scheduled Demos: 14.00 – 16.00

TRIMAX, TH WHITE, REDEXIM, KERSTEN UK, TORO UK & More

With several more speaking slots to confirm, there is an action-packed schedule over the two days, with lots of exciting opportunities and experiences on offer. The networking event is a unique chance to meet industry professionals and ask the experts any questions you have, while enjoying a more informal setting.

Fleet Line Markers are sponsoring the networking event, which will have an open bar and live music, so that’s one more reason to make sure you do not miss this event. Fleet are also offering a 10% discount on their products to all visitors, so you can also save money on any line marking equipment you require.

Registering today will also enter you into our prize draw for your chance to win the Sustainability Starter Kit, put together by our exhibitors from GRASS.

Register for the event today to book your place,

www.sportsandgrounds.events, if you wish to exhibit this year there is still time for a last minute stand, limited space remaining, discounts available.

Redexim makes a return visit

As their 40th anniversary year continues, Redexim UK have announced they are returning to The Three Counties Showground for SAGE 2022 – bringing with them a selection of machinery that is critical to successful sports turf maintenance.

Visitors to the event taking place on the 6th and 7th July can expect to see the iconic Redexim VertiDrain, alongside the Verti-Cut, making its first show appearance since the range was extended last year.

The new models in the VertiCut range have been developed in direct response to industry

demand for precise scarification combined with a larger working width. With a choice between a 1.6m and 2.0m wide unit, the Verti-Cut range uses specially designed carbide-tipped blades to deliver effective removal of organic matter and lateral growth down to depths of 50mm.

Adjustment of the working depth can be done accurately and with ease via alterations to the front roller, which also helps the Verti-Cut negate scalping when working on undulating ground. As standard, the Verti-Cut comes with 2mm blades operating at a spacing of 30mm (1.18”), though this can be increased to 58mm

(2.28”) if required. 1mm and 3mm blades can also be specified as an optional extra.

Attendees will also be able to see the high-speed, high-productivity Verti-Drain 2519. With its 1.9m working width and a PTO speed of up to 540rpm, the 2519 can cover almost 9000 sq.m per hour – delivering fast, effective compaction relief. Its ability to accept a range of tine options makes the Verti-Drain a versatile choice – suited to a range of ground conditions and capable of year-round operation.

This is Price Turfcare’s first venture at SAGE and they will be demonstrating the new Ventrac 4520 all-terrain compact tractor which has over 30 dedicated attachments designed specifically for the turf manager.

They will be bringing their demonstration vehicle with 20and 30-degree ramps so that they can put the machine through its paces on slopes that no other

ride-on machine in the UK can tackle.

Come and see this remarkably versatile machine on Stand 7 and see for yourself why Ventrac has become the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ for the turfcare industry. Versatility that works, every day.

The Redexim team, assisted by local dealers Tallis Amos

Group, will be on hand across the two days to discuss the full machinery range which spans pedestrian, trailed and tractormounted solutions for natural, hybrid and synthetic surface maintenance.

Redexim UK Enquiry 38

SAGE becomes the Home Event for GRASS

SAGE is proud to be a key contributor to driving a more sustainable future in the sports and grounds maintenance industry.

SAGE 2022 is focused on providing a platform to make sustainable solutions more accessible across the grounds maintenance industry, with greener solutions becoming an even more urgent priority to meet carbon zero targets.

We are delighted to announce that SAGE is now the home event for GRASS (Ground care Resources and Sustainability Solutions), a newly launched forum comprising ground care industry specialists who are passionate about shaping a more sustainable future. The forum is free to join and will be a valuable group moving forward, offering expert knowledge on a wide range of sustainability topics.

GRASS has been formed by sustainability pioneer and innovator Mark Tomlinson, the Head of Environmental and Sustainability Stadia Projects at Bio-Circle. The corporate philosophy at BioCircle is “Making green work” by developing systems and solutions that are better for the environment.

Bio-Circle develops products that use sustainable raw materials and natural active ingredients, leading the way in sustainable products for the ground care industry. One of the most anticipated sessions of SAGE 2022 is the inaugural Sustainability Solutions for Grounds Specialists Summit, which is hosted in partnership with Bio-Circle.

The Summit will be led by industry experts, including Soil Scout, ProPitch, and Fleet Line Markers LTD who through GRASS are all working to develop a network of sustainability knowledge to deliver positive change and more eco-friendly practices. GRASS will be providing information and guidance to grounds maintenance businesses on the latest sustainability projects and concerns for the industry that need to be addressed.

“Unless you are driving sustainability to the groundscare sector, it will be a slow transition and time is not on our side,” said Mark. “You cannot magic change. It is up to each individual within your business to know what the term sustainable means. Sustainability can be driven by anyone, and with our industry based around nature we should be at the forefront of driving environmental change and practices. Responsibility and implementations must be undertaken by organisations who truly want to take the project on board. Small steps and simple changes in daily practices make a big difference and begins the journey.”

Bio-Circle has been instrumental in developing greener products, such as low-temperature products, natural ingredients, and waste reduction. At SAGE 2022 you will have the opportunity to ask the experts for advice and guidance on the different products that will help you to work in more sustainable ways, as well as see in action the latest sustainable projects and products.

Bio-Circle Enquiry 41

SAGE is the perfect place for the play sector to exhibit

Businesses who supply play equipment rarely get great opportunities to display their products, as there are few tradeshows that provide adequate space to properly show potential customers outdoor park equipment.

For people to really get an idea of how your products work and why they are different to what your competitors offer, they need to see them in use, not just in a catalogue or on a website page.

SAGE 2022 is the perfect place for businesses from the Play sector to exhibit their equipment, partly due to the ideal location at The Three Counties Showground. The site covers 90 acres, and this vast space is one of the top reasons it has been chosen to host the much-anticipated 2022 SAGE expo.

SAGE offers a demo plot for all exhibitors. A first-hand demo of your products is much more

effective than showing pictures and you will need adequate space to allow you to do this. Exhibitors book a section of space for their stand, priced by the metre.

There are no constraints around how much space you are allowed to use to set up your playground equipment and any other products that you want to highlight.

The event will be attended by key personnel from local authorities, education establishments and

contractors who will already have an interest in the types of products that you sell.

Another benefit of attending SAGE 2022 is that you get to meet lots of people from across the same industry, who you may be able to work with in the future or who can recommend your business.

