Landscape & Amenity Product Update December/January 2022

Ninety-four per cent of green spaces and parks on endangered list

Green space charity Fields in Trust is urging everyone to get behind its ParkXtinction campaign which aims to protect those parks that are currently endangered, before it’s too late and they are lost to building development, forever.

Research from Fields in Trust finds that Britain’s parks and green spaces capture 402,000 tonnes of carbon annually, the equivalent of taking 320,565 cars off the road every single year.

Fields in Trust President, The Duke of Cambridge, launched the charity’s Green Space Index of Parks provision back in May 2021. The Green Space Index is Fields in Trust’s annual barometer of publicly accessible park and green space provision.

Through the Green Space Index, Fields in Trust is taking stock of the nation’s quantity of local parks and green spaces and providing analysis on their impact.

The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has identified that the total proportion of urban green space in England declined between 2001 and 2018 from 63% to 55% of urban areas.The most recent CCC report to Government recommends that an urban greenspace target should be introduced by 2022 to reverse this decline and ensure towns and cities are more climate resilient.

Helen Griffiths, Chief Executive, Fields in Trust said: “Local response to climate action is crucial, and parks can play an important role in creating a greener and fairer economy.

“They can help tackle health and opportunity inequalities among communities and we must, without question, commit to preserving the green lungs of our towns and cities. This all sits within the powers of our local leaders, and this is an opportunity now to change the way we think about the contribution local green spaces make to our health, our wellbeing, our environment, and ultimately our futures. These parks and green spaces are under threat today, from financial and development pressures and it is up to all of us to stem this cycle of disappearance and decline. Our children and grandchildren deserve to have the same green space opportunities that we did, so we need to act today before it’s too late.”

Fields in Trust Enquiry 1

Tower of London ‘Superbloom’ for Jubilee

Millions of flowers will encircle the Tower of London next summer to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen, thanks to a major collaboration between Historic Royal Palaces and Professor Nigel Dunnett, it has been announced.

The ‘Superbloom’ project will see 20 million carefully selected seeds sown in the Tower’s moat, creating a vibrant sea of continuously evolving flowers from June to September 2022.

Professor Nigel Dunnett from the University of Sheffield’s Department of Landscape Architecture has designed the unique seed mixes.

‘Superbloom’ follows the successful ‘Poppies’ and

‘Flames’ installations in 2014 and 2018, which commemorated the Centenary of the First World War.

The project, which was conceived by Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) – the charity

which cares for the Tower of London – and involves landscape architects Grant Associates, has been in the planning for several years.

University of Sheffield Enquiry 2

After a year’s absence, SALTEX roared back into life and celebrated a very memorable 75th anniversary. Put back a year due to the pandemic, the buzz was certainly back on the show floor as SALTEX 2021 reunited the industry and brought together almost 7,500 attendees across two days.

Geoff Webb, Grounds Management Association (GMA) CEO, reflected on what may well have been the most meaningful SALTEX yet.

“On behalf of all of us at the GMA we really want to extend our thanks to all our exhibitors and visitors that have showed their support for SALTEX this year. It has been a turbulent period for us all and we are delighted that we got the opportunity to celebrate the 75th edition with so many of you. I believe SALTEX 2021 has brought hope for the future and has showcased what our industry is capable of overcoming.”

SALTEX Enquiry 3

Welcome to our combined December and January issue and welcome to 2022. It remains a challenging time and traditionally this would have been our major BTME preview issue. However, with BIGGA understandably taking the decision to postpone the 2022 event until the end of March, we have a somewhat reduced look ahead to Harrogate. We will do a much more comprehensive preview closer to the show itself, but the decision to postpone BTME –coupled with the decision to postpone LAMMA at NEC Birmingham which was also due to be staged this month – highlights that the issues and difficulties we have all faced over the last couple of years continue to have a major influence on our industry.

But just as this uncertainty has continued to impact on us all, so the resilience of the wider industry has remained very much in evidence. The flexibility and adaptability required to cope with a global pandemic are characteristics that have long been a feature of our industry. They will continue to help us cope with the on-going challenges posed by the pandemic and our resilience will continue to help the industry make progress throughout the remainder of 2022.

So, a happy new year to you all, and hopefully you will enjoy our first issue of the year which features our regular Professional Groundscare supplement. Within it are spotlights on battery powered and electric products, aeration and hedge and verge mowers. Elsewhere we also look at brushcutters, forestry equipment, the play and activity sector and landscaping industry.

is a varied collection

industry. We look forward to covering another successful, innovative, interesting and inspiring 12 months.

Paul Groves, Editor

Rewilding projects championed at Landscape Institute’s awards

Landscape designs that answer the world’s most pressing issues of climate change and the biodiversity crisis with rewilding are among the winners of the Landscape Institute Awards.

The successful projects include the Beijing Forestry University, which was awarded Excellence in Landscape Design, and the Guangzhou Ecological Belt, which has protected eight waterfalls, dismantled 10 small hydropower plants, restored 16 bird habitats and protected 42 water sources.

Winners also included projects that promoted mental and physical wellbeing following the Covid-19 pandemic. Oxhey Park in Watford (pictured), awarded the prize for Excellence in Public Health and Wellbeing, encourages inclusive physical activities to tackle community obesity – with

some of the best wheeled sports facilities in the country.

The development extended to green spaces, attracting multiple species of bats and birds which will inhabit the newly planted habitats.

Professional services company ARUP won the prestigious Landscape Innovation award for its report on Meanwhile Use projects in London. These designs take derelict and underused buildings and spaces in the city and re-purpose them as transitional projects, such as affordable workspaces for local creatives, that benefit local communities before they are re-developed.

The Landscape Institute announced the winners at its 2021 virtual awards. Judges from bodies like Historic England, National Lottery Heritage Fund and Public

Porcelain tile paving – successful jointing explained

The key to successfully grouting the joints of external porcelain paving is to use an equally highperformance jointing material.

Traditionally, cement-based tile grouts are used for porcelain tiles on internal walls and floors which is fine indoors, but for external porcelain paving, these cement and so-called ‘hybrid’ (means cement with a bit of polymer added), tile grouts are not sufficiently durable for long term external exposure to weathering.

Cement-based pointing products today are polymer modified to counteract cement shrinkage, but this is very sensitive to any residual water in the joints that will change the ratio leading to shrinkage and cracking in the cement grout itself.

Cement residues are also difficult and time consuming to remove from porcelain surfaces and require additional cleaning treatments to remove ‘cement-haze’.

The best solution for porcelain paving jointing today is not an

internal tile grout, nor a cement mortar, but a high performance, two-part, epoxy resin bound, graded fine alluvial sand based jointing system.

The right product for the job depends on the type of stone, the size of the paving and the dimensions of the joints – for example, a two-part, epoxy resin based, GftK vdw 815+ or GftK vdw 850+, for joint widths from >3mm, or >5mm respectively, which are undoubtedly the best products we have seen for durable external porcelain tile jointing / pointing.

NCC Streetscape is the UK’s exclusive agent and distributor of GftK’s vdw 2-part, epoxy resin based, wet-slurry applied (these are not so-called ‘brush in’s) jointing products, which have been used extensively for grouting to point porcelain paving for more than seven years throughout the UK, which is significant given the recent growth in porcelain tile paving.

NCC Streetscape Enquiry 7

Health England selected 23 winners from a 73-project shortlist that featured developments from across the globe.

Presented by Hannah Jackson, farmer and public figure, with a keynote speech from celebrated architect, Indy Johar, the awards showcased the best in sustainable and resilient design.

“The world is beginning to pay attention to the important work champions of this industry are doing,” said Landscape Institute President Jane Findlay.

“The awards this year combat issues that have arisen from the pandemic, such as vacant buildings and mental wellbeing. Nearly every project also includes some form of rewilding, which we so desperately need to address the current biodiversity crisis. These projects should be used as shining examples of

what should be common practice across all landscape projects moving forward.”

“Winning awards is always special, but The Landscape Institute Awards represent the pinnacle of achievement in our profession,” said Edward Green, landscape architect at Southern Green, winners of the Excellence in Public Health and Wellbeing award. “Especially for projects that benefit the physical, mental and environmental wellbeing of our communities.

“The unprecedented popularity of Oxhey Activity Park will drive social change through community cohesion, disorder reduction and social inclusion. This project and inclusion within these awards will highlight the returns green spaces and parks can make to improve communities’ health and mental

wellbeing and help drive the agenda of extra funding for a sector that has been underfunded for years.”

Awards were divided into professional, open and student categories, along with three

separate accolades, including the President’s Award which is supported by headline sponsor Hardscape, a paving materials supplier.

The Landscape Institute Enquiry 6

MEET THE EXPERTS!

HEAD OF SALES: TORSTEN SCHICK INTRODUCES AS MOTOR

Who are AS Motor?

For over 60 years, AS Motor have been building machines to cope with the toughest of conditions and are the market leader of robust yet agile professional-grade mowing machines, engineered specifically for slopes, high grass and rough-terrain. Supplying to 50 countries worldwide, AS Motor really are the experts in their field.

Right from the out-set, AS Motor have remained a major innovating force, which remains true in today’s market. AS Motor are a modern company that engineers custom solutions to unique mowing challenges that offer the highest operator safety.

What type of customers benefit from AS Motor’s range of machinery?

AS Motor are one of the most recognised and trusted manufacturers of professional grade mowers to municipalities, landscapers, contractors, groundskeeping and ambitious private users.

How have AS Motor dealt with the challenges of 2021?

Our priority has always been keeping all our people safe while keeping our production line running to meet customer demand. We minimised unnecessary contact with all our office-based staff working from home. There are currently around 130 employees within AS Motor with about 60 employees working in production. Again, to minimise contact the production team was split into 2 groups which did not mix, so if anything had happened to one of the groups then the other group could still function.

A big issue is the supply chain, which unfortunately looks set to continue for some time. The biggest issue for us is transport and logistics both delays and costs e.g. we can have engines ready but if we don’t have the other materials needed then this effects our availability. All these issues are exactly the same as other manufacturers but I believe it’s how you handle it that gives you the edge over others.

AS Motor have a reputation for bringing innovative products like the AS940RC remote control brushcutter to market. What’s new in 2022?

Our new extensive range of battery electric machines sees a massive change for the industry. The new AS Motor Electric machines offer Commercial E-Power equipment that offer a true alternative to combustion machines, matching the performance whilst offering other significant benefits including: reduced noise, reduced hand arm vibrations, reduced carbon footprint, reduced emissions, reduced running costs and no fuel storage.

We have the first and only battery electric mower specifically produced for mowing high grass up to 1m with the AS 63 E.

Earlier this year AS Motor became part of the AriensCo Group, what benefits do you think this will bring for your customers and how are products distributed and supported in the UK?

The change puts us in exciting times as we now have more development power coupled with significant investment, meaning we can bring new products to market quicker than ever before.

AS Motor operate our sales through distributors and in the UK this is through PSD Groundscare. We have partnered with PSD for over 12 years and together have streamlined the UK distribution channel. PSD operate with specialist dealers nationwide who in addition to machinery sales also offer outstanding customer service and back-up support. PSD Groundscare are also well qualified to call themselves ‘experts’ with over 20 years’ experience advising customers on specialist landscaping solutions for a whole array of requirements from specialist manufacturers.

Looking into the future what are the main challenges that will affect your business and the machines that you bring to market?

A key challenge will be the continual development of batteries and increasing run times. This has made significant progress over the last few years and will continue to play a major role as battery powered equipment will only continue to flood the industry.

Also, autonomous mowing is moving at some pace and will prove a significant challenge to us over the next few years as it is the future of mowing and high grass and rough terrain shouldn’t be an exception. It is however often more difficult to find a reliable, suitable solution for rough area mowing compared to sports turf or for a municipal park so we have to continue developing to remain the manufacturer of choice in this specialist area of mowing.

