Landscape & Amenity Product Update February 2018

Institute of Groundsmanship pilots pitch grading framework

The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG), the membership organisation for thoseinvolved in the management of sports pitches, landscape and amenity facilities in the UK, is piloting a new approach to the ‘measurement’ of the standard of football pitches at grassroots level.

The new Pitch Grading Framework will not only highlight the level of an individual playing surface quality but also the appropriate training and education, and the recommended levels of qualifications needed by those who maintain it.

In terms of calculating the standard of a pitch, each level of the Framework has certain parameters and, after measurement, the overall result/ level of a pitch will be calculated. It is a system that has been used successfully within cricket by the IOG and the England and Wales Cricket Board for over ten years.

The recommended appropriate

training and education will match each level of the Framework. For instance, for pitch maintenance at the Basic level (volunteer), an IOG Level 1 course (or equivalent) would be the minimum training recommended. Training/ education would increase through the levels with IOG Level 5 (or equivalent) being recommended for individuals maintaining pitches at the Elite level. At all levels, the experience of those in situ will be taken into account and catered for individually.

Working closely with the Football Foundation and Football Association Pitch Improvement Programme, regional pitch advisers from the IOG-led Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme (GaNTIP) are now piloting the Framework to identify any potential improvements before the scheme’s full implementation in November, when it is envisaged that each

Wicksteed celebrates 100 years of excellence

In a year when we remember 100 years since the end of WW1, iconic children’s playground designer & manufacturer, Wicksteed Playgrounds, is also celebrating reaching the incredible milestone of 100 years of providing fun and entertainment for generations of children past, present and future!

Its founder, Charles Wicksteed died in 1931 but his firm is going strong and is one of the UK’s leading designers and manufacturers of children’s outdoor play and sports equipment, exporting far and wide, and still pushing the latest technologies to create play equipment that entices a new generation of children into the outdoors.

“For 100 years now, Wicksteed has been giving children fun,

laughter, and a good time. Ever since Charles Wicksteed bent a piece of radiator piping to make the first swing, Wicksteed has done its best to make sure children enjoy themselves.

One of the most important aspects of Wicksteed’s success has been the loyalty and dedication of those working in the Company, five of whom have been with Wicksteed for over 40 years. There are also several staff with 25, or more, years of service.

Wicksteed has acquired an excellent reputation for its customer service, with an example being the restoration to working order of one of our rocking horses, thought to be approximately 70 years old, which was recently unveiled at Wicksteed Park,” commented

grass sport will have its own specific pyramid.

GaNTIP director Jason Booth, said: “This really is an exciting time for the future of groundsmanship and to be part of it at the beginning is great for GaNTIP and the programme’s team.

“The system is not designed to identify what is missing; it is to identify where support and development is required, and the initial feedback from the National Governing Bodies of Sport which have viewed the concept has been nothing but positive.”

A range of highly-experienced people have been consulted leading up to the pilot, including Sport England’s Framework Agronomists as well as leading professionals, volunteers and organisations attached to the groundscare industry.

BIGGA reveals major changes for BTME 2019

The 2017 BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition was the 30th event to take place at Harrogate Convention Centre and the organisers used it to announce a restructure that will see the size of the exhibition floor space grow by up to 25% for 2019.

Harrogate Convention Centre will continue to host BTME as the event’s hub shifts to the main auditorium entrance, further down King’s Road.

BIGGA says the move opens up different exhibition spaces, creating an improved, structured journey for the visitor and brings a whole host of possibilities for innovation and creativity.

Reaching this landmark is an exciting time for Wicksteed, to reflect on its incredible heritage but also to look forward to what will continue to be offered in the world of outdoor play, sport and fitness for the next century!

Wicksteed Playgrounds Enquiry 2

In 2019 BTME will no longer utilise Halls A and M. Halls B and C will be retained, but the King’s Suite, Halls D and Q and Studio One will become the main exhibition spaces, with the primary entrance to the exhibition coming through the Harrogate Convention Centre’s main entrance.

The Continue to Learn education programme will remain in the

Queen’s Suite, but the new layout will mean the education programme will now be situated at the centre of the entire visitor experience, rather than at the very rear of the facilities used. Meanwhile, the impressive modern auditorium will be utilised for the key educational and celebratory events during the week.

BIGGA Chief Executive Jim Croxton said: “We’re delighted that BTME has grown to the extent that it can no longer be contained within the four traditional exhibition halls that we have utilised.

“The move to alternative facilities within the centre enables us to retain all that is good about BTME, the premier turf management event in Europe, while presenting an improved visitor experience and allowing all our exhibitor base to take the space they need to show their wares. It is critical that all events evolve to suit the needs of their stakeholders and I’m thrilled we have the opportunity to do so with BTME 2019.”

BIGGA Enquiry 3

Charlie Howard, Managing Director, Wicksteed Playgrounds.

Harrogate once again played host to a busy and productive BTME, with the 2018 event marking its 30th year in style. The buzz was back and BTME has become the perfect way to kick-start the year and banish those festive hangovers. The event also saw organisers BIGGA reveal ambitious plans to extend and enhance the 2019 event. The good news is BTME 2019 will remain in Harrogate and will utilise much more the recently improved conference centre.

The not-so-good news was the level of disquiet and concern the announcement caused, primarily amongst long-standing exhibitors. Despite the PR offensive launched by BIGGA during the show in an attempt to win over exhibitors, there were still grumblings of discontent. It would be foolish to dismiss the concerns being raised as merely a case “no-one likes change”. And it would be unfair to suggest those critics are taking a swipe at BIGGA’s ambition. This is an industry that thrives on ambition and innovation – BTME 2018 proved that with a multitude of exciting new products and services unveiled during the week. But this is also an industry that likes to communicate and much of the criticism revolves around a perceived lack of consultation by BIGGA regarding the significant changes to the event.

It is BIGGA’s event. But it is also the industry’s event. A little talk goes a long way. This month we put the spotlight on the Play & Activity sector, with plenty happening in terms of product news. We also take a look at a diverse range of product areas, from Fencing & Security to Sweepers, Blowers & Collectors, whilst Jane Carley looks at big commercial remote mowing machines. Its been a busy start to 2018. Let’s hope it continues that way throughout the coming year.

Perennial offers support to landscapers and horticulturalists affected by Carillion collapse

The collapse of construction firm Carillion poses a threat to horticulture businesses that had contracts with the company.

Many of the large construction projects Carillion was delivering have significant landscaping and nursery supply elements, leaving companies unsure whether they will get paid and jobs at risk.

For individuals who find themselves facing redundancy and/or financial hardship as one of the knock on effects of this action, Perennial is here to help. The UK-wide charity is dedicated to helping everyone in the horticulture industry when they are in difficulty.

Britain’s second largest construction firm, which employs 20,000 people in the UK, went into liquidation on January 15 with debts of around £1.5bn. It is the smaller businesses that were sub-contracted by Carillion that are likely to bear the brunt of the company’s collapse.

With the Government limiting its support primarily to the company’s public sector contracts, redundancies in commercial

Perennial’s services are free, confidential and independent and help extends to spouses, partners and dependent children.

Every person that Perennial helps faces different challenges and therefore all help is completely tailored to individuals and continues for as long as they need it.

Perennial’s casework team can

companies are expected to run into thousands. Trade body Build UK estimates that between 25,000 and 30,000 businesses are owed money by Carillion. Sheila Thomson, Director of Services at Perennial says: “The collapse of Carillion will affect a large number of small sub-contracted businesses, many of which were pro-actively encouraged by the Government to get involved in these public sector contracts.

“While Perennial cannot offer advice to businesses, we are here for any individuals from the horticulture and landscaping trades that have been affected by the situation and are faced with redundancy, a cut in hours or a reduction in personal income in any way.”

While many companies will have to wait to find out whether their debts will be paid, individuals who find they are facing redundancy, loss of income or financial hardship, can contact Perennial in strictest confidence for advice and support.

Perennial’s services extend to everyone working in or retired from all parts of the horticulture industry.

Perennial Enquiry 7

advise on benefit entitlement and help with any claims, represent at hearings and tribunals and award grants in certain circumstances.

Perennial also has a dedicated debt advice service for those facing financial difficulties and its support includes negotiating with creditors and making applications for bankruptcy.

Kubota and Northampton Saints partnership marches on

Kubota UK has announced it is extending its elite sponsorship of Aviva Premiership club Northampton Saints until 2020.

The market leading machinery manufacturer and supplier of world-renowned Kubota engines

joined forces with Saints back in 2015, the company’s first ever sponsorship with a top flight sports team.

Based on the success of the partnership, Kubota is looking forward to continuing its

support for the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons.

Dave Roberts, Kubota UK’s Managing Director, said: “Signing a new deal with Northampton Saints was an easy decision for us. Over

the past 3 years that we have been involved with the club, it has proved itself to be an outstanding partner, delivering fantastic exposure for our brand, a high quality match day experience and, of course, a great way to showcase our products.

“Partnering with Saints aligns perfectly with our drive for excellence, and the desire to lead our respective fields. We’re delighted to be continuing to build on that over the next few years.”

As part of the deal, Kubota provides some of its industry leading groundcare solutions to help the Franklin’s Gardens Ground Staff maintain its pitches to the highest standards in the Aviva Premiership.

balance

Kubota Enquiry 6

Dennis & SISIS announce first 2018 bowls seminar

The first of the 2018 Dennis and SISIS bowling green maintenance seminars has been announced and will take place at the Ipswich & District Indoor Bowls Club on Tuesday 13th March.

Dennis and SISIS have a long history of supporting the sport of bowls and the seminars which are designed to ultimately help club greenkeepers and volunteers maintain their bowling greens, have signifi cantly grown year on year.

Combining practical tips, demonstrations and key information from industry experts, the 2018 seminars are set to be well attended yet again.

Dennis & SISIS have now revealed the programme details for the first of these events and it provides all delegates with a taste of what to expect throughout the series of seminars.

Chris Humphrey from Collier Turfcare will deliver a presentation entitled Chemicals and Fertilisers in which he will be revealing how to get the best value and best results no matter

what the budget is. Chris will be followed by Luke Hunt from Barenbrug who will proceed to advise on Choosing the Correct Seed for a Bowling Green.

Following a mid-morning break, Chris will return to the stage to explore a number of ideas and methods titled Controlling pests in the future.

Before a complimentary lunch, an open question and answer session called the Turf Clinic will take place – presenting all delegates with the opportunity to ask any pressing questions relating to their own situations.

The afternoon will see all attendees head outside to witness

an On-Green Demonstration. This demonstration not only provides a perfect opportunity to see some of the sport’s latest turf maintenance equipment in action but will also offer guidance in the way you prepare greens and provide delegates with advice on how to get the very best out of their equipment.

• The seminar will start with registration at 9am. To register for the free and highly informative seminars, please contact Roger Moore on 01332 824777 or email roger.moore@dennisuk.com.

Dennis Enquiry 10

Makita launch new splitshaft LXT multi-tool

Makita has launched a 36v cordless multi-tool system for landscape maintenance operations together with a range of quick-fit attachments including the newly introduced brush cutter and linetrimmer in addition to the cultivator, pole saw, hedge trimmer and lawn edging tool.

The pole extension allows even greater reach for the Pole Saw and Hedge Trimmer.

With the move to battery powered grounds maintenance machines becoming ever more popular, particularly at the demand of municipal authorities and public bodies, Makita offers a range of 18v tools and, more recently, an expanding inventory of twin 18v machines to give 36v power.

The power and run-time performance of the 36v Brushless motor makes the latest tools fully comparable on power and performance to

petrol engine machines, while being highly sustainable with low noise and emissions.

The new DUX60Z is powered by two Makita 18v LithiumIon batteries in series to supply energy to the 36v DC motor drive system.

The Makita DUX60Z LXT splitshaft motor unit has an effective output of 600 watts and a three speed drive system that will run up to 9,700 rpm in Hi; 8,200 rpm in Medium mode and 5,700 rpm in Lo speed. A reverse gear is also featured.

The DUX60Z features the soft start system to protect the operator from initial power loading, variable speed control, an electric brake and overload protection, coupled with AFT, Makita’s Active Feedback Sensing Technology that shuts down the tool if the rotation speed suddenly reduces or if the blade or line head snags. The

On-Off button with Auto-Off turns the power off if the trigger is not activated for 60 seconds.

The versatile attachments are easily fitted with a tool-less slide joint coupling with a simple clip-lock fixing the attachment securely in place. With any of the tool heads attached and the two 18v batteries clipped into the motor housing, the overall balance of the complete machine is excellent with the loop handle perfectly positioned for complete machine control and manoeuvrability. Maximum weight with the largest batteries and tool head is just 8.7kg.

The DUX60Z is a body only machine and available with your choice of the new DUX60 sevenpiece attachments package.

Enquiry 11

Barenbrug Yellow Jacket Manager is a game-changer for turf managers

Grass expert, Barenbrug UK, has launched a grass seed that manages its own moisture content, greatly increasing germination and establishment rates – especially in tough, dry environments.

The patented technology in Barenbrug Yellow Jacket Water Manager, is the result of research between Barenbrug and Aquatrols and has been independently tested by the STRI.

It works like this:

1. When the seed is exposed to water, the Water Manager technology spreads into the soil creating a plant survival zone.

2. This zone ensures that each seed has enough water to germinate, then manages the moisture content around the seeding during its establishment.

3. As a result seedlings are less affected by abiotic stress and more plants survive.

Craig Boath from Carnoustie Championship course, home to the Open Championship in 2018, says: “Barenbrug Yellow Jacket Water Manager has taken the sting out of overwatering landing areas on the fairways and par 3 tees. It is clear it does not require as much water for germination due to the coating, which seems to hold on to moisture and trigger a quicker germination”.

Dr David Greenshields, Research and Development Manager at Barenbrug says: “Barenbrug Yellow Jacket Water Manager delivers improved germination and seedling survival in the toughest environments.

“STRI trials also show that half the number of seeds have delivered twice the establishment.

“Overall, this product offers a significant development in turf science and a potential gamechanger for turf managers in tricky environments, or for those looking to reduce water costs.”

Barenbrug Enquiry

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Makita

Sports construction forecast to increase by almost 10% in 2018

BALI directors vote to review Awards delivery

At a recent board meeting of the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), directors voted to issue a new tender for the delivery of the hugely successful BALI National Landscape Awards.

Starting in 2018, it is anticipated that an initial contract for one year will be awarded to the successful bidder with the potential for a three year extension.

