Landscape & Amenity Product Update January 2019

Playing fields continue to be protected by Sport England

Sport England safeguards England’s playing fields– helping to make sport and physical activity accessible for all.

New figures show that Sport England has protected or improved sports provision in 93% of planning applications affecting playing fields.

It is a statutory consultee for local councils on any planning application that would affect or lead to the loss of a sports playing field

Unless a developer can prove their proposal will improve or protect sports provision at the site, then Sport England objects to the plan.

For the period between April 2016 and March 2017, 1,102 out of 1,187 planning applications affecting playing fields resulted in improved or protected sports provision.

The figures also showed that

• In 41% of the cases where we originally objected to an application, further negotiations led to an overall improvement in sports provision.

• Of the 146 applications where we maintained our objection, 61 were either withdrawn by the applicants or refused planning permission.

Head of planning, Nick Evans, said: “Playing fields are often the place where children and young people have their first experience of sport.

“I am pleased this year’s figures show that the places where people get active are being protected right across the country.

“Protecting grassroots sport provision is at the heart of what we continue to do so that all

of us have access to the right sporting facilities.”

As of 10 December 2018, our Active Places data shows that across England there are 22,155 playing fild sites, containing a total of 70,381 pitches.

Sport England

Innovation set to be central theme of

BTME returns to Harrogate on January 22-24 and the expanded show will see an increase in available exhibition space of around 25% on 2018.

There will be a range of new initiatives, such as Golf Course Construction Live, a New Products Area and a Member Wellbeing Area. A large number of exhibitors are

also planning to unveil groundbreaking new products and services and several are set to announce major industry initiatives during the event.

The annual BIGGA awards will also be revealed at BTME 2019.

The BTME smartphone app is the comprehensive guide to the exhibition and is available

to download now through the Apple Store and Google Play. You can register online now for BTME or head to www.btme. org.uk for more information.

• A full preview of BTME 2019 can be found in our Professional Groundscare supplement this month.

BTME

A national Save Our Parks petition now has over 16,000 signatures and, as it has reached the 10k signature mark, has received a response from the Government.

However, Mark Hardy, Chair of the Association of Play Industries, says the response from Government appears to flyin the face of the evidence and deny the problem of dwindling parks, playgrounds and green spaces exists.

“And yet, despite their 25 Year Environment Plan, Pocket Parks Programme and

various examples of central government investment cited in the response, research shows a marked decline in these spaces,” he continued.

“Our own NowhereTo Play research shows that the decline in the number of playgrounds across England is going into freefall. At a time when the Government claims to be implementing measures to tackle childhood obesity and mounting mental health problems amongst young people, I fear that they are just paying lip-service to the issue and not facing the facts.”

Funding for communities to create pocket parks

Green-fingered communities across England can bid for a share of £1 million fund to help develop their own ‘pocket parks’. Pocket parks are small plots of land, often about the size of a tennis court, and mostly seen in urban spaces. They provide a green oasis which can help improve the physical and mental health of the communities using them.

Existing pocket parks are used for everything from a quiet escape from busy city life to physical exercise, growing vegetables, children’s play and community events. Parks and Green Spaces Minister Rishi Sunak MP said: “Green spaces offer people a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of life to relax, keep healthy, learn about nature or spend time together with loved ones.

“Not all communities enjoy access to an abundance of usable space,

while some existing parks might need a bit of TLC to bring them back to life. The pocket parks plus fund will help local people to create and maintain small oases that they can take pride in and benefit from for years to come.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government welcomes grant applications for the creation of innovative as well as traditional pocket parks. The first PocketParks programme was launched in February 2016. Pocket parks are definedfor this programme as a piece of land of up to 0.4 hectares, although many are around 0.02 hectares –the size of a tennis court.

Each pocket park will be an individual space tailored to the needs of the local area by the community group which has applied for the grant.

is a registered

of the Bayer Group.

Green Flag

It is a new year with a new set of opportunities to grasp and a new set of challenges to tackle.

Well, perhaps not that new when it comes to the challenges the wider industry will be facing in 2019.

The headlines are still dominated by the same key words – Brexit, the economy, budget cuts etc – and yet 2018 proved just how resilient the industry can be in the face of such difficulties and uncertainties

Indeed, the year rounded off in style with an impressive raft of product launches at SALTEX 2018 and we can expect more of the same this month in Harrogate as BTME 2019 gets under way.

BIGGA’s flaghip industry event is larger than ever, this year taking over the entire conference centre. And exhibitors have been quick to highlight the new products and services they will be launching, while some have promised some major industry announcements.

We have a full preview of BTME 2019 in this month’s magazine and the Professional Groundscare supplement also includes spotlights on aeration, artificial surfaces and engine emissions

Elsewhere for the firstissue of 2019 we look at brushcutters and forestry management, as well as our usual review of new products, case studies and industry news.

If you are heading for Harrogate, the team from TSP Media look forward to seeing you there. If you cannot make it, we look forward to crossing paths with you over the next 12 months.

Terms and Conditions -

While every effort is

Paul Groves, Editor

Huge opportunity to change the future

Land Trust Chief Executive, Euan Hall, says there is ‘a huge opportunity to change the future of our country’ as the national land management charity publishes its 2017-18 annual review.

As the Land Trust looks back on a year which has seen 1.3 million people spend time on their green spaces spaces, 40,000 volunteer hours completed and 13,200 individuals taking part in educational and training activities, the Trust is now turning its attention to areas such as public health, economy and the environment.

Writing in the review, available to read online here, the organisation’s chief executive, Euan Hall, says: “As the 15th anniversary of the Land Trust rapidly approaches it is incredible to see how far we have come and how many people’s lives we are positively affecting.

“We are an organisation with big ambitions and we recognise that we now have an opportunity to help tackle some of the biggest issues currently being faced by our country. “It has been well documented that the NHS is struggling finncially, crippled under the growing weight of

preventable, long term and non-communicable diseases, caused in part by inactivity. In 2019 and beyond the Trust is committed to working with our communities to help them take more responsibility for their own health, thereby relieving the NHS of unaffordable expenditure.”

The Land Trust owns 64 parks and green spaces throughout the UK, which are managed in a way that benefitssurrounding communities and wildlife.

Over the last 12 months the charity has committed significanttime and resource to understanding and evidencing the contribution the Trust makes and proving that well managed green space can have a positive impact on people’s physical and mental well-being, the economy and the environment. This has seen three key pieces of research published.

Hall added: “We all have a responsibility to look after this planet that we call home and the Land Trust, working in partnership with various organisations will ensure we have our say in shaping the future direction of this work. Our research will play a vital role in this. “We need a government

A new partnership for Farleigh

A brand new partnership between Farleigh Golf Club, John Deere and dealer Farol Ltd has seen the arrival of the club’s firstever fleetof John Deere course maintenance equipment.

This forms part of an ongoing investment in the club and its facilities worth £6.5 million since Farleigh was acquired by the Hayton family in 2010, to become part of The Foxhills Collection.

The team now makes use of a 8800A TerrainCut rough mower and 7400A trim & surrounds mower, which both feature the programmable TechControl display.

Other machines in the 14-strong fleet include both 2500B

hydraulic and 2500E hybrid electric greens mowers, 8900A wide area fairway mowers, a 1600T wide area rotary mower, Pro Gators with top dresser and sprayer attachments, TH 6x4 Gator utility vehicles and a 5075E 75hp utility tractor.

“We have just had a record financial year and the club is definitely going in the right direction,” says general manager Adam Walsh.

“The course continues to improve, and stylistically it’s different to the majority of courses in the area –it’s very open and exposed and sets different challenges, more like an inland links.”

that is prepared to work to prioritise green space and infrastructure and the announcement of a new environment bill is a promising start. We look forward to working with Defra to help deliver the 2019 year of environmental action.

“Ultimately it is about deciding what society we want our children, and their children, to grow up in.

“We have a huge opportunity to change the future of our country. It is vital that we do not miss it.”

Land Trust

Award winning university campus listed by Historic England

Historic England has announced that Campus West designed landscape, Heslington has joined its listing of historic parks and gardens.

The University of York Campus West designed landscape was laid out from 1963-1980 It is a high-quality post-war university landscape that fulfils the architects’ masterplan vision of creating a town in miniature with a pedestrianised environment.

One of the key features of the landscape is the lake, which has two small islands, a courtyard pool and a fountain which form a central focal point at the heart of the campus.

Offering bursts of green against the surrounding concrete structures are the lake features, reed beds and lily pads, which were introduced to improve water purity. The landscape is relatively unaltered since

it was laid out and the design successfully integrates the new landscape with the historic Heslington Hall gardens.

It was designed by distinguished mid-20th century architects Andrew Derbyshire and Maurice Lee of RMJM with Frank Clark, the co-founders of the Garden History Society (now The Garden Trust).

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Green Flag

John Deere

John O’Conner Grounds Maintenance wins at national landscape awards

Award sponsors Toro and Reesink Turfcare, an official UK Toro distributor, are delighted to announce that John O’Conner Grounds Maintenance are the principle award winners for their sponsored Grounds Maintenance – Limited Public Access category, at the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) National Landscape Awards.

John O’Conner were announced as the winners at a ceremony held at London’s Grosvenor House on 7 December, for its work at Emergency Planning College (EPC), The Hawkhills, a leading provider of high-quality training for public, private and voluntary organisations.

John O’Conner received the award with its client Serco after an adjudicator visited

the college and reviewed the grounds to see first-hand the excellent management employed and the work of the on-site staff at the 240acre estate, which includes landscaped gardens, woods and natural parklands.

Managing Director at John O’Conner, Matt O’Conner, who coincidentally happens to be the BALI chairman, says: “We’re delighted that EPC has been awarded the principle award in its category at the BALI National Landscape Awards. This is the result of a strong partnership with our client and shows what can be achieved when you work handin-hand to improve standards.

“Credit must of course go to our on-site staff who have worked so hard to deliver exemplary standards on this

Long Rake Spar keep historic race track on course

Castle Donington in Leicestershire is the UK’s oldest motorsport circuit that is still in operation – Donington Park.

With the racing season due to start in March 2018, Donington required a good looking and hard-wearing surface which included a clearly defined pathway from the entrance to the new café to the two access gates.

SureSet were chosen to deliver all the requirements of the brief and Long Rake Spar supplied the stunning aggregates to create the complimentary Bronze and Sterling seating area and contrasting pathway from the entrance.

The investment ensures Donington Park remains one of the most internationally renowned and historic circuits.

Long Rake Spar

prestigious site. It is a great example of the high level of service that we deliver for our customers day in and day out.”

With tough competition for the award, the project impressed the judges with the level of skill and professionalism displayed.

One of the judges declared: “The contractor has done a great deal to improve standards in the grounds of this important venue. Client satisfaction is high, and they are aware that as standards increase, staffing and budgets must follow to maintain the overall look of the site. Regardless, this is a very impressive scheme and a credit to the efforts of the contractor’s on-site staff.”

The award was presented to John O’Conner by Reesink Turfcare’s Alastair Rowell, in front of an

audience of over 1000 BALI members and guests at the 42nd annual awards. The runner-up and fellow national award winner in the category, announced in September, was Gavin Jones for Brompton Barracks – Royal School of Military Engineers.

Alastair Rowell, Reesink

accounts manager for grounds concludes: “We are very proud to sponsor this award with Toro and have the opportunity to commend the most exciting and progressive landscaping projects.

As Toro is renowned for its innovation in groundscare equipment, we have a keen

interest in helping to shape the future of the turfcare and landscaping industry.

We are thrilled to have seen John O’Conner win this award and congratulate all those involved with this year’s winning project.”

Reesink Turfcare

Time to reassess our approach to soil

A new report published by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), calls for a radical rethink of soil management in order to help regenerate the soils that underpin our environment.

It sets out practical ways to restore soil and new approaches to policy. Soil provides many benefits to the health of humans as well as our landscapes and wider environment. It is not only fundamental to the production of food, but it also filters and stores excess water in the ground and absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, making it critical in the fi ght against climate change.

However, CPRE points out that a combination of industrial farming practices, poor land management and damage from development have created a perfect storm that has resulted in dangerous levels of soil erosion, compaction and a loss of soil’s fertility – this degradation of soil costs around £1.2 billion a year, in England and Wales alone.

Graeme Willis, senior rural policy campaigner at the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: “Soil must be seen as a fundamental asset for delivering productive farming and a healthy countryside. For far too long we have been ignoring the fragility of such a precious commodity. Only now

is the Government starting address the damage decades of neglect has caused. “Ensuring our soils are healthy is crucial if we are to effectively tackle climate change –or mitigate its worst effects.”

Damage from development is a major threat to health of England’s soils, says the report. Based on current annual rates of land lost to development, CPRE warns that 1,580km2 of farmland – an area the size of Greater London – will be lost within a decade.

In addition to killing soil by sealing it with concrete or tarmac, development projects also excavate tens of millions of tonnes of soil every year, much

of which is treated as waste. The most recent data highlighted in the report shows that in 2014, in the UK, more than 20 million tonnes of soil was sent to landfill –equivalent to the weight of more than 400 Titanics – and that almost half (45%) of all ‘waste’ buried in the same year was soil.

CPRE warns that, in order to effectively address climate change and limit global temperature rises to 1.5°C in the timeframes set out by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), urgent action is needed to halt the degradation and loss of our soils.

