Landscape & Amenity Product Update October 2020

LI launches new policy paper on a green recovery from COVID-19

economic and environmental sustainability. Twelve years on from the 2008 recession, the UK is once again investing in economic stimulus.

The idea of a ‘green recovery’ has received overwhelming public and industry support. But it is not just a slogan.

A business-as-usual response, led by capital investment in grey infrastructure construction, will not suffice. A green recovery means leading with green infrastructure.

4. Invest in natural solutions to climate change

5. Create a step-change in green skills, digital, and data

During the COVID-19 lockdown, parks and green spaces provided a lifeline for millions.

Rightly championed as crucial assets to maintaining people’s physical and mental health, they became a vital part of the national response to the pandemic. But they need support.

The economic and social recovery from COVID-19 must be green, argues a new policy paper from the Landscape Institute (LI).

Building on the public stimulus announcements made in July 2020 and ahead of the Autumn Statement, the LI urges the UK Government to seize a ‘once-in-a generation chance’ to invest for a truly green recovery.

In its new report, Greener Recovery: Delivering a sustainable recovery from COVID-19, the Institute describes what role the landscape sector can play in contributing towards a sustainable economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and what more the government needs to do to enable this.

The improvement in local environmental conditions was

an unexpected benefit of the COVID-19 lockdown. Improved air quality in big cities, cleaner water and beaches, better prospects for local wildlife and more are all significant gains that many want to preserve in the aftermath of the crisis.

Historically, national responses to recessions tend to focus on short-term economic growth at the expense of longer-term

Winners of Land Trust Awards

Greenwich Ecology Park and Southern Park were the big winners at the annual 2020 Land Trust awards as the site picked up the prestigious Site of the Year award for the second time.

The Land Trust manages the sites in partnership with The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) and they have become a green oasis in the midst of busy London life, which has become highly valued by the local community.

There were 11 categories in total

The new LI paper outlines five principles to guide Government action in advance of its Autumn Statement.

To achieve a truly sustainable recovery, the UK should: 1. Take a natural capital approach to new infrastructure and housing 2. Invest in maintenance and retrofit of existing places 3. Set higher and fairer standards for green space

The LI and The Parks Alliance (TPA) are coming together as organisations. Recognising the huge potential of urban green space, we have brought together more than 40 partner organisations and leading practitioners to create the new Parks and Green Space Network.

The new Network will support parks leaders to provide a stronger and clearer voice for parks in the UK.

Landscape Institute

Introducing the TinyLineMarker SPORT

From the launch of Rigby Taylor’s first robotic line marker, the company has lead the industry in this sector of robotic revolution –and as long as there are pitches to mark, we will continue to advance this technology.

The TinyLineMarker (TLM) SPORT is the smart investment for training grounds, sports clubs, schools and district/borough councils. Using the latest robotic technology and GPS/RTK connectivity, the TLM SPORT is completely autonomous.

It uses innovative and intelligent technologies to deliver highly accurate, initial and over-marking for a wide range of sports plus

Joanne shared this award with Bruce Bell, who was recognised for his efforts at Merlin Park and Shirebrook.

of the Managing Partners and volunteers who work with the Trust on its portfolio of parks and green spaces across the UK.

Rigby Taylor

As we move into Autumn our industry remains as busy as ever, despite the on-going challenges posed by Covid-19. In more recent times October has become preparation month for the SALTEX event at NEC Birmingham and with the understandable and welcome decision to push this year’s event back to March 2021 we now have to wait an extra few months before we get to meet up, network and see what new products and services are available.

It is heartening to see that many of the exhibitors are not resting on the laurels, however, and are continuing to press ahead with new launches and upgrades of existing products.

Both Rigby Taylor and Kubota are showcasing important new products in this month’s issue and many other companies have continued with their plans to unveil new systems and solutions in recent months. This is important for a number of reasons, not least it signals the healthy situation the industry still finds itself in.

Work continues apace across the whole industry, so the launch of new products and services is vital to help both the day-to-day maintenance and management and larger new schemes to keep progressing.

This month we feature our Professional Groundscare supplement and spotlights on key areas such as Natural Turf Management and Linemarking.

We also have our usual wider round-up of what is happening throughout all sectors and the latest news and views. Recovery from the impact of Covid-19 will not happen overnight. So, it remains as important as ever to plan for the future and keep moving forward and our industry will have an important role to play in that recovery process.

Editor

While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of all articles and information appearing in Landscape & Amenity Product Update, the publisher does not accept liability for errors and omissions, printing or otherwise, that may appear in this publication. The journal includes photographs provided and paid for by suppliers. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any retrieval system without the consent of

Paul Groves,

Government’s £40m Green Recovery Challenge Fund opens for applications

Grants from £50,000 to £5m are now available to kick-start the nation’s green recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “I am delighted that we are distributing the Green Recovery Challenge Fund on behalf of Defra. We are committed to supporting the nature and environment sector quickly and effectively through this fund.”

The Green Recovery Challenge Fund is open to environmental charities and partnerships that include at least one environmental

charity, with projects in England that are ready to start.

All projects must contribute to at least one of the following themes:

• Nature conservation and restoration

Nature based solutions, particularly focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation such as through tree planting and restoring peatland

• Connecting people with nature

Projects will be favoured that create or retain jobs, providing opportunities and benefits for all ages, including young people.

Take control of your finances with help from Perennial

Christmas is a time of celebration but for many it brings added financial pressure. And this year it’s even harder.

Perennial is helping people working in landscaping to take control of their finances and combat their money worries in the run up to Christmas, with their easy-to-use online budgeting tool, available via the Perennial website.

The charity, which is dedicated to those working in all areas of horticulture, is encouraging everyone, regardless of their financial position, to use the tool to check their financial situation.

Wendy Tozer, Debt Advice Manager at Perennial, says: “Most of the people we help require financial help and support and we know it is a huge contributing factor to stress and other mental health issues.

“Using the budgeting tool is a great first step towards understanding how you are using your money. Being money-aware and creating a budget, we hope that those who are struggling

financially will be encouraged to spend wisely this Christmas.

“The tool also gives lots of tips for increasing income and reducing expenditure, or finding out where to go for further help.”

Perennial’s qualified debt advisers are on hand to support individuals with anything from better budgeting, talking to creditors, or more complicated issues such as bankruptcy.

They also work with individuals to ensure that they are receiving all the support from the state which they are entitled to. In some circumstances, Perennial offers direct financial help, including help for spouses/partners and dependent children.

Perennial’s help and support is free and confidential. Call the team on 0800 093 8543, complete the Contact Form on perennial.org.uk or email services@perennial.org.uk to find out more.

Projects from both rural, urban and inshore marine areas are welcomed.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund is distributing the Green Recovery Challenge Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency, on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra).

It has been made possible by bringing forward funding announced at Budget 2020 including £10m from the Nature Recovery Fund and £30m of Nature for Climate Funding.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund

It’s about obsessing over the little things, the details no one else sees. It’s never tolerating anything less than the best. Perfection is a mindset. And that’s worth being proud of.

The fund will help create up to 3,000 jobs such as ecologists, surveyors, nature

In

it

solutions

It

The Green Recovery Challenge Fund, part of a wider HM Government green economic recovery jobs and skills package, will enable environmental charities and their partners to restore nature and tackle climate change.

reserve staff and education workers.

additional,

will safeguard up to 2,000 existing jobs in areas such as protecting species, finding nature-based

to tackling climate change, conservation rangers and connecting people with nature.

will also support suppliers in areas such as agricultural engineering, horticulture, and equipment and seed supply.

Perennial

Power is nothing without control

In the second of two articles

Vince Brauns, European Product Manager at cordless outdoor power equipment specialist EGO Power Plus explains why there is no better time than the present to adopt battery power.

In addition to sourcing components from the world’s leading suppliers, EGO tests and selects every single cell before building a battery. This includes testing and sorting each cell to ensure only those with the most consistent voltage are used while monitoring and managing each cell during operation.

The EGO Power+ 56V Arc Lithium battery is continuously controlled by software, microprocessors and power management systems.

Microprocessors and software within the EGO battery, monitor each cell for temperature and voltage to ensure that charging

and discharging is managed in a balanced and controlled way with the other cells within the pack. This ensures each cell is performing optimally and prolongs the lifetime of the entire battery pack.

Managing heat is key to maximising performance. A battery gets hotter the longer it is used and the more power it generates, the more heat is released. Too much heat and the battery will shut down for safety. Heat also degrades cells over time, reducing battery life.

That’s why batteries must be cooled effectively to increase performance run time and battery life. EGO manages heat in three ways: mechanically, chemically and electronically.

Mechanically -they use an arc cell design rather than the brickshaped battery packs chosen by many other manufacturers which

can be quick to overheat, causing a shutdown of the battery. The unique arc design increases surface area, dissipating heat more effectively.

The design also means that cells are as close to the surface as possible allowing more air to pass over each cell to keep it cooler for longer periods. Lastly, EGO batteries are mounted to the outside of the tools allowing for quicker heat dissipation, meaning they can deliver longer-lasting power over manufacturers which have their batteries encased within their tools.

From a chemical perspective, each cell in an EGO battery (up to and including the 5.0Ah battery) is surrounded by a unique phase change material (PCM) that absorbs energy and keeps individual cells at their optimum temperature for longer. The more heat the PCM absorbs from the

battery, the more heat the battery can generate without overheating, helping to maximise run time.

Electronically, many manufacturers of batterypowered tools will use one or two sensors to monitor the battery’s temperature. Typically, these are located on the cells that are most likely to become the hottest and some have even been known to locate them by the coolest cells. EGO recognises that cells can change after several charge cycles, meaning that these sensors can become ineffective by no longer monitoring the hottest cells.

To counter this, EGO has engineered sensors to monitor the temperature of all the individual battery’s cells. By doing so, in the event of a cell reaching a high temperature, the entire battery will shut down until it cools down to within the optimum operating parameters.

This not only ensures safe use but also extended battery life.

Contrary to popular belief, EGO batteries don’t require special temperature requirements for winter storage. All that is advised is that batteries aren’t stored in direct sunlight or in a place where they can attract moisture.