Facilities at SAGE 2022

SAGE 2022 has an update on the facilities that you can expect when you attend the event on 6-7 July 2022 at The Three Counties Showground, Malvern.

Given the concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, organisers have been working hard to ensure that we are able to deliver the safest possible environment, by holding the event outdoors in a very spacious format.

The organisers have also ensured that the event is accessible to all, by providing the necessary facilities for everybody to comfortably attend the event.

These are the facilities we are providing at SAGE 2022: Free parking - We want to make it as easy as possible for people to get to the event and our free parking will enable attendees to park on the site and easily access the stalls.

Disability access - The site has been assessed to ensure that accessibility measures are in place, including wheelchair access, a wheelchair accessible toilet and additional facilities and equipment are available.

Baby facilities - We will be providing baby changing facilities to ensure that the event is family friendly.

Guide dogs allowed - Guide dogs are more than welcome to attend the event, so that they can provide assistance in

layout.

Toilets - Toilets will be available on the site, with hygiene equipment such as hand sanitiser to help ensure everyone can safely attend the event.

Catering - We will have several catering options at the event to suit all dietary requirements. There will be sanitary stations positioned at various areas of the event, but we will ensure to include more of these at all catering stands.

Showers - For people who are performing demonstrations, having the convenience of the shower facilities will help to keep clean and warm at the event.

Outdoor venue - SAGE 2022 is the largest outdoor tradeshow for the sports and grounds maintenance industry. By holding the event totally outdoors, we can limit the risk of COVID-19 and provide a safe environment.

Great Malvern - The Great Malvern station is situated just over 2 miles from The Three Counties Showground, with free shuttle buses (with disabled access) available.

Smoking area - There is a designated smoking area to ensure the rest of the event site is smoke-free.

guiding around the event stalls and

Engine updates power developments

Groundcare tractor ranges are benefiting from the latest engine technology to offer cleaner, more economical running, reports Jane Carley.

Tractor power and size is dictated by the nature of the job and surface, but turf work always requires a light tread, so manufacturers aim to put that power in a compact package. While sub-40hp tractors rule on fine turf, larger implements offer greater productivity for work such as sportsfield construction and renovation, large area mowing and estate maintenance, so we’ve also taken a look at the latest developments in utility tractors and sought operator opinions on higher horsepower models.

McCormick has added the new X2 compact to its range, which replaces the Yanmar Tier 3 of the previous series with a Kohler Stage V emission engine.

The two models in the range, X2.055 and X2.060, use 1.9-litre, three-cylinder, turbo aftercooled engines to achieve a maximum output of 49 and 57 horsepower (ISO) respectively.

Adoption of an exhaust gas treatment system at the side of the bonnet maintains its low height for optimum visibility.

The X2 also features the latest McCormick styling, including new side grilles on the bonnet for improved cooling.

An important new feature is the availability of the Engine Memo Switch that allows the operator to store a selected engine rpm and to quickly retrieve it via a switch on the right-hand console.

The platform is also shared with sister company Landini, which offers the same specification in the new Mistral2 models.

Ventrac’s new 31hp 4520 allterrain compact tractor retains all the features of its multi-purpose predecessor, including

its 30-degree slope climbing ability, but has been enhanced with an all-new hydraulic system featuring larger bore piping, more powerful auxiliary hydraulics and more resilient hoses and fi ttings resulting in faster and stronger operation.

This means 30% more available power, improving performance and productivity while providing the operator with a quieter working platform.

A new, robust centre pivot on the Flexframe provides greater durability and reliability and new LED lights provide enhanced vision in poor light conditions. A redesigned dashboard with updated gauge layout is more visible and easy-to-read. All of the existing attachments fit the new 4520.

Rupert Price, managing director of Price Turfcare, the UK and Ireland distributor for Ventrac said, “The 4520 looks similar to the previous model, with a few styling tweaks, but these latest refi nements have enhanced an already excellent machine to a higher plane.”

The Ventrac tractor can be fi tted with more than 30 attachments, for tasks from mowing to landscaping.

Massey Ferguson has introduced new 40hp MF 1740 E and 54hp MF 1755 E compact tractors, powered by the latest Stage V compliant engines and equipped with mechanical gearboxes and

designed to offer an economical power unit for industries including groundcare. Three-cylinder, 1.8 litre and four-cylinder, 2.4-litre engines respectively meet Stage V emissions regulations using ‘All in One’ SCR technology. Routine engine maintenance is made easy thanks to a fully opening onepiece bonnet.

The MF 1755 E is equipped with a flat-floor platform, while there’s a semi-platform on the MF 1740 E. Both come with four-wheel drive as standard.

On the MF 1740 E, a mechanical gearbox provides eight forward/ eight reverse speeds. Four gears in two ranges are selected using a central main gearshift lever and separate range lever on the left-hand side. Direction changes are made easily using the synchronised shuttle lever, mounted under the steering wheel on the left hand side.

Hydraulic pump flowrate is 28.3 litres/min with a 1,000kg lift capacity from the Cat 1 threepoint linkage.

A 12 forward/12 reverse mechanical gearbox with shuttle reverser is standard on the MF 1755 E, which has 1,200kg lift capacity, Cat 1 three-point linkage and 32.2 litre/min hydraulic flow.

Both tractors offer position control to set and maintain the precise working height. The system also benefi ts from adjustable speed for lifting and lowering.

The 540rpm Independent PTO is activated electro-hydraulically, using a conveniently located switch on the dashboard. This provides a choice of standard engagement or

Great expectations at St George’s Park

A new John Deere fleet will help meet the demands of maintaining surfaces at St George’s Park, the home of England football, maintaining a world-class venue is a 365-days-a-year, 24-hours-aday passion.

The new fl eet comprises three compact tractors in the form of a 2036R and two 4066R models.

All the equipment was supplied by John Deere dealer Farol through Area Sales Managers Jacob Shellis and Tom Spencer. The fleet is fully connected and all

machines are remotely monitored by Farol under Deere’s PowerGard protection plan. A maintenance agreement means work is carried out at scheduled times according to the service manual.

Nathan Page, one of the operators at St George’s, said: “A big difference is the 2036R and 4066R tractors. They are all-weather, comfortable and capable of pulling everything we need them to.”

Deere Enquiry 44

Soft Start for high inertia loads. A stationary PTO switch mounted on the fender is standard.

Introduced in 2021, Kioti’s CK30 models are based on the previous CK10 series but with a number of new features.