CPRE

Rigby Taylor help racecourse stay on track for success

Rigby Taylor’s amenity products have played a key role in Great Yarmouth Racecourse being named the best flatcourse in the Racecourse Association’s prestigious grounds staff awards 2018.

Combined with high-class groundscare routines led by head groundsman Richard Bradley, the use of a host of products as well as continual advice and support by Rigby Taylor this year saw the Great Yarmouth team succeed with a “well-covered and greatcoloured” course during a racing season that experienced the hottest summer on record.

According to Clerk of the Course, Richard Aldous, the award reflects “both the success of the grounds team’s expertise as well as the efficacy of the products” that have been used at the site for the past five years or so. “We use a range of Rigby Taylor products to ensure

the track consistently looks and performs superbly,” he says, “and we’ve been especially pleased with the combination of using the Fineturf 6-0-18 and PolyPro 253-15 slow-release fertilisers and Microlite Activ-8 (both 12-0-12 and 6-0-24).

“Together these have enabled us to produce a track that particularly this year has received laudatory comments from jockeys, trainers and owners.”

With expert groundscare routines coupled with regular visits from Rigby Taylor’s Technical Sales Representative Mark Keysell who, adds Richard, “is always on hand and offers an awful lot of support”, the Great Yarmouth team is happy that everything is being done to ensure they stay on track for successful racing at the 300-year-old racecourse.

Rigby Taylor

Nursery team celebrates multi-million pound sales

Johnsons Garden Centre Sales, a nationwide supplier of plants to independent garden centres, has put ambitious plans in place for 2019 following a successful year – which included.

The centre, part of the Johnsons of Whixley Group and based at the nursery’s site between York and Harrogate, has – like many across the industry – battled through an unpredictable year of weather, and has in fact achieved a 10 per cent increase in sales for 2018.

This has included 599,111 plants sold to 226 customers – 30 of which were new or returning clients – to help achieve more than £2.1 million in sales.

The year also included releasing a 2019 catalogue featuring its

largest ever range as well as add three new garden centres to its books for supply – these being Lancasters Home and Garden in Walthamstow, Fields Garden Centre in Sherburn in Elmet and Lincoln’s Whisby Garden Centre.

Johnsons Garden Centre Sales team, led by Mark Reynard and Paul Lamb, now has plans firmly underway for next year – with their sights set on a projected turnover similar to 2018 as well as technological investment.

Johnsons of Whixley is one of the largest commercial nursery businesses in Europe, and a trusted supplier of garden and landscape trees and shrubs throughout the UK.

Johnsons of Whixley

Germinal appoints new Technical Sales Representative

Germinal has recruited Alan Thomson as its new Amenity Technical Sales Representative for Scotland and the North East of England.

Based from his home in Glasgow, Alan will provide technical sales support to Germinal’s customers throughout his region, and will be responsible for promoting the company’s popular range of Grade-A sports and amenity grass seed mixtures to golf course greenkeepers, turf growers, sports groundsmen and landscapers.

Currently training with the STRI (Sports Turf Research Institute) to gain his FACTS (Fertiliser Advisers Certification and Training Scheme) qualification, Alan will also be responsible for promoting Germinal’s specialist amenity fertiliser range which includes conventional compound products as well as liquid and phased-release fertilisers and specialist sward conditioners.

Alan will also promote Germinal’s range of regional and general landscaping wildflower seed mixtures

Alan joins Germinal from Glasgow-based John Deere dealership, Nairn Brown, where he was the company’s area sales manager for the central Scotland region. Prior to this he has worked as the Scottish sales manager for Tacit Golf and also has previous greenkeeping experience from his time at Bothwell Castle Golf Club.

Germinal

Snickers Workwear new highperformance ALLroundWork jackets

Performance and comfort at work are integral features of this new range of Winter Jackets. These new ALLroundWork Jackets are just what the name suggests. There’s a selection of super–lightweight 37.5 Jackets, Windproof Shell Jackets, Hi-Vis and Waterproof Jackets plusParkas that all have the features and functionality that you’d expect in Snickers working clothes.

They’re great looking garments that will keep you looking and feeling comfy wherever you are and whatever you’re doing at work in cold weather.

Garden in the Chilterns wins Grand Award

At the 42nd BALI National Landscape Awards, BALI Registered Contractor Bowles & Wyer received the coveted Grand Award for a Private Residence in the Chilterns, the stunning implementation of a garden design by BALI Registered Designer Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson.

A BALI member since 1993 and winner of numerous BALI Awards, including the Grand Award and the Design & Build Award in 2010, Bowles & Wyer impressed the BALI Adjudication Panel with this year’s scheme.

The BALI National Landscape Awards, with headline sponsor Green-tech, are held annually at London’s Grosvenor House on Park Lane and are the largest landscape Awards in Europe.

and maintenance, and in Affilate customer service, achieved by Registered members of the British Association of Landscape Industries. 127 entries were judged this year and 101 National Awards made.

The Awards ceremony was hosted by popular sports journalist and breakfast TV presenter Dan Walker, who addressed the record-breaking audience of over 1000 BALI members and guests during the luncheon and joined Awards sponsors on stage to present the 29 Principal and 3 Special Awards. The presentation of the Grand Award to Bowles & Wyer’s Managing Director Dan Riddleston was made by headline sponsor Green-tech’s Sales Director, Richard Gill.

Adam White, President and Daniel Cook, Chief Executive of the Landscape Institute; Sarah Morgan, Chair of the Society of Garden Designers; Matthew Bradbury, Chair of The Parks Alliance; and Rod Winrow, Chairman of the Association of Professional Landscapers.

A full list of award-winners and a description of the winning schemes is available on BALI’s website.

Record support for Woodland Trust’s HS2 campaign

The strength of public feeling against the annihilation of ancient woodland for HS2 must serve as a wake-up call to those designing the scheme, claims the Woodland Trust.

More than 26,000 people have added their voice to the Trust’s in opposing the destruction of at least 19 ancient woodlands for Phase 2b of the environmentally caustic project.

It’s the largest number of responses the charity has seen for one of its campaigns to protect woods under threat.

Abi Bunker, Director of Conservation and External Affairs said: “The tremendous reaction to our campaign shows the overwhelming opposition to the destruction of this rare and

irreplaceable habitat.“We will submit all the responses on our supporters’ behalf before HS2 Ltd’s public consultation closes this month with the stark message that it’s about time they sat up and listened to the groundswell of public opinion.

“They cannot continue to ride roughshod over our precious habitats like this. We stand to lose not just the woodland but the hundreds of species that call it home, and once it’s gone it’s gone forever as no amount of replanting can compensate for the loss.”

The Trust’s campaign launched in October in response to HS2 Ltd publishing its draft environmental statement for Phase 2b, revealing the shocking news that at least 19 ancient woods totalling 16.7

hectares (equivalent to 25 football pitches)arefacingloss–doublethe Trust’s original estimation. Phase 2b will run from Birmingham to Leeds (123 miles) and Crewe to Manchester (51 miles) and as well as resulting in some destruction to those 19 sites, the route will cause damage and deterioration to 11 more through noise, vibration, changes to lighting and dust.

The single biggest loss of ancient woodland is at Nor Wood, near Killamarsh, on the Derbyshire/ South Yorkshire border (4.1ha).

The Trust is continuing to press for the proposed route to be realigned or for tunnelling to be considered in order to save the irreplaceable habitatscurrentlyunderthreat.

They recognise excellence in landscape design, construction

VIP guests this year included Sue Biggs CBE, Director General of the Royal Horticultural Society;

Benefittingfrom a collection at the event, this year’s chosen charities were GreenfingersCharity, which creates beautiful outdoor spaces in hospices for children with lifelimiting illnesses and their families, and the BALI Chalk Fund, which supports education and training in the landscape sector, including the BALI GoLandscape careers outreach initiative. The total amount raised was £5,353.

BALI

Snickers

Woodland Trust

Starting the year in style at BTME

www.professionalgroundscare.com

IOG recommends 2.5 per cent pay rise for grounds staff

The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG), the leading membership organisation for everyone involved in the management of sports pitches, landscape and amenity facilities in the UK, is recommending a 2.5 per cent increase in grounds staff’s national minimum salary bands for 2019.

The recommendations have been made against a backdrop of economic uncertainty over the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, which is likely to impact growth; GDP growth is expected to be low in the medium term, with 1.6% the forecasted figure for 2019, and it is not expected to rise above this level until after 2023. The suggested rise

sits between CPIH (Consumer Price Inflation including owneroccupier’s housing costs) inflation of 2.2% and the 2.9% increase in the voluntary living wage. As a result, it should take account of any increase in the cost of living and should ensure that grounds staff pay rates remain competitive.

These bands reflect minimum recommended basic salary payment and are based on a 37.5hour week. Bonuses, overtime and subsistence payments have not been included and are therefore additional. Importantly, the bottom of the scale for groundsperson (£18,250 for 2018) is already above the current UK-wide living wage rate. The

recommended minimum pay rate for a groundsperson in London should be set at £21,000 (Outer) and £22,500 (Inner) to ensure everyone receives at least a living wage.

The IOG also encourages all employers to become accredited living wage employers and to make this explicit in their recruitment and employment offers. In addition, a 5% increase to at least £575 per annum (compared to £550 in last year’s recommendations) should be paid to everyone – not just to junior posts as in the past - for the successful completion of IOG qualifications. This, says the IOG, will encourage an ongoing focus on training and

professional development. Given the current climate of economic and political uncertainty and ongoing fiscal restraint, the IOG says it is of critical importance to job satisfaction levels that employers ensure they are meeting their obligations in ensuring fair payment for overtime worked and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. This should be done in partnership with employees with agreements reached about the balance between overtime pay, time off in lieu and flexible working.

In addition to this survey, IOG chief executive Geoff Webb says the IOG will be commissioning a separate body of research to look at salary scales in elite, global sports stadia. “While the IOG’s suggested salary scales have progressively improved over the last decade, it is recognised that the roles and salaries of those working at sports stadia across the UK require further review and analysis,” he comments. “This will be undertaken within separate, ongoing IOG Industry Research

and the results will be presented at SALTEX 2019.” The research was carried out independently by Myriad Research using a number of data sources for analysis. IOG members can access the full report and view the bands via their online member portal.

IOG

The IOG recommended national basic salary bands for 2019 are:

• Grounds manager£34,782-£55,431

• Head groundsperson£30,517-£41,885

•Deputy head groundsperson/ sole charge£24,967-£31865

• Groundsperson (skilled)£23,348-£29,785

•Groundsperson£18,706-£23,863

•Junior groundsperson£15,905 (Age 17)

•Junior groundsperson£13,208 (Age 16).

Playing fields continue to be protected by Sports England The definitive guide to training and education

Sport England safeguards England’s playing fields –helping to make sport and physical activity accessible for all. New figures show that Sport England has protected or improved sports provision in 93% of planning applications affecting playing fields. It is a statutory consultee for local councils on any planning application that would affect or lead to the loss of a sports playing field.

Unless a developer can prove their proposal will improve or protect sports provision at the site, then Sport England objects to the plan. For the period between April 2016 and March 2017, 1,102 out of 1,187 planning applications affecting playing fields resulted in improved or protected sports

provision.The figures also showed that: in 41% of the cases where we originally objected to an application, further negotiations led to an overall improvement in sports provision; and of the 146 applications where we maintained our objection, 61 were either withdrawn by the applicants or refused planning permission. Head of planning, Nick Evans, said: “Protecting grassroots sport provision is at the heart of what we continue to do so that all of us have access to the right sporting facilities.”

The new IOG Prospectus is the definitive guide to the Institute of Groundsmanship’s Training and Education, detailing the many training courses and qualifications available from the institute.

The 44-page booklet outlines the qualifications, training courses and advisory services available to help support individual career development and future opportunities.

Also included is an ‘ata-glance’ career roadmap showing how all the different options dovetail to create progression pathways.

In addition, there is an explanation of the IOG’s Pitch Grading Framework – guidelines

that match pitch quality standards with the skills required to maintain them, at every level from volunteer grassroots playing surfaces needing introductory certification through to foundation degrees for professionals at elite stadia.

The Prospectus offers something for everyone; a blended learning system that allows access to IOG courses in the workplace, the classroom or online, to enable everyone to enhance their skillset and knowledge.

IOG chief executive Geoff Webb said: “The IOG is committed to encouraging continual skills development and is passionate about supporting those wanting to

learn how to improve playing surfaces at every level of the sporting spectrum.

“Thousands of grounds people train with us each year, as well as the many who undertake IOG qualifications, and the IOG Prospectus now provides an easy-reference guide for everyone involved.”

IOG

Sport England

Rigby Taylor products are just champion for Rotherham

The 2018 IOG Industry Award winner Dave Fellowes certainly has his work cut out at Rotherham United FC.

As head groundsman, not only is he and two assistants charged with looking after the stadium pitch but they also maintain the training ground which has two pitches, including one for the first team and reserves’ training, as well as reserves’ matches.

The trio also help out with the maintenance of an additional pitch used by the club’s under 18s.

“It is crucial that I use quality amenity products to complement our groundscare techniques to ensure the pitch plays well and looks good,” he says. “Of course, we have to meet the

expectations of the players and the board [Dave says he has an excellent relationship with the chairman and chief executive] but it seems that every spectator becomes a grounds expert when they enter the stadium - then they are referees and managers when the game is underway – so we have to ensure the pitch always looks great. And thanks to Rigby Taylor products, it does.”