EGO Power Plus

Green-tech’s Richard Kay voted in as National Chairman of the BALI Board

Richard Kay of Green-tech, the UK’s largest supplier to the landscape industry, was voted in as the National Chairman of the BALI Board of Directors at their National Annual General Meeting, which was held online for the first time in BALI’s 48-year history.

covering tree planting, urban landscaping, soils and wildflower seed. He has a wealth of experience and a genuine passion for the landscaping industry.

makitauk.com/redemption

makitauk.com/xgt

The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) is the UK’s largest and most active network of landscaping professionals, with over 900 Registered members.

Richard is the founder and Chairman at Green-tech, a BALI Registered Affiliate member and award-winning supplier to the industry with a product range of over 12,000 product lines

Richard takes over the role from Matt O’Conner of John O‘Conner Grounds Maintenance who now takes up the role of Immediate Past Chairman.

Over the last 26 year’s Richard has successfully steered Greentech to become the UKs largest landscape supplier. “I’m passionate about our industry; it’s given me a fantastic career and I’m keen to see the profile raised,” he said.

Green-tech

Snickers Workwear – the sustainable choice

DuraPost by FENCEMATE provides a stylish and strong alternative

Birkdale’s DuraPost by FENCEMATE is an innovative galvanised steel fence post system that offers a strong, durable, and easy-to-handle alternative to wooden or concrete fence posts.

DuraPost’s cold-rolled galvanised steel makeup enables withstanding of wind speeds of up to 110 miles per hour and is guaranteed to last for up to 25 years, so specifiers can be sure that they are selecting a quality product.

a single tradesperson to significantly reduce build time.

With its superior weight to strength ratio, DuraPost is available in slimmer profiles than timber or concrete fence posts, making it up to six-times more space efficient.

DuraPost is compatible with virtually all fence panels and build-on-site fencing.

Aesthetically, DuraPost is available in a choice of four colour options: Anthracite Grey, Olive Grey, Sepia Brown and Galvanised Steel. Colour matched accessories are also available including Post Caps, Gravel boards and Capping Rails.

Birkdale

great freedom of movement. There’s also long johns to match for full body insulation.

While the weight of installing concrete fence posts can often result in a two-person job, DuraPost is ergonomically designed to be up to 80% lighter than concrete. As such, DuraPost is easy to transport, store, carry and install by Sharp, stylish looks and market-leading recycled POLARTEC fabric technology make these a must for the autumn on site or outdoor leisurewear.

Snickers Workwear continues to lead the way with working clothes that have an ergonomic design, superb functionality and fit – for both craftsmen and women.

The versatile FLEXIWork fullstretch jackets, deliver a tight, body-hugging fit with efficient moisture transportation and durable shape retention plus

The AllroundWork fleeces and bodywarmers – made from 80% recycled polyester - are packed warmth and comfort to keep your body warm or comfortably cool when you most need it.

Fashionable and functional, they combine practicality with street-smart looks and the right kind of sustainable choice

Snickers Workwear

BLEC PBR150 makes the grade for landscape contractor

With two major soft-landscaping projects in the diary, the decision to purchase a Power Box Rake 150 (PBR150) from BLEC was a timely one for Worcester based contractors, Chemquad.

Owner Tom Jennings estimates that the PBR’s ability to cultivate and grade even the most compacted ground saved one client almost £30,000, converting topsoil considered ‘unsalvageable’ into ground fit for seeding once again.

At the heart of the PBR150 is a carbide toothed rotor which contra rotates to pulverise and separate stones and debris from the soil, leaving a raked finish in its wake.

Rear adjustable castor wheels give accurate depth control while side plates effectively gather up the windrowed material for clean and simple removal.

BLEC

Stays safe with Snickers Workwear protective wear solutions

Long working days and cheap uncomfortable clothing makes Snickers Workwear’s protective wear range the better-informed choice for men and women working in hazardous environments and inclement weather.

There’s a comprehensive selection of ergonomically designed Base-, Mid- and Top-layer clothes, certified as appropriate for different risks at work to ensure comfort, health and workforcewellbeing all day, every day.

The new range also includes waterproof and windproof AllroundWork Hi-Vis Jackets that provide protection in lowlight, high-risk environments.

So, whatever the hazard on site, the Snickers Workwear Hi-Vis collection and ProtecWork range can provide a protective wear solution to provide maximum, certified protection whatever the risks on site.

Snickers Workwear

KAR UK provides the infantry to Links GC

Stuart Murtha, Head Greenkeeper at the West Runton Links Golf Course in Norfolk, believes that the course has never been in such a good condition following the installation of a new Hunter irrigation system from KAR UK.

In his second year, it was one the driest periods we have ever had on record and he hand watered all the greens every single day for four months. Stuart decided on the Hunter G-85B rotary sprinklers to provide irrigation to the greens.

These rotary sprinklers boast one of the highest torque outputs on the market and its patented gear drive will push through anything that gets in its way.

With such a powerful core, an array of efficient nozzles, and true full circle and part circle capabilities, the G-85B is relied on by turf managers throughout the globe. Impressively, Stuart took it upon himself to install the new irrigation system.

Stuart, his assistant Graham, and the hotel’s maintenance team worked around the clock to finish the project in just five days.

With the new Hunter irrigation system installed, Stuart believes that the course has reaped the benefits ever since.

A year of delivering recovery and growth

The resilience and agility of the horticulture sector have seen businesses from across the industry survive the extraordinary circumstances of 2020.

This remarkable achievement was recognised at the HTA AGM as Chairman James Barnes reassured members of the organisation’s commitment to representing the interests of growers, retailers and landscapers at the highest level with Government and in the media.

Presenting the HTA Annual Review to members, he said: “It seems a little strange talking now about 2019 results when we have all lived through such extraordinary times since - the conclusions of which a yet still to be played out.

“What I would like to say is how agile and resilient as an industry we have been.

“The innovation, the ingenuity, the effort - that people and businesses have created has been wonderful.”

Looking to the future, he explained that the association remains committed to raising the profile of horticulture as a growth industry and championing the need for clarity on topics such as plant health and trade as a postBrexit world draws nearer.

“We believe plant health will remain a dominant issue for our industry. In many ways it is something that rightly unites us all whether grower, retailer or landscaper,” he said.

At the meeting, held virtually for the first time, the President, Boyd Douglas-Davies thanked all those associated with the organisation for their hard work in testing times.

Lawn care entrepreneurs sow the seeds of future success

The business partners behind franchise operation Green Man Lawn Care are going for growth, with support from MercedesBenz Vans Colindale.

Having supplied its customer with a pair of new Vito 114 CDI models on a Mercedes-Benz Finance lease in 2019, the northwest London retailer has just delivered a second Approved Used Citan 109 CDI this year.

Stylish and practical, with sliding doors on both sides, the Vito is the mid-sized van from MercedesBenz, while the Citan is the smallest commercial vehicle ever

to wear a three-pointed star – it offers outstanding economy in the combined cycle of up to 65.7 mpg, and CO2 emissions as low as 112 g/km.

Two of the Mercedes-Benz vans are now in service with the Liverpool franchisee, whose ‘territory’ takes in the Wirral and Warrington, and extends to the edges of Manchester.

The other Vito is allocated to Green Man Lawn Care’s North Chelmsford franchisee, while the company itself is running the latest Citan.

HTA

KAR UK

Mercedes

Polaris introduces its new full-size Ranger line-up for 2021

Polaris has announced new models for its 2021 Ranger line-up – the industry’s No.1selling utility side-by-side vehicle – including the all-new Ranger 1000 purpose-built for farmers, hunters, and smallholding owners, offering the ultimate combination of price and performance.

“When there is a big job to do, the new RANGER 1000 is the perfect machine to help get it done and continue to build upon our hardest-working, smoothest-riding promise,” said Frederic Mardon, Product Manager of Polaris Off Road Europe, Middle East and Africa.

“Our new RANGER 1000 model has been engineered for work, designed for comfort and built to last, and we are pleased to be introducing this to our markets for 2021.

“We’ve also introduced huge new upgrades to our top-ofthe-line Ranger XP 1000, making it bolder than ever before.”

Top of the range and built to be the most capable and comfortable Ranger ever, the Ranger XP 1000 also receives notable upgrades for

2021; now featuring a brandnew look with the addition of striking LED headlights to the three-seater model, and new colour options.

Not only do the updated LED lights give the Ranger a more aggressive and premium look, but they also deliver 90-percent more output than the traditional halogen lights for improved visibility in low-light conditions, allowing riders to stay outside for longer to get the job done.

The Ranger XP 1000 EPS is available in Matte Navy with 12-inch aluminium wheels –for both three-seater and Crew models – and Polaris Pursuit Camo – for the three-seater only – as well as the new special edition finish – Nordic Pro.

Similar to the Ranger 1000, the Nordic Pro sees an incab heater fitted as standard, in addition to the sparkling black pearl paint finish with bright blue springs, 12-inch black aluminium wheels and a Polaris PRO Heavy-Duty 2041kg winch. The ABS version of the Ranger XP 1000 EPS is available in Burgundy Metallic

Polaris

On-the-go recycling for green spaces

This year more than ever, green spaces have been a lifeline to many, but the increased use has resulted to more litter not being recycled.

Leafield Environmental have been working closely with local authorities for many yearsand have recently re-designed their best-selling Heritage Square litter bin to offer an on-the-go recycling solution to keep green spaces clean.

Leafield’s Heritage Square binhas traditionally collected general waste, but due to the increased demand for on-the-go recycling, it is now available to collect mixed recyclables that is clearly identified by WRAP compliant colour coded labels. Its robust double wall structure for ultimate rigidity and durability makes it ideal for all-year round use. Available with a 110-litre liner or a 240-litre wheelie bin.

Leafield’s long standing Envirobank recycling collection is still a firm favourite with its front opening design allowing the waste to be emptied without any lifting. The units are available to collect plastic bottles, aluminium cans,

paper cups, paper and mixed recyclables. All featuring WRAP compliant colour coded labels and open, hole, slot or propeller aperture.