Ranging from 25 to 50hp, all models from 35hp upwards have the latest Kioti threecylinder Stage V common rail engines with DPF, designed to be economical, quiet and with minimal vibration.

The spacious air conditioned cabin offers all-round visibility and has a Grammar suspension seat with armrest as standard, plus an adjustable steering wheel.

General manager Patrick Desmond explains: For operation of implements such as mowers,

the tractor could not be easier to set up, with 540/540E pto and two double acting spools, one with float which makes the hydraulic connection easy. The integrated front loader joystick gives a pair of double acting spools available to the front of the tractor if not utilised by the loader.”

Transmission is a three-range twin Pedal HST with cruise control and a cruise pto feature ensures that the engine revs will change as required to maintain the pre-set PTO speed. Automatic pto engages and disengages the PTO according to the lifting and lowering of the three-point linkage.

New Holland’s latest Boomer stage V compact tractor range includes two new Class 3 models, the 47 hp Boomer 45 and the 57 hp Boomer 55.

can be set to automatically disengage the PTO on lifting and re-engage when lowering, turning at the end of runs is so simple. The high specification air-con cab is just the ultimate in comfort. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this top quality well-built, sturdy and reliable tractor.”

Max Sandford,Head Groundsman,Exeter Rugby Club

Massey Ferguson

Kioti

Ventrac

John

The Boomer 55 model features a new three-cylinder turbocharged engine featuring common rail direct injection technology, with torque back up reaching 188Nm @1600 rpm. Fuel efficiency is enhanced with the availability of the 540E pto setting in Class 3 models, ensuring that pto speed never exceeds the rpm target by more than 10%, for lower fuel consumption.

Enhanced operator comfort across the range includes models with hydrostatic transmission and standard cruise control which helps to reduce operator fatigue. Class 2 and 3 models are equipped with the Boomer Suite cab for improved visibility and ergonomic controls.

Boomer Stage V models which include the hydrostatic transmission also include the EZ Speed function, which coordinates the forward hydrostatic pedal and engine speed. This ensures the correct engine speed and ground speed whenever the operator requires it, and New Holland suggests that a great benefit is maintaining low noise levels when the tractor is stationary.

The new auto pto feature automatically turns off the pto when the three-point hitch is raised and reengages when lowered. This function reduces fatigue and speeds up work in applications where the rear lift needs to be activated frequently.

John Deere’s compact tractor range includes 13 models in six series ranging from 25 to 66hp.

In 2020 the company updated some of the range to meet the latest Stage V emissions regulations in Europe, which are designed to limit ultrafi ne particulate emissions in all engines above 25hp.

John Deere’s compact tractors rated at 25hp and below – the 1026R, 2026R and 3025E – already met the necessary standards. Other 2R and 3R Series models above 25hp got a new Yanmar 1.6-litre, threecylinder TNV Series diesel engine that features a high torque reserve, providing plenty of power under heavy loads.

This uses the latest engine technologies to improve fuel economy, control and accuracy, while also reducing environmental impact as well as operating costs. It features a common rail system (CRS) and an electronic control unit (ECU),

which continuously monitors engine conditions and adjusts fuel delivery to ensure optimum performance.

The engine’s new after-treatment system consists of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) and diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), which operates automatically to produce lower levels of exhaust emissions and reduced noise levels.

At the top of the John Deere compact tractor range, the 4052M and 4052R have a larger 2.1-litre, four-cylinder engine with DPF. This is the same as the existing engine on the biggest 4066M and 4066R models.

The 3R and 4R Series compact tractors are equipped with a new eThrottle function integrated into the established eHydro transmission.

This feature is designed make the tractor quieter and more comfortable to use, as well as more fuel efficient. With the simple push of a button, engine speed is conveniently linked to the foot pedal position so that engine rpm and tractor speed can both be increased as the pedal is depressed.

On selected models, the Hitch Assist system makes coupling up implements and trailers to the tractor’s rear hitch or threepoint linkage quicker, easier and safer. Using this system, external switches mounted on the rear fender allow the operator to move the tractor backwards and

Case Study

Power and control with Fendt

Gloucestershire-based Tugwell Contracting specialises in solar farm construction and maintenance and operates a fleet of tractors including eight Fendt 211V and two 314V.

“We’ve got lots of experience in agricultural contracting and plant hire, so were familiar with the versatility and operator comfort offered by Fendt tractors,” explains Adrian Tugwell.

Fendt 211P Vario models were added to the fl eet to give a more compact package, but still offer plenty of power at 114hp, the ability to carry out a wide range of functions and ease of operation for long working days, he points out.

“For the implements we use for mowing, solar panel cleaning and hedgecutting on site we need a tractor with front linkage and pto, front hydraulic and electronic services and easy control via Fendt’s

multifunction Vario joystick. They offer so much flexibility and the 211 is a powerful little tractor.”

He adds that while the high-tech tractors, which feature a stepless transmission, can initially look complex, the controls are a scaled down version of those that his operators were already familiar with.

“And we have also found that new starters quickly get to

grips with them once they are explained.”

Adrian comments that the back-up offered by Fendt’s dealer network is key – as a national contractor his teams can be anywhere in the country – but that the operators can also easily handle daily maintenance themselves.

“The reliability is also excellent, which is essential, as the tractors can be away from base for 10 days at a time.”

A total of 1,500 service personnel, civil servants and contractors work at the base,

in addition to the extensive

areas for operational use, the site has a large sports and leisure complex for the use of staff and the community.

It is one of a number of MOD sites maintained by national contractor idverde, and in October 2021, a new Kubota L2-622 compact tractor was added to the machinery fleet to work at RAF Valley.

“We had an older L series tractor and Lloyds fiveunit gang mower,” explains

Over the winter, the L2 did duty with a front end loader to fill gritters and keep the site operational in icy weather, but since March it has been dedicated to mowing.

“We are cutting five days a week, maintaining all of the airfield and any other short grass such as the sportsfi elds,” Chris says. “The mower has to be able to cut at a range of heights, including below 25mm for areas where the Instrument Landing System is in operation, to avoid interference from the grass to the radar.”

“Hydrostatic transmission was specified for the speed of operation and to make use of the

cruise control on long runs, and the move to a single pedal makes it much more convenient to use.”

He also praises the manoeuvrability of the tractor, which is highly compact for its 62hp output.

