Landscape & Amenity Product Update July 2019

Towns and cities are chosen for £11m initiative to save green spaces

A multi-million pound initiative to secure the future of the UK’s urban parks and green spaces has been launched by the National Trust and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with support from the government.

Eight urban areas are joining forces in a pioneering programme designed to find sustainable ways to manage and fund parks and open spaces across entire towns and cities.

All winning bids demonstrated four key themes: making green spaces central to everyday community life; giving the public a bigger role in how they are managed; ensuring they contribute more to the public’s mental and physical health; and transforming the way they are funded to secure their futures.

Hilary McGrady, the National Trust’s Director General, said: “We need to give parks a reboot and start thinking about them as essential elements of our communities in the same way we think about housing or transport.

“What these eight places achieve will help guide how other councils and communities can really make a difference to securing the future of their parks too.”

Ros Kerslake, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s CEO, said our urban parks and green spaces are essential to the health and well-being of the nation and yet in some areas they are facing a very insecure future.

“Future Parks isn’t simply patching-up a few problem parks,” added Ros Kerslake.

“It is enabling local authorities and communities to take a longer-term, strategic approach to managing, funding and maintaining them, so future generations will be able to enjoy their many benefits in hundreds of years from now.

“Developing strategic approaches and championing innovation are key elements of our new fiveyear funding strategy.

New mower puts ISEKI out in front

ISEKI UK & Ireland, distributors of ISEKI compact tractors and mowers are excited to announce the launch of a new out-front mower for the ISEKI range.

The new ISEKI 60” (1525 mm) outfront rotary deck with three blades ensures that no grass is left uncut even when undertaking tight turns.

The cutting height can be adjusted from 25mm to 125mm (1-5”) in 12.5mm (0.5”) increments as required. A mulching kit is available to order if required.

Operators are well catered for with a spacious, comfortable platform, ergonomic controls and excellent visibility.

The steering column is easily adjusted to suit the operator.

• Further details on the launch on page 8.

Future Parks allows us to maximise our resources and to work with key partners to accelerate progress and share learning.”

Alongside the £5m from The National Lottery Heritage

Fund, in February the Government announced it was handing Future Parks £1.2m from an overall £13m dedicated to green spaces.

The

They are:

• Birmingham;

• Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole;

• Bristol;

• Cambridgeshire (county-wide, covering seven council areas); Edinburgh;

• Islington and Camden;

• Nottingham; •

John Deere signs exclusive partnership

Wentworth Club and John Deere Limited have announced a new, exclusive partnership for the supply of golf course maintenance equipment to the world-famous West, East and Edinburgh Championship Courses at Virginia Water in Surrey, from spring 2019.

Wentworth Club has been the host venue since 1984 for the PGA Championship tournament, which is regarded as the flagship event on the European Tour. The 2019 BMW PGA Championship is being held on the West Course from September 19 to 22, with John Deere and its supplying dealer Farol Ltd providing additional technical and equipment support.

The new course maintenance fleet consists of over 140 machines including mowers for tees, surrounds and approaches, fairways, greens and rough,

as well as compact and utility tractors, Gator utility vehicles and the latest state of the art GPS PrecisionSprayers.

“The world of course management and greenkeeping is changing fast and John Deere is at the forefront of these developments,” said Carlos Aragones, John Deere’s Turf & Golf Sales & Marketing Manager for Europe, CIS, North Africa and the Near & Middle East.

“John Deere equipment helps to maintain many of the world’s greatest golf courses, and we are honoured to now include Wentworth Club in that prestigious company. We look forward to building a long and productive partnership with the Wentworth team, and to the Club becoming one of our leading strategic partners in the golf industry across Europe and beyond.”

eight places, covering a population of five million people, were chosen in a UKwide national competition, and selected for their ambitious and creative plans to put green spaces right at the heart of local communities.

Plymouth

ISEKI

John Deere

HLF

The £11m investment programme to breathe much-needed new life into urban parks across eight areas of the UK is long-overdue. The joint National Trust and The National Lottery Heritage Fund programme, which is supported by the government, unlocks significant investment specifically aimed at vitally important parks and green spaces at a time when local authorities are having to prioritise spending. Hopefully the scheme will help kick-start a new wave of funding and investment for all our parks and green spaces.

Crucially, this initiative recognises the key benefits these sites provide to towns, cities and local communities throughout the country – as well as important health and well-being improvements, parks and green spaces do provide a boost to local economies and job opportunities. They also help support the skilled, professional workforce that help maintain such high-quality assets.

This month we have our regular Professional Groundscare, with more good news and innovative product launches to the forefront of this dynamic sector. From the new exclusive partnership between John Deere and Wentworth Golf Club to the launch of Iseki’s new out-front mower, it has been a busy Spring and early Summer period. We also have spotlights on line marking, top dressers and spreaders and weed and pest control in this month’s magazine. Along with the latest urban environment spotlight and news, case studies and product launches from the wider industry, the first half of 2019 has proved a successful six months and the rest of the year looks likely to carry on in a similar vein.

Paul Groves,

CANTER. THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB.

Looking for a rugged, dependable vehicle for your next project? FUSO Canter offers a range of trucks just right for carrying heavy loads without compromising on manoeuvrability.

Small but tough, the Canter 3.5t carries heavy loads and has a compact cab, tight turning circle and great driver visibility, making city and site driving easier and safer. For bigger loads and fewer trips, the Canter 7.5t has an impressive 5t payload and the short wheelbase and compact cab mean you can get into the tightest of spaces. If you’re navigating a site with rough or muddy terrain, the Canter 6.5t 4x4 is the truck for you. More than 3.5t of payload means it can carry all of your building materials in one trip and it’s fuel-saving too, with a simple switch to change between 4x4 and 4x2 mode.

Canter can do loads more. To find out more visit Canter.co.uk

Research finds 2.5 million without a nearby park

Over 2.5 million people across Great Britain are more than ten minutes walk from a park or green space, according to new research from the charity Fields in Trust.

The charity has developed the Green Space Index which, for the first time uses new Ordnance Survey data to comprehensively analyse park and green space provision across Great Britain.

The Green Space Index shows that although Britain has a total of 216,160 hectares of publicly accessible local parks and green spaces (about one and a half times the size of London), less than 6% of this space (smaller than the London Borough of Bromley) is legally protected with Fields in Trust.

With public sector cuts leading to pressure on parks and green spaces, there is the risk that a lack of legal protection could lead to more being sold off or developed.

With previous Fields in Trust research demonstrating clear health and wellbeing benefits from regular use of parks and green spaces, the charity is concerned that a large number of people who don’t have a park or green space nearby could miss out on these benefits.

It is also likely that any future loss of parks and green spaces will disproportionately impact disadvantaged and underrepresented communities.

The charity is highlighting the urgent need to secure and maintain the parks and green spaces we currently have and wants local government and landowners to take steps to legally protect parks and green spaces they own.

The Green Space Index also ranks Britain’s regions and nations against a minimum standard of park and green space provision.

The Index finds that London, Yorkshire & the Humber and the North West and the North East all fall well below the minimum level, with the East Midlands providing exactly the minimum.

England as a whole falls just below the minimum provision but in contrast, Scotland tops the Green Space Index. It both provides more green space per person than any other part of in Great Britain (45.86 square metres per person) and has the most legally protected green space (2,143 hectares).

The average amount of green space per person in Great Britain is just over 35 square metres, less than half the size of a six-yard box on a football pitch.

Angela Lewis, Head of Programmes at Fields in Trust, said: “Parks and green spaces are much-loved by people and provide many benefits to society.

But our new Green Space Index shows, for the first time, that there is insufficient access to parks and green spaces and that far too few are legally protected, leaving those unprotected vulnerable to loss or development. “It is concerning that millions of people across the country find themselves with not a single park or green space within a tenminute walk.

GreenMech proves ‘compact without compromise’ for Castle Trees

A GreenMech Arborist 130 has become a key tool in the armoury of Ryan Evans, Owner of Edinburgh’s Castle Trees. Having left a career in the Army after 23 years, Ryan is embarking on a new venture, with his woodchipper delivering the versatility, manoeuvrability and reliability he needs for aroundtown tree work.

“When I knew I was approaching the end of my army career, I went and worked with another exarmy friend who had established his own tree surgery business - I knew straight away that the physicality and outdoor nature of the work was going to suit me” explains Ryan, who set up Castle Trees last year.

“I used a woodchipper during my time there and was going to invest

in the same brand until I looked around, particularly on some online forums, and saw GreenMech machines often coming out on top.”

Ryan had a demonstration of the Arborist 130 model with GreenMech’s Peter Bagguley where he was instantly impressed with the chipper’s capabilities.

“I couldn’t believe the size of some of the material they were putting in, that it was taking so easily in its stride. Had I not have seen this for myself, I think I would have been cautious processing similar material with a chipper of that size. That performance, combined with the price, meant the Arb 130 met my needs perfectly.”

The back-up service from local dealer Henderson’s was the

final factor to tip the balance for Ryan, taking delivery of his machine in March.

The chipper is now out most days, handling a variety of brash and woody waste from both large and small domestic projects.

“The feed mechanism is great, and the buttons make it very user-friendly. As a small outfit, I can tow the chipper easily with my 4x4 getting in and around

tight roads or restricted accesses without a problem.

“Importantly though, the size of the machine doesn’t come at the detriment of the performance and to this date, it’s had the power to process anything and everything we’ve put through it. It’s truly compact without the compromise.”

It is also worrying that many regions across the country are failing to meet even basic standards of provision.

“These findings show that there is an urgent need to ensure the current level of park and green space provision is maintained and review what more can be done to legally protect them for future generations to enjoy.”

The Green Space Index is the first time that park and green space provision in Great Britain has been comprehensively analysed.

Fields in Trust plan to update the Index on a regular basis, which will allow the charity to track changes in green space provision in the future.

Fields in Trust

Two new Pellenc dealers

Pellenc UK has welcomed Terra Firma and Greenlay to its ever-growing dealership network; both of which will be distributing the full range of Pellenc professional battery powered equipment.

Terra Firma, part of Agrovista UK, is quickly developing into one of Scotland’s largest specialist suppliers to the amenity and local authority markets. The extensive Pellenc product range features an impressive portfolio - from chainsaws, pole saws and hedge cutters to grass strimmers,

brushcutters, blowers and mowers and Allan claims that his mind was instantly made up as soon as he saw the products being demonstrated.

Greenlay, based in Cramlington, Northumberland has been serving both the professional and domestic turf markets since 1971. All Pellenc batteries and tools come with a three-year commercial warranty and are distributed in the UK and Ireland exclusively by Etesia UK.

Etesia UK

GreenMech

API to contribute to parliamentary report

The Association of Play Industries (API) is taking part in a new report into mental health through movement organised by the AllParty Parliamentary Group on a Fit and Healthy Childhood.

‘Positive Mental Health Through Movement’, the 14th report issued by the parliamentary working group of which the API is a member, will be published later this year and feature contributions from leading experts in the field.

“There is mounting evidence of the connection between movement and mental health,” said API Chair Mark Hardy. “Today’s children are the more inactive than ever before, spending the bulk of their leisure time indoors, sedentary and on screens. At the same time, more and more children are experiencing mental health issues.

“We are delighted to be a contributor to this report and to this most important of debates. There is growing recognition that movement plays a vital role in children’s positive mental health and that activity and mental health are inextricably linked.

“The report will collate current thinking and evidence on the topic and, most importantly, it will

provide practical recommendations for policy makers, families and practitioners on how to utilise the connection between movement and mental health.”

Elements of API’s recent research – Nowhere To Play and a Movementfor Movement – will be submitted to the report for inclusion, as well as new API research recently commissioned into children’s behaviours around outdoor play and how they use their free time.

“All our evidence points to the fact that today’s children are increasingly experiencing a strong inducement from screens to stay indoors and be inactive,” said Mark. “At the same time, cuts in public funding mean that there is an alarming and ongoing decline in public playgrounds. More and more children are finding that they have nowhere to play outdoors and that those in disadvantaged areas are disproportionately affected.