Available in two sizes; a 140litre unit or 240-litre unit. All of

Leafield’s standard black bins are made from 100% recycled material. Bespoke colours and personalisation of labels are available upon request.

Leafield Environmental

A mower that tackles so much more. So you can mow less.

With its innovative triple flail cutting system, the highly productive Toro LT-F3000 makes light work of longer, wetter or coarser grass so you can go longer between cuts, saving time and money. Plus the new cylinder attachment provides a finer finish when needed, too! What more could you ask for from just one machine? reesinkturfcare.co.uk

Get MORE from your turfcare partner this year: More products . More advice . More training . More finance

UltraScape launch a new permeable paving system

UltraScape perma-bed has been specifically designed with permeability in mind.

Formulated to drain away any water migrating into the pavement via cracks or damaged areas, perma-bed reduces water related pavement failures as rainwater will drain away naturally rather than sit on top of the stone, or worse, stay within the joint, freeze, expand and then break out.

UltraScape perma-bed exceeds the strict requirements of BS 7533 and is proven to provide a perfect bound base for natural stone paving, cobbles, concrete paving, flags and block paving. Completing UltraScape’s Permeable Paving System is premjoint - a next generation, high specification, decorative, brush-in jointing compound that can be applied by either a wet or dry method.

Instarmac

Weedingtech’s chemical-free foam kills coronavirus in under 10 seconds

Award-winning British technology used by local authorities around the world to kill weeds and algae without chemicals could prove a vital tool in the fight against coronavirus, research has shown.

The Foamstream technology, designed by Weedingtech, was originally invented as a herbicide-free way to control weeds, moss and algae in public spaces, including parks and city streets; but independent lab tests confirm it can quickly kill Covid-19 particles in under 10 seconds.

The Foamstream ‘wand’ emits near-boiling hot water, blended with natural plant oils and sugars including wheat, maize, potatoes, rapeseed and coconut oil on surfaces.

Independent laboratory research by BluTest, one of the United Kingdom’s leading laboratories and an

internationally recognised expert in virus testing, showed that Foamstream killed 99.99% of all coronavirus particles within seconds and without recourse to chemicals that might harm the environment or the public.

This makes it one of the fastestacting treatments for killing Covid-19 particles. Leo de Montaignac, CEO at Weedingtech, said: “We began exploring other uses for the technology beyond weed control last year, including the elimination of viruses –

something which is now more crucial than ever. As lockdown restrictions relax and children return to school and people enjoy public outdoor places again, it is vital they are safe.”

Weedingtech

Green-tree roof garden substrate specified for roof garden

Green-tech has announced that their Green-tree roof garden substrate was used in the awardwinning scheme installed by Palmer Landscapes.

Leodis Square, Sweet Street, Leeds is a city centre development project, comprising four apartment blocks of up to 12 storeys high.

The development is also home to two podium gardens; situated on the roofs of the on-site car parking, which form the courtyards for the apartments.

Palmer Landscapes is a commercial landscape contractor with 50 years’ experience behind them. The Leodis Square project took two years to complete and won them a 2020 BALI Award in the category Roof Gardens/ Living Wall Installations – Residential Roof Garden or Podium Landscaping – under 250k.

This complex project involved importing 550m3 of Green-tree

lightweight roof garden substrate, through narrow walkways up to the podium courtyard gardens.

Green-tree roof garden substrate is lightweight and free-draining and was purpose mixed for this site.

It is manufactured from an environmentally sustainable compost of recycled materials and lightweight aggregate.

Green-tree substrate was delivered to the site on a grab wagon. The substrate was then transferred to a pumping wagon and over 100m of pipeline was used for the substrate transfer.

Overall, it took seven days to complete the import of the substrate.

Smaller planted areas, employed a conveyor method where the substrate was placed on the conveyor belt tipped over the walls and barrowed to site.

Green-tech

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

Waterscapes’ irrigation expertise features at TV Centre

The irrigation system for the Television Centre in White City was designed by Waterscapes who were appointed by Gillespies, the landscape design architects.

The project required the most suitable irrigation products to meet the demands of the varied landscapes at the centre. Having also been appointed by the landscape contractor Gavin Jones Limited, Waterscapes worked with them to manage the time critical installation phases of the project.

Gillespies and Gavin Jones had every confidence in Waterscapes’ ability to design and apply different forms of irrigation to suit the variety of shrubs, trees and lawns within the different landscaped areas.

The public forecourt and terraces lead to the Helios Courtyard with private homes and landscaped gardens.

From there, residents can access the Crescent with its fully planted gardens. Waterscapes specified Rain Bird technology, supplied by LWS. “Rain Bird offers the most extensive and compatible range of irrigation products from any single manufacturer,” says Waterscapes’ MD, Paul Jeffery.

The irrigation plan featured over 70 different zones, so the ideal control system was the ESP LXD controller which allowed Waterscapes to set individually timed overnight automatic irrigation programs. Sensor decoders and software provide in-built flow management to calculate optimum flow rates.

FloManager manages the total system flow rate by dynamically selecting one or more stations that operate simultaneously to use the full capacity of the water source.

Around 6000 metres of surface Dripline irrigate densely planted ground cover and shrubs.

Over 300 sprinklers, including rotary nozzles for the lawns, are also featured. The design enabled Waterscapes to reduce pipe sizes and bring down the capital cost for the project.

Over 50 Rain Bird XB pointsource low flow emitters were specified to irrigate the rootballs of young specimen trees.

Duncan Ross Ltd install club’s first ever drainage system

Duncan Ross Ltd has completed the first-ever drainage installation at Egremont RFC after 80-years of the club playing at Bleach Green.

The Cumbrian rugby union team has invested heavily in their site over the last decade after storm Desmond flooded their pitch and destroyed their clubhouse in 2009.

With the help of RFU funding, they were able to redesign and rebuild a clubhouse that now hosts corporate events, with the income used to fund their youth development programme.

The contract was awarded to Duncan Ross Ltd and the challenge of bringing heavy machinery on to a small compact site without disrupting the corporate conferences and meetings taking place in the clubhouse was mitigated by close dialogue with the club’s project manager, Ian Marr.

This was crucial as it maintained the club’s income during the construction of the drainage system.

This close working relationship was critical throughout the

installation of the system and allowed issues, such as the large granite boulders found during the excavation of the lateral drains, to be dealt with quickly to keep the project on time.

Since completion, Egremont’s volunteer groundsman, Willy Maxwell, has nurtured the pitch back into service through regular cutting.

The new drainage system and pitch were given a stern test

during the 2019/20 rugby season hosting all of the club’s adult and youth fixtures through one of the wettest springs on record including three major storms, Ciara, Dennis and Jorge.

The final element of the drainage project was carried out after the end of the rugby season when the pitch was given two top dressings of sand followed by overseeding and vertical aeration.

Rainbird

Duncan Ross

The changing face of football stadium developments

The opening of the 62,000-capacity Tottenham Hotspur stadium in 2019 pushed new boundaries for football stadiums, with the new ground offering a number of unique and interesting features.

As well as featuring the world’s first dividing, retractable football pitch and the UK’s largest single-tier stand, the £1 billion stadium also became home to Europe’s longest bar and even a microbrewery, showing that nowadays stadiums are looking to cater to more than just their fan’s footballing appetite.

Construction industry analysts Glenigan have taken an indepth look at the ways in which football is changing its approach to the modern venue.

In many cases, clubs choose to develop their existing stadiums to offer increased capacity and additional/improved facilities, in order to improve profitability.

Liverpool Football Club are choosing to extend rather than build a new ground. The £60 million extension to the Anfield Road stand will provide an additional 4,800 seats, bringing the overall capacity up to 61,000.

In several cases, such as Crystal Palace’s £100 million Selhurst Park development this will also enable clubs to meet UEFA regulations around pitch sizes, and make them eligible to host tournament football.

Hospitality is becoming an exceptionally lucrative area for football clubs. “People follow the American model, where hospitality is playing a big part,” says Davendra Dabasia, director for major programmes and infrastructure at Mace. Hospitality has been a particularly successful way of generating revenue at Wembley, the Emirates Stadium and the Etihad Stadium.

Fulham Football Club are an example who chose this path. The Riverside Development at Craven Cottage is currently on-going and due to complete on-site in 2021. The £97 million extension is due to increase capacity at Craven Cottage to 29,600 as well as provide state-of-the-art concourses and hospitality lounges on matchdays.

Despite many clubs abandoning traditional plans to build new stadiums, some clubs are still choosing to do so. Most notably is the new Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium, the new 52,000 capacity ground home to Everton Football Club. Laing O’Rourke is the preferred bidder on the £500 million project, who have submitted detailed planning. Architects described its brick and steel construction as appearing to have “risen from the dock” in tribute to the city’s maritime history.

Away from the Premier League, other clubs are also preparing to build new stadiums, one with

an environmental focus. Forest Green Rovers have received outline planning consent for a new stadium made entirely out of wood. The £100 million, 5,000-capacity ground follows the club being officially recognised as the world’s first vegan football club in 2017.

Stadiums are increasingly being developed to include residential units. The number of both approvals and submissions for £10 million or more stadium developments, which

Kubota upgrades its popular G-Series line-up

Building on its reputation for developing innovative solutions for customers in the Groundcare market, Kubota is pleased to announce the launch of its newly updated and popular G-Series range of mowers.

These mowers have been specially developed to meet the professional groundcare needs of key customer segments such as councils, contractors and large property owners. There are two models in the new G-Series line-up, G231 and

G261, both available with low and high dump grass collectors. These models have eyecatching developments such as a new hydrostatic transmission (HST) designed to increase traction and grip.

The mowers are also equipped with powerful Kubota engines offering 23hp and 26hp, as well as an electromagnetic PTO clutch which replaces the hydraulic PTO, offering a more positive drive for consistent cutting performance.

Additionally, users of these new cutting-edge models will benefit from improved output, increased speed and greater comfort. G-Series mowers have been engineered to run faster and deliver improved mowing performance; saving time, money and effort for customers. The enhanced performance and adaptability of Kubota’s new G-Series also enables operators to work more efficiently across various types of terrain which can pose a multitude of challenges.

include residential units, was at its highest level between 2015-19, according to Glenigan data.