Since 2010, the Awards have gone from strength to strength and are now the most successful landscape awards in Europe.

Speaking about the decision to re-tender for the running of the Awards, BALI Chief Executive Wayne Grills said: “To date we have had a positive and very successful association with Horticulture Week. They have helped us develop the Awards and deliver a hugely successful ceremony each December.

“As we move into the next phase of our strategic plan the BALI board believes it is time to review the Awards to ensure we are achieving best value whilst being open to new opportunities and ideas.”

BALI Enquiry 16

The sports facilities construction market in the UK was worth an estimated £1.5 billion in 2017 having grown substantially in the past year, according to a new report by AMA Research.

Between 2011 and 2015, output across the sports sector fell year on year, with the exception of a slight increase due to the Olympics Legacy construction activity, but in 2016 and 2017 the sector returned to growth, underpinned by increased levels of activity in the professional sports sector. In 2018, output is expected to increase significantly.

Over the 2014-2016 period, the professional sports sector accounted for around a third of total contractors output in overall sports construction, and is estimated to have improved in 2016 and 2017, driven by renewed growth in stadium construction output, mainly for a few Premier League and EFL Championship clubs.

The education segment typically accounts for around 30% of total contractors output. This is partly because the UK’s education sports estate is extremely large with schools accounting for a substantial proportion of the total numbers of swimming

pools, sports halls and pitches UK-wide.

There were marked increases in output in the schools sector in 2015 and 2016, where there has been an overall increase in average project values although the number of projects has remained relatively static.

Leisure and sports centre construction also accounts for around third of output, despite growth having been constrained slightly by cuts to local authority budgets. In 2016 and 2017 there appears to have been some improvement compared to previous years.

Over the medium term, construction output in the sports sector is likely to decrease due to ongoing pressures on local authority budgets and the ‘Brexit’ factor.

For 2018, we expect total contractors output to increase by around 9.5%, the main reason for this being the first year of the £800m re-development of Tottenham Hotspur’s White Hart Lane stadium.

Beyond 2018 it is very difficult to forecast annual output levels reflecting the fact that several recent major proposals have

been overturned. However, there should be a substantial increase in output over the period 2019-2020 should re-development of Chelsea FCs and Everton stadiums start next year, which seems likely.

“While the White Hart Lane, Stamford Bridge and Everton developments are ‘flagship’ schemes, there are also a significant number of other reasonably high-value football stadium projects that should sustain growth over the medium term” said Keith Taylor, Director of AMA Research.

“However, flat or declining levels of output in the leisure centre, semi-professional & recreational sports clubs sectors will have some constraint on overall growth rates, and we also expect growth to be modest for educational sports facilities, as schools upgrade following conversion to academy status.”

The ‘Construction in the Sports Sector Report – UK 2017-2021 Analysis’ report is published by AMA Research, a leading provider of market research and consultancy services with over 25 years’ experience within the construction and home improvement markets.

AMA Research Enquiry 17

The 2016 40th anniversary Awards attracted more entries than ever and in 2017 another record was broken when more than 1,000 BALI members, clients and industry guests attended the ceremony at Grosvenor House, London.

Save on a new Polaris with 0% finance

“Polaris 4

As part of a new range of special offers with the promise of great savings in 2018, Polaris is extending its 0% finance offer.

Interest-free finance on new Polaris Sportsman ATVs, Ranger

“With a Polaris you can take on the challenge of the roughest terrain knowing you have one of the toughest, most durable vehicles available. Now is a very good time to take advantage of the interest-free fi nance offer, and there are additional offers such as a free roof and rear panel when you buy a new Polaris Ranger Diesel.

“Polaris also has one of the widest ranges of accessories available and the 0% finance can include up to £1,000 ex VAT on genuine Polaris ATV and UTV accessories.”

Polaris Enquiry 18

4×4 Utility Vehicles, RZRs and Scramblers (excluding Youth) is now available until March 31 2018 so it is an excellent time to consider updating an existing model with one of the latest Polaris Ranger UTVs or Sportsman ATVs.

x 4 vehicles are used for work and leisure around the world,” says Ben Murray, Polaris’ National Sales Manager.

Environet and DuPont announce successful field trials of new membrane

A new membrane developed by global science and engineering firm DuPont, Plantex Platinium, has been found to be successful in containing Japanese knotweed, following field trials carried out by Japanese knotweed removal specialists Environet.

Where the removal of Japanese knotweed through physical excavation is the preferred solution, horizontal membranes laid beneath the surface of the ground can be useful in locations where it is not possible to remove or kill all the knotweed crowns and rhizomes.

This could be, for example, where underground services such as drainage and sewerage are present, where the land cannot be disturbed as a result of a tree preservation order, or where the costs are prohibitive.

Existing membranes that are effective at dealing with Japanese knotweed are usually impermeable to water, which, when installed horizontally over large areas, can create problems with drainage leading to flooding and ground instability.

Leaders in membrane innovation, DuPont approached Environet

in 2017 with Plantex Platinium, a new permeable membrane designed to control Japanese knotweed without the associated drainage issues.

Environet conducted field trials over the 2017 growing season (March to November) at their Japanese knotweed infested test site in West Sussex.

To put the product under extreme test conditions, no attempt was made to remove any of the crowns or rhizomes prior to the installation of a 10m x 5m sheet of Plantex Platinium. The membrane was then covered

with a minimum of 100mm clean topsoil and monitored throughout the season for knotweed growth.

No emergence was observed during the monitoring period, however, new growth was encountered around the periphery and was evident running horizontally beneath the membrane when it was lifted.

DuPont Enquiry 22

Meldrum House a peaceful haven thanks to Jacobsen

Meldrum House Country Hotel & Golf Course extended its hotel in 2016 to 55 rooms, and has since invested in golf course maintenance equipment and vehicles from Textron Golf to reduce noise levels around the hotel grounds.

The equipment included on the five-year lease deal includes mowers and vehicles across the Jacobsen, Cushman and E-Z-GO brands. Local dealer Fairways GM facilitated the purchasing process and is providing continued after-sales support.

Kenny Harper, Golf Course and Estate Grounds Manager, said: “I looked into the Jacobsen Eclipse 322 riding greens mower, and it ticked all of the boxes for us.

“The noise levels are dramatically reduced, meaning that we can cut greens around the hotel whenever we like without disturbing anyone. As well as the noise advantage, the Eclipse 322 doesn’t use any hydraulic oil, which means there aren’t any disastrous leaks on the greens either.”

As well as three Eclipse 322 greens mowers, Meldrum House has also invested in two LF570 fairway mowers, two Cushman Hauler Pro vehicles (one with a sprayer, and one with a topdresser), three Cushman XD-R vehicles one Jacobsen TR-3 mower, one AR-3, one HR500 widearea mower, one Truckster XD and 10 E-Z-GO RXV electric golf cars.

Jacobsen Enquiry 23

At the Apex of turfcare

The Apex GeoInjector allows maximum aeration and decompaction with minimal disruption.

The process is completed in one motion with just a single probe. It penetrates the soil beyond the root zone to a depth of one metre and then inject 100psi of high pressured, compressed air into the ground.

Whilst the probe is inserted into the ground, a natural underground void is created and then back filled with Terramol to the surface, creating a permanent drainage soakaway.

The process is completed with minimal disruption to the greens

surface and can be played on, on completion of the injection. An “average” size green of approximately 300m2 takes as little as five hours to complete.

Apex Enquiry 21

Snickers new body-mapping micro fleece jacket

This new fleece jacket from Snickers takes working comfort and good looks on site to a whole new level.

Its advanced workwear made from a stretchable micro fleece

fabric with an advanced bodymapping design - just the job for the fast paced professional, who’s always on the go.

Warm, light and flexible, the jacket is made from a quickdrying ‘AIS’ (Advanced Insulation System) material, which is high-functionality and ideal as warm first layer garment or lighter second layer protection.

The jacket delivers an effective balance of insulation where it matters and ventilation for your body when it’s needed. What’s more, with its innovative natural anti-odour treated and quick-drying fabric, it’ll keep you dry, fresh and comfortable all day long.

Snickers Enquiry 25

Eurocell Garden Rooms open up shed loads of space

Designed as a self-contained building for use all year round, the composite wood Garden Room gives installers the opportunity to offer householders extra space in an attractive, lowmaintenance package – and then upsell with complementary products.

Available from Eurocell, the Garden Room requires no planning permission and takes

only two days to erect at any time of year, provided it is dry.

This energy efficiency is reinforced with 100mm thick cellular foam insulation in the roof, ‘A’ energy rated Eurocell double glazed windows and Eurocell French doors that are both elegant and secure thanks to high security, multipoint locking.

Eurocell Enquiry 26

Jacobsen makes light work of Fairways at Golspie

Golspie Golf Club, located on the Dornoch Firth in Scotland, is a versatile course featuring a beguiling mix of classic links, heath and parkland holes.

The Club has invested in a Jacobsen Eclipse 322 and a Jacobsen LF550 fairway mower from Textron Golf to maintain the varying surfaces on the James Braid design 18-hole golf course.

“Jacobsen has provided us with the quality and versatility we need to maintain all areas of the course,” Alexander MacDonald, Head Greenkeeper at Golspie Golf Club said. “We face many challenges such as maintaining the correct and uniformed moisture levels over varying terrains, so when it comes to cutting grass, we want reliable equipment that produces a really good finish with minimal fuss.”

Agri-Expo 2018 set to showcase innovation again

Agri-Expo (SE) has become one of, it not the largest “farmer owned” agricultural and amenity business shows in the UK on March 7 at the Kent Showground.

Once again we will be welcoming more new exhibitors to the fastest growing land-based industry show in The South East.

Agri-Expo showcases the very best machinery, supplies and services available to farmers, landowners, amenity and landscape specialists at the prestigious Kent Showground located just off the M20 / M2 in Kent.

Agri-Expo is set to break previous record numbers of exhibitors who have joined the show to take advantage if its growth and recognition as one of the “must attend” business shows in the agricultural and amenity event diary.

As well as giving exhibitors an opportunity to promote their businesses, Agri-Expo (SE) is keen to promote education, training, business development,

diversification opportunities and collaborative projects. The organisers work continually to support education and training as well as highlighting other industry developments and announcements as and when they arise. We very much hope that Agri-Expo gives our visitors the opportunity to meet old and new friends as well as the suppliers of machinery, inputs, advice and support to help a myriad of land-based enterprises in the years of change ahead.

With this in mind, our seminars this year will focus on postBREXIT farming, with a Breakfast Meeting on grain marketing at 8.30am hosted by Fen Grain and our Headline Seminar at Midday which brings together a wealth of expertise to guide you through the recent announcement made by Mr Michael Gove on his plans for a new greener subsidy recipient plan for the future. Both Seminars will

be held in the Astor Pavilion and are free to attend.

On behalf of the whole team involved in Agri-Expo we wish all our visitors an enjoyable and informative day, Pease remember this is your show, so if there is something you would like to see, then do come and speak to the organisers on The RAMSAK Group Stand in the Maidstone Exhibition Hall.

Further meetings and seminars to be announced – http://www. agri-expo.co.uk/2018-seminarsmeetings/

Admission and parking is free. Gates open at 8.00am. For more information please visit www.agri-expo.co.uk or call Pitchfork Events on 01622 815356.

Agri-Expo Enquiry 28

The new Jacobsen LF550 is easily set in five minutes, with adjustments rarely having to be made to the cutting units.

Routine service items, including spin-on filters, are all easily accessible meaning that there’s no need for a lift. The FlashAttach Reel Mounting System allows for quick reel removal, and the active monitoring system provides full text diagnostics making

the LF550 easy to monitor and maintain. Additionally, hard tubing with bulkhead fittings to hoses make long-term maintenance easier with fewer service parts to stock.

“We only have three full-time greenkeeping staff, so we can’t be wasting time repairing and setting machinery. This is where the LF550 has really helped us; it’s reliable, it produces a brilliant finish, and it doesn’t demand a lot of time to maintain and set-up.

“The Eclipse 322 is the best cutting machine in golf. It’s a pleasure to use on the greens, and the team loves the satisfaction of producing firstclass greens which the golfers often compliment them on. Of course, having good machinery is important, but the back-up from the dealer is even more so. Our local dealer Fairways has been brilliant. Fairways has been very efficient and helpful, and if we need anything the dealer is with us within a day, meaning there isn’t any downtime.”

Alexander has been at the club for 10 years, having spent 3 ½ years at Royal Dornoch and 6 ½ years at Wentworth.

Jacobsen Enquiry 27

Rigby Taylor in Powergrass partnership

Rigby Taylor and PowerGrass UK have agreed to work together to introduce the novel PowerGrass Hybrid surface to the UK market.

The combination of a synthetic and natural surface hybrid has all the advantages of a natural grass with the strength and resistance of a synthetic pitch.

PowerGrass hybrid turf system has been developed with the aim of providing a surface with more playing hours during the year, up to 1200 hrs, even when natural grass is not yet grown or damaged for any reason.

Depending on the budget of the client, the system can be tailor made to provide softness, air circulation in the growth layer and quick water penetration to the drainage layer.

GreenMech CS100 becomes great addition to maintenance regime

After taking delivery of a GreenMech CS100 from his local dealer Turner Groundscare in the spring of 2017, Arthur Owen of Rhos Holiday Park says that maintaining the site’s hedges and brash is now a breeze.

The Holiday Park, in a relaxed location on the Isle of Anglesey, offers pitches to static caravans and tourers just minutes’ walk from award winning beaches and Red Wharf Bay.

Already familiar with the GreenMech brand thanks to his agricultural background, his research saw the CS100 chipper coming out as best in class. “

With a working width of just 760mm, the CS100 is a small, yet mighty, workhorse.

Powered by a 16hp or 18hp petrol engine, the wide, open design infeed chute enable large volumes of bushy material or timber of up to 100mm to be processed. This impressive chipping ability is provided by two high grade steel, long-life reversible blades that are easily re-sharpened thus ensuring low running costs.

Enquiry 34

Coldstart Professional 100 seed mix

Hurrell’s Seeds would like to introduce you to there all yearround ‘winter active’ grass seed mixture Coldstart 100 that grows in very chilly soil temperatures never seen before in the UK.

Why is Coldstart 100 different to any other grass seed mixture?