“Our hope is that this report will act as a catalyst for policy makers to make the changes needed to foster movement in young people, enabling children to live happy, active and fulfilled lives and remain healthy well into adulthood.”

API

Makita launches new brushless garden machinery

Makita has added to its impressive range of cordless garden machinery, with a new twin 18 Volt Brushless Lawn Mower and three new professional 18V Brushless Hedge Trimmers, including options available with a new optimum blade for ease of use.

The new Brushless Lawn Mower DLM460 is a 36Volt cordless push mower that uses two highly efficient 18 Volt Makita LithiumIon batteries, has a collection box of up to 60 litres and a twotooth blade for both cutting and mulching functionality and has a steel deck for tougher working environments.

The DLM460’s Quiet Mode also means work can be done earlier, causing less disturbance to the surrounding environment, such as residential homes, hospitals, or working offices. There is a single lever for cutting height adjustment and a built-in ball bearing on axles for added durability; and it comes with a removable child lock key as standard.

The new 18 Volt Brushless Hedge Trimmer range includes the latest in Makita’s cordless hedge trimmer offering, and is available in three new models – DUH502, DUH602 and DUH751.

Aimed at the professional contractor, these models have a robust build quality and high output Brushless motors, so don’t be concerned about the range only being 18V as the engineering of these tools ensures they can outperform many higher voltage equivalents.

All are available with double sided blades, variable and constant speed control, and an electric brake. Aiding use further, the models all also have a reverse mode, meaning if the branches are caught in between the blades, it is simple to release.

A helping hand from Perennial

Perennial is here to help anyone who professionally makes or looks after gardens, sports grounds, woodlands and other green spaces.

Their friendly and experienced team can help you and your family when you’re facing overwhelming challenges, an unexpected crisis or life changing event at any stage of your life, including through retirement.

No problem or question is too big, or too small, so don’t let something that’s worrying you become a crisis.

You can receive their help by phone, in your home, online or in your local community, and it’s all free and confidential.

Terrain Aeration visit botanic garden

The Garden has been using Terrain Aeration’s decompaction services since as far back as 2013 and chose the deep aeration treatment for the high-profile area of the Main Lawn in front of the majestic glasshouses.

This year, the Garden’s Main Lawn area was cordoned off, the machine operation creating considerable interest amongst students and visitors, and Terrain Aeration’s Terralift set to work.

The weather was very good and dry, and the ground was worked

easily without the need to use the Terralift’s JCB hammer drill. The machine’s probe is driven down a metre deep and highly compressed air released up to a maximum of 20Bar (280psi) to fracture the soil, opening it up for aeration, drainage and to get oxygen to the roots of the plant.

On the tail end of the air blast, dried seaweed is incorporated which sticks to the walls of the fractures and fissures created by the main air blast. As pressure drops, the seaweed is mixed in the hopper unit where it swirls around with the remaining air and is then released. The seaweed swells in wet weather and keeps the fissures open.

Terrain Aeration

Cambridge University Botanic Garden welcomes 300,000 visitors a year, making it the most visited university botanic garden in the UK.

Perennial

Makita

HUSQVARNA AUTOMOWER®

"It’s great because it means we can keep a consistent cut throughout the week. It also saves us time on a large area, allowing the team to focus on hard to reach and trickier areas. One of the best things is how the micro-clippings fertilise the grass. The quality of the grass has improved massively in a very short space of time".

Steve Lloyd, Course Manager - Worcestershire Golf Club.

For more information and to locate your local Authorised Husqvarna dealer visit: HUSQVARNA.COM/UK

ISEKI launch a game changer with new outfront mower

ISEKI UK & Ireland, distributors of ISEKI compact tractors and mowers are excited to announce the launch of a new out-front mower for the ISEKI range. Superior new features and market positioning offer this as a potential game changer for the brand to explore further avenues.

Managing Director, David Withers explained that the new engine regulations coming into place meant the company wanted to offer the customer a competitively priced out front mower with the same ISEKI renowned quality and reliability alongside a new Stage V compliant 22.5hp diesel engine.

“The New ISEKI SF224 mower offers the most economical way to cut grass commercially with high productivity plus the added benefit of the new 22.5hp engine enabling customers to save on fuel costs and initial purchasing costs of their machinery,” he added.

“Offering a range of decks to suit the various customer sites

and cutting cycles., customers can choose from the tried and tested Wessex, ISEKI and Muthing flail decks, or the new ISEKI outfront rotary deck.

“These options allow the machine to be highly versatile in this competitive market.”

The new ISEKI 60” (1525 mm) outfront rotary deck with three blades ensures that no grass is left uncut even when undertaking tight turns. The cutting height can be adjusted from 25mm to 125mm (15”) in 12.5mm (0.5”) increments as required. A mulching kit is available to order if required.

Product Manager, Richard Tyrrell commented: “When developing the product we studied how people use their mowers, quickly realising storage was a key issue when out cutting for long periods of time.

“People were either bringing trailers with them, another vehicle, additional members of staff or tying containers onto the machines in order to carry strimmers, bin bags and other tools.

With the New SF224 operators can be more effective and productive with their time, taking all the equipment with them in the large storage bed on the back of the mower, keeping items safe with the operator, eliminating the need to keep going back to the van to empty bins or change tools.”

These high-performance out-front mowers are highly productive and manoeuvrable, designed to facilitate grass cutting in difficult areas. The mowers are equipped with easy to use two-pedal hydrostatic transmission and automatic or selectable 4WD.

There is also a lockable differential for use when conditions demand. To ensure efficient engine cooling the radiator is fitted with an automatic reversing fan so preventing the blockage of the grill.

Operators are well catered for with a spacious, comfortable platform, ergonomic controls and excellent visibility. The steering column is easily adjusted to suit the operator.

Routine maintenance and servicing is easily carried out thanks to excellent access to the engine, radiator and service points.

ISEKI

Planting figures woefully short of target

Tree planting statistics show the scale of the challenge in meeting the net zero emissions target Government has committed to, say the Woodland Trust. It will require a three-fold increase in current woodland creation levels, claims the organisation as provisional figures released by the Forestry Commission show that although the amount of new woodland created rose to 13,000 hectares from 9,000 the previous year across the UK, targets have been missed.

In England just 1,420 hectares of woodland was created against the Government aspirational target of 5,000 per year.

The percentage of woodland cover in the UK remains at 13% (10% in England, 15% in Wales, 19% in Scotland and 8% in Northern Ireland).

The Government has committed to act on the Comittee on Climate Change recommendations and legislate for net zero emissions by 2050.

The CCC report called for an increase in UK woodland cover to 17% by 2050. This would require a planting rate of 30,000 hectares a year until 2050.

Woodland Trust director of conservation and external affairs Abi Bunker said:

“Let’s not shy away from the truth. It will be a challenge, it will cost money, it will mean tough choices, but the human race is at a crossroads for our environmental future.

“To avoid climate breakdown we have to act, that’s the reality we live in, tough choices, big challenge, but we can all rise to meet it head on.

“If the framework is in place, meeting the ambition of 17% tree cover is achievable. We stand ready to work with Government to develop innovative approaches to delivery.”

The Woodland Trust continues to play its part. In 2018 the Trust planted, gave away or sold 3,254,048 trees, creating some 1,714 hectares of woodland across the UK.

The Trust also welcomes the £10 million UrbanTree Challenge Fund which was announced last month and will see 130,000 urban trees planted across England’s towns and cities to attempt to increase trees in our towns and cities. Street trees are known to give many additional benefits including reducing pollution.

Woodland Trust

Landscape Institute’s #LI90 Awards open for entries

The Landscape Institute Awards 2019 have opened for entries to celebrate the value of landscape in connecting people, place and nature.

This year is the Landscape Institute’s 90th anniversary. And in a year all about celebrating the transformational power of landscape, #LIAwards2019 aims to be our boldest, most innovative and most inclusive Awards to date.

A Grade II-listed Art Deco building close to the heart of

London is the new venue and the perfect upgrade for the LI’s biggest and best ceremony yet.

In keeping with the #LI90 celebrations of inclusivity and transformation, the organisation is announcing two new open categories this year – one of which will be completely free to enter.

For more information go to awards.landscapeinstitute.org.

Landscape Institute

Dennis & SISIS round-up successful season of seminars

Dennis & SISIS have completed another successful season of insightful seminars which welcomed over 500 attendees at various venues throughout the UK.

Dennis & SISIS have, for a number of years, hosted freeto-attend educational seminars designed to educate groundstaff on a variety of topics associated with sports turf maintenance.

High quality speakers and interesting subjects have

ensured these seminars have a reputation as ‘must-attend’ events with groundstaff travelling considerable distances to be in attendance.

While the seminars continue to go from strength to strength, Dennis and SISIS continue to evolve the seminars with the people of the industry in mind, and this year, the British manufacturers launched a new multi-sport groundcare seminar which featured a number of high quality

speakers discussing subjects such as renovations, sports-turf construction, drainage, winter sports pitches and the future of groundcare maintenance.

As well as hosting their own events, Dennis and SISIS are committed to supporting sports turf education wherever possible and this year they also offered their expertise at eight Rugby Football Union (RFU) Pitch Maintenance seminars.

Dennis & SISIS Enquiry

The newest clothing innovations in the 2019 Snickers Workwear Catalogue

Including market-leading designs and the latest fabric technology innovations from the world’s leading Workwear brand.

This 200-page catalogue has all you need to know about the UK’s most extensive range of working clothes for professional tradesmen and women.

24

There’s something for every trade you can name in the Snickers Workwear range –AllroundWork, RUFFWork, LITEWork and FLEXIWork clothing - Trousers, Jackets, Tool Vests, Shirts, Underwear, Accessories and much more – plus an extensive range of ENcertified PPE working clothes.

Added to which, there’s the most innovative street-smart stretch fabrics for mobile comfort and a Layered Clothing System that ensures you can choose clothes to suit the weather on site – rain or shine, wind or snow.

Snickers

New controller fills gap in residential and commercial irrigation applications

Rain Bird’s new Wi-Fi ready ESP-TM2 irrigation controller has been designed for both residential and commercial applications.

The ESP-TM2 will be attractive to both users and contractors alike. Filling a gap between Rain Bird’s proven ESP-RZX 4/6/8 zone controller and the ESP-ME controller with up to 22 stations, the new ESP-TM2 models are available with four, six, eight and twelve stations.

There are three individual programs for each controller and up to four independent start times for each program in order

to offer users highly flexible irrigation scheduling.

The controller’s large backlit LCD display gives good visibility in low light or bright sun. Quick programming can be undertaken in just three steps for ease of set-up.

The turn dial is easy to navigate and simple to set for automatic and manual irrigation, date/ time, run times and seasonal adjustment which allows easy reduction or increase of watering.

Ronseal woodcare products prove to be up to the mark

The Ronseal Trade Range has now received official endorsement that it does exactly what it says on the tin, becoming the first and only wood care range to receive official BBA stamp of approval.

The Ronseal Trade wood care range, which includes the bestselling 10 Year Woodstain, Ultra Tough Floor Varnish and Crystal Clear Exterior Varnish, was dispatched to the BBA’s test centre in Watford, Hertfordshire, to be put through its paces in exhaustive testing lasting several months.

Every product in the Ronseal Trade range passed with flying colours, gaining the coveted BBA Certification. No other range of woodcare products can boast this achievement from a truly independent test house.

Rain Bird

Ronseal

Battery power vs petrol power

Today’s Lithium-ion batteries have revolutionised the way we work with battery powered tools. Now they can produce the power to equal petrol equipment while producing zero emissions at the point of work. Noise levels are also greatly reduced and the benefits don’t stop there.

Vibration is minimised.

The lower maintenance costs of battery powered motors lead to substantial long-term savings. Safety is improved by removing the need for fuel filling and onsite storage. There’s no tugging away with recoil starts, with batteries you just charge and go.

Instant full power at the push of a button. In many cases one battery will fit a range of tools, interchangeable between a hedgetrimmer, brushcutter, power blower, chainsaw and even a lawn mower.

Lithium-ion is highly efficient and brings longer battery life, quicker charging times and low self-discharge to the table. The power you need is there instantly, consistently and almost silently.

