Landscape & Amenity Product Update June 2019

Major survey seeks to understand the industry’s skills gap

A major survey investigating the future skills needs within UK ornamental horticulture is nearing completion, providing insight about the potential training and resource gaps for the £24bn sector.

The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), a key stakeholder of the Ornamental Horticulture Sector group who commissioned the study, continues to promote the survey to its extensive membership network, providing some of the UK’s

leading landscape companies with a voice on the current skills crisis.

BALI’s Chief Executive Wayne Grills said: “Results from this survey will help equip the sector with real-time knowledge of the issue, in turn, informing a skills strategy which will be tailored to the industry’s needs which will go a long way in securing vital funding and resource.”

According to a recent report by Oxford Economics, the UK

Ornamental sector supported 568,700 jobs in 2017, amounting to 1.6% of total UK employment.

“The Ornamental sector is a vital driver for the UK’s economy, particularly the landscape services industry which generated £11.6bn, almost 50% of the total £24bn value, in 2017,” continued Mr Grills.

“This study will allow us to compare findings from the initial economic report to see just how underfunded and potentially underequipped we are as an industry.

GreenMech unveils the Evo 165

GreenMech has introduced its much-anticipated revolutionary new woodchipper series, the EVO 165.

The EVO 165 combines a wealth of new features, together with some of GreenMech’s proven innovations which have seen their chippers become the preferred choice with many industry professionals.

Its wide infeed chute, together with twin horizontal rollers and GreenMech’s ‘No-Stress’ control system mean the Evo 165 efficiently grips timber and brash and controls its lateral movement to provide maximum bite and unparalleled

Optimised outputs from a diesel or petrol engine option provide usable power that matches budget with operational needs, alongside maximum fuel efficiency and compliance with Stage V Emission requirements.

The EVO is the quietest machine GreenMech have produced to date, beneficial for both operators and neighbours alike.

GreenMech

“The results from this survey will also equip us with the necessary data to take to Government where BALI will be looking for action.”

Pye Tait Consulting, who has been commissioned by the group to carry out the research, has been tasked with contacting a minimum of 1,000 UK-based businesses.

The 2019 survey is seeking the views of those working in and across the ornamental horticulture sub-sectors, including landscape design and maintenance services.

Anne Clark, Director of HR & Learning at the HTA said: “This is a unique and vital opportunity to gain a detailed insight into the labour force within the UK Ornamental Horticulture sector.

“It will enable the industry to review any skills gaps, provide future proofing and equip the industry to secure relevant funding to make changes happen.”

BALI

Pesticide product gets emergency authorisation

The emergency authorisation for the use of the Syngenta insecticide, Acelepryn, for the control of chafer grubs and leatherjacket has been reapproved for the 2019 season following a request from ICL on behalf of the wider industry.

Chafer grubs and leatherjackets cause damage to turf through extensive feeding on roots, which can be severe in localised patches.

Furthermore, extreme damage can occur when badgers, birds and other foragers root through turf in search of the grubs.

“Since the withdrawal of effective insecticides, economic damage from chafer grubs and leatherjackets has been of major concern,” reported ICL technical manager, Henry Bechelet.

The emergency authorisation permits Acelepryn use in situations where there is an acknowledged instance of economic damage, or risk of bird strike on airfields, and where the product has been recommended by a BASIS qualified agronomist.

ICL

The professionals finish

Robust steel edging and planters designed for high quality commercial and domestic projects.

Ensuring the industry is ready to take on whatever challenges the future holds has long been a priority.

The launch of a major new survey will go a long way in tackling one of the issues that will continue to be at the heart of the industry in the next decade and more – skills and training.

Welcome... Contents:

Creating the right systems to provide the best possible training, plus easy access to whatever education is required, is essential for the industry to keep moving forward.

It is heartening to see major industry bodies, such as BALI and the HTA, actively supporting this research and the results of the study will be crucially important to forward planning.

And it is also interesting to see organisations like Sport England urging stakeholders, community groups and sporting providers to embrace the opportunities new technology provides. These online and digital tools will become just as important as more traditional equipment in the future and will help maintains our industry’s position as a world-leader.

The Sport England article features in this month’s Play & Activity supplement, which takes an in-depth look at the latest news and opinions, case studies and issues affecting this important and vibrant sector.

Elsewhere this month, Jane Carley turns her attention to two and four-wheel tractors as she takes a detailed look at the wide variety of machinery available for landscaping and groundscare. We also have a special spotlight on Sweepers, Blowers, Collectors & Vacs, essential equipment for maintaining sites.

There is also our usual round-up of news, case studies and product innovation. We’re looking forward to another busy summer and hope to see many of you as we travel around the country.

Editor

Paul Groves,

GROW YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE CANTER 3.5t

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Fixed and floating head INFINICUT mowers prove to be perfect combination

DLF Wildflower

delivers colour and diversity

Scrub areas at Cheltenham’s Lilley Brook Golf Club have been rejuvenated thanks to wildflower mixtures from DLF Seeds.

In a quest to improve the visual appearance and ecological qualities of waste land around the site, Course Manager Nigel Thompson has found success with DLF’s Colour Boost mix.

“Despite the warm and dry conditions, it popped up MidJune and provided outstanding colour right through until the late autumn,” he said. “Not only that, but it provided a habitat for

insects to thrive in, in particular we noticed an increase in bees, in and around the wildflowers.”

The Colour Boost mixtures incorporate both wild flower and garden flowering species, that establish rapidly to deliver a colourful display throughout the whole year.

Sown directly onto the final recipient site, they require little irrigation, fertiliser/chemical application or maintenance throughout the season.

DLF Seeds

The perfect balance

As part of an on-going investment programme, Warwick Independent Schools Foundation have purchased two Cub Cadet INFINICUT mowers, as well as a selection of TMSystem cassettes.

In a very short time Grounds Manager Duncan Toon says the vast improvement in the condition of the natural grass surfaces is down to these newest additions to his machinery fleet.

Four schools occupy the 8 hectare site of natural turf and sports facilities – Warwick School, Warwick Junior School, King’s High School and Warwick Preparatory School.

Duncan and his grounds team of 6 are required to deliver topquality surfaces for all.

“I joined the school in June 2018 whilst it was in the midst of a significant investment programme and started sourcing machinery to help improve the quality of the grounds.

“I’d had a demonstration of the INFINI’s in my previous role at Birmingham FC and they’d been on my wish-list ever since. I knew these would be key to achieving the quality we were striving for.”

Duncan took delivery of an INFINICUT 34” Fixed Head and an INFINICUT 26” Floating Head mower, in quick succession.

The 34” unit, equipped with a 7 blade SmartCut reel, is predominately for use on the rugby pitch and cricket square, while the 26” floating head model will become their wicket mower. Duncan is also impressed with the cassettes from the TMSystem range that came with the machines - the PowerBrush and UltraGroomer.

“We’ve put the UltraGroomer across our cricket surface to thin out the sward and remove any unwanted Poa ingress and lateral growth. Compared to other verti-cutters, this cassette is head and shoulders above anything I’ve ever used.

“When you think you’ve taken everything out, you go over again and it’s amazing how much more you get. These machines have already made a noticeable difference to the health, presentation and quality of the swards” explains a delighted Duncan, who is looking forward to adding further units to his fleet in the not-too-distant future.

Cub Cadet

New Eco Village comes to SALTEX 2019

New for 2019, SALTEX visitors can expect to experience the latest green technology in groundscare in a new area on the show floor, which is purely dedicated to environmentallyfriendly products.

The trend towards sustainable and environmentally-friendly practices in groundscare is gathering pace. Today, an increased number of grounds personnel, greenkeepers,

landscapers and contractors are looking for products that can deliver quality results but also reduce carbon footprints to the environment.

Although more than 80 per cent of SALTEX 2018 visitors rated their overall show experience as being excellent, the post-show survey also revealed that visitors thought the exhibition could benefit even further from a wider choice of ecofriendly products and services.

The all new Eco Village at SALTEX will feature a programme of daily demonstrations of cutting-edge sustainable technologyoffering visitors an opportunity of seeing a number of products in action.

Furthermore, industry experts, within this village, will offer advice on green technology and how it could benefit current working practices.

SALTEX 2019 takes place at the NEC, Birmingham on October 30 and 31.

IOG

SALTEX

Gleneagles celebrates course’s centenary

Gleneagles in Perthshire, Scotland has recently celebrated the 100th birthday of its iconic King’s and Queen’s Courses, with a little help from local John Deere dealer Sandy Armit of Double A.

Designed by James Braid and created using nothing more than manual labour and horse and cart, both courses were officially opened on 1 May 1919 and have an illustrious history.

The King’s Course hosted a famous match between the ‘Big Three’ of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player in 1966, as well as the popular Bell’s Scottish Open on the European Tour from 1987 to 1994, the largest spectator event after The Open at the time.

The Queen’s Course has also hosted great names from entertainment and sport, including Sean Connery and Alan Shepard, the only man to hit a golf shot on the moon!

In more recent times, and under Gleneagles’ new ownership by Ennismore, both courses have benefi ted from extensive renovation projects.

These have seen them realigned to Braid’s original design vision with wider fairways, bringing strategically placed bunkers back in play, and the reintroduction of Scottish heather in key areas.

As part of the special centenary celebrations, Gleneagles staff recreated several historic archive photographs from the 1920s, including an image of a tractor pulling a set of gang mowers on a fairway.

This was replicated with a 1941 John Deere Model B tractor, equipped with a set of trailed cylinder gang mowers.

The tractor is owned by Sandy Armit and is usually on display at the dealership’s headquarters in Cupar, Fife.

Gleneagles signed an exclusive contract with John Deere in 2017 for the supply of golf course maintenance equipment and related technology to the three championship golf courses at the award winning hotel and golf resort.

John Deere also celebrated its own centenary last year, as March 14, 2018 marked the 100th anniversary of the day Deere & Company bought the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company of Waterloo in Iowa and officially entered the tractor business for which it would become famous worldwide; tractors are still made at Waterloo to this day.

The Model B tractor that was loaned to Gleneagles is still John Deere’s all-time bestselling model, with 300,000 sold from 1935 to 1953.

John Deere

BLEC provides an update on progress

Three years on since the announcement was made that BLEC was to become a division of the Redexim Group, the company has hosted a demonstration event at dealer Acorn Tractors in Derby.

Hosted by Division Manager Curtis Allen, the event provided an opportunity to view the new and enhanced range of specialist landscaping and turfcare equipment.

A busy few years under the guidance of the Redexim Group has seen the streamlining of product ranges and manufacture, along with the appointment of a network of dedicated dealers nationwide.

Amongst the machines shown on the day were the Blecavator, Laser

Grader and Multi-Seeder where key developments were discussed.

Of particular note was the number of mechanical adjustments made to the renowned Laser Grader range including new twin Danfoss proportional valves and heavy-duty finger tines, that both now come as standard.

The all-new Power Box Rake 1800 was another highlight as the fi rst Redexim designed and engineered addition to the BLEC offering.