Working closely with Rigby Taylor’s Technical Representative Mike Brear, the benefits of an annual pitch care programme are clear to see and, says Dave, it is spearheaded by a number of products:

• Microlite Activ8 microgranular fertiliser – applied six times a year - “the best one on the market”;

• Activate R biostimulant –applied once a year“a fantastic product that makes a real difference to rooting”; and

• Magnet chelated liquid iron - “we apply it on a Thursday before a Saturday game and it really kicks in quickly; it

looks like a different pitch within 12 hours”.

Also used are Microflow and PolyPro controlled-release fertilisers (each twice a year) and Magnet Dynamic chelated iron (once a year, for longterm greening).

Rigby Taylor

Dennis Razor shows its quality at Mapperley

Michael is part of a four-man greenkeeping team that works tirelessly to keep the course in immaculate condition all year round.

“We had the Razor on demo and were instantly impressed,” he said. “The members loved it and they could instantly tell which green it had been demonstrated on.

“The other mowers we tried just felt very heavy and more difficult to manoeuvre in comparison to the Razor. It was the best option by far.”

Superbly balanced and ideal for golf greens and other fi ne turf surfaces, the Razor features a 560mm (22in), 11 blade cutting cylinder for a perfect finish.

The Dennis Razor encompasses the simple ‘no tools required’ click height adjusters for quick and easy operation, a feature which particularly struck a chord with Michael and his team.

“I don’t like machines with too many gizmos - I like one that is simple, straight forward to use and does the job which it is supposed to do. We’ve been using the Razors for a year now and they have been fantastic.

“In my opinion the best features on the Razor are that they are reliable, incredibly well built and easy to use. They keep the weight off the greens in winter and the cut that it offers in terms of presentation is fantastic. Since we’ve been using the Razor the greens have been a different quality.

According to deputy head greenkeeper and mechanic Michael Dickson, there has been a notable improvement in the quality of the greens at Mapperley Golf Club in Nottingham since purchasing two Dennis Razor mowers.

An ultra-short wheelbase ensures easy manoeuvrability and excellent performance, even on undulating surfaces.

Dennis

Terra Firma expands machinery portfolio

Terra Firma has signifi cantly increased its groundcare machinery offering by adding four new brands to its portfolio.

Terra Firma, one of Scotland’s largest specialist suppliers to the amenity and local authority markets, has recently announced dealership agreements with Kioti UK Ltd, Muthing flail mowers, Woods finishing mowers and Shibaura slope mowers.

First imported into the UK in 1996, Kioti has had a rapid impact in the groundcare sector with its range of tractors, utility side by side vehicles and WD1260 cut and collect mowers. UK sales of these products continue to grow and the ranges continue to evolve.

Woods high-performance finish mowers ensure a clean, crisp, manicured appearance year after year and the unique rounded front, tapered-side rear discharge deck allows operators to mow with better manoeuvrability –reducing trim time and increasing productivity. Heattreated, alloy steel blades provide maximum performance and precision cutting for all turf care applications. The combination of a deep deck, baffling and unique rear discharge design ensures premium results.

The Muthing Mulching range is manufactured in Germany to the highest of standards and is renowned for producing high performance fl ails for the agricultural and groundcare markets. Notorious for their high quality of cut and mulching capability, there are a wide range of flail mowers available whatever the requirement.

Shibaura manufacture professional multi-purpose slope mowers for precise daily maintenance of slope areas. The machines are notoriously high powered, feature a low centre of gravity and allow operators to work comfortably and safely over steep inclines.

Compacts combat the cold

After successfully dealing with last winter’s heavy snow across the Tayside area of Scotland, Tayside Contracts has added seven new John Deere 2026R compact tractors to its existing fleet, supplied by local dealer Double A based at Cupar in Fife.

The ‘footpath gritter’ tractors, as they are known, are chiefly used for winter maintenance of public footpaths. For this task they are equipped with industrial tyres, a 54in front blade and Kuhn 360litre rear-mounted spreaders.

These feature one of three hopper types suitable for spreading salt

or brine or spraying fine salt, to combat frost and ice. They are also specified with fully heated John Deere cabs, which incorporate a demister – vital for efficient and weatherproof operation on cold winter mornings. Tayside Contracts is a commercially based local authority contracting organisation providing catering, cleaning, roads and winter maintenance plus vehicle maintenance to the councils of Angus, Dundee City and Perth & Kinross. It reports to a joint committee representing the three councils and has an annual turnover of around £70m.

John Deere

SISIS Quadraplay performs at Dudley Kingswinsford RFC

A volunteer groundsman at Dudley Kingswinford Rugby Club in the West Midlands has praised the SISIS Quadraplay single pass maintenance system after the club purchased it based on a recommendation from Keith Kent, head groundsman for the RFU.

The teams play their games across four full size pitches and four junior sized pitches which are maintained throughout the year by a group of volunteers.

Grounds chairman John Griffiths oversees the team of volunteers and explained how the club came to purchase the SISIS Quadraplay.

The SISIS Quadraplay multiplepurpose, single-pass maintenance

incorporates a mounted frame for up to four implements such as grooming rakes, spikers, slitters, rollers and brushes.

The implements can be fitted to the mainframe in any order and can be independently adjusted to achieve the desired effect. Compact, robust, versatile and with the ability to carry out up to four operations simultaneously – the Quadraplay makes life a lot easier for many groundsmen. At Dudley Kingswinford, John uses the spiker slitter, the straight brush, the spring tine grooming rake and the roller, and believes that each plays a major role in his maintenance procedures.

SISIS

Terra Firma

New buggy and UTV venture from TH WHITE

This month T H WHITE Group are delighted to launch a new sub-division of the Groundcare business focusing on Golf and Utility vehicles, named T H WHITE Golf and Utility.

The new sub-division will specialise in the ranges of golf, utility, personnel and hospitality vehicles from E-Z-GO, Cushman and Kawasaki.

Sales Specialist, Simon Bingham, who will be heading up the Golf and Utility brand, brings a wealth of experience with over 10 years’ experience in the industry and great relationships with golf courses and businesses across the country.

Simon commented: “I am excited to be part of this new venture enabling me to focus on specialist vehicles within

the golf, hospitality, hotels and resorts, parks, estates, events and commercial sectors, among many others.

“Coupled with our whollyowned, dedicated and experienced service engineers, an extensive hire fleet, competitive finance packages and parts and accessories stocked at our 4 groundcare depots, we are confident in our offer as a national provider of quality vehicles at great value and with outstanding support.”

T H WHITE Golf and Utility is proud to showcase the full vehicle line-up on their new website, www.thwhitegolfandutility.co.uk.

Long-standing customer Alec Fernihough, Director of Gaudet Luce Golf Club in

Worcestershire, is delighted to offer his full support to the new operation: “We have worked with Simon Bingham and T H WHITE for many years. The level of service that Simon and his colleagues have supplied has always been excellent and this is the one reason why, despite many great deals from other suppliers, we are still working so closely with T H WHITE.”

While continuing to build on its standing in the golf sector with new and existing customers, T H WHITE Golf and Utility is looking forward to working more closely with businesses in other markets, including hotels, resorts, estates and parks, education providers, event venues and much more.

T H White

Woods Charlerois plant reaches full production

Woods Equipment have confirmed their custom built spares and assembly plant in Charlerois, Belgium, is now offering the company’s full product range, with most products available either ex stock or within three weeks.

Simon Richard the UK Agent for the Woods rotary cutter range said huge progress has been made since assembly began in January 2018 and this announcement confirms the Woods commitment to offering optimum service to UK and European Agriculture and Groundcare markets.

“Since taking on the Woods range in early 2017 we have been amazed by the number of extremely old but still fully functioning machines we have become aware of,” he added. “Machines like Batwings at 18 years old and single Rotor

machines at 20 years. We have even come across a triple Finishing Mower at 30 years of age.”

The company is now asking owners to send us a picture of their machine at work, the serial number and their name and address.

The owner of the oldest working machine will win a Woods 20-ton log splitter. Email simon@simonrichard.co.uk for an application form which should be returned no later than the end of February 2019.

The top dresser in the North East

Beaumont Grounds Maintenance took delivery of a GKB top dresser at the start of the season to help fulfil the needs of their many contracted sites.

Covering an area across the North East, Cumbria, Yorkshire and Humber, the family-run commercial and sports grounds maintenance business looks after a diversity of clients from schools, academies, sports clubs, councils and factories through to hotels and property

management companies.One such venue is Gateshead International Stadium and it was to there the GKB SP230 Sandspreader was delivered.The Sandspreader can be used to distribute a variety of materials and the version ordered, the SP230 with a bunker capacity 2.3 m³ / 81 ft³ flat filled, is one of four different designs ranging from 1 m3 to 4 m3. There are several options.

With the standard design, you can set the speed of the conveyer

belt and the disc spreaders by means of a control unit attached to the Sandspreader.

The shape and design of the sand bunker ensures an efficient operation and ensures a clear view along the machine. The sand is transported by means of a conveyer belt to a metering valve, which, optionally, is also available in a hydraulically adjustable version. The double, hydraulically powered, spreading discs are adjustable on multiple points and in this way the Sandspreader enables you to create perfect sand distribution. A touchscreen operated from the tractor cab gives complete control. The towed version can be delivered with four pivoting balloon tyres and there is a model suitable for assembling on a turf truck.

Machines

GKB

Simon Richard

Campey appoints two new dealers in South America

Campey Turf Care Systems has expanded its international dealership network into South America with the appointment of twonewdealers.TheMacclesfi eld based company already has an impressive network of dealers across the globe and the addition of C4 Turf Care and World Sports further strengthens their presence in that area of the world while giving customers in the region directaccesstoarangeofCampey products. Campey Product Specialist, Ben Taylor will be the pointofcontactforSouthAmerica working with both companies –who will be distributing Koro, Imants and Raycam products – to ensure South American customers receive the outstanding service Campey customers have come to expect all over the world.

Campey Turf Care Systems

ICL helps take Shrewsbury School from Summer to Winter

With an incredibly short renovation window to transform his Summer sports pitches into Winter sports pitches, Andy Richards, Grounds Manager at Shrewsbury School, can’t afford to take any risks with the products he uses.

It is for this reason that he relies upon ICL products– all of which he says will guarantee him the results expected at the prestigious school.

“Last year was hard,” he says. “Fortunately, I have 100% confidence in the ICL products I use and even though the weather went against us we still did it. I trust in ICL and in my opinion the products just seem to be

getting better and better all of the time. They are creating new technologies which turf and sports pitches need. There are no gimmicks – it is all fact and they have trials and research to prove it.

“I also receive great support from Emma Kilby (ICL Technical Area Sales Manager) who helps me put together the programme. We speak a lot on the phone and she is always there if I need her. It’s nice to be able to bounce ideas off one another and we are always looking at any improvements we could make.”

Quality is the key for W E Dawson

Ed Dawson of Winsford, Cheshire based contractors W E Dawson, says his Muthing MU-Pro 280 flail topper has more than proved it’s worth for his business.

The company uses Muthing across a range of services it provides, including agricultural and groundscare contracting work and have been extremely

impressed by the build and cut quality. Simon Richard, UK Sales Agent for the Muthing range said: “The MU Pro 280’s self-cleaning roller with internal bearings and wellrounded edges, protects soil and turf and the optimised distance between the outer rotor circle and the roller guarantees perfect contour following and

an even quality of cut. “The specially designed hood, in conjunction with high rotor and cutting speeds and a fi xed shredding bar, spreads shredded material evenly behind the roller, giving an excellent mulching and shredding quality.”

Simon Richard

Over two decades on and still exhibiting at BTME

Join the disease management journey at BTME

As greenkeepers are feeling the pressure of curative fungicides disappearing from the market, Bayer will be showcasing how a preventative and integrated approach can help overcome disease threats at BTME this year.

The Turf Solutions Team will be on stand 260, in the red hall to guide visitors through an interactive turf ‘canopy’ tour.

Steve Bishop from Bayer

explains that the company is working in partnership with BIGGA to further educate the industry with a novel and innovative approach.

The tour will cover five key areas of an integrated approach to preventative Microdochium patch control and those that complete the tour will be rewarded with a BIGGA CPD point. “Ninety per cent

of golf courses suffer with Microdochium patch annually, so we hope this learning opportunity can help many members of the industry,” says Steve.

“Preventative treatment will soon be the only option to control disease, as more curative fungicides are being taken off the market. However, preventative measures only work if they are put in place early enough. Without curative treatments there is no control once the disease is established and the chemical options are severely limited.”

Visitors to the Bayer stand will be able to immerse themselves in the turf canopy and the Bayer Turf Solutions team will be on hand to answer questions.

The journey finishes with a preview of Bayer’s new product which delivers improved disease control, plant health performance and application flexibility for greenkeepers

Bayer

It started back in 1995 when Highspeed showcased their new products at BTME in Harrogate.

The company planned entering the turf maintenance sector, so BTME seemed the logical solution. Results from that firs attendance 24 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.

Workwear and PPE followed but the biggest launch was that of the ClearWater washpad water recycling system in January 2003.