Land Trust launches five-year strategy

National land management charity the Land Trust is delighted to announce the launch of a new five-year Biodiversity, Environment and Ecology strategy.

Over the next five years the Trust will prioritise species and habitats and work with our managing partners, volunteer workforce and local communities to undertake a national biodiversity baseline of its sites and better record the habitat management work which takes place on the Trust’s parks and green spaces.

With the Land Trust managing public open space within a growing number of property developments the challenges and opportunities presented by Biodiversity Net Gain will also be a key area of focus.

With over 80 parks and green spaces under management the Land Trust has many sites which are rich in biodiversity and wildlife with huge potential to develop that further.

Director of Operations, Alan Carter, said: “At the Land Trust we have long understood the important role our parks and green spaces can play in helping the environment, biodiversity and ecology of an area, and we have always managed our sites in such a way to allow them to thrive.

“Working in collaboration with our managing partners and others, we deliver a huge amount of activity that benefits the environment. However the challenge of delivering charitable outcomes is ensuring

that we can organise events and activities that benefit our communities while ensuring that it doesn’t negatively affect the wildlife and biodiversity that call our sites home.

“What we try and do is the opposite. We engage with the local community so that they understand and value the natural environment around them, and by doing so we encourage them to undertake activities and tasks which improve the environment and biodiversity.

“We are incredibly proud of the work we do already and are excited about the challenges we face in the future.”

Land Trust Enquiry 10

SAGE partners with Bio-Circle for sustainability expo

Organisers of the Sports and Ground Expo are delighted to announce it has partnered with environmental surface technology specialists, Bio-Circle, and will run a Sustainable Solutions for Ground care summit at this year’s SAGE 2022 event.

Bio-Circle offer environmental solutions for the cleaning and maintenance of ground care equipment, in a sustainable manner, and with a much lower environmental impact compared to traditional cleaning methods.

The company uses VOC-free chemicals that are designed to reduce costs for organisations and lower the environmental impact in comparison to high pressure water systems. Bio-Circle’s green

credentials are supported via the new Green Code Sustainability Membership and ISO 14001.

SAGE 2022 is set to be the ‘biggest outdoor trade show for the sports and grounds maintenance industry’ and will take place at Three Counties Showground in Malvern on July 6-7 2022, after making its debut last year.

For the first time, it will hold a ‘Sustainable Solutions for Grounds Specialists Summit’, which will host a live panel event, with experts across the industry, more information to be released soon.

SAGE Enquiry 11

The new strategy will focus on three key themes:

1) Developing the Trust’s current assets – protecting and enhancing what we have, and educating those who live, learn and work close to our sites

2) Mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain – working with property developers to provide sustainable local development that enhances the environment

3) Climate Change adaptation / Natural Capital Investment – use our existing and pipeline sites to protect and enhance the local area from climate change threats. Gain a greater understanding of the social value we can deliver, encouraging and working to deliver natural capital investment.

Times have changed. So have tools. And our new Professional-X range is all the proof you need. Take the EGO Power+ blower. It’s powered by the most technologically advanced, petrol-matching, Lithium-ion battery system out there. It’s built tough to withstand all-day use in any weather. Its impressive airflow beats every other handheld blower on the market, and while it packs all the power of petrol, it’s significantly quieter, vibrates less and gives off zero emissions.

The new Snickers Workwear body-mapping Pile Jacket

The Snickers Workwear climate control system includes functional base layers, insulating mid layers and weatherprotective outer layers.

These technically advanced working clothes allow craftsmen and craftswomen to adjust to changing weather conditions on site so they’re always working effectively – with maximum comfort and protection.

Take the new FlexiWork Inverted Pile jacket for example. This warm and versatile pile jacket can be used both as a jacket in cooler conditions or a mid layer when the weather is more

inclement. Made of laminated polyester fabric with a furry pile lining for optimal warmth and comfort, its ergonomics also feature shaped shoulders for a great fit and optimum freedom of movement.

Hi-tech, advanced fabric technology like this is integral to all Snickers Workwear’s Base-, Mid- and Top-Layer garments for both men and women that always combine well with the Snickers Workwear hallmarks of best-in-class durability, comfort, ergonomics and fit.

Snickers Workwear Enquiry 14

Ben Burgess appointed as Reform dealers

A sprinkling of investment for Football League debut

Securing Football League status is an historic achievement and for Sutton United Football Club in south London, it led to a £550,000 pitchworks investment in the club’s home ground, including a new hybrid pitch and irrigation solution from Reesink Turfcare comprising a SRC Ranger control system and Toro sprinklers.

FA regulations stipulate that 3G artificial pitches are not fit for purpose in Division Two and above, which is why Sutton United made an urgent review of its existing 3G pitch and lined up leading sports pitch specialist, Agripower, to make preparations for a full install in the downtime between the 2019/20 and 2021/22 seasons.

Agripower installed a hybrid pitch system which comprised of high-grade natural grass. Once the old system had been removed, the pitch was rebuilt with a hybrid carpet over a base rootzone, with the carpet infilled with a similar rootzone before seeding.

Supporting the hybrid pitch was a comprehensive Toro

irrigation system, which comprised of a network of 350m of ring main pipework, 200m of lateral pipe, 16 value in head Infinity sprinklers and eight B series in-pitch sprinklers in the field.

Jerry Anderson, director at Agripower, said: “We used the new SRC Ranger control system, which has scheduling capacity for up to 100 stations and web-control, along with Toro Infinity sprinklers on the outside of the pitch and Toro B-Series sprinklers on the infill.

“As well as a new pumphouse and pumps, a match pitch of this kind also requires a higher water flow rate which is why we installed wider diameter pipes and manual watering points for localised watering.

“The Toro irrigation system is very good and we particularly like the fact that the Infinity sprinklers are top-serviceable, minimising disruption to the hybrid carpet.”

Reesink Turfcare Enquiry 16

Metrac

As an addition to its current range of over 25 franchises, the Ben Burgess group has been appointed as Reform Metrac dealers for the east of England.

Chris Pateman, Commercial Manager for the ground care sector with Ben Burgess, said Reform has a well-established range of machines, designed

to tackle extreme slopes and difficult terrains.

“We had identified a gap in the market in our region and the high quality and performance capability of the Reform range made it the ideal choice for our business,” he explained. “We already have orders in place for two Metrac H75 and two

Simon Richard, UK Agent for the Reform Werke specialist tractor range, said he was delighted to be working with the Ben Burgess group. “The Metrac H75 pro recently

won the best tractor in the specialised tractor category and the Reform range is a proven product within the ground care sector for a wide range of maintenance tasks, including work on difficult sloping areas of up to 45 degree angles,” he continued.

IceTiger

Not all salt spreaders are built the same. The NEW Amazone IceTiger is super easy to operate and comes with German engineering and technology built-in.

The key to the IceTiger winter salt spreader is the hydraulically-driven floor belt that feeds out the material to be spread. This ensures a continuous flow of material without blockages. Even extremely small quantities of 5 g/m2 can be precisely applied.

Hopper sizes are up to 1,900 litres and with working widths from 2 m to 8 m, the IceTiger can be perfectly set to the size of the area that needs treating.

Contact the Amazone SnowLine on: 01302 755 725 www.amazone.co.uk

H60 models and look forward to introducing these machines to customers from April 2022 at our branches.”

Simon Richard Enquiry 15

SAGE

Waterscapes takes advantage of Rain Bird irrigation training

Green-tech supplies award-winning project

The Sighthill Transformational Regeneration Area Advanced Infrastructure project in Glasgow has been announced as the winner of the 2021 Landscape Institute’s ‘Excellence in Landscape Construction’ Award.

The prestigious project was entered into the awards by Landscape Architects LDA Design, who undertook the design of this mammoth scheme on behalf of Glasgow City Council to make their vision a reality.

Ashlea screened 25,000m 3 site won topsoil and imported over 10,000m 3 topsoil. They planted over 101,000 shrubs and perennials, 6000 specimen hedge plants and over 685,000 bulbs.

They also planted 3800 trees; a mix of specimen and woodland trees, to include semi mature, extra heavy, standard and feathered. These were planted in tree and shrub planting compost that was supplied by Green-tech, along with the Holdfast rubber blocks and heavy-duty belting which were used as necessary on these trees.

Waterscapes Limited, the UK’s leading water feature and irrigation specialist, has been the recipient of the first in a series of irrigation training events hosted by Rain Bird in the UK.

Sponsored by UK distributor Landscape Watering Services (LWS), it took place in Slough during Autumn 2021 and covered Rain Bird’s IQ4 Central Irrigation Control system and IVM smart valve irrigation technology.

Some 14 Irrigation Installation Engineers and members of the contracts management team from Waterscapes attended the event. The hands-on

training covered the technical capabilities and applications of IQ4 and IVM products which offer users maximum irrigation efficiency through advanced real time water management and diagnostics capabilities.

“As a company we continually invest in training at all levels. This ensures that Waterscapes can give clients the best advice and service for their water feature and irrigation projects, saving them money and conserving water throughout the lifetime of an installation” says Waterscapes’ Managing Director Paul Jeffery.

Waterscapes undertakes new and regeneration projects

across many sectors, from business parks and public spaces to commercial spaces, roof gardens and residential schemes.

In London alone, the company has completed installations within many prominent developments including Sky Garden, Crossrail, The Kings Cross Estate, Kew Gardens and RHS Wisley.

Clients cover many disciplines from commercial property development & construction to architectural practices, landscape contractors and homeowners.

Rain Bird Enquiry 19

York Racecourse goes for Wiedenmann double

behind closed doors, was limited to just 4000 race goers in June and early July and then a more normal return to racing followed July 23. Adrian and his team have a tried and tested aeration programme that has brought consistency and maintained a high standard for the 15 years he has held post.

Terram Impermeable Root Barrier was supplied and used to protect services, roads, and footpaths from tree root damage.

Ashlea seeded over 100,000m2 amenity, sports and wildflower areas using John Chambers Landscaping with Rye Grass Seed, John Chambers Action Replay Grass Seed, John Chambers Flowering Lawn Wildflower, Hedgerow Wildflower Mix, Wet

Meadow Wildflower Mix and Pond Edge Wildflower Mix.

The works created a new identity for Sighthill, including a rich new parkland and series of open spaces.

Green-tech Enquiry 20

Leicester City FC chooses John Deere technology

Based at Leicester City Football Club’s new state-of-the-art training facility in Seagrave, north Leicestershire, the club’s Sports Turf Academy aims to inspire the next generation of sports turf students by offering an elite training environment, with access to the latest technology and expertise.

in selected matches by the club’s Development Squad and Academy. There is also a 9-hole private golf course, for use by players and staff.

These are now being maintained by a new fleet of 32 John Deere sprayers,

mowers, compact tractors and Gator utility vehicles supplied by local dealer Farol Ltd at Hinckley, which will also be supported by the dealership’s brand new outlet at Newark.

Head Groundsman at York Racecourse, Adrian Kay has just purchased a second Wiedenmann Terra Spike XD8 after eight years great service from his first. Opting to retain his original model, and not trade in in, Adrian commented: “Our XD8 is an integral part of our operation; it’s not a luxury to have two Terra Spikes but a necessity. We

will give the original machine a little bit of TLC and then we will run them both at once.”

York’s calendar of flat races traditionally runs from May to October. The season just concluded was unprecedented yet still brought many positives, with 122 races over 18 race days hosted. The 2021 season started with the Dante Festival in May

“The XD8 is out on the track after every race meeting to alleviate the compaction and damage from the various amount of horses running at about 50mph. We start the process by back filling all the damage from the hooves and then terra spike the day after. We’ve a steady team of 35 back fillers who set about the task with buckets of rootzone and seed mix. Every hole gets filled in and then we’re good to go with the Wiedenmann.”