Coldstart contains 2 dwarf perennial ryegrasses from New Zealand including the STRI listed Ceretec Centurion that are both ‘winter active’’, fine leafed and hard wearing ryegrasses that significantly grow in soil temperatures as low as five degrees Celsius (other ryegrasses require at least 10-12 degrees Celsius)..both cultivars are tried and tested at stadium level in the UK and are significantly finer and better quality than any tetraploid variety. This extra growth from Coldstart can improve winter renovations due to this winter

activity enabling extra weeks of growth if not months of growth

Nick Gladstone, Hurrell’s Seeds, Managing Director said “This mix is proven to grow in extremely low soil temperatures when other cultivars/mixes will not grow. Recently only temporary Rescue grass mixes has achieved this growth, now we have a mix as high quality as the better turf perennial STRI listed cultivars now capable of low temp growth’’

Hurrell’s Seeds Enquiry 32

Eco-friendly solutions from Round wood

Round Wood of Mayfield offers a collection of eco-friendly Thermo-Treated timber products by Thermory including decking, cladding and flooring.

The range includes decking, cladding and flooring, all of which has been thermo-treated. This chemical free process is used to transform ash and spruce from responsibly managed forests in North America and Europe

into timber with a durability that rivals that of tropical hardwoods. Thermo-treatment takes place in computer controlled kilns. Finished timber profiles are heated and steamed at temperatures of up to 215°C in order to reduce moisture content, remove resins and bake out the natural sugars that can cause decay.

Round Wood of Mayfield Enquiry 31

The PowerGrass surface also has the benefit of reduced and simpler installation costs compared to other alternative hybrid options. On-going projects include football (full and part pitch installations), rugby and golf.

Rigby Taylor Enquiry 33 Get more with a Toro® Triple Flail Mower

Triple Flail

GreenMech

Nursery helps restore historic site to former glories

Boost your sustainability credentials with Flowpoint ECO

UltraScape understands the importance of sustainable building solutions and its team of technical experts enhanced the formulation of their world renowned flowable grout, Flowpoint, to create Flowpoint ECO. Launched over 20 years ago, Flowpoint ECO is a

BS 7533 approved, environmentally friendly grout, which contains 20% recycled material.

The addition of recycled material significantly reduces the consumption of virgin aggregates – an important feature for any projects aspiring to achieve a

CEEQUAL award or for those looking to improve their BREEAM rating. Available in 2 colours – Natural Grey and Charcoal –Flowpoint ECO is suitable for most paving types and leaves a stain free finish every time.

Instarmac Enquiry 37

Johnsons of Whixley has supplied a range of trees and shrubs totalling £20,000 to a recently-completed residential development on an iconic site in York.

The North Yorkshire-based horticultural nursey, which recently celebrated its best ever

Charcon’s Stonemaster triumphs at Salisbury Court

Charcon, the commercial hard landscaping division of Aggregate Industries, has successfully completed a significant delivery on the new £27m Salisbury Court student accommodation scheme in Edinburgh.

Appointed by contractors McAleer & Rushe for UNITE Students, Charon consulted with landscape architect, Harrison Stevens, to recommend the best hard landscaping products to complete the aesthetics of the street frontage on St Leonards Street and a private courtyard within the student accommodation area.

More than 1,100m 2 of StoneMaster, a premium precast concrete flag and block paving product, was supplied by Charcon to provide a high quality paving solution which complimented the stone clad of the surrounding building.

Supplied in Sandy Buff, Sienna Buff, Amber Buff, Light Grey, Medium Grey and Dark Grey, the result was a visually pleasing design that respected the historic context of the neighbourhood, whilst providing

a central courtyard for students to congregate and interact safely.

In a partnership approach with McAleer & Rushe, and groundwork contractor M Squared, Charcon managed the supply of StoneMaster in a variety of different sizes and shades, whilst working to a challenging construction programme. By working closely with both parties, Charcon was able to ensure the correct product was available when required and complete the work within the designated timescales.

StoneMaster is a revolutionary block and flag paving with all the inherent beauty of indigenous stone. The fine sandstone has a washed finish and replicates natural sandstone and granite.

The product is made from 50% reclaimed and recycled material and is a cost effective solution to natural stone. Offering fixed plans for ease of design, or a mixed pack containing long aspect pavers, StoneMaster Flag is suitable for pedestrian areas with light vehicle traffic.

Enquiry 38

Charcon

financial year, has supplied plants as part of the conversion of the Grade 11 listed Terry’s Factory.

Johnsons has supplied 40 mature trees and 2,000 shrubs as part of the wider development, equating to the majority of the plants on site.

The art deco building, which will be known as The Residence, first opened in 1926 and was the home of famous brands including Terry’s Chocolate Orange and All Gold Chocolates.

Johnsons of Whixley Enquiry 36

David Keegan Garden Design

New website for NatraTex following rebrand

NatraTex, one of the leading brands of hard landscaping products, has a new-look website following its rebranding last year.

The new site is very imageorientated, easy to use and helps

customers make the most of their online experience.

The modern layout is eyecatching and stylish and gives visitors to the site a glimpse of how NatraTex works behind the scenes.

Manufactured by BituChem, NatraTex pioneered the market for durable and coloured asphalt. This has resulted in NatraTex, NatraTex Colour, NatraTex Cotswold and NatraTex ColdLay being widely adopted in many landscaping and development projects across the UK.

All of NatraTex products can be easily found using the menu tabs, and include examples of previous projects in various locations around the country.

There are sections for NatraTex Cotswold, Colour and ColdLay, so customers can access the service they need quickly. Other tabs include company news and meeting the team behind the brand.

Stewart Garden introduces new planter

Garden product manufacturer, Stewart Garden, has announced the launch of the Ivy Planter Herb Pot, which promises to revolutionise the way in which urban gardeners go about their hobby and brighten up often colourless neighbourhoods.

The Ivy Planter Herb Pot, which features three planting areas in each container section, helps to promote vigorous root development in plants and will suit creative gardeners looking to grow a choice of herbs or to create an attractive floral display within the confines of a balcony or

patio. Each planting area is served by a self-watering system through the interior planter, while the modular stacking system allows gardeners to create eye-catching cascading plant effects.

Stewart Garden Enquiry 41

The Talasey Group announces winners of its 2017 landscaping professional awards

Open to members of the company’s Landscaping Professionals Scheme, the annual Landscaping Professional Awards recognise some of the most striking and innovative projects that were completed with Talasey Group products during the course of the year.

Best Natural Paving patio –large - using Old York sandstone flagstones from the Cragstone range, Decol Construction Ltd created a beautiful large patio incorporating Natural Paving’s Weathered Ebony Cobbles, which are naturally split with an antique finish.

Best Natural Paving patio –small - using Pumice flagstones from Natural Paving’s popular Premiastone range and bespoke Pumice copings, the experts at Evoke Landscape transformed a dull, inconveniently multilevel garden into a bright, inviting space finished off with a modern, circular patio. Best garden design – overall - Artisan Landscapes achieved a stunning

and ultra modern garden with a simple yet highly effective design using the Talasey Group’s Vitripiazza vitrified porcelain.

Best use of Baksteen clay pavers - With a second win, Evoke Landscape did an excellent job demonstrating how well two completely different products can work so well together claiming the best use of Baksteen award.

Best use of Vitripiazza - Creative Gardens designed and installed a sleek garden with a subtle and elegant contrast by using Tempesta and Nuvola single size porcelain flagstones from the Vitripazza range, Di Pietra.

NatraTex Enquiry

42

The Talasey Group, the UK’s leading independent supplier of landscaping solutions has announced the winners of its annual Landscaping Professional Awards.

Talasey Group Enquiry 43

New innovations from CLD

CLD Fencing Systems is the United Kingdom’s largest manufacturer and supplier of Rigid Mesh Fencing Systems and Security Gates.

For over 40 years we have innovated the landscape and amenity industry from concept to completion.

In 2018 we partnered with RIBA to bring over 23 Fencing Systems and 10 Gate Solutions to the

NBS National BIM Library to allow specifiers and clients the ability to design projects directly in Revit using our models via the NBS Plug In for Revit.

To see the full range please visit https://www.nationalbimlibrary. com/cldfencingsystems and for move information on CLD Fencing Systems visit www.cld-fencing.com

CLD Fencing Enquiry 45

Jacksons Fencing donation creates a sanctuary

Jacksons Fencing’s community challenge was a scheme developed in association with the Kent Messenger to find charitable projects in the community, whose mission deserved extra support.

Heart of Kent Hospice, based in Aylesford near Maidstone, was chosen as the winner and Jacksons donated £10,000 worth of fencing, decking, sleepers and planters to totally transform their Outpatient Centre garden.

The garden’s purpose is to create a tranquil space that can help to soothe the physical, emotional and psychological effects of the patients’ illnesses.

Jacksons Fencing Hit and Miss panels were just one of the products provided.

Their patterned design and high quality timber create an attractive aesthetic fulfilling the client’s design brief. Jacksons Pergolas and Retreat Garden Shelter were also used for the project. Jacksons Decking and Sissinghurst Planters were also used to help complete the look.

Jacksons Fencing Enquiry 46

New rubber barrier and steel fence HVM system creates Impakt

Two pioneers of perimeter protection have joined forces to launch the latest in mobile hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM).

Rosehill Security and Zaun Limited have combined the ultimate in rubber HVM barriers with fence panels developed for the London 2012 Olympics, to produce a crash-rated fencing and barrier system that can be deployed rapidly.

The ImpaktFence is a unique integrated IWA14 crash-rated fencing and vehicle security barrier (VSB) HVM perimeter security system developed in collaboration between Rosehill Security and Zaun.

The surface-mounted ImpaktFence system can be rapidly deployed for temporary or permanent security, as a part of an overall HVM strategy to protect people, buildings and infrastructure from hostile vehicle attacks.

The barrier is constructed from solid 1m cubed rubber blocks, which at 430kg each, weigh one third of similar concrete VSBs, adding to the ease and speed of deployment.

Blocks are connected by steel securing cables – which can be anchored to create a stronger barrier – providing the flexibility to protect both entrance areas and

site perimeters against hostile vehicle attack.

The innovative shape with its large footprint has been specifically designed to block vehicles. The ImpaktFence barrier has been successfully impact-tested to IWA 14-1 specification, stopping a 7.2 tonne N2A lorry travelling at 30mph (48kph).

The IWA14 rating specifies the essential impact performance requirement for a VSB and a test method for rating its performance when subjected to a single impact by a test vehicle not driven by a human being.

The 100%-recycled rubber blocks incorporate integrated 80mm x 40mm steel fence posts, which provide additional rigidity and support.

The posts, at 2060mm centres, hold Zaun’s HiSec anti-climb mesh, providing an ultra-secure perimeter – while CCTV, antiintrusion detection and fence toppings can also be incorporated into the installation.

The new barrier and fencing system is an ideal physical and visual security deterrent for either temporary or permanent installations, and can even be supplied in corporate livery and event branding.

Composite Prime launches HD Fence

Wood plastic specialists, Composite Prime, has developed and launched HD Fence, a contemporary, durable solution for residential gardens and commercial boundaries.

Developed using a unique composite material that combines FSC 100% certified hardwood timber and recycled plastic, the product offers a much-needed alternative to timber fencing, renowned for breaking and becoming loose in the wind.

The composite material is much more durable and low-

maintenance than its timber counterpart, ensuring the fencing boards are anti-rot, sturdy and do not require painting or preservation treatments.

Each board slots seamlessly into a multi-directional post and the easy-to-install solution also has a versatile retrofit option for concrete posts. The concrete post adapter allows HD Fence boards to slot between existing posts, saving time and money digging out and removing old concrete posts.

Composite Prime Enquiry 48

Zaun Enquiry 47

Around £100 million of National Lottery funding will be invested in the pilot scheme over four years, to create innovative partnerships that make it easier for people in these communities to access sport and physical activity.

By focusing intensely in 12 areas, Sport England wants to identify better ways to address these stubborn inequalities and break down the barriers that stop people getting active, such as poor transport, safety, cost and confidence.

And it wants to encourage wider, collaborative partnerships which look at how all parts of a community can better work together to help the most inactive.

From the transport links and street lighting to the quality of parks and open spaces, to how sport and activity is promoted by GPs. Partnerships will encompass organisations beyond the sport sector such

as voluntary groups, social enterprises, faith organisations and parenting groups.

Jennie Price, Sport England Chief Executive, said: “On our assessment visits to choose the pilot places I was vividly reminded that the barriers to getting active might have little to do with the activity itself, yet this is where we often start.

“I talked to one older lady who was very keen to start swimming again, but to do so she needed someone to sit with her husband who had dementia, a bus that stopped on the right side of a busy junction for the leisure centre, and a session with people like her in the pool rather than lots of children for example.

“Working with all of the partners in a local area means for the first time we can think about that broader range of issues and work right across the local system to address them.”

Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Chair of the LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said: “These pilots offer a fresh approach to how Sport

England can work with local authorities and their partners on the ground to reach out to the quarter of the population who struggle to be active.

“There is huge ambition within local government to break down the barriers for those in their communities who cannot take part in sport or physical exercise.”

Sport England Enquiry 50

Significant World Cup turf investment to provide widespread benefits

International Hockey Federation (FIH) Official Global Supplier Polytan will shortly begin installation of two new stateof-the-art pitches at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre ahead of the Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup London 2018.

The installation of their Poligras Platinum World Cup product at the venue, located within Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will begin at the start of March

and the second pitch will be completed in May 2018.

The £600,000 investment will provide widespread benefits to the hockey community. It will not only give England and Great Britain’s national and development squads, university, school and hockey clubs world-class turfs to play on, it will also provide a number of environmental benefits. The investment further reinforces the benefits of the UK hosting major events and in the long term will bring more elite competition to the UK – for example the Hockey Pro League from 2019 onwards.

Polytan has spent considerable time and investment on

developing a new turf product specifically for next year’s Hockey World Cups being staged in England and India. It is an evolution of the turf used at the Rio 2016 Olympics Games which proved extremely popular with athletes and spectators. The new turf however uses denser fibres to create a faster playing surface.

Polytan’s significant investment through its FIH Global Supplier status has been further supported by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority and the Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup London 2018 additional funding partners - England Hockey, UK Sport and the Greater London Authority. FIH hockey

The 12 pilot areas are Birmingham and Solihull, Bradford, Calderdale, Doncaster, Essex, Great Exeter, Greater Manchester, Hackney, Pennine Lancashire, Redcar & Cleveland and Middlesbrough, Southall, and Withernsea.

Mark Hardy, Chair of the Association of Play Industries, said: “We’re living in a society that’s becoming increasingly divided, and with obesity rising and divisions evident, particularly in deprived

areas, we see time after time how a well designed and implemented play and fitness area brings the local community together.