Highspeed’s directors decided a few years ago to consider retirement and sell the business. They felt it necessary to find the right company, preferably operating in the waste management sector, to develop the work and build on achievements. ClearWater was seen to have great potential.

In Spring 2017, Acumen Waste Services Ltd acquired the company declaring a

commitment to the development of well-established ClearWater.

To exemplify this, a separate ClearWater Division, led by General Manager Matthew Mears, was set up.

Strong promotion by Acumen of ClearWater is underway ensuring ClearWater’s growth and success. Showcasing ClearWater is important at BTME and the Prize Draw (a free ClearWater system) will run again along with attractive finance options

There’s an expanded presence of waste management services too; Acumen’s speciality.

Visit Acumen ClearWater at BTME 2019, Stand 206 Red Zone.

Acumen

New additions to Headland Amenity’s range promised

Retuning to BTME 2019 with their range of plant nutrition products for golf and sports turf will be Headland Amenity.

Particular highlights on stand 262 in the Red Zone will be Mantle, the newest addition to the company’s range of nonpesticidal disease management products, along with a new triple-active selective herbicide.

Mantle’s water-soluble formulation consists of Manganese and Zinc, with the addition of ‘Harpin’ proteinthe plant elicitor pioneered by Headland in the UK turf industry, to stimulate the grass plant’s own natural defence mechanisms.

As well as an important component of two enzymes, Manganese is also an activating co-factor for a large number of enzymes required for key functions in the grass plant.

One of which aids lignin synthesis taking place in the root, with research showing that

applications of Manganese can reduce the ability of some root pathogens, such as Take All Patch, to cause damage.

As essential secondary and micronutrients respectively, magnesium and zinc are also involved in some fundamental processes essential for a healthy plant, such as photosynthesis and protein synthesis.

Mantle can be used alongside Headland’s ‘20-20-30’ tank mix to enhance plant health and help minimise the effect of disease.

Combining Seamac ProTurf Fe and Liquid Turf Hardener plant protectants, together with Turfite elictor, the industryleading ‘20-20-30’ formulation has shown to be effective in minimising Microdochium nivale over the autumn/winter period, when applied prior to the onset of disease.

Headland will also showcase their new triple-

active Columbus selective herbicide formulation based on Clopyralid, Fluroxypyr and MCPA.

The unique micro-emulsion formulation controls a wide range of weeds in managed amenity turf.

Bayer

Return to Harrogate for BLEC

BLEC, and their specialised range of landscaping and turfcare equipment, will be returning to BTME in 2019 on stand 418 in the new purple zone.

Staff will be on hand to discuss the full BLEC portfolio, which includes both pedestrian and tractor mounted units, with a number of machines showcased on the stand. A particular highlight will be the Laser Grader 1500TPP.

The compact range of BLEC Laser Graders will suit turf professionals who require a strong, accurate grader designed to cope with demanding conditions.

Particularly suited to work on the golf course, it is used to accurately grade the surface to a tolerance of plus or minus 2mm.

All models are manufactured to a high standard using quality materials to ensure long life, with proportional electric/ hydraulic valves fitted to deliver smoothness and accuracy.

The 1500TPP model features a 1.5m working width and has 6 ripping tines for the loosening of heavily compacted ground. The frame features 4 wheels with each pair controlled by their own hydraulic cylinder, giving the operator the ability to use the machine for dual grading or alternatively, all 4

Johnson Sports Seed range continues to grow in 2019

The Johnsons Sports Seed range has always been focused on quality, providing professional turf managers with the tools to deliver high performance turf that can handle the toughest challenges. 2019 will be no exception.

Visitors to stand 214 in the new Red Zone at BTME will be the first to hear about the new and improved mixture formulations and cultivars across their golf and sports turf seed portfolio’s. A complete review of the range will see 11 updated mixture formulations and a new high performance Chewings Fescue,

The new J Fescue blend features 50% slender creeping red fescue and 50% chewings fescue cultivars for improved drought tolerance and disease resistance. Along with a number of other mixtures in the range, from 2019 J Fescue can be specified with DLF’s ProNitro seed coating. Reformulated specifically for use on links courses, the new J Links mixture is a pure slender creeping

red fescue blend, comprised of three of the markets highest performing cultivars – Cezanne, Nigella and Beudin.

This year, in addition to regular testing, DLF cultivars have been subject to hydroponic salt tolerance trials to confirm their effectiveness in high salt scenarios. This, combined with improved drought tolerance and strong rhizomatous rooting structure, means J Links should deliver strong performance under sustainable management programmes and/or close mown conditions. 2019 will also see the launch of ‘DLF Select’, a new

seedpurityprogramme.Inaworld where it is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve high purity standards, DLF have introduced a number of processes throughout their supply chain to bring greater reliability to turf managers.

The new 00 quality rating, representing zero weeds and zero coarse grass, will be available on a number of mixtures in the fine turf range, along with Johnsons J Premier Wicket and J Premier Pitch.

DLF Johnson Sports

SHOW NO

wheels can be locked for single grading. A self-contained system, complete with its own Briggs & Stratton engine, it can be towed by prime movers already used on site, such as a bunker rake.

All models within the Laser Grader range are set up to accept any make of laser equipment, though a laser control box and receiver can be specified and supplied as an optional extra. Larger models of Laser Grader are also available, offering up to a 2.4m working width, with the professional sports turf contractor in mind.

MERCY.

The Ransomes HM600.

The HM600 has been built in collaboration with Müthing to deliver a robust, reliable mower with the ability to tackle the toughest jobs, and the finesse to manoeuvre tight spaces while providing a quality after-cut appearance. From a clean, fine, rolled finish across sports pitches to routine cuts, the HM600 leaves an even spread of mulched clippings. It also tackles the irregular cuts, bringing the lesser maintained areas back under control.

Visit www.ransomesHM600.com to watch the machine working and book a demo with your local dealer.

BLEC

Bogart. Bogart features in the new 6-blend formulation of Johnsons J Fescue, popular for the overseeding of fairways, greens and tees.

Discover PrecisionPro - the award-winning sports turf app

Visitors to the Sherriff Amenity stand (110), located in the Blue Zone at BTME 2019, will be able to find out more about the award winning PrecisionPro app, which recently scooped the SALTEX 2018 Innovation of the Year Award.

PrecisionPro, is a dedicated app for sports turf to measure any area, guide the operator in calibrating a spreader for any granular product and also help apply fertilisers accurately. It was created due to the common issue of turf managers misjudging green/sport surface size which often results in problems such as over applying or under applying fertilisers - both of which can have a negative effect on turf performance, disease and budget.

PrecisionPro allows turf managers to have an accurate measured area by simply opening the app and walking the perimeter of the area.

Martin Lishman sprayers receive top praise

Whether a 120l self-propelled pedestrian Micro sprayer would suit for smaller areas that benefit from low compaction, or a 600l Tractor Mounted sprayer is required for large spaces, Martin Lishman Ltd have a sprayer to suit every need.

As Martin Lishman sprayers are designed and built on-site, specialist or bespoke requests can often be catered for.

“In the design stages,” comments the company’s Managing Director, Dr Gavin Lishman, “we ask sprayer operators to test all aspects of the sprayer’s practicality in use.

“Hence, all filters are easily accessible and valves are at a convenient operating height. The standardised electronic controls

on the larger models are a feature designed to ensure that hoses containing chemical are kept clear of the operator during use.”

See some of the range for yourself at BTME,on stand 134

and take the opportunity to ask the Martin Lishman team any questions you may have.

Martin Lishman

Calibrating spreaders has always been a difficult task but with the Calibrate feature in the PrecisionPro app, users are guided through each step of the process. Furthermore, its advanced GPS functionality informs the user when to start and stop the calibration process.

The app also features a function to ensure that every operator walks at the same speed – if someone is walking too fast or too slow then they are alerted by colour coded screens. As well as calculating the g/m2 and the operator’s walking speed, the Apply feature ultimately ensures that the exact amount of nutrition is being applied to the turf.

Sherriff Amenity’s all new Plant Bio-Stimulant Guide, which will be available to pick up on the stand, seeks to explain the term ‘Plant Bio-stimulant’ and explores the activity of an

extensive range of plant biostimulants, along with their specific claims and intended area of influence. The guide also includes a table of biostimulants, indicating their main benefi ts and specialisation.

There are also further considerations on choosing the correct bio-stimulant product, relative to its area of use and to ensure, the purchase of a quality product, given current UK bio-stimulant regulations.

Turf professionals visiting BTME will also be in with a chance of winning some warm merchandise clothing. Simply visit the stand to register your interest and by the end of the day you could be walking away with an Evolution fertiliser branded hoodie or a PrecisionPro branded snood.

Grundfos CR pumps up the pressure

Grundfos Pumps will introduce a new range of high- fl ow CR multistage centrifugal pumps that are replacing the existing CR/N 90, 120 and150.

The new models have been designed to support our customers under the three important cornerstones that the Grundfos brand is so closely associated with: Reliability;

K51

efficiency; and providing a pump solution that is capable of operating as a standalone or in an integrated system. The company believes the changes are moving the boundaries for multi-stage pump performance and durability and the CR story is one that is continuing to evolve.

Grundfos Pumps

Sheriff Amenity

GKB on par at BTME

GKB Machines have taken a larger stand in one of the new halls at this year’s BTME to display more of their machinery range.

The new Topair 120 being introduced at the show is based on the popular Topair 160 model, offering a smaller machine for use on the golf course with compact tractors.

A robust and reliable combined aerator/roller its GKB developed Evolvente blades minimise upper layer disturbance to leave a smooth, levelled finish when used in conjunction with the water-filled roller.

The two operations can also be done separately. The machine features optional cutting discs to leave a continuous slit to aid surface water drainage and the slicing of grubs.

In areas on the golf course where surface water and moss formation are a problem, the GKB Sandfiller goes to work offering a fast solution for drainage and intensive aeration. Top layer treatment

is environmentally friendly and cost-effective with its allin-one combination of aeration and sand filling. Intensive aeration of the grass leads to quicker recovery, greater green longevity and faster drainage of surface water, without the need for complete renovation.

Meeting top dressing requirements for golf courses and all types of sports pitch the GKB SP100 Spreader has been developed on the back of the success of GKB’s trailed versions and to meet customer needs with easy mounting onto turf trucks, such as the John Deere Gator and Toro Workman.

The GKB Combiseeder offers a fast, efficient way of seeding and surface aerating with virtually no surface disturbance. Creating over 1500 holes per m² the Combiseeder provides accurate seed application at various rates to suit different seed mixes, with drag brushes to incorporate seed and topdressing.

The latest GKB Vstrong improves on already proven

technology to offer the professional a robust and reliable scarifying machine that swiftly deals with the problem with the minimum waste fl ow. Operating speeds up to 7.4mph/12km/h mean you can quickly cover a lot of ground for maximum productivity.

At the heart of the Vstrong is the CombiRotor with generically developed 3mm carbide scarifying blades. The blades, in turn, are attached to the rotor by means of the QuickLock system which allows you to attain a depth of 5cm. In combination with the reversed rotation direction you’re guaranteed you don’t miss an inch.

There is also the option of 2mm or 4mm blades and you can alter the centre-to-centre distance of the scarifyingblades.Foraddedbenefi t a collection system can be used to catchthedispatchedmaterial.

GKB Machines at BTME Hall: Purple; Stand: 406.

GKB Machines

Rigby Taylor tees off a year of centenary celebrations

Rigby Taylor will be making a major golf industry announcement at BTME to herald the start of a year of celebrations for the company’s 100-year anniversary.

While details of the exciting initiative in conjunction with BTME organiser BIGGA will be released at the show, there is a host of additional reasons why greenkeepers should make

a bee-line for Rigby Taylor’s expansive stand (stand 424, Purple Zone), including the launch of a specially formulated range of early season fertilisers, the 2019 grass seed mixtures and the company’s ‘Active Planning’ turf disease prevention programmes.

Rigby Taylor will also be launching a website for its Euroflor urban meadow flower products

(www.euroflor.co.uk), and further announcements will be made on the company’s involvement in the irrigation market.

In addition, a golf simulator ‘nearest the pin’ competition will be staged on every day of the show, in support of the trade charity Perennial.

Rigby Taylor

Graden Z2R takes pride of place

An array of machines, in both green and red can be found in the purple zone at BTME, as Charterhouse Turf Machinery showcase their natural turf management portfolio on stand 432.

Particular highlights will include a selection of machines from the Graden range, including the Z2R turf roller, which will be found beside a variety of units from both Redexim and Rink.

The Graden Z2R (Zero to Roll) turf iron is a self-contained unit that requires no trailer and no unhooking - eliminating any health & safety issues caused by the hitching, lifting and positioning of a traditional roller. It is fitted with 4 wheels which can be raised and lowered as required, delivering an 8.5mph rolling speed on the greens and quick, convenient transportation around the course. The Graden FLEX system also

provides a constant positive pressure across all rollers, conforming to any contours on the greens, whilst keeping a low overall PSI.

The fl agship Graden machine, the Contour Sand Injection (CSI) unit, will also be on show. It has the ability to scarify to any depth between 1mm-40mm whilst simultaneously ba ckfi lling the grooves with either sand or a combination of sand and seed.

Powered by a 20hp V-Twin Honda engine, the CSI has a hydrostatic transmission and a 100kg sand hopper. Its multifunctionality saves the operator time and reduces play downtime, without causing any detrimental effect to ground firmness.