The Academy is built around four distinct pillars – Education & Training, Technical Services, Tournament Support and Trials & Research – to support the development, diversification and professionalisation of the sports turf industry.

The 185-acre complex at Seagrave has 21 playing surfaces in total, including 14 full-size pitches – one indoors in the King Power Centre –and two show pitches for use

John Deere Enquiry 22

The latest additions to the STIHL AP system are our most powerful yet. The BGA 200 blower is perfect for professionals that need to take on the toughest clearing jobs in urban and noise-sensitive areas. And with an outstanding blowing force of 21 Newtons and a high air speed of 84 m/s, you’ll be ready for any challenge.

“The BGA 200 is a really flexible blower - I use it hand-held in the tighter spaces and on the carrying system for the larger areas. It‘s pleasantly quiet in use and is always powerful enough, even for wet leaves.”

– Christoph Jötten, horticulturist and landscaper

Instarmac sets out ambitious environmental goals

As a manufacturer, Instarmac understands how important it is to be as sustainable and environmentally responsible as possible and to constantly challenge manufacturing processes and operations to make further improvements.

Instarmac’s Environmental and Social Responsibility Report highlights how they currently operate and the positive contributions they are making to meet the needs of the present, whilst limiting the impact this may have on future generations.

Instarmac identify the need to work sustainably, not just from an environmental perspective, but also with regards to their people and local community.

Instarmac are keen to challenge themselves further and have set out a number of ambitious goals for 2022/2023. They aim to increase recycled content in their packaging and product content, reduce their carbon footprint by a further 5% and introduce Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles to their fleet.

These are just some of the environmental aims Instarmac have challenged themselves to achieve. To see the list in full, please download a copy of their Environmental and Social Responsibility Report by visiting Instarmac.co.uk/about-us/ environment.

Sustainability and environmental issues are very important to Instarmac and are always considered when

making business decisions. Just some of the initiatives successfully implemented at Instarmac include using AdBlue for their fleet, increasing the number of hybrid vehicles, investing in

Grey Water and Intelligent Lighting Systems, installing solar panels and providing their customers with a pallet recycling scheme.

Instarmac Enquiry 24

DuraPost specified for Love Your Garden transformation

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

DuraPost by Birkdale is manufactured from cold rolled galvanised steel; a material that is 80% lighter than concrete. Possessing an unrivalled strength-to-weight ratio, DuraPost also benefits from a slim and unobtrusive profile.

The transformative design put together by the Love Your Garden

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

Furthermore, DuraPost, is tested to withstand wind speeds of up to 110 miles per hour, the system is not vulnerable to the issues usually associated with traditional timber or concrete fence posts, such as cracking or rotting. It also does not require any maintenance over its long lifespan.

Birkdale Enquiry 25

Geo-Fix Original proven to be up to 50% stronger

Geo-Fix Original paving jointing sand has had its performance capabilities thoroughly tested at an independent UKAS testing laboratory and is proven to be up to 50% stronger than competitor products.

The Lucideon UKAS testing laboratory 0013 used British Standard 6319 – Part 2: 1990 to test and verify the compressive strength and tensile strength of Geo-Fix Original and Geo-Fix were delighted to see that it outperformed two competitor products in both wet and dry applications.

Geo-Fix has been trusted by professionals for over 25 years.

Geo-Fix Original is a ready mixed jointing solution that can simply be brushed into joints with minimal effort. Joints are easily finished by compacting with a pointing tool, saving you valuable time when compared to traditional wet pointing methods.

Geo-Fix Original offers huge time saving benefits and unlike mortar joints, it is totally resistant to freeze-thaw cycles and will not crack or pop out with frost.

Geo-Fix jointing compounds are proven to offer a permanent, durable and weed resistant solution that is suitable for all paving projects.

Instarmac Enquiry 27

School wins free £10k playground from Playforce Bringing history back to life at North Marine play area

One lucky school in Liverpool has won a free playground worth £10,000 courtesy of the UK’s leading playground company, Playforce.

In September Playforce launched its biggest competition to date – a chance for schools and nurseries in England and Wales to win a playground valued at £10,000. A further two runners-up will also receive prizes for their school or nursery, with a choice of either a Play Cabin or Imagination Bridge.

To enter the competition schools and nurseries have been invited to share what a new outdoor space would mean to them, in either a video or a picture.

Idverde National Services Director, Oscar Sorabjee, chose

the winners from a selected shortlist. He said: “We had so many great pictures and videos entries from schools and nurseries from across England and Wales. It just went to show how important outdoor space – and having fun in it – is to everyone.

“It was really hard to choose our winners but the wait is over! We’re delighted to have, not only a winner of the £10,000 playground but two runners up, each winning their choice of either a Play Cabin or an Imagination Bridge.

“We’re passionate about getting children outdoors, active, learning and playing. But we understand that the pandemic has taken its toll – not least on funding and available resources for outdoor education.

“When we spoke to teachers in our recent focus groups they told us that, since everyone has returned to school, outdoor play and learning has become more important than ever. So, fueled with this insight we decided to do something about it and help schools get children playing and learning outdoors again. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing all of the hard work that had gone into the competition entries and look forward to seeing Anfield Road Primary School’s new playground come to life!”

The winner of a £10k playground is: Anfield Road Primary School, Liverpool. The two runners up prizes go to: Ryton Junior School, Tyne and Wear; and Ysgol Pwll Coch, Cardiff.

Playforce Enquiry 28

When South Tyneside Council was looking to upgrade a popular park in the coastal town of South Shields, Proludic was successful in their bid to create a new play and fitness space to honour the Roman history of the area for the whole community and tourists to enjoy.

Proludic’s design for the play area focused on this rich history dating back to Roman times when the port and fort acted as a supply base for garrisons on Hadrian’s Wall and beyond.

This connection to the local maritime history allowed Proludic to put forward a colourful inspirational design.

These include the use of themed product ranges and their Grafic Games technique. Grafic Games brings a theme to life by printing designed illustrations onto the panels of the equipment. Proludic were also pleased to include bespoke elements such as the Roman shipwrecked galley multiplay unit as the centrepiece.

The Arbeia hilltop fort and local ancient landmarks such as The Bridge of Hadrian were also replicated along the way down the winding Tyne River in the wet pour surfacing.

Proludic utilised both themed and standard exciting and dynamic

Proludic products to create a high capacity, high play value, holistic play area with a diverse range of activities to suit all abilities.

The holistic approach to the area extends with a new fitness trim trail consisting of 11 pieces of equipment installed on the green adjacent to the play facilities.

The selected fitness equipment provides multiple exercise opportunities of varying physical abilities for a dedicated workout or incorporated into a run.

The Proludic Sport app allows users to plan and track a personalised workout tailored to their fitness goals with tips and support from video demonstrations.

The transformation from an unused grassed area to the finished result speaks for itself. In the few months the park has been opened, it has been inundated with families and those seeking exercise from the local community and tourists alike!

Proludic Enquiry 29

Football Foundation welcomes £205m of new funding to grassroots facilities

The Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation welcomes the news that a further £205 million of government funding will be made available to invest in community sports facilities across England in the next three years.

The investment, which was announced by the Chancellor during today’s Comprehensive Spending Review, will be used by the Football Foundation to target communities up and down the country who will benefit most from access to better sports facilities.

These regions reflect the priority areas set out by the Government in its ‘Levelling Up Agenda’ – 70 percent of Football Foundation funding will be going to category 1 and 2 areas identified by the Government across England.

This new funding will provide welcome support to the grassroots football community as the nation begins to build back from Covid-19.

Many of these improved grassroots facilities, whilst rooted in football, will host a range of other community sports, including rugby and cricket.

The Football Foundation is the UK’s largest sports charity and exists to deliver outstanding grassroots football facilities, which means better games and more players - helping transform communities where demand is greatest and impact will be strongest.

Since it was formed 21 years ago, the Foundation and its partners have unlocked £1.8bn of investment in grassroots football.

said: “This

is welcome news for all those involved in grassroots football across the country. We know that playing on good quality facilities helps people get fitter, improves

Robert Sullivan, Football Foundation Chief Executive Officer,

investment

mental wellbeing, grows confidence and builds stronger relationships. This is all essential for individuals and communities as we emerge out of the Covid-19 crisis.”

Football Foundation Enquiry 30

Biggest range of electric machinery options on one stand

Kubota showcases latest innovations at BTME

Kubota returns to BTME at Harrogate where the company will once again join forces with Baroness to showcase outstanding Japanese technology and engineering.

Heading up the launches is the new LX Series, a range of multi-purpose compact tractors from 35-40hp that allow users to handle a wide variety of tasks ranging from mowing and snow clearance to materials handling and cultivations.

Kubota’s mowing equipment is the mainstay of leading grounds

From Toro, the groundbreaking first all-electric riding greensmower, the industry-leading electric utility vehicle and the new lithium-ion battery version of a classic pedestrian mower, as well as multiple electric carrier options from STAR EV, will all be on stand 420.

There’s no question electric is the future of the industry and Toro has consistently led the way with the development required to get this technology to market. See the Toro Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370, the break-through everyone was waiting for, bringing no emissions, less noise and easier maintenance without any compromise on the quality of cut expected from a Toro riding greensmower.

The new electric Toro Greensmaster eFlex 1021 is the lithium-ion battery-powered version of the popular flexhead walk-behind Flex1021 greensmower.

All the innovation of the original with patented proven Flex technology and popular telescoping handle, but powered by clean, green energy. It will be on stand alongside the Toro Workman GTXe utility vehicle, another machine with advanced lithium-ion battery technology and was hugely influential in Toro’s journey towards battery power.

Continuing the electric theme with its extensive range of battery-powered golf buggies is STAR EV. The first time the brand has been represented at the show with its latest plug-in electric utility vehicle for the UK market, the Capella Work Machine and Capella 48-2HCX, both are purposefully designed to help move people and equipment around quietly, safely and efficiently.

Stand 420 will be home to Toro electric machinery, Toro irrigation, Otterbine, SRC, STAR EV, TYM tractors and AgriMetal attachments – making it a must-have visit on your trip to Harrogate.

Reesink Turfcare Enquiry 32

maintenance contractors and local authorities across the country, and latest addition to the renowned F Series front mowers, the 38hp F391, will be revealed offering unmatched output and performance for commercial mowing.

Leading the way in utility vehicles for demanding applications, the RTV-X1110 will be on show. Kubota looks forward to welcoming visitors to stand Red Zone 230.

Kubota Enquiry 33

Acumen and ClearWater are back at BTME 2022

It started back in 1995 with Highspeed Group. The company planned to enter the turf maintenance sector, so BTME seemed the logical solution.

Results from that first attendance 26 years ago exceeded expectations, generating excellent business.

Every year the company exhibited at BTME and on each occasion new customers were found. Over the years at BTME, many products and services, legislative driven, were introduced.

Initially, waste management services were established with hundreds of golf clubs and others in turf management.

Fuel and oil tanks were in great demand when new legislation was introduced, and a range of tanks were exhibited.

Rain Bird’s GSV offer advanced features

Golf courses in lightning-prone regions, those that use reclaimed water and those that needwater pressure regulation, now have a new valve solution.

Rain Bird Golf’s new GSV Series plastic and brass valves include numerous advanced features designed to enhance durability even under the most challenging conditions.

“Valves are the heart of any irrigation system,” said Altan Tolan, product manager for Rain Bird Golf. “On a golf course, valve failure can have significant repercussions and require additionalmoney and labour to repair. That’s why we built our new GSV Series Valves with a collection of upgrades that optimise reliability, performance and peace of mind.”