“It will virtually turn in its own length, and handles the steeper terrain on the site easily with its low transmission range and wellbalanced design; plus there’s always plenty of power.”

One of the most significant

forwards at a maximum speed of 12mm/second, and raise or lower the hitch as required.

Powering up

For those looking for a bit more power, Kubota has introduced

upgrades on the latest L Series tractors is a new, more spacious cab, and this comes in for particular praise from Chris.

“It’s a big improvement, veryuser friendly. Small details such as the sun visor, air conditioning and radio make a difference when you are in the tractor all day, and the three-quarter windows at the rear open to allow fresh air in. It’s a great tractor to drive and work with.”

the M6-001 Utility series tractor range as the successor to the MGX models. It spans 104143hp, and meets EU Stage V emissions thanks to an improved exhaust after-treatment package that contributes to a lower cost of ownership.

Short wheelbase models use a 3.8-litre Kubota V3800 fourcylinder engine with maximum power outputs of 104hp and 111hp, weigh 4.3 tonnes, and use a 2.54m wheelbase.

Long wheelbase versions use Kubota’s 6.1-litre V6108 fourcylinder engine to give power outputs of 123hp, 133hp and 143hp, weigh 4.8 tonnes, and have a 2.68m wheelbase.

All M6-001 Utility models get a 40kph 24x 24 semi-powershift transmission, with the option of a creeper range to increase the choice of ratios to 32x32.

The Cat III rear linkage includes electronic linkage control with a five-tonne lift capacity on short wheelbase models and 6.1 tonnes on long wheelbase tractors.

M-series product manager Henry Myatt comments: “The M6 Utility is a lightweight tractor ideal for operators familiar with

mechanical controls, built on a tried and tested platform. It is available with a wide choice of tyres.”

Kubota also recently announced the M5002 and M4003 series tractor ranges, with several upgrades over their predecessors, the M5001 and M4002, and they are already proving popular with groundcare customers, reports the company.

Introduced to meet EU Stage V emissions compliance, these updated models include the 66hp M4063, the 74hp M4073, the 96hp M5092 and the 115hp M5112. Where the M4063 can be specified with ROPS frame or cab, the remaining models are only available in cabbed format.

“The M4003 is the smallest model in the M-series tractor range, though it packs a considerable punch,” says Henry. “Both the M4 and M5 are great solutions for those seeking lightweight, yet powerful tractors - when equipped with turf tyres, they are suited to amenity and sports field use, helped by a high power to weight ratio,” he says.

“Without a cab, the M4 weighs just 2,670kg, while the M5 weighs 3,500kg.”

Case study

Kubota takes off at RAF base Set in a stunning location off the coast of North Wales, RAF Valley on Anglesey is home to No 4 Flying Training School, responsible for training the UK’s next generation of worldclass fighter pilots.

and

grass

operator Chris Hickey, “But we needed to update the mowing equipment to suit the often wet condition of the grounds, so a Trimax Snake S2 gang roller mower and the latest Kubota L2622 were purchased.”

New Holland

John Deere

Kubota

Case Study

Precision pays on grass John Deere now offers precision farming technology, first developed for its agricultural tractors, on its compact tractor range. The StarFire satellite receiver and AutoTrac Universal automatic steering system are designed to help operators achieve higher levels of accuracy and input cost savings when working with implements such as amenity turf sprayers, spreaders and drills.

Mike Ramsay of grassland and equine specialist MC Country Services Ltd, who is based in Rushden in Northamptonshire, bought one of the first John Deere AutoTrac compact tractors in the UK from his local dealer Farol Ltd after seeing a 66hp 4066R at the Saltex show.

“I was looking specifi cally to buy an extra tractor with more horsepower to join the fl eet,” says Mike. “I was interested

in the latest GPS technology as I wanted to save both time and wastage of inputs through overlapping or misses, particularly with the sprayer, spreader and drill.

“I went for the full GPS system with AutoTrac automatic handsfree steering, a GreenStar 4640 touchscreen display plus JDLink telematics.

“Using JDLink I can get reports sent to my phone and/ or PC straight after any job. For example, when I’m spraying, the system records wind speed, temperature, tank mix contents, application rates, you name it. Customers love it – I can send them the details straight away.

“Once the tractor has been set up for a particular job, you just set a constant speed and away you go. When you need to turn around, the system finds the next parallel pass and away you go again.”

“The tractor’s GreenStar 4640 display controls all the main precision turf operations, including data capture and documentation, AutoTrac hands-free steering and sprayer Section Control. I also use the John Deere MyOperations app via JDLink, which is brilliant for monitoring and managing field work.”

Transmissions offer 18x18 speeds for the M4003 and 36x36 for the M5002, while linkage lift capacities are 2.5 tonnes and 4.1 tonnes respectively, to handle implements such as the largest amenity mowers, decompactors or seeders.

Kirkland UK has unveiled the first conventional-style tractor to be built by Antonio Carraro.

Powered by a 75hp Deutz fourcylinder Stage V engine the new TONY 8700 V features Tractor Management Control with automated functions to allow various working parameters to be set. Speed is independent to rpm, and can be programmed separately. Constant work velocity is managed by the cruise control system on the mechanicalhydrostatic hybrid transmission.

Tony also features an oscillating front axle which provides a tight turning angle.

Cab design includes Cat 4 pressurisation ensuring maximum safety when spraying, plus auto climate control. It comes as standard with a multifunctional joystick, controlling up to nine double acting spools, positioned both rear and at the middle.

With this in mind, there is a large clear area at the middle of the tractor, for ease of mounting tools and implements.

“This tractor has an extremely narrow track and minimum width of just 100cm. It is a traditional style tractor which has superb handling without compromising the features of the drive position situated on a platform with a low centre of gravity,” says Kirkland’s spokesperson.

Reesink Agriculture has introduced a new version of the Farmtrac FT6075E which uses DPF technology in its 3460CC CRDI diesel engine to meet Stage V emissions legislation, delivering 75hp at 2000rpm.

In addition to the new engine, the designers at Farmtrac have also looked to revise the cab which now features a more ergonomic control layout with controls repositioned to fall neatly to hand. Part of the internal redesign has allowed for additional storage within the cabin for items like mobile phones, etc.

The FT6075 comes as standard with a 12x12 speed Carraro-made transmission; a 24x24 creeper option is also available. Lift capacity is up to 3000kg and the Smart Lift feature means quick lifting and lowering of implements during headland turn. It also offers features a selectable 4WD, independent dual-speed rear PTO, position and draft control, rear hydraulic spool valves and trailer brakes.