Batteries do need

As professionals

The ClearWater Cup 2019

Green-tech supply materials for woodland creation project

Green-tech has supplied the tree planting materials for the creation of a new woodland on the Conholt Park Estate in Hampshire.

Wessex Woodland Management offers bespoke management and contract services to woodland owners throughout the South of England. They were awarded the contract to create the woodland under the Countryside Stewardship scheme.

This is a scheme to provide farmers, foresters and land managers with a viable, longterm source of income for delivering environmental benefits on their land. This includes the creation of habitats for wildlife, pollinator plots and increased biodiversity.

Planting on the Conholt Park Estate was carried out by Wessex Woodland Management to increase woodland cover on the estate and provide wildlife habitats, link together existing clumps of woodland, enhance the general landscape and to provide game cover for the estate shoot in the long term.

Green-tech supplied in the region of 15,000 Tubex tree shelters and 14 rolls of mesh tree guards to cover the project needs.

The total area planted was 9.31ha, spread across eight compartments with planting density varying from 1100 to 1600 stems per hectare.

The sites were planted with predominantly mixed native

broadleaves, which were protected using 1.5m tall Tubex tree shelters.

A small element of western red cedar and Norway spruce conifers were included and these were protected using 0.75m tall Tubex. Holm oak and woody shrubs were protected by 1.2m tall mesh trees guards.

Wessex Woodland Management included hybrid walnut and wild service trees to enhance the species mix and biodiversity.

The species mix varied and was dependent upon the soil type and exposure.

Green-tech

ACO expands popular MonoDrain range

ACO

MonoDrain is a monolithic general purpose channel drainage system for surface water conveyance and is suitable for the core application of channels drainage in car parks, town centres and commercial developments.

The new MonoDrain PD150D is an expansion to the existing PD100D channel. Made from the same high strength Vienite polymer concrete, the PD150D has an increased bore width of 150mm, allowing for a greater hydraulic capacity across a larger surface area.

Also, it requires fewer drainage runs to manage the water, making the PD150D a solution for larger projects, with the assurances of BS EN 1433:2002 certification and a load class of D400 for general vehicle parking areas. The channels are available in one metre lengths, improving installation speeds, while each unit requires just 100mm of concrete haunching.

This allows for up to 41% less concrete use compared to other monocast channels, and up to 56% versed grated channel equivalents. As a result, specifying the MonoDrain ® system could equate to significant savings over £5.07 per metre*

Bishopswood Golf Club was the venue for this year’s CourseCare Cup held recently when the South Coast Greenkeepers played the Wessex Managers.

The Managers, captained by Burley’s Jane Harfield, prevailed

and enjoyed an emphatic three matches to one win! Congratulations to them and commiserations to the Greenkeepers.

Matthew Mears, General Manager of Acumen’s ClearWater Division presented the ClearWater Cup

to Jane Harfield and the day was rounded off by drinks and a meal for all with thanks given to Acumen for their sponsorship for this popular event.

Acumen ClearWater

ACO Water Management

NEW - NCC Paving Cleaners & Sealers Range

NCC Streetscape has responded to customer requests for a reliable source of paving cleaners and paving sealers.

The company currently has a range of products that includes:

• NCC Green Growths Remover

• NCC Grime RemoverHeavy Duty

• NCC Stone Sealer (clear impregnation, natural finish)

• NCC Stone Sealer & Enhancer (clear impregnating sealer with an enhanced finish)

• NCC ‘Return to Black; Stone Sealer (stable black pigmented, impregnating, matt finish sealer).

Transform outdoor spaces quickly and efficiently with porcelain paver system

The 20mm thick porcelain pavers are also available in larger formats, are highly abrasion and stain resistant and achieve R11 slip resistance – required for outdoor use.

With all it’s features such as height adjustable and slope correcting supports, high load bearing and 45kgs per m2, over 40 finishes available (plus coordinating internal tiles) Levato Mono is the ideal system for balconies, roof terraces and piazzas – residential and commercial use alike.

Key benefits:

• Floating floor’ – installation over single ply membranes

• Eternal product - zero maintenance required, offering massive over-life savings

• Highly abrasion and stain resistant

• Highly slip resistant; R11 and achieved up to +65 wet in the BS pendulum test

• Lightweight – 45kgs per m2 High load bearing and impact resistance

• Timber & stone effects; 50+ finishes available

• Ideal for balconies, roof terraces and piazzas, for both commercial and residential use

• Completely non porous

• Frost proof

• Height adjustable/slope correcting supports to raise surface from 9mm up to 550mm

Co-ordinating internal tiling for seamless visual transition between indoor outdoor.

Green-tech supply substrate for roof terrace installed for

Green-tree’s intensive roof garden substrate has been installed in a large-scale roof garden for a Barratt development in West Hendon. Green-tech was called in by Kingston Landscape Group who specialise in commercial landscape installations and grounds maintenance across London. They are well known and respected for their stunning roof top gardens within some of the London’s most admired developments.

Green-tree Roof Garden intensive substrate was recommended and supplied for the roof top planted areas along with a containerised planting scheme. The substrate is a blend of lightweight aggregate and award-winning Green-tree topsoil. It was ideal for this project due to its lightweight texture and good water-holding capacity which ensures healthy plant establishment in harsh rooftop environments.

Barratt London

Tom Beck, Commercial Manager from Kingston Landscape Group said: “We have worked with Greentech for a number of years, and particularly like using their Greentree Roof Garden Intensive topsoil.

“It’s lightweight and its properties are ideal for growing in rooftop planters. Their production process and haulage service is very professional and well organised. I have no hesitation in recommending this company and their product on any job.”

Green-tech’s spokesperson said: “Green-tree Green Roof Substrates are successfully used in roof garden and containerised planting projects because of their lightweight nature, good levels of fertility and excellent aeration properties.

“We offer a consistent, allyear round supply and it can be found in numerous high-profile projects across the country.”

Green-tech

Chemical free weed removal

Weeds are always in season and areas including kerbs, paths, car parks and athletic facilities must be cleared of this unwelcomed growth several times a year.

PSD Groundscare offer a range of weed strippers and brushes that offer the ideal solution to this

the debris that they thrive in, making regular maintenance simple and effective.

The new AS30 E-Weedhex 82V with lithium battery is ideal for use in noise sensitive areas and it also offers low vibration and operates without exhaust fumes.

CWC launch new website to address glyphosate misconception

In light of increasing public scrutiny over glyphosate, Complete Weed Control (CWC) is pleased to announce the launch of their online glyphosate resource: www.glyphosateinfo.co.uk. The website is but one facet of CWC’s ongoing campaign to address the misinformation and fear mongering that is pervading the industry.

The layout is that of a ‘FAQ’ (Frequently Asked Questions) library containing useful information such as which qualifications are required to use glyphosate professionally; what PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is necessary and how soon after application people and animals can use the treated area.

Designed with a gamut of stakeholders in mind including members of the public, local authorities and industry operatives, there is also a wealth of information available through the “Resources” section: from links to related articles from the European Food Safety Authority, to operative-oriented advice on tender specification, complaint handling and application advice.

The concept was brought about following CWC’s successful “Glyphosate Roadshows” - staged in numerous venues throughout the UK – having been attended by over 150 local authority delegates from across the country.

Speaking at the seminar, Complete Weed Control’s managing director, Ian Graham, said: “There has been a considerable and sustained volume of frankly unsubstantiated bad press and much negativity surrounding this product – so we felt it was essential that we explore the reality and present the data that exists from numerous agencies around the world that have all declared this product to be safe.”

Indeed, this data is now readily available through the website and its primary function is to act as a uniform point of reference for common questions posed by members of the public to spray operatives. All Complete Weed Control employees will now be

equipped with a wallet-sized card that displays both a text URL and QR code that leads the enquirer to the FAQ.

To view the new glyphosate website please visit www.glyphosateinfo.co.uk

Complete Weed Control

Whether you’re looking to tackle overgrow bushes and fields, needing to clear meadows or cut pathways quickly and easily, landowners and farmers will find the Billy Goat brushcutters are the answer.

With a choice of five machines in the range, these heavy-duty machines dramatically improve productivity and profitability, as they cut away and clear shrubbery effortlessly.

The BC2600HH and BC2600HEBH, have a 26”/ 66 cm wide pivoting deck with higher tip speed for improved speed and cut quality, no job is too tough. Engineered to glide over uneven terrain, the pivoting brush deck hugs the ground for a better cut. This minimises scalping and improves traction by keeping the weight of the machine on its drive wheels.

The next machine in the line, the BC2600HHEU, the great features of the BC Series with

pivoting deck and variable Tuff Torq hydrostatic transmission but it has lockable front caster wheels to help hold its position on hillsides.

Finally, the BC2600HM and BC2600ICM, complete the range offering a 26”/ 66 cm wide fixed deck. This commercial-duty brush cutter mower provides excellent stability in deep vegetation and the mechanical transaxle, featuring three speeds forward and one reverse, is ideal for clearing meadows and fields or cutting paths and trails wherever dense brush and weeds present a clean-up challenge.

Henton & Chattel

Churchill College awards top marks to Multevo’s Waterkracht

Churchill College, Cambridge has made the moral move over to a hot water weed control system. Switching from harsh chemicals to 100% hot water means they can kill weeds while protecting the environment around them.

John Moore, Head of Grounds and Gardens said: “We wanted a more natural approach to our weed control, the chemical based options have an impact on people and wildlife and that just doesn’t sit well with us as a college.”

Multevo recommended using the Waterkracht hot water weed control system. It is efficient, effective and ecological. It delivers hot water at a low pressure consistently at 98 degrees, successfully destroying the cellular structure of the target plant.

“We have always avoided using chemicals in some locations; children’s play areas for example,” added John. “We can now use the hot water weed control system there because we know it’s safe.

“An area that would have taken us a month to hand weed now takes a week. This has meant that these areas are being treated more often, creating a better standard of ground maintenance.”

Multevo’s Waterkracht hot water weed control system can be used all year and in all weathers, a valuable selling point for Churchill College. After considering both a foam based and electric based option, it was the versatility of Multevo’s Waterkracht system that impressed them the most.

The ability to choose from a selection of tank sizes also meant they were able to purchase the maximum tank volume for their specific site.

The health and safety impact on staff was also a key consideration, the fact that the

operators only needed to wear safety gloves means that even in high temperatures they can still work, eliminating chemicals means no full body suit. Multevo specialises in delivering innovate answers to industry problems.

Multevo

Green-tech’s successful chemical training workshop moves to Scotland

New residual herbicide brings resistance management benefits to the UK

Bayer has brought a new residual pre-emergence herbicide to the UK market, adding another product to the amenity contractor’s armoury.

Lewis Blois, Bayer national account manager, says Valdor Flex (MAPP:19033) contains a unique new formulation.

“The pre-emergence herbicide contains two active ingredients, that prevent the emergence of a broad spectrum of weeds for up to four months, reducing the frequency of traditional herbicide applications. The product provides excellent residual control for even the hardest to manage weeds on a wide range of surfaces, including open soil, gravel and industrial areas.”

“The herbicide provides good control of numerous weeds, while the two active ingredients, diflufenican and iodosulfuronmethyl-sodium, help to minimise the risk of resistance with two different modes of action.”

“Valdor Flex can be used as a stand-alone application on bare ground before weed emergence. But if weeds are present it can be mixed with glyphosate, which provides the initial knockdown, while Valdor Flex will provide residual control preventing subsequent weeds emerging for up to four months.”

Lewis says the correct amount of product should be mixed to cover

“It’s easy to mix in a knapsack or tractor mounted sprayer with very little dust given off, providing improved operator safety,” he says. “Valdor Flex is also available in a range of pack sizes. The 10g sachets are the ideal dose to be mixed in a knapsack sprayer with 10 litres of water. However, for contractors requiring larger quantities, the 500g bottle may be more cost effective to use in a tractor mounted sprayer.