“Getting involved in the early consultation process through to implementation brings diverse members of these communities together, and once built it is truly heart-warming to see the community come together socially around the children playing and being active together.”

Playforce launches free Sports & PE guides for schools

For almost 20 years Playforce has campaigned to fight childhood obesity and to integrate active play, PE and sports across the school day and age ranges.

Playforce has started releasing a weekly advice guide on Sports & PE, drawing on their longstanding experience of working with schools across the UK and organisations such as Sport England, Youth Sport Trust and Sports for Schools.

Director of Marketing, Emily Northin, said: “With ever-

increasing pressures on funding and resources, as well as existing equipment, we understand that delivering an increased programme of physical activities can be challenging.

“That’s why we’ve produced this step-by-step guide to the Primary PE & Sports Premium, for those schools that want to integrate PE and Sports, as well as healthy living, into daily activity.”

Playforce Enquiry 52

Enquiry 51

READER ENQUIRY 53 Landscape & Amenity

February 2018

Spotlight on the vibrant play industry

A glorious centenary

Why the right surface matters.

Page 20

Sport England has identified 12 places it will work with on a bold new approach to build healthier, more active communities across England.

Weedingtech is aligned to our future generations

Weedingtech is providing forward thinking, ecoinnovations for controlling unwanted vegetation in urban and rural settings from Baja California to Bracknell UK.

Committed to supplying customers with economically viable alternatives to chemical control techniques Weedingtech is focused on safeguarding the

environment now and for our future generations.

The leading eco-solution, Foamstream, is low pressure and non-corrosive allowing end users to control unwanted vegetation without damaging valuable surfaces. Safe for the public, operators, animals and the environment, Foamstream is the ideal solution for hard, soft and

artificial surfaces in playgrounds, sports fields and walk ways.

Weedingtech Enquiry 54

TigerTurf top of the class at international school

Getting maximum use from a sports facility is a common consideration for many within the education sector.

So, with regular bad weather rendering its existing pitch out of action for much of the winter, the International School of Prague (ISP) recently looked to a solution that would provide adequate playing time all year round.

Due to soil type and weather conditions, the school’s natural grass facility had to be closed from November until March each year. During that time the pitch was unusable, forcing staff to take lessons or extracurricular activities elsewhere for a significant portion of the academic calendar.

Recognising the problem, ISP began to work on a solution that would not only extend its own use of the space, but enable it to open out the facility to others in the local area. The school appointed specialist contractors, A Sport Produkt, to lend their expertise to the project.

With ISP needing a high quality football product that would also serve for a multitude of other sports, the group specified

TigerTurf’s Premier Pro 60. Built to conform to the FIFA Quality Pro mark, the impressive design of the artificial grass surface meant the school could benefit from the exceptional performance needed, as well as up to 38 hours playing time each week.

As the first full-size installation of one of TigerTurf’s 3G surfaces in the Czech Republic, the project was an instant success. Immediately, the school was able to get more from the space, with the facility now open every day during the academic year. Better still, ISP soon began to receive offers from local sports clubs and community groups who were interested in using the surface.

As interest in further rentals continues to grow, this has opened up a new revenue stream for the school – enabling a quick return on its investment.

Joe Monks, the school’s Activities Director, commented: “Our old field could only be used during the school day between September and November, before it was then closed until March. It was clear we needed a new, multi-use games area to accommodate the school’s growing sport offering for a longer period of the academic year.

“This versatility was key when it came to designing the new pitch.

Instead of two football pitches, we went for a combination of colours and lines to maximise the possibilities for use.

“The new sports field is now open every day of the school year, even in the winter and after bad weather. On top of that, the facility has attracted numerous sports clubs that we now rent it out to. At the moment, the additional revenue we make from the pitch stands at around £5,000 a year, which helps to offset ongoing maintenance costs and ensure we can keep the facility in perfect shape.”

TigerTurf Enquiry 56

Feel ‘the power’ with Connor Sport Court

Connor Sport Court, owned by international flooring and interiors specialist Gerflor is the market leader in sports surfacing and has built systems for many elite associations including the NBA, NCAA, FIBA, USATF and USA Volleyball, together with supplying the recent 2016 Rio Olympic Games with their basketball courts.

Connor Sport Court specialise in both wood and synthetic surfaces and have appropriate solutions for every type of athletic venue, park or multi-use facility.

They provide products that are ideal for a myriad of sport uses in education colleges and universities, schools, sports and leisure centres, the military, sporting arena’s, together with dance floor studios and fitness venues.

The safest outdoor court in the world PowerGame from Connor Sport Court features the lowest skin abrasion of any outdoor court surface and is made of the highest quality materials and UV stabilisers to protect the specifiers investment and is a perfect fit for a host of performance sports including; badminton, tennis, basketball, netball and hockey.

The patented Double-Tier shock absorbing grid and Lateral Forgiveness reduces joint strain and fatigue to help participants play longer and more safely than

ever. Available in 22 stunning colour choices the performance of PowerGame is also designed to deliver excellent ball bounce, a huge factor in both on-court response and enjoyment. After all, who wants to play a dull game?

Just before the tennis championships played at The All England Club, Wimbledon in 2016 the mother of global tennis star Andy Murray decided that she wanted to actively do something about tennis at the grass roots level in Scotland‘Tennis on the Road’ was ‘born’. This programme enabled Judy Murray to bring tennis to a whole new generation of kids. The programme would need the very best playing surface for the coaches and children to play on. Their choice was PowerGame™ from Sport Court®.

In a testament to improving kids’ lives Connor and Gerflor as

companies are constantly looking for opportunities to create a better world. In the sports division, it manifests itself in creating safer places for children to unlock their potential and become champions of life. A strong partnership with the charity Beyond Sport looks set to enable this commitment to flourish as Beyond Sport are focused on using sport for social change and connecting NGOs and community organisations with groups who can help them make a difference.

The Beyond Sport Foundation is a unique registered charity and together with their expert partners they support inspirational people and projects that are using sport to make a resounding and powerful impact in some of the most disadvantaged and excluded populations from around the world which includes working to build safe play places in communities. In London Connor Sport and Gerflor have worked with Beyond Sport and the Mayor’s Office to identify applicants for a ‘Court Award’.

The project is an outdoor community court that will be designed and built by the students on an existing concrete or asphalt court that is in desperate need of an upgrade. The court will be constructed out of Sport Court PowerGame™ tiles.

Gerflor

Centenary celebrations in full swing for Wicksteed Playgrounds in 2018

In 1876 Charles Wicksteed (1847-1931) founded an engineering company in Kettering, Charles Wicksteed and Company, which prospered such that Wicksteed became a wealthy businessman.

In 1913 he bought a parcel of agricultural land south-east of Kettering and formed the Wicksteed Village Trust.

His intention was to provide a model village for the working classes at below-average rents, offering generous gardens and a large open public space for recreation and play.

Charles realised the importance of play in children’s lives and by 1918, his firm was making vast quantities of playground equipment not just for his park, but also to sell commercially, manufacturing and installing play equipment to public parks and schools across the UK and around the world.

Over decades they made a dazzling array of equipment, from pioneering metal slides, the plank swing or ‘jazz’ (an ingenious cross between a swing and a see-saw), to the Ocean Wave (a ring-shaped platform on which a group of children sat or stood to revolve around a central pole) And of course, let’s not forget the beloved Wicksteed Rocking Horse on which, from the 1930s onwards, children were able to ride.

When we think of today’s most innovative companies, we often list those that are less than a decade old and have recently gone public.

More impressive, however, are the companies that have been around for not just 10 years, but 10-plus decades and were established before the internet, let alone television, air travel, the Great Depression and the end of the first World War.These companies haven’t just scraped by, they’ve reinvented themselves multiple times and remained at the forefront of branding and marketing and have evolved and adapted to stay current.

Reaching this landmark is an exciting time for Wicksteed, to reflect on its incredible heritage but also to look forward to what will continue to be offered in the world of outdoor play, sport and fitness for the next century.

As part of its centenary celebrations the company’s logo has been re-designed and a number of significant events will be held over the year including the re-creation of an old Wicksteed favourite.

Wicksteed Playgrounds Enquiry 58

New playground extension scores highly with young footballers

Young footballers scored a new playground extension highly after members of the community had their say on its development.

The impressive £28,000 facility at Jubilee Park in Whitchurch, was designed and manufactured by outdoor play experts, Creative Play, as part of a significant investment from Whitchurch Town Council.

The family fi rm were set the mission of turning a “blank canvas” into a dream destination designed to challenge youngsters’ physical, motor and social skills.

Spread over a large area, the extension features a pirate ship, climbing unit and basket swing.

On Saturday, it was given the seal of approval by team members of Whitchurch Alport Junior Football Club during its official opening which was also attended by the Mayor of Whitchurch, Councillor Tony Neville, and Councillor Terry O’Neill, chair of the Parks Committee.

Creative Play’s sales director, David Esser, explained how the project came about. He said: “The town clerk for the council approached us asking us to provide three design options for a play area extension. We submitted some options and they were displayed in the Civic Hall along with designs from two other companies as part of a week-long public consultation.

Members of the community were asked to come and see the designs and put a sticker on whichever one they thought was best, and one of ours was the most popular choice.

“The council made the final decision in late September and asked if the work could be turned around quickly in time for the October half term and we managed to do that for them.”

David, who has worked for the Chester-based company for more than seven years, added: “The playground extension includes a basket swing which is great for promoting inclusivity as it is suitable for children with limited

mobility. There’s also a climbing unit which is very different from the equipment that is already there in the existing playground.

“Because the area is near the old canal site, people were really keen that some sort of boat was involved so we’ve built a pirate ship with a slide, climbing nets and tunnels. I visited the playground a short while later and it was nice to see the area swarming with children. It’s a fantastic play area which, because it’s made from natural timber materials, is in-keeping with the lovely setting.”

All of Creative Play’s equipment is designed and manufactured in Chester by the company’s in house teams, who use state of the art equipment and each specialise in timber, plastic or metal.

Creative Play’s own teams install all of the equipment and surfacing to meet the requirements of the client and their own rigorous quality standards.

Creative Play Enquiry 63

Create maximum impact without breaking the bank

There is no doubt that playground equipment with a bit of wow factor draws in visits from families to your pub, holiday park or visitor attraction.

However, Playforce understands that on a basic business level the numbers have to add up.

The company has gathered together three top tips from Playforce’s playground designers for making sure outdoor spaces create that interest without breaking the bank.

1. Choose features that stand out – including just one piece of equipment with a bit of height, or something unique such as a branded flag will help families to remember your site, and create instant excitement for children. Just remember, if you’re choosing a high level piece of equipment, you may need safer impact surfacing beneath it to comply with the relevant safety regulations.

2. Keep equipment footprints small to minimise surfacing requirements – surfacing can eat

Evergreens UK joins The European Synthetic Turf Organisation

The UK’s biggest artificial grass company has joined The European Synthetic Turf Organisation (ESTO), the non-profit organisation offering neutral and unbiased information for the promotion of synthetic turf.

Evergreens UK’s membership offers the opportunity to discuss, debate, research and develop the future of synthetic turf, creating a forum for all ESTO parties to communicate throughout the business chains.

Evergreens UK, which owns the popular LazyLawn® brand of artificial grass, has proved a musthave for home owners, schools, nurseries and businesses thanks to its low maintenance, mess-free alternative to natural grass which looks and feels authentic.

In business for over 30 years, Evergreens UK have established themselves as a major distributor, supplier and installer through its various trading divisions and brands. Evergreens UK will be joining ESTO as part of the

up large sums of money quickly, without seeming to add much play value. Playforce’s consultants will often recommend equipment that takes up a relatively small footprint such as the company’s Active Climbers to reduce the area of surfacing required, leaving more of your budget for the equipment.

3. Add colour – when trying to create an area to inspire and excite families, adding a bit of

colour can help it to stand out and become more memorable. If you want to keep the equipment looking natural or you’re trying to cover a large area, simply add some colourful surfacing, signage or fencing, or be brave and pick bold colours for your equipment. You could even match the area to your brand colours – Playforce can even include logos, lettering or symbols within the design.

Playforce Enquiry 62

Dura-Sport delighted to achieve ISO 9001 certification

Synthetic surfacing specialist Dura-Sport has been awarded ISO 9001:2015 certification - the International standard for Quality Management Systems.

Dura-Sport have always been renowned for providing first class synthetic grass installations and exceptional customer service. Their commitment to the ISO standard further demonstrates their focus on continuous improvement and quality assurance. Company Director Chris Stevenson said:

“In an increasingly competitive market place, we’re utilising ISO 9001 guidance and tools to continually improve our systems so we can consistently provide our customers with the high quality products and services that they expect from Dura-Sport.

“Improving our operational efficiency will increase employee job satisfaction too, which is also very important to us.”

Dura-Sport Enquiry 65

Landscaping Working Group, alongside yarn manufacturers, landscaping turf manufacturers, suppliers and installers as

well as companies offering maintenance services.

Evergreens UK Enquiry 64

RPII offers advice on adult outdoor fitness equipment

The installation of fitness equipment has accelerated over the past few years with many providers sourcing a range of equipment from a number of suppliers around the UK.

There have been a number of initiatives to try to implement a standard for this type of equipment including the French XP S 52904, some work on PAS888 and a draft German Standard.

Work has started on a European Standard but realistically it will be a minimum of two or three years before anything is likely to be published.

The German test authority TüV has had a test protocol in place since 2007, which they have used to certify products of this type throughout Europe since that time.

One of the biggest debates around Outdoor Adult Fitness Equipment has been its proximity to children’s play spaces and its suitability for such areas. The reality is that this type of equipment cannot meet with the requirements for play (BS EN 1176) as the scope of this standard relates specifically to play items intended for use by children. These would generally be viewed as usersup to the age of 14 years.

Nor can it meet the requirements of EN 957 as this standard relates specifically to Stationary Fitness Equipment intended for use in supervised Gymnasiums.

These products are not intended for ‘Play’ as they are designed for particular exercise types. The scale and configuration of the products target an adult user, rather than children.

Furthermore it is proven with anthropological data that excessive use of this type of equipment can cause severe joint problems in children, particularly when using apparatus that is not intended or proportioned for their use.

Some of the equipment items have pinch or crush points where the movement is restricted by the use of buffers and some items have extreme movement that presents a risk to younger or less competent users that may be passing by or by use of the equipment itself as it is not designed for their age group.