The new £62 million Brentford Community Stadium development (Project ID: 02419209), soon to be completed on-site, comprises 910 residential units. This new 17,250 capacity stadium will be home to both Brentford FC and London Irish RFC.

Glenigan

Wet or dry grass, long or short, collect or mulch, the PH 1250 and PH 1500 models take it all in their stride.

And it’s that flexibility that sets the Profihopper apart from the crowd.

The sharpened wing blades on the horizontal SmartCut rotor cleanly cut and shred the grass before conveying it via the cross auger on to that unique second vertical auger to be packed into the collection hopper - meaning less time emptying and more time mowing. To add to that versatility, the sward is rolled after cutting and scarifying comes as standard.

The more than adequate power is provided by engines that are already Stage V Exhaust emission compliant and require no AdBlue.

Don’t compromise - choose the machine that comes with more compaction built-in for maximum work rates and less emptying.

Contact the Amazone Team on: 01302 755 725.

Kubota

New Reform Metrac H75 is launched

quick hitch system while the high efficiency of the electrohydraulic power shift PTO provides power precisely when needed.

When four-wheel steering is active, the front and rear wheels run exactly in the same line, ensuring tension-free traction on more difficult terrain. Front, rear, four wheel and crab steering as well as offset fourwheel steering can easily be switched at the push of a button.

Operator comfort is catered for with a newly designed cab which has been completely decoupled from other vehicle components.

This results in a major reduction in noise level and significantly lowered vibrations.

One hundred per cent power and zero emissions

Available

UK

range Simon Richard Ltd, Reform Werke have announced the launch of the 75hp hydrostatic drive Metrac H75, the latest model in their multifunctional tool carrier range, serving the professional contractor, local authority and golf sectors.

The H75 is powered by a common rail diesel engine from Perkins, which complies with Tier V emissions level Classified as emissions level 5, the tractor has an impressive lifting force of 1500kg to both front and rear linkage for categories 1 or 2 and the rear can be equipped with a

The hydrostatic drive with two speed ranges and two terrain gear reductions enables continuous adaptation of the driving speed.

The system is completed by the electro-hydraulic spring brake with an auto hold function which allows smooth and judder-free setting off on slopes.

The ergonomic armrest with its central controls forms the basis for the easy operation of the new Metrac H75. It is attached to the driver’s seat, allowing fatigue-free working on any terrain, without interference from vibrations or slopes.

The multi-function joystick combines all functions for driving and for controlling the attachments. The focus here was on logical and intuitive operation.

The Cramer 82V range has over 30 commercial garden products designed specifically for the professional user, making it one of the most comprehensive and competitive cordless ranges in today’s market.

For the Autumn / Winter months Cramer have an extensive range including blowers (handheld and backpack), chainsaws, telescopic pole pruners, powered sweepers and powered utility carts, all of which work in all weather conditions thanks to their IPX4 classification, ensuring maximum productivity.

The powerful 82V battery offers market leading performance without overheating, as well as innovative features such as Magnesium components, fleet

connectivity, and ultra-high torque motors to offer true petrol rivalling performance for a fraction of the running costs, lower vibration and noise, and with zero emissions.

“We are delighted with the feedback from our customers on the exceptional performance of the 82V Commercial platform,” said Alan Wilson, Handy Distributions Cramer Specialist, UK distributor for Cramer.

“We are fortunate to have the widest commercial range on the market, from lawnmowers to chainsaws, sweepers and even utility carts, all powered from a single 82V battery.”

Insightful ICL technical update videos now available

With Anthracnose appearing to be on the increase in recent years, ICL Technical Managers Henry Bechelet and Dr Andy Owen, along with Dr Kate Entwistle from The Turf Disease Centre recently put together a short series of technical update videos that give an insight into the disease and the research that has been carried out looking at the various methods and ways in which it can be managed.

The videos will provide you with an opportunity to learn various successful methods and treatments and will enable you

to gain the upper hand when it comes to managing this all too common disease.

• Video 1: The disease and identification - With Dr Andy Owen and Dr Kate Entwistle

• Video 2: Background factors for developmentWith Dr Andy Owen and Henry Bechelet

• Video 3: Best management advice for control - With Dr Andy Owen and Henry Bechelet

through

Agent for the Reform

Simon Richard

Handy Distribution

SCH has solutions to keep you working

When it comes to efficiency and practicality, nothing compares to the Professional Leaf Suction Unit (PSU) which is hungry to clear up large areas of fallen leaves.

The PSU features a powerful 9hp Honda engine which is mounted next to the fan on a two-wheeled chassis.

An essential feature is that the fan is belt driven and not connected directly to the crankshaft; this increases the lifespan of the engine, as the engine does not get jolted if a rock is accidentally sucked up and hits the fan blades.

The green waste passing through the fan is chopped up and

propelled into the trailer, greatly increasing the storage density, allowing for fewer empties per day and saving a great deal of time and cost in labour.

The favourite way of using the unit is to attach it to the rear of a leaf collecting trailer. SCH manufacture specially adapted trailers with impressive storage, allowing leaves to be emptied somewhere more suitable.

Alternatively, they can send you a trailer adaption kit, allowing you to modify your own trailer, and SCH can even collect your trailer and modify it for you.

Supplies

Bionema launches BioProtection digital, classroom and bespoke training courses

Dennis keeping up appearances at Topsham BC

John Brand, Greenkeeper at Topsham Bowls Club in Exeter, insists that the Dennis FT510 and the Dennis Razor Ultra 560 are helping him to keep the reputation of Devon’s finest bowls green intact.

John chooses to use his trusty Dennis FT510 cylinder mower, which he has had for over a decade, as well as his newly purchased Dennis Razor Ultra 560.

The Dennis FT510, a 510mm (20”) cylinder mower fitted with the innovative interchangeable cassette system, is unrivalled as a mower and turf maintenance machine on all areas of fine turf.

A range of 11 cassettes mean that one machine can be used for several key maintenance tasks including scarifying, verticutting or brushing.

developed specifically to meet the demands of fine turf such as bowling greens, golf greens and cricket pitches.

With a 560mm (22”) cutting width, the Razor Ultra 560 incorporates many key features including an 11 bladed cutting cylinder, ultra-short wheelbase for undulating surfaces, tungsten tipped groomer, compact handle design for extra maneuverability, click height adjusters and stub free transport wheels for easy transport from site to site.

“The green is in great condition and that is partially because of these two mowers,” said John. “We’ve had the FT510 for a long time now and it has never let us down – I’ll still use that for verticutting.

to get rid of the long ends of the grass. It has worked wonders and it has really helped in thinning the turf which makes the bowl move more quickly across the green.

We normally cut down to 4mm and it offers a fantastic finish every time – the presentation is unrivalled.

Bionema, a UK based BioProtection (Biopesticide) technology developer, has launched digital, classroom and bespoke training courses to educate end-users, distributors and consultants on the effective use of BioProtection products as an alternative to chemical pest control.

BioProtection products are being developed and used across the world to ensure safe and sustainable agricultural.

However, many end users are not fully familiar with the effective use of biocontrol agents – such as nematodes fungi, bacteria, viruses and beneficial insects and need a better understanding of how best to apply them, as the way they are stored, handled, and applied are important considerations and can result in improved efficacy.

Bionema’s courses have been developed to maximise the efficacy

of biological products in a learning environment that suits customer needs and ensures product success.

The digital training courses are designed to allow self-paced learning in the delegate’s own time - giving flexibility to study around other commitments.

These courses have been written with the needs of commercial distributors and end users - such as growers, farmers, greenkeepers, grounds personnel, foresters, agronomists and integrated pest management practitioners – in mind.

Delegates can also learn in a classroom format and a bespoke version can be designed to reflect a client’s environment, knowledge and individual needs. Each course is worth 12 BASIS or 4 NRoSO CPD points.

John’s most recent addition, the Dennis Razor Ultra 560, has been Drayton Park Golf Club a course for all abilities designed and set out by James Braid, a five-time winner of the British Open Golf Championship, has recently added the GKB Sandspreader to maintain their picturesque grounds.

“The main reason we purchased the Razor Ultra 560 was because we wanted the grooming facility

“I really like the weight of the Razor Ultra too and it is doing the rolling at the same time.

The first of many GKB machines for Drayton Park GC

The GKB Sandspreader can also be delivered with four pivoting balloon tires for the perfect distribution of the weight on the grounds.

Removing the necessity of complicated and intricate use, the GKB Sandpsreader offers effortless and simple control.

With impeccable standards and a policy of continuous improvement, the GKB Sandspreader was the obvious choice for course manager Dale Housden.

Ranging from 1m3 to 4m3, there are several hopper capacity options in four different designs. The shape and design of the sand hoppers ensure efficient operation and a clear view along the machine. Dale adds, “Even with a slightly larger hopper capacity, the weight distribution is seriously impressive.”

“A top dresser is generally a simple machine to use, yet I have used a variety of brands before this GKB machine that seem to complicate controls. The GKB Sandspreader is simplistic yet effective,” praises Dale.

Impressed with GKB Machines for their fantastic customer service, Dale continues “Being a new customer to GKB I am thoroughly impressed with the sales, installation support and

aftercare thus far. With a team of nearly 200 people in Holland looking after sports fields and landscaping maintenance, GKB pulls experience directly from the field when developing machines.

Dale resumes, “The fact that GKB design from hands-on experience

“I would suggest that both of these mowers are essential for any greenkeeper.”

Dennis Mowers

with the end-users as their priority is thoroughly refreshing.”

Dale is excited to grow the relationship with GKB and is looking to purchase a GKB Sandfiller very soon.

GKB Machines

SCH

Bionema

Full maintenance programme with quality equipment from Campey

After 20-years of vying for control of their main Smiths Field site from Trafford Council, Unicorn Athletic JFC has begun life in charge with equipment from Campey Turf Care Systems.

The club is home to 34 teams and operates at different schools and pitches in the local area, with their main site used by the under-8’s Saturday club, youth teams from 14 years old and upwards and their open age group teams.

The New Holland Boomer 35, Trimax 190 Striker and SISIS Quadraplay will be vital for the community club as they aim to improve the condition of their site.