Complementing the Graden machinery, products from Redexim will also be on show. Visitors will be able to see a

selection of machines including the iconic Verti-Drain® and the Pedestrain Carrier, as well as the DS800 topdresser from Rink. Available in both trailed and mounted formats, the DS800 has a 0.8m3 hopper and offers a spreading width of up to 12m and a thickness of up to 15mm.

Charterhouse

Dennis and SISIS head to BTME

Dennis and SISIS will be heading to Harrogate and BTME 2019 on their new stand -located in the red zone on Stand 247.

By visiting the Dennis and SISIS stand, greenkeepers, course managers and turf

managers responsible for a wide range of various sports surfaces will get the opportunity to find out how the SISIS Rotorake TM1000, the Dennis FT510 and the exciting new Dennis PRO 34R could have a significant impact on the way they manage their turf.

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

Wiedenmann brings wish list kit to BTME

Wiedenmann UK’s popular rough management duo, the Super 500 and the Terra Rake, give Wiedenmann Terra Spikes a run for their money when it comes to greenkeepers’ wish list kit.

Fortunately all three machines will be well represented on

stand Red 218 at BTME 2019.

“For rough management, it’s the combination of time saved plus their unrivalled versatility that makes them so popular,” say Wiedenmann UK.

“If you have ‘traditional ridge and furrow’ undulations the Super 500 follows contours easily

without scalping and produces a consistent height of cut, whether scarifying or fl ail mowing. It also is a very thorough leaf collector. The Terra Rake will work in tandem. It scarifies, pulls out thatch and can help us with a long list of other tasks.”

With 11 separate Terra Spikes it’s the class leading Terra Spike GXi8 HD that will get the nod for Harrogate. Superfast, effi cient and precise the 1.8 m wide GXi8 HD can potentially access all areas at depths to 250 mm.

Look out, too, for the Terra Float Air pneumatic seeder and the 230* swivelling Mega Twister blower. It’s a great opportunity to see these up close and appreciate the simplicity and excellence of their German engineering.

Wiedenmann UK

a clean, consistent groove resulting in an excellent finish when the time comes to scarify.

With interchangeable blades and a quick, simple depth setting without tools, it’s no wonder that so many turf managers have reaped the benefi ts from using the TM1000.

When it comes to all areas of fine turf, the Dennis FT510 professional mower, has for many years, been celebrated for its top performance and durability. With a 51cm working width, the FT510 provides its user with comfort, flexibility and excellent presentation.

A true sense of control is obtained through the unique roller clutch drive for a smooth take-up and a variable clip rate helping to create the desired finish.

Available with five-bladed and ten-bladed cutting cylinders the machine can be matched to any situation

and the interchangeable cassettes can be changed without the requirement of any tools. The range of 11 different cassettes mean that one machine can be used for several key maintenance tasks including scarifying, verticutting or brushing. This feature combined with the click height of cut adjustment system makes it extremely user friendly for its operators.

The PRO 34R was the machine that everyone was waiting in anticipation for – and now it is here. Officially launched just last month (November), this 34″ (860mm) rotary mower has been designed to help turf managers achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance and desired playing surface.

The mower 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 operator requirements.

Unique features of the Dennis PRO 34R Rotary Mower include 5 forward / 1 reverse selection for speed of operation, 90 litre capacity grass box, fully adjustable angle of deck for changing conditions, 2 section cast aluminium rear roller, single point height of cut adjustment for ease of operation, optional front wheel or smooth/weile roller options and front brush for standing grasses upright.

Dennis & SISIS have been regular exhibitors at BTME for a number of years and as always, the company’s experienced staff will be available to answer any queries and offer valuable advice about the machinery on show.

Dennis & SISIS

Landmark for Pitchmark in Harrogate

Customers of Pitchmark and visitors to BTME are in for a major surprise in January 2019, says the company, who will be making a landmark announcement at the show.

A family-run business founded in 2010, Pitchmark has built an unrivalled reputation with a vision of raising the standard of line marking and improving the quality of working life for groundstaff.

The company has created an industry platform with the manufacture and supply of a complete range of high-quality marking paints, machines and accessories, for any sport and any surface. Pitchmarky launched the innovative new Hybrid line marker at SALTEX 2017, whilst 2018 saw rapid expansion and three new directors appointed. The business was crowned regional winners of

Business Exporter of the Year at the FSB Awards.

P itchmark’s Chairman, Mark Rodman said: “Our experience has given us the understanding into what groundsmen want, enabling us to be both proactive and reactive in delivering the best products and our knowledge. We’re expanding

on that platform with exciting new developments we will launch at the Harrogate venue.” The theme, Mark reveals, is: ‘Your Turf. Our Passion’. “All will be revealed on the opening morning of the show,” he adds, “so come along to stand 137 in the blue zone at BTME.”

Improve your course with Limagrain UK

Visitors to the Limagrain UK stand (140), located in the Blue Zone at BTME 2019, can expect a range of market leading products that can signifi cantly improve both the quality and aesthetics of a golf course.

The demand and pressure placed on the modern day greenkeeper to produce a consistent playing surface continually grows at a pace. Seed quality, purity and vigour are the essential ingredients of a fi rst-class golf course and

Limagrain’s MM range of seed mixture provides exactly these.

Visitors to the stand can also find out how Limagrain’s Wild Flower and Colour Splash mixtures have been benefitting countless golf courses throughout the UK and beyond.

The mixtures are ideal for those wanting to bring a splash of colour to their golf course as well as attracting some fantastic wildlife.

Limagrain

Pitchmark

Trilo showcases turf and waste management machinery

Trilo will be returning to BTME, with their range of turf and waste management machinery.

The team will be on hand on stand 204 in the Red Zone, to discuss the complete portfolio from blowers to scarifiers,and original parts which are available to order through the UK dealer network. Visitors will also be able to see firsthand the multi-functional Trilo S3.

The Trilo S3 is well suited to a variety of applications on the golf course. Its large suction capacity paired with its modest dimensions enables efficient collection of leaves, clippings or debris in small areas or during challenging ground conditions. Available with a range of shaft options including a twisted flailor dedicated verti-cut shaft, ideal for scarificationon fairways,

it becomes a versatile unit for yearround operation. The simplicity of the interchangeable system means the operator can easily switch shafts in as little as one hour.

At Highgate Golf Club in North London, Course Manager Derek Mason had a demonstration of the Trilo S3 and was so impressed, he placed the order there and then!

“Jeremy Vincent of Trilo and Rob Attewell from our local dealer Ernest Doe brought the S3 in when we were looking for a new machine to combat the excessive leaf-fall we get on our compact, parkland course” explains Derek.

“They put the S3’s wanderhose to work on one of our large ditches, about 50m long, which it cleared in an unbelievable 20 minutes!

It was evident straight away the huge difference it was going to

make to our winter maintenance programme.”

“Since we’ve had the S3 it’s been out 5 days a week which hasn’t gone unnoticed by the members - we have been inundated with comments on how much of a difference it’s making to both the presentation and playability of the course. Not only that, but the ease and speed with which we can now tackle the leaves, frees my team up to get other tasks completed. With the purchase of the scarification and brush shaft attachments, which will see the machine in use more yearround, it’s without doubt some of the best money we’ve spent in the last couple of years.”

Foley United bring fully automated grinding workshop solution

Foley United, represented by UK distributor ProSport UK Ltd, will be demonstrating the ideal grinding combination for a fully automated workshop in Red Hall, Stand 248B, with the AccuPro 633 with AccuTouch 3 Control and 673 bedknife grinders. This professional grinding duo provides top quality cylinder and bedknife grinding, featuring built-in grinding programmes for a quick and accurate OEM grind. The fully automatic grinding process on both machines allows

users to do other tasks while the Foley grinders are activated, saving time, money and man-hours. The latest company to utilise this combination is GGM Groundscare. The two grinders used by GGM

Price Turfcare returns to Harrogate

Price Turfcare is returning to BTME for the third time, back to Harrogate where the company was officially launched back in 2017.

As well as golf customers, Ventrac machines are going into major sports facilities, to large landscape contractors, rental companies and to some private buyers with large estates.

The addition of the Ryan franchise in 2018 has also given us a boost and the result is that we have an eclectic mix of turf maintenance machinery to suit any organisation, small or large.

Visit stand 450 in the Purple Area and see the solutions available.

Join the disease management journey at BTME

As greenkeepers are feeling the pressure of curative fungicides disappearing from the market, Bayer will be showcasing how a preventative and integrated approach can help overcome disease threats at BTME this year.

The Turf Solutions Team will be on stand 260, in the red hall to guide visitors through an interactive turf ‘canopy’ tour.

Steve Bishop from Bayer explains that the company is working in partnership with BIGGA to further educate the industry with a novel and innovative approach.

The tour will cover fivekey areas of an integrated approach to preventative Microdochium patch control and those that complete the tour will be rewarded with a BIGGA CPD point. “Ninety per cent of golf courses suffer with Microdochium patch annually,

so we hope this learning opportunity can help many members of the industry,” says Steve. “Preventative treatment will soon be the only option to control disease, as more curative fungicides are being taken off the market. However, preventative measures only work if they are put in place early enough. Without curative treatments there is no control once the disease is established and the chemical options are severely limited.”

Visitors to the Bayer stand will be able to immerse themselves in the turf canopy and the Bayer Turf Solutions team will be on hand to answer questions. The journey finisheswith a preview of Bayer’s new product which delivers improved disease control, plant health performance and application flexibility for greenkeepers

Bayer

are only two of the Foley range of Relief, Spin and Bedknife machines that have been specifially designed to meet any budget.

John Deere expands PrecisionCut fairway mower range

Featuring the same advanced technology as John Deere’s award-winning A Model family of fairway, rough and trim & surrounds mowers, the new 6000A Series PrecisionCut fairway machines will be launched at BTME 2019 in Harrogate next January and will be available from UK and Irish dealers in the spring.

Based on a three-wheel drive, smooth tyre configuration, the 6080A, 6500A and 6700A five-gang cylinder models have been introduced to meet a specific customer need for improved budget control, while still delivering a mower designed for the rigours of fairway applications.

All three models utilise a powerful 24.7hp (18.4kW) diesel engine, and boast several other premium performance and comfort features. Just like the existing John Deere A Model range, these latest mowers offer exceptional cut quality, even on slopes, thanks to the standard LoadMatch system, while the innovative eHydro transmission eliminates linkages between the foot pedals and the hydrostatic pump.

Cutting widths are 2.03m (80in) on the 6080A and 2.54m (100in) on the 6500A and 6700A, with a choice of 46 or 56cm (18 or 22in) QA5 5in or QA7 7in diameter cutting units depending on the model.

In addition, the 8mph (12.9kph) mowing speed allows operators to cut larger areas in less time. As with all A Model machines, the new fairway mowers also feature the innovative TechControl display with password-protected controls. TechControl allows course managers or technicians to enter a range of commands, including mowing, turning and transport speeds as well as service intervals, while also providing on-board service diagnostics, to give complete and consistent control over cutting performance and quality.

The established frame design provides strength and durability, and a high quality cut is maintained in undulating terrain thanks to a rear-attaching yoke on the cutting units. Combined with the standard GRIP allwheel drive traction system, these features allow the mowers

to climb hills more easily without slipping.

The new John Deere 6000A Series PrecisionCut fairway mowers also provide several features designed to increase machine and operator uptime. These include internal hydraulic wet disk brakes that eliminate the need for linkage adjustments and grease points in the braking system, along with the traction drive system that needs only one fluidtype for regular maintenance.

In addition, the comfortable operator station includes CommandArm mounted controls that move with the seat.

Trilo

Price Turfcare

Foley United

John Deere

Special attachment helps Ventrac provide perfect solution

With over 30 attachments, the Ventrac compact tractor provides year-round solutions for any golf course.

The 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, giving you 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. An optional overseeding kit is available. The All-wheel-drive compact Ventrac 4500 is rated for slopes of up to 30 degrees and is capable of handling various turf conditions allowing you to aerate areas previously inaccessible with other aeration tools.

Ventrac is distributed in the UK and Ireland by Price Turfare, based near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk.

Price Turfcare

Redexim combination doubles club’s aeration regime

Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty in Berkshire, Goring and Streatley Golf Club offers a testing 18 holes over a half downland and half parkland course.

Despite the challenges this brings to Course Manager Matt Aplin and his team when it comes to maintenance, the greens are renowned for being fast, true and in great condition all year round.

The combination of a Redexim Carrier and Verti-Drain 1513 from Charterhouse Turf Machinery is the latest weapon in Matt’s armoury to improve the greens, tees and approaches even further. “Matt spoke to his local dealer Lister Wilder, who demonstrated a

Terrain gets to the core

Terrain

the compacted soil, creating permanent aeration and drainage.

The Terrain Aeration Terralift machines penetrate the ground to a depth of one metre, releasing a blast of compressed air which fractures and relieves

However, before carrying out the aeration it is often necessary on old site layouts to determine what lies beneath and Terrain Aeration take a core sample using their specialist machinery.

The plastic sleeve which slides out of the metal casing reveals what the soil is like, from the top

soil down (in this example) to the clay structure beneath. The soil cores are taken to one metre depth and are also very good indicator to show where oil and diesel spillages have penetrated and how deep. The Terralift can then deal with the oil-bioremediation using specialist products in the area down to one metre depth.