Whilst following the ethics of the previous versions of the PBR, this machine has been built from scratch to be the perfect tool for cultivating, earth-moving, grading and raking.

During the presentation and subsequent working demonstrations, it was evident how machines from across the BLEC range can be used in conjunction with one another, in the process of converting bare earth into a surface ready for seeding.

With a comprehensive selection of pedestrian and tractor-mounted units, each available in a variety of working widths, they’re suited to applications from landscape gardeners, golf course construction, sports pitch preparations to largescale groundworks.

BLEC

New residual herbicide brings resistance management benefits

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,” he explains.

“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 combination of active ingredients, Valdor Flex acts as a valuable tool for resistance management within the weed control sector.

“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,” he adds.

“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 the given spray area for that day. However, he explains Valdor Flex is stable in water for at least 24 hours, so if for some reason there is any spray solution left in the tank it can be used the following day.

Bayer

New TS Industrie Panther breaks cover

TS Industrie, leaders in shredding technology, has extend their current range of Green Series Shredders with a preview of the new Panther 56DS shredder offering more efficiency in green waste shredding.

The new GS/Panther56DS, available from PSD Groundscare, positions itself between the existing popular GS/Jaguar45DS and GS/Cobra 75DS, and is particularly suited to the needs and requirements of communities or landscape companies.

The GS/Panther allows the reduction of waste volume up to 7 times compared to a conventional chipper.

Equipped with a powerful Kohler 56 HP diesel stage 5 engine with Particulate Filter, combined with a Power Mixed Rotor, a large hopper for team work and a 500mm feed belt to optimize its performance, the Panther 56DS achieves an average yield of 36m3/h, with an impressive material diameter of up to 19cm and delivers excellent performance.

It also plays its part in the comfort of its users and the environment, with its DRI Soundproof Cowling, its CO 2 reduction option, its parallelogram drawbar adjustable by a simple crank and its computerized Pilot Control System – “Swing”.

PSD Groundscare

Caravan park invests in Toro to keep customers happy and coming back

Newlands Holidays, a familyrun caravan park, has recently invested in a Toro Groundsmaster 3500-D to help maintain its 23 acres of landscaped grounds and keep customers happy and coming back.

Situated near the World Heritage village of Charmouth in Dorset and a short walk away from the stunning Jurassic Coast, Newlands Holidays is a popular vacation destination. As such, maintaining the grounds to a high standard is vital says business partner, Rex Ireland.

“The appearance of the park is of the utmost importance for our business,” says Rex. “It’s a significant factor in customers choosing to holiday here and it’s essential the park looks its best. That’s a major factor in keeping our customers happy and coming back.”

With that in mind, Rex was in the market for a reliable machine which could easily cope with the undulating terrain, bank cutting and general maintenance cutting around the 23-acre site.

Having briefed his local dealer on his requirements, Devon Garden

Machinery brought in the Toro Groundsmaster 3500-D, amongst many, to trial and despite tough competition the GM3500-D’s performance won in the end.

“The performance of the Toro machine was just great compared to the other brands,” says Rex. “It did really well on the banks which was very important as we have a fair amount of undulating terrain. Overall, the GM3500-D showed itself to be a really reliable machine and since it will be used for the bulk of the work here, that was really important. It was clear it would provide the best fit for us.”

The combination of the machine’s ground-following design of each free-floating contour cutting deck and the unique parallel traction drive system means it can tackle the most challenging of terrain in all weathers without scalping. As a triplex rotary mower, the GM3500-D has the added benefit of producing the quality trimming you’d expect from a reel mower as well as the easy maintenance of a rotary mower, something which proved to be a key consideration for Rex.

Reesink Turfcare

Freeland Horticulture helps Green-tree soil expand its distribution network

One of the UK’s leading soil brands - Green-tree topsoil, a division of Green-tech – is now available through an additional ten Freeland Horticulture soil production sites.

Freeland Horticulture is the largest soil supplier in England and Wales and has been supplying the landscape and housing market since 1994.

Green-tech has joined forces with Freeland Horticulture to distribute its award-winning British Standard topsoil from Freeland’s ten production sites across the country.

The collaboration will also provide greater coverage for the brand in the West of the country from Cardiff through to Manchester. This strategic move comes at a time when more and more landscape contractors are requesting access to the Greentree range of soils and growing media because of its consistent quality, nutrient-rich properties and reliability of supply.

Parent company Green-tech has a wealth of experience of partnering with soil scientists, trade associations and business leaders in its field. The working partnership with Freeland Horticulture ticks all the boxes for Green-tech and allows access to

in-house Freeland soil scientists who will work alongside the team in a supportive role.

Both brands are synonymous with quality; all products are tested and comply with British Standards and both Green-tech and Freeland work within the ISO criteria.

Richard Kay, Chairman of Green-tech, commented: “The demand for high quality, British Standard soils has never been greater as the expectation of the client base continues to increase and the complexity and scope of landscaping projects advances.”

Founder and Managing Director or Freeland Horticulture, George Longmuir,sees synergies working in partnership and giving Greentech access to the soil sites combined with full technical support.

“This partnership strengthens both companies’ presence in the UK market place which in turn will be highly beneficial to the landscape sector,” he added.

Green-tech

Graden CSI proves a key tool for golf club

sand used during construction, are unfortunately susceptible to holding water, he explains.

The course has sand-based greens but, due to the poor quality of

Graham, who is supported by a greenkeeping team of five, said: “With the upcoming changes in fungicide regulations it is becoming essential to keep the surfaces dry,

and the plant healthy, as much as possible to prevent disease from taking hold.”

To help improve drainage, Graham has conducted in-house drill ‘n’ fill across the 18 greens for many years, followed by passes with the Graden CSI to keep channels open.

Graham is hoping to employ the CSI at least twice a year, working at depths of up to 40mm to simultaneously scarify and backfill the grooves with better quality sand.

Charterhouse Turf Machinery

Graham Wallace, Golf Course Manager at the Bank House Hotel’s Bransford Golf Club, has recently invested in a Graden CSI from Charterhouse Turf Machinery to help produce strong greens.

When it comes to the challenge of looking after parks and pitches all year round, STIHL tackles it head on. With a range of tools designed to maintain grounds to the highest and most professional standards. Not only does STIHL set the standard for quality, efficiency and reliability, our tools are also easy to maintain and offer superb parts availability. All of which adds up to minimum downtime and maximum performance.

Ed Mowe Head Groundsman, Leicester Tigers.

The new STIHL RM 655 RS powerful rear roller petrol mower with 53 cm cutting for larger lawns.

Rigby Taylor ‘clears the air’ with Carbon4Grass grass seed mixes

Rigby Taylor has announced a range of Carbon4Grass grass seed mixtures that combine increased levels of carbon sequestration potential with desirable amenity characteristics for a range of sports and general amenity applications – enabling turf professionals to reduce their carbon footprints while maintaining high-class playing surfaces.

For example, the Carbon4Grass Sports Field Renovation and Super Root mixes demonstrate the potential to sequester at least double the amount of carbon over comparative mixes. Low Maintenance, which includes slower growing cultivars with higher carbon ‘scores’, have also been identified by Rigby Taylor to help decrease the frequency and therefore mitigate the impact of mowing.

With the extreme global weather events of recent years universally attributed to climate change and exacerbated by an increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, there are progressive choices and positive actions the groundscare industry can take to help develop and sustain a more enjoyable and

healthy green infrastructure, says Rigby Taylor. One is the adoption of Carbon4Grass mixtures.

Grass absorbs CO2 for use in photosynthesis and while it is known that one hectare of natural, open grassland can sequester (lock up) up to 2.5 tonnes of carbon per annum, these new amenity cultivars sequester relatively more carbon.

A Carbon4Grass study at the Top Green Breeding & Research Station in France commenced in 2005 with the initial aim of identifying differences in the carbon sequestration values of managed amenity grass species.

The study revealed significant differences between species in their capacity to store and sequester carbon under the same environmental conditions (depending on local environmental conditions and maintenance inputs).

The study progressed to assess a range of cultivars within species and, over time, new cultivars from the breeding programme were entered into the study.

Rigby Taylor has used the knowledge gained to create a dedicated range of Carbon4Grass seed mixtures for sports, golf and landscape applications.

Rigby Taylor

Time to stay cool at work with Snickers Workwear

Lightweight fabrics in the new Topwear range will compliment Snickers Workwear Stretch Garments perfectly this Summer.

The warmer weather will bring a need for professional craftsmen and women to be cool and dry - to maintain wellbeing and working efficiency on site.

That’s why Snickers’ new Topwear for the summer uses 37.5® fabric technology, which is really good at ‘wicking’ moisture away from the body and keeping you dry.

There’s stylish new Shirts, Hoodies and Sweatshirts in a range of styles and colours that are super-light and quick-drying with advanced ventilation to keep you cool in the heat.

They’ve all got superb, body-mapping designs for an amazing fit, outstanding functionality and long-lasting comfort – all day, every day.

Snickers

An evolution in mowing

The Cub Cadet 3-in-1 XM2 DR46s combines innovation with added power and performance.

Part of the XM Enduro Series range, it is packed with premium features that will save you time, make mowing more enjoyable and comfortable, while still producing

The XM2 DR46s is equipped with Cub Cadet’s innovative MySpeed Evo feature which has been designed to make mowing easier for you.

It automatically adjusts to your walking speed, so whether the mower needs to be used slowly to trim angled areas and flower beds or faster on long straight areas, you can control the speed and the machine with ease.

The 46cm/18” cutting width makes quick work of larger areas of grass and cleaning isn’t an issue either thanks to the integrated mowing deck washing nozzle and special cleaning position; raising, rinsing and cleaning the body couldn’t be easier.

Cub Cadet

Headland programme reaps rewards and awards for sports club

The significant improvement in the condition of the multisport facilities at Dorset’s Hamworthy Sports Club has largely been put down to a nutritional regime suggested by Headland Amenity.

Such is the progression in uniformity and quality achieved across the football, cricket and golf surfaces that Head Groundsman Gavin Fisher has been awarded Dorset FA Groundsman of the Year and Dorset Cricket Groundsman of the Year - for the second season in a row.

Gavin has been at the club for six and a half years and is solely in charge of the turf maintenance - a busy site that’s home to Hamworthy Cricket Club and Hamworthy Recreation FC.

“When I joined the club, the feeding programme I inherited clearly wasn’t working” he explains. “The golf greens in particular were suffering from disease, patchy coverage and just a general lack of growth.

“While I had no previous experience of Headland or their products, their Sportsturf specialist Alex Hawkes stopped by and we got on straight away. He took some soil samples and spent time going through the product range to formulate a programme that would be effective site-wide.”

For Gavin, one of the biggest challenges has been to create a programme to improve surfaces, while sticking to a very tight budget.

“Alex fully understood that we needed versatility from the products, that could perform not only on different playing surfaces, but adapt to weather conditions and other environmental pressures.”

Key to the programme has been Headland’s ‘20/20/30’ Enhanced Plant Health strategy.