Rain Bird’s new GSV Series Valves feature unmatched protection to withstand up to 25kV of surge. A preinstalled PRS-DIAL regulates and maintains constant outlet pressure between 15 and 100 psi while reducing the affects of water hammer. A waterproof dial cartridge eliminates fogging and binding.

The GSV Series includes three plastic models with NPT or BSP thread options and one red brass model with BSP threads only.

All GSV models feature a chlorine-resistant diaphragm that protects the valves against harsh chemicals and reclaimed water.

Rain Bird Enquiry 35

Workwear and PPE followed but the biggest launch was that of the ClearWater wash pad water recycling system in January 2003. Since Highspeed has been sold to Acumen Waste Services Limited, ClearWater has seen fantastic investment and growth.

From 2017 it has gone from strength to strength with significant growth year on year, new engineers, and a larger dedicated customer care team.

Showcasing ClearWater at BTME is still as important now as it was 26 years ago and with a year’s absence due to the Pandemic the Prize Draw (a free ClearWater system) will run again along with attractive finance options.

Acumen Waste Enquiry 34

Bayer raise awareness of mental health at BTME

Bayer is celebrating a successful 12-month collaboration with mental health charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) at BTME this year, with a representative from the charity on the Bayer stand for the event’s duration.

Timothy Peeling, Bayer product manager, says that with suicide being the biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK, Bayer is committed to raising the awareness of mental health in the typically male dominated turf and amenity sectors.

“Taking the time to listen and understand what people are going through is incredibly important. By listening you could be helping far more than you’ll ever know.

“Attendees at BTME will be able to talk to CALM in confidence, as well as find positive practical solutions to deal with mental wellbeing, which resonate with practically minded people,” he explains. “I encourage anyone who needs someone to talk to pop by the stand, or alternatively use their online service.”

Find out more about CALM here: https://www.thecalmzone.net/.

As well as raising the profile of mental health, the Turf Solutions team will be on hand to talk about all things Harmonix Tri-Nema.

Reesink UK will bring its electric stars to BTME in March.

BIGGA postpones BTME to March 2022 in light of latest coronavirus wave

consider contingency courses of action for our flagship event, BTME. We know all sides of the industry are keen for the show to take place and after due consideration of all options the BIGGA National Board of Management, working closely with BIGGA’s team of staff, has taken the decision to postpone BTME until March 2022.

“It is heartening to see the success of the booster vaccination programme, but we are committed to running a safe show for all attendees and with all the information available to us, we do not believe this would be possible in January 2022.

the full BTME and Continue to Learn experience in March 2022.”

Attendees who have signed up for the show will automatically be registered for the new dates. Continue to Learn bookings will also be carried over and BIGGA will be in contact with everyone who has booked a place on the education programme in the coming days to discuss arrangements further.

BIGGA acknowledges that this postponement will present challenges to many exhibitors and visitors to BTME and the team is committed to assisting all those who need support to transfer their commitments.

Battery Power

The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) has made the decision to postpone its major exhibition and trade show, the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME), which was due to take place in January 2022.

Taking into consideration the uncertainty regarding the rapid

spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, the National Board of Management of the association convened on the evening of Thursday 16 December and made the unanimous decision to delay the exhibition and associated education programme, Continue to Learn, which are held at the Harrogate Convention Centre in North Yorkshire.

The new dates for BTME 2022 will be Tuesday 22 to Thursday 24 March 2022, with Continue to Learn taking place from Sunday 20 to Wednesday 23 March 2022.

BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton said: “The uncertainty regarding the Omicron wave of coronavirus has led us to engage in consultation with key stakeholders and

“This decision has not been taken lightly and has involved an incredible amount of logistical organisation to make a postponement possible. I am grateful to all of the key stakeholders that make BTME possible for their rapid responses to our decision, which has enabled us to confirm the postponement.

“Our thanks go to those who have supported BIGGA in this decision and we are excited to be hosting

Commitment to protecting playing fields

New figures show Sport England has protected more than 1,000 playing fields across the year to April 2020 as it continues its ongoing mission to get the nation more active.

Sport England’s role as a statutory consultee on planning

applications means work to protect playing fields is a key part of its remit.

Across the period of April 2019-March 2020, 94% of all concluded planning applications involving a playing field resulted in the protection, or

improvement of, facilities. As part of planning processes, councils are required to refer cases to Sport England when any proposed development would affect or lead to the loss of a sports playing field. Sport England objects to all applications unless the

developer can prove it’ll improve or protect community sports provision.

Head of planning, Nick Evans, said: “The figures…once again highlight Sport England’s commitment to protecting and enhancing playing fields

performance

The BIGGA National Board of Management is the elected body of BIGGA members from across the country whose voluntary role is to provide strategic direction and ratify key decisions on behalf of the association. They are supported by a network of volunteers at all levels of BIGGA and the core BIGGA staff team.

BIGGA Enquiry 37

Aeration

which help people get active. Whether used by children for a kick around or by adults out for a walk or run, playing fields play a crucial role in helping people of all ages and abilities to get active.”

Sport England Enquiry 38

Dennis G860

A new year and new challenges

A growing spark of innovation

The latest solutions to compacted surfaces

for Staples Farms

Staples Farms, a 70-year-old family-owned farming business in Lincolnshire, has chosen an Otterbine aerator for the seventh time to keep its reservoirs’ water quality to the highest standards.

Opting for the high volume aerator again, the brand’s most powerful surface spray aerator available, it joins six others, purchased from Panks Engineering, in one of the farm’s three reservoirs.

The purpose for the Otterbines is to ensure quality water for the irrigation of the soil and vegetables, which are grown for the nation’s supermarket chains in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly way.

It all began when family member Bob Staples who runs Bob Staples Electricals was asked to find a way to maintain the oxygenation levels at the high standard the farm is known for. He did extensive research and “went with his instincts”, purchasing the high volume aerator from Otterbine.

Bob explains: “I’d never got involved with water aeration before Otterbine, but when Staples Farms asked for my help with keeping their water quality at the desired level, I was inclined to help. I did some research into the market and Otterbine came up and we’ve been very pleased with the product and its performance.

“The high volumes

easy to install and done exactly what we wanted them to. The dissolved oxygen rate has improved significantly and as a result we can continue to provide the high-quality products our customers are used to.”

Steve Mason from Panks

Engineering comments: “Panks has been around since 1842 and we are experts in abstracting, pumping and treating water. We have been very happy to assist Staples Vegetables in improving the quality of its water.”

Reesink Turfcare Enquiry 40

Home from home for Terrain Aeration

Homestead Park is a beautiful garden owned, managed and maintained by Joseph Rowntree Foundation for visitors to enjoy.

There are various tree-trail walks around the park and the heavy footfall over time has led to severe compaction and waterlogging, causing the trees to suffer. Trees may become stressed as a result of a number of factors such as nutrient shortages in the soil, surface compaction due to foot traffic and waterlogging where water drains off hard surface pathways.

The Terrain Aeration Terralift machines comprise a probe which reaches one metre depth, deeper than the roots of trees (other than the major tap roots which grow straight down). Breaking up the soil around the roots, and beyond, means that excess water will drain away from the roots to help stop anaerobic conditions and rotting of the root system.

The probe is then used to inject dried seaweed, which helps keep the fissures open and backfilling the probe holes with aggregate

provides a semi permanent aeration/ventilation shaft.

Terrain Aeration aerates around the roots using two-metre spacings - on most occasions one-metre inside and one-metre outside the canopy drip line, as this is where the growing roots lie.

Decompacting around the roots and injecting air into the soil increases the percentage of uptake of oxygen into the root system.

Using the Terralift’s ability to inject granular material via

Stables invests in John Deere horsepower

Based in County Meath in Ireland, the newly built state of the art Karlswood Stables has been a major project for owner and Olympic show jumping medallist Cian O’Connor.

Being familiar with the benefits of the John Deere brand, Karlswood farm manager Derry McIntyre contacted Noel Bennett of local professional turf dealer Dublin Grass Machinery with a shopping list of the equipment required.

The machinery now supplied includes a new John Deere 4066R compact tractor, 1600T wide area rotary mower, X950R commercial reardischarge, rear-collect diesel lawn tractor and an electric TE Gator utility vehicle.

Powered by a 66hp diesel engine, the John Deere 4066R compact tractor features a ComfortGard cab and an eHydro three-range automatic transmission with simple to

use TwinTouch forward and reverse pedals, plus four-wheel drive as standard.

As many John Deere Gator operators know, this popular utility vehicle is an extremely useful vehicle to have on any sportsground, farm or woodland. At Karlswood Stables the electric TE Gator is no exception, and has also proved extremely handy.

John Deere Enquiry 42

its seaweed carrier, forcing it upwards into the root zone of the trees, it is also possible to inject a tree feed mix containing slow release general nutrients and magnesium.

“Treatment of the main lawn areas this year was part of JRF’s management plan,” says Paul, “the Terrain Aeration lads who came were great and the plan from here is to have them back every year for a rolling programme of treatment.”

Terrain Aeration Enquiry 41

are the perfect tool for the job. They’ve been

Two is company when it comes to ISEKI golf club

Reesink’s winning combination for Breadsall Priory

Reesink Turfcare has long recommended renovation for irrigation wherever possible. It solves a multitude of issues, keeps costs down, minimises disruption and brings the system bang up to date.

And with Reesink’s training support on hand too, it’s been a winning combination for Breadsall Priory Golf Club.

Renovating its irrigation was an approach recommended to John Smith, course manager at Breadsall Priory, by Reesink when the system started experiencing communication errors and electrical breakdowns on both its systems on both its courses in 2018.

At the time John said: “Completely replacing

everything would have resulted in huge costs, but with the help of Reesink’s Toro irrigation team, including Peter Newton and Cevan Edwards, we discovered we only needed to upgrade the two control systems and we’ve saved a lot of money thanks to renovating rather than replacing.”

The existing wiring and pipework were found to be compatible with being updated to Toro’s Lynx central control system which would control the irrigation on both courses: “The biggest difference is that now we can water both courses at the same time,” says John. “Before we had to water the courses over alternating nights, so this is game-changing.”

Another benefit to having the system come into its own over

the Pandemic: “The remote control aspect has always been really useful and convenient, but never more so than during the Pandemic,” says John. “It meant that irrigation was never disrupted even with a reduced team and restricted access to the club over certain periods. I could activate it throughout and even put ‘rain hold’ on when the weather changes and I wasn’t on site. It played dividends to the state of the turf over that period.”

When it comes to irrigation training Reesink is unique with its offering, from learning how the system works to get the most out of it, to dealing with any issues, John cites the service as “brilliant”.

Reesink Turfcare Enquiry 46

ISEKI UK & Ireland, distributors of ISEKI compact tractors and mowers alongside their local dealer Rickerby based in Carlisle, recently sold a TLE3410 following an initial TG6490 IQ to Richmond (Yorks) Golf Club.

Established in 1892 Richmond Golf Club in North Yorkshire holds a 18 hole golf course, carefully maintained and constantly improved by a team of three greenkeepers headed up by Rob Spaven, Head Greenkeeper, Iain Leversuch and Daniel Dean.

Having purchased its first TG6490 IQ tractor from local dealer Rickerby based in Hexham four years ago the club has since grown in popularity and memberships, which in turn means more pressure on the greenkeeping team to keep developing the course.

Commenting on the initial purchase Rob Spaven explained; “One of the main reasons we purchased the TG6490 IQ was because of the tractors low ground pressure ensuring minimal damage on the greens, we are a wet course thanks to the

local Yorkshire weather so this is very important to us.”