“We’re always working hard to bring new innovative formulations and sustainable solutions to the amenity sector, and the launch of this product will help contractors continue to manage weeds at a time when many products are being lost

“Valdor Flex stood out for us due to the long-lasting residual control and its low risk of resistance. In practice these features impressed with great results. Herbicide resistance is an increasing issue for the amenity sector, so the fact that new products are coming to the market is certainly a positive, helping us to complete

Green-tech’s Chemical Workshop – Training the Trainer; held recently at Capel Manor College in London. was well attended and regarded as a great success by the delegates who attended.

Training and workshops were delivered throughout the event from industry- leading guest speakers including Advanced Invasives, Amenity Forum, Bayer, Belchim, ICL and JSD Rail.

Subjects covered included the future for weed, pest and disease management in the amenity sector; getting the best out of your selective herbicides; Japanese knotweed control, sprayer calibration, nozzle selection, choosing the correct chemical for the application, the future

of glyphosate and alternative options; policy changes and updates to license requirements.

Green-tech ran this as a free event which included lunch and received in excess of 40 delegates who were able to network with like-minded peers in the industry.

Delegates collected BASIS Professional Register points for the sessions they attended.

Sales Director Richard Gill commented: “This is our third Chemical Workshop – Training the Trainer and we have been staggered by the positive response. I am grateful to our industry partners for sharing their wisdom, experience and advice with us.

Green-Tech

The GMB union has revealed the significant impact of 10 years of local authority budget cuts have caused for grassroots and schools football in the UK.

Data released under the Freedom of Information Act reveals that more than 700 council football pitches have been lost since 2010.

The figures show that there were 710 fewer local-authority owned or operated football pitches in the financial year 2017/18 than there were in 2009/10 – before the Conservatives’ austerity project began.

The worst-hit region was the north-west, which lost 164 pitches during that period.

Other heavily affected regions included Yorkshire, which lost 76, London which lost 54 and the West Midlands, which lost 84. Scotland lost 129 pitches and Wales 82.

Much of the land is being sold to property developers. The sell-off is in addition to land disposed of by schools.

Earlier researchby the GMB revealed some 215 school pitches had been sold since 2010, similar to the number sold under Labour.

In 2009 Jeremy Hunt, then shadow culture, media and sport secretary, criticised Labour for overseeing a period when 200 pitches were lost.

“Losing these council pitches shows what the government’s slash-and-burn approach to local government means in reality,” said Tim Roache, general secretary of the GMB union, which obtained the figures before its annual congress next Sunday 9 June.

“Councils have had their funding cut in half since 2010 – they’re struggling to fund the basics and keep the show on the road.”

BBC’s Dan Walker to host 2019 IOG Industry Awards

Tickets are now available for this year’s Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) Industry Awards, so book now to secure your place at the industry’s biggest celebratory event - hosted by the BBC’s Dan Walker on Wednesday October 30 at The Vox, located in Resorts World at the Birmingham NEC, on the evening of the first day of the SALTEX exhibition.

The awards – now in their 11th year - have continually grown in status for acknowledging the achievements of volunteer and professional grounds teams, as well as community clubs and national stadia.

They recognise the passion, dedication and challenges faced by grounds staff at clubs of every size and from all corners of the UK.

BBC sports presenter and BBC Breakfast anchor Dan Walker will bring a new dimension to this year’s event as the 20 award categories are presented.

• To secure your seat – which cost £95 each for IOG members and £190 each for non-membersplease contact the IOG by email (awards@iog.org) or call 01908 312 511 where you can also gain details of how to become an IOG member.

IOG

In addition to raising money from the sale of the land, councils save cash by no longer having to maintain the pitches. But as the sales continue there are concerns that they are becoming a factor in Britain’s mounting obesity crisis.

“Council-owned football pitches are a cherished local service and we have long made the case for the importance of leisure facilities and outdoor spaces for people’s health and wellbeing,” said councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, chair of the Local Government Association’s culture, tourism and sport board.

“In the face of the current childhood obesity epidemic, football pitches are a key resource.

We know pitches are enjoyed by children and young people across the country, and sit at the heart of local communities. Since 2010, councils have lost 60p out of every £1 they had from central government to spend on services.

At the same time, pressures are growing in children’s services, adult social care, and efforts to tackle homelessness. This is leaving increasingly less money for councils to fund other services, like sports and leisure facilities.”

GMB

Annual research open days launched by STRI

STRI Group has announced that its annual research open days will take place on 25 and 26 September 2019.

The event, which takes place at STRI’s UK research and development facility in Bingley, West Yorkshire, offers an opportunity for sport facility managers, owners, groundstaff and greenkeepers to learn about and discuss the development of the latest products and technology for the sportsturf industry.

Dr Christian Spring, research operations manager, said: “STRI Research Days are an excellent way to gain insight into the latest developments and thinking on

tackling current and future turf management issues.

“STRI Research Days offer turf managers a unique opportunity to network with, not only fellow turf managers, but to view and discuss the latest developments in turf maintenance with turfgrass scientists and industry professionals.

“This is reflected in feedback from previous events, where those attending have valued learning about what is new and upcoming in our industry and to have an opportunity to discuss these ideas.”

STRI UK

Turf Maintenance

Jane Carley on staying green this summer

Imants ShockWave the best solution for club’s drainage

Kyles Athletic Shinty Club has turned to the Imants ShockWave 100 from Campey Turf Care Systems to solve their drainage problems.

The Imants ShockWave is the perfect solution for Kyles

Athletic because it is designed to decompact heavy wear areas by relieving soil compaction using 12mm thick knives.

This makes it the ideal aerator on fields that have stone near the surface because the blades won’t

break and cause further damage to the machine. While the main aim of purchasing the machines was to eliminate the drainage issue, the club also wanted to be able to plan maintenance. In the past, the club relied on borrowing equipment from others, but now

they own their machines it feels able to raise the standards with plans already in place to hire the machinery out to provide income for the club.

Campey Turf Care Systems

Leigh Sports Village expands Dennis fleet

Keith Porter, head groundsman at Leigh Sports Village in Greater Manchester, has added to his fleet of Dennis mowers by purchasing four G860 cylinder mowers and four PRO 34R rotary mowers.

Leigh Sports Village certainly lives up to its name by comprising of a main stadium pitch - a Desso Hybrid GrassMaster, three additional soil based sand ameliorated pitches with primary and secondary drainage and irrigation; and two full size, three seven-a-side and a 5-a-side floodlit 4G synthetic pitches.

The village also features an indoor sports centre and a swimming pool.

Keith felt the time was right to add to his Dennis armoury. “We had a PRO 34R on a demonstration and were really

impressed with it so we decided to go ahead and purchase four,” he said. “It was also the ideal opportunity to bring in more G860’s because they have always given us great results.

“They are both light machines compared to competitors, so they are lighter on the pitch and therefore there is not as much compaction.”

The new Dennis PRO 34R is a 34” (860mm) rotary mower which has been designed to help groundsmen achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance and desired playing surface.

It is ideal for sports pitches and lawns producing the enviable ‘Dennis Stripes’ while a powerful vacuum flow collects debris quickly and efficiently.

Dennis

Galashiels have become another bowling club to join a growing list of those to purchase a Cub Cadet INFINICUT ®mower.

This time a 22” floating head version, and club Vice President and Green Ranger Steve Currie is delighted with the switch as it has already made significant improvements to green quality – not to mention reductions in noise and fuel cost.

Having taken over as Green Ranger two years ago without a greenkeeping background, Steve

has turned to industry contacts and nearby clubs for advice –which is where he first heard about the INFINICUT.

“We looked at all the usual petrol-powered models when Martin at Pro Turfcare, our green contractors, suggested we looked at the INFINICUT,” said Steve.

“He and our friends at Largs Bowling Club use the INFINICUT® and have both been seriously impressed.”

MTD

Multiple plus points for Toro’s Reels+ and EdgeSeries Reels+REELS+

Dedicated to bringing you more, Reesink Turfcare has extended its Toro Parts range with Toro Reels+ and EdgeSeries Reels+, and with this introduction comes multiple plus points for machinery maintenance.

With Toro Reels+ and EdgeSeries Reels+, everything you need for replacing your cylinders is included and comes pre-assembled. You get the cylinder plus all the necessary bearings, flock seals and spacers, plus the benefit of having all the parts professionally assembled at the factory.

This means that all the bearings are already pressed on with the required low-drag flock seals and spacers. Therefore there’s no need to install all the parts separately which results in a huge reduction in assembly time.

With the integration of the cylinder and all its components, the guesswork for technicians is removed, ensuring the recommended bearings are utilised which increases the product life of your cutting units.

Less time on maintenance, and a longer life span means there’s

more time to focus on providing the best turf care possible.

Using Toro Reels+ and EdgeSeries Reels+ reduces installation time by approximately 15-20 minutes per cylinder which brings yet another plus point – less time and labour means your mowers are back in action faster, saving money and resources.

Plus, using genuine Toro parts means you’ll always maintain Toro’s legendary quality of cut.

Reesink Turfcare

The Hayter Harrier Prothe mower for professionals

The New Harrier 48 and 56 Pro models were designed with landscape professionals in mind, and this summer we want everyone to get the most out of their machines.

The new models are designed to be robust and flexible to help users tackle a variety of turf with ease.

The brand new aluminium cutter deck is extremely strong and durable, with an impressive resistance to corrosion, helpful for professionals looking to keep their mowers for the long term.

With the first-ever Crank-Safe BBC System installed on some models*, landscape professionals benefit from the convenience

that comes with a BBC system, as well as the reassurance of a lifetime warranty against the engine crankshaft bending.

• (*Only on model number Code479A and Code579A.)

Hayter

Rigby Taylor’s R9 overseeding success at golf club

After seeing the results of Rigby Taylor’s R9 ultra fine dwarf rye grass on the STRI trial plots, head greenkeeper Colin Hopper knew that the perennial ryegrass mix would be ideal for overseeding his 18hole Elsham Golf Club course.

The fairways at the Brigg, north Lincolnshire course were looking the worse for wear following the record-breaking hot summer of 2018.

“But I knew that if I could repeat the impressive germination and coverage performance of R9 that I had seen – I couldn’t believe how well it looked - I knew the ideal solution would have been found and the fairways would be brought back to their best,” says Colin.

Indeed, such was the success of the initial overseeding, with germination at just 7 to 10 days, that he repeated the process

a month later with equally impressive results.

“Despite the fact that the second overseeding was very late in the season – around the last week in October – the R9 still performed excellently with fast germination and great coverage,” he adds.

The result was that the busy all-year-round course was back to its best in no time, enabling members and visitors to enjoy an 18-hole course. Indeed, this year (in June) Elsham Golf Club for the first time hosted the English Senior Men’s Open Amateur Championship.

The greens were cut to 3 mm for this competition, compared to the usual 3.5 mm, while the fairways are usually held at 14 mm; semi or first cut at 26 mm and rough at 63 mm.

Rigby Taylor

High performance from Honda

The HF 2417 HME is packed with features including a Honda V-twin engine, which is reliable and high performing.

A decompressor provides easy start and restart, and it’s currently one of the most fuel efficient engines on the market.

The cast iron cylinder sleeve and high capacity air filter ensure a long lifetime, while a hydrostatic drive gives greater accuracy and stepless speed control.

The synchronous blade cut system means both blades have an overlapping cutting area to create accurate mowing, avoiding any uncut areas when turning. A synchronized blade belt system results in contact cutting performance to avoid uncut areas even when turning, resulting in optimised grass collecting.

The model contains Honda’s Versamow selective mulching

system, and with a single lever the system will either collect the grass cuttings into the bag or finely shred and blow them down into the lawn, creating a natural fertiliser.

Additionally, the Optiflow feature improves airflow between the cutter deck and the high airflow grass bag, improving collecting performance.

Honda’s R&D team developed

•

Harry West (Prees) Ltd

Optiflow to combine powerful suction with controlled, low turbulence airflow to reduce power loss, noise and grass accumulation.

The Roto-Stop blade stopper system allows blades to be stopped quickly and safely without having to turn the engine off.

Honda

Stay green all summer

While the only predictable characteristic of the British weather is its unpredictability, long dry spells are becoming increasingly common and present the groundsman with the tricky challenge of maintaining a safe, good quality playing surface on dried out ground and encouraging grass to keep on growing at the busiest time of year.