Further down, flnt is encountered and the Terralift probe is

number of power unit and aerator combinations. “With a lot of the competitor machines, the aerator was limited to 4” penetration depths, whereas the Verti-Drain could go down to 6”, making a big difference to root depths, along with creating heave.”

They took delivery of the Carrier and Verti-Drain 1513 in combination early last year. As well as easing the strain on the club’s tractor, another key factor for the purchase was to use a lighter weight unit on the greens.

“It’s simple to use, safer being outside the cab and more efficien for the team than navigating the tractor with a heavy spiker on the back around the hills on our

course.” Though a number of machines can be connected to the Carrier, for Matt it is being used solely for aeration, and has already conducted upwards of 220 hours of aeration at the club.

“We used to pencil tine the greens four or fivetimes a year, that’s now 10 or 12 times. Our tees and approaches were aerated very infrequently, they’re now being done six times a year. That equatestoa200%increaseonour previous aeration programme.” That increase isn’t unnoticed by members who are commenting on the knock-on improvements in green and tee conditions.

designed to break through the solid layers, employing a JCB hammer incorporated as part of the machine.

Once the hard materials have been penetrated, the compressed air blast released creates fractures and fissures.These are injected with dried seaweed as part of the process, keeping, in this case, the clay seen in the core sample open and allowing surface water

to quickly drain down one metre, before naturally percolating away into the flint area.

Of course, not all compacted ground will have the same strata but the Terrain Aeration process is used to treat all types of waterlogging, from small gardens to parks, public spaces and sports pitches to bowling greens.

Terrain Aeration

Charterhouse Turf Machinery

Aeration have been treating problems for over 25 years and work regularly with construction companies such as Taylor Wimpey, Barrett Homes, Laings and smaller developers to provide a long-term solution.

SISIS goes back to school for aeration success

Andy Richards, grounds manager at Shrewsbury School, has reported excellent results from using a range of SISIS equipment to maintain the School’s widely praised sports pitches.

Breathing life into Andy’s grass is his newly purchased SISIS Javelin Aer-Aid tractor mounted aerator, and he had no problem in running it past the School’s bursars – as he explains.

“It was the machine I wanted because I had previously trialled

it and had good results,” he says.

“For example I Clegg hammered the pitches before and after using the Aer-Aid and had noticed a massive reduction in hardness.

I know that the Aer-Aid had recently undergone extensive Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) trials and it came out with excellent results – which always gives you confidence and makes it easier to explain to the bursars why you want to purchase it.”

With 10mm diameter ‘tipped’ tines working at 75mm (3ins)

Reesink is first for 1st Products

Reesink Turfcare has secured the exclusive UK distribution rights for a specialist range of tractor mounted aeration equipment from the Americanbased company 1st Products.

First in the range is the AERAVator, a subsurface aerator whose unique osilating vibrating tine system loosens, rather than punches, the soil around and underneath each tine.

Allowing better air and water infiltration and easing soil compaction, the AERA-Vator does the job without leaving cores or plugs behind and means less post-aerification clean up.

The AERA-Vator is also able to aerate dry soil to reduce the expense of pre-irrigating; in fact, the harder the soil, the better the AERA-Vator performs. The AERA-Vator can also be equipped with a unique seeding box, allowing the customer to aerate and seed in one pass.

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The AERA-Vator has the additional benefit of being designed with a universal frame system, so extra shafts can be added to expand its capabilities.

The shafts, available in conjunction with the AERAVator through Reesink Turfcare, are the Multi-Tine, Multi-Slicer, Multi-Spike and the non-PTO Coring shaft.

Reesink Turfcare

spacing, air is introduced from the Aer-Aid at a rate of 88 litres (3cu.ft.) per minute.

These air injection tines are specially designed to use the maximum air available from the compressor and produces clean, fresh air, while also ensuring

that surface disturbance is kept to a minimum. The cam trigger mechanism ensures that the air is always expelled at the bottom of the tine penetration, enabling treatment to be targeted precisely and consistently.

Wiedenmann saves up to five days a month work for team

Two new kit arrivals for a busy Middlesex grounds team are saving up to five working days a month.

The Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi8 HD and the Wiedenmann Super 500, delivered in October, are significantly reducing time spent on aeration, collecting and scarifying.

Groundsman Industries offers wide range of solutions

Groundsman Aerators are available from 45cm (18”) to 180cm (72”) working widths.

All use Groundsman’s proven rugged Elliptical Plunge Action mechanism for aeration down to 15cm. Quick-change accessories are available for Solid, Hollow and Chisel Tining plus Cluster Tines for dense pattern aeration and seeding.

Core & Collect in one pass with a Groundsman Flexblade Collector now available to fi t many makes of aerators and turf vehicles. The Flexblade is most effi cient way to collect cores in all weathers scooping

the cores or linear aeration soil cleanly from the surface leaving the holes or slits open.

Don’t forget to check out the Groundsman two and four-wheel drive Turf Multi Cutters, they delivering effortless precision sod-cutting with the lowest operator handle vibration levels.

GroundsmanIndustrieswillagain be exhibiting their unique range of Turf Aerators, Core Collectors andTurfSodCuttersattheBTME exhibitioninJanuaryatHarrogate on stand Red 256.

The site, at Sudbury Fields in North West London, has four full size football pitches, three junior size pitches, 4 training zones and three cricket squares. On any given afternoon up to 200 pupils and PE staff from the independent boys’ day school, make full use of the playing facilities.

The Terra Spike will run at least once every three to four weeks, typically, September through until April or May. On 20 mm tines the team will comfortably get down to

250mmasnocomplex pipework lies beneath any of the pitches. The Terra Spike will not only help repair and replace levels but keep air and water moving through the profile.

Another key benefi t will come during March/April, when 400 tonnes of sand is put down to help aid pitch recovery as part of our renovations.

The Terra Spike’s efforts will also assist the way the team deliver chemical and fertiliser products required for the turf. Sand aids in unlockingpositivenutrientslocked up in the clay and the Terra Spike will allow the sand to work down into the clay to aid this process.

Wiedenmann UK

The colder months can have a significant impact on gardens, even the best cared for of lawns can need a helping hand to encourage new growth and revitalise them.

A key way of doing this is through aeration. The days of traditional aerating with a garden fork are gone, particularly for owners of larger lawns.

Plugr aerators from Billy Goat offer a compact solution that can improve drainage and promote new growth with absolute ease. By making holes throughout the turf that allow air circulation through the roots, Plugr products help restore lawns to their perfect green condition.

Ideal for large domestic gardens is the PL1800 reciprocating aerator, which has an 18” working width, along with four tines that puncture the turf and

place cores 2.75” deep, aerating at 22,000 square feet per hour. With an easy folding handle it allows for compact use, transportation and storage.

Billy Goat products are exclusively available in the UK through Henton & Chattell dealers nationwide.

Henton & Chattell

SISIS

Groundsman Industries

Meet the operator – Replay’s Michael Kelly

their contact details along with any information that is specific to that site such as the size, and type, of surface. PitchPassport365 has a job timer on it to which is started on arrival at the site and is turned off on completion. This helps us to track all of our visits.

sharing of information between the Replay offi ce, the customer and the operators on the road.

The system instantly connects us all, and the work I carry out on the pitch can be viewed ‘as-live’.

Keep on top of ‘little and often’ synthetic maintenance with Verti-Clean

When it comes to cleaning an artificial surface, many turf managers have found the little and often approach to be the most effective.

What is your current role at Replay Maintenance? How long have you been there and what was your route into the industry?

I became part of the Replay team following a recruitment drive day that Replay held. I have now worked at Replay for two years, as a Synthetic Surface Technician.

What training did you undergo when you started the job?

I began by shadowing an experienced member of the team who taught me the principles of the job and have continued to progress through the in-house training programme. Since starting, I have gone on to learn all of the various Replay Maintenance processes and completed my telescopic handler licence and forward tipping dumper licence. I have also attended first aid and health and safety courses.

What time do you start work in the morning, what does an average day entail?

Generally, my start time varies depending on the jobs I have scheduled to do that day, though it is normally sometime between 6am and 7am. My average day usually entails two jobs, one in the morning and then another in the afternoon.

How much information do you receive in advance of a site visit? What technology do you use to track and monitor your work?

All information is fed direct to me on a daily basis through the Replay PitchPassport365 system. I receive the name of the job and the address, the name of the site contact and

The average Replay Revive® visit takes approximately four hours to complete. The PitchPassport365 system also allows me to add before, during and after photos of the job, as well as alerting the office instantly of any issues that I find on the surface during a visitfed through using Replay Rescue.

What are the essential pieces of equipment on your truck, to complete the days task?

The Revive machine, which uses a wet and dry filter, is the core piece of equipment I use. I also carry three sieves of different sizes, which gives me the choice of which to utilise depending on the type of surface I am working on, the size of the infill and the weather conditions on the day. In addition, I have a leaf blower, refuse sacks, weed and moss sprayer and various other items in the van which are used during a site visit.

Most of your work is conducted independently – how much interaction do you have with the facility manager and are there many decisions you have to make on site?

On arrival at a site I will report to reception who will then point me in the direction of the caretaker who facilitates my visit. Working independently, I have to use my initiative when completing the job but if any major problems arise, I will speak with the main job contact.

Have you experienced any changes during your time at Replay, and if so, how have these impacted on, or improved, the service you provide?

The main improvement has been the introduction of Replay’s PitchPassport system which has significantly improved the

Is there a particular service you enjoy conducting?

There are many elements I enjoy, but in particular, I get a great deal of satisfaction conducting the specialist Revive visits. It’s the service we probably conduct the most often but it’s very rewarding seeing the improvement in the appearance of a surface. I also enjoy familiarising myself with people over the visits, getting to know them, their pitches and working together with them to produce a maintenance regime that works.

In your role you spend a lot of hours travelling between sites – what do you listen to and which song can you be caught singing along to?

When I’m in between jobs, I mainly listen to Radio 1 but if you’re going to catch me singing it’ll likely be to any song by The Courteeners.

How do you spend your free time?

I spend my spare time with my girlfriend and enjoy socialising with friends I also follow Nottingham Forest Football Club.

Replay Maintenance

Most material that will end up on the surface is natural debris and detritus, which if left will invariably get trodden on and broken down into the surface. Removing this as and when it occurs is the most effective way to prevent this material reaching the bottom of the carpet, which can ultimately cause issues with compaction and drainage.

The Verti-Clean from Charterhouse Turf Machinery will pick up surface debris with a rotating brush, powered by ground wheels, and throw it onto a vibrating sieve. The sieve filters any infill material

back on to the playing surface, whilst retaining the debris and collecting it in a lightweight hopper, that can easily be removed for emptying. The fi nish is a revitalised surface with clean infill.

A Verti-Clean 1500 has been used as part of the synthetic maintenance programme at Scotstoun Stadium since September 2017. The hard work of Head Groundsman Paddy Ferrie was recently rewarded as he was crowned the winner of the ‘Best Maintained Artificial Surface’ category at the IOG Awards. “On the synthetic surface, I conduct regular brushing to stand the fibres up, redistribute the crumb and improve the appearance of the pitch prior to matches” explains Paddy, who has been at Scotstoun

for two years. “Because of the pitch’s surroundings, at certain times of year we get a lot of leaffall and debris on the surface, for which I needed something that would conduct a more thorough clean.WiththismachineIcanwork atanicesteadypace,collectingany leavesordebrisbeforetheybecome embeddedintothepile.”

Koppl Hydro Compact Easy revolutionises synthetic turf care

German manufacturer Koppl produce an exciting range of interchangeable products which are designed to revolutionise groundscare by minimising the need for several different machines, thus reducing storage space and costs.

The Koppl Hydro Compact Easy, with its space saving design, is a flexible and convenient unit for all professional needs and multiseason use.

Available from PSD Groundscare with a wide range of powerful attachments, it offers a solution to even the toughest conditions including mowing, scarifying, weed clearing, blowing and snow clearing.

It also boasts a range of attachments specifically for

info@replaymaintenance.co.uk

synthetic groundscare, including various sweepers and brushes.

Unlike other synthetic turf care products, the Compact Easy’s clever design means instead of having to purchase a number of

machines for different tasks, you simply buy the attachments to fi t thebaseunit,avoidingtheexpense of different stand-alone units.

Charterhouse Turf Machinery

PSD Groundscare

STIHL enhances professional cordless brushcutter range

are specifically designed for professionals working on large areas of thick grass.

The FSA 130 is well suited to clearing large patches of grass and scrub quickly and efficiently thanks to the bike handle, whilst the FSA 130 R features a loop handle that makes it perfect for use in tighter spaces. The tools boast three adjustable power settings that can be changed via the handle depending on the task in hand and to help conserve battery power when full speed is not required.

operation provide excellent operator comfort.

Makita’s back-pack brushcutter

The Makita EM4350RH backpack brushcutter is designed for use by grounds care contractors where large areas of rough vegetation need to be cleared.