The RPII & API have concerns that some equipment is being installed either in or directly adjacent to children’s play spaces and there is majority agreement that some common advice is required for all suppliers and providers in this area.

The most common agreed position is that this type of equipment should not, under any circumstances, be installed inside an area that is dedicated to play for children under the age of 12 years or for less competent children; locating the equipment alongside areas specifically designed for teenagers or areas dedicated to adult fitness is appropriate. If there is a need to site the equipment adjacent to a children’s play area then a minimum separation of 25 metres

should be maintained, or segregation by some other means to provide a clear separation.

If possible additional screening should be considered to reduce the inducement to children.

Routes leading to children’s play areas should also be avoided to remove the temptation for children on a visit to a play area

treating the equipment as an item of play equipment.

Areas identified for fitness should be clearly marked as not suitable for children’s play and all items should be clearly and permanently marked with instructions on how each item should be used.

Outdoor Adult Fitness Equipment offers many benefits to the local communities in which it is installed and we should not lose sight of the potential good that these items can offer; but at the same time we have a responsibility to ensure that all reasonable and practicable measures are implemented to protect children and other less able users.

The RPII & API support the methodology outlined above and would actively encourage all members to adhere to and promote this approach

RPII Enquiry 68

Rooftop garden play area created by Russell Play

Caxton Works, also known as Royal Gateway, is a mixed-use redevelopment to regenerate the former Goswell Bakeries building in Canning Town, London.

Five new apartment blocks make up the residential part of the development with 336 exclusive apartments and penthouses. Within the bold architecture of the apartment blocks there are recreational courtyard areas for the residents including landscaped rooftop gardens and terraces.

Liz Lake Associates, the landscape architects working on the redevelopment, were looking for play features for the rooftop community garden that would complement the modern industrial feel of the architects design. The equipment should provide a play facility for children and at the same time enhance the attractive outdoor recreational space used by all the residents.

The landscaped area spans two stories and features exclusive podium areas with a central open space formed by curved raised beds. Each of these spaces providing a setting for a unique play point.

Liz Lake chose play units from the Russell Play Silhouette range, an ideal solution for this scenario. Silhouette was specifically developed to work with more urban play areas that feature modern architectural design concepts as well as traditional play parks.

The curving shapes of the beautifully crafted stainless steel enhance all environments and are enjoyed by both children and adults alike. They add a point of sculptural visual interest that residents of all ages will view in all seasons from their apartments or while out on the roof garden.

For children, a good range of physical activity is included in the Silhouette play units forming an ‘abstract trail’ throughout the rooftops. Climbing, balancing, swinging, hanging and sliding as well as anything else their imaginations can dream up.

As well as the play equipment the green rubber surface of the play areas combines well with top quality artificial grass and the bed plantings to form a cohesive look to the whole roof terrace.

RoSPA welcomes announcement of new Office for Product Safety and Standards

RoSPA has welcomed the Government’s announcement of the Office for Product Safety and Standards, in response to calls for an improved approach to product safety in the UK.

The new body has been set up to provide a central technical and scientific resource to support local authorities and businesses, and was created in response to a report from the Working Group on Product Recalls and Safety, of which RoSPA is a part.

Errol Taylor, RoSPA chief executive and member of the Working Group, said: “RoSPA advocates an evidence-based, cross-industry approach in its accident prevention work, and we are pleased to see the creation of a body that engenders this ethos.

“In support of this, data collection on product safety issues and subsequent injuries must be improved, and we are delighted to see that the Government has recognised this as part of its

Playdale appoints new distributors

Playdale is delighted to announce three new distributors for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Eire. Playdale is now working in partnership with Scotplay, Hawthorn Heights, and Murphy Playground Services to design and install fantastic new playgrounds for schools, councils and leisure attractions across Scotland, Northern Ireland and Eire.

Barry Leahey, Managing Director at Playdale is excited about the partnerships stating: “We have worked with distributors across the world for many years and have developed strong working relationships. We are looking forward to welcoming Scotplay, Hawthorn Heights and Murphy Playground Services to our team of worldwide distributors.”

recommendations, stating that “systematic and sustainable ways to capture and share data and intelligence should be established and agreed by relevant parties.

“We hope that the new body, and the Government’s other recommendations, will lead to better co-ordination and central support and leadership for major product safety issues.”

RoSPA has worked extensively on the issue of product safety

and recalls. The charity has also been working with the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) to improve data collection on injuries, recently helping the NHS to adopt the Emergency Care Data Set, which it is hoped will provide a better understanding of the causes of injuries to people attending A&E departments.

RoSPA Enquiry 70

Playdale Enquiry 71

Russell Play Enquiry 69

Sports pitches take shape at new £330m Northampton campus

A £330m state-of-the-art university is taking shape in Northampton, ready to open in 2018 with a floodlit all-weather pitch and three Multi-Use Games Areas for use by the community as well as students.

Northamptonshire civil engineering firm Prestige Civil & Sports has begun construction of the sports pitches at Northampton University’s Waterside Campus using Zaun sports fencing.

The floodlit all-weather pitch measuring 108m by 71m is already complete, with 4.8m-high fencing for ball retention, Duo8 Sports Rebound to the bottom 3m and floodlight posts incorporated into the fencing.

Duo8 Super Rebound forms a robust play area that is highly durable, low maintenance and ‘graffiti-proof’, with great rebound properties similar to a wall and rubber inserts between panels and posts to keep ‘rattle’ during play to a minimum.

The new university will transform a 58-acre brownfield site along the River Nene into

a vibrant cultural and social attraction, drawing in students and visitors from across the county and further afield.

Work on site began in 2015 and is now close to completion – the new campus opens its doors in September 2018 – with community focus at the heart of the design.

This includes commercial space, a hotel, leisure space and sustainable links to the town. A Grade II listed engine shed on the south of the campus has been converted into the home of the Students’ Union and its sports, societies and services.

A multi-use sports dome – for netball, badminton, volleyball and basketball – two sports performance labs and teaching spaces are also part of the development.

Sports are offered free to all students – Northampton is one of only two universities in the country to offer this.

Zaun Enquiry 74

RTC celebrates 25 years

RTC is celebrating 25 years in the play industry, and claiming its place as one of the oldest playground surfacing companies in the UK.

Established in 1993, the company’s mission has always been to support communities in making the most of their outdoor space by helping children stay safe as they play.

RTC believes playgrounds are a vital part of childhood and bring a range of benefi ts for both the local community and individual child development.

It is pioneering the use of graphics within surfacing and creation of bespoke designs for clients.

Past projects have seen RTC installing surfacing in playgrounds, shopping centres, and even roof tops.

RTC

Enquiry 73

Sport for all ages at Swaffham

The residents of Swaffham Town Council have enjoyed a fantastic celebration to mark the opening of their new Multi-use Games Area (MUGA) and Skatepark at the Recreation Ground at Haspalls Road.

Residents have been fundraising for a good many years and successful grant bid applications throughout 2016 helped raise the total fund to an amazing £150,000.

The tender for the MUGA was awarded to HAGS and Wheelscape provided the Skatepark. A true MultiUse sports area providing opportunities for running, fitness training, basketball, football, goal shoot practice, table tennis, cricket skills, roller skating, scooters and more!

The site celebrations started after school with a variety of people attending from young children, making full use of the track-way with roller skates and scooters, to

older children having an informal kick-about with their mums.

Personal trainers were on-hand to help organise the fun and the children were treated to goodie bags, snack boxes and fruit smoothies. Even the Town Crier practiced his basketball skills!

Helen Sephton-Pike, Area Sales Manager said “This is a fantastic achievement for the town and a great example of bringing people together for a common cause. It was really great to see just how a well-designed MUGA can be used and by such a wide spectrum of the community in age and abilities.”

HAGS Enquiry 75

Heysham heyday as Bay Cottage playspace opens

Looking out across the new play facilities at Bay Cottage on the North West coast of England, you get a real understanding of what the area means to Heysham residents and why such an extreme effort was made to restore the much loved playground.

It was local schoolgirl and triathlon specialist, Niamh Barnsley-Ryan, who has been the inspiration behind the revamped play area on the coast of Heysham in Lancashire.

Working tirelessly to help raise the necessary funds, she and the Friends of Bay Cottage desperately wanted to re-develop the beachside playspace that Lancaster City Council said could no longer be maintained.

Back before the funding campaign started, Sue JoyEatock, chair of the Friends of Bay Cottage play area, commented:

“This play area has been a valuable amenity for children, parents and families for many years and offers outdoor play that is so important for children’s development. It opens up the chance to access the beach and

all the fun children love by being near the sands. We want to develop a safe but fun and exciting play experience for youngsters that will remain a happy memory for those visiting area as well as local residents.”

Thanks to Niamh’s commitment and athletic endeavours, plus the consistent and persistent work of the Group, £80,000 was raised and their vision finally became a reality, when, in October 2017, the playground opened once more and eibe was thrilled to be a part of it.

The company’s unique robinia products really accentuate the natural environment and sit harmoniously amongst our Mounds, Tunnels and Slides. Heysham children will continue to have years of fun in what is truly delightful spot.

Zoe Munby, of Friends of Bay Cottage Play Area, said: “It has taken us three years to get to this stage, but it has been worth it to see a treasured community park – which has been used by generations of families – brought back to life and bringing fun to the many.”

eibe Play Enquiry 76

New inclusive adventurous site opened

Watford

the bespoke unit showcases an organic theme, complimenting the natural shape of the timber and existing landscape. The designers maintained this natural flow by avoiding the use of large man-made structures, therefore limiting the visual impact on the surrounding landforms.

The Harwood site is part of a two site project. The Harebreaks site was first to open early 2017 which was an ultimate treehouse that stood proud at 15m tall. Since, the Harwood site has been all eyes, as the public could only imagine what unique design was coming next.

Jupiter Play are proud advocates of inclusive play and believe inclusion in design does not have to mean compromises. This was the main focus around the design for the Harwood site, as a result Jupiter Play helped Southern Green Landscape Architects delivered a completely bespoke Inclusive Play PiPA certified ‘Community site’. The design of

Adding to the play value, the design also incorporates multiple play structures at varying levels around the feature unit. These include; a toddler multiplay, stepping stilts, agility course, climbing nets, play boulders, playhouses, climbing entrance structure and more. In order to create the community site, all play items designed had to consider the 6 senses of inclusive play. The team approached the design with this method consequently creating challenges for children at all levels, leaving no child on the sidelines.

Borough Council awarded Southern Green Landscape Architects the project to develop a unique and inspiring play space for their local communities to enjoy all year round. Jupiter Play’s bespoke capabilities helped bring the vision to life.

Volunteer army ready to spring into action to help stage the 2018 Ryder Cup

The behind-the-scenes work has already begun in earnest and one of the biggest and most prestigious golfing events in the world will once again excite a worldwide audience in September. A small army of greenkeeping and groundscare volunteers will be playing a crucial role.

This summer Le Golf National, hosts of the Ryder Cup 2018, will also welcome a huge International volunteer greenkeeping team working at the course in September – and share their exciting experiences and insights with greenkeepers worldwide.

Course Manager, Alejandro Reyes, highlighted the golf course maintenance operation for Ryder Cup week will involve around 180 people.

“Approximately 140 of these team members will be volunteers,” he revealed. “They will be coming from all around Europe, USA and even from the Middle East.

“The volunteers and Le Golf National staff members will work hand-in-hand in order to provide a golf course of the best possible quality.

“Le Golf National is the proud host of this prestigious event and we look forward to presenting the

golf course at its highest standard to 24 of the world’s greatest players,” added Alejandro.

As part of the Le Golf National sponsorship, Syngenta will be supporting five UK greenkeepers working with the Club’s team, and bringing you regular live news of their exploits, through social media and Greencast TV channel.

Syngenta European Turf Manager, Rod Burke, highlighted the Club’s Albatros course is recognised as one of the top Championship courses in Europe.

Its design has sought to combine a traditional feel of the links, along with modern golf course features.

“Alejandro and the greenkeeping team has created an exceptional facility for the prestigious competitions it hosts throughout the year, as well as golfers who get to play the resort venue’s three courses 365-days a year.

“There’s a lot to learn from their experiences and approach to golf course management and tournament preparation; it will be incredibly exciting to be part of that and to view it all through greenkeepers’ eyes,” he added.

The Club anticipates that the Ryder Cup will have a television audience of over 500 million viewers worldwide, while roughly 65,000 supporters will be on-site each day of the event.

“This will truly be a once in a lifetime experience for all involved,” pointed out Alejandro Reyes. “As the golf course superintendent, I take great pride in being able to share this event with greenkeepers around the world.”

Meanwhile Jacobsen and BIGGA have chosen a team of Future Turf Manager Initiative (FTMI) graduates to join the course maintenance team for the Ryder Cup.

The chosen BIGGA members are:

• Leigh Powell, Windlesham Golf Club (FTMI Class of 2013)

• Peter Moore, The Wentworth Club (FTMI Class of 2014)

• Gavin Neill, St Andrews Links Trust (FTMI Class of 2015)

• Richard Johnstone, Nairn Dunbar Golf Links (FTMI Class of 2016)

• Adrian McCullough, JCB (FTMI Class of 2017).

Aimed at up and coming greenkeepers who want to make the leap to Course Manager, FTMI focuses on personal and professional development. The FTMI programme utilises the expertise of leading Course Managers, dynamic trainers and industry experts to mentor and educate the next generation of industry leaders.

Director of International Golf Sales at Textron Golf, Andre Andrade, said: ““It is a huge event, and one I am sure they will remember for the rest of their lives. This opportunity is testament to the close working relationship that Jacobsen has with Le Golf National, and we thank the team there for allowing us to make this happen.”

BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton added: “It may only be six years old, but FTMI has already proven to be an incredible success, with many of the programme’s graduates going on to secure management roles, and the association is extremely grateful to Textron Golf for their continued investment in BIGGA members.”

Le Golf National was the brainchild of the French Golf Federation, to develop the country’s own golf course complex as a resource to promote the golf industry and a showpiece for national events.

The plan was launched in the autumn of 1985, and inaugurated just five years later.

The first Open de France was played on its new ‘home course’ – The Albatros - in June 1991, with the completion of the second 18-hole Eagle course and the nine-hole Birdie in the following months.

In 2011, the PGA made the announcement that Le Golf

National would be the host for the Ryder Cup 2018.

The professional approach to creating a world class course in time for the tournament is assisted by key suppliers, including:

• Jacobsen – exclusive supplier of mowing equipment.