“We apply this tank-mix across both the golf and cricket surfaces every month. It is used in conjunction with various analysis’ of Xtend slow-release fertiliser which we can tweak as the seasons change and TriCure AD Granular on our golf greens, to deliver more uniform water distribution, which has helped us cope without an automatic irrigation system.”

“We also use Xtend on the football pitch, together with Multigreen temperaturecontrolled release fertiliser, which we apply once early in the season and then again in the autumn.

“The beauty with the programme we have is, though it has largely remained the same in the last few years, we have the flexibility with Alex’s knowledge to make adjustments here or there if we think we can achieve even better results. We are now reaping the rewards of our investment, having made real strides with the health, appearance and playability of our sports surfaces.”

Headland Amenity

plants?

Times have changed. So have tools. And our commercial range is all the proof you need. Take the EGO Power+ line trimmer. It’s powered by the most technologically advanced, petrol-matching, Lithium-ion battery system out there. It’s built stronger, with a carbon fibre shaft that’s as tough as it is light, and it’s engineered to handle the heavy strain of every day use. So don’t stick to what you know. Switch to the power of EGO

All Urban launches a safe and sustainable way to BBQ in public

All Urban is celebrating the launch of their exclusive UK partnership with Australian manufacturer Christie, the only dedicated public barbecue manufacturer in the world.

As the global leader in the design and engineering of barbecues for communal use, their products are an excellent fit for All Urban, who specialise in supplying the UK landscape industry with innovative, world-class sustainable products which help create inviting and safer public spaces.

With the British domestic barbecue market booming, there remains significant room for improvement when it comes to public barbecue facilities. Christie barbecues introduces a totally new outdoor cooking concept to the UK’s public spaces. Developed specifically to address the risk of personal injury due to accidents and burns, as well as the significant environmental hazards presented by the waste

and coals from disposables, their public barbecues are famous for their safety, quality, and reliability.

Christie pioneered the nowiconic Australian public barbecue, where they are often a hub for community activity in parks, resorts, schools, and other shared community spaces.

Christie barbecues are designed for convenience and simple operation. Easy to install and maintain, Christie barbecues offer business owners, public officials, and the community a convenient and reliable cooking experience.

By providing a controlled public facility in a designated area it is easy to monitor use, develop cleaning and maintenance regimes, and discourage the use of hazardous alternatives. The robust design of all Christie products specifically addresses concerns around vandalism and durability in the extreme climates Australia is famous form.

Christie barbecue cooktops are self-contained appliances that can be easily incorporated into any bespoke outdoor kitchen design.

Paul Collings, Director of All Urban concludes: All Urban wants to help the landscape industry create safer more socially accessible public spaces and the Christie barbecue is ideal for that. Over the summer months, we hope to host our demo barbecue at events around the UK and urge interested parties to register their interest so we can invite them along to see the barbecues themselves.”

With an impeccable safety record, more than 50 years of product refinement, and over 40,000 barbecues installed across the country, Christie barbecues have become a valued part of everyday Australian public life.

All Urban

Euonymus Dart’s Blanket – on trend in 2019

Mobilane Living Green Screen’s Euonymus Dart’s Blanket is the newest variety in the Mobilane range and completely on trend for 2019 landscapes.

Cited as one of the 2019 “plants to watch” by Flower Bureau Holland, Euonymus Dart’s Blanket brings a season-long foliage screen, hardy and perfect for any aspect.

Euonymus fortunei Dart’s Blanket has been a nursery favourite since 1969. Now marketed and sold worldwide, the Dart’s Blanket variety is the ideal landscape screen choice for its evergreen, slow-growing, low maintenance foliage and its salt tolerance and suitability for even the harshest of coastal areas and roadside conditions over winter. Its stand-out feature is its foliage colour.

From spring and summer green to its switch to warm red in autumn, a Mobilane Euonymus Darts Blanket living green screen keeps its red allure until

spring when new green shoots add an extra layer of contrast to the matured red foliage.

Euonymus Dart’s Blanket living green screen is perfectly suited for gardens, balconies, industrial and business parks and public open spaces across the UK.

The Mobilane Living Green Screen consists of a metal framework, densely intertwined with fully-grown climbers. The plants are in a coconut fibre root container filled with potting soil, into which the metal frame sits. The planter is biodegradable once placed into the ground and allows for the full, healthy development of the hedge and its root system in open-ground.

They can be installed all year round, avoiding periods of frost. They ares available in three height options: 1 metre, 1.8 metres and 2.2 metres. All screens are supplied at 1.2 metres wide as standard.

Mobilane

API assists in major new study on play and children’s mental health

The Association of Play Industries is one of a number of key organisations who will be working alongside Dr Helen Dodd from the University of Reading on the first large-scale study into how risky play affects children’s emotional well-being.

A new £1.1m research grant provided by UK Research and Innovation and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will enable Dr Dodd to understand what effect ‘adventurous play’ has on supporting children

to build emotional resilience and combat anxiety.

Dr Helen Dodd from the Anxiety and Depression in Young People (AnDY) Research Clinic at the University of Reading said: “We’re going to be researching whether children’s adventurous play can decrease levels of anxiety experienced by young people.

“By looking to increase children’s opportunities for adventurous play, the quality of life for children could be improved and

future mental health issues could be prevented.”

API Chair Mark Hardy, said: “As the number of children with mental health problems continues to rise, we’re pleased to be able to support this timely research.

“Outdoor play is essential for healthy physical and mental development and the role that adventurous play has in combatting anxiety will be of great interest to all those involved in children’s welfare.

Looking forward to Play Day 2019

Play England is working in partnership on Play Day, Wednesday 7 August 2019, with PlayBoard Northern Ireland, Play Scotland and Play Wales.

This year’s theme is: Play Builds Children, which aims to highlight the many ways in which play is beneficial to children and young people.

These include:

• Play Builds Friendships –playing allows children to interact with others, develop relationships, deal with conflict, and learn respect and tolerance.

Play Builds Resilience –playing boosts children’s confidence, creativity, problem-solving skills and

perseverance, enabling them to cope with stress and challenges throughout life.

• Play Builds Health and Well-being – being active through play helps children physically and emotionally, contributing to their health and happiness.

• Play Builds Communities –playing allows children to learn about the world around them, make connections, and develop a sense of identity and belonging.

Play England

“Children are now facing a compelling ‘pull’ to stay indoors from screens, with children choosing their laptops and mobile phones over outdoor play. At the same time, there is a crisis in play provision with the number of community playgrounds closing at an alarming rate. Screens are displacing play and, in many areas, children have nowhere to play.”

Dr Dodd continued: “The project will be carried out in partnership with those who set play policy and design play

areas. I’m looking forward to meeting some of the API members and working towards every child having access to environments where they can develop emotional resilience.”

Dr Helen Dodd is one of the first academics from a group of 42 researchers and business leaders selected for a UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Future Leaders Fellowship to tackle pressing global challenges.

API

Proludic launch new leisure brochure

Play and sports equipment manufacturer and Installer Proludic has launched a new brochure focussed at the leisure market, further enhancing their work in this sector.

Targeting organisations such as holiday parks, pubs, health clubs, shopping centres, zoos, hotels, museums and service stations – it aims to provide the reader with helpful inspirational case studies and product solutions that specifically target each subsector’s need.

Proludic’s own research has shown that investing in and improving those leisure facilities – can further

help attract new families and ensure they not only repeat visit but also spend more money with you during their experience.

Whether you want to refurbish existing play facilities or add something completely new –Proludic have a full range of services and products to suit your needs.

The company offers a free design and quote service and are happy to come to your site and assess current requirements, offering best practice recommendations.

Proludic

Marcel Siem drives German participation in golf

Marcel Siem has launched a golf practice demonstration area in his home town of Ratingen in a drive to establish Germany as a leading golfing nation.

Partnering with Huxley Golf, the world’s leading provider of all-weather golf surfaces, the new facility comprises a large 1,615 sq ft (150 sq mtrs) putting green (Premier Outdoor), a 300 sq ft (28 sq mtrs) golf green, a chipping area and a cage net for driving practice.

The whole area is surrounded with Huxley Golf 35mm Premier Leisure Turf.

Speaking at the launch, Marcel Siem said: “Practice is undoubtedly the key to success in any sport and golf is certainly no different. I installed a Huxley Golf putting green at my home in 2016 to enable me to practise my short game whenever I wished, even when my schedule meant I didn’t have much time or the weather was bad.

“I was, and remain, incredibly impressed with the realism of the surface compared to natural grass.”

Call for sport and physical activity sector to embrace digital revolution

Leaders in the sport and physical activity sector have called upon colleagues to embrace technology to make it easier for people to get active.

A ComRes survey commissioned by Sport England found that people find it twice as easy to order takeaway food online than to book a sport or fitness class.

To help the sector innovate, open their data and develop their digital offering, Sport England is awarding a further £1.5 million of National Lottery funding to the Open Data Institute (ODI).

And Chief Executive, Tim Hollingsworth, has called on sport and physical activity providers to commit to opening their data – in

the same way transport providers have done, leading to apps such as CityMapper – by the end of the year. Since November 2016, 27 organisations have opened their data, resulting in more than 170,000 sport and physical activity sessions a month being made available online.

“There is a significant prize to be won here if the sport and physical activity sector seizes the opportunity to embrace digital innovation and open up their data,” he said.

“Our survey shows that at the moment there are too many barriers to entry. So, this is about giving the public the choice to find sport and physical activity in a way that meets the expectations they have in all other aspects of their lives.

It’s all fun and games with Marley’s CitiDeck

When specifying decking for schools, nurseries and playgrounds, consideration must be given to aesthetics, maintenance and safety. Laura Qualters, National Technical Manager at Marley, explains why choosing the right products, which are both safe and inclusive, means education and outdoor activity providers can ensure everyone is able to enjoy the decked areas.

Landscapers, architects and contractors are increasingly choosing to use timber decking to create outdoor teaching and play areas to really maximise the space they have available. One such project which recently specified Marley’s anti-slip decking, CitiDeck, was Robert Wilkinson School which wanted to create a memorial project in memory of four-year-old Jake Smith. Project managers, Playscheme, carefully created the outside area which comprised of a bespoke treehouse, along with surrounding walkway and garden area, fully furnished with Marley’s CitiDeck.

Created for use by the local community, the treehouse, named Jake’s Treehouse, features a small pond and tree platform to bring vibrancy and greenery to the space, with the treehouse also featuring skylights and windows to maximise the natural light.

Because of the dual purpose for the project, Playscheme needed to ensure it would be suitable for heavy, sustained use by children playing in the treehouse and surrounding communal planting area. The combination of potentially damp terrain and the walkway leading up to the treehouse was understandably a key area of consideration for the project’s developer’s right from initial conception.

Consequently, Playscheme decided to install anti-slip decking across the walkway, the stairs up into the treehouse, and in the treehouse’s internal space to ensure it was safe and sustainable for children in the community to enjoy.

Featuring strong aesthetics together with increased longevity of the decking, Marley’s CitiDeck anti-slip timber deck boards were selected by Playscheme for the entire project.