The advent of the new FSA 130 and 130 R brushcutters mark yet another addition to STIHL’s ever-expanding PRO range. These powerful but lightweight brushcutters

Powered by a 36 V Lithium-Ion battery with an electric motor, the FSA 130 and FSA 130 R are extremely energy efficient, lightweight and well balanced, weighing just 4.4kg excluding the battery. They run quietly, making them well suited for use in noise-sensitive areas, and the low vibrations during

Both tools can be powered by STIHL’s range of 36V battery systems, AP batteries or AR backpack batteries. The new STIHL AR 1000 backpack battery is ideal for use in conjunction with the powerful FSA 130 and 130 R brushcutters and will run for up to 230 minutes on a single charge. The AR 1000 is also well suited to the HSA 94 R/ HSA 94 T hedge trimmers and BGA 100 blower, which will run for 380 minutes and 225 minutes respectively.

When used in conjunction with the AL 500 charger, the AR 1000 backpack battery can be charged in as little as two hours, cutting down the time expenditures usually necessary for charging.

STIHL

Compact Spider mower capable of 55° slopes

The new Spider X Line is their smallest commercial machine to date, offering a compact profile with huge performance. The X Line includes all the benefits of a larger Spider slope mower in a 1m2 sized machine, enabling users to get the very best performance while being able to transport the mower easily on a trailer or in the back of van.

With an integrated winch, until now only seen on the larger Spider mowers, the X Line is capable of mowing slopes up

to 55° - that’s 17° more than the worlds steepest ski slope, Harikari in Austria – which boasts an eyewatering 38° pitch. The X Line has a cutting capacity equivalent to three operatives with brush cutters, meaning that not only is the

job completed faster and more effi ciently, but it also allows for operatives to be redeployed to other tasks while one person controls the Spider.

TH WHITE Machinery

Powered by a 43cc 2hp version of Makita’s advanced MM4 4-stroke engine, this back-pack brush cutter weighs just 12kg. With the fully padded harness it is comfortable to operate and vibrations are minimal.

With the engine effectively separated from the carry frame by four isolating springs, which damp out any vibrations, the vibration effect on the operator is greatly reduced. Operator controls are at the handgrip

position controlling throttle opening and cutting drive.

A useful accessory pouch is fitted at the back of the harness for

Tough Cut takes care of difficult tasks

The Ventrac 4500 is a versatile compact tractor with a selection of 30 attachments and capable of working on slopes up to 30 degrees.

One of its attachments is the Tough Cut mowing deck, specifically designed for mowing high grass, thick weeds and heavy brush.

A large baffled front opening helps direct materials into the deck and helps hinder debris from escaping. 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.

Ventrac is distributed in the UK and Ireland by Price Turfare, based near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk.

Price Turfare

Contact your local KUHN Amenity Pro dealer or visit our website for more information on our product range of amenity sprayers, shredders, spreaders, landscape maintenance and tillage equipment.

www.kuhn-amenitypro.co.uk

The Spider team from the Czech Republic and the UK distributor T H WHITE Machinery Imports have unveiled a brand-new slope mower.

carrying replacement blades and the required multi-tool spanner.

Makita

Etesia unveil two new Attila brushcutter models

Etesia UK has unveiled two new Attila pedestrian brushcutters ahead of the 2019 season.

With built-in rugged reliability as standard, the new Etesia AK60 and AH75 pedestrian brushcutters have been designed to work in the toughest of conditions.

These powerful workhorses effectively deal with clearing vegetation from a wide variety of sites – long grass, weeds, bracken and brambles on woodland paths, orchards, holiday parks and road verges. Ease of operation and

manoeuvrability ensure total efficiency and high output.

Key features include:

• Heavy-duty brush cutting (up to Ø30 with AH75 and Ø20 with AK60)

• Mowing on the most difficut slopes (up to 20°) thanks to the hydraulic transmission with a differential lock

• Two idlers that can be locked without a tool for improved stability on slopes in the AH75

• Cutting height adjustment with three positions from the handle

• Handle offset control from the operating position with three working positions and one transport position

• High manoeuvrability thanks to the hydraulic transmission and three forward speeds and one reverse speed

• Anti-vibration rubber handles

• Maintenance-free h ydrostatic transmission with forced-air cooling, integrated expansion vessel

• Flail blades: reversible, protect the blade transmission system, low maintenance costs

• Rugged and reliable engines: Engine crank shaft mounted on bearings.

The AK60 model is fitted with a Kawasaki FJ180 OHV engine with a 60cm cutting width, while the AH75 is fitted with a Honda GXV 390 engine with a 75cm cutting width. A full two-year commercial warranty comes as standard.

Etesia

CAMON’s 4-stroke brushcutters prove a hit

Trimming up after the mower, edging lawns, clearing vegetation from trees, posts and the base of hedges and mowing in areas that can be inaccessible for bigger machines, the brushcutter is an indispensable tool for professional landscapers and homeowners.

CAMON brushcutters from Tracmaster are designed to satisfy the needs and working demands of all users. Features include anti-vibration and adjustable handlebars for perfect weight

distribution, market leading engines, safety goggles, bump feed head and grass blade as standard. Tracmaster also supplies a large range of alternative cutting heads, from clearing saws to the fantastic Nylsaw Speed heads.

Three different models of 4 stroke brushcutter are available, including the Combi HO25 with brushcutter, hedgetrimmer, chain pruner and a 75cm Extension for longer reach.

Tracmaster

EGO’s offer power and performance to groundscare professionals

To meet the needs of ground care professionals in terms of power, performance, convenience and wellbeing, EGO Power+ has launched its first dedicated range of commercial cordless garden tools.

Powered by the patented design of the 56V Arc Lithium battery system, which delivers the power of petrol without the petrol, the range includes a commercial line trimmer.

EGO have spent a lot of time talking to professional users

to better understand what is required from them of their tools. The result is a range of tools designed to perform beyond the expectations of even the most challenging user.

In an industry first, the brush cutter has a carbon fibre shaft which makes it more lightweight for ease of handling, but, even more importantly, it makes it extremely strong. Where standard aluminium shafts bend or get damaged, this shaft stays strong to meet the

day-to-day routine of handling, transporting and storing.

Additionally, EGO has unveiled a new backpack battery, which once again, takes cordless performance to a whole new level. With an IP rating of 56 this new battery is suitable for all weather conditions. There’s no need to stop and place a plastic cover over the top of it like some other manufacturers because its 1500 watt hour capacity will just keep on working.

EGO

Transforming remote slope mowing

The new McConnel ROBOCUT range - the RC56, RC75 and RC28 - surpasses all expectations with an exciting new ground up design and the very latest technological advancements and refinement.

The new models boast more power, an advanced feature set and a revolutionary control system for greater output, safety and control.

New engine choices have been developed in a partnership with Hatz GmbH specifically for working on steep gradients of 55 degrees, with increased power and market leading power-to-

weight ratio. A new common chassis design provides a lower centre of gravity and perfect 50/50 weight distribution for maximum stability and control in challenging terrain Fully integrated, dual roll-over protection bars, quick access lifting points and dedicated accessory mounting points also come as standard.

For the first time GPS Autosteer is available, developed in conjunction with Trimble, a world leader in a wide range of positioning technologies.

McConnel

The future in forestry shredding and chipping

PSD Groundscare have a comprehensive range of Green Waste shredders and Chippers from leading innovative European manufacturers Eliet and TS Industrie.

The development of the popular Eliet Super Prof has built on existing key features making it even more user friendly, more efficient and more environmentally friendly.

One of the key features is the air-blown chip removal via a 300 ° rotatable discharge chute that will blow the chips to a height of 2 meters and over the years the Super Prof has earned a well-deserved reputation of being capable of processing almost any kind of green waste.

The Super Prof remains a highly efficient 4 Season Shredder for material up to 13cm that is the envy of all. In the spring and autumn there is a lot of green waste to be processed and the abundance of wet material may clog up other shredders and in summer and winter the Super Prof deals with the high usage volume of shredding wood and shrubbery impeccably whilst remaining highly efficient.

The Super Prof is also available as a trailed machine for those that prefer to process the wood on the roadside and transport off site and also as a “Cross-Country” tracked

model ensuring those who need to access difficult terrain can also have all the benefits of the high performing shredder.

Eliet also have in their product offering the larger Mega Prof which is capable of shredding material up to 16cm diameter. The highly efficient towed shredder that is <750kg is available with either a diesel or a petrol engine and the efficient folding discharge chute rotates 280° increasing its efficiency.

TS Industrie offer an extensive range of multi-vegetation chipper-shredders that will bring versatility, flexibility and efficiency to all cutting and pruning requirements. The extensive range offers a solution for material up to 20cm diameter using patented Mixed Rotor technology that combines blades and hammers to shred the green waste and achieve excellent results.

Additionally, their range of professional chippers allow you to chip branches of an even larger diameter, suitable for larger forestry use the Wood Series of Chippers are equipped with Cutting Disc Technology to shred branches of up to a max diameter of 23cm. TS Industrie machines are either mobile, custom designed on road trailers or fitted onto tractors with PTO.

GreenMech QuadChip lightens the workload for housing association

H ousing association Karbon Homes is responsible for the management and maintenance of almost 30,000 properties, making it one of the largest organisations of its kind in the North East and Yorkshire.

As part of a business partnership with the Byker Community Trust (BCT), Karbon Homes provide BCT with a dedicated Grounds Maintenance Team, responsible for the upkeep of the Grade II* Listed Byker Estate.

Helping Grounds Maintenance Officer Dan Thompson and his team of five with the woodland maintenance is a QuadChip 160 from GreenMech.

The summer sees the majority of the Byker team’s time taken up with grass cutting but in the winter the maintenance programme switches over to include leaf clearance, tree work and shrub maintenance.

“My manager suggested we looked at the QuadChip because of its turntable, giving the operator discretion over the direction of the chip and improving manoeuvrability and safety,” he said.

“Firstly, and importantly, it’s under 750kg meaning all the guys can tow and operate it without an additional licence. The hopper is a generous size meaning it can handle larger timber than similar models, and it was also quieter than other chippers we’ve used which is great for working earlier in urban areas.”

Following the successful demonstration, Dan took delivery of his GreenMech QuadChip 160 in March 2018, from their local dealer Lloyd Ltd.

Cutting it with battery power

ECHO has introduced an allnew 58V battery chainsaw to their growing range of lithium ion outdoor power equipment.

The CS-58V4AH has the cutting performance of its petrol counterparts, with the additional benefi ts of battery power. Low noise and low vibration are immediately evident in this effortless yet powerful product. It makes little noise when running, while the lack of vibration compared to a petrol model greatly reduces stress and fatigue for the user.

What also makes a real difference to the working environment is the fact that with battery power you have no emissions, no fuel filling with two-stroke and there is no need to store petrol.

The CS-58V4AH is easy to use. With battery power you just charge up and go. The chainsaw uses a 4Ah battery which gives you plenty of run time for logging and felling small trees, and the quick charger will have it rapidly charged to reduce downtime. The lithium ion battery also fits other 58V battery products in the range so

you can run a trimmer, hedge trimmer, lawn mower and power blower using the same battery. Additional batteries can be purchased as a back-up for when you need to get on with bigger jobs without interruption.

Using the chainsaw you’ll find the 0.043 gauge cutting bar gives a sharp and smooth cut and the automatic oiler gives the chain optimum oiling for longer life. There is easy side access to the chain tensioner to allow quick chain adjustment, and the oil tank is translucent for easy level checks.

The power comes from the long-lasting brushless motor which requires minimal maintenance due to nonwearing parts, which means you save on servicing costs as well as petrol bills.

For the home owner and semiprofessional it’s hard to see why you wouldn’t choose the benefits of the CS-58V4AH. The chainsaw comes with a two-year domestic or one-year professional warranty and the 58V battery carries a two-year warranty for added peace of mind.

ECHO

GreenMech

PSD Groundscare

Winter warmers from Cobra

Cobra has an extensive range of chainsaws that utilise either petrol engines or battery power for optimum results.

For those wanting the rev of a petrol engine to add to the experience, Cobra has four models of increasing cutting widths and power, ranging from a 14” with a 42cc engine to a 20” with a 62cc engine.

However, for the ultimate in convenience, Cobra has a lithium-ion battery chainsaw which is ready to go at the touch of a button. powerful motor and 5.5 tonnes of splitting force, can split logs up to 25cm in diameter in to four with just one stroke. Cobra even has an extensive range of carts and trailers too, to help you transport the logs once cut! After cutting, clean up the

debris using Cobra’s blower/vac.

The BV26C is an incredibly powerful blower with a 26cc petrol engine that converts to a vac in an instant, simply by changing tubes so debris can be cleared and collected easily, all by one machine.

Make sure the garden debris and leaves don’t go to waste by helping them return to nature. You can create your own compost or mulch with the Cobra shredder. The electric QS2500 2500W quiet shredder can tackle garden waste up to 40mm in diameter and has an impressive 50 litre collection box. It also come with a plunger to help with increased output for heavier loads.

Makita’s cordless chainsaw designed for forestry professionals

Makita chainsaws have gained a high reputation amongst forestry professionals with models that are renowned for power, performance, rugged reliability and value.

The new Makita DUC254Z 18V Brushless Top Handle Chainsaw LXT is no exception. With a single 18V Lithium-Ion battery it generates a 570 watt output providing ample power to run the 3/8th inch chain over the 25cm bar at up to 24 metres per second matching the performance of a petrol machine. The Brushless motor ensures longer runtime, substantially greater power and lower maintenance.