• Syngenta – turf care products, plus volunteer sponsorship.

• Bernhards – specialist grinding services.

• Melspring – Marathon fertilisers and other turfcare products

• Toro/Reesink Turfcare –Lynx irrigation system.

The versatility of the MP platform has resulted in a series of wide area mowers with the option of rotary decks or cutting cylinders. Engineered from the ground up for minimal, simple servicing and significant weight savings using high strength steel. The designed efficiencies translate directly to keep your fuel usage down and operational costs low.

Two engines are available; a 49 hp Kubota diesel and a 65 hp turbocharged unit, providing best-in-class powerto-weight ratio. The advanced controller on the 65 hp engine facilitates ‘drive-by-wire’ and cruise control as well as PIN protected maximum mow and transport speeds.

Operator comfort is first-class with an ISO-mounted platform reducing noise and vibration together with a suspension seat ensuring long days of productive mowing.

Output from the MP Family is prodigious, but don’t take our word for it.

Robust solutions you’ll be blown away with from PSD

PSD offer an extensive range of products that includes vacuums, blowers & sweepers from innovative European manufacturers ELIET and Koppl.

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

Highly innovative German manufacturer Koppl offer a range of multi-attachment machines. With a large range of implement

carriers to suit your needs and an extensive range of attachments that includes a snow-blower, snow plough and sweeper, Koppl have a great offering. The wonderful advantage of the Koppl range is the implement carriers can be used all year round with other attachments to suit the season.

Additionally PSD Groundscare supply mowers, brushcutters, mulchers, shredders, scarifiers and overseeders.

PSD Enquiry 81

Wiedenmann’s versatile Super 500 a constant favourite

Estate mangers and golf course managers often cite the Wiedenmann Super 500 as their favourite ‘go to’ machine.

According to Wiedenmann UK, it is often the first machine on the wish list of professionals when they change their place of work.

“Once you’ve had a Super 500 or a Super 600 and move elsewhere there’s nothing as versatile or as hard working to take its place,” said a spokesman. “We get several calls each year from bereft customers looking to add it to their new fleets as soon as possible.”

The natural habitat of the Super 500 is park grounds, extensively maintained areas, ecological meadows, sports grounds and golf courses but it comes into its own anywhere where there is contoured turf.

For golf courses in particular it is perfect for undulations, or traditional ‘ridge and furrow’, the Super 500 follows contours easily and produces a consistent height of cut, whether scarifying or flail

GKB’s Quick Clean up at Harrow School

Harrow School, founded in 1572 under a Royal Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth 1, is surrounded by acres of sports fields ranging from Astroturf pitches, 2G hockey and tennis, 3G rubber crumb, sixteen winter pitches and nine cricket through to a 9-hole golf course. Grounds Manager Michael Kemmett heads a team of eleven and maintaining such large areas of synthetic turf takes a special mix of machinery and each pitch demands their own, specific, type of maintenance.

Michael chose GKB machines following demonstrations and

began with the GKB Quick brush in the summer of 2017, followed by the introduction of a Quick Clean in the November. Quick Brush is a modular brush that can be adjusted to each task, choosing between a rake, double brush and rubber finishing rag. There is a ‘flip over tool’ to enable infill material to be easily added to new fields.

“We liked the Quick Brush for its ability to carry out the correct synthetic turf maintenance, whatever the requirements. We use it every couple of weeks on the surfaces and after using the Quick Clean,” says Michael, “it’s

excellent for the getting pile to stand up and it’s also very good for the cricket outfields and pitches.”

The Quick Clean is used on sand and rubber crumb and was chosen for its powerful in-depth cleaning of all types of synthetic turf

mowing. Indeed, along with the Wiedenmann Terra Rake, the Super 500 is integral to literally dozens of rough management programmes countrywide.

Its high performance vacuum packs the 2500 litre hopper every time, leaving a professional clean finish. The airflow of the exhaust is driven downwards minimising noise and dust, important if working in noise sensitive areas such as schools, hospitals or residential areas.

A 2.1 metre high dump facility makes for easy tipping into bins and trailers. The container lifts via a parallel system, with the hopper rotating, allowing the hopper to completely discharge collected material. The Super 500 has a 2.5 m³ tank while the Super 600 a 4.5 m³ tank.

Wiedenmann UK Enquiry 82

Trilo sorts out Berkhamsted School longstanding leaf problem

Head Groundsman Mike Herring, of Berkhamsted School, and his team have their work cut out maintaining over 40 acres of grounds and sports facilities over six schools, on five different sites, across Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Founded by the then Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral in 1541, the school has a rich history in offering quality education and care for children up to 18 years old.

By comparison, Trilo equipment has for many years made light work of fallen leaves - collecting them whilst keeping surface disruption to a minimum.

The school offer facilities for a range of both winter and summer sports – rugby, football, cricket, athletics and lacrosse play a big part in the curricular and extracurricular life of the students.

“Across the sites, the number of mature trees pose us problems at certain times of the year, so we looked at various options to

make the job of leaf collection easier and more efficient,” said Mike.

Having read up about the Trilo range of blowers and collectors, as well as seeing them at trade shows, Mike had a demonstration of a BL960 and S4 in the summer of 2017.

“Having taken delivery of the units in September, they were straight out into the field for a busy autumn,” he adds. “One of our sites is completely surrounded by trees so we got out with the BL960 to blow the leaves to the perimeter of the pitches before using the S4 to collect them in one or two passes. This saves us driving a heavier unit across a surface multiple times thereby causing issues with compaction and drainage.”

Throughout the process, support was provided by Jeremy Vincent of Trilo as well as Mark House from local dealer Ernest Doe.

Trilo

Enquiry 88

pitches. With the wide variety of sports surfaces at Harrow School, the extraction of debris needs to be adjusted to suit the technical characteristics of each pitch.

GKB Enquiry 84

Artificial Surface Power Brush from SCH (Ref ASPB).

A walk behind sweeper suitable for year round use. Sweeps straight ahead or can be angled to the left or the right. comes complete with collection box.

Perfect for artificial and hard play surfaces such as tennis courts.

Contact us today for a free 80 page brochure full of sports surface maintenance machinery (artificial and natural), trailers, sprayers, water units, pressure washers and much more.

Telephone 01473 328272 sales@schsupplies.co.uk www.schsupplies.co.uk

Nathan Hume wins top

The Votex B40 blower clears the copses at club

Every one of the 18-holes on the Cotswold Hills course has at least two copses of varying sizes running along the fairways or around the greens, making this a very prevalent issue, and one which Wayne is very pleased the Votex B40 has been able to solve.

The club required a solution that something that would fit on the back of a compact tractor, which wasn’t wider than the tractor and was easy to manoeuvre through the trees. Another key requirement was a machine with a 180-degree swivel head so grounds staff could blow the leaves either side of the machine.

The B40 met all those criteria and when we tried it out we found it was similar to our previous blower power wise, but it was a lot more efficient, especially when using the nozzle.

The power the B40 blower comes from the intuitive design that is

applied to all the models within the Votex range. The blowers are designed according to the ‘forced air guidance’ principal and have a double-sided air inlet. This enlarges the air intake without enlarging the turbine.

Though the capacity is high, the weight of the rotating parts is extremely low. This low weight prevents overcharging of the power train of the tractor when thrown into gear. The blower can fit several PTO speeds and directions.

Clydebank hires new Bobcat

Clydebank Port Services Ltd in Glasgow in Scotland has hired a new Bobcat S550 skidsteer loader with sweeper and bucket attachments from the new MTS Group hire depot at Cumbernauld for ship trimming work at the port.

The Bobcat S550 loader is used to help unload shipments but the company also makes use of the sweeper to clear the docks both before and after the ships come in. Bobcat skid-steer loaders enjoy outstanding manoeuvrability

in confined spaces. In the S550 model, the radius lift pattern and short wheelbase are combined with differential steering for highly efficient manoeuvring and superfast cycle times in tight areas, a fast travel speed and more than ample auxiliary pump flow.

In addition, the hydrostatic drive enables precise control of the speed and direction of the loader, both forwards and backwards, in any situation.

Enquiry 89

Multi-tasking machines from Wessex

If you’re struggling to keep on top of fallen leaves or scattered debris in your garden, field or park, a leaf collector could be the solution.

There’s no need to struggle with a rake for hours with one of these innovative machines.

The selection of leaf collectors available from Wessex International showcases some of the most innovative and functional machines on the market. Browse our collection to find leaf collectors for all manner of applications, including those specifically designed for golf courses and those which can handle almost any type of terrain.

Choose from large tractor mounted leaf collectors or ones which are suitable for ATV and UTV, or infact any machine with a ball hitch.

If you’re looking for a leaf collector which is low maintenance and easy to use, Wessex has the right solution for you.

Fitted with a unique emptying hopper these multi-functional collectors will seamlessly brush the leaves together and collect them – all you have to do is remove and dispose of the leaves at the end of your collection.

These machines are also fully adjustable and boast a range of protective features to ensure that they operate well, even in long grass and rough terrain.

Wessex Enquiry 90

Synthetic success at school for SISIS

Tom Hall, deputy head groundsman at Bloxham School in Oxfordshire has reported excellent results from using SISIS equipment to maintain the school’s two synthetic sports surfaces.

As well as a plethora of grass sports pitches, Bloxham also features two synthetic surfaces, and to maintain these; the grounds team relies on a range of SISIS equipment.

“Here at Bloxham, one of the synthetic surfaces is sand filled and the other is sand dressed. Predominantly we use the surfaces for hockey, but during the summer, we also have tennis, and in some circumstances we use it for cricket.”

“We use two pieces of SISIS equipment to maintain our synthetic surfaces - the SSS1000 Sweeper and the SISIS Twinplay

Implement Frame, complete with a straight and zig-zag Brush.”

The SISIS SSS1000 is a tractor mounted sweeper which can be pulled by any machine. There are no tools required for the adjustment of the brush or the angle of the draw bar and to make storage easy the draw bar lifts to an upright position. With an aluminium hopper with stainless steel mesh, any infill that is collected when using the machine is returned back down to the surface leaving it free from contamination of debris.

“I am really impressed with the SSS1000,” says Tom. “Before we had it, we used to manually clean the synthetic surfaces using blowers, hand-held brushes and bags. At Bloxham we have a problem with ash seed falling onto the synthetic surfaces, and this is one of the main reasons we bought the SSS1000. Now

we have it, it makes the job a lot quicker and it allows us to spend time on other tasks. We tend to use the sweeper before games and generally once a week just to pick up any organic foliage.”

The SISIS Twinplay tractor mounted implement frame can be fitted with several attachments for the maintenance of synthetic surfaces and Tom chooses to attach the SISIS straight brush

and the SISIS zig-zag brush –which he claims “do exactly what they are supposed to.”

“We use the brushes at least three times a week and we use them to relieve compaction within the pile and to evenly disperse the sand over the surface of the pitch,” he added.

SISIS Enquiry 91

Rapid removal of waste, mowed grass and leaves!

Trilo Vacuum Sweepers

Bobcat

Campey Turf Care Systems has provided a remedy for an ongoing leaf and debris problem at Cotswold Hills Golf Club in the shape of the Votex B40 Blower.

Campey Turf Care Systems Enquiry 83

New mixtures and new names for DLF Johnsons

Using the very latest data from mixture and official cultivar trials at the STRI, a number of mixtures from both the Masterline and Johnsons Sports Seed ranges have been revised and updated for 2018.

Visitors to stand A20 at BTME will be the first to hear about the many new formulations, as well as a completely new mixture for cricket, Johnsons J Outfield.

J Outfield has been specially designed and developed for outfield renovation and takes advantage of the performance benefits of DLF’s latest diploid and 4Turf tetraploid ryegrass

technology. It also includes a new cultivar, Claudine, as well as the top rated tetraploid Fabian to deliver a dense, hardwearing surface that provides excellent colour all year round.

DLF’s investment in research and development also sees two exciting new fine fescues appearing on the BSPB list, looking to play a significant role in the development of fine fescue surface management. The Johnsons range is further enhanced with the opportunity to purchase leading mixtures with the now established ProNitro coating.

DLF Johnsons Enquiry 96

Dennis and SISIS offer range of solutions

Dennis and SISIS will once again exhibited at BTME 2018 on stand A5 where greenkeepers, course managers and turf managers will be able to were extensive range of turf maintenance equipment.

With a focus on aeration, scarification and mowing, visitors to the joint stand can look forward to finding out more about these products as well as speaking to experienced staff who will be available to answer any queries and offer valuable advice.

Featuring prominently on the stand were the SISIS Javelin Aer-Aid 1500 tractor mounted

vertical action aerator and the SISIS TM1000– a tractor mounted scarifier. Also featuring from the SISIS portfolio was be the Auto-Rotorake MK5 pedestrian scarifier.

From the Dennis range, visitors will be able to viewed the Simplex and FT510 mowers. The Simplex has a 510mm (20”) operating width with a choice of 5 or 7 bladed cutting cylinder. The Dennis FT510, which has a cutting width of 510mm (20”), was also be showcased at the exhibition.

Dennis Enquiry 94

Groundsman two and fourwheel drive Turf Cutters deliver effortless sod cutting with low operating vibration levels.

These versatile machines can be fitted with sod blades 30cm to 60cm wide to cut 1cm to 7cm thick sod plus Trench, Decompaction and Mole-drain blades to 12cm depth.

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

to 15cm. Quick-change accessories are available for Solid, Hollow and Chisel Tining.

The Flexblade Collector developed by Groundsman fits all makes of aerators for coring and collection in one pass. This incredibly efficient implement follows the contours of Golf Greens scooping the cores or linear aeration soil cleanly from the surface.

Groundsman Industries Enquiry 95

The finalists of the BIGGA Awards 2018 revealed

One of the highlights of the exhibition will be the BIGGA Welcome Celebration sponsored by Textron Golf, where the winners of the prestigious BIGGA Awards will be revealed. Presented by Naga Munchetty and featuring entertainment from stand-up comedian Ian Moore, the awards recognise the year’s outstanding greenkeeping performances from association members.

The finalists of the BIGGA Awards 2018 are:

Championship Greenkeeping Performance of the Year sponsored by Rigby Taylor:

• Adam Matthews and the team at Moor Allerton Golf Club (Leeds) for preparing and maintaining the course during the Clipper Logistics Championship 2017 EuroPro Tour event.

• Frank Clarkson and the team at Dundonald Links Golf Club for preparing and maintaining the course during both the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open 2017 and the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open 2017.