With the increased maintenance that was now required due to the club’s success, it was decided another tractor was needed to keep up with the workload. This is where the new TLE3410 comes in.

With its low ground pressure and minimal damage on the greens the 40hp TLE3410 with 1000kg lift capacity was chosen for spraying and slitting fairways.

ISEKI UK Enquiry 45

Gift your mower genuine Toro parts

One of the best things you can do for your mower this winter is to gift it the best possible replacement parts.

And when it comes to a Toro mower, Toro Genuine Parts are the best there is.

It’s more than likely that two deciding factors for choosing Toro machinery are the superior quality of cut and good return on investment and to risk that by choosing cheaper, spurious parts is a false economy, according to Reesink Turfcare.

Michael Hampton, parts manager at the company, explains: “The considerations that go into deciding which brand to get your machinery from should also influence the decision you make when it comes to which parts you choose. Things like performance, quality of cut, longevity, return on investment, all stand up for parts too.

“Choosing parts that aren’t Toro Genuine Parts, especially when it’s for a Toro mower, can wreak havoc with the machine’s performance and

can even risk damaging the cutting units, costing more in the long-term.

“Taking a cylinder mower as an example, the scissor-like shearing action that gives the fine finish it is famed for requires the bedknife and cylinder blades to be sharp, matched and in close relationship with each other.

“The fit you get with a brand that isn’t specifically designed for the intricacies of the mower will never be exact and that’s where the problems can start.

The fact is well-maintained kit with the right parts tends to be trouble-free with far less down-time.”

With cutting in the winter months going down to three times a week, now is a good time to strip back the machines and take an in-depth look at the cutting unit.

Toro Genuine Parts guarantee the highest possible standards and the best possible backup so, when it comes to which parts to pick, choose the best: choose Toro Genuine Parts.

Reesink Turfcare Enquiry 48

Early bird discount on offer for SAGE 2022 until the end of the month

Join leading names across the industry as we host a new headline. In partnership with Bio-Circle, we will host an all-new Sustainability Summit: Solutions for Grounds Specialists, at The Sports & Grounds Expo (SAGE) 2022. 2 spectacular days at the stunning outdoor venue of The Three Counties Showground in Malvern.

The perfect way to kick-start the summer and test-drive the latest innovations and solutions, as well as an informative and hands-on look at how we can move forward as an industry to achieve the sustainability deadlines set out by the government.

“Last year gave us the foundations to build from, and the demand is evident by the huge support from the exhibitors returning this summer,” said SAGE exhibition manager Vicky Panniers. “We are very excited to be partnering with Bio-Circle and hosting the allnew Sustainability Summit. It will provide a fantastic opportunity to be able to have a diverse range of renowned experts in one place, who can provide real time answers to this much needed topic.”

The topic of sustainability can easily be thrown around. SAGE is looking to break it down and make it more accessible to everyone, through drop-in workshops and a live panel at the event.

The Sports and Grounds Expo will be the largest outdoor exhibition for the industry in the UK and it will bring together likeminded people from a wide range of professions, including green keeping, grounds maintenance, landscaping, colleges, universities, local authorities, premiership grounds and many more. The potential of what SAGE can offer was seen last year and is evidenced by the testimonials received.

Set amongst the breath-taking backdrop of the famous Malvern Hills, visitors will enjoy demonstrations from leading products in a spacious outdoor setting, allowing a full immersive experience of everything on show, with absolutely no limitations on space. The Sports and Grounds Expo is free to attend and registration will open soon at www.sportsandgrounds.events.

The Early Bird Offer for exhibitors is open until 31st January 2022 and gives a 10% discount off any stand. Join us for a spectacular summer event for the sports and grounds industry. We know that you will be impressed by our unbeatable prices and much more. To receive your exhibitor pack go to the website or email team@sportsandgrounds.co.uk.

Sports and Grounds Expo Enquiry 49

SISIS TM1000 – the perfect all-rounder

The SISIS Rotorake TM1000 tractor mounted scarifier is the perfect ‘all-rounder’ according to Christian Brain, Grounds Manager at Cheltenham College.

“In a school environment, I need to buy equipment that is versatile and can do different jobs on multiple surfaces,” said Christian. “The SISIS TM1000 ticks all the boxes.

“The purchase of the TM1000 by the school has been justifiable because it is incredibly versatile and able to undertake both scarification, aeration and grass collection in a variety of situations,” Christian added.

The SISIS Rotorake TM1000 is a tractor-mounted heavy-duty scarifier and linear aerator and is unrivalled when it comes to removing and controlling thatch. It includes a collector box and floating unit to follow ground contours and its contra-rotating reel throws debris forward

ensuring a clean, consistent groove resulting in an excellent finish. The TM1000 also features interchangeable blades and a quick, simple depth setting without tools.

Christian currently relies on the 2mm scarifying removal reel and revealed just how much the Rotorake TM1000 will be used at the college.

“I have already scarified the front lawns of the school with it, which helped to clear out a lot of rubbish before seeding.

“Over half term I have scheduled in a light scarification with it on all of the rugby pitches. We will then see what kind of spring or winter we have, and whether we do a bit more in-depth scarification on some of the areas in preparation for the summer term. It will also be used on the football pitches and cricket outfields too.”

SISIS Enquiry 50

Battery powered bunker rakes

from Smithco

While this machine is primarily for use on golf course bunkers, it is also ideally suited for shaping contours during golf course construction and for landscape contractors when preparing sites for seeding and turfing.

The Sand Star E incorporates a 165-amp lithium battery pack, with an on-board battery management system, supported by a five-year manufacturer’s warranty. This is the same tried and tested battery used in many popular golf cars and provides up to 8-9 hours of run time, that’s 187 bunkers, while being the quietest and most eco-friendly groomer in the market. Transport speed is up to 16 km/h, with a raking and ploughing speed of up to 8 km/h.

The Sand Star E features an industrial-grade motor and controller delivering superior and reliable power for even the toughest jobs, while the onboard diagnostics exceed all industry standards, providing quick and easy identification of solutions to any issues in the various subsystems, saving time and money.

Regenerative braking puts power back into the battery pack and safety is enhanced as the machine automatically brakes when the operator leaves the seat of the machine.

The intelligent controller, which ensures that the warranty begins only when the machine starts its first work cycle and features a battery management system that provides even distribution to each cell while charging.

New INFINICUT fleet gives the advantage for pitch presentation

When Niall Hazlehurst joined Warrington Wolves as Head of Grounds in February 2021, a quick trip into the equipment shed flagged the urgent need for an update to the club’s mower fleet.

Recognising the number of elite sporting venues using mowers from INFINICUT, Niall put forward a case that if the club wanted to be the best, they needed to invest in the best equipment.

Convinced by both the superior cut quality and environmental credentials, the club purchased two 34” INFINICUT FX mowers, along with an SM34 Rotary, earlier this year.

“Having used INFINICUT mowers in the past, it was fantastic to be able to explain just how many benefits they could bring to the quality of the pitch and the environment as a whole” explains Niall. “Like a lot of clubs, we’re looking at ways of being greener so the fact we can reduce emissions and cost by switching to battery power was a big plus.

“However, the mowers also need to deliver on the agronomic front. The number of adjustable parameters on the INFINICUT’s and the millimetre precision you

Farmtrac continues to power ahead

Farmtrac’s FT25G is the only all-electric tractor on the market and hailed as the ‘future of the industry’ with its eco-friendly lithium-ion battery and low noise and emissions-free operation. For these reasons show organisers requested five for use in the indoor arena for its five-day programme of events.

As the industry’s first compact all-electric tractor, the FT25G is the first big step for anyone looking to reduce their carbon footprint without compromising on productivity.

It won’t run out of battery in the middle of the field and can be charged from any domestic socket to 100 percent in eight hours –commodity and reliability all rolled into one.It was these great features that won the FT25G the Innovation Award at SALTEX 2021 in the Sustainability and Environmental category, a big step forward on the path towards fully sustainable machinery in the industry.

get when setting the height of cut has taken our pitch presentation from nil to the best it’s ever been!”

Two 34” fixed head units are the primary mowers for pre-match cut but, in addition, the club decided to invest in the SM34 Rotary mower – delivered by dealers Turner Groundcare in August. The SM34 follows the same design philosophy as the rest of the INFINICUT range, offering best in class performance with an emphasis on a modern, clean power source. It takes its mode of traction from the INFINICUT reel mower, renowned for its durability, paired with a deck designed to facilitate optimal airflow.

“Now that we’re out of season, we’re using our SM34 in rotation with the 34” FX units to help to stand the plant up and thicken the sward. In season, it is used for the clean-up cut and thanks to the phenomenal suction, it doesn’t miss anything!” Niall continues, “In addition, if the weather is really poor on prep day and we’re at all concerned about dropping clippings, we will use the Rotary as this gives us an excellent quality of cut and finish. Having that versatility at our disposal is fantastic.”

INFINICUT Enquiry 54

STIHL updates cordless hedge trimmer range

STIHL has updated its HSA 94 R and HSA 94 T hedge trimmers, now offering professional users reduced vibration and sound levels, as well as a new EC motor and the ability to connect to STIHL’s new Smart Connector 2 A.

STIHL’s most powerful cordless hedge trimmers available for professional users, both models boast a new EC motor featuring embedded magnets, leading to improved durability.

The new motor also has an automatic motor rotation reversal feature, meaning the blades can be released if they become jammed in an extreme application, preventing blade damage and downtime.

The HSA 94 R delivers a lower blade speed for cutting thicker growth and managing tougher hedges, while the HSA 94 T offers a faster blade speed more suited to trimming ornamental hedges neatly and efficiently to leave a fine finish.

Both tools feature 3 blade speed settings, allowing users to choose the ideal blade speed for any task; up to 3,200 rpm on the R version and 5,000 rpm on the T version.

As well as the tool’s impressive performance, the hedge trimmers also provide high levels of operator comfort, as both models include rotating multi-function control handles for side and top cutting that are quick and easy to adjust, allowing for improved user comfort and reduced wrist strain when working for long durations.

With a low weight of just 3.9kg for the T version and 4.1kg for the R version, the hedge trimmer is perfectly balanced, allowing for easy handling and operation.

In addition, both hedge trimmers have a loop handle with an inner switch that prevents one handed operation and improves safety levels.

STIHL’s AP batteries and AR backpack batteries can power both tools - and for optimal performance, both trimmers will be ready for use with STIHL’s Smart Connector 2 A, plugging directly into the machines control unit where valuable data can be transmitted to any smartphone or tablet within range via Bluetooth. More information on STIHL’s Smart Connector 2 A coming soon.

STIHL Enquiry 55

Smithco’s latest innovation sees the introduction of the recently upgraded Sand Star 48V Electric bunker rake.

Smithco Enquiry 53

Reesink Turfcare Enquiry 56

Staying safe with new technology

The variety of tasks that must be completed by landscape and grounds maintenance professionals means that a range of garden machinery and power tools are often required.

When using this type of equipment, it is essential to ensure that operators are as safe as possible and there are a number of features and technologies that should be considered when selecting new equipment.

Due to advances in battery and motor technology, cordless machines now offer a real alternative to petrol and corded versions. For example, there is a wide range of 18 volt (V), Twin 18V (36V), 40V and Twin 40V (80V) machines designed to meet the needs of almost any task. Cordless tools also offer a number of safety advantages. They eliminate the issues around transporting, storing and managing fuel for petrol machines and when compared to corded options, they avoid the inconvenience of planning the safe placement of cables to avoid trip hazards.

Battery powered machines are generally lighter in weight and

they also produce considerably lower levels of vibration compared to petrol engine tools. This helps to protect against vibration-related health problems such as Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), which encompasses conditions such as Vibration White Finger and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Also, brushless motors produce lower vibration levels, further improving the safety of operators.

