Landscape & Amenity Product Update March 2022

A crucial year for the UK’s parks and green spaces

Partnerships with the City of Edinburgh Council and the County Borough of Wrexham have also secured multiple green-space portfolios for the communities in those cities.

Over the last two years we have relied on our local green spaces more than ever; a vital part of the local environment helping us rebalance and recover. Alongside their value for health and wellbeing, urban parks increasingly have a role to play in the mitigation of climate change, but parks and green spaces are not equally distributed across the UK.

The visit took place as part of the royal visit to Scotland in advance of the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow.

Fields in Trust Chief Executive Helen Griffiths said: “We have seen a major shift in the way people talk about, visit and value their local parks.

It was a significant year for Fields in Trust, a pioneering partnership with Liverpool City Council was announced in March 2021. The council are legally protecting all the city’s parks and green spaces,

forever. Securing 100 parks, totalling over 1,000 hectares, Liverpool will become the first city in the UK where everyone lives no more than a ten-minute walk from a legally protected green space.

Time to celebrate at BTME

The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) is proud to reveal that AMS Robotics has become lead sponsor of the BIGGA Welcome Celebration, taking place on the opening night of BTME 2022.

Presented by popular television presenter and leading golf

personality

of the Harrogate Convention Centre and will recognise the many people who have contributed positively to the industry since the previous BTME in January 2020. For more information on BTME 2022 go to our Professional Groundscare supplement.

In May, Fields in Trust President, HRH The Duke of Cambridge launched the 2021 edition of the Green Space Index – Fields in Trust’s pioneering initiative to quantify and analyse inequality of access to local green space.

“Our parks have provided a lifeline throughout lockdown and now, coming out of the pandemic, we can all play our part to make sure local green spaces will remain a healthy part of the local environment contributing to our wellbeing, our community connections and mitigating the impact of climate change.

“We must make sure they will be protected and available for the whole community and for future generations”

Fields in Trust Enquiry 1

Campaign calls for a ‘legal right to local nature’

The free-to-attend welcome event takes place in the Main Auditorium

BIGGA Enquiry 2

More than 60 nature, planning, health and equality organisations have launched a new ‘Nature For Everyone’ campaign, calling for a ‘legal right to nature’ to be a key component of the Government’s Levelling Up reforms.

The calls follow the recent publication of the Levelling Up White Paper, by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Local Communities.

The coalition behind the campaign have launched a petition and written to Secretary of State Michael Gove calling for Government

to: make equal access to thriving natural spaces a key measure of success for Levelling Up; set legal duties in Levelling Up legislation for developers and public bodies to provide equal access to naturerich green and blue spaces for everyone; and provide funding for locally-accessible nature-rich spaces including extending the Levelling Up Fund to green and blue infrastructure projects.

There is strong evidence that accessible nature-rich spaces boost our physical and mental wellbeing, and reduce mortality.

Groundswork UK Enquiry 3

Green Space charity Fields in Trust has published a 2021 Impact Report detailing their work to champion, support and protect parks and green spaces across the UK.

Naga Munchetty, the BIGGA Welcome Celebration is an informal event that recognises the achievements of BIGGA members throughout the previous year, including the presentation of the BIGGA Awards 2022.

Welcome...

to

2022

2022 exhibition was rightly and understandably moved from its traditional late January date to the end of March and it is now time to make the final preparations for the annual trip to Harrogate again. The exhibitors are playing their part with a raft of new products and services set to be unveiled during BTME and BIGGA’s excellent Continue to Learn education programme will also provide an insight into best practice and serve to showcase our world-leading industry and the professionals who work within it. The social aspect of BTME 2022 might well be a little different this year, but it will still prove to be an excellent networking event.

So welcome back to BTME, we have missed you and our Professional Groundscare supplement this month carries a round-up of what visitors to the 2022 can expect to see. We also have Jane Carley providing a detailed insight into the latest technology for the important ride-on mower market, along with a look at the latest products and case studies involving grass seeds and wildflowers. This month we also take a look at weed and pest control, aspects of hard and soft landscaping and the urban environment, machinery and equipment news, along with the usual look at the latest developments from around the industry.

We hope to see some of you once again in Harrogate for BTME 2022 and for those who cannot make it we will round up this year’s event online and in our April issue.

Paul Groves, Editor

Chelsea show garden’s ‘With Love’ message to the industry

The Perennial Garden ‘With Love’, is by London based designer Richard Miers who says he’s passionate about the industry he works in, spanning his 26 year career.