Turf machinery specialists recommend a combination of good preparation and effective remedial action to take advantage of any breaks in the weather.

Being able to ride-out any prolonged period of warm weather comes down to the preparation of a surface, explains Nick Darking of Charterhouse Turf Machinery.

“It’s always difficult to see a sports facility struggling to maintain adequate cover when we experience a hot spell such as the summer of 2018, and for many, recovery from this is still ongoing. When we are in the midst of hot weather, attempting to conduct too many mechanical processes over a surface risks doing more damage than good.

“The key is to try and enter those periods with your pitch as strong as possible, which comes down to work that has taken place in the preceding months.”

He suggests that using a VertiDrain to a depth of 30-35cm during any relatively dry periods in the winter months will help to keep surfaces playable, draining and free from puddling.

When followed up with further verti-draining through the spring when growth begins, it will encourage a deeperrooting, stronger plant that is better able to withstand more challenging conditions.

“Linear aeration provided by the Redexim Verti-Quake is another option,” Nick adds.

“The rotary motion, combined with the forward speed, sets up a wave action which helps to decompact a surface and encourage deep rooting.

“However, this should again be conducted before any prolonged warm conditions as slit lines can shrink and open up if the ground is too dry.

“Where grass coverage is comprised, the recovery

programme involves scarification to remove dead organic material, followed up with effective recovery overseeding.

Using the Verti-Drain again to produce an aerated rootzone, in conjunction with a scarifier/verticut unit such as the Redexim Verti-Cut 1300 will improve establishment, he advises.

“Charterhouse definitely observed a surge in the demand for overseeders, following the dry weather last summer as groundsmen attempted to regain turf cover ahead of the winter season.

In these situations, where high germination is the number one priority, disc seeders. such as the Redexim Overseeder should be the tool of choice.

“The discs open up the turf and accurately deposit the seed into the furrow created, improving the seed to soil contact.”

Campey Turfcare also saw a marked increase in demand for overseeders to replace grass which had been lost.However, effective remedial action is down to more than just seeding, says Richard Campey.

“If you want to effectively revitalise heavy wear areas in drought conditions, then you will have to aerate effectively first,” he advises.

“Being able to aerate without shutting pitches has become increasingly important to so the Air2G2 Air Inject, which provides industry-leading aeration with no disruption or the Campey Imants ShockWave linear aerator are ideal choices.”

He stresses that choosing the right seeder is key.

“Minimise wastage by choosing the seeder which places the seed directly into the soil to give the highest seed into plant conversion rates.”

After a long, cold spring, summer weather brings a welcome boost to sports facilities, but provides a challenge for groundsmen. Jane Carley looks at way to keep pitches green and pristine in the heat.

Dennis G860

CampeyTurf Care Systems

“Look for precise seeding depths with an easy depth adjuster to main good playability with a stable of the soil structure.

“Precision planting will give you the flexibility of shallow planting ‘light-germinating seed’ such as Bent grass, Agrostis, Poa pratensis and deeper depth planting for ‘temperature-germinating seed’ such as English Ryegrass.

“Choose the lightest seeder with a disc system to minimise compaction on the field and allow smaller tractors to be used while still achieving a good working width,” he says. “This is especially important for greens.”

The double disc seeder comes into its own on hard, compacted ground, points out Richard.

“Vredo double disc seeders were developed during drought conditions in the Netherlands, with the principle of not wasting seed by making sure it is placed at the correct depth in the root zone.”

Wastage is minimised because the seed is placed directly into the soil using high-quality self-sharpening baron steel discs to cut through dry and compacted surfaces, giving a 97% germination rate.

Placing the seed where it needs to be in the soil profile prevents it from being dried out by the sun or eaten by wildlife and allows grassed surfaces to be mown with the seed perfectly placed within the slit.

The user is able to determine the amount of seed with the help of the spindle and seed chart, which

Simple aeration

includes with the most common types of grass and mixtures.

Seed is regulated precisely through the cam wheel and the bottom flap, from the hopper to the ground.

These machines are widely used in football, golf, rugby, horse racing, and on country estates and campsites, comments Richard.

“The main reason for this is the close 7.5cm spacing of the Compact Series and the even closer spacing of 3.5cm of the Super Compact Series.

“With the slits created by the machine so close together, it is easy to continue play promptly after seeding, which an important factor at most sporting facilities.”

Vredo seeders are available in a range of working widths,

Case study

Keeping pitches hydrated is the best way to combat the effects of a long dry spell suggests SCH Supplies, which specialises in custom built watering units.

An example of one of their larger custom builds is the WG06, which features two 1,800 litre capacity tanks on a twin axle chassis.

break-back boom, which sprays water over a large width.

“This waterer was designed to dampen dirt tracks and horse arenas to keep dust at bay; however, it would be an ideal waterer in the harsh summer heat for large fields and pitches,” suggests SCH’s Sam Elliss.

Another unconventional watering unit is the SCH Irrigation Unit (IGU), with a Honda engine powered pump suitable for static water sources such as a pond or lake.

The IGU can be used to spray water over grassed areas, and could be attached to a sprinkler system to cover vast areas with minimal effort.

The unit comes with a hose reel, which will accommodate 80m of 1in hose or 120m of 3/4in hose. It is a great match with a towed or mounted water tank, says SCH.

A powerful centrifugal engine is used to pump water through a

The two-inch pump can deliver up to 495 litres per minute.

SCH products are designed and manufactured in Britain, so the company can also customise the build to meet niche requirements e.g. a waterer designed to fit on a specific ATV/UTV.

with the Compact Series ranging from 1m-2.2m and the Super Compact going from 0.8m-2.20m.

For golf greens, cricket squares or football pitches, the Eliet DZC 600 pedestrian Overseeder from PSD Groundscare can renovate quickly and guarantees a visible result in less than a month.

Cutting blades at the front of the machine cut open 10 to 15mm deep grooves in the soil in preparation for the grass seed, casting the soil in an arch to the rear of the machine so that it does not fall into the newly cut grooves.

The Helix Seed Duct distribution system carries the seed into small funnels leading to discharge channels precisely located above the clean grooves.

A small air pressure generator blows air through the seed funnels so the seed is blown while it is being distributed, helping it to settle faster and with more precision in the grooves.

Behind, the powered rubber roller ensures that there is good contact between the soil and the seeds by pressing the earth down.

Projected excess earth falls just behind the roller covering the seedbed and provides a protective layer for the seed. Flash flooding is the nightmare of any summer sport groundsman.

Terrain Aeration’s specialist area is one metre deep penetration aeration to relieve compaction using a hydraulic blast of air to fracture the soil on sports surfaces that have become compacted and prone to standing water after dry conditions followed by heavy rain.

By creating fissures which are then filled with dried seaweed to maintain the aeration and helps get water deeper, the grass roots push to a greater depth, thus extensively improving the top growth.

Where the pitch is draining but top growth is poor in very dry conditions, the process can be used to promote growth in the same way, particularly if the pitch is watered.

The action of normal aeration, use of machines and foot traffic over time can leave areas compacted and panning occurs, causing poor drainage and depriving grass roots of oxygen and nutrients.

The Terrain Aeration Terralift machine not only solves the immediate compaction problem, the process has a beneficial effect that lasts many years, says the company.

The robust chassis features lights, brakes, and jack legs for stability when not attached to the towing vehicle.

The Terralift hammers a hollow probe one metre into the soil using a JCB road breaker gun. Once the probe has reached one metre depth, compressed air is released up to a maximum of 20Bar (280psi).

The probe is withdrawn and the process repeated using two metre centre spacings on a staggered grid pattern - this means that each shot interconnects with the previous ones.

On the tail end of the air blast, dried seaweed is injected which sticks to the walls of the fractures and fissures and, over time, expands and contracts with the moisture content in the soil - similar to ‘breathing’ underground.

The 3cm probe holes created by the Terralift machine are backfilled with aggregate to provide a semi-permanent aeration/ventilation shaft, helping to keep the whole aeration process working.

The top 2cm should be topped with the usual top dressing to encourage grass growth over the probe holes.

Get your turf redeemed

Headland Amenity’s popular selective turf herbicide, Redeem has gained registration renewal and is again available to greenkeepers and groundsmen alike.

Redeem’s powerful triple active formulation controls a broad range of turf weeds and can be used on golf fairways, tees, sports pitches, lawns and other amenity grass areas. Containing Clopyralid, 2,4-D and MCPA, Redeem is effective against many common weeds including Daisy, Clover and Plantains.

Control is achieved at low application rates – up to half the rate of many competitor products –ensuring a lower amount of active ingredient is required for efficient control. Redeem is packed in 3L

containers and each pack will treat 1 Hectare (3L/Ha application rate). Grass areas can then be re-seeded as early as 6 weeks after application. Importantly, Redeem can be applied using knapsack sprayers as well as boom mounted equipment.

Redeem is an ideal product to use as a tank-mix partner with Elevate Fe and Xtend Soluble, to provide selective weed control alongside long-lasting iron and nitrogen application. Many liquid-applied iron products are unable to successfully mix with herbicides, but Elevate Fe is a unique, costeffective, formulation for use on outfield turf.

XTEND Soluble 46-0-0 contains two slow release components in combination with soluble, micro-

prilled urea, to form a stabilised nitrogen, slow release fertiliser. Loss of nitrogen by volatilisation and leaching is controlled by NBPT and DCD respectively and release takes place over two to three months, from one application, with excellent turf safety.

Headland Amenity

New amenity supplies and service business for North West England

and Wales

This comprehensive range of amenity products is supported by a dedicated team of experienced amenity professionals, with individuals based in Cheshire, Wrexham, Denbighshire and Monmouthshire.

attention to understanding a customer’s requirements and providing appropriate advice and timely supplies.”

Spunhill Amenity

Spunhill Amenity’s portfolio includes: LG Seeds and Momersteeg seed mixtures; the company’s own Marcher brand of fertilisers and ICL fertilisers; plant protection products from Monsanto, Nufarm, Belchim and FMC; Aquatrols wetters; linemarking paints and machinery; Bathgate composts, top dressings and soil enhancers.

ROBUST, PERFORMS ON DIFFICULT TERRAIN.

Siôn Price, Spunhill Amenity business manager explains: “Between us, we have gained experience and expertise through working for Monsanto, BASF, Barenbrug, ICL, and Nomix. Our team also has hands-on green-keeping and golf course construction experience.

“As local area specialists, everyone can give their personal

rotary mowers, the flail mowing unit returns tiny particles of grass back to the soil as natural fertiliser.

The AS 1040 YAK 4WD’s newly developed 100 cm wide flail mowing unit is a superior alternative to the conventional rotary mowing unit.

Groundsmen, amenity contractors and local authorities in the North West of England and Wales now have a new source of amenity supplies and technical support following the launch of Spunhill Amenity, a business division of Spunhill Ltd.

Terrain Aeration

Essential turf maintenance with the Campey Uni-Scratch

Campey Turf Care Systems’ latest innovation, the Campey UniScratch, is the ideal solution for those looking for a professional and effective maintenance of natural and synthetic grass surface.

The Campey Uni-Scratch can be used for organic matter removal on natural grass hybrid carpet pitches when carrying out annual renovations.

idverde UK who manage a growing portfolio of sports pitches and facilities on behalf of several local authorities, is the first

company in the United Kingdom to purchase the Uni-Scratch.

Operations manager, Steve Tingley, explains: “We install and maintain a lot of hybrid carpet surfaces and we are always looking at new machines and how they can improve our operation. We bought the UniScratch specifically to speed up and improve our maintenance procedure and it has met the aims we had for it.”

Campey Turf Care Systems

Toro Grandstand stand-on mower with rear discharge

Groundscare

The INFINICUT® line of all electric precision mowers was designed to be user-adjustable to match the conditions of any given day. From the dynamic return floating head mechanism to the variable clip speed, height of cut adjustment and moveable bedknife the INFINICUT® provides more functionality than any other pitch mower. Combine that with today’s highly technical approach to pitch construction and unpredictable microclimates, the INFINICUT® ensures a healthy turf while providing an unrivalled quality of cut.