• Kenny Mackay and the team at The Wentworth Club for renovating and maintaining the course before and during the BMW PGA Championship 2017.

BIGGA Young Greenkeeper of the Year sponsored by Textron Golf:

• Alistair Morrison, Greenkeeper, Durness Golf Club in Scotland

• Angus Roberts, Greenkeeper, Roxburghe Hotel and Golf Course in Scotland

• Carl Sharp, Greenkeeper, Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club in Surrey

BIGGA Greenkeeping Achievement of the Year sponsored by Baroness:

• Andrew Brougham, Head Greenkeeper, Astbury Golf Club

• Neil McLoughlin, Course Manager, Deeside Golf Club

• Stuart Imeson, Head Greenkeeper, Dunstanburgh Castle Golf Club

BIGGA Enquiry 97

Mowing outside the box

Got tricky banks to mow? There’s a specialist machine for that – Jane Carley looks at the options.

More unusual and inaccessible locations such as reservoirs, industrial parks, restored landfill, green energy sitese and nature reserves offer useful opportunities for contractors, but require some innovative thinking when it comes to vegetation maintenance machinery.

Remote control machines

McConnel offers six different remote control power units including Robocut – an allterrain remote control work platform with a choice of 20 different attachments including: a cutterbar, a choice of rotary and flail heads, and a stump grinder.

Equipped with a productive and fuel-efficient 40hp Isuzu diesel engine, Robocut can tackle slopes of up to 55 degrees, while its 150m range enables operators to work outside hazardous and hard-to-reach areas.

Mowing attachments include a 1.3m flail, 1.5m rotary deck and a 1.25m mulcher with heavy duty rotor and 22 hammer flails. The 1.2m Roboforest mulcher can tackle material up to 50mm diameter.

choice of three different highgrip tracks allowing it to tackle slopes of up to 50 degrees. It is also light enough to fit on a trailer and has working speeds up to 10kph.

McConnel UK sales manager Jon Webb says: “McConnel’s remote control range has proved popular all over the world with machines working successfully everywhere from Norway to New Zealand, Poland to Papua New Guinea. We offer the largest range, the most versatile machines, more than 25 specialist attachments from stump grinders to snow blowers, and a worldwide dealer support network.”

A range of specialist machines are now available to tackle the practical health and safety challenges presented by these sites – many specialist work tools can also be fitted with a number of attachments such as forestry or snow clearance solutions offering year-round use and further diversifi cation into new sectors.

At the top end of the range is Robopower – a 140hp unmanned tractor with front and rear three-point linkage and PTO, which can tackle slopes of up to 45 degrees.

McConnel’s entry level machine is the Robomoz, designed exclusively for mowing.

Powered by a 33hp Yanmar diesel engine, Robomoz has a low centre of gravity and a

PSD Groundcare supplies the Koppl Gekko, which can be used ether as a walk-behind or remote control machine. Offering high performance and multiattachment capability, the Gekko

is powered by a 23hp petrol engine. With a remote control range up to 300m, it is capable of working on slopes up to 45deg.

The design offers high ground clearance and a low centre of gravity plus innovations including twist-grip steering. Koppl’s turnaround active steering turns the base unit directly over the centre by 180 degrees on the spot.

STM

PSD

McConnel

Spider

The wheel motors are driven individually in opposite directions and allow full control at the turn with minimal effort and maximum ground protection. Mowing attachments include a choice of cutter bars, 1.3m wide rotary heads and a 1.2m flail.

STM’s RoboFlail remote control mower is an alternative approach from for steeper verges and health and safety sensitive areas. The unit can be operated from as far distant as 300m,

and the twin-track configuration allows for very concise turning in between cutting operations.

RoboFlail machines come in diesel and petrol formats with 1.2m rotary or flail cutting head options. Other models in the range allow for the use of popular front-mounted hydraulic or PTOdriven attachments.

Dvorak, the Czech Republic-based manufacturer of the Spider range of remote controlled slope mowers has developed the 3RIDER, which

provides the option for the operator to sit on the machine.

It can be operated by a seated driver on slopes of up to 15 degrees and when the slope becomes too extreme, the operator continues to control it by remote control from a safe position away from the machine.

Currently a prototype, long-term testing is now being carried out to determine its robustness in real and varying conditions.

Dvorak’s Dance Step steering system uses the company’s patented chassis design and enables omni-directional mowing: four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering allows the mower to move forward, sideways and backwards with unlimited continuous turning of all wheels through 360 degrees. The current remote-controlled Spider range uses this fourwheel synchronised steering system.

The axles are independently attached to the main frame allowing the mower to articulate on uneven terrain. The operator´s seat is centrally located and the front mowing deck is attached to the main frame at midpoint and kept on the terrain by a torsion bar.

This is said to provide the operator with a 360deg view and allows the mowing deck to float, following the contours of the terrain.

There are also some major changes to the mowing system. The front-mounted 1.6 m (63 inch) deck uses seven small high-speed rotary motors and blades. The front row of four blades rotates in one direction, while the rear bank of three rotate in the other direction. Changing to the mulching option requires the standard blades to be replaced with mulching blades and a switch on one of the drive motors is activated so that in mulching mode, all blades rotate in the same direction.

Spider mowers are distributed in the UK by TH White Imports.

Irus remote mowers are imported by Loxston’s Groundcare and Pete Loxston comments: “Irus has been building remote mowers since 2003, starting with the Deltrak MK1 and thus their machines are among the most developed on the market.”

The machines have been used in extreme situations from reservoir banks to railway embankments, where vegetation must be controlled without compromising operator safety.

Irus remote control mowers will go where standard walk behind or ride on mowers cannot go safely being able to run on slopes of up to 50°. Radio control ranges of up to 300m ensure that operators are always out of harm’s way.

Launched at the recent LAMMA show is UK was the Twin 50hp high performance dual mounted tool carrier.

Pete explains: “This machine is unique in the fact that there is no front or back to the machine, so an implement can be mounted at either end, which gives many advantages.”

“On steep difficult surfaces, most surface damage is created on the turns, which also impact on workrates - with the Twin there is no need to turn, as the machine can traverse back and forth.”

In areas where cut grass needs to be removed from the surface, a mower can be fi tted at one end and band rake at the other and for forestry applications a forest mulcher can be fitted at one end and a stump grinder

or 3500kg Skidder winch at the other. Implement side shift gives additional reach in tricky areas.

The Irus Twin is powered by a Kubota high torque nonturbo engine and offers 100 l/ min hydraulic power for more demanding implements.

Adjustable track width further increases stability, and Pete adds: “There is no machine more versatile in diffi cult and awkward areas.”

Bomford Turner added two new models to its Flailbot range in 2017 - a compact 40hp model, and the larger Supreme 70hp model.

Each of the two tracks can be independently extended by the operator by 250mm, widening the footprint to aid stability and grip and allowing the mower to operate on inclines up to 55 degrees.

Rubber and studded steel track choices offer optimum traction for different surface conditions, whilst automatic track tensioning prevents track loss.

To maintain the optimum cutting height and angle, the cutting heads float over the terrain and are adjusted automatically.

Mowing options include 1.182.05m standard flails, 1.28 and 1.65m forestry heads and a 1.45m rotary unit which can be fitted with a barrier mower disc.

A range of tools and accessories allow Flailbot to be configured for a wide range of applications,

Remote control makes Flailbot ideal for use on hilly, banked and even mountainous areas, says Bomford Turner. With a range of up to 150m, the remote unit offers precise joystick control of forward or reverse track speeds, from 0-7kph. The unit also displays real-time data, including machine incline, attitude a nd speed.

Pedestrian machines

The pedestrian SCAG SWZ machine from STM Co Ltd is available with a twin rear wheel set-up on the driving wheels, giving increased grip, wider footprint and effectively a lowered centre of gravity.

This is a well-established and popular approach to such conditions, with many units sold per year for use by councils, estate management providers and hire companies, says STM Co.

SWZ pedestrian mowers are available with 76cm, 1.2m and 1.3m rotary cutting decks, or 76cm, 90cm and 1.2m flails, with the twin wheel attachment is an optional extra.

Specialist tractors

Originally designed for use on Alpine farms, bank tractors offer high productivity when cutting difficult areas coupled with low ground pressure to protect sensitive surfaces.

including stump grinders, trench cutters, earthmoving, snow clearing and agricultural processing.

Bomford Turner

Irus Mowers

Simon Richard, the UK agent for the Reform specialist bank tractor range says, “In tandem with a Muthing MU-H200 flail, the four-speed hydrostatic drive 70hp Reform Metrac H7RX, is the spearhead of the company’s mid-range.

It offers the professional and local authority user a compact power unit tailor-made for a wide range of municipal tasks, including safe operation on steep slopes up to 45 degree angles to directly address operator health and safety issues.”

The H7RX’s low centre of gravity, combined with constant power hydrostatic drive provides maximum ground contact and the suspended front axle ensures that all four wheels have permanent ground contact even on uneven terrain.

Additionally, an inching pedal means the operator can work around trees, shrubs etc, with confidence. Depending on the task, selection can be made between four wheel, front wheel, rear wheel or continuously adjustable crab steering mode.

Muthing’s MU-H200 high tempered M-Hammer flail or optional shackle fl ail with self-sharpening cutting edge is designed to offer a clean cut and maximum shredding whilst using less power. The distance between the outer rotor circle and the roller provides perfect contour following, quality of cut, superior mulching and

shredding performance, says Mr Richard, who adds: “The MU-H200’s proven reduction in stone deflection also makes it the flail of choice when working adjacent to motorways.”

The Ventrac 4500 compact tractor is ideal for maintaining verges, slopes and rough terrain in safety, as it can tackle inclines of up to 30 degrees, says importer Price Turfcare.

The Tough Cut mowing deck is designed for mowing high grass, thick weeds and heavy brush and is capable of tackling saplings up to 2.54cm diameter. A large baffled front opening helps direct materials into the deck and helps hinder debris from escaping. Three heavy-duty blades counter rotate to cut and deposit waste evenly without windrowing.

The Tough Cut can be adjusted to three cutting heights: 76 mm, 92 mm and 108 mm.

The Ventrac 4500 tractor frame articulates and pivots in the centre to maintain contact with the ground and improve weight distribution. Its compact frame is designed with a low centre of gravity contributing to its slope climbing ability. For increased safety and stability on hillsides optional wheel extensions allow operation up to 25 degrees; dual wheels can tackle 30 degree slopes.

SGM Contracts, based at Inverkeithing in Fife, Scotland purchased a Ventrac 4500 with

Tough Cut deck and hired it to Amey, the international infrastructure support services company. It is being used to help maintain the slopes and banks on the M9 motorway as part of their delivery services contract for Scotland’s South East Trunk Roads Network.

Attachments

STM offers the Humus AFLR mower deck. Humus have specialised in machinery for cutting grass in fruit growing areas, and the required maintenance under tree branches has led to the development of the AFLR unit for maintaining grass under solar farm PV units.

The attachment acts like a rear-mounted mowing deck with three available cut sizes of 1.40m, 1.83m and 1.93m, with the addition of side shift to position the head well under a PV unit, utilising a swingout head. This swing-out head features a sensor to move it back out of the way when it reaches any part of the frame structure.

An AFLR1800, for example, cuts 1.4m with the swing out head in, 1.76 with it out and offers the facility to move the whole unit laterally 1.6m.There are two larger units – the AFLR2300(1.83 to 2.39m with 2.33m sideshift]) and the AFLR2500 (1.93 to 2.56m with 2.49 sideshift).

TRP UK supplies the INO range of mowers, which includes models for front and rear mounting on tractors, for specialist bank tractors and for pedestrian controlled wheeled or tracked power units, all with a two-year warranty.

INO flail mowers are all fitted with a patented multi spiral roller said to use up to 24% less energy than competitors, and allowing smaller tractors to be used.

Mechanical or hydraulic offsetting is available on most machines. The front mounted Euro range suitable for tractors from 55-110hp and available in

working widths from 2.25-2.77m now features a strengthened three-point hitch and the option of heavy duty hammers with wolfram carbide edge.

INO has developed a vibration control system which uses sensors on the rotor to measure the levels of vibration that the machine is subjected to during mowing, and records operation information such as number of passes, location, forward speed etc.

Data is accessed via a mobile phone app, and can be used to assess productivity and how workload may impact on servicing and warranty provision. INO mowers

Case study: Ventrac scales new heights superb for land management as it can cut through saplings, bracken and gorse, helping to maintain the areas that consume man-hours.”

Peter Pattenden is the Golf Courses and Estates Manager at Carden Park, a hotel, spa and sporting venue occupying over 800 acres of parkland in Cheshire.

He appreciates the versatility of the Ventrac 4500, having purchased a machine in June 2017.

“The Ventrac’s Contour deck is great out on the golf courses, especially on sloping tee banks and around the edge of the steep banks that frame our tennis courts. The Tough Cut deck is

With more than 30 different attachments, the Ventrac 4500 is designed to suit a wide range of landscaping applications. The trencher is ideal for irrigation work, a stump grinder for woodland management, a selection of blowers, an edging tool, vibrating aerator, snow clearance equipment and much more.

INO mowers

STM

John Deere renews partnership with LET

John Deere and the Ladies European Tour (LET) have announced an extension to their partner agreement from January 2018, during which Deere will continue to be designated the Tour’s official supplier of golf course maintenance equipment including mowers, tractors and Gator utility vehicles.

Under the terms of the agreement, LET tournaments –including The Solheim Cup at Gleneagles in September 2019 – will be supported by John Deere equipment through the company’s European golf dealer network. Deere officials will also continue to work closely with the LET’s agronomists, with the goal of helping to produce better quality playing surfaces across the continent.

The announcement was made by LET chairman Mark Lichtenhein on the John Deere stand at BTME 2018 in Harrogate on Tuesday January 23, together with John Deere’s global turf marketing director Manny Gan and European turf sales & marketing manager Carlos Aragones.

“We are delighted that John Deere has decided to extend

its relationship with the Ladies European Tour for the next two years, beyond The 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles,” said Mark Lichtenhein. “This is a testament to our enduring partnership since 2006 and demonstrates the alignment of our brands and our joint objective to ensure a bright future for the women’s game.”

Carlos Aragones added, “We are also delighted that what has already proved to be a fruitful relationship with the Ladies European Tour is continuing to grow. The strength of the John Deere brand is based on the quality of our products and customer service, and we are very proud to be associated with both the LET and The Solheim Cup.”