Carraro Tony

Cosmic ISEKI stars at Portrack House

A range of ISEKI machines are helping to maintain the Garden of Cosmic Speculation – an incredible 30-acre sculpture garden located at Portrack House, near Dumfries in South West Scotland.

Forty major areas, gardens, bridges, landforms, sculptures, terraces, fences and architectural works, the Garden of Cosmic Speculation is a sight to behold. The masterpiece features landscape work based on the Big Bang, geometric fractals, twisting DNA helixes, and black holes.

Groundcare Manager at Portrack House, Ben Wakefield, admits that he is fortunate to work at such a magical site, but it is safe to say he has his work cut out. In maintaining the vast area, Ben claims he needs every machine to be a ‘workhorse’ and it is for this reason that there was only one brand he

considered when he needed a new tractor.

Ben recently added the ISEKI TXGS24 compact tractor to his fleet. Used in a huge range of applications where a small multi-use sub compact tractor is required, the TXGS24 is the ultimate compact multi-purpose tractor. With 3-point linkage, mid and rear PTOs, optional mower decks and front loader the uses for the TXGS24 tractor are limitless.

“We use it for everything,” said Ben. “It is our general-purpose machine - basically if we can attach something to it, then we can use it.”

Ben also has the ISEKI TXG237 compact tractor, the previous model, to assist him, as well as the ISEKI SXG323 ride-on mower. The SXG Range is the ultimate in cut and collection mowers, with the ability to perform

exceptionally even in the wet conditions. Its large capacity, low revving 1123cc, 19hp, engine creates very little vibration and wear and tear on the engine itself, whilst also being very fuel efficient and powerful.

To make disposing of grass cuttings easy, the SXG323 has a hydraulically operated high or low tip collection system which can lift up to a height of 1.97m.

ISEKI Enquiry

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ISEKI IQ scores highly at Letchworth Golf Club

Daniel Spencer, Head Greenkeeper at Letchworth Golf Club, has praised the reliable ISEKI TG6507 for its performance and versatility, adding that the IQ gearbox was a big factor in his decision to purchase the unique compact tractor.

Located on the edge of England’s first ever Garden City, Letchworth Golf Club is set in beautiful undulating countryside, which is well renowned for its firm fast greens and tight tree lined fairways. The 18-hole parkland course was extended and updated in 2003 to its present form and length, and it is an on-going improvement process, guided by renowned course architects, arborists, and ecologists.

New Ventrac 4520 compact tractor launched

BTME 2022 provided the first opportunity for the UK golf sector to see the new Ventrac 4520 all-terrain compact tractor.

Through

machine performance, operator experience, and durability; all combined in this new 4520 tractor unit. At its core, the 4520 is a compact tractor, but it is very different to what most turf managers are used to seeing. The purpose of a tractor is to perform tasks more effi ciently than manual tasks.

The Ventrac 4520 plays on these advantages, then takes it to the next level. When coupled with the extensive range of Ventrac attachments, this tractor is a versatile machine for a variety of professional users.

The 4520 retains all the features of its predecessor, including its 30-degree slope climbing ability, but has been enhanced with an all-new hydraulic system featuring larger bore

piping, more powerful auxiliary hydraulics and more resilient hoses and fi ttings resulting in faster and stronger operation.

This means 30% more available power, improving performance and productivity while providing the operator with a quieter working platform.

A new, robust centre pivot on the Flexframe provides greater durability and reliability and new LED lights provide enhanced vision in poor light conditions. A redesigned dashboard with a new gauge layout is more visible and easy-to-read. Most importantly, all of the existing attachments fit seamlessly to the new 4520.

Price Turfcare Enquiry

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Head Greenkeeper Daniel Spencer inevitably plays an integral role in shaping the future of the club. First and foremost, though, Daniel’s priority is keeping the course in impeccable condition and to achieve this, it is essential that he has the right tools for the job.

“The time had come to replace our old tractor,” said Daniel when discussing equipment. “We

needed something reliable which would allow us to combine our existing implements such as the aerator, the leaf collector, and the blower. We looked at a lot of options and decided that the ISEKI TG6507 would be the best fit for us.”

Ideal for high specification aeration and turf maintenance on sports turf, the TG is the most advanced tractor in the ISEKI range with 40-67hp engines.

As Daniel says, users of the TG6507 benefit from the innovative dual-clutch IQ gearbox, combining the ultimate comfortable automatic operation with the advantages of manual gear changes. Specifi c to the IQ range of TG tractors the Headland management controls are also perfect when working with turf maintenance implements. The PTO Stop/ Start function allows you to stop the PTO when the link arms are raised for ease of operation. PTO Stop in reverse lifts the arms to a pre-set height if reverse gear is selected to prevent any damage to implements. These are fully adjustable.

Enquiry 49

Innovative 2-wheel tractors

from award winning Koppl

Multi award winning German manufacturer Koppl manufacture an exciting range of interchangeable products which are designed to revolutionise groundscare by minimising the need for several different machines, thus reducing storage space and costs. The smaller Koppl Hydro Compact Easy, with its space saving design, is a flexible and convenient unit for all professional needs and multiseason use.

Available with a wide range of powerful attachments, it offers a solution to even the toughest conditions including, weed clearing, blowing and snow clearing. It also boasts a range of attachments specifi cally for synthetic groundscare, including various sweepers and brushes.

Additionally, the larger Compact Light and Compact Comfort models offer strong powerful units designed to withstand the rigours of the professional user with varying solutions for clearance work and mowing including on steep slopes.For heavy and intensive landscaping applications including stone burial, the Luchs Hydro is the ideal solution with its powerful, narrow design

which delivers outstanding manoeuvrability and flexibility.

Koppl also continue to develop their range of E-Power equipment, building on the popular Compact Easy E-Drive power unit with the introduction of the Compact Comfort E-Drive which offers a powerful power unit for operating a range of landscaping and groundwork attachments. The available solutions include mowers, brushcutters, sweepers and weed removal, all suitable for the rigorous use in the professional market.

Koppl have been manufacturing since 1896 and produce an extensive range of implement carriers (5.7hp – 23hp) and attachments including sweepers, rotavators & mowers to suit individual specific needs.