Introducing a new Fixed Head option

Engineered for flat surfaces, the new fixed head mower provides the same cut quality without sacrificing precision, all at an unmatched value.

Toro’s Grandstand was developed with landscape professionals in mind, offering a compact, operator-first mower which combines the benefits of a ride-on and professional walk-behind mower.

Its fold-up operator platform provides maximum versatility, allowing the Grandstand to be converted to a walk-behind when operating on sloped terrain, or to save room in workshops or during transport.

professionals will also enjoy the cushioned suspension system, reardischarge deck, and twin-levered, easy-to-operate steering controls Available in 36” and 48” cutting widths,

both models boast a range of accessories including the RearRoller Striping Kit and Recycler Kit, which turns grass clippings into a fine nutrient rich mulch.

Toro

Classen – sod cutting made easy

The Classen PRO HSC18

Hydro-Drive Sod Cutters are built with the professional in mind, with quality components and innovative, labour-saving features; and designed to make the most novice user feel like a pro, with user-friendly controls and quick-view how-to panel.

If you’re a professional, you’ll be able to perform serious lawn care services, get the job done quicker and make serious money with our equipment.

If you’re a first-time equipment user, you’ll find that we’ve made it easy for you to achieve professional results.

Whether you are repositioning or relocating sod or expanding landscaping areas – the hydrostatic drive delivers high productivity with smooth power in both forward and reverse and the industry’s fastest transport speed at 4.7mph.

Simple operation comes from the integrated throttle/clutch control on the handle; releasing the handle puts the machine into idle and operator comfort comes from the advanced vibration dampening system, even with extended run times.

The short unit length and integrated rear swivel wheel make the PRO sod cutter the most compact and manoeuvrable in the industry. Knobby tread drive wheels ensure far better traction and reduce dirt build up.

The centre-mounted blade ensures a more consistent cutting depth and the cutting blade makes 20 cutting strokes per second of 1-3/8” which is 50% longer than competitive models, this results in more work being completed in less time.

David Dixons confirmed as Etesia dealer

David Dixons has been appointed as a new Etesia dealer and will be distributing Etesia’s complete product range throughout the North East of England.

Based in Hexham, Northumberland, David Dixons have been suppliers, service engineers and advisers to the arboriculture and horticulture

industries in the North East of England for over 37 years.

The company will now be supplying the complete range of Etesia ride-on mowers, scarifiers, brushcutters, green technology and pedestrian mowers, and Julian Weightman - dealer principal at David Dixons is delighted with the announcement.

Specialists in manufacturing high quality grass cutting machinery for both the professional and domestic market, Etesia’s extensive range of products have been in consistent high demand for a number of years.

Etesia

Ventrac package for CGM Group

The CGM Group (East Anglia) Ltd is one of the latest landscape contractors to purchase a Ventrac package from Price Turfcare.

Supplied by local dealer Ernest Doe & Sons, the package includes a Ventrac 4500 compact tractor and Finishing deck.

CGM Group has bases in King’s Lynn, Norwich, Cambridge and Peterborough and regularly undertake projects in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex and Suffolk.

Price Turfcare

EP Barrus

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

Aeration options from Groundsman Industries

Your Passport to Success with Replay Maintenance

As the UK market leader in synthetic sports surface maintenance, Replay Maintenance works closely with facilities management teams nationwide to help maintain more than 1500 pitches, courts and tracks.

With such a large customer base and being ever innovative, Replay Maintenance launched Passport365 in March. This exciting new app helps streamline the way facilities teams manage their assets, staff and time.

At the click of a button Passport365 can help to track, trace, store and produce live information throughout the lifetime of any sporting asset.

Start your free trial now at www.passport365.co.uk or for further information, visit: www.replaymaintenance.co.uk, email: info@replaymaintenance.co.uk or call: 01636 640506

Replay Maintenance

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 fit many makes of aerators and turf vehicles.

The Flexblade is most efficient 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.

J Premier Pitch delivers vitality to surfaces

Ian Lucas, Head of Grounds at AFC Bournemouth, knew straight away what his choice of grass seed for both the Vitality Stadium and two pitches at King’s Park training ground would be.

When Ian joined the club 18 months ago, Johnsons J Premier Pitch mixture was the seed of choice across the two first-team facilities, and having delivered reliable coverage, colour and wear tolerance, it looks to be a decision that’s set to stay.

Ian oversows with J Premier Pitch at a rate of 45g/m 2 during renovations in April and at a lower rate of 15g/m 2 in October, depending on the weather conditions and how the pitch is wearing.

Through the season, they adopt a ‘pre-germinated seed’ strategy for ongoing recovery and repair of high wear areas.

DLF Johnsons

Successful partnership leads to second agreement plan with Toro

Having been at Edgbaston Golf Club for 31 years, course manager Eddie Mills knows more than anyone what’s best for the club, which is why he recently signed a second fiveyear agreement plan with Toro.

Just one mile from the centre of Birmingham, the course provides golfers with 144 acres of stunning parkland, including a lake and woodland nature reserve, so keeping the maintenance up to a high level is no easy feat.

“I’ll have been at the club for 32 years this August and course manager since 2007, so I know the course pretty well to say the least,” says Eddie. “Before we signed our first agreement, we had a real mix of things in the shed, but we always preferred Toro.”

Despite seeing early on the clear benefits of Toro, the club needed to wait for the right circumstances in order to sign an agreement deal. But it was only a matter of time, says Eddie.

“Since our first agreement we’ve had a great relationship with Jon Lewis at Reesink Turfcare and our back up service provider, Redtech Machinery.

“With the first agreement we saw a real improvement to the course, and I predict we’ll experience the same outcome with the updated fleet.”

The club’s comprehensive fleet is a mix of like for like renewals and some new additions, including three Greensmaster TriFlex 3420 mowers, one of which is set up for surrounds and approaches with universal groomers.

Plus, three GR1600 hand mowers, a Reelmaster 3575-D fairway mower with groomer brushes, Groundsmaster 4000D, Groundsmaster 3500, Reelmaster 3100 Sidewinder, Groundsmaster 7210 zero turn rotary mower, Multi Pro 5800-D sprayer and a new TYM T654 tractor to boot.

Reesink Turfcare

Groundsman Industries

Save time, money and resources with Intelligent One

Professional grounds maintenance teams can save time, money and resources by using the Intelligent One (IO), the sports turf industries most advanced autonomous line marking robot. Restricted budgets can make it difficult for local authorities, schools and sports teams to mark consistently, but the IO provides a new way of marking that reduces the cost for the customer and the contractor.

Before looking at the impressive speed and accuracy of the IO, there is one important factor to consider – the price. Manufacturers of the robot, Intelligent Marking, has made this product available on a fiveyear payment plan, making it an affordable and cost-effective tool. The overall cost of £25,000 can be spread into five annual payments of £5,000 or customers can trial the robot for a year for £5,000 and return with no further obligation.

It isn’t just the price that makes the IO unique. Intelligent Marking is the only company to provide a base station within the package to deliver unrivalled precision and reliable line marking, consistently performing in areas without the need for cellular connectivity or coverage.

In addition, the base station is supplied without a costly annual subscription required by alternative line markers.

Using the closed system means the machine can be used anywhere in the world with unprecedented reliability and an accuracy of just +/- 1cm, whilst matching the marking speed of every robotic line marker on the market, with a FIFA regulation football pitch only taking 20-25 minutes to mark from scratch.

The accuracy of markings is millimetric and makes overmarking lines quick and easy with no external signal factors able to impact the performance. The IO comes with 45 pre-loaded templates including UEFA regulation football pitches, track and field marking, rugby union and league, NFL pitches, lacrosse and customisable grids, shapes, and tracks

All coordinates are stored within the app so areas can be marked again at the touch of a button.

Contractors and can also request custom templates from Intelligent Marking which can be made within a short timeframe ready for use.

All templates are stored within the tablet – provided with purchase – that is used to manage the IO with a dedicated smart app which enables users to easily control all relevant parts of the automatic line marking process.

It is completely up to the user if a whole pitch is marked or only certain areas. This function gives the user complete control in using their time to the greatest effect.

Users of the machine will be able to manage their schedule in greater detail because the time it takes to mark the areas will already be known and will only require one person for the task. The robot is stable on every kind of surface and can work continuously due to interchangeable batteries. The machine can mark out two to three fields on one drum of paint depending on the nozzle used making it very easy to calculate when new paint is needed.

The guaranteed cost saving the IO provides makes consistent contracted line marking an attractive and cost-effective prospect to establishments that may otherwise overlook it and in turn an affordable investment for contractors.

Making its mark at Finborough School

The Intelligent One has a lot of strong product features but one of its greatest assets is timesaving for those who have a small number of staff for a large area.

Rory Ferguson, head groundsman at Finborough School in Suffolk has one full-size football pitch, two half size hockey pitches, five 7-a-side football pitches and two small sided rugby pitches to maintain by himself.

Ten of these pitches are in white and four in blue, with marking out all of these areas taking over two days. Before using the Intelligent One, Rory was sceptical it would be able to find a signal deep in the Suffolk countryside. Programming the robot to mark out his nonregulation size pitches was also a potential concern, but all of his worries have been put to one side.

“Before seeing the IM Robot in action, I was sceptical about how it would perform because I’ve had other line markers that used similar technology struggle in this setting because of the signal quality we have here,” he said.

“Having now had the system explained to me and how it uses the base station to eliminate any dead spots I feel very confident in its capability and this proved the case as during the demonstration, there were no issues at all.

“The fact it was possible to quickly adjust the template at the side of the pitch to match our pitch sizes and keep that format for any further use of the machine was very impressive. It produced a straight line every time and once we programmed it, we were able to let it get on with marking with no issues at all.

“As part of the on-site training, Alex talked me through how to change the templates and with a bit of practice it is something that you can easily do yourself. The beauty of it is once the measurements are in, they are saved on the device, so with a push of a button, you overmark on the exact same line again.

“For a site like this where we have a lot to mark out, it has to be a huge advantage. The machine marked out a full-size pitch in 25 minutes whereas it would take me at least double that just over marking an existing pitch. So, being able to save that time and go off and get other work done is a significant benefit. We also spend about two and a half days plotting out our running track and marking it out and this robot can do it much quicker than that.”

• There is a product spotlight on linemarking on pages 25-27.

Intelligent Marking

Since then it has seen further advancements to its GPS system and software to maintain its industryleading specification saving operator time, money and resources.

ProSportUK Ltd is the sole distributor for Intelligent Marking in the UK, headed by Ian Robson and supported by Alex Robinson who is the dedicated Product Specialist for the IO in the UK.

Alex will provide onsite demonstrations on request and initial training, with on-going field support whenever needed.

“The IO is a real gamechanger, said Ian “Line-marking need no longer be time-consuming. With the IO it is quick, consistently accurate, with precision measurements every time.”

The Intelligent One (IO) from Intelligent Marking has been recognised around the world for its accuracy, reliability and ease of use since it was released in 2016 and was awarded the SALTEX Innovation Award in 2017.

Fleet Line Markers launches eco friendly machine

Line marking specialist, Fleet Line Markers Ltd, unveiled its latest development - the COG Aline Marker – at an Innovations event held at Malvern RFC.

The event attracted a large array of guests from line marking industry leaders to the smaller clubs, all eager to assess the benefits and capabilities of Fleet’s latest revolutionary eco friendly marker.

The COG Aline Marker is the next step in line marking. It has been designed to be environmentally friendly and also eliminate paint wastage.

The COG Aline Marking System’s bespoke drums can be used repeatedly, saving money and helping the environment by preventing waste. When the COG drums do eventually reach the end of their re-usable life, Fleet will recycle the COG drums.

Their unique shape and design also means that, during shipping, the COG drums are completely stable – with no more than one strap to hold them, this eliminates single use wrapping and/or plastic pallet covers. In addition to the huge saving on all one-way plastic substituted by the reusable COG drums, Fleet will eliminate 40 to 50 tonnes of packaging per year.

Once fitted on the COG Aline Machine, a single COG drum is enough to mark up to six soccer pitches. When the COG drums are empty, Fleet will arrange collection, at no further charge, and the re-using cycle begins again.