Commenting on the importance of safety and the reasons for choosing Marley CitiDeck, Graham Swales, Production Assistant at Playscheme, explained: “Everything that we build is thoroughly checked. Every opening, every gap, every bit of wood that comes over a rail. This was especially important with Jake’s Treehouse project because children might be going from wet grass, and running up the stairs into the treehouse. This meant we needed all decking to be non-slip for safety reasons, and the product we go to for that is CitiDeck.”

Marley CitiDeck features a smooth inclusive profile and two anti-slip inserts, which are a slightly less abrasive aggregate while still exceeding the HSE’s minimum requirement; providing a safe, non-slip surface. Treated to achieve a 30 year service life, CitiDeck’s above-average lifespan is an important benefit in driving down the costs of associated maintenance and refurbishment – thanks to the smooth surface being much easier to maintain and keep clean.

Timber is an aesthetically pleasing material which can be left to weather naturally over time, blending in with its surroundings. All of Marley’s anti-slip decking is sourced sustainably with full FSC & PEFC accreditation, enhancing the environmental credentials of the project. In addition, Marley can provide technical support throughout the project, from specification to advice on installation. As every project has different challenges and objectives, our experienced technical support team can work with landscapers, contractors and architects to discuss their requirements and help find the best solution.

“But it is also about creating the conditions for brilliant, creative start-ups and innovators across England to come up with big digital ideas and solutions that are as diverse as the needs of the public.”

The survey, of 1,815 adults living in England, showed:

• Activities such as booking a holiday, a taxi, a concert ticket or ordering a takeaway, are considered easier to access online than sport

• Almost a quarter of adults find it easy to book a holiday online and a majority say the same for ordering a takeaway (68%), while just 34% say it’s easy to book sport or fitness classes online

• Consumers consider price, location, time, difficulty level and a description of the session are the top five things they want to know.

The ODI, an independent, nonprofit organisation founded in 2012 by Sir Tim Berners-Lee and Sir Nigel Shadbolt, offers training, research and strategic advice for organisations looking to explore the possibilities of data.

In November 2016 they launched OpenActive, which has now seen 27 organisations – including Greenwich Leisure Limited,

British Cycling and Our Parks

publish their data, resulting in more than 170,000 physical activity sessions a month being made available online.

Sport England

With consumers increasingly using online services as a regular part of their life, opening data will give consumers greater access to sport online in a way that best fits their lives.

“This is a real tipping point moment,” added Tim Hollingsworth.

“Now is the time for the whole sector to collaborate to reach millions more people, remove the barriers they face and supercharge the number of people getting active in England for the health of our nation.”

The £1.5 million will help the ODI to continue their work in the sport and physical activity sector, which has seen OpenActive data used by 10 startups that we mentored and are working on innovative tech solutions to help people get active.

–

Huxley Golf

Johnsons works to improve special needs school grounds

HAGS puts the social experience into play

Bathford Council contracted HAGS to design and create a new play area that gives local children plenty of opportunities to play and socialise.

The challenge was set for designers to come up with a well thought strategy to make best use of this existing narrow space where an old playground used to sit. The play area had to be low maintenance, provide play equipment for all abilities and have safety railings to distinguish it from the adjacent sports field.

The Zingo product range promotes social interaction and development, as well as providing a challenging physical exercise.

For older children, the NRG Altitude 11B was chosen as a centrepiece and instinctively appeals to all children with a sense of adventure, providing challenges to get them moving so they never get bored. In addition, HAGS provided playground essentials such as the Olympic 2 seat swing with 2 cradle seats, a 2.4m Basket Swing and a Rota Roka to complement this play area.

Local family businesses Bettys & Taylors Group and commercial nursery Johnsons of Whixley have teamed up to provide over £5,500 worth of plants to Springwater, a special needs school in Harrogate.

The Harrogate based day school provides education to children between the ages of 2-19 years that have a range of complex life-limiting and learning limited conditions. The school also provides an Outreach service within North Yorkshire mainstream schools for pupils with learning difficulties.

Samantha Gibson from Bettys & Taylors Group, said: “As a business we have a long history of working with Springwater School over the last two decades. With this background we were delighted to be able to be part of this project through our Trees for Life initiative in revitalising their sensory garden.

“A total of 1,430 plants have been provided and donated for it’s new interactive and sensory stimulating playground that will allow children with disabilities to safely play alongside their friends.

“This is the second phase of the big build project which will really compliment the new state of the art sensory room

and soon to be complete sunken trampoline for rebound therapy; phase three of the project. Plants have carefully been chosen with sensory varieties such as Lavender, Mint and Rosemary included in the planting plan.

Managing Director Graham Richardson from Johnsons of Whixley, said: “I can think of few projects that are as deserving as ‘Springwater’ and our business is pleased to help in a small way. Our team up with Betty’s has worked particularly well, both being local employers with 100 or approaching 100 years of operating in the locality!”

The ‘big build project’ was launched by Children’s charity Variety on the back of their visit to the school in 2017 when Yorkshire Regional Development Director of Variety, Charlotte Farrington recognised how restrictive the school was for the children.

Variety managed to enlist numerous local businesses that attend the Yorkshire Property Awards each year to get on board with donations and services to help give the school a much-needed makeover.

Johnsons of Whixley

HAGS provided a range of equipment ensuring children would be kept entertained for hours. For the younger users (age 1-4) the Zingo Nau, Zingo See Saw and a Zingo Bubble were chosen to integrate bright colours within the park.

To encourage cognitive stimulation, the Crazy and Ball maze panels, Talk Tubes, 3 in a Row Panel and a ‘What Time Is It?’ panel were also included.

HAGS

Outdoor musical instruments put users in tune with nature

These fi nely crafted outdoor percussion instruments make a striking addition to any play area.

All instruments are carefully tuned to the same key, allowing players to explore sounds and rhythms in pairs or groups. The EN1176 compliant designs are built to last, using materials that are guaranteed to retain their

Take the challenge at Fisher Lane Park

Play & Leisure was given the task to supply and install a trim trail at Fisher Lane Park in Mansfield by the local district council.

The brief explained that the equipment they were looking for would be aimed more towards the older children so Play & Leisure decided to do a bespoke design, taking pieces from the Quest Range and positioning it into a horse-shoe shape with lots of challenging

trials to push the children to test themselves.

The bespoke unit consisted of a Climb Wall, Chain Walk, Balance Pods, Wave Link, Cargo Net, Overhead Bars, Hang Tough, Up & Over, Tyre Crossing and 400mm High Stepping Stones; keeping the kids entertained for hours.

Play & Leisure

musical and visual qualities over many years.

The instruments are supplied preassembled steel and timber frame models with full instructions for installing into any surface.

Acoustic Arts

Ground Control unveils ambitious design and build project

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has launched its new Children’s Garden to the public, a unique and world class destination play landscape.

The garden, covering an area of 10,000m2 has been brought to life by Ground Control Ltd and has taken forward Kew’s vision to complete the detailed and technical design and construction of the project.

The garden is themed around ‘What Do Plants Need to Grow’ and has taken its inspiration from encouraging children to experience and build a long-lasting

relationship with nature through the creation of a play garden rather than a playground with plants in it.

Working collaboratively with Kew to realise this exciting project within its unique setting, the scheme showcases bespoke and engaging play environments split across the different character zones of Air, Earth, Sun, Water and Pine Tree Wilderness orientated around Oak Tree Circle, a 4m high walkway around the 200-yearold existing Oak.

The play and landscape features have been sympathetically set

amongst the maturity of the gardens existing trees, some of which are TROBI trees of national significance.

The sensitivity of these surroundings required Ground Control to draw upon its experience and arboricultural consultancy capabilities to sympathetically design, specify and construct the scheme around the existing trees and adopt specific working methods including screw piles, hand excavation and full raised construction.

Ground Control

Fitness and play equipment refresh from Sutcliffe Play

Sutcliffe Play recently completed work on the regeneration of King George Playing Field in Nortonon-Derwent.

The site has been refreshed with the installation of new wet pour surfacing, inclusive play equipment, and outdoor gym equipment from the company’s extensive Bodys range.

Being a popular leisure space for local adults and children alike, Sutcliffe Play was challenged with enhancing the space to create an environment that would provide entertainment for children of all ages and abilities, as well as adding to the existing range of fitness equipment on site to encourage a healthy body and mind through physical activity.

Kevin Sellwood, Area Sales Manager at Sutcliffe Play, said: “The nature of the brief meant that we needed to ensure the whole space came together in an appealing way, incorporating new elements that would fit with kit that was already in place.

“Our Bodys outdoor gym equipment is hard-wearing, easy to use, and perfect for customers looking to get visitors engaged with exercise, while enjoying natural surroundings.”

Bodys equipment at the site includes:

• Rider – designed to strengthen the muscles of the arms, abdomen and legs, the Rider features a seat for the user with handles to hold onto, and platforms for feet placement. Users must straighten their legs and at the same time pull the handles together, for an effective workout.

• Romper – for users looking to strengthen muscles in the legs and abdomen, the Romper accommodates one user standing. Users hold the handles and move their legs as far to one side or the other as possible for maximum impact.

• Cross Country Skier –strengthens the muscles of the arms, legs and torso.

Users must stand on the platforms, hold the handles and move their legs in a forwards and backwards motion. The Cross Country Skier also helps to improve motor coordination and has a positive effect on the circulatory-respiratory system.

• Bike – replicating the functionality of a traditional gym bike, riders sit on the seat and hold the handles whilst placing their feet on the pedals. Users then move their legs as if on a traditional bike. The Bike is ideal for strengthening the muscles of the lower limbs and helping to improve circulation.

For children visiting the Playing Field, Sutcliffe Play has introduced a range of play options, including inclusive pieces, to keep children entertained.

www.timberplay.com

Sutcliffe Play

working in partnership with richter spielgeräte to create outstanding spaces for play

Inclusive play at its best thanks to Wicksteed

At Wicksteed, we firmly believe that play should be for all. So it was with a huge sense of excitement that we were able to finally open the gates on our brand new inclusive play area at Harestanes Country Park.

The play area is a product of over 100 years of experience in play. Our expert in house design team pulled on knowledge gathered from numerous play projects throughout the years to create something, unlike any other play area.

Creating inclusive playgrounds is an effective way of bridging the divide between children of various abilities. Inclusive play areas give users from all backgrounds a chance to mix. We wanted to create a space where parents and children of all ages and abilities felt welcome, safe and happy.

Sensory Play

Our bespoke Harestanes Country Park Sensory Boardwalk features a huge variety of sensory play experiences. Sensory play is vital for problem-solving, developing fine and gross motor skills and spatial awareness.

Taking this into account we shaped our design approach to

everything including surfacing, materials, equipment and layout.

The fully inclusive boardwalk features a mixture of surfaces. An exciting array of interactive electronic play panels and wheelchair accessible platforms means bags of play value for all! The site also features our Talking Flowers which provide a great way for children to communicate with each other, from tower to tower.

Inclusive Play

It was important that the new play area provided opportunities for all children. Accessibility was key at Harestanes Country Park.