ISEKI

Ventrac’s advanced engineering and design efforts there’s 30% more available power, the best mix of

Sweepers, Collectors,

Clearing Up with PSD

PSD Groundscare, a leading distributor of professional groundscare machinery have an exciting range of vacuums, blowers and sweepers from innovative European manufacturers ELIET and Koppl.

Leading Belgium manufacturer ELIET have developed a range of vacuums & blowers that includes leaf blowers and truckloaders.

Innovative German manufacturer Koppl provide a range of multiattachment machines that can be fitted to a power unit with a wide range of attachments to choose

from including snow-blowers and sweepers.

The wonderful advantage of the Koppl range is the power unit

can be used all year round with attachments to suit the season.

PSD Groundscare Enquiry 53

Powerful blowers and brushes from Ventrac

Demonstrating its versatility, the Ventrac 4520 compact tractor has a couple of powerful blowers and brush attachment that are ideal for the landscaper, estate manager or contracting business.

The Ventrac KA160 Power Blower features a vertical shaft design that delivers powerful, yet quiet performance.

The blower housing can be rotated 180 degrees in the horizontal axis allowing the operator to move debris in the desired direction without hindering operation. Two guide wheels maintain a consistent distance from the surface to maximise operational efficiency. This blower can be used to remove leaves, light snow, water and other debris.

The Ventrac ET200 Turbine blower makes quick work of any clean up job and is designed to move large volumes of air and is

much quieter than conventional debris blowers. The powerful front discharge nozzle can be hydraulically rotated through 360 degrees from the operator’s seat and a front bumper protects the nozzle from damage. Power and control allows clean-up work to be done simply, quietly, and efficiently. The Ventrac Mount System allows the blowers to mounted and detached quickly and then move on to the next job. The ET200 can be used to blow leaves, light snow, and remove debris from paths, car parks and other areas.

Group course manager at The Club Company Chris Brook says: “Considering the Ventrac tractor unit is less than 25hp, it is remarkably powerful and can go anywhere. The Turbine Blower attachment is excellent; unlike a lot of blowers that change the direction of the vortex through a vertical axis, in an up-and-

over action, this works in a 180° horizontal axis, which enables more control over the direction of the material being dispersed. It’s great when blowing leaves from greens and, being out-front, visibility is second to none.”

Demonstrating the versatility of Ventrac, it’s possible to swap out the blowers and in less than a couple of minutes attached the HB580 Power Broom for sweeping operations. It can be hydraulically angled left or right and lifted up or down - all from the seat of the tractor. An electric actuator also allows the operator to adjust the speed and direction of the broom rotation, maximizing its effectiveness. A self-levelling feature keeps the broom horizontal at all times, and the nylon bristle broom cores can be changed in just a few minutes.

Price Turfcare Enquiry 52

Turfco Torrent 2 – Yearround precision clean-up

Turfco’s Torrent 2 is powerful all-purpose blower, available in tow-behind or tractormounted pto-driven formats and delivering unprecedented control over air speed, air direction, noise management and fuel consumption. This is a precision clean-up tool that can used yearround to give golf courses or grounds a new level of polish and playability.

Talking to end users, power and airflow were important factors, but better control and precision would lead to greater productivity. As a result, the

Torrent 2 features a faster, more precise nozzle rotation that’s operated by a wireless, handheld controller with productivityenhancing features.

Built on a heavy-duty frame with a rugged draw bar and adjustable hitch the Torrent 2 is designed for durability. The one-piece nozzle is made of impact resistant molded polyethylene. The enclosed deck dramatically reduces debris pickup from below the blower, decreasing wear on the turbine and minimising overall dust and debris around the operator.

The wireless controller allows the operator to dial in the exact nozzle direction for optimal performance with fast, 360-degree nozzle rotation enhancing productivity and control.

Multiple air speed settings make it quick and easy to increase or decrease blowing force, while a dedicated button allows the operator to idle down when people are near, and then quickly resume operation at the original setting once they clear the area. The controller also features a shutdown switch that stops the engine at the press of a button.

An optional auxiliary control kit is available should the wireless controller be lost or damaged. The operator simply fl ips a switch from wireless to auxiliary and can then control the machine’s speed and direction.

Turfco Enquiry

Retiring Ronnie makes two last purchases

Buchanan Castle GC’s course manager, Ronnie Myles, retired last month after 50 years’ greenkeeping, the last 15 years as head greenkeeper at the Drymen club.

Ronnie’s last two purchases have been from dealer Fairways GM at Inchinnan, to help the team at Buchanan Castle maintain quality of presentation.

First to arrive, at the start of the year, was a Wiedenmann Super 500, four-in-one collector, sweeper scarifier, and its versatility has been a revelation at the James Braid-designed course.

“It was still winter and the difference it made was unbelievable,” said Ronnie. “Working in tandem with our blower, it cleared and collected

leaves and other debris in one pass. We had so many stormy days, so it was busy up and down the course, back and forth.

Our golfers were cock-a-hoop because it instantly presented the playing areas to the best standard. In the spring, we switched the flail paddles to scarifying blades and it scarified all the fairways with minimal disruption. A good, neat job. We just haven’t had a chance to get it onto rough management duties, but that will happen in time.”

Ronnie says that while it is imperative to buy the right machines for purpose, reliable service and back up from a dealer also plays a significant role in the purchase. Taking over from Ronnie will be his two deputies, Chris Prior and James Macdonald, who both become joint course managers.

While Ronnie is happy to be standing down knowing the course is in capable hands, his days won’t be too quiet. In April, Ronnie was elected Regional President of BIGGA for Scotland

& N Ireland, and in July, he is one of the greenkeepers selected who will support the R&A during The 150th Open at St Andrews.

Pellenc launches backpack blower

Wiedenmann Enquiry 57 Pellenc, the world’s leading expert in battery-powered tools for maintaining landscapes, has announced the latest product in its vast range – the Airion BackPack blower.

Light, odourless, noise-free, with no starting problems and enough power to enable professional users to work for a full day on a single charge, it’s no wonder more and more professional users are turning to Pellenc.

The ever-expanding Pellenc product portfolio consists of chainsaws, blowers, hedge cutters, pole saws, road sweepers, grass strimmers and mowers – offering a solution for every requirement.

EGO unveils new blower as part of 2022 range Superior power and comfort from Husqvarna

EGO, the specialist in batterypowered outdoor power equipment, is aiming for another record-breaking year, building on the growing demand for batterypowered tools and equipment with the launch of key new products.