Furthermore, noise is an issue that must be considered as prolonged exposure to high levels of noise can result in

irreversible damage to hearing. Cordless tools are significantly quieter than petrol versions and as such, are safer for the user as well as those working nearby.

Safety technologies

In addition, there are other technologies and features that can help to make tools safer to use. For example, many Makita machines, including cordless brush cutters, linetrimmers and split-shaft multi-tools, include Active Feedback Sensing Technology (AFT), which shuts down the tool if the rotation speed suddenly slows. This helps to prevent kickback and subsequently protect the user from injury. Similarly, chainsaws with a kick-back brake can help avoid injury from the sudden upward movement caused by the top of the chain bar meeting a solid object during cutting. When triggered, the kick-back brake immediately stops the chain and isolates the motor to make it safe.

Game changer for indoor work

The Bobcat E10e electric mini-excavator is a unique proposition for indoor work. The new E10e has the same ZTS profile and identical external dimensions as the standard E10z machine and offers equal or better performance. For example, the E10e offers very low noise levels on site with an LpA of

only 72 dBA vs 80 dBA for the standard E10z.

Like the E10z, the E10e is easy to transport. In addition to the access provided by its retractable undercarriage reducing its width to only 710 mm, the integrated foldable TOPS (Tip Over Protective Structure) facilitates passage

through openings with low headroom, for work inside buildings and in basements.

Once the excavator is positioned for work, the undercarriage on the E10e can be expanded to 1100 mm, for maximum stability in all working conditions.

John Deere acquires battery specialist

Deere & Company has signed a definitive agreement to acquire majority ownership in Kreisel Electric, a battery technology provider based in Rainbach im Mühlkreis, Austria.

Kreisel develops highdensity, high-durability electric battery modules and packs. Additionally, Kreisel has developed a charging infrastructure platform (CHIMERO) that utilises this patented battery technology.

John Deere sees demand growing for batteries as a sole or hybrid-propulsion system for vehicles. Products in Deere’s portfolio such

as

equipment, compact utility tractors, small tractors, compact construction, and road-building equipment could

Mark Earles, Business Development Manager at Makita, looks at the tool features and technologies that can help ensure user safety.

Makita UK Enquiry 58

Bobcat Enquiry 59

turf

rely solely on batteries as a primary power source.

John Deere Enquiry 60

Air2Root turn to Redexim as they expand

It’s been 18 months of expansions for the team at Air2Root Turfcare Limited – new larger premises, more staff and an even bigger bank of equipment from Redexim.

Amongst their recent purchases are a Verti-Quake 2521, a SpeedSeed and a Verti-Drain 1513 complete with Carrier, which will sit proudly on their fleet alongside their OxyShot air injection unit and will help the company in their aim to become a ‘one-stop shop’ for maintenance services at venues nationwide.

Air2Root Turfcare pride themselves on using marketleading machinery, technology and products to deliver the very best results to facilities from across the sporting spectrum.

Alongside developing their own performance-based fertiliser products, they’ve also recently become distributors for DLF Seeds and Boughton Loam.

“It’s been an exciting time and the range of services we can now offer our customers has grown massively” explains Director Jamie Moult.

“But to ensure we continue to deliver the quality of results our clients now expect, we must have the right machinery at our disposal.

The combination of reliability and performance, along with the working relationship we have with Andy O’Neill from Redexim and their dealer network, is the reason we keep coming back.”

Unlike other contractors that run large, heavy tractors and kit, Jamie attempts to keep the majority of his equipment relatively lightweight to minimise compaction and give him complete versatility. “Our new Verti-Quake 2521 is flat out at the moment, in use on football pitches, rugby surfaces and golf fairways on a daily basis. The rotary action of the blades creates a wave motion which breaks through compacted ground down to depths of 10” - leaving very minimal disruption in its wake.

We’ve had a lot of feedback from customers on the clean and tidy work the Verti-Quake has been doing, complementing the routine aeration that will have taken place throughout the year.”

63

Redexim Enquiry

Aeration options with Ventrac

The new 4520 Ventrac multipurpose, all-terrain compact tractor has two attachments specifically designed to help with aeration on any terrain.

The EB480 Aerator, with its working width of 1.22 metres, offers the perfect tools to address your turf conditions.

No matter what aeration treatment your turf requires, coring, slicing, or fracturing, the EB480 can be easily configured to suit your requirements.

The tines are replaced either individually or by quickly

changing the entire mounting heads. This gives the EB480 both versatility and longevity to best accommodate your aeration needs.

The EA600 Aera-vator is designed to vibrate and loosen the soil beneath the grass without destroying the turf. It creates a hole without bringing a core to the surface, leaving the turf ready for use immediately following aeration.

With a working width of 1.52 metres and a depth of 70 mm, the vibrating heads create six holes every 300 mm (66 holes per square

metre) with the hole size regulated by the drive speed. The slower the forward speed of the Ventrac tractor unit, the larger the hole.

The tines can be replaced individually or by quickly changing the entire mounting heads, providing the versatility required for efficient operation.

The AERA-vator is built with the Ventrac Mount System, allowing for easy attachment changes, and comes with a standard jack stand for easy mounting.

Price Turfcare Enquiry 64

DEEP AERATION

Terrain Aeration’s long-term treatment reaches one metre deep where compressed air blasts the compaction. The soil is opened up for good drainage and a healthy sward with minimum disruption. We have been successfully aerating sports turf, bowling greens, golf courses, parks, trees and gardens for over twenty-five years.

The latest cuts

McConnel has added an innovative compact Power Arm with Variable Forward Reach (VFR) to its 30-Series range, said to be ideal for landscape, amenities and groundcare professionals and local government contractors.

The 4.8m reach PA4830 VFR features a new armset created from Strenx and Hardox steel that is more than 5% lighter while adding 0.5m reach over the PA4330.

The benefits of the new armset include improved comfort and visibility, greater precision and faster working speeds when operating in confined environments or around obstacles such as signposts and street furniture.

Advanced VFR technology enables operators to extend the arm 0.9m forward and 0.9m backward, positioning the attachment at any point along the cutting range and expanding the working area.

Featuring 30hp independent hydraulics the PA4830, can be mounted to a wide range of utility vehicles and compact tractors and can be specified as a left or right-hand cut.

Features include 95l oil tank (increased from 80l), safety breakback to protect the armset on contact with an obstacle, arm suspension and lift and angle float. Whole life costs are cut with the use of greaseless bushes for reduced maintenance and improved hose routing for enhanced protection. The PA4830 also comes with a road lighting kit.

Control is via the new Mini Motion joystick controller which features a progressive mini joystick with two easy-access hat switches providing proportional control of up to five different services.

A comprehensive range of attachments can be fitted to the

PA4830 including 1.0 and 1.2m supercut flailheads, rotary heads, sawheads and cutterbars.

McConnel marketing manager Wayne Brown says: “The PA4830 offers new levels of manoeuvrability and refinement for compact Power Arm users and sets new standards for productivity and precision.”

Wessex Machinery has introduced the CHT-100R, a hydraulically driven three-blade rotary reach arm hedge cutter designed to cut and shred hedges and shrub to a high standard, whilst throwing back the debris to help enable fresh growth. The hedge cutter can work to either the left-hand or right-hand side of the tractor and it has a maximum reach of 5m for taller hedges.

Suitable for a Cat 1 rear linkage with an anti-shock system to protect the tractor hydraulics, the CHT-100R can be used on a compact

tractor from 40-50hp of 700kg minimum weight.

The finer cut is said to be ideal for golf courses, sports clubs and private estates, comparing well with a handheld trimmer. Cut width is 1m and material up to 3cm can be tackled. Closed baffles on the deck minimise flying debris and help to mulch the clippings.

Spearhead Machinery plans to add the ProPilot control system to its Twiga Mid range in 2022, offering fully proportional electronic canbus control of the reach arm. Features include rotor soft start and AutoLevel which automatically monitors the level of the head or allows the system to maintain a set angle at all times.

An option is the Autopilot E, an electronic version of the established verge mowing system which offers variable pressure settings for high speed work.

Available in standard, forward reach and telescopic arm options, the Twig Mid has a 75hp fully independent hydraulic system, parallel arm and is available in eight models with reach from 5.5-7.0m.

Kuhn has added the Agri-Longer GII to its range of hedge and grass cutting equipment.

Positioned as a compact ‘goanywhere’ amenity sector machine, the Agri-Longer GII has a straight arm format with the main boom structure welded from ultra-high strength steel to guarantee the best flexibility-torobustness ratio. It is available in two models offering a horizontal reach of 4.3 or 4.8m.

In addition to the new feature of pendulum link mechanical safety, the key differences between the GII models and earlier Agri-Longer machines include increased hydraulic rotor circuit power (up from 34hp to 40hp) and electric joystick control as standard.

Agri-Longer GII hedge cutters have a 1.2m direct drive flail head which can work directly behind the tractor wheel, and has a removable wear plate plus a reversible rotor that can be turned around to optimise lug wear.

The Agri-Longer GII has an oil cooling system as standard,

offering constant power and protection of all hydraulic components. Its electricallyoperated joystick control unit includes the oil-pneumatic lift float, the oil temperature display, and the hour counter for ergonomic efficiency.

The Razorback telescopic Auto-Level 680 reach mower, developed by Martin Lole, well-known for his machinery innovations, has been designed to reduce operator fatigue, increase productivity and reduce cost.

Razorback’s Auto-Level CoPilot technology ensures that the main frame of the machine remains level at all times, irrespective of the tractor angle in relation to the undulating ground. Subsequently, the requirement to make manual adjustments to account for the unevenness of the terrain is significantly reduced, making for a much easier, trouble-free operation.

Available in 5.5m and 6.8m reach versions suitable for tractors from 85hp, the high-end specification comes as standard with the Auto-Level Co-Pilot device, electronic proportional controls and a fully independent hydraulic system with oil cooler.

The RotaryHead 150 has been fitted with three four-blade rotors on a vertical axis which gives blades full 360° contact with growth. Offering a faster and cleaner cut and a superior mulching technique, the rotary action and side deflectors ensure that the debris is contained by the hood with less material throw onto the road or the tractor cab.

Lighter and with a lower power and maintenance requirement, the rotary safety head is a more efficient and cost-effective choice over a conventional flail and comes with hydraulic front hood and rear roller as standard.

The telescopic machine will be fitted with the popular flail head which offers operators a more conventional option over the manufacturer’s rotary head.

Available in 1.5m and 1.2m widths, the flail head is fitted with heavy duty forged hammer flails to make light work of dense residue to achieve an efficient clean finish equally at home over hedge or verge.

McConnel

Hedgecutters and verge mowers now offer greater flexibility and increased operator comfort with features such as variable forward reach, while rotary and fingerbar heads increase the cutting options for the variety of finish needed in amenity work. Jane Carley reports.

Kuhn

Wessex

Ryetec’s compact hedgecutters offer maximum flexibility to cut both hedges and verges with probably the biggest range of models available for compact tractors. Available with either flail or fingerbar heads, they can cut ornamental hedges, conifers or utility hedges to a high standard, more quickly than manual machines and without the danger of operatives working at height.

The Ryetec range also offers compact dimensions to work in pedestrian or limited access areas, plus optional joystick controls for maximum output and minimal operator fatigue. High power flail head options are suitable for verge and bank mowing in heavy grass or scrub, offering large machine performance with the ability to mount on smaller and lighter compact tractors to minimise any ground damage in sensitive areas.

Blaney Agri offers a number of high performance flail heads for diggers, suitable for hedge cutting and shredding dense vegetation in inaccessible areas or where ground conditions are soft.