He and Perennial hope the garden will raise support for, and awareness of, the free help the charity provides.

Richard says many skills come together to create a main avenue show garden, as he explains: “Over 50 people are directly involved, showcasing a fraction of the skilled jobs in horticulture. It’s a hugely rewarding industry to work in, but it can also be a precarious career.

their families for over 180 years. It’s a privilege to be part of an organisation that gives something back to our horticultural family of growers, designers, gardeners, landscapers and ground staff.”

Peter Newman, Perennial’s chief executive says a show garden at the world’s greatest flower show, is a unique way for the charity to reach an audience that understands the importance of horticulture and those who work in the industry. “Richard’s desire to support the people who work in the industry he loves unites us,” he adds.

Packed into the allocated 22 metre by 10 metre space are all the hallmarks of a Richard Miers’ garden. Structured

and elegant, with a green palette of soft white and plum undertones. Trees and shrubs include flat-topped hawthorns, multi-stemmed Parrotia persica, domes of Taxus baccata and Prunus lusitanica, with Hornbeam edging.

Sculptures are by Tom Stogden and Jack Eagan, bespoke benches are from Hylton Hugo of Torc Pots and the quote is by sign makers Goodwin & Goodwin.

A central rill is by Water Artisans and All Green are providing the paving. The contractor is Stewart Landscapes, plants are from Form Plants and Rachel Sampson heads up the planting team.

Perennial Enquiry 6

HTA launches Guide to Potentially Harmful Plants

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), working with plant toxicologists and the Veterinary Poisons Information Service, has launched a new Guide to Potentially Harmful Plants.

This follows a review of the toxicity of plants sold through nurseries, garden centres and online retailers in the UK. For the first time, the updated guide covers the risk to pets.

Through the UK’s horticultural trade, the British public is fortunate to have access to a wealth of plant species. Most of these are harmless. However, there is a risk associated with a small number of plants used in the house and garden, and even some that are grown for food, and this guide has been produced to address that concern.

It sets out voluntary guidelines for the labelling of plants (including bulbs and seeds) which will ensure that the public is informed of potentially harmful plants at the point of purchase.

The guide recommends labelling those plants which fulfil the following three conditions:

• They have been identified as being a significant hazard to humans or pets[1] (not livestock)

• The toxic parts of the plant are

available or produced in the UK

• The symptoms following ingestion and/or contact can be serious (skin allergies are included, but respiratory and food allergies are not)

Plants are labelled in three categories - A, B and C - according to the severity of the hazard. With the exception of those in category A, the plants in this guide are perfectly safe to purchase as long as the warnings are heeded.

However, it is recommended that they are placed or planted where pets and small children are unlikely to have access to brush against or eat them. There are in addition standard labels for loose and pre-packaged ornamental bulbs, and plants with ornamental fruit; while these are considered to have low toxicity, a large ingestion may result in mild symptoms, and bulbs can pose a choking or gastrointestinal obstruction hazard to pets.

While a majority of retailers endeavour to label the plants that they sell, labelling is voluntary. It will also take time for the recommended labels to be adopted while old stock is being used up; a sell-through period reduces plastic waste.

“Perennial has supported people in horticulture and

STIHL takes to the road with enhanced battery offering

backpack blower for professional users, offering high performance and a significantly less disruptive sound thanks to its innovative STIHL Noise Reduction System.

With a blowing force of 26 newton, STIHL’s new BGA 300 cordless backpack blower is the most powerful in the STIHL cordless range and features a high air speed to ensure even wet, heavy autumn leaves can be cleared quickly and efficiently.

schools, parks or around public amenities.

The maximum blowing force can be selected from three power setting options via the selector switch, allowing for efficient energy management and longer runtimes.

Boost mode may also be selected to provide maximum power for the toughest clearing jobs.

STIHL has enhanced its battery offering with the introduction of the new AP 500 S, the most powerful AP battery in the STIHL range and the first to feature power laminate technology.

Designed for use with any professional STIHL AP System tool, the 36V AP 500 S features innovative flat power laminate cells instead of traditional round cells, helping to double the service life of the battery up to 2,400 charge cycles and ensuring a long working life of up to 10 years.

Throughout the month of March, STIHL has been teaming up with its dealer network for a series of roadshows to highlight the new battery technology and the wide range of new tools and upgraded models now in its comprehensive product portfolio.