The Solheim Cup is the highlight of the women’s professional golf calendar, when the best women golfers from Europe and the United States compete for this prestigious biennial trophy. The next tournament takes place on the world-famous PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles in Perthshire, Scotland from September 13-15, 2019.

Woods production up and running in Belgium

Woods Equipment, a Blount International business, have now commenced production at their brand new custom-built spares and assembly plant in Charlerois, Belgium.

Simon Richard, UK Agent for the Woods Rotary Cutter range, said: “The Woods rotary mower range is based on the Batwing and Brush Bull Single Spindle as well as the Multi-Spindle and RC Series models.

The range runs from the 42” Economy Spindle cutter for 15hp-30hp tractors to the 21ft MultiSpindle cutter for 70hp -300hp tractors. Most mowers come with an exceptional six year warranty on Gearboxes. The Woods agriculture sector core product range also includes Finish mowers, Disc Harrows, Seeders and Tillers.

The Charlerois centre will deliver continuity of supply to maximise time savings and minimise downtimes across the Woods European client base.

Simon Richard Enquiry 104

Wiedenmann eases over Islay’s Machrie Links

The Machrie Links, Islay, one of the UK’s most westerly and spectacular golfing locations is blessed with outstanding coastline vistas in a natural setting.

Course Manager, Dean Muir, joined from Muirfield three years ago and he and his team of seven are seamlessly blending the old with the new.

As the project evolves three separate Wiedenmann UK purchases have contributed to re-establishment works across the course. First to arrive was a Super 600 to launch their rough management programme.

With its 4500 litre tank the Super 600 collects and packs arisings tightly, increasing productivity, the high dump facility able to tip into tall sided trailers.

Next on Dean’s list was a new Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi8 HD arriving in October 2016. The GXi8 runs through all fairways annually once

during the winter months. Greens are spiked every other year as being built essentially on sand dunes gives rise to few compaction issues.

Finally Machrie Links purchased a 1.7m Terra Rake in October to work in tandem with the Super 600 and other kit for the course.

Wiedenmann UK’s Scottish dealer, Fairways GM have supplied Machrie Links with their Wiedenmann equipment.

Wiedenmann Enquiry 105

Double A confirmed as new Pellenc dealer

Double A have recently been appointed as the authorised dealer for the full range of professional battery powered tools by Pellenc, in the North East of Scotland.

The success of the company has been based on providing their customers with quality products along with a first class after sales

service. To achieve this Double A has always aimed to source quality equipment franchises, and it is for this reason that managing director Sandy was keen to work with the Pellenc brand.

“I fi rst saw Pellenc at a show in France in 2015 and was instantly impressed,” he says.

“We have customers who are looking for this type of product so I made enquiries at SALTEX and it was obvious that they had advanced even further since I last saw them.”

Over recent years, Pellenc has gained market recognition by offering a unique range of ‘zero emission’ battery-powered tools, thanks to the development of Lithium-ion ultra-high performance batteries.

This exclusive Pellenc technology allows for a drastic reduction in the production of greenhouse gases and noise pollution. It is also comfortable for users, meets new sustainable development demands and offers

excellent economic profitability. With a record capacity of up to one day’s use on a single charge, these quality products are a perfect fit for Double A according to Sandy.

Sandy believes that Pellenc products will be especially appealing to his customer base who work in local authorities, National Trust sites, schools, universities, caravan parks and large houses and estates. With more and more customers turning to green technology he is confident that many will reap the benefits by choosing Pellenc.

Etesia Enquiry 107

John Deere Enquiry 106

“With almost sixty products available there is a solution for every requirement.”

Charterhouse TM strengthen northern territory representation

Charterhouse Turf Machinery have announced the appointment of Ian Lauder as Northern Territory Manager.

This role will see Ian providing machinery, service and sales support to the dealer and customer network in Northern

England, Scotland and Ireland. Ian brings with him a wealth of knowledge on the golf and groundcare sectors, joining Charterhouse from over a decade spent with a large, established dealership in Scotland. Here he gained experience with a range of leading industry brands,

including products from the Redexim Charterhouse stable, and built relationships with a range of customers including golf clubs, local authorities, bowls clubs, contractors and more.

Chaterhouse Turf Machinery Enquiry 110

Jensen Chippers used for charity Christmas tree recycling scheme

Jensen woodchippers were on hand this month to support a fundraising event which raised over £12,000 for charity.

Dorothy House, who offer end of life care to patients with terminal illnesses, and Wiltshire College joined forces for the second time in January 2018 for a Christmas tree collection and recycling scheme.

In total, supporters and volunteers collected more than 1,500 real Christmas trees, 300 of which were delivered to Wiltshire College’s Lackham campus, which specialises in land-based training courses.

Wiltshire College students then had the chance to learn a new skill, working with Bill Johnston from T H WHITE Machinery Imports to chip all the trees and learn about the safe use and maintenance of woodchippers.The students were

provided a Jensen A540 chipper for the duration of the event, chipping all 300 trees which will now be used for pathways around the college campus.

White Enquiry 111

Double A aim for quicker grind times

Grinding by its nature is a precise process that can be time consuming, but The Double A Trading Company Ltd is aiming for far greater efficiency with their new Foley Accu-Pro 633 with AccuTouch 3 Control, supplied by ProSport UK Ltd.

During her 13-years as Service Manager at Double A, Erin Mackie decided to opt for the grinder recommended by managing director of ProSport UK and Foley UK distributor Ian Robson.

“One of the many reasons I chose the Foley Accu-Pro 633, and why the engineers preferred that grinder to the others on

offer, is because it is completely computerised,” she said.

“It offers us spin and relief grinding and it’s fully automatic. So, while the grinder is in action our technicians can be away and working on something else. It’s also fully enclosed so it meets all our health and safety regulations, reducing the excessive noise that we used to get with our other fully open machine.

“Purchasing the Accu-Pro will significantly improve our efficiency for grinding, and in turn this will increase our capacity.”

ProSport Enquiry 113

Toro introduces new Proline mower

Toro has announced the launch of the new 53cm heavy-duty Proline mower (model 22280). Available now, the new model has several enhanced features, including simplified controls and improved ergonomics for operator comfort.

The Toro Proline range is well known for its ability to withstand the demands of professional gardeners, landscapers and municipalities.

The latest mower in the line focuses on durability and minimising hand-arm vibration and achieves a low hand-arm

vibration of only 2.7m/s². This enables nearly 7 hours of continual use every day before exceeding the EAV.

The Proline 53cm features a 3-speed transmission system and Blade Brake Clutch (BBC) system, powered by a commercial-grade Kawasaki FJ180V KAI engine, in addition to a cast aluminium cutter deck that is designed to withstand the rigors of commercial mowing whilst minimizing overall weight. Model 22280 comes with a one-year commercial warranty.

Toro Machinery Enquiry 112

TH

RT Machinery joins the Ventrac dealer network

R T Machinery Ltd, based at Nether Winchendon, Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire is one of the latest turf machinery dealerships to join the Ventrac dealer network in the UK.

R T Machinery Ltd (RTM) was formed by managing director Richard Taylor back in 2001. An independent company, RTM’s strengths lie in over 30 years of industry experience, a keen interest in machinery and a willingness to provide a quality service and value for money.

The team consists of a group of dedicated and experienced staff who have a shared interest in sport, sports and fine turf machinery and customer satisfaction.

Price Turfcare Enquiry 115

right to the job. Turn that big pile of branches into a small pile of chips, spray them into wheelie bins and take them away (except of course most customers want to keep them)

These amazing Chippers will easily handle branches up to 90mm diameter and process wood so quickly you have to see it to believe it, anything that’s too big to go through a Skarper C90 is basically good firewood.

Finance deal makes sense for Rochford Hundred

Rochford Hundred Golf Club in Essex celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2018, and boasts a Grade One listed building dating back to the late 15th century as its clubhouse. The imposing Rochford Hall was the principal hall in the ‘Hundred’ of Rochford (the term dating back to Saxon times), which is listed in the Domesday Book as being the largest in the county.

This historic setting has much more recently seen the arrival of a new John Deere machinery fleet supplied by golf division sales manager Neil Peachey of local dealer P Tuckwell Ltd at Ardleigh, near Colchester.

Dave Rand describes this as the ideal solution to help fix costs and enable the purchase of advanced technology equipment with a good resale value at the end of the term.

“We were falling behind on the latest technology, and also had a couple of years when we had to buy more machines than we’d budgeted for in order to keep up, which was proving more expensive than it needed to be,” Dave Rand explains.

New washing unit created by SCH

SCH (Supplies) Ltd have recently designed and manufactured a bowser/pressure washing unit for a Local Authority.

The unit is fully road legal and features a 900 litre tank, baffled to minimise surge. This special build version was designed with twin pumps – one is for normal water transfer for hanging basket and bed watering.

Using this pump, the bowser can also be used for fire-fighting and first aid purposes.

The second pump converts the bowser to a pressure washer, with chemical injection facilities so the unit can be used for washing down and cleaning tasks.

The tank is fitted with a stop ballcock so that the unit can be

equation, raises standards and helps us to be more productive and efficient.

“In turn that means more golf can be played, which provides more income for the club. The members also pay their fees monthly now, so it’s a much more financially viable solution all round.

“We bought the new 9009A mower to do a better job on the rough, and this works on the large grass areas alongside the 1570 front rotary, which does the more intricate work around the trees and other landscape features,” Dave adds.

left filling without supervision. SCH can build many different sizes and configurations to suit our customers’ exact needs.

SCH (Supplies) Enquiry 117

Upson Mowers Enquiry 116 www.upsonmowers.co.uk www.skarper.at Tel: 01621 892907

This includes three 2500E hybrid electric greens & tees mowers; a 7700A PrecisionCut fairway mower; a 7400A TerrainCut rotary trim & surrounds mower; 9009A and 1570 TerrainCut rotary rough mowers; a 3038R compact tractor; a TE 4x2 electric Gator utility vehicle; two Pro Gator utility vehicles plus an HD300 sprayer with covered boom; and an Aercore 800 pedestrian aerator.

In a first for the club, most of the new machines have been

“With this new leasing deal, we’ve been able to bring in more kit compared with paying for individual machines in a year by year purchase programme, and the annual expenditure is actually less.

“We’ve now got everything covered in one simple monthly payment plan, plus the machines have extended warranty for the length of the deal so there will be no unforeseen costs or additional bills. With the key annual maintenance work included, it takes downtime out of the

“These two machines now get the job done more quickly and have made a great improvement – the rough looks much better now. The electric Gator is also great for getting around the course quietly without disturbing golfers, and I really like the new A Model mower technology with the TechControl display, which helps to deliver a more consistent, quality finish around the course.”

John Deere Enquiry 118

Razor sharp racing with Polaris

Polaris UK & Ireland is pleased to announce their continuation as title sponsors of British Side by Side Championship Racing in 2018.

What started in 2011 with Polaris Dealer Martin Fletcher and racing Polaris RZRs has become the fastest growing sport and leisure racing in the UK.

It is now the premier racing championship for all makes and models of SXS.

“Polaris and SXS Racing have had a fantastic relationship since UTV racing began in the UK, and that is set to continue this season,” says Colin Martin, Race Director, “as the UTV market has come alive, so the motocross style of Side by Side racing has grown, attracting entrants from widely diverse backgrounds.”

SXS racing runs over three race formats, Short Circuit Racing, Endurance Racing and Youth.

Polaris Enquiry 121

acquired using a John Deere Financial operating lease including PowerGard Protection Plus warranty and maintenance cover. Course manager

Better Safe Than Sorry

Working beyond the limits of equipment on steep inclines could be a thing of the past following the introduction of Tiltmaster to the UK groundcare sector. The three different models available can be quickly fitted to any machine providing a constant supply of working angle information to ensure the operator stays working safely within their machines capabilities. The three different models are Tiltmaster C for Compact Tractors (0-15 degrees), Tiltmaster D (0-25degrees) and Tiltmaster Extreme for specialist machines (0-45 degrees). Tiltmaster, now available from as little as £39 plus VAT, is a simple and effective method of providing additional health and safety data to users of groundcare and other machinery.

Simon Richard Ltd

Tel: 01450 860774 Email: simon@simon-richard.co.uk

www.facebook.com/simonrichardltd

Long Rake Spar help urban gardeners

This is set to be a historic year for Long Rake Spar with 15 new products being added to their already expansive collection for landscapers.

Taking inspiration from the number of urban gardeners picking up the trowel, the focus this year is on cool colours and neutral tones to complement grey and charcoal schemes.

In line with customer expectations the new offering includes pebbles, cobbles and rockery in marbled tones, ebony black and duck egg blue. The new selection also features modern statement pieces such as the Riviera Marbled Monolith and the Tumbled Sandstone Stepping Stones.

New ICL Product Guide released

ICL’s brand new Turf & Landscape Product Guide for 2018/19 is now available.

The updated 2018/19 Product Guide features the complete range of ICL and Syngenta products plus much more, with advice on how to get the best results, including recommended period of use, directions for use and application rates.

As a leading innovator in the industry, ICL has a vast range of products and solutions trusted by turf managers across the globe and in-depth information on both the liquid, soluble and granular range is readily available throughout the product guide.

It features leading micro-granular fertilizers such as Sierraform GT and Greenmaster Pro-Lite; minigranular fertilizers for sports and amenity turf such as Sierrablen, Sierrablen Plus, ProTurf and Sportsmaster; liquid fertilizers in the form of Greenmaster and soluble fertilizers including the Sportsmaster WSF range.Also featured is the Vitalnova range of biostimulant and turf conditioners

which includes the widely praised Stressbuster. This specially formulated liquid treatment contains a unique combination of macro and micro nutrients, wetting agents, biostimulants and amino acids to help condition turf against stress and aid recovery.

Greenkeepers and groundsmen alike have relied on Stressbuster to combat heavy usage and in particular have commended its ability to provide excellent

sward colour, keep disease at bay and boost the overall health of the turf.

Over the years countless turf managers have reaped the rewards from Syngenta’s leading range of fungicides and the brochure features the complete portfolio including the newly launched Instrata Elite and Banner Maxx II. Instrata Elite, approved for Microdochium control in the UK, gives a powerful combination

of curative and contact plus systemic properties, for reliable turf protection outside and in the plant.

Banner Maxx II is a new formulation, created to deliver even faster uptake into the plant and tackle disease infection inside the leaf – before it can damage turf plant health.

ICL Enquiry 138

Long Rake Spar Enquiry 137