The story of their pitches over two decades is a sadly familiar one, with budgets cuts in the council leading to less and less maintenance and inconsistent mowing.

For Darren Storey, treasurer, part-time groundsman and operator of the walking football team, finally taking control of the maintenance will allow the club to give children playing in their teams the pitches they deserve.

He paid tribute to Campey: “From costing, to specifications and the equipment that we needed, and more importantly could afford, they’ve been great. They kept us updated at each stage, and we asked for upgrades like a tracker on the tractor, and although they don’t normally do it, they sorted it.

“We put a grant application into the Football Foundation which they helped us with, and without that, we wouldn’t have the equipment, so John Campey and his team have been very good.”

Campey Turf Care Systems

First impressions count with the SISIS Quadraplay

Nigel Mortimore, Head Groundsman at Topsham Rugby Football Club, is a strong believer in first impressions – and his SISIS Quadraplay is helping him to create a pitch that opposition teams will long remember.

After learning the fundamental skills of groundsmanship, Nigel’s attention soon turned towards new maintenance machinery. The SISIS Quadraplay had previously caught his eye and an evening with Keith Kent helped him make the final decision.

The SISIS Quadraplay multiple-purpose, single-pass maintenance incorporates a mounted frame for up to four implements such as grooming

rakes, spikers, slitters, rollers and brushes.

The implements can be fitted to the mainframe in any order and can be independently adjusted to achieve the desired effect.

Compact, robust, versatile and with the ability to carry out up to four operations simultaneously – the Quadraplay makes life a lot easier for many groundsmen.

Nigel believes that the machine has signalled major improvements to the pitches. He also claims that it is not just the home team that these improvements have had an impact on.

SISIS

Hard wearing 100% perennial ryegrass blend with tetraploid technology

Sports Field Renovation mix from Rigby Taylor is much more than a hard-wearing 100% amenity perennial ryegrass blend.

With robust tetraploid perennial ryegrass, this well-balanced blend grows and recovers in colder conditions and deep, dense rooting, provides improves stabilisation.

Tetraploid seed is higher energy than ultra-fine ryegrass, providing rapid germination and fast establishment when renovation windows are short.

Key features include:

• Germinates and grows in cold temperatures down to 40°C

• Quick establishment & Very hard wearing

• Excellent recovery with strong re-growth

• Early spring green-up and excellent winter colour

• Exceptional tolerance to a range of turf grass diseases including Leaf Spot

• Excellent colour and presentation

“We seeded 2 hectares of junior section match and development pitches with the Sports Field Renovation mix during the drought in August,” said Paul Wilson, Head Groundsman at Redcar Athletics FC.

“We had no rain, only a sea fret, which lasted around 24 hours, yet we had unbelievable germination just 5 days after sowing.

“|It’s established really fast and has beaten anything else I have ever used before hands down, especially on the problem area where we usually struggle.”

Rigby Taylor

“Even in wet weather, the Major Swift leaves a really great finish.”

Shaun Edwards, Cropper Grounds Management Ltd

Headland tank-mix protects Leicester Tigers

A weather forecast of significant rainfall combined with warm, humid temperatures means only one thing for grounds managers – high disease pressure.

For Leicester Tigers Rugby Club Head Groundsman Ed Mowe, the question was how to maximise the efficacy of a fungicide application given the approaching conditions.

The answer was a tank mix of Dedicate and Tangent SDR from Headland Amenity – applied in a window of just 60 minutes with phenomenal results.

“We sprayed the Dedicate and Tangent SDR mix, it ‘stuck’ to the plant and we emerged from the extremely high-pressure period with a stadium pitch clear of disease,” said Ed. “I have no doubt that without the inclusion of Tangent SDR, we would not have seen such impeccable protection.”

Applied in June, Tangent SDR is a natural spray additive that utilises the sticking effect of Terpineol to enhance spray retention on the grass leaf and improve uptake of the applied spray.

“It has fantastic low dilution rates making it a cost-effective way of making applications rainfast to maximise results” comments Ed. On this occasion, it was tank-mixed with Dedicate turf fungicide as a protectant against Fusarium Patch and Leaf Spot.

“We have also been using Tangent SDR with a plant growth regulator at our training ground which is frequently subject to strong winds. The ‘sticking’ effect has undoubtably helped us to save on chemical, and therefore money, there as well.”

ICL’s Riptide makes an impact

Exclusive to ICL, Riptide is the no1 ranked creeping bentgrass variety on the STRI lists. It is ideal for seeding new areas or when used for interseeding as part of a course renovation programme.

This fine-leaved, denselyshooting, creeping bentgrass establishes quickly, especially in spring, growing upright but low to the ground with high tiller shoot density and keeping its bright mid-green colour right through autumn and winter. In fact, Riptide, has gained a wide following throughout Europe and has been adopted by several UK courses due to its adaptability in a wide range of growing conditions.

When Ed Stant, Course Manager at Trentham Golf Club in Stoke-on-Trent, was looking to

incorporate a new seed for a new project, he found that Riptide was highly recommended.

Riptide responds very well to lower nutritional inputs and less frequent watering, potentially significantly reducing costs involved in a higher maintenance programme and offering a more sustainable approach; less fertilizer, fungicide, scarification and verti-cutting.

Riptide provides the opportunity to create excellent greens surface with lower inputs of fertilization and disease management. High tolerance against Michrodochium patch and Dollar spot reduces the frequency for fungicide applications.

ICL

OxyShot helps Air2Root fight against compaction

Air2Root Turfcare Limited pride themselves on using market leading machinery to bring a ‘breath of fresh air’ to compacted sports surfaces in and around the West Midlands.

The latest weapon in their armoury is an OxyShot from Charterhouse Turf Machinery which, with enhanced manoeuvrability and airinjection down to 500mm (20”), is helping them to shatter compaction easier and deeper in the profile than ever before.

The OxyShot uses a single 25mm probe to inject air into the soil in

four directions, at a pressure of up to 110psi and to a maximum depth of 500mm (20”).

It can also be fitted with an optional 14mm probe, to reduce the working depth to 250mm.

Together with use on cricket outfields, football and rugby pitches, Kevin also notes the demand for the OxyShot to deliver targeted air-injection around trees on golf courses and estates.

Headland Amenity

Charterhouse Turf Machinery

Stopping the alien invasion – how to control invasive weed species

Non-native weeds are an ongoing concern for the UK with 36 species currently documented by the government as ‘invasive alien plants’.

Among these, Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed are particularly hard to control and are most likely to be encountered by an amenity contractor.

Dr Colin Mumford, technical support manager at Bayer, explains why they are a problem and what to do in response.

“Non-native species are very damaging to our ecosystems,” says Colin. “They will rapidly establish and takeover an area, limiting the growth and spread of native plant species, which are the foundation food source and habitat for insects and ultimately the whole food chain.

“For example, giant hogweed is a very big plant, as the name suggests. It grows on riverbanks and by limiting the growth of other vegetation, which would naturally provide stability to the riverbank, there is the risk of erosion,” he says.

“This weed also presents a significant health and safety concern as its sap can cause blistering if it comes into contact with skin.”

Colin adds that not only do these species cause damage to our natural habitats but can also cause problems in our homes.

“Japanese knotweed has hit the headlines in recent years because of its potential to cause damage to residential property. Because of this, laws have been passed that allow prosecution of anyone who permits the plant to spread to a neighbouring property.

“Mortgage companies have also been reluctant to support

the purchase of a house with a known Japanese knotweed infestation,” he adds.

“Essentially these weeds aren’t welcome on our shores and can cause severe knock-on effects to the entire food chain and ecosystem, meaning it’s vital to do everything possible to eliminate these damaging species,” says Colin.

A strategy for controlling invasive species Colin explains that because these weeds are all different, a bespoke approach is needed to ensure they are controlled effectively.

Japanese Knotweed

Notoriously hard to control, this weed is best controlled with a strict chemical control strategy.

The world’s largest ongoing field trial on Japanese knotweed control, cited in Jones (2020) , found the use of glyphosate-based herbicides at the time when the plant was most vulnerable, was the most effective way of controlling the weed.

“Timings are very important when it comes to controlling Japanese knotweed and this study found that glyphosatebased herbicides were most effective when applied from mid-summer to late autumn, when active growth is occurring,” says Colin.

“This is because resources are being drawn down from above ground growth into the roots, which means the herbicide can be translocated into the rhizome (roots), which is how the plant spreads.

“One thing to remember is that there’s no quick fix and a strict and ongoing control programme will be needed.”

This research suggests three different control methods: biannual foliar spray at half the maximum application rate; stem injection into the plant stump in the first year of treatment; annual foliar spray once a year at the maximum application rate.

“For more information on this Japanese knotweed trial and how to control it visit the Welsh government website for their public information guide,” says Colin.

Giant hogweed Colin explains that as with Japanese knotweed, timing of control is vital with giant hogweed.

“Herbicides need to be applied to the plant when it’s actively growing, so that the active ingredient is translocated around the whole plant.

“It’s important not to apply when the plant is flowering but at either the leaf stage ahead

of stem extension or after flowering but while the plant is still actively growing. As this plant thrives near watercourses, it’s important to only use control strategies that are safe to use in these areas,” explains Colin.

“Roundup Proactive and Provantage (both containing glyphosate) are both safe to use near water and can be used on aquatic plants, so are a good herbicide option in this instance.”

Colin adds that these plants can be controlled by digging with a spade but warns that this isn’t as effective, can cause seeds to spread and add further risks to operators from the dangerous sap of the plant.

Considering this he advises anyone called out to control this weed to wear full PPE to protect against the damaging effects of the sap.

Bayer

Minimise maintenance and maximise productivity

Two new trailed Major Swift roller mowers are pushing Cropper Grounds Management to higher productivity and improved commercial efficiency in Staffordshire, England.

Cropper Grounds Management Ltd, based in Stoke-on-Trent, is a full-service grounds maintenance and management company.

The company was founded in 2001 and focuses on providing a high-quality service to its customer base and today, employs over 90 staff members.

Managing Director, Shaun Edwards stated, “Our services include grass cutting, sports field maintenance, playground management and a whole host more.