As well as being environmentally friendly, the COG Line Marking System is an extremely clean and convenient system to use. The COG drum is attached to the COG Aline with ease, making spillages a thing of the past.

Fleet’s Managing Director, Iain McGuffie, comments: “Here at Fleet we strive to reduce our carbon footprint, the COG System eliminates single use plastics – and each single use plastic drum can contribute up to 6kg of carbon dioxide per drum.

“In keeping with Fleet’s commitment to the environment our target is to eliminate more than 5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over the next five years … Not all investments are financially driven.”

The Innovations event was hosted by Iain McGuffie, the Managing Director of Fleet, and International Sales Director, Iain Courage.

The hype at Fleet is not solely about the COG Aline Marker.

The MAQA GNSS System continues to smash targets. An innovation in itself, which has transformed the traditional methods of line marking.

The MAQA Marking System enables the marking out of sports pitches to be carried out in a fraction of the time currently taken, when using string lines and 3, 4, 5, triangles. For example, marking a football pitch would usually take approximately 2.5hrs for two people, a total of 5hrs labour.

The MAQA Marking System can reduce the time taken by 90% on this one task, marking a football pitch in just 20 minutes and only requiring one person.

The MAQA GNSS Marking System is supplied with Fleet’s unique Flozle Nozzle System, which is a spray head that automatically cleans the nozzle after every line marked. This System has been made even more appealing due to the interest free offers that are now available.

During the event guests enjoyed a day of line marking activities including the launch of the COG System. A factory tour and the opportunity to get hands on experience with all of our new, and classic markers, with the added benefit of expert guidance from the specialist team at

Fleet, made the day a huge success. This included a chance to experience the BeamRider, which continues to hold it’s own across the world and remains highly regarded from grass roots to professional Stadia.

Fleet Line Marker

Improvements made to popular machine

For 2019, MH

Pressure Jet Markers have been the professional’s choice for over 60 years and their revolutionary Dimple Marker can be found at some of Europe’s top clubs and national stadiums, including Wembley and the Stade de France.

Goals has made several improvements to the Dimple model, including a new reinforced adjustable handle

with support struts, hand grips for comfort and forward facing grooved pneumatic tyres to leave less indention on your pitch.

What has remained is its cast iron heart – the Dimple transfer wheel, legendary for its reliability and ability to lay a great line every single time.

MH Goals

JULY 2019 www.professionalgroundscare.com

The Titan Spray Marker is Grassline’s ultimate solution

Grassline offers exceptional line marking technology at a great price, all manufactured in the UK and with all spare parts readily available.

The Titan Spray Marker is the company’s latest system and it delivers a smooth, constant and even spray line with variable line width of 50mm, 75mm or 100mm.

Twin Spray heads provide the opportunity for a single spray for an economical line or a double spray in a single pass.

The integral mixing system continues the mixing process before spraying commences and during breaks in spraying and the Titan Spray Marker also features a pressure valve to regulate

the pump and volume of paint delivered to the spray heads With a heavy duty battery that drives the pump for a days marking from a single charge, pneumatic tyres and accessories including a side marking arm, athletics boom and rear carrying rack, this is Grassline’s ultimate system.

Grassline

Long lasting lines and weed control

With it taking around 4-5 man hours to initially measure out and mark a football pitch or

products that has the label recommendation for the control of Mares Tail, and has approval for use on hard surfaces and areas not intending to bear vegetation.

So, in car park areas where Mares Tail is pushing through the newly laid Tarmac or block paving, then an application of Pearl will show visible results within 48 hours.

As it is a contact herbicide, there is a far lower risk to surrounding

vegetation than with a systemic product such as glyphosate and most stands of Mares Tail can be dramatically reduced with 3-4 applications of Pearl.

With very low dose rates, up to 22km of line coverage with a single 500ml bottle, and working out as low as 0.15p per linear metre, it can be a very cost-effective way of guaranteeing that the lines will still be visible for weeks to come.

Agrigem

GPS-guided linemarking has further advanced with the Generation 3 SWOZI from Vitax Supaturf.

The Supaturf SWOZI marked a quantum leap in the speed and efficiency of linemarking, with turfcare professionals able to mark out a football pitch in an average time of just 30 minutes.

The technology already allows sports contractors and site-based grounds professionals to mark out far more pitches in a day than when using traditional machines.

Generation 3 SWOZI features upgraded control system, electronics and communications, using a Windows-based app now ported to Android, introducing variable or constant rate paint outflow to give users more flexible work patterns. The new terrain

compensation module (TCM) boosts line quality and further eases marking out, while strip mowing is now available through the Android app store for loading on to the rugged, waterproof Samsung Galaxy Active 8-inch IP67 display tablet fitted to the latest version.

Users can now swap seamlessly between GPS with SWOZI RTK base to RTK app or to laser tracker without changing equipment or hardware.

Vitax Supaturf

Recognised internationally, Bowgrass concentrated line marking paints for sports pitches have been specifically formulated to offer exceptional levels of coverage and consistency.

Waterborne and environmentally safe, all Bowgrass line marking paint grades remain ‘bright white’ in both concentrated and

huge success both in the UK and internationally. Whilst universally compatible with all line marking machines, Bowgrass line marking paints have been

Android-based Supaturf SWOZI raises the bar THE INDUSTRY’S LEADING LINE MARKING MACHINES NOW EVEN BETTER! Pressure Jet Markers have been the choice of professionals for over 60 years and the revolutionary Dimple Marker is used at some of Europe’s top clubs and national stadiums, including Wembley and the Stade de France.

for optimal performance through the Bowcom range of line marking applicators, including the revolutionary GMX electric line marking machine, GM5, GM10, and Trike.

Council makes big savings with the TinyLineMarker

The extraordinary levels of savings in time, resources and therefore money forecast by the investment in Rigby Taylor’s robotic TinyLineMarker (TLM) line marking machine will not only see Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council’s Street Scene team achieve a return on investment measured in months, but the new-found efficiencies will also enable the operation to offer ultra-competitive line marking to sports facilities currently outside of the council’s remit.

With the maintenance of 92 pitches under their care, the Street Scene team – led by Operations Manager Darren Bisby – was formerly taking four man-hours (two men) to initial line mark each pitch (predominantly football) each week with the conventional 3/4/5 triangle method and string, using a total of eight men in four vehicles.

Now, with TLM, one man is able to deliver the boroughwide service for line marking, taking just 20 minutes to mark a pitch – and Darren even suggests that a standard pitch can now be mowed and marked in less than an hour.

So, with 2,392 scheduled overmarkings across the pitches, 797 man-hours will effectively be put back into the Street Scene operation.

With teammates released to perform other incomegenerating duties, the TLM operator can also now get on with other tasks during his visit – such as litter picking, goalpost strimming and divotting – while the robot is in action.

In addition, one vehicle has been removed from the fleet - saving several thousands of pounds on lease costs and around £900 on annual fuel plus any maintenance and repair costs.

Lightweight and easy to transport, TLM utilises the latest GPS technology with RTK receiver and antenna that connects with global satellites and mobile network connections.

It takes the input of pitch line dimensions and multiple pitches via an App and re-positions them to best fit the site using Google Maps.

Once stored, the lines are never lost, even if they disappear if a pitch is not used for any length of time.

Initial marking of a standard size football pitch ( by the

Street Scene operator) takes less than 20 minutes, including all perimeter lines, penalty boxes, the ‘D’, centre circle, corner angles and penalty spot all with just one touch on the tablet control. Even pitches with fixed post sockets can be marked.

TLM is able to mark football pitches (any length/width), and rugby union and league pitches as well as multi-lane athletic tracks, tennis, lacrosse and American football pitches.

Today, each Street Scene pitch is marked every fortnight, with the paint being applied to grass rather than a burned-in line.

“Because with TLM the lines will never be lost, a pitch can be rested or a line can be ‘mowed out’ without the need to restring and measure and mark from scratch,” says Darren.

“To be confident of achieving the quality of line to fit our business model, we are now using a different paint dispensing nozzle (orange) to deliver 2.37 litres of paint per standard pitch based on 12 minutes spray time.

This is more paint [approximately 25%] than before (using a red nozzle) which, depending on operator speed, used around 1.5 litres of paint.

“However, the red nozzle was applied when weekly marking burned-in lines – so, it is much more cost-effective to apply the paint at a higher rate to achieve a fortnightly schedule.

“We are continuing our use of Rigby Taylor’s ready-to-use Impact paint, which has proved that it produces bright white lines that last longer than other paints.”

After a three-year apprenticeship in groundsmanship, Darren joined the Council in 1985, continually progressing up the career ladder until his appointment last year as Operations Manager with a wide remit that includes street cleaning, playground repairs and graffiti removal as well as groundscare.

His investigations into the feasibility of using TLM mirrored the work he did when the council invested in iGO walk-behind line markers some years ago.

This delivered tangible savings compared with conventional wheel transfer machines. This latest move, he adds, is a great example of how Street Scene and its operators have the willingness and flexibility to change – for the better.

“The move to TLM not only

means huge efficiency and financial savings but it also generates more job satisfaction for the team; no longer are people required to monotonously linemark every week.

“Another benefit of TLM is that we tick an environmental box by not having to burn-in lines (which do effectively create a ‘dent’ in the playing surface) and with one less van in the fleet have reduced our carbon footprint, too. Also, the robot does exactly what you ask it to do, without tea and lunch breaks!

“In the future,” Darren concludes, “TLM will likely also be applied to running tracks and for marking out our summer sports events (for example, javelin areas) and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be offering line marking to other sites on a commercial basis.”

Rigby Taylor

Leaders in line marking innovation

The Tiny Line Marking (TLM) robot is the latest advance in pitch line marking technology and complements Rigby Taylor’s award winning range of Impact line marking paints.

The TLM is a lightweight, easily transported, fully autonomous GPS guided robot that can initial mark a football pitch in just 20 minutes….with no direct contact by the operator with either the machine or the paint.

Leading the field in pitch line marking technology, Rigby Taylor’s Impact ready-to-use marking paint received both Queens awards for Innovation and Enterprise; the company was awarded the IOG Innovation award for its pioneering work in robotic line marking; and Impact XP was selected to mark the pitch for the 2018 World Cup final.

› For information on Rigby Taylor’s line marking demonstration days, call FreePhone 0800 424 919

AXEO

Be prepared, with great offers on AXEO salt and sand spreaders from 350 litre to 1500 litre hopper capacities.

TinyRobot

HP Sportsline provides an expert finish

Junckers HP SportsLine is a water-based two-pack paint for marking of court lines and colouring of other areas on wooden floors in gymnasiums and sports halls.

Junckers HP SportsLine is recommended on Junckers HP SPORT coated and Junckers prefinished lacquered floors. The range can be mixed to obtain other colours.

Junckers manufactures high quality solid wood flooring for all types of sport courts and gyms, including basketball courts, handball courts, volleyball courts, futsal pitches, racquet courts, squash courts and multipurpose arenas.

With experience gained from manufacturing solid hardwood floors since the 1930’s, Junckers has the technical expertise to design and supply the optimal performing high quality solid

hardwood flooring. Flooring solutions suit all indoor sport and activity areas, including, gyms, fitness flooring, athletic facilities, and multipurpose rooms.

Junckers sports floors perform with unique area-elastic

characteristics and this gives athletes the ultimate freedom of movement, protects against injury and ensures that they can achieve their best.

Junckers

FieldLazer puts you on the right lines to success

FieldLazer field marking machines have been recognized worldwide by sports turf maintenance professionals for delivering brighter, longerlasting lines with less paint.

Graco offers an assortment of marking and striping equipment designed for your specific needs:

• Walk-behind models with ride-on attachment

• Dedicated walk-behind field marking and parking lot stripers

• High pressure battery powered marking machines

All equipment delivers razor sharp lines, coats both sides of the grass blades, and uses Graco’s high-pressure airless paint spray technology.

Graco

New Decatone colours now available

Britannia’s tough, slip resistant Decatone tennis court coating is now available in a range of new shades including the two greys pictured.