Inclusive play products such as the Inclusive Swirl Roundabout, sensory boardwalk multi-play and wheelchair friendly swing ensured that children of all abilities would still have lots of fun and interaction.

Path layouts and the overall design of the space ensure an easy transition from equipment to the entrance and exits of the play area.

Bespoke Design

At Wicksteed, we pride ourselves on having the ability to create custom outdoor play area projects. This is summed up perfectly at

Mighty Mote benefits from eibe expertise

Harestanes Country Park. Taking inspiration from the nearby beautiful Jedburgh Abbey, we designed and manufactured a scaled down, climbable version of this iconic structure.

The bespoke version of Jedburgh Abbey is connected to a huge bespoke pyramid structure. On the bespoke unit children can slide down one of two huge slides.

Our completely bespoke sensory boardwalk multi-play is another standout example of Wicksteed bespoke design. Our use of materials, colours and sound mean the play area can be enjoyed by all children for many years.

Wicksteed

The £330,000 play area at Mote Park in Maidstone, Kent, created by eibe Play, opened just before Easter in time for the beautiful holiday sunshine in April 2019.

Following a series of meetings throughout 2018 with local architects, the eibe team set about creating one of its largest playparks for some time.

Working closely with building experts, Kier Construction, as well as Alan Frith, Mote Park Officer at Maidstone Borough Council, the foundations were laid for an all-inclusive play paradise.

The actual play area is part of a much bigger multi-million pound

regeneration project for the whole of Mote Park, including a new Visitor Centre, Adventure Zone with Climbing Wall, Ropes, Mini Golf and Segway.

The stand-out features of the new playground are the Venetos Play unit and the bespoke Sharda Unit, both of which can entertain many kids at the same time.

Complementing the scheme, which is deliberately aimed at children of all abilities, are the likes of a Swing Snake, Aerial Cableway, Lily of the Valley Double Swing, Cherry Play Unit and Satellite Carousel. eibe

Matching the tractor to the job

The compact tractor plays an incredibly important role in the groundcare market for contractors and local authorities, suggests Steven Haynes, sales manager for Reesink brand TYM.

“They’re highly productive with lightweight credentials and wide tyres which makes them the ideal solution for work on sports fields, parks, playing areas, housing estates and commercial surfaces in the urban environment. They’re increasing in popularity with landscapers too.”

He points out that TYM customers appreciate the power they can get in a compact without the potential damage to turf, while these tractors can cover the ground quickly while mowing and deliver a high road speed for transport between sites.

TYM

“Of course, they’ll always be a role for heavy-duty, higher horsepower tractors, but there’s no change from last year in that generally they seem to be purchased mainly for wide area mowing. Yes, they are appreciated for the fact they have the ability to handle more heavy-duty productive implements, but equally so is the compact tractor favoured for the fact it offers productivity through versatility.”

“Having a 40hp engine in a more compact frame for example provides a tractor that’s suitable for use all year round, including winter maintenance for jobs such as snow removal and salt spreading and that flexibility really appeals to this sector.”

Rupert Price, managing director of Price Turfcare, the UK importers of the Ventrac compact tractor comments: “As you would expect I’m biased towards the use of compact tractors as

NEW HOLLAND BOOMER RANGE LAWN AND ORDER.

it’s my core business, but with amount of sales generated early this season, I’m speaking from a point of strength. United Utilities is the north west of England’s water supply company and they have just purchased five Ventrac compact tractors with a selection of attachments. The tractors are being used to maintain the reservoirs and riverbanks, where large tractors with heavy implements would not be feasible due to their combined weight. Our eight-wheel compact tractor produces minimal ground pressure and is much kinder to the turf in these sensitive areas.”

“With compact tractors comes versatility; they can be fitted with numerous attachments and our Ventracs can swap between implements in less than a minute.

If you can change that quickly, then it’s more likely that you will! With more than 30 different attachments, the Ventrac 4500 is undoubtedly one of the most versatile compact tractors on the market today.”

Technology is having a big impact on developments in agricultural tractors, and is also a consideration when purchasing new power units for groundcare.

“We haven’t noticed any big developments that incorporate future technology into the design and build of compact tractors, but I’m sure it won’t be long before GPS guidance has a role to play,” says Steven Haynes.

“Fleet management is definitely an area I see playing a much bigger part in the servicing and maintenance of tractors, just as we’ve seen it expand within the fine turf market here at Reesink with the Toro myTurf Pro technology.

“It’s proving to be a popular addition at UK golf clubs across the country for tracking data, ordering parts, scheduling services, and gaining access to information such as parts and service manuals. It means customers can take preventative measures, rather than trying to fix bigger problems which is often harder to do and more expensive. It allows for better budget planning in this area throughout the year and that’s definitely an appealing prospect for the groundcare market.”

Rupert Price is in agreement about the current limitations on technology: “Ventrac products are quite basic and for a good reason. They are very simple to operate, user-friendly and that’s one of their attractions.

“We do have slope meters for safety reasons, but apart from that and some quick couplings for the hydraulic-driven accessories, that’s about it. One of our clients, CGM in Norfolk, who are a major contractor across East Anglia, have tracker systems on all their vehicles, but that’s for fleet management purposes rather than machine operation.”

Tractor developments

More powerful tractors can play a role in difficult terrain, suggests Massey Ferguson which has introduced three new tractors in the MF 3700 AL Series with a choice of 75, 85 or 95hp 3.4 litre three-cylinder engines.

The ‘AL’ represents Alpine, as a new chassis, with rear track widths from 1.15-1.90m on a 2.15m long wheelbase, allows the fitment of R30 (30in) tyres to increase stability, making the tractor suitable for difficult terrain, hills and slopes.

All MF 3700 AL models come with a choice of a standard wide, flat-floor or a tunnel cab option, which can reduce the overall height down to less than 2.44m.

At 1.4m wide, the new cab is 20cm wider than that on the existing MF 3700 VSF models, with a pneumatic suspension seat and options including airconditioning, USB port, DAB/ Bluetooth radio and electric mirror de-icing and adjustment.

Transmission is Massey Ferguson’s 24/12 PowerShuttle system, which comes with SpeedShift – a two-speed powershift. This offers simple operation of eight clutchless changes in each of the three ranges, using buttons on the gear lever.

The multifunction joystick, mounted on the right-hand console, operates the front linkage, spool valves and transmission functions including direction changes, powershift steps and a declutch button.

Lift capacity of three tonnes for the electronically operated threepoint linkage and a 540/540E PTO is standard, make it suitable to partner a range of implements, with a maximum flow of 95 litres/ min dedicated to the auxiliary hydraulics.

The Kioti range of compact tractors continues to grow and evolve. A new addition is a lower horse power subcompact model, the CS2220, which is powered by a Shibaura 21.5hp three-cylinder diesel engine.

BTS

lubricants

Horsepowers are creeping up and technology is everywhere, so is there still a role for a small, simple tractor? Jane Carley investigates and looks at recent launches.

Massey Ferguson

Kioti UK General Manager Patrick Desmond explains: “The tractor is aimed at smallholders, market gardeners, equestrians and contractors looking for a reliable, strong but small and manoeuvrable tractor. Although a subcompact model, the flat driver’s platform is still spacious enough for operators to sit comfortably without having to feel as though they are squeezed in.”

There are six forward and three reverse gears and the rear linkage lift capacity is 715kg at the link arms. A Kioti self-levelling front loader is available as an option and a 25hp mechanical model will be added to the range in late 2019.

Also recently added is the 33hp CK3310. “This model has a chassis and frame similar to the existing CK2810, but is powered by the larger 1647cc threecylinder diesel engine,” says Patrick. “In combination with the more powerful HST system this makes the CK3310 highly responsive and easy to use even when the going gets tough.”

The loader joystick and a double acting spool valve with detent position is standard on this model. A second double acting valve is available as an option.

“Cruise speed, engaged by a simple lever is another standard feature. The fact that the CK3310 has a full protection plate under the driver’s seat makes this a safe and practical tractor for smallholders, private individuals and contractors.”

The new CK4020 tractor has replaced the mechanical CK4010 model and retains the threecylinder 1826cc 40hp engine, while transmission updates give 12x12 speeds with an independent clutch. Electric PTO engagement has an auto PTO function that can switch off the PTO drive automatically when the rear linkage in raised.

Patrick adds: “This is a great safety feature and reduces wear and tear on the PTO drive shafts of the implements used.”

The ROPS and mechanical transmission DK5510 has been replaced by the new 60hp DK6010, powered by a stage V three-cylinder Kioti engine and available either with 16x16 mechanical transmission or three-range twin pedal HST.

The tractor can be purchased either as a ROPS version or with a factory fitted cabin. Two double acting spools are standard, as are cruise control and linked pedals.

Maximum rear linkage lift capacity is 1700kg at the arms, and Patrick suggests that DK6010 model has particular appeal to golf and landscape contractors.

Kubota has added a new model to the L2 Series. The 62hp L2602 features the HST Plus, designed to provide optimal control and easy operation of both the hydraulic pump and the drive motor.

In addition to three range shift speeds, Kubota’s HST Plus includes a lever to shift between high and low speeds in each range, giving six speeds in total. There is also the option to set up automatic Hi/Lo shifting between the high and low speeds whilst on the move.

The new Auto Throttle Advance feature links the HST pedal and the engine throttle, synchronising tractor speed and engine revs. This not only makes the tractor easier to operate but also helps reduce fuel consumption – all the operator needs to do to control tractor speed and engine revs is to depress the HST pedal.

There is also a load sensing feature on the transmission. If it detects a drop in engine RPM, it will automatically regulate HST pump and motor activity. With three modes to choose from, transmission operation can be adjusted to the task in hand by depressing a button to select the next mode.

Standard specification includes a premium cab with deluxe suspension seat,12V charging socket, power steering and the Intellipanel LED screen providing operational information. There is a range of loaders to match L2 tractors.

Adrian Langmead, Business Development Manager for Kubota UK Tractor and Groundcare, commented: “The new L2 Series is really making its mark on the groundcare industry – the L2602’s new engine reduces emissions to make the tractor compliant with stage 5 emissions regulations, whilst maintaining a high level of power and torque.”

Iseki offers several tractor ranges and has been recognised for its high levels of technology. Ideal for aeration and turf maintenance on sports pitches, the TG is the most advanced tractor in the Iseki range with 36-65hp engines. Compact in size with all the accessories and specifications of agricultural tractors, this makes for easy operation and less fatigue on the driver. There’s a choice of hydrostatic or mechanical transmission models,

with electronic shuttle and lift capacity of 1600kg.

The 38-46hp TLE premium economy range of tractors feature high horse power and simple controls making them excellent value for money, says Iseki.

TLE tractors can be used on a wide range of applications, from smallholdings to sport pitches where the budget is tight.

Lightweight, compact and highly manoeuvrable in tight areas, the 16-25hp TM Range of tractors is ideally suited to gardens, schools and small sports turf areas like tennis courts or for artificial turf maintenance.