“We take pride in ensuring our customers are totally satisfied with our services and many of our existing customers have been with us since the early days.”

With such a high number of schools and sports facilities within their customer remit, wide areas of grassland maintenance accounts for a high proportion of their daily work demands.

Since they started their business, Cropper Grounds Management have gained considerable experience in

which machines work best and deliver best value-for-money.

Added Shaun, “With us having a lot of acreage to cover in a strict time period, downtime is something we must avoid. Recently, we took delivery of two new 6m Major trailed roller mowers, through our local dealer GGM Groundscare.

“We chose these because we wanted to minimise maintenance and maximise productivity. These new mowers are working ten hours a day and their productivity means we are saving at least an hour a day over previous equipment.”

The new Major mowers that Cropper Grounds Management acquired are gear-driven and therefore don’t have a belt drive, which can often become a maintenance issue.

Folding wings brings down the transport width of just 2.6m, ideal for road work when travelling from one customer to the next.

Commented Shaun, “We’ve found that even in the recent wet weather conditions we’ve experienced, it doesn’t hold us up because the Major Swift just gets on with its job and leaves a really great finish. I just can’t fault it.”

Major Equipment

MM60 turns on the style at the Kassam Versatile Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi 8HD gives peace of mind

Mark Walker, owner of Grasstek, has been widely praised for improving the pitch at Oxford United FC’s Kassam Stadium – with the club’s manager, Karl Robinson, even claiming that it has played a huge part in helping to improve the team’s style of play.

Mark took on the maintenance of the pitch at the Kassam Stadium in December 2018 and immediately knew that it was a project which would require his undivided attention.

With an expert team in place, Grasstek got straight to work. The previous summer’s renovations had not been highly successful so Mark knew that they would have to delve deeper.

“I had used Limagrain seed previously in which I overseeded driving range outdoor teeing areas and target greens with MM50 so I already knew that it would be a good seed,” he said.

“MM60 was recommended to me by an agronomist friend and I’m pleased I took his advice.”

MM60 is a 100% ryegrass formula which is renowned for producing an excellent playing surface – particularly on winter pitches. It is perfect for renovation and divot repair, has a high disease resistance, fantastic aesthetic qualities and offers extremely fast germination –which is boosted by the inclusion of Headstart GOLD.

Limagrain

Toro’s Titan tines built to last up to four times longer

Built to take on the toughest of tasks, Toro’s Titan tines last up to four times longer than standard tines, meaning fewer change-outs and replacements for greater productivity.

There’s a reason the titans of the tines industry are known as the turf professional’s secret weapon when it comes to aerating.

When you choose Toro’s Titan tines, you’re guaranteed more choice, more longevity, more productivity, more strength, more play and more reliability too.

Made by combining a strong alloy with a unique heat treatment process, Toro’s Titan tines provide maximum strength and resistance to wear.

The durable tungstencarbide tips produce superior, consistent holes for faster turf recovery and a speedier return to play.

The tough design of Toro’s Titan tines, with hard-wearing brazed tip joints for in-built resistance to separation and breakage, importantly help maintain consistent aeration depths and reduces costly change-out and associated downtime.

But the benefits don’t end there. There are over 150 Toro Titan tines available covering all possible aeration applications.

Whether you’ll be coring, slicing or spiking, hollow, solid or deep tining, or using

.LAPU Leaf Collection_Layout 1 08/07/2019 13:01 Page 1

water injection cultivation or ‘linear’ aeration, there’s a Titan tine for every need.

Plus, all Titan tines fit current and late model Toro aerators

and the standard mount size fits other manufacturer aerators, too.

Reesink Turfcare

Lancashire’s Bentham Golf Club has chosen a Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi8 HD to help its team make the most of weather windows.

The course has seen additional member traffic, prompting the purchase of a deep aerator.

runs quietly and quickly. The speed is just great, it buys peace of mind that the job will get done.

“After the initial phase, the aeration programme going forward is to be out little and often. The speed and easy operation mean every three to four weeks.

“Immediately after installation we got all tees spiked with 20 mm tines to 10 cm with 5 degrees of heave,” he said.

“Next day, one of the lads started tackling the fairways to 15 cm. You don’t need extra spanners; it’s a tool free and

“Even across the summer, we can get some discreet work done without golfers knowing.”

Bentham Golf Club is supplied by local dealer Balmer’s Gar den Machinery, at Burnley. Wiedenmann

The Tipping Trailer Leaf Sucker (Ref: TPSU) Towed Sweeper & Collector Towed & Push Leaf Blower Suction Unit Honda Engine Wandering Hose

Ref: PSU get ready for the big tidy up!

MADE IN BRITAIN SCH manufacture a wide range of powerful petrol engined leaf blowers, leaf collection units, and accompanying trailers.

Contact us today for a FREE brochure featuring over 200 British products, or visit our website to find out more.

The INFINICUT® range provides more functionality than any other pedestrian mower - while providing an unrivalled quality of cut. www.infinicut.com @Infinicut GOLF & SPORTS TURF 01473 328272 • sales@schsupplies.co.uk • www.schsupplies.co.uk

For head greenkeeper, Shaun Conway it marks another positive step for the northern club.

•

FieldLazer puts

on the right lines to success

field marking and parking lot stripers

• High pressure battery powered marking machines

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

Grassline keeps customers on track

Family-owned Grassline has been offering specialist sports and groundscare products and services for more than 25 years.

It manufactures high quality and performance line marking paints, as well as a range of quality line marking machines which are supplied throughout the UK and Europe from grassroots to clubs elite and professional sports.

All Grassline’s line marking paints are safe, non-hazardous, organic and bio-degradable.

The company’s products are available direct and the Grassline website includes full product information, as well as useful technical data and information sheets for each of their products.

Grassline

Turf Tank make Robotic LineMarking affordable

Makers of the world’s most accurate GPS line marking robot, Turf Tank, has announced new and affordable subscription options for the United Kingdom.

Android-based Supaturf SWOZI raises the bar

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

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

The technology already allows sports contractors and site-based

grounds professionals to mark out far more pitches in a day than when using traditional machines.

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

Vitax

The new subscription packages aim to make robotic line marking affordable for all, take the customer experience to an entirely new level and allow users to benefit from an instant return on investment.

The benefits of a subscription include unlimited software updates, access to a worldclass support team, limited product warranty and an annual supply of paint.

Lettering and number stencilling, plus all the accessories for operating the robot including the tablet and nozzles come as standard, and customers can choose from three different subscriptions

for a package that best suits their needs.

Turf Tank CEO, Olav Jørgensen, said: “With positive feedback from our US customers, we are now ready to focus more on the European market and introduce our subscription choice to sports facilities all over the UK.

“Our generous leasing options are suitable for organisations of all types and sizes.

“We offer services for small clubs with one sports field to more complex packages for schools, universities, parks and recreation, pro teams and stadiums, which include annual paint supply, 24/7 customer support, logo creation and unique robot wrapping solutions.”

Turf Tank

Graco

Expert advice is part of the Fleet Line Markers package

McGuffie, Managing Director Fleet Line Markers Ltd,

How does a groundsman choose a line marker and the best paint to mark his grass football fields?

A very good question. First decide on the standard of marking.

If quality of line is the most important then a Beamrider is recognised as the most accurate line marker in the world today.

The Lines are straighter and combined with Fleet paint are simply the best.

If you have a lot of fields to mark, speed and cost effectiveness is paramount, then the MAQA must be the choice for the discerning groundsman. This is a semi-automated GPS line marker.

of GPS line markers. Foreign branded machines could have back-up problems compounded by COVID-19.

How about a cost-effective standard line marker?

The Kombi is the most popular line marker in the world.

Fleet are extremely proud to have designed and manufactured this truly iconic line marker. There is no better evidence of success than the 50,000+ Kombis that have been sold.

Are there any future developments coming? We have been working hard throughout lockdown on a new ready to use machine. This will be released next year.

Alongside this a new, even more cost effective, ready to use paint is due to be launched early 2021, making Fleet’s future extremely exciting.

Surely it is better to have a robot?

In my opinion the reliability and the ease of use is not there yet with the robot.

The price of robots have fallen considerably but still you are going to pay over £10,000 for a robot.

Fleet have more GPS guided machines by far in the UK than any other company, but we have had a long learning curve.

The MAQA can mark the equivalent of 21 full sized football fields from scratch before lunch (proven data, fully documented).

I believe line marking robots are getting better, and maybe when they are available for under £5000, it may be a viable choice.

Is there a good support network for the MAQA?

Yes. Fleet’s GPS engineers are based in the UK, and Fleet are the only UK manufacturers

How do I choose the best paint?

Simple, first call Fleet, and the sales can advise, or a salesman can demonstrate.

Fleet paints are the most advanced paints that are available, but also the most cost effective.

Giving the lowest possible price per field and still giving a quality line.

What about future plans for Fleet?

Fleet are the largest specialised sports line marking paint manufacturers. A great UK success story.

Our 5 year plan includes building more factories, this will add to our 9 factories across the world, and increase our production and buying power, giving our customers the best products and value for money.

Iain

takes part in a Q&A on choosing the right products for the right tasks.

Fleet Line Markers

Remarkable robotic technology - the future is here

Rigby Taylor’s new TinyLineMarker (TLM) SPORT features the latest GPS-RTK technology to deliver mm levels of line accuracy.

Operation of the TLM Sport is so easy. Using the supplied tablet and selected template the robot is positioned on the pitch to be marked, the paint flow tube is inserted into the 5 litre Impact paint container and the robot does the rest.

In the case of a football pitch, the TLM Sport will mark all the perimeter lines, the corner arcs, centre circle, the ‘D’, goal mouth box and even the penalty spot, using just 3 litres of paint to mark the complete pitch, in just 20 minutes.

Marking out lines on natural grass sports pitches and athletic surfaces, is time-consuming as well as labour and equipment intensive.

The operator can carry out additional tasks such as aeration, mowing, spraying, spreading etc. simultaneously whilst the TLM SPORT does the marking, making the most of valuable resources particularly when seasonal workload is at its’ peak.