Setting an industry benchmark this new model features the main power switch with Auto-Off function making it one of the safest chainsaws on the market. It automatically turns the machine off if the operator does not grip the lock-off lever within 10

seconds of turning the machine on. Equally, the Auto-Off function kicks in if the operator does not trigger the switch within one minute, even if the lock-off lever is gripped. And again, if the operator does not grip the lock-off lever within 10 seconds after releasing the lockoff lever the Auto-Off function takes control. Classifi ed as a top-handle model this chainsaw should only be used by trained and certificated professionals.

Light and compact, weighing just 2.8kg, this cordless machine is designed for operators when climbing and for single handed use, and is ideal for tree pruning Makita’s cordless chainsaws offer low noise in operation, low vibrations for operator protection and comfort, zero emissions to protect the environment and unbeatable charge times.

Makita

LJX turns over a new leaf with FUSO Canter

When it comes to buying the right truck, distance doesn’t matter to LJX Tree Services – which explains why the fast-growing Scottish firm has just acquired its third FUSO Canter within the last six months from South Wales Dealer Euro Commercials.

The latest is a 3.5-tonne Canter 3C13. It has joined another example of the same model and the 7.5-tonne Canter 7C15 which LJX was already running. All are powered by 3.0-litre commonrail turbo-diesel engines, which combine impressive economy with high levels of torque, and drive

STIHL launch a cordless KombiEngine for all KombiTools

STIHL has launched a new cordless KombiEngine, the lightest in the entire range, that is compatible with not only all current Stihl KombiTools, but also four new Kombi attachments, as the manufacturer continues to broaden its cordless product offering to the professional user.

Weighing only 3.2kg for the

powerhead and shaft, the new KMA 130 R is a powerful and lightweight cordless KombiEngine with high torque, low vibration and is 800 grams lighter than its petrol alternative (KM 94 RC-E).

Used in conjunction with the AR backpack batteries or the AP battery belt, the KMA 130 R utilises three power levels

to enhance energy efficiency, is ideally suited to work in applications in noise-sensitive areas and can be comfortably used for a prolonged period of time due to its low vibration levels.

In addition to the existing seven KombiTools the new KombiEngine can be used in conjunction with, the KMA 130 R

is also compatible with four new lighter weight Kombi attachments.

These include the HT-KM pole pruner, HL-KM 0o hedge trimmer, HL-KM 145o hedge trimmer and FH-KM 145o scrub cutter, all of which have been enhanced to reduce the overall weight of the tool and are suited for domestic and professional use.

The new STIHL AR 1000 backpack battery is ideal for use with the powerful KMA 130 R, with a FS KM grass trimmer attachmentbeingabletorunforup to 100 minutes on a single charge, or up to 500 minutes with a HL KM hedgetrimmer attachment.

STIHL

through fully-automated, dualclutch DUONIC transmissions.

The 3.5-tonners produce 96 kW (130 hp), while the 7.5-tonner has a 110 kW (150 hp) output.

The Canters are fitted with high-sided tipping bodies which are purpose-designed for arboricultural applications, and incorporate lockable tool boxes immediately behind their Comfort day cabs – those on the two smaller trucks are by Dragon Fabrications, while the bigger one’s is by Fruehauf.

Mercedes Benz

Trailed post driver brings hammer muscle to small tractors

The latest innovation in fencing equipment from Bryce Suma is a high output heavy-duty post driver that can be operated by a tractor of modest size and weight.

The Suma TR400 has all the performance and operating features of a top-end tractormounted post driver but with the added benefit of storage space for up to 20 strainer posts, 100 round or square fencing stakes or eight to 10 rolls of 100m net, plus barbed or plain wire. The chassis houses a secure container for a chainsaw

and other hand tools, there are tool trays for fencing gear on the drawbar and adjacent to the hydraulic controls, and vertical slots for storing wooden support blocks to place beneath the two stabilising hydraulic jacks.

As on all Bryce Suma post drivers, the mast on the new TR400 is a two-stage telescopic design that provides 3.6m of hammer drop to strike the steel cap that holds and protects the post.

Bryce Suma

Cobra

Yanmar CEE launches ViO82 midi-excavator

Mecalac wins 85unit site dumper supply agreement

Mecalac Construction Equipment UK Ltd (CEUK), a global leader in compact equipment design and manufacture, has announced a major national supply agreement with H.E. Services (Plant Hire) Ltd. The deal will see 85 heavyduty Mecalac site dumper units manufactured and supplied to the specialist plant hire firm.

Set to rejuvenate and expand H.E. Services (Plant Hire) Ltd’s growing

Yanmar Construction Equipment Europe (CEE) has further expanded its class-leading equipment portfolio with the launch of its ViO82 zero tail swing midi-excavator.

Offering the efficiency and productivity of a large excavator with the space-saving benefits of a much smaller model, the ViO82 delivers unparalleled performance. A true zero tail swing excavator, neither the counterweight or upper frame overhang the unit’s tracks, making the 8,200KG model perfect for operation within tight urban spaces or single carriageways.

Thanks to a robust X-shaped undercarriage design and unique weight distribution, the ViO82 delivers remarkable lifting capability, unmatched stability and torsional stiffness. The boom itself has been specifically designed to swing up to 60° on both sides, in order to maximise operator efficiencies.

Powered by Yanmar’s 3.3L 4TNV98C-WBV1 water-cooled diesel engine, delivering 41.5kW (55.6 HP) gross power at 1,900

RPM, the ViO82 achieves a digging force of 63.5kN (bucket), 25° gradeability and a travel speed of 5 kmph. The addition of Yanmar’s VIPPS21 two-pump independent hydraulic system, which regulates hydraulic flow based on engine speed, minimises pressure loss and improves smooth operation.

A common rail direct injection system allows the engine’s ECU to fine-tune combustion and optimise performance, while cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) technology further reduces exhaust emissions. This, combined with auto-deceleration and eco-mode (which limits power when duty cycles require minimal movement) makes the ViO82 one of Yanmar’s most environmentally-friendly models ever.

The ViO82 further benefits from a comfortable cabin, fully-adjustable air suspension seat as standard and LED lighting. Operator safety has also been prioritised, with a ROPS and FOPS approved design, 360° visibility, large footstep and antislip system.

SKARPER on course

SKARPER will be guesting on the YAMAHA stand (blue 131) at BTME Show in Harrogate this year.

The Skarper T90 towable chipper was designed primarily for golf course work and fits nicely behind the Yamaha range of utility vehicles.

You can take it over the whole course all year even in wet conditions, at sub 250KG on fl otation tyres they will go anywhere behind the new UMX Utility vehicle.

Jim Upson from SKARPER UK had this to say… “It’s always a pleasure working with other professionals, Yamaha is a well established brand renowned for very high quality products and it’s great to be

joining them at BTME this year.”

Jim Upson will be at the show to meet clients and answer questions. Visit: www.skarper.at for more information.

fleet, each rental-tough model pairs stylish design with state-of-theart operator technologies to set the standards in on-site capability, durability and performance. Manufactured at Mecalac’s UK manufacturing headquarters in Coventry, each dumper will be livered with H.E. Services (Plant Hire) Ltd decals and feature added extras to meet precise specifications.

Bobcat and Doosan to star at EHS

Doosan Bobcat is exhibiting on Stand I40 at the 2019 Executive Hire Show in Coventry, England from 6-7 February 2019.

The company will be showing the very popular marketleading Bobcat E10 zero tail swing mini-excavator, now renamed the E10z, which this year has passed the landmark of 10,000 units sold around the world, the majority of which have been in the rental sector.

Alongside the E10z will be the 7/31G+ compressor generator from Doosan Portable Power, which incorporates an 8.6 kVA generator and is aimed at the utilities industry and rental companies serving this sector.

NEW HOLLAND BOOMER RANGE LAWN AND ORDER.

Boomer 25-50 – Big-tractor reliability wrapped in a compact package.

Five models, with power output from 27 to 47hp(CV)

Bobcat and Doosan

Yanmar

Mecalac

Upson Mowers

Woods Batwing mower is second to none

Farmer Willie Anderson has had his Woods BW1800 HD batwing for around eighteen months now and says the performance, reliability and cut quality have been second to none.

Simon Richard UK Agent for the Woods Rotary Cutter range says that the Woods name is synonymous with quality and reliability and we are encountering clients who have had product on the fl eet for many years.

“The range runs from the 42” Economy Spindle cutter for 15hp-30hp tractors to the 21ft Multi-Spindle cutter for 70hp -300hp tractors,” he adds.

Woods aim is to launch all of their product range into Europe and so far this year, joining the Agricultural Rotary Mowers. The Woods fi nishing mowers coming onlineaswellastheirgeardriven rotavators and log splitter.

Simon Richard

SRUC Oatridge students introduced to Pellenc

Landscaping, horticulture and agricultural engineering students at the unique SRUC Oatridge campus in West Lothian near Edinburgh recently participated in an event which gave them the opportunity to learn more about Pellenc’s innovative battery technology and gain some hands

on experience with a wide range of equipment. SRUC College is a bespoke land based industries institution based throughout Scotland which offers a number of courses at all levels from college and university level study, through to postgraduate, consultancy and research opportunities.

Four sessions took place over

two days in which Etesia representatives firstly delivered a theory-based session which offered a greater insight into the Pellenc technology, followed by a practical demonstration. The students were then invited to trial the equipment for themselves.

Etesia

New turf appointment at John Deere Limited

Michael Grey has been appointed the new strategic account manager for turf and other non-agricultural equipment at John Deere Limited, replacing Brian D’Arcy.

Working from the John Deere Limited headquarters at Langar near Nottingham, Michael is now responsible for maintaining existing and developing new relationships with strategic and key account customers throughout the UK and Ireland, with support from the company’s national dealer networks.

Michael Grey studied Agricultural Business Management at Reading University and joined John Deere

in January 2012 as an area aftermarket manager covering Ireland,Wales,theWestMidlands and south-west England.

He was then promoted to territory manager for central and southern England in 2015 before taking up his new role at the beginning of October.

Brian D’Arcy has recently been promoted to the post of product manager for compact & utility tractors in Region 2 (Europe, CIS, North Africa and the Near & Middle East), based at Deere’s European HQ in Mannheim, Germany.

John Deere

New addition to the Can-Am off-road line-up

BRP launched the Can-Am Outlander 6x6 450 T, the latest addition to Can-Am off-road’s 2019 utility vehicle portfolio, at LAMMA 2019.

The 2019 Can-Am Outlander 6x6 450 T has been designed and developed to enable users to be more effi cient when doing the toughest jobs on the farm and have the ability to handle the constantly changing terrains out in the fi eld with ease.

The new Can-Am Outlander 6x6 450Tispoweredbythereliable38 hp single-cylinder, liquid-cooled Rotax 450 engine and comes with industry-leading towing capacity (1,650 lb/750 kg), front and rear racks with cargo extenders, and LinQ accessory attachment points.

Can-Am

www.upsonmowers.co.uk www.skarper.at Tel: 01621 892907

Rapid safety boots to the rescue

Prepare yourself for the cold, wet winter ahead with a pair of Scruffs Rapid safety boots.

The latest addition to the Scruffs collection, these mid-ankle safety boots come equipped with composite toe and midplate for lightweight flexibility and protection from

sole penetration – whatever the weather.

A reliable pair of boots for any time of year, Rapid Safety Boots incorporate Scruffs Dri4Work technology, making them fully waterproof come rain or shine.

Game, set and match for TigerTurf

Burnley Tennis Club may have offered artificial courts to its members since 1998, but the best part of two decades’ play had left the original synthetic playing surfaces struggling to live up to the club’s expected high standards.

In a bid to improve facilities, increase memberships, and offer a much greater consistency of play, the club embarked on an extensive refurbishment programme.

An investigation into some of the best quality surfaces on the market and a series of visits to other local clubs with artifical courts

soon led the club’s volunteers to identify TigerTurf’s Advantage Pro as its preferred surface for the five refurbished courts

As one of the most advanced and durable tennis surfaces on the market, Advantage Pro is made from a unique polymer, designed so it doesn’t shine when wet, or under floodlights. Even after heavy use, the surface retains its shape and structure resulting in high performance, resilience and durability.

TigerTurf

New Pro mowers from STIHL at EHS 2019

STIHL will be attending the Executive Hire Show 2019 to showcase to the plant hire industry a selection of its latest high-performance professional lawn mowers.

The new professional lawn mowers on display, including the RM 756 GC, the RM 655 RS rear roller mower and the RM 4 RTP mulching models,

have been specificallydesigned for use on larger areas and built for maximum durability and comfort for prolonged use.

Visitors to the stand will also be able to see a range of STIHL’s powerful and robust LithiumIon PRO Cordless tools, including the HSA 94 hedge trimmers, ideal for maintenance teams working in urban areas such as schools, hospitals and housing estates.

Visit stand F20 at Executive Hire Show on February 6-7 2019 at The Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

McConnel’s compact Power Arm series combines the benefits of a light, robust design with outstanding manoeuvrability and precision.

Offering a choice of reach from 3.4m to 4.8m and powerful dependent 30hp hydraulics, 30-series Power Arms can be fitted to a wide range of utility vehicles and compact tractors including front or rear mounting.

Available with a choice of proportional control systems and a range of attachments including fine cut rotary heads, multisaws and cutterbars, the machines deliver all the benefits of McConnel’s advanced hedge and verge-cutting technology for compact and low horsepower tractors.

Scruffs Boots

STIHL