Simon Richard is the UK Agent for the specialist Reform bank tractor and Muthing flail ranges. He comments: “Local authority ground care budgets are stretched to the limit. I maintain that making the right tractor choice in terms of power and functionality can deliver value and having machinery on the fleet that can be used year around on a range of different tasks should be the aim.

“Many councils are turning to the compact Reform Metrac models for their slope mowing capabilities, but also for hedge cutting, playing field maintenance and snow clearing. It is a tractor but with a ‘banking’ capability and also a comfortable air-conditioned environment for the driver to work in.”

Fife Council operates a 62hp Reform Metrac H6X bank tractor and Health and Safety Training Officer Roy Daniels says: “We use it with a Muthing heavy duty flail and a disc mower attachment but have also added a bale

handler, Bidux cutter bar and snow plough to its armoury. The Metrac tractor gives us the mowing performance we are looking for on our slopes at up to 45 degrees and a year-round machine for a whole range of other work. We are now able to work confidently where we would not feel safe putting an operator on foot with hand held equipment which has also helped us to address hand-arm vibration issues.”

“The Metrac’s excellent operator visibility makes both front and rear attachment working so much easier and the crab steer function is a real safety feature which also greatly reduces tyre damage in more eco-sensitive work areas. Our biodiversity area work does mean we are cutting less often, sometimes just once a year in certain difficult working areas, but the H6X has proven itself to be more than capable of coping in all locations.”

Kubota

Case studies

Ventrac versatility

The CGM Group (East Anglia) Ltd, based at Downham Market in Norfolk, has recently purchased a Ventrac package from Price Turfcare. Supplied by local dealer Ernest Doe & Sons, the package includes a Ventrac 4500 compact tractor and finishing deck.

The Group employs over 180 staff working on contracts from local authorities, agricultural processors, housing associations, schools and sports clubs through to one-off hard landscaping projects. CGM Group has bases in King’s Lynn, Norwich, Cambridge and Peterborough and regularly undertakes projects in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex and Suffolk.

Explaining the rationale behind the purchase of the Ventrac package, Operations Director Marcus Glover says: “We were in the market for a new machine for our contracts with large factories and distribution centres and saw the Ventrac at LAMMA. It performed really well in a demonstration and we took delivery soon after.

Big Deere is golf workhorse

The Royal Automobile Club’s golf course manager Lee Strutt is a long-term fan of John Deere tractors, and his latest acquisition has been hard at work in its first year on the Old and Coronation downland courses near Epsom in Surrey.

The club’s current fleet includes a 4520 and two 4066R compact models, one equipped with a front linkage to take a snow plough and other mounted attachments, as part of Lee’s ‘future proofi ng’ approach to tractor purchases. These were more recently joined by one of the first new John Deere 5125R utility tractors sold to a golf club last year.

At the moment it is used exclusively for these mowing contracts, but we’ll be looking at the power rake and power brush attachments later this year. It’s certainly a versatile machine.”

Adrian (Ady) Seymour is the principal driver and he says:

“This is a great machine for the operator; it’s comfortable, highly manoeuvrable and very easy to use. The hand controls are intuitive and

“After we bought the 4066Rs we always intended to buy a larger machine of around 100hp for heavier duty work around the 350 acre site,” says Lee.

“The 5125R is a very adaptable and versatile tractor – we can change from Galaxy flotation turf tyres to the agricultural tread types that are more suitable for woodland management, construction work or snow clearance for example, and the grip on these tyres is phenomenal.”

The 125hp tractor is primarily used on both the golf courses for verti-draining and top dressing with two Charterhouse machines, a 2.1m Verti-Drain

the articulating frame means we can get into tight areas, reducing additional strimming time.

“With its eight-wheel configuration it’s also very safe on slopes and good in wet conditions. The finishing deck leaves a really nice finish, so much so, that I’ve been complimented by senior managers at several of our customers when I stripe up the roadside verges and entrance roads to their sites.”

7621 and a five tonne capacity Rink DS3800 top dresser, for woodland management with a high capacity TP 230 pto-driven woodchipper and for hauling up to 14 tonne dump trailers.

“The Verti-Drain is a big, heavy machine and we use it across all 36 holes, so we need a powerful, durable tractor to pull it,” Lee adds.

“We’ve also got about 77 acres of woodland, and the woodchipper can cope with branches up to 22cm in diameter running off the tractor’s 1000rpm pto, so there’s plenty of power available for that job too. The only time we make the 5125R grunt a bit is when it’s pulling the larger trailers, but in my experience tractors work better when they’re working harder.”

Kioti Tractors high specification as standard for comfort and control

All tractor operators will work effi ciently and do a better job if they can work with a tractor that provides them with a well laid out work platform or cabin, and the options they need to do a varied and proper job.

This is why Kioti tractors are so well received in the UK market place. All models have selectable 2 and 4 wheel drive and provide space for even long legged operators to sit comfortably.

The controls are logical and easy to reach. The 28 HP CK2810 and

the more powerful CK3310 HST models have loader joysticks and cruise control function as standard. These are features not normally provided on tractors of this size as standard.

The CK4010 hydrostatic models add a selectable Linked pedal function as well. This gives the operator easy control of engine revolutions to ground speed. The saving in fuel use over a day’s work can be hard to believe.

All Kioti tractors CK4020 (mechanical transmission 12

forward and 12 reverse gears) and above, have the Automatic PTO standard function. This is a great safety feature and reduces wear and tear on the transmissions and PTO shafts for any driven implements.

The factory fitted cabins of the relevant models (40 Hp and above) all have air conditioning as standard. Yet another must for all operators looking to achieve maximum output over a long period.

New models boost versatile Branson range

Branson Tractors UK have a full range of hydrostatic and mechanical transmission tractors from 19 to 75HP.

The Branson brand offers the discerning customer a professional specification of compact tractor, with a 2 year or 1000 hour warranty, at a price you can afford.

The new entry level 1905h, boasting a Yanmar 19HP diesel power unit, is very competitively priced without compromising quality or reliability. Branson also offers a full range of turf, agricultural and industrial specifi cation tyres as standard and a full range of ancillary attachments such as loaders, backhoes, mowers and trailers.

Also new to the market this year is the new F47Ch and F47C 45HP cabbed tractors. These tractors are an evolution from the highly successful F series 35 and 45 HP

ROPS tractors and offer a new fully specified factory fitted cab with Bluetooth radio, aircon, super bright LED worklight bar and have been specifically designed to be low enough to fit into a standard shipping container for overnight storage. This makes the Branson range an ideal solution for landscaping, contractors and professional owners alike.

For parts and service backup, there is a Branson Tractor dealership network across the UK, which can be found at the dealer locator on our website, and both a UK and Central European Parts stocking centre for rapid spare parts supply.

The extensive range consists of no fewer than 22 different models starting at £1200 pus vat.

All Grillo tractors are gear driven with all components produced in house using the latest equipment.

Our most popular model is the G110 powered by a 12hp Honda petrol engine with a huge 68cm tiller head.

Numerous attachments are available such as ploughs, flails rotary and scythe mowers plus brushes and power harrows.

To See The Full Range Visit www.grilloagrigarden.co.uk or Tele: 01889 569149 Grilloagrigarden Ltd | Dovefields | Uttoxeter ST14 8HU

Grillo Agrigarden is one of Europes largest manufacturers of two wheeled tractors

Kioti

Branson Tractors UK

New tractor from Rapid

The Rapid Euro 2-wheel tractor, our most successful tractor for the last 20 years, has now been replaced by a new model, the Rapid Varea.

The Varea is available in two versions, the S series which is completely electronic in operation and the M Series which is a little simpler retaining the use of cable operation for control.

This is a new tractor from the ground up and many new features have been incorporated within it. Power comes from Briggs and Stratton petrol engines with 14hp, 16hp or 23hp.

A completely new hydrostatic transmission has been designed

which uses less engine power and therefore runs more efficiently.

The axle now has a zero turn which is controlled by two methods of steering, traditional lever or through handlebar movement. This is switchable depending on preference.

Clutch and PTO engagement is now electronically controlled to make the operation smooth and light for the operator.

Various wheel sizes can be fi tted depending on the task, including fl oatation, duals and sprocket wheels for working safely on slopes.

Fast delivery and performance from Woods range

Simon Richard Ltd UK Agents for the Woods Rotary Cutter range says that the company’s Charlerois facility in Belgium is now offering two-week delivery on all their standard, heavy and extreme duty Batwing models along with their single and double rotary machines.

Simon said: “Woods are regarded as leaders in topquality attachments and replacement parts for the agricultural and grounds maintenance markets.

“The rotary mower range is based on the Batwing, Single and Multi-Spindle, Bank and RC Series models and with almost sixty products available there is a solution for every requirement.

“The range runs from the 42” Economy Spindle cutter for 15hp-30hp tractors to the 21ft Multi-Spindle cutter for 70hp -300hp tractors. All mowers come with an exceptional 6 year warranty on gearboxes.”

Grillo’s range suits all needs

Grillo are a major producer of walking tractors aimed at both the private and commercial operator.

Their smallest model, the G52, retails at just £1560 plus vat and can handle 8 different attachments. For the commercial operator the G110 is fitted with a 12hp Honda engine.

This powerful machine has a range of attachments including

flails, power brush, power harrow and stone burier.

With a RRP of £3081 plus vat including a 68cm tiller head the G110 represents great value for money and is easy to operate and maintain. All spare parts if required are easily obtainable from their UK parts distributor.

Grillo

Carraro excels on turf

Grasslands is one of the largest turf growing experts in the country completing jobs at the Natural History Museum, Kew Gardens, Bluewater and most recently, Leicester Square and the Tower of London.

They have been using Antonio Carraro Tractors since 1985 and have recently brought a brand new TTR 4400 from UK importer Kirkland UK. The multi-functional tractor comes with a 38hp engine and hydrostatic transmission.

Simon Baxter, manager at Grasslands, has dealt with Kirkland UK for years. He said: “I chose to buy from Kirkland because they offered the right tractor at a good price and the sales service was excellent. Their after-sales service has also been good, and we have always received the right advice plus our parts orders are all on time.”

Head Landscaper Paul Farmer has been working for Grasslands for over 15 years, and he comments: “The reverse

drive of the Antonio Carraro tractor is ideal for my line of work. Turning the seat round means I watch where I lay the turf without straining my neck, giving me optimal vision.”

Paul adds: “The hydraulics are ideal for our workload as it easily picks up big rolls of turf covering 12-15 metres and weighing 500kg.We can also get through garden gates easily thanks to its compact design.”

Specially designed for groundcare, the TTR 4400 can be fitted to a variety of attachments such as mowers, shredders, hedge cutters, sprayers and many more.

Paul comments that he is also pleased with the versatility of the tractor: “I would definitely recommend Antonio Carraro tractors. As well as laying big roll, we also do preparation work such as rotavating, levelling, ploughing- any job a big tractor can do, mine can do as well!”

Simon Richard

Rapid Tractors

Mounted Gravel Path Renovator

Carraro

New addition to the SCAG Debris Management Range

The “V-Ride” range of Stand-On mowers from SCAG, supplied in the UK by STM has had a new addition: The Windstorm.