With TLM Sport you have access to over 50 templates that can be downloaded onto the supplied tablet. In the case of initial marking, once the surfaces scheduled to be marked has been completed, the location and markings are stored and can be retrieved and replicated at any time.

The TLM Sport has front and side bumper strips and integral ultra sonic, intelligent sensors to protect from damage and detect any obstacle, pedestrian or an animal in its path.

When activated the robot slows down and if the object does not move, will gently bump against it, stop and immediately notify the operator via the tablet.

The TLM Sport weighs just 25 kilos but with its robust design, electric brushless motor, reliable ball bearings and bumper protection it has a long service life and requires little maintenance.

CO 2 emissions and water conservation continue to attract an increasing level of interest, making the TLM SPORT the instinctive choice for initial and over-marking pitches time after time. With its batter powered, low energy consumption, zero

fuel or emissions and, with the use of Impact ready to use paint, no added water, the TLM Sport is the eco-smart choice.

The combination of TLM Sport and Impact delivers fast and accurate spray application with bright white, long lasting lines.

The award-winning Impact paint is used straight from its container; no measuring, no mixing, no waste.

Rigby Taylor

Cost efficiency

Headland Amenity praised for pitch transformation

Carel Fourie has been turning his hand to the maintenance at Holwell Sports FC.

Assisting Carel with the transition from fine turf to sports turf has been Alex Hawkes of Headland Amenity, who has overseen the construction of a nutritional programme that has boosted the health, appearance and playability of the Welby Road pitch.

Following soil sampling and analysis by Alex, a programme was introduced based around Multigreen temperaturecontrolled release fertiliser.

With field longevity of five to six months, Carel applies

Multigreen 28-3-15 in early summer and follows this up with an application of the 150-22 formulation in September.

While Carel uses a range of Headland products in his nutritional programme, worth particular note are a tank mix of Elevate Fe, Xtend and Clipless NT which is applied every six weeks through the summer to boost the visual qualities, together with a combination of Turfcomplex and TriCure AD which has proven to successfully nurse the pitch through periods of dry weather and drought.

Nutri-Link fertiliser feeds turf surface nutritional demands

Rigby Taylor’s Nutri-Link nutritional and bio-stimulant system is suitable for a wide range of turf surfaces, including sand-based constructions.

Comprising six specially formulated liquid fertilisers, the Nutri-Link fertiliser is applied as a foliar spray that is taken up by both the leaf and the root.

Designed and formulated to supplement granular applications, and for use either stand-alone or in support of an in-season programme, Nutri-Link provides a host of benefits: enhanced root mass

and depth; increased tillering and denser sward; improved disease tolerance; better drought resistance; rapid recovery from wear and mechanical damage; enhanced and extended greening; more rapid germination; reduced salt toxicity; greater tolerance to excessive temperature; improved photosynthetic capability; and enhanced carbon sequestration.

Nutri-Link’s components provide multiple solutions to both the macro and micro problems that confront today’s grounds staff - including soil structure, microbial activity, biotic and abiotic stresses.

DJ Turfcare has new Autumn Lawn Treatment

Viano’s all-new Autumn Lawn Treatment is now back in stock with DJ Lawncare and ready for delivery to UK garden centres.

Launched just last month, this innovative treatment which provides a unique organic-based fertiliser specifically designed for use between August and November to destroy moss, stimulate strong roots and provide 100 days of treatment for greener, thicker, more diseaseresistant lawns, has proven incredibly popular with retailers who were quick to snap up stock.

With the first consignment selling out in record time, there is now a second opportunity for garden centres to secure stock ahead of this vital period for lawn maintenance.

Simply put, Autumn Lawn Treatment – exclusively

available from DJ Turfcare - is the first defence against the ravages of winter and is designed to prepare the lawn for the spring.

Like its popular Recovery product, DJ Turfcare’s new Autumn Lawn Treatment will benefit from the inclusion of Humifirst. This unique ingredient creates biological activity and acts as a plant growth stimulant, making it perfect to use as an autumn lawn treatment. Autumn Lawn Treatment is safe to use around pets and children.

DJ Turfcare’s wider organicbased product offering includes the bestselling RHS-endorsed MO Bacter, MO Bacter Instant, Recovery and Bio-Lime. All products are supported by quick delivery within five days.

DJ Turfcare

This synergistic approach results in improved plant health and performance; the components’ individual strengths when

working together provide greater benefits than if used singly.

Sports and amenity turfgrass specialist, Germinal GB, has announced the launch of a new range of off-the-shelf seed and fertiliser packages aimed at simplifying the process of selecting and purchasing sports pitch renovation products.

Containing everything needed to overseed and feed tired and worn sports pitches, the budget-friendly packages contain top quality grass seed and the necessary fertilisers required to ensure the new sward germinates as quickly as

possible and continues to thrive once established.

Three sport pitch renovation packages have been announced, all of which are based around the use of Germinal’s A30 Rapid Sports Renovator Plus seed mixture and NovaTec Premium slow release fertiliser.

The third ‘Pro-Pitch’ option also includes Germinal’s G13 ProteKt autumn/winter fertiliser.

Headland Amenity

Rigby Taylor

Enhanced cover for Kioti Mechron K9 UTVs

Kioti UK is pleased to announce that all new Kioti Mechron K9 units now have enhanced warranty cover with a full two years with unlimited hours.

Kioti UK General Manager Patrick Desmond says: “The Kioti products are a high quality prestigious range of side by side utility vehicles.

“We now have the market leading warranty package to support them.

“The purpose of these new terms is to give our dealers additional support, and the end user customers extra confidence during the buying process.

“We emphasise that this is a manufacturer’s warranty with no additional fees unlike some insurance offerings. This is the confidence that Kioti has in the products.”

The Kioti K9 2400 model is available either with plain ROPS, canopy and screen (with or without half doors), or a full cabin with heater we will have a specification to suit you.

The Mechron 2400 seats 3 persons comfortably making it the ideal vehicle to move your staff and tools around.

The Mechron 2400 is homologated for the road and

have a high ground clearance. It is therefore ideal for all ground terrains and work.

A well finished full cabin with heater and excellent visibility is available as an option. The new CVT transmission is smooth on the uptake and slowing down.

Low noise and minimal vibrations are also characteristics of this new model.

A Urethane coated rear bed will ensure that the unit stays looking good for many years.

New technology works well for North Shore

Etesia UK’s environmentally friendly Donky electric wheel barrow has quickly become a popular choice for those responsible for landscape management with many green space managers praising the machine for making site work a lot easier.

The new Donky offers its operators even more versatility with the ability to customise the electric wheelbarrow. The classic plastic tub can now be removed and replaced with whatever is required for the task ahead.

Users may choose to attach a wooden board for transport or assembly of work equipment, or alternatively they may opt for the all new tin tub which will ensure that it is even more robust.

The Donky is not just comfortable, environmentally friendly and silent, it is also

a true tool carrier; with its exclusive MRM tray and accessories, it will help you in a large variety of jobs throughout the year from cleaning, landscaping, snow removal, transportation of liquids and work platforms.

It allows the transport of bulky products (boards, cross member, closing fabric and reel), and provides a working surface at a suitable height.

The Donky also features a tray emptying function which is achieved by a central lever, with unlocking and assistance.

With a powerful 1700 W engine, electronic advance management and two driving wheels with an agricultural profile, the Donky has an impressive capacity to move in difficult terrain.

Unlike non-electric motorised wheelbarrows, users can enjoy up to two days of work without any harmful pollutants

Set on the Lincolnshire coast with beautiful views over the North Sea, the James Braid designed North Shore golf course at Skegness offers a challenge to all levels of golfer with its interesting and attractive mixture of links and parkland holes crossing over each other in two loops of nine.

The pandemic interrupted, but ultimately did not affect, an order for the club’s first new fleet of John Deere course maintenance equipment from local dealer F G Adamson & Son of Langworth near Lincoln. This was originally finalised before the lockdown started, but with the closure of the club’s popular hotel as well as the course, payment had to be postponed.

“John Deere Financial were very understanding and flexible about the finance lease on the new kit,”

says William. “This has been structured around a six-year seasonal profile matched to our normal income stream, based on membership renewals in April and summer visitors to both the course and hotel. The whole deal has been very straightforward and works very well for the club, especially in the current circumstances.

Kioti UK

– in turn helping to protect the environment.

Etesia UK

John Deere

British mower manufacturer, Ransomes, is launching the HR380 Outfront Rotary and Flail mower, a machine designed to put the operator first.

Working with professionals across landscaping, municipal and commercial mowing, Ransomes product manager, Lee Kristensen, has led the development of the HR380 with the people who use it as the focus.

The mower can be operated with a rotary or Muthing Flail deck to maximise productivity and cut quality, whilst there are options to store additional equipment needed for a day’s work on the mower.

Integrated LED lights and mirrors allow for safe on-road transportation between sites, and an electronic hydraulic parking brake ensures confident slope holding.

Following the government announcement last week and the many uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the next LAMMA show will now be held on 2526th May 2021.

Commenting on the decision, Elisabeth Mork-Eidem, Group Events Director at AgriBriefing said: “The LAMMA show is a key part of the industry calendar, and we have seen an amazing amount of support from all our loyal exhibitors throughout this year.

“We know how much everyone wants the show to take place; we’ve had record advance

bookings with more exhibitors being signed up, even in the last few weeks, and lots of interest from visitors to attend.

“However, pushing on with a January show under the current circumstances does not feel like the right thing to do.

“This has not been an easy decision but listening to the wishes of visitors, exhibitors and sponsors, this will provide the best opportunity to ensure that everyone gets the experience and the value they have come to expect from LAMMA.”

LAMMA

Vanmac Ltd have announced they are now an authorised full line distributor for the Brouwer Kesmac portfolio of turf and groundcare machinery.

With a long-standing, established reputation in the turf grower sector, the Brouwer Kesmac range of harvesters and pedestrian rollers, together with trailed verti-cutters, aerators and cylinder mowers are now available to local authorities, landscapers and grounds managers via Vanmac in the UK.