The LB7650E leaf blower offers a run time of up to six hours on a single battery charge. With 1,300m3/h output when in Boost mode, it is by far the industry’s most powerful handheld blower, outperforming even the leading petrol-powered blowers. It features a thumb selector for variable speed and airflow control, making it even easier to use single handed.

They blower and other new products for 2022 are supported by a new 12Ah battery and Professional Multi-Port charging case. The 12Ah battery is the largest in the range, increasing battery run time between charges

by up to 20 per cent across all EGO products. EGO’s Professional Multi-Port Charging Case will charge any combination of up to six EGO portable batteries at the same time, making it ideal for professional users.

It works with the industry’s fastest charger – a typical 60Ah setup will charge in just three hours. EGO’s intelligent power management system replenishes batteries with the lowest level of charge first, then brings all the batteries up to full charge at the same rate.

EGO Enquiry 91

Designed for more demanding tasks, the Husqvarna 570BTS is a powerful industrial backpack leaf blower with 37N petrol power.

Weighing 11.2kg, the 570BTS features a harness with wide shoulder straps and soft-grip handles, offering superior comfort over other backpack leaf blowers designed for landscapers.

The harness is ventilated and load-reducing to relieve pressure on the body when in use, and the handles can be angled and have rubber inserts for a stable, comfortable grip.

Its large airflow and high air speed are provided by an efficient fan design together with a powerful X-Torq engine which increases torque over a wider RPM range in order to provide maximum blowing capacity.

The 570BTS also features a 2-stage intake commercial-grade air filtration system, giving this petrol leaf blower a long operating time and trouble-free use, whether blowing away leaves or debris.

To ensure the operation is as easy as possible, the offset handle makes the blow forces easier to control by preventing the arm from being pulled downwards, allowing for minimal arm strain for the user.

The 570BTS has dampeners between the engine and chassis to effectively reduce vibrations, while its intuitive controls including Cruise Control, contribute to efficient and convenient operation at all times.

Husqvarna Enquiry 58

The Airion Backpack blower is the most powerful batterypowered backpack blower on the market. With an airflow of 1,280m³/h and a thrust of 24N, its performance is suitable for day-to-day road green space maintenance work in all seasons.

With its wide, thick shoulder straps and integrated adjustable belt, the Airion Backpack blower offers great comfort during prolonged working sessions. Its

inclined pivot gives full freedom of movement with the nozzle, allowing manoeuvrability reminiscent of a hand-held blower. Its handle can also be adjusted to the user’s height with all controls are always within easy reach.

The large backlit display on the smart handle provides the user with real-time information including current speed, battery life (as a percentage and in minutes), option currently selected (boost and cruise control) and time worked on the current work site.

The Airion Backpack’s design optimises its aerodynamic efficiency by 15% compared to competing tools and its battery life has been extended up to three hours – depending on the battery used.

As with other tools in the Pellenc range, the Airion Backpack blower comes with IP54 waterproof rating and can be fitted with three different nozzles depending on usage – angled, angled-flat or flat.

Etesia

UK Enquiry 59

STIHL’s first backpack cordless professional blower

The new BGA 300 is STIHL’s first cordless backpack blower for professional users, offering high performance and a significantly less disruptive sound thanks to its innovative STIHL Noise Reduction System.

With a blowing force of 26 newton, STIHL’s new BGA 300 cordless backpack blower is the most powerful in the STIHL cordless range and features a high air speed to ensure even wet, heavy autumn leaves can be cleared quickly and efficiently. The new cordless blower is powered using STIHL’s professional AR 2000 L or AR 3000 L backpack batteries.

Thanks to the STIHL Noise Reduction System, the BGA 300 produces fewer high pitch frequencies often associated with cordless blowers, meaning operation is much more pleasant and less intrusive for bystanders.

Thanks to this, the BGA 300 is well suited for use in noisesensitive areas such as schools, parks or around public amenities.

The maximum blowing force can be selected from three power

setting options via the selector switch, allowing for efficient energy management and longer runtimes. Boost mode may also be selected to provide maximum power for the toughest clearing jobs. Furthermore, the new cordless blower features an LED power display and cruise control function to enable simple energy management and comfort.

For the optimum blowing angle the BGA 300 boasts a curved nozzle as standard, and the blower tube length can easily

be adjusted to meet different requirements and operating situations. A straight nozzle is also available as an accessory.

The BGA 300 is exceptionally easy to handle thanks to its slim design and comfortable carrying system that optimally distributes the weight of the backpack device and reduces the strain on the user when used for long periods.

STIHL Enquiry

Trilo S4 delivers multipurpose performance

A Trilo S4 has proven its credentials as a multi-functional machine without compromise for the team at Richmond Golf Club. Purchased initially to assist with the mammoth task of collecting leaves from more than 3000 trees around the parkland course, the interchangeable heads and ability to flail cut and scarify has seen the S4 out and assisting with maintenance year-round.

Bought from local dealers Ernest Does in time for the autumn of 2019, the S4 was a straight replacement of another Trilo unit which, as Course Manager Les Howkins explains, had been a workhorse at the London club for over 20 years. “Every year, we’d go out with our Trilo SG700 and over its long working life, it never missed a beat! The build quality was fantastic on that and continues to be with our new S4 which was one of the major reasons we purchased another Trilo, despite looking at what else was available.”

relatively ‘small’ 104-acre course. It is equipped with the brush head for leaf clearance between early September right through to Christmas, by the time the Oaks have dropped, and it does a fantastic job of cleanly collecting leaves and other debris in a single pass.”

Come the spring, the brush is swiftly swapped for the flail head for the quick cut and collect of acid grassland – an issue for Les and the team on the carry areas between the tees and the fairways. “This causes long, wispy growth which we cut down once a year using our S4. We then switch the flail out for a third attachment – a scarifier head

– to thin out these areas before the new season begins to prevent any thick, matted growth.”

“We loved our SG700 and our S4 retains the fantastic build quality and reliability that we previously enjoyed, with the added benefit of now being able to conduct multiple maintenance tasks.” Les concludes, “With a lot of machines that are billed as ‘multi-purpose’ you find they’ll do one job really well, and not perform on the others but the S4 does all three superbly!”

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“The Trilo S4 is also an ideal size for us – it features a large 4m3 hopper to collect large quantities of material but is compact enough overall to easily navigate our

New attachments for Bobcat

Joining the Bobcat family of over 100 different kinds of original attachments is the new Pressure Washer.