The HDX Excavator Cutting Head features a high torque piston motor for increased power which is especially effective for modern excavators with higher operating pressures. The motor is fully enclosed by a chamber, reinforced by endo-skeletal ribs, for protection.

Building on Blaney’s Power Shredder technology, the HDX head uses a caged rotor design to allow the blades to spin 360 degrees. The high-speed dynamic rotor works in combination with integrated shark fin blades, resulting in material that is chopped to a finer grade.

Front and rear debris deflection utilises energy-absorbing chains for increased durability and effectiveness. An adjustable front cover provides control over the entry rate of material.

For lighter hedgecutting tasks where a flail head is not required, the Blaney Compact hedge cutter equipped with a fingerbar trimmer features a low friction, self-lubricating design which is easy to drive and reduces wear and associated maintenance costs. It also offers enhanced performance even on older tractors with less oil flow.

Tractor mounted flail models are available for annual maintenance, heavy duty and contractor workloads, featuring Power Shredder technology.

The 3-in-1 Power Shredder is designed to cut and shred dense vegetation such as gorse, rushes and heather, offering a multiposition action to cut in positions from directly behind to fully offset with the ability to angle up and down.

It can be used for topping and shredding and can also act as a hedgecutter for facing hedges and cutting verges and embankments.

Offset and online machines Major Equipment has upgraded its verge mower for extra durability and agility, with high performance Strenx Steel construction and galvanised to ISO standards.

With full 140o movement and powerful shredding capabilities, the verge mower helps local authorities and highways maintenance teams keep roadside verges and hedges in check.

The hydraulically controlled arm can angle 35 degrees down into ditches and embankments and up 90-degrees to trim hedges, shrubs and trees.

In offset mode, the 1.56m extension suits mowing under trees, around fences and other hard to reach areas.

Instead of flails, the Major offset mower uses a patented rotary blade design that retracts when it strikes a solid object. This protects the driveline, useful when rocks and foreign objects are hidden in overgrown areas.

A full-length roller follows ground contours and leaves a striped finish. Internal double roller bearing housings support the roller and provides additional protection to the drive system.

Heavy duty gearboxes transmit power consistently to the blades, which ensures even cutting and mulching in light and heavy vegetation.

Razorback

Blaney

Major Equipment

Reform

Added shock load protection within the gearboxes dampen vibration as well as protect the machine in the event of a collision. Rubber skirting around the deck encases flying debris.

The shaft-driven mower also requires 30% less fuel than an equivalent sized flail. And with fewer wearing parts than flails, the Major verge mower is also easier to maintain and more cost effective to run.

Working widths are 1.43m (two rotors with eight blades) and 2.11m (three rotors with 12 blades). Cutting height can be easily adjusted from 15-100mm. The mower folds vertically in transport mode to 1.60m width. The mower is rear mounted onto Class 2 tractors with options for left or right-hand cut.

Maschio has been making flail mowers since 1964 and as such have put to good use the many years of expertise gained from building gearboxes and drivelines.

Widely used in the agricultural and horticultural sectors they are also popular in the amenity and local

authority sectors. Whether cutting long grass or twigs and small branches a Maschio flail mower thoroughly cuts and mulches material to a fine residue which speeds decomposition. Models are from 1m to 6.2m and suitable for tractors from 25hp to 300hp.

The fully offset Giraffa XL and Giraffa XXL models are ideally suited for local authority use.

The floating flail head allows the machine to follow ground contours and the versatile hydraulic offset allows the flail to work in many positions either directly behind, fully offset to the side, or in a vertical 900 angle for siding hedges or at -650 angle for cutting banks and into ditches.

These larger offset models are also equipped with a sprung shock protection system allowing them to retract and move around an obstacle before returning to the set working position.

The gearbox is mounted externally allowing for greater offset past the tractor and selfsharpening hammer flail blades are electronically balanced from the factory to minimise vibrations and stress on bearings, making for a smoother ride.

Ryetec Multi-Use flail mowers offer a cost-effective solution, with standard and heavy duty versions which offer cutting widths of 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6m and the ability to mow directly behind the tractor or fully offset models with a totally mechanical drive system.

The flail head can also be tilted to cut 60° down banks from horizontal and up to +90° vertically to cut hedge sides if required.

Something different Sloping verges and those with difficult access such as alongside major roads may benefit from a different approach.

Simon Richard, UK Agent for the Reform range says, “The new Metrac H75 model, recently voted Tractor of the Year 2022 in the Best Specialised category , meets all end user requirements, including versatility, efficiency and environmental friendliness for the ground care sector.

Hydrostatic drive with electronic control offers two speed ranges, two terrain gear reductions and foot and hand drive modes. When four-wheel steering is active, the front and rear wheels run exactly in the same line, ensuring tension-free traction on more difficult terrain such as sloping verges. Front, rear, four wheel and crab steering as well as offset four-wheel steering can easily be switched at the push of a button.

The 75hp Perkins common rail diesel engine delivers 300Nm torque and offers 1500kg lifting force front and rear. Weight compensation is standard and the electro-hydraulic power shift PTO provides power precisely when needed, says Simon.

New and improved Toro mower for greater productivity

Toro’s latest UK launch is the LT2240 cylinder mower, a new and improved version of the popular CT2240.

The CT2240, as a commercial triplex mower, had to satisfy a far wider brief than a dedicated golf or sports turf machine, it needed to meet hugely varied end user needs.

From local authorities, large institutions and contractors through to estate owners, schools and landscapers, the CT2240 could be relied upon to mow everything from litter strewn roadside verges, amenity and parkland though to managing golf roughs and keeping winter sports turf in check.

The LT2240 is no different in that respect, but for that fact that it is tougher and more powerful than its predecessor, yet still compact and light enough to enable access to the most confined environments.

At 214kg lighter than the next in the range – the LT3340 - it’s even more suited for transportation between sites, while the 195mm narrower transport width brings increased site accessibility.

And thanks to the reduction in weight, fuel consumption is 41 percent lower. These improvements bring big differences when it comes to ease of use, productivity and operational costs.

In addition to that, the redesign includes an engine adjustment to bring it below 19kW meaning it does not need a Diesel Particulate Filter. This simple adjustment keeps the purchase price lower and with the option of up grading from eight to 10 inch cutting units, ensures its performance remains high.

Extremely bright and designed to last the life of the mower, the full LED lighting kit with brake lights on the LT2240 means road use isn’t a problem throughout the year. There’s also an optimised hydraulic system, independent cutting units, an intuitive infocentre and fullfolding ROPS.

Reesink Turfcare Enquiry 71

Ransomes

Powered by a Stage V compliant engine and featuring an ultracomfort smart operator platform with on-board diagnostics, this machine is built to work and make a hard job

Ransomes Enquiry 73

Maschio

Pellenc is ‘superior’ for Hard Graft

Hard Graft Garden Services, based in East Lothian, Scotland, believes that Pellenc is a ‘superior’ brand of batterypowered technology.

Hard Graft Garden Services is a family-run business based in Longniddry, East Lothian. Founded by father Stuart, the dayto-day running of the business now largely falls his three sons Sam, Fraser and Lewis.

Over the years, the family has built a reputation for supporting the local community and providing an unrivalled customer service. Always looking to the future, Lewis revealed that green technology is integral to the company’s future plans.

“I would say that 90% of our equipment is now battery powered, and now that we have discovered Pellenc, we are planning on investing in a lot more of the products.”

The brushcutter Lewis saw being demonstrated was the powerful Excelion 2. With a rotational speed of 6,600rpm and a cutting diameter of 420mm, the Excelion 2 battery-powered brushcutter offers superior performance for professional intensive landscaping and forestry work.

Weighing 30% less than petrol-powered brushcutters, it also has a newly designed smart handle that enables agile manoeuvring and displays digital information in real-time including current speed, battery life (as a percentage and in minutes) and power indication.

Lewis and the Hard Graft team power the Excellion 2 with the Pellenc ULiB 1500 backpack battery, which gives the user freedom of movement and optimal work quality.

Etesia Enquiry 74

STIHL continues to expand brushcutter range

STIHL has launched the new FSA 86 R, adding to its range of high-performance brushcutters designed for landscaping professionals and groundskeepers.

The new FSA 86 R offers the low weight of its predecessor, the FSA 85, with added features like the ergo lever handle cutting attachments that can be changed by hand, a new design and more power.

The all-new high revving direct drive motor produces 20% more power, delivering outstanding cutting performance. The EC motor also offers excellent efficiency during operation, ensuring it permanently monitors the load and adjusts the engine accordingly.

Additionally, the exceptional power-to-weight ratio makes the tool incredibly easy to use, particularly for line-trimming around borders and trees, without the need of metal cutting tools or a full bike-handle brushcutter.

In addition to the comfortable loop handle for easy handling and working in confined spaces, the FSA 86 R also features an ergonomic control handle from which the locking lever, ERGO lever and main trigger lever can be easily activated.

The locking lever is selfresetting and prevents unintentional switching on of the device, and when the ERGO lever and shift lever are pressed simultaneously, users can work continuously with ease.

Although the new AutoCut C 6-2 cutting head is fitted as standard, the new PolyCut 6-2 is available as an alternative option that can be fitted without the need for tools.

For more challenging jobs, the new DuroCut 5-2 is also available and ideally suited for dense grass and light scrub.

The FSA 86 R features a new battery housing and component design, enabling users to easily insert STIHL’s highperformance 36V AP batteries, ideal for professional use. Users can take working time from 35 minutes to 60 minutes when using STIHL’s AP 200 battery.

Enquiry 75

Makita continues to provide the power

Makita UK has revealed a number of new 40VMax cordless machines that have been added to its exciting XGT range.

The new high-powered products provide a one-battery solution to handle the most demanding jobs and environments, without sacrificing run time.

Delivering up to 6,400rpm and a maximum power output at 2.0kW, the powerful 80VMax (40Vx2) XGT Brushless Brush Cutter provides users with

performance similar to a 40cc class engine grass trimmer, making this machine ideal for heavy duty applications.

Users can adjust speed according to the task with 3-stage control, and thanks to Makita’s innovative Automatic Torque Drive Technology (ADT), which adapts the cutting speed according to the load conditions, users can trust that the machine is always working at its optimum.

UK Enquiry 76

STIHL

Makita

AS Motor brushcutters – for extraordinary mowing tasks

The range of AS Motor Brushcutters are made for use in tough conditions including areas of extremely dense growth, slopes and rough terrain whilst still manoeuvring effortlessly around obstacles and trees.

The range of Pedestrian Brushcutters includes the AS 63 which offers a high performance and easy handling solution to cutting high grass even on steep slopes or where access is limited. Its low weight, vibration damping and handlebar adjustment makes the AS 63 exceptionally user friendly, and its fold down handles ease transportation and storage.

There are also twin wheel kits available and the AS 63 is available with either a 4-Stroke or 2-Stroke engine or the new battery / electric model will be available soon and each offers an extremely powerful machine with outstanding climbing ability.

Features include:

• Mulch & Mow in one step: The cross-blade system easily cuts and chops even high growth with excellent mulching results.

• Permanent traction: The robust transmission with limited slip differential ensures reliable and safe working even on difficult, steep terrain.

Vibration damping: Through vibration and impact damping, hand-arm vibration is reduced to a minimum.

AS Motor also offer an extensive range of Ride-On Brushcutters and the AS Motor AS 940 Sherpa has taken the market by storm, taking man and machine into places that previously were inaccessible, including into brush and brambles that are thick and up to 1.5m in height.

Features include:

• Blade System: AS brush cutter mowing deck with interchangeable flexibly

mounted blades cut and shred at the same time.

• With All-wheel drive: Permanent all-wheel drive, better traction on up and downhill, as well as the ability to brake when riding downhill, when compared with a 2-wheel drive model.