Founded by Gerry Brouwer and his son Eric in Ontario,

Canada, Brouwer Kesmac is now established worldwide, built on a reputation of developing innovative equipment solutions that deliver quality and reliability.

Vanmac Ltd, known throughout the UK for the distribution of the Trilo range of blowers & vacs, will offer sales and service support across the full range of Brouwer Kesmac products, along with supplying a vast selection of spare partswhich will be available to order through Vanmac Ltd’s website.

Vanmac Ltd

Ransomes

ECHO has introduced a new professional chainsaw, the CS7310SX, which is the largest in the current range and features a low emission, premium-grade 73.5cc engine with an output of 4.1kW.

A heavy-duty, rear handle chainsaw the CS-7310SX is part of the ECHO X Series which designates it as a bestin-class product and as such it’s packed with features designed to increase the productivity of the professional user.

ECHO says they have built this for the many arborists and landscapers using these types of saws regularly to fell large trees

They add that the professionalgrade ECHO 2-stroke engine is designed and manufactured in Japan to the highest possible standards, delivering powerful cutting with low emissions and noise levels.

There is no question it generates massive torque and provides exceptional cutting performance for heavy-duty felling.

And yet it is a lightweight and well-balanced saw, weighing in at only 6.8kg (dry weight) and featuring an ergonomic and robust construction to meet the challenges of professional felling and forestry work.

ECHO

ECHO launches largest professional chainsaw Isuzu sets the standard for Bartlett Tree Experts

Isuzu trucks are the standard ‘go to’ vehicle for arboriculture in the UK, according to leading company Bartlett Tree Experts, who has recently added a further five new Isuzus to its nationwide transport fleet.

These latest additions at Bartlett means that the company now operates over 45 Isuzus in total. Bartlett’s affinity with Isuzu goes back many years and they are probably one of the longest Isuzu operators in the UK having taken their first Isuzu vehicle back in 1998.

The latest order for five new vehicles at Bartlett consists of three Isuzu Grafter 3.5 tonne tipper trucks as well as two Isuzu 7.5 tonne rigid tippers that will be working in the company locations

in Beaconsfield, St Albans, Sevenoaks and Manchester.

Working with teams of two and three operatives, as selfcontained crews, both the Isuzu Grafter 3.5 tonne and 7.5 tonne rigid tippers tow a range of chippers when out on location.

Bartlett Tree Experts expects longevity out of all of its vehicles and will be looking to run these new Isuzus for between eight and 10 years.

Here in the UK, Bartlett Tree Experts provides its services to both residential and commercial customers all over the country, using a fleet of vehicles based primarily on the Isuzu marque.

Isuzu

Year round Wiedenmann Super 500 is ultra-versatile

Wiedenmann UK’s Super 500 is the machine that keeps on giving, even as seasons change. Depending on the attachments employed, it can be a sweeper, scarifier, flail mower and fraise mower; it is also a turf friendly collector of debris and leaves. Attachments can be air paddles, flail blades, and/or verticutting blades.

Ever popular among contractors, estates and golf course managers, the Super 500 works across all temperatures. Its versatility even on frosty days means they can rely on the Super 500 to be productive.

The 2.1m high dump facility on the CHD model allows for easy tipping into bins and trailers and this also comes as standard on the basic sweeping model.

The container lifts via a parallel system, with the hopper rotating, allowing the hopper to completely discharge collected material. Leaves, clippings and debris are vacuum packed in its huge 2500 litre tank thanks to high airflow.

Four large low-pressure tyres minimise any turf footprint while the parallelogram guided sweeper head ensures that implements maintain an optimal working position at all times. This is a key safety advantage as its floating head ensures a clean pass over undulating ground.

With safety to the fore an optional floating rear axle allows the Super 500 to follow undulating terrain easily.

Wiedenmann UK

Harness the power of Isuzu

Ariens’ fanbase continues to grow

Ariens pride themselves on building with engineering excellence and this family company has been doing so for 80 years, distributing products in the US and Europe.

It’s no wonder Ariens has become one of the fastestgrowing zero-turn brands in the UK for both commercial and domestic machines.

It’s now widely recognised zero-turn mowing is faster, more productive and costeffective than any other method. The ability to turn on

its axis and negotiate around obstacles with ease reduces mowing time by up to 50% while the comfort of the machine means the operator is able to work for longer periods.

Ariens zero-turns boast powerful engines and premium cut quality while maintenance is straightforward.

It all adds up to greater productivity and related increased profitability for the commercial operator.

Ariens

New backhoe attachment for Bobcat compact loaders

Bobcat has launched a new generation backhoe attachment for the company’s skid-steer and compact track loaders.

The new backhoe attachment converts a Bobcat loader into a powerful excavator, allowing customers to increase the versatility of their machines and the return on their investment.

The new generation backhoe attachment is ideal for applications in construction, utility, road work, landscaping, and other industries.

It is available in four configurations [the two Versatile (V) B32V and B35V models and the two Standard (S) B32S and B35S models] that offer a choice of digging depths, reach and hook-up systems.

The largest model in the range offers a maximum digging depth of 3.3m and a maximum reach of 4m.

Unlike the Standard models, the Versatile versions of the backhoe attachment can be equipped with additional hydraulic attachments such as augers and breakers.

Versatility and time-saving efficiency have always been great features of Bobcat compact loaders, with the quick-change Bob-Tach attachment mounting system,

allowing them to be combined quickly and safely with over 100 different families of Bobcat attachments.

Etesia dealer network continues to grow

The Etesia UK dealer network continues to grow and the company is delighted to strengthen its relationship with current dealer Sharrocks and welcome Powercut to the family.

Sharrocks continues to go from strength to strength as an Etesia and Pellenc dealer.

The company is a specialist machinery supplier of tractors, professional and domestic turf machinery and both agricultural and arboricultural kit.

For over fifty-five years the family owned business, which is now in its 4th generation, has delivered a well trusted and respected service.

The company was first appointed as an Etesia dealer back in 2017 and saw instant success – so much so, that just last year the company expanded its areas.

This second expansion now sees Sharrocks supplying the full range of Etesia and Pellenc equipment to the areas of Birmingham, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire, and West, East and North Yorkshire.

In further good news, the Etesia dealer network continues to grow after Powercut, based in Cwmffrwd, Carmarthen, was announced as a new dealer for the full range of Etesia pedestrian mowers.

Powercut started trading in 1984 and as well as new and used equipment sales, covering everything from strimmers to lawnmowers and tractors, the company offers a huge array of parts on site and a comprehensive service facility offering diagnostics, scheduled maintenance and repairs for all types of horticultural machinery.

Etesia pedestrian mowers provide absolute efficiency, excellent ergonomics and topquality standards.

The mowers are designed to offer unique cutting capabilities in all weathers – even the wet, comfort and safety at work and unrivalled reliability and productivity.

The full range of Etesia pedestrian mowers are now available from Powercut with immediate effect.

Bobcat

Bespoke DLF Wildflower mix brightens the landscape

A wildflower meadow at the heart of a brand-new retirement village in Alcester has been praised for its outstanding, longlasting visual impact. For the contractors, HFN Landscapes, the project was fraught with challenges – difficult ground conditions and high magnesium soil required a bespoke mixture, created by DLF Seeds.

and was greeted by what could only be described as a 20,000 square metre mud bath.

“We used ProMaster 25 in a lot of the transition areas on the site, then when it came to the Wildflower meadow, we provided the architects’ specification alongside the soil analysis to Paul Hadley at DLF.”

DLF produce a range of native wild flower mixtures to suit different soil types, however high

magnesium was identified, which can contribute to deterioration of clay soil structures, reducing infiltration rates and causing an environment not conducive for effective germination.

With this in mind, Paul formulated a bespoke wildflower mixture including species that can tolerate a mixture of environmental

conditions such as Knapweeds and Buttercups, together with a number of indicator species including Wild Marjoram, more akin to alkali soils. To deliver an initial boost of colour in the meadow’s nursery year, a selection of Cornfield Annuals were also incorporated.

New 25L and 60L package sizes from Aspen Fuel

To meet the ever-growing demand from commercial customers, Aspen Fuel have announced the introduction of two new package sizes to their range of 2-stroke and 4-stroke Alkylate Petrol.

In addition to the standard 5L and 200L units, new for 2020 are 25L and 60L options.

These new sizes give users the flexibility to specify their fuel quantity by the container, pallet or drum that best suits their usage, storage and transportation requirements.

Being virtually free from sulphur, benzene and other harmful substances found in

regular pump fuel, hazardous emissions from equipment running on Aspen Alkylate Petrol are minimal – improving the working conditions for the operator and significantly reducing the harmful impact your machinery makes on the environment.

The new size options are also matched with new bulk-order pricing, details of which can be found on the Aspen website.

For added convenience bulk orders can be delivered to site in 48 hours, or alternatively, collection is available from Aspen dealerships nationwide.

Own an Etesia Hydro 80 for just

interest

Etesia UK has announced a 0% interest finance option to allow customers greater flexibility when purchasing a new Hydro 80 MKHP5 ride-on mower.

Customers looking to purchase a new Etesia Hydro 80 MKHP5 can benefit from three years’ interestfree finance, two-year commercial warranty, with payments as low as £35.25+VAT per week before the 30th November 2020.

The Hydro 80 MKHP5 can cut and collect in all conditions with the added benefit of a differential lock. The new model joins the popular Hydro 80 range and will give operators extra traction and stability on difficult, uneven and undulating terrain by reducing wheel spin, reducing damage to the grass and aid in cutting presentation.

The versatile mower also benefits from a mulching insert included as standard. Thanks to a range of additional accessories including a snow plough, users are able to extend the versatility of the machine so that it is ready for any scenario 365-days-a-year.

The Hydro 80 MKHP5 cuts and collects both long and short grass – without clogging.As with all Etesia machines, the Hydro 80 MKHP5 ride-on mower comes standard with a comprehensive two-year commercial and three-year domestic warranty. Finance is for business users only, subject to acceptance by Etesia UK’s finance partner Golf Finance Limited and only available in the UK.

Etesia UK

Contracts Manager David Smith commenced work on the Great Alne Park project in February

£35 per week with 0%

Aspen Fuel

DLF Seeds