It is the first of its type to be offered for skid-steer, compact track and all wheel steer loaders on the market.

There are three different Pressure

Vanmac UK Enquiry 63

Washer Attachment models - the 250S, 250M and 250L - to match different Bobcat loaders and to meet the specific requirements of the many different applications for the attachment which include cleaning animal or poultry sheds.

Bobcat Enquiry 64

IKON XD range increases with powerful new engine

the new 764cc twin cylinder Ariens engine - designed to be powerful yet fuel efficient.

This new engine has an enhanced combustion chamber that burns fuel mixture quicker, resulting in greater combustion efficiency.

The IKON XD 42 Ariens engine is rated at 15.5kW of power @2800RPM whilst the IKON 52 Ariens engine is rated at 16.6kW of power @3000RPM. Both models with the Ariens engine also have over 50Nm of torque for optimum cutting performance.

The IKON XD’s innovative zero-turn capability means it can turn in its own footprint, ensuring no lawn is left unfinished. This is achieved through its ability to drive and steer from the back wheels via two independent transmissions.

Ariens is adding to its IKON XD range of zero-turn mowers with two new models; the IKON XD 42 and IKON 52, both featuring

Couple this with its carburettor and the finely tuned fuel spray it produces and the Ariens engine is one of the most fuel-efficient engines available today – but this doesn’t impact on its power.

LM Trac 287 multiuse tool carrier ready to sweep up

With concerns for the environment and the increasing desire from the UK public for a reduced use of liquid weedkillers, particularly in Urban and naturally sensitive areas, there is a growing demand to find and use an effective and economical alternative.

Kioti UK Ltd already have the solution. The LM Trac 287 product is a multiuse tool carrier that in Holland and Belgium is widely used for both mechanical and thermal weed control.

The LM Trac 287 can also be used for mowing, leaf blowing,

sweeping brush, snow ploughing and gritting.

Powered by a stage V Perkins diesel engine or electric battery it is designed for commercial allday use.

The photo shows the team at De Vlieger, a contracting company based in Belgium taking delivery of 4 LM Trac units. De Vlieger have been working for the past 40 years in construction, plus maintenance of green areas and road maintenance.

Kioti UK Enquiry 68

The engine is also easy to maintain thanks to toolless access to the air filter and well positioned oil drain. It is also long lasting and durable thanks to its design and anti-wear components.

Additionally, its fully fabricated commercial style deck with advanced airflow and range of cutting sizes ensures exceptional cutting performance every time.

Ariens Enquiry 67

No range anxiety with Dennis

The unrivalled battery power of the new Dennis ES-860 cylinder mower is impressing at Trent Bridge, home of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club.

The new and exciting E-Series is a range of battery powered mowers that are no compromise alternatives to the range of petrol machines.

The E-Series range was built to offer ultimate performance that helps professionals meet sustainability and environmental initiatives, reduce carbon footprint, emissions, running costs and noise without any range anxiety.

Hugh Beesley, an Assistant Groundsman, and one of two dedicated mowing operatives at Trent Bridge, revealed why he felt the E-Series would be a good fit.

“Approximately 90% of the equipment here is petrol and fuel focused,” he said. “Trent Bridge needs to, and wants to, do better in terms of being green and we

saw this as a great first step in the right direction.

“Also, with the petrol issues and the prices of fuel becoming more and more expensive, we thought it made sense. Quite often, multiple journeys to the petrol station would be made on a single day. Therefore, the purchase of battery powered mowers is a long-term commitment to decreasing the fuel costs here.”

This 34” battery powered turf management system delivers maximum versatility and the range of 13 interchangeable cassette options provide a solution to many day-to-day maintenance tasks such as cutting, scarifying, brushing, slitting and verticutting.

Furthermore, traditional G860 cassettes will also fit the ES-860, meaning that customers will not have to purchase additional cassettes.

Dennis Enquiry 69

Tackling the tough stuff

For both lawn and hard surface areas, the MV601 multi-surface vacuum offers the perfect machine for larger clean-up projects, thanks to its Braggs & Stratton electric easy start engine, self-propelled and 3-speed vacuum.

Plus, its powerful 6-blade serrated impeller encourages maximum suction, picking up leaves, grass clippings, litter and other debris

quickly and efficiently, making mass clean-up easy.

The MV601 has also been manufactured using abrasionresistant composite housing components, offering a lightweight model that won’t rust or dent so it can be used year after year.

Billy Goat Enquiry 71

MM seed ensures great start for Wycliffe

With a new season just around the corner, the green at Wycliffe Bowls Club has never been in such good condition, and greenkeeper Keith Freakley believes that is thanks to MM Sports Seed.

For an incredible 12 years, Keith Freakley has been looking after the greens in his spare time.

While Keith began to put plans in place for the club’s first inhouse renovation, he didn’t have to look far to find a solution to his seed dilemma. In association with Dennis and SISIS, Wycliffe Bowls Club hosted a bowling green maintenance seminar, and it was at this event that he met Matt Gresty, MM and Designer Sales and Brand Manager for DLF UK.

The mix Matt recommended was MM10 grass seed - which is perfect for construction, overseeding, renovating and repairing high quality greens. Part

of the renowned MM range of seed mixtures, MM10 produces a fine, dense sward, is tolerant to close mowing and as well as providing all year-round colour it is also disease resistant and hard wearing. Keith incorporated the MM10

mixture into the renovation work in September last year and believes he has never seen the green in such good condition.

MM Sports Seed Enquiry 88

Weedingtech launch new rental service

Weedingtech, developers of the world-leading herbicidefree weed control product Foamstream, have announced the launch of a brand-new rental service - available to customers throughout the UK.

The introduction of the new hire programme provides a fantastic opportunity for people to quickly and easily discover the environmentallyfriendly Foamstream solution for complete weed and moss control, eliminating the sometimes lengthy and complex capital procurement process.

In addition to eradicating the plant, Foamstream also sterilises surrounding seeds and spores that haven’t yet germinated, providing a long-lasting solution that is safe to use around people, animals and sensitive environments including water courses.

The new rental package includes 100L of the organically-certified foam, the latest high-specification machinery and full technical training for a set weekly rate. In addition, an information of things (IOT) tracker is included

as standard, to provide accurate measurement of output and ongoing remote support.

Weedingtech Enquiry 89