• Comfort seat: Variable adjustment bucket seat and innovative suspension system ensure operator comfort.

Surfing cutting deck: The blade cover allows vertically evasive movements in uneven terrain, to protect the mower deck and provide greater ground clearance.

The AS 940 is also available as a remote control model which with a 300m range offers a great safe solution for mowing areas where the operator can’t access eg steep slope, under trees or into nettles and brambles.

PSD Groundscare Enquiry 78

Brushcutting on slopes made easy

The Tough Cut deck attachment for the new Ventrac 4520 allterrain compact tractor has been specifically designed for mowing high grass, thick weeds and heavy brush.

Able to work on slopes of up to 30 degrees, it can save huge amounts of man-hours when compared to strimming.

A large front opening directs material into the deck where three heavy-duty blades counter rotate to cut and deposit waste evenly without windrowing.

The blades are sharp on both sides so they can be used on right or left-hand spindles, allowing for extended blade life.

Capable of tackling saplings up to 2.54 mm (1 inch) in diameter, the Tough Cut makes short work out of overgrown thickets.

It has three cutting heights: 76 mm, 92 mm and 108 mm.

Easy servicing of belts and pulleys is provided by the hinged and removable cover, while the flip-up deck provides easy access for cleaning and changing blades.

Flail mowers are an obvious choice for any overgrown area, so Ventrac has introduced the MY560/MY720 Flail mowers to its growing list of dedicated attachments.

These new Fast Cut mowing decks are in a class of their own. Cutting widths for the decks are 1.42m (56”) and 1.83m (72”) and feature Y-shaped knives, for taming dense and brushtype material.

Add Ventrac’s ability to mow difficult areas such as slopes, wet areas, or retention pond,

and these new decks are Ideal for landscaping applications and make previously impossible turf management situations, possible.

With out-front mounted couplings unique to Ventrac, they provide a quality finish on tall or dense areas of vegetation for fast and efficient turf management.

“The introduction of these two new flail options complements our existing Tough Cut rotary mowing deck”, said Rupert Price, of Price Turfcare, the distributor of Ventrac products for the UK and Ireland.

“All decks have a flip-up option for easy maintenance, enabling access to the knives for sharpening or replacement.

Price Turfcare Enquiry 79

STIHL enhances intelligent tool management solution

STIHL has enhanced its digital fleet management solution, STIHL Connected, with the introduction of the new Smart Connector 2 A, enabling professional users to obtain new levels of machinery performance data to improve maintenance programmes and fleet management efficiencies.

Specifically designed for a growing range of professional STIHL cordless machines, the Smart Connector 2 A is able to transmit increased levels of useful machine data to a user’s smartphone via Bluetooth.

The information relayed includes operating time, working speeds, the status on individual electronic components, ambient temperature and also messages about the status of the machine to name but a few, giving users universal transparency of the machine and its performance.

The Smart Connector 2 A also features a real time clock, meaning the data is collected accurately regardless of how often the connector syncs with a smartphone, so operators can see when and for how long a machine was used.

In addition, pressing the button on the Smart Connector 2 A

gives a quick indication of the status of the machine via an LED light, and will display green if the machine’s maintenance is up-to-date, yellow if there’s an outstanding job, or red if a machine fault has been detected.

The new Smart Connector 2 A sits flush against the machine housing and connects directly into the control unit of selected AP System battery machines, without the need for drilling or sticking.

In addition, the pairing process is kept quick and simple, and can all be easily done from the STIHL Connected app.

All of the machinery performance data is available to view either on the STIHL Connected app or on the desktop STIHL Connected Portal, a one-stop shop for accessing all the maintenance information and upcoming tasks for an unlimited number of machines in the fleet.

Compatible STIHL machines for the Smart Connector 2 A include all 135 models (HLA, FSA, KMA, HTA), RGA 140, the latest HSA 94 R, HSA 94 T versions, with more professional machines coming in 2022.

STIHL Enquiry 82

Makita extends XGT 40VMAX range

Makita UK has extended its powerful XGT 40VMax range of machinery with the launch of the DG001G Brushless Earth Auger.

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

Comparable to a 36cc engine product, this XGT 40VMax machine has a no-load speed of up to 1,500rpm and a maximum drilling capacity of 200mm. It also delivers up to 136nm of torque.

With two mechanical speeds to choose from, operators can easily drill into high or low resistance soil – and the reverse switch makes extracting the machine effortless.

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

As with all XGT machines, the DG001G benefits from the inclusion of Makita’s brushless motor. As there are no moving parts in the motor causing friction, no energy is lost through heat production and tool run time is extended, maximising user productivity. Brushless motors also do not need regular maintenance or replacement parts, which keeps the lifetime cost of the machine to a minimum.

Makita UK Enquiry

83

Först approved for HVO fuel

Following a period of substantial testing and consulting with Doosan, Först are pleased to confirm that their Doosan engine machines are all now certified for use with HVO fuel. Available from most fuel wholesalers, HVO eliminates up to 90% of net CO2 as well as significantly reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx), particulate matter (PM) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions.

For those customers looking to enhance

environmental credentials, Först’s diesel woodchippers fitted with Doosan engines are now approved for use with HVO fuel. HVO (or hydrotreated vegetable oil) is a paraffinic diesel fuel which offers a significant reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions.

With such a strong focus on climate change in all industries globally, the opportunity to switch to greener fuels is an attractive one, especially when coupled with the power and performance of Först’s diesel wheeled and tracked woodchippers.

Först Enquiry 84

their

Ventrac for woodland management

It might not appear to be the obvious choice of forestry equipment, but the deceptively powerful Ventrac 4520 allterrain compact tractor comes into its own for woodland management.

With attachments that include stump grinders, brushcutters, buckets and grapples, there’s definitely a place for this versatile machine.

The KC180 Stump Grinder makes quick work of unwanted stumps and roots. Heavyduty carbide cutters provide extended and effective performance in spite of dirt, stones, and debris in the work area. When mounted on the new 4520 tractor it creates an agile, powerful and “turf friendly” mobile unit for woodland management on estates, golf courses, parks, and municipalities.

A special convex mirror mounted to the tractor provides operator visibility to the front cutting edge, while the steering wheel-controlled articulation provides side-to-side cutting action. Forward and reverse motion is controlled with the tractor’s hydrostatic drive.

The HE482 Power Bucket with grapple accessory is the ultimate material moving tool when working in woodland. It allows operators to securely transport debris, brush, branches, and logs with ease.

Hydraulically controlled from the driver’s seat facilitates smooth and effortless operation and when not in use the Power Bucket is designed to sit upright after detachment, with the lift arms in the proper position ready for direct reconnection when the bucket is used again.

The HQ682 Tough Cut deck attachment has been specifically designed for knocking down heavy brush. Able to work on slopes of up to 30 degrees, it can save huge amounts of man-hours when compared to strimming. A large front opening directs material into the deck where three heavyduty blades counter rotate to cut and deposit waste evenly without windrowing. The blades are sharp on both sides so they can be used on right or left-hand spindles, allowing for extended blade life.

Tackling saplings up to 2.54 mm (1 inch) in diameter, the Tough Cut makes short work out of overgrown thickets. It has three cutting heights: 76 mm, 92 mm and 108 mm. Easy servicing of belts and pulleys is provided by the hinged and removable cover, while the flip-up deck provides easy access for cleaning and changing blades.

GreenMech announce launch of EVO 205D SURE-Trak

205D SURE-Trak.

Continuing the legacy created by their iconic 19-28 SAFETrak and SURE-Trak models, the new 8” EVO 205D combines even more aggressive chipping performance with unrivalled climbing ability.

GreenMech’s SURE-Trak system (patent pending) allows each track to be raised or lowered independently on the move, ensuring the machine maintains a horizontal position when climbing or descending slopes.

Providing up to 540mm of ground clearance, the 205D SURE-Trak will provide

ultimate manoeuvrability for the operator and maximise stability when traversing uneven ground, together with protecting machine components and engine lubrication.

A 50hp, Stage V Compliant Kubota Diesel engine, also means the latest model in the EVO series delivers outstanding processing power, with horizontal rollers and a 6-blade heavy-duty flywheel promising to make light work of bulky brash and timber.

In addition, GreenMech’s new ‘Smart Sense’ controller provides no-stress overload protection to ensure optimum chipping performance.

As with the 19-28 SURE-Trak model, the new EVO 205D SURE-Trak comes with a range of factory-fitted optional

extras to allow the operator to tailor the final specification of the machine to fit their unique requirements. Amongst the range of additional options are a winch, lighting tower, recovery kit, remote control and fitted toolboxes.

Like the entire GreenMech range, it comes with a noquibble, three-year parts and labour warranty and can be made purchased conveniently with a range of finance options available through GreenMech Finance.

The EVO 205D SURE-Trak paves the way for more models to follow in the EVO 205 range, including SAFE-Trak and fixed-tracked variants, expected to be available in 2022.

Kärcher’s battery-powered professional range

Kärcher, has extended its awardwinning professional products to include a full range of professional landscape management tools, designed to meet the needs of heavy users. The new range features a chainsaw and brings Kärcher’s quality, expertise and innovation to the world of professional landscape management.

The chainsaw has a high cuttings and speed performance, is perfectly balanced and low in vibration with a robust construction to withstand

the toughest environments. There is also a pole chainsaw for lopping off branches from ground level.

The robust Kärcher Battery Universe platform features several innovative advances in battery technology and works across numerous Kärcher products, including the entire professional landscape management range, allowing easy transition from one product to another.

Following on from the launch of the road-tow version earlier in the year, GreenMech are pleased to announce the introduction of the EVO

Price Turfcare Enquiry 86

GreenMech Enquiry 87

Kärcher Enquiry 89

Dennis PRO 34R perfect for the Pilgrims Go deep with the DTA from GKB

The head groundsman at Boston United FC, claims that the Dennis PRO 34R provides a quality of cut that he has never seen before in a rotary pedestrian mower.

The Dennis PRO 34R is a 34” (860mm) rotary mower which has been designed to help groundsmen achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance and desired playing surface. It is ideal for sports pitches and lawns producing the enviable ‘Dennis Stripes’ while a powerful vacuum flow collects debris quickly and efficiently.

The angle of the cutting deck and twin blades can be easily adjusted using a single ‘click adjuster’ ensuring the mower is suitable for changing conditions and meeting groundsmen’s requirements.

Dennis Mowers Enquiry 102

With the Deep Tine Aerator (DTA) from GKB Machines, the name speaks for itself!

The DTA delivers intensive aeration, with larger models in the range penetrating down to depths of up to 400mm (16”), delivering impressive compaction relief to surfaces across the sporting spectrum.

With the wetter months upon us, keeping surfaces clear of compaction is pivotal for maintaining percolation rates and oxygen flow to the plant and rooting system. When ground and climatic conditions allow, aeration should take place to give your turf the boost it needs to emerge healthy and strong in the spring.

Precision engineered and built for durability and strength, the GKB DTA is available in four working widths from 1.2m to 2.6m meaning there’s a model suited for smaller jobs on golf greens right up to large scale renovations on winter sports surfaces. Smaller models like the DTA 120 offer a maximum

working depth of 250mm, with the depth of the larger DTA 210 and DTA 260 models easily set via simple hydraulic height adjustment. The heave angle of up to 25 degrees is also quick and simple to change.

The unique tine mounting system, exclusive to GKB, allows for more tines per head optimising the efficiency of the operation, whilst also reducing downtime by

improving the speed of changing between sets. In addition, when compared to more traditional ‘tine holder’ set-ups, the wear imposed on parts when changing tines is significantly reduced. A wide variety of tine options are available, both solid and hollow, with a range of different diameters to suit applications throughout the maintenance calendar.