This is, in fact, an addition to the SCAG Debris Management range, and is a 37HP stand-on driving unit based on the V-Ride 2 with front-mounted centrifugal blower with a massive 6000 cfm output.

The intake size is 375mm and there is a two-directional output nozzle with angle control operated from the fully-

featured and comprehensive dashboard. With 10.5mph forward speed and up to 5mph reverse speed, it makes for a versatile and nimble machine.

Large size comfort cushion for the operator to lean against, plus large diameter padded steering controls that require minimal effort for the lever action make this a comfortable, powerful, versatile and productive machine.

STIHL launches new professional cordless blower

The new BR 800 C-E from STIHL is the latest addition to its range of innovative and highperformance blowers, ideal for professional landscapers and local authorities.

Producing a high-performance blowing force of 41N, the 80cc STIHL 4-MIX engine runs on a fuel-oil mix just like a 2-stroke model and offers the benefits without the compromises of 4-stroke power.

The STIHL 4-MIX engine provides fast acceleration, more power, added torque, and lower noise during operation to complete jobs quickly and more easily. In addition, the engine offers reduced emissions and increased fuel efficiency.

To make getting up and running even easier, the BR 800 C-E is designed with a convenient starting system featured on the side of the machine, allowing users to start the blower while wearing it.

The simplified starting system also features an automatic choke reset and a switch position on the control handle that is always ‘ON’, ensuring that the professional user can start the BR 800 C-E with ease.

Thanks to its intuitive design, the BR 800 C-E has an excellent power-to-weight ratio and comes complete with an ergonomic backpack carrying system including S-shaped shoulder straps for maximum comfort when wearing.

Additionally, the BR 800 C-E incorporates STIHL’s anti vibration technology that reduces feedback from the machine’s engine, allowing professionals to comfortably use the tool for extended periods of time.

Professionals can also rapidly adjust the position of the carrying handle and the blower tube without the need of tools, ensuring that the BR 800 E-C can be easily customised to suit the needs of the user.

When it comes to essential maintenance, the BR 800 C-E is designed to be easier than ever to service. As well as allowing for speedy valve clearance adjustment, the service cover of the BR 800 E-C also provides access to the diagnostic socket, which can be connected to the STIHL diagnostic system.

The ergonomic carrying handle on the BR 800 C-E is located above the centre of gravity, increasing the control and balance that the operator has when lifting and transporting the machine.

Additionally, the blower tube of the BR 800 C-E can be placed in a mount, making the machine more compact when transporting. To make storage even easier, the BR 800 C-E comes with a slot in the backplate allowing professionals to hang the machine up when storing.

STIHL

idverde add second Omarv Venezia to fleet

idverde has added a second Omarv Venezia to their fleet of mowing machines after five years of impressive results in London’s Regents Park.

A second contract in Northampton which required a cut and collect mower for large areas prompted ID Verde’s group head of assets and fleet management, Angus Lindsay, to pur-chase another Venezia from Campey Turf Care Systems.

Over the five years of use at Regents Park Angus has been impressed by the time users save when using the mower as well as the cut, collection and presentation qualities of the Italian made machine.

He said: “With cut and collect machines there’s a lot of vacuum op-tions about which are great but the cutting units on them are a bit weak and the materials we were looking to cut were meadow grass and

that sort of thing, so we needed something robust.

“When we cut and collect on the meadow grass on Primrose Hill it gives us a fantastic striped finish which is the kind of presentation they didn’t get with the previous machines they had.

“In central London people like to see everything immaculately turned out so it’s great for us to be able to do that.”

The Venezia is built to a highspecification because of the task it is needed for. It is extremely heavy-duty and is suitable for both grass mowing and thick brush cutting.

While suited to sports field and golf course use, it has a wider use in amenity grassland mainte-nance and heathland management.

Features include electrohydraulic cutting height adjustment and automatic belt tensioner whilst unloading can be carried out directly into trailers or lorries for disposal with the high-tip facility.

Cutting close to walls and perimeter hedges or fences is also made easier with an adjustable draw-bar that can be offset by 40cm.

Simon Tullet

Campey Turf Care Systems

Clear up with PSD

Holder completes range of sweeping machines

The German municipal vehicle manufacturer Holder has completed its portfolioof sweeper machines, offering exclusive and high-quality sweeping solutions for all vehicles from 45HPto 130 HP.

The asymmetrical sweeping brush and the aerodynamically optimised suction mouth provide excellent cleaning results.

With the recently added third broom, functioning as a weed brush as well, awide range of surfaces can be swept/cleaned efficiently. As with the X-Series, simply by exchanging the sweeping unit for a mowing attachment, the combined mowing and suction

application is ready for operation without changing the container.

The combined sweeping and suction attachment for the bestselling Holder C-series, the SX 1200 sets a clear focus on robustness and ease of use. The performance and operating distance equals the (service) of single-purpose vehicles/sweepers.

Further, the individual brush control and parallel shift allows efficient sweeping of various application areas, such as corners and parking spaces. The sweeping systems are easily changed to enable the full use of the tractor unit for All Seasons Use.

SISIS the solution at the VMAC

Max Holder GmbH is one of the leading manufacturers of multifunctional system vehicles for winter maintenance, path and road cleaning, the upkeep of green areas, as well as for numerous special applications.

The long-established BadenWürttemberg company founded in 1888 offers professional complete solutions and individual services from a single source together with more than 250 sales and service partners worldwide.

Holder

Sergio Pedroza, Fields & Grounds Manager at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Seattle, recently purchased three SISIS SSS1000 tractor mounted rotary brush sweepers and has reported significant improvements on both the indoor synthetic surface and outdoor natural surfaces since using them.

The Virginia Mason Athletic Center (VMAC) is an impressive 200,000 square foot waterfront facility and boasts a state-of-the-art indoor practice facility as well as three outdoor practice fields. It is also open all year round to members of the public meaning that loyal fans

PSD Groundscare have an exciting range of robust vacuums, blowers & sweepers from innovative European manufacturers ELIET and Koppl.

Leading Belgium manufacturer ELIET have developed a range of vacuums & blowers that includes leaf blowers, truckloaders, snow blowers and the Cameleon multi-vac.

can watch their favourite teams take to the field.

With the indoor practice field experiencing high usage, combined with the added pressure of the facility being open to the public eye, Sergio wanted to improve the condition of the synthetic surface. After some initial research, he found the solution in the form of the SISIS SSS1000.

“I first heard about this product through online research and recommendations from Pacific Golf & Turf and CS Trading LLC. I knew that Dennis and SISIS are renowned for manufacturing popular sports

Innovative German manufacturer Koppl provides a range of multiattachment machines that can be fitted to a power unit and with over 50 attachments to choose from including weed clearance, snowblowers, snow ploughs & sweepers, there is a solution for almost any groundscare requirement.

The wonderful advantage of the Koppl range is the power unit

turf maintenance machinery in the UK and that more and more people over here in the States are starting to use them.

“After seeing the product on a demonstration and finding out more about the company, it soon became obvious that they have very specialised equipment for sports turf that works incredibly well,” he said.

The SISIS SSS1000 is a tractor mounted sweeper which can be pulled by any machine. The rotary brush has been designed for use on synthetic surfaces to remove surface debris, lift the carpet pile and redistribute sand or rubber crumb infill giving the

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

PSD Groundscare, are a leading distributor of professional groundscare machinery including mowers, brushcutters, shredders & scarifiers and our extensive range ensures every season is catered for.

PSD Groundscare

surface maximum performance and extended life.

There are no tools required for the adjustment of the brush or the angle of the draw bar and to make storage easy the draw bar lifts to an upright position.

With an aluminium hopper with stainless steel mesh, any infill that is collected when using the machine is returned back to the surface leaving it free from contamination of debris. Sergio relies on the SSS1000 immediately after every field use and believes that the product has taken the surface to the next level.

SISIS

Husqvarna’s 500 Series battery blowers offers durability and versatility

Husqvarna professional 500 series blowers consists of three professional blowers, two handheld blowers and one backpack blower, giving operators the choice to select the right blower for the job, further flexibility comes from three professional integrated batteries and two backpack batteries.

Low noise and zero direct emissions makes working in public spaces easier. Husqvarna machines and batteries are weatherproof (IPX4 certifi ed) so tough weather conditions shouldn’t halt work.

On all Husqvarna blowers, the throttle handle is located in a position that effectively eliminates lateral forces from the air stream. For the operator, this means a relaxed, comfortable

working position without difficult lateral forces, allowing many hours of efficient work.

Husqvarna’s blower fans are inspired by turbo technology. Their large diameter gives you high pressure and peripheral speed at lower engine speeds.

The company has also optimised the tubes and nozzles to generate streamlined airfl ows. All this contributes to high airflow and powerful, directed air that allows you to work extremely effectively.

258cc, 30cc and 50cc

Pellenc Airion3 provides the perfect balance for greater productivity

Pellenc has completed its range of battery-powered products for professionals with the launch of the Airion3 blower.

The rewarding result of the company’s innovation and experience in multifunctional, long-life batteries, this remarkably lightweight and perfectly balanced new tool offers ergonomic benefits which are essential to user comfort.

The Airion3 also has the special feature of being both quiet and odourless.

Whereas traditional blowers tend to swing downward towards the nozzle, the Airion3 has an angled air intake, which offsets the swing effect from the air blast. This keeps the tool correctly balanced at any speed setting without putting strain on the wrist.

This design also significantly reduces the blower’s noise disturbance for people in the surrounding environment, with the added benefit that the user no longer needs to wear ear defenders.

The Airion3 is the ideal tool for cleaning jobs in urban areas, parks or gardens. Its speed controller and boost feature make it possible to manage the blowing power based on the surface to be cleared. Even leaves that are soft, wet or stuck to the ground are no match for the Airion.

Protected against dust and moisture, the blower is also designed to withstand the test of time. Its motor is housed in a magnesium alloy body that guarantees both proper temperature dissipation and total sealing (IP54).

The Airion 3 benefits from several improvements over its predecessor: new materials for the air intake elbow and the outlet nozzle, as well as a new cable with high fatigue resistance, which considerably increases the tool’s service life.

The tool’s battery level display, available with the 1200 and 1500 batteries, makes it possible to manage battery life perfectly.

In addition, the Airion3 is the first tool in the Pellenc range to profit from the Fast Connector system for rapid tool connection / disconnection. This feature allows you to quickly remove the tool while working if there is a risky situation or to use both hands freely without having to remove the back battery.

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

Wiedenmann’s Super series likely to expand

Rumours abound that Wiedenmann UK has a new sweeper collector likely to land in the UK early this summer.

The Super 1300 is thought to be styled on its very popular Super 500 and 600 machines which are recognised for their versatility and ability to scarify, sweep, cut and collect and vacuum pack their huge tanks.

This smaller version is likely to have a high dump of 1.7m and be configured to sweep turf and leaves with a unique double brush head system, and the top one aiding collection.