The eco-friendly long-lasting colours offer a slip resistance of 60 in the wet or damp for safer play and contain algicide and fungicide. Decatone provides a tough, long-lasting finish for macadam tennis courts.

The company also provides SR65+ slip resistant netball court coating in deep, long-lasting colours.

A tough, long-lasting finish for macadam netball courts.

Slip resistance of 65+ in the wet or damp for safer play, contains algicide and fungicide.Britannia also supplies long lasting outdoor sports surface marking.

Deep penetration for long life, water based acrylic coating. Available in thick brushquality grade or for spray/ roller application.

Britannia

Simplicity is the key with Dakota

Dakota has redesigned and refined their famous electronic control panel to it easier to use as the range continues to be the most versatile, cost-effective, and accurate material handlers on the market.

Campey Turf Care Systems’ association with Dakota has seen a host of innovations on the Turf Tender machines, with the latest control panel upgrade a clear signal of the company’s intent to continue innovating.

A number of upgrades have been to the panel to make it meet the demands required. The first is the universal RAM mount that allows you to attach the display at a point convenient to you.

This makes using the new features within the panel extremely user friendly. This display contains reference guides for adjusting the spinner paddles and rate settings, helping to provide the most even spread possible.

These durable spreaders allow you to cover large areas while maintaining an extremely light footprint so as not to disrupt turf, and are ideal for sports fields and fairways.

Designed to save time, eliminate waste, and reduce operating costs, Turf Tenders can also topdress, fertilise, repair divots, load small top-dressers, fill bunkers, and move a wide variety of

materials from the seat of the tractor, without having to replace attachment options.

Now, with the upgraded control panel the user is also able to take full control of the brakes and vibrator on equipped units, and the start/stop, throttle up and down on the engine units equipped with a power pack.

The 4.3-inch LCD display also offers four memory presets and boasts variable belt and spinner speeds among the features.

The extensive range of Dakota Top Dressers from Campey Turf Care Systems has mounted models suitable for all the major makes of trucksters including Jacobs, Toro and John Deere Pro Gators. The towed range can be used with tractors from 20hp for the Dakota 410 with Ultra Trac tyres to a minimum of 40hp for the larger capacity Dakota 440 with 4 x 20” Supa Trac tyres with its 1.78m wide hopper.

All of the Dakota Top Dressers are extremely versatile and will deliver wet and dry material on any sports surface with consistent accuracy of application. This is because of the easy calibration system on the vehicle mounted control panel, which requires no manual adjustment of the dual spinner discharge system.

On course for quality at Dumbarnie Links

Dumbarnie Links is a brand new 18-hole golf course development on the south coast of Fife that is set to be open for play by spring 2020.

The 165ha development reflects the historical location of a links course and sports club at Dumbarnie dating back to the 1830s.

Luke Beardmore of OB Sports Golf Management – the US firm hired to manage Dumbarnie – and John Deere dealer Sandy Armit of Double A signed a partnership deal last year for the supply of grow-in and maintenance equipment for this exciting £11 million project, which is supported by the local landowner Lord Balniel of Balcarres.

Designed by former Walker Cup and Ryder Cup player Clive Clark, Dumbarnie Links is

Sandy Armit of Double A added: “This is a very exciting project and we are very pleased to have been chosen to be involved with the initial loan and supply of John Deere equipment, including hire tractors and a ProGator utility vehicle with mounted sprayer and spreader. We look forward to phasing in a full fleet of course maintenance equipment through the grow-in period this year, in preparation for the course’s official opening in 2020.”

John Deere

Bannerman’s mini topper tackles lawn care challenges

Last year’s hot spells has seen a considerable increase in lawn care companies offering lawn renovations as part of their yearly treatment package.

The treatment is carried out by heavy scarification, aerating, over seeding then using then Bannerman mini top dresser to apply a uniform layer of good organic matter - BSI PAS100. This will ensure quicker seed

germination, less loss of seed through birds feeding, it will create faster growth and a thicker healthier lawn. The mini-topper is equipped with an adjustable front brush in-between the hopper and drum, opening or closing the distance between the brush and drum controls the flow rate of product from the hopper.

Parkers Pitches adds a reliable, durable machine to their range

Renowned for their sports turf management services based in Woolpit, Suffolk, Parkers Pitches has recently added a GKB Sandspreader SP100 to their range of impressive and efficient machinery, through GKB’s distributor Ernest Doe.

Will Parker, Managing Director of Parkers Pitches explains the build quality and simplicity of the machine were main factors when choosing the GKB Sandspreader SP100. He adds, “It’s easy to see just by looking at it just how well it’s built.

With minimal electronics and simple adjustment there are very limited things to go wrong but it’s still be able to do very accurate quality work. “We also went for the gator mounted option as it is so easy to get around to the many different sites and terrains we visit.”

Parkers Pitches prides itself on their high-quality work to improve and maintain pitches and surfaces, making the GKB Sandspreader SP100 the ideal fit.

GKB Machines

Blade Machinery

Campey Turf Care Systems

notable for featuring sea views on all 18 holes. The course manager is local man Grahame Taylor, who grew up in Leven and came from the Old Course at nearby St Andrews.

Council turns to Charterhouse for help with new sand-based surfaces

A Verti-Quake and Rink Topdresser have become the latest additions to the machinery fleet of Oldham Council.

The redevelopment of a number of sports pitches has seen the purchase of machinery necessary to meet the maintenance specifications. For District Supervisor David Barlow, the latest investment compliments his existing stable of Redexim Charterhouse equipment.

“We’re very fortunate as a council to be investing not only in our facilities, but in the machinery needed to keep them at their best” explains David, who together with another Supervisor, head up a maintenance team of 40.

“Over the last 10 years, 13 pitches mainly used for football, have

been redeveloped and converted from soil to sand-based surfaces.

This has changed the maintenance programme required to keep the pitches performing to a certain specification, and the machinery we had was struggling to do the job.”

With an Overseeder, Carrier and Verti-Drain® from Charterhouse already in their fleet, David knows it’s kit that can be relied on.

“When funds became available, top of my list was equipment to assist with the tasks of slitting and topdressing the pitches, which we should be conducting at least once a year.

“I spoke with Richard Lucas of Charterhouse and Steve Massey at our local dealer Sharrocks and following impressive demonstrations, and ruling out

other machines, we purchased a Rink DS3800 topdresser and VertiQuake 3825 earlier this year.”

“The Rink gives us a fantastic, even spread across the pitches, making the job much quicker and easier than it was with our previous spreader. It is also fitted with an agitator which prevents material sticking, ensuring a good flow of sand. This machine is already coming into its own as we undertake our football pitch renovations, helping us to fulfil the requirement of applying 50 tonnes of rootzone to each pitch, each year.

The Verti-Quake meanwhile will become a key tool to help improve aeration not only of our new sandbased pitches, but across a range of surfaces under our remit.”

Charterhouse Turf Machinery

Wiedenmann Terra Float Air delights customers

The Wiedenmann Terra Float Air was re-engineered and relaunched last year with an added computerised pneumatic unit.

Offering maximum accuracy at quantities as little as 1 g / m² the Terra Float Air, combines three units in one. A base unit aerates or loosens soil to 30 mm using either spikes or fine slits assuring a receptive seed bed either pre or post top dressing. Next the distribution of the seed is absolutely uniform via the air flow and deflector system.

Finally, a brush and roller combination incorporates top dressing materials to the ground before smoothing the surface. With its very fine seed rollers exact calibration is achievable.

Those with expensive or ‘rare seed’ can be confident of success while memory function on the control pad stores input

Where the Air comes into its own is its high performance air stream which effortlessly directs precise amounts of the seed to the prepared perforated holes.

A series of steel deflector plates ensures uniform depositing of the seeds from a short distance while lifting the unit automatically triggers a shut off.

Wiedenmann

ICL offers market leading spreaders

ICL has a range of market leading rotary spreaders with the AccuPro 2000 and SR-2000 the number one choice of spreaders for groundsmen, greenkeepers and landscapers. The pedestrian machines are renowned for accurately delivering seeds, fertilisers and top dressing.

Both models have been designed and built with quality, durability and cost effectiveness in mind. Each spreader is manufactured to the highest industry standards, using high spec materials throughout the manufacturing and construction process, ensuring each meets ICL’s stringent quality control standards.

AccuPro 2000 key features:

• Large pneumatic tyres

• Durable large diameter frame

• Patented Helical Cone for a uniform, consistent spread pattern

• Extended handle with tuff-foam grips for added comfort.

The SR-2000 has all the features of the AccuPro 2000 plus:

• Large diameter, more durable stainless steel frame

• Positive on/off side deflector provides effective product delivery control

• Standard port shutoff control for greater application efficiency

Both the AccuPro 2000 and SR-2000 are ideal for applying

fertiliser to larger areas and boast an extremely fast application process as well as an accurate spread.

By adjusting the helical cone, the location of the fertiliser coming from the hopper to the spinning disc can be adjusted and, therefore, fine-tuned to give a consistent spread pattern and left/right swath width.

ICL

Gary Barnfield, head greenkeeper at Oswestry Golf Club in Shropshire, claims the SISIS Flexibrush has proved to be an ideal solution for controlling worm casts.

Oswestry Golf Club is a mature parkland 18 hole course set in the glorious Shropshire countryside and Gary has been working at the club for an impressive 31 years after joining as an apprentice.

Over the years he has worked his way up through the ranks and six years ago he was

promoted to the position of head greenkeeper. Since taking over as head greenkeeper Gary has implemented a number of changes to the maintenance regimes which has no doubt reinforced the club’s reputation for being in an excellent condition all year round.

However, over recent years Gary claims that he has faced arguably his biggest challenge after a number of chemicals were removed from the turfcare market.

Permavoid plays base on world hockey stage

A breakthrough portable pitch system developed specifically to International Hockey Federation (FIH) standards will see its first use at the FIH Pro League matches between Great Britain and New Zealand at the Twickenham Stoop stadium on the 23rd June.

As the result of a partnership between England Hockey and Polypipe, the pitch exploits the water management specialist’s unique Permavoid geocellular sub-base to create a stable, high-quality playing surface that can be quickly and costeffectively re-created on any scale, in any location and on any existing surface.

At the Stoop, the 15,000-seat home of Harlequins Rugby, 24,000 interconnected 85mm deep Permavoid units cover the 6000 sqm playing surface. Laid on a permeable geotextile, the units – which are manufactured from 100% recycled polypropylene - are topped with a flexible shock pad tuned to maintain the level integrity of the finished surface.

Permavoid’s open cell structure provides a temporary attenuation volume to receive any excess water from the surface, eliminating the risk of any surface water ponding, while allowing it to infiltrate to ground at the sub-soil’s natural rate.

The entire pitch has taken the installation team two weeks to complete. After the FIH matches, every element used in its construction will be re-used, clearly showing the versatility and environmental compatibility of the system.

In a permanent setting, Permavoid can form part of an integrated water management solution, providing attenuation on roofs, podiums and shallow depth areas that may not be suited to traditional surface water storage systems – contaminated land for example.

Polypipe

STIHL updates the MSA 161 T

STIHL has launched a series of updates to its cordless arborist saw, the MSA 161 T, providing professionals with a more ergonomic and robust tool.

The MSA 161 T is STIHL’s lightweight professional chainsaw that succeeds the MSA 160 T.

As well as boasting a 40% higher chain speed (16 m/s), it also delivers a 15% increase in engine performance, making it ideal for removing deadwood, crown maintenance and light reductions.

The cordless nature of the tool means that the MSA 161 T is so quiet in operation that any disruption is kept to an absolute minimum.

The improved MSA 161 T is now designed with three different trigger combinations that can be used with the new ‘trigger switch lock out’ feature, including a combination ideally suited when performing multiple cuts consecutively. These new uses have been created to be convenient to operate while also ensuring user safety.

On the updated version, the ergo lever – located under the palm of the hand – has also been enhanced, meaning it can now be fully pushed in flush against the handle, which prevents impact induced damage as well as improving user comfort.

Other changes to the MSA 161 T include a revision to the chainbrake with new metal thread screw joints.

STIHL

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.