With its 4500 litre tank, the Super 600 is one of the most productive machines on the market. A step up from the very popular Super 500 which itself boasts a handsome 2500 litre capacity, it has established itself as an attractive proposition for local authority users as it is especially suited to park grounds, extensively maintained areas, ecological meadows, sports grounds and golf facilities.

In-cab remote control allows the operator to easily change the three operating functions - head unit lift and lower, hopper lift and hopper tip.

In any of its modes it produces a high airflow which ensures that the collected material is well compacted. It is extremely manoeuvrable with a light footprint, pneumatic tyres minimising pressure on fine turf areas.

The container lifts via a parallel system, the hopper rotating to allow it to completely discharge collected material. In sweeper mode it has a fully floating head with 1.6 metre working width, which ensures a clean, even pass over undulating ground; its powerful, high performance vacuum collects leaves, litter and other debris and deposits them into the vast hopper.

An extremely ingenious wheel locking system allows the four swinging axle wheels to fl oat and pivot during work but lock into a fixed position when the tank is raised for tipping, giving a particularly stable base to empty from making it a very safe operation.

A professional clean fi nish is left every time. Working depth or height of cut is easily and quickly adjusted.

Wiedenmann UK

GKB tick all the boxes for artificial sports turf maintenance

Launching his dedicated artificial sports turf maintenance business, Sports and Courts Maintenance Ltd, Jon Lawson was looking for something that would decompact and assist in the deep cleaning and rejuvenating of artificial sports turf and was impressed with the robustness of GKB’s Renovator and the size of the double heads of the Rotobrush.

Owner and Managing Director at Sports and Courts Line Marking Ltd, Jon Lawson explains: “GKB is known for reliability and was so impressed with the rotary brush.

“I needed something that was going to do the job and that was robust and reliable. We have a lot of tennis clubs complain that they’ve got very compacted baselines and the Renovator and Rotobrush tick all the boxes.

For us it was the answer to going forwards with the new business, offering this additional service on top of the deep cleans and everything else we already do”.

The GKB Renovator’s five rotating brushes form the foundation of the machine and because the brushes interlock into each other, you will not miss a single inch when you are operating on your pitch.

Whilst the GKB Rotobrush enables you to brush deeper and more effectively as the rotating brush disc is provided with extra rigid bristles which are pressed into the synthetic turf. Where the functioning of normal brushing and cleaning stops, the Rotobrush will continue.

Husqvarna battery blowers offer equivalent petrol performance to

petrol blowers.

Husqvarna

Award-winning grounds maintenance company trusts in Toro

As one of the most successful and reputable grounds maintenance companies in the UK, John O’Conner Grounds Maintenance knows that having the best groundscare equipment is vital, which is why they trust in Toro to provide their clients with the high-quality service they expect.

Having recently won the Toro sponsored Grounds Maintenance – Limited Public Access category at the BALI National Landscape Awards, and with the companies 50th year coming up in June 2019, senior workshop manager Simon Redhead, who has been with the company for 35 years, tells us how Toro has become an essential equipment provider for the family run business.

“We have a wide range of customers, so we need flexible and reliable machines to deal with them all,” he says. “We look after grounds on the Isle of Wight all the way up to Scotland, so making sure we provide a consistent service no matter where in the country or what kind of client they are is really important and Toro helps us to achieve that.”

With 45 pieces of kit in the company’s grounds maintenance fleet, it’s clear Toro is highly valued.

“We have everything from pedestrian and ride on mowers to tractor drawn gang mowers.

In particular the Toro LT3340 heavy-duty triple cylinder mower has been great and has been our front-line machine for many years.

For example, when we have long wet grass and difficult conditions, the LT3340 comes into its own.

“The majority of our clients are local authorities and with increasing budget cuts, many of them now need areas to be cut less frequently while still providing the same finish.

“The LT3340 has proven over the years to be an integral part of our fleet of machines.”

And it’s not just the machines themselves that are highly valued by John O’Conner, but the service from Reesink Turfcare as well.

“Reesink have always been great, especially when it comes to their parts service and training. Anything you need they’ll get to you within 24 hours, which is great because it means we can get machines back in use almost immediately.”

The company is about to trial another Toro machine, the CT2240. “I know that Toro will always deliver durable, reliable, high-quality machines and are always looking at innovative ways to make things better for the operator and customer. They also come with excellent service to back that up.”

He concludes: “Toro fits in very well with what our customers expect with regards to cut, finish and appearance.”

Toro

Ventrac and SISIS package for golf course

One of

latest

New products in the Irus remote mowers range

Leading German manufacturer Irus Machinery, the original remote mower company, has unveiled new models to its comprehensive range.

Irus has launched the new Deltrak 50, which is still based around the original concept of high power low weight and superior stability.

Taking the tried and tested Deltrak series it now has improved chassis design, an

increase in power to 50 hp, as well as 60 litres/min hydraulic flow and hydraulically adjustable track width.

Irus now has a choice of remote machine to fulfil most categories, along with a strong UK support team dedicated to ensure timely spares supply, technical assistance and onsite repairs and training.

in the west country

realise the versatility of Ventrac equipment is Merlin Golf Course on the north Cornish coast.

Situated on high ground close to Mawgan Porth and only a short drive from Newquay, this heathland course enjoys

stunning views towards the Atlantic Ocean.

This latest package, delivered by local dealer Devon Garden Machinery, included a Ventrac 4500 compact tractor unit with Contour mowing deck and a SISIS Multitiner 1200. Martyn Bennett is the Course Manager, he said: “It’s a versatile

machine with a unique front mount system and standard 3-point linkage on the back. The SISIS Multitiner fits easily on the back, so it’s not just Ventrac attachments that can be used, increasing the versatility of what it can do.”

Price Turfcare

the

golf clubs

to

Irus Machinery

New Stage V compliant mini-excavators from Doosan

Doosan Construction Equipment is enhancing the company’s range of mini-excavators with the launch of the new Stage V compliant 2.7 tonne DX27z and 3.5 tonne DX35z zero tail swing (ZTS) models.

The new models provide a bestin-class mix of superb stability, smooth controllability and high digging forces, complemented by low weights for easy transportation.

As a true ZTS machine (even with the optional heavy counterweight), the DX27z offers the highest flexibility of movements when working close to walls, coupled with bestin-class 360-degree stability

and a low weight for easy transportation. The DX27z combines excellent performance characteristics with the largest cab for this size of machine on the market.

With the optional long arm and a premium cab, the DX27z offers the digging output and operator comfort of much larger excavators, making it the machine of choice for work in busy urban areas.

The DX35z is a new generation model in the popular 3.5 tonne machine class offering the additional benefits of ZTS design.

Time-saving Toro at Radley College

Four years ago, Radley College welcomed a new Toro fleet of Groundsmaster and Reelmaster mowers to the independent boys’ school in Oxfordshire.

Not only does the grounds team have the upkeep of some of the most extensive and finest public school sporting facilities in the country on its hands, but with the school increasing the number of bursaries and scholarships for the first time in its 172-year history, the sports facilities are expanding too.

Luckily, grounds manager Adam King and the 19-strong team in the estates department, including groundsmen, greenkeepers and gardeners, have the benefit of a Toro fleet of Groundsmaster and Reelmaster mowers working across the 14 rugby pitches, 10 cricket squares and football pitches, three astroturf hockey pitches, tennis courts and a ninehole, par 34 golf course.

The College’s latest fleet joined four years ago in a significant lease agreement with Reesink. Adam says: “With more to do, the biggest benefit from our Toro fl eet in the last four

years is how it’s saved us time, allowing us to be more efficient and productive. Having two Reelmaster 3100-D mowers for the weekend cutting of the cricket outfields and aprons has been particularly beneficial.”

As the school gears up for a new boarding house opening in 2020 and the expansion of the sporting facilities to accommodate, the reliability of the fleet as well as its time-saving aspects has not gone unnoticed by Adam.

So, what’s next for Adam and the team? “We were at BTME to take in the new technology and product development on offer, and I was most interested in seeing lightweight three-wheel fairway mowers and greens mowers which we haven’t specifically had before. Plus, there’s been developments in engine size and I’ll be interested in seeing the effect of that on our surfaces here.”

Since then, Adam and the team have trialled the Toro Reelmaster 3555 and 3575 mowers across the School.

Toro

New dedicated website for Pellenc UK

Pellenc UK has launched a brand new dedicated interactive website which showcases its vast range of market leading battery powered equipment.

The new look website is available to view on all desktops, laptops and mobile devices and will be the online reference point for all things Pellenc.

Furthermore, current Pellenc users will have a wealth of resources at their fingertips with easy access to brochures, product tips, spare parts information and how-to videos. To view the all-new website please visit www.pellencuk.com

Pellenc UK

Doosan

Allett’s electric day at Twickenham

Allett Mowers invited industry leaders to Twickenham Rugby Stadium to showcase the new Allett C34E battery powered mower and hold informal talks on sustainability.

Attendance at the venue represented football, rugby, cricket, Royal Households, Oxford and Cambridge University colleges and dealers.

Austin Jarrett, Allett’s Managing Director, gave a talk on the company’s battery machine strategy and the technology behind battery electric power helping to drive the future for professionals. He emphasised the health and safety benefits of non-particulate power and sustainability with zero emissions at the point of use, low noise, low vibrations and minimum maintenance.

The Allett C34E was exceptionally well received with its battery packs and futuristic looks combined with the tradition and heritage of the Allett cylinder mower. Since it was first seen at SALTEX 2018 Allett have spent the months in trials and further developments, to bring the mower to the stage where it is ready to go into production.

Allett

Sowing Britain’s longest meadow

As the sun begins to drop below the horizon, the team from Pictorial Meadows are just starting out, checking plans and unloading their convoy of trailers.

Across a busy four nights, this team will transform the central reservation of a busy dual-carriageway into Britain’s longest urban meadow, extending for over 6 miles through Rotherham, and dubbed the ‘River of Flowers’.

The meadow being sown has been specially developed by Pictorial Meadows for urban areas and contains over 30 different flowering species, carefully balanced to offer beautiful changing colours across the season while also ensuring improved pollen and nectar availability for wildlife.

The response from the public to the meadow in previous years has been overwhelmingly positive, with Rotherham Borough Council commenting that they had “received hundreds of compliments from local residents, and visitors as far afield as Scotland, Cornwall, and even Australia”.

Connecting the M18 and the M1 motorway, the meadow brightens the journey of hundreds of thousands of commuters every year, as well as being appreciated by local residents. “The flowers are so much better than the plain grass that was there before, it just helps you feel more positive every time you see it - I hope more councils do the same!” commented David, a regular traveller along the route.

Creating such a large meadow in an urban setting is not without its challenges however, as Dan Cornwell, Landscapes Director at Pictorial Meadows, explains: “Establishing a traditional native meadow requires some very

specific growing conditions, and can often need extensive soil conditioning works. This can make it unfeasible for many locations.

“The specialist mix of species we have developed for the River of Flowers project is perfectly tailored for an urban environment, and requires significantly less investment than a standard meadow.”

Based in South Yorkshire, Pictorial Meadows has developed a reputation for providing high quality, reliable meadows across the UK and beyond.

Pictorial Meadows

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