The AP 500 S boasts a 20% higher capacity and increased operating time with all STIHL AP Systems tools for only an extra 200g of weight, ensuring professionals can use STIHL tools for longer whilst keeping the overall system weight to a minimum.

The AP 500 S is the only battery compatible with the new MSA 300, STIHL’s most powerful cordless chainsaw for professional users.

In addition, the new battery can also be simply integrated with STIHL Connected, the smart fleet management tool, to easily monitor total discharge time and location of the battery.

Like all STIHL batteries in the AP System, the new AP 500 S can be used in all weather conditions and has a charge level indicator via the four green LEDs.

Products launching this year include the new BGA 300 is STIHL’s first cordless

The new cordless blower is powered using STIHL’s professional AR 2000 L or AR 3000 L backpack batteries.

Thanks to the STIHL Noise Reduction System, the BGA 300 produces fewer high pitch frequencies often associated with cordless blowers, meaning operation is much more pleasant and less intrusive for bystanders.

Thanks to this, the BGA 300 is well suited for use in noise-sensitive areas such as

Furthermore, the new cordless blower features an LED power display and cruise control function to enable simple energy management and comfort.

For the optimum blowing angle the BGA 300 boasts a curved nozzle as standard, and the blower tube length can easily be adjusted to meet different requirements and operating situations. A straight nozzle is also available as an accessory.

The BGA 300 is exceptionally easy to handle thanks to its slim design and comfortable carrying system that optimally distributes the weight of the

backpack device and reduces the strain on the user when used for long periods.

Other features include wide feet for secure footing whilst on the ground, a hook for the blower tube for easy transport and storage, as well as compatibility with the new Smart Connector 2 A. The BGA 300 will be available from Autumn 2022.

The roadshows were also a chance to get hands on with the MSA 220 T and MSA 220 TC-O, STIHL’s most powerful cordless top handled chainsaws, designed for tree care professionals to remove larger branches or perform crown maintenance with ease.

Recommended with a lightweight 14” guide bar, both MSA 220 T models use a high performing PS3 full-chisel saw chain to achieve a fast, highquality cut.

The recommended AP 300 S battery delivers 2.1 kW of electrical power, providing up to 29 minutes of working time and plenty of power for cutting larger sized branches.

Both models have an adjustable oil pump, an ergonomic

trigger system and a 180° LED display, ensuring the operator always has a clear overview of key information such as the operating status of the saw and the chain brake position.

In addition to these features, the MSA 220 TC-O also has an oil sensor that will notify the user when the chain oil tank is empty, helping to reduce potential downtime, premature wear to the cutting attachment and the risk of overheating.

The MSA 220 T and TC-O top handle chainsaws are built with durability in mind and are suitable for use in the toughest conditions thanks to the hardwearing components.

Maintenance of the machine is kept simple via the MSA 220 T’s modular design, allowing housing parts to be removed and replaced quickly and simply.

Other features include sidemounted chain tensioning, captive nut on the sprocket cover and tool-free oil tank cap as standard. In addition, the MSA 220 T boasts an easy-to-clean air filter for long service life and optimum motor cooling.

STIHL Enquiry 9

Innovative products to boost biodiversity efforts

The UK’s first ever range of self-contained, integrated ecosystems and associated products have launched to help boost biodiversity and conservation across the country.

The range of landmark habitats has been created by BioScapes, a new business under the Rolawn Group, one of the country’s longest established and leading suppliers of topsoil and turf in a bid to become a leading voice in finding solutions for the challenges facing biodiversity in the UK and around the world.

BioScapes has launched with two different products within the range, the BioCube and NatureArk.

The products will help to directly offset the negative impact of biodiversity loss, such as by consequence of the construction of housing developments and commercial property.

With fifty years’ worth of experience in innovation in the field and the help of expert ecologists to call on, BioScapes has conducted extensive research and made significant investments over the course of four years to produce this range of products that responds to new targets set by Government within the Environment Bill from the 2019 Spring Statement.

The BioScapes products are suitable for installation in both commercial and residential environments such as, private gardens, new housing developments, local authority projects, roof gardens, commercial sites, retail parks, orchards and general landscaping schemes.

The BioCube provides a combination of wet and dry habitats, supporting process of rewilding through the development of ecosystems which encourage small mammals, amphibians, insects, invertebrate and plants to thrive. Rolawn

PERFORMS BEYOND OTHER BATTERIES.

The intelligent power of EGO’s 56V ARC Lithium™ battery controls and monitors each battery cell to deliver maximum power and performance, while its unique Arc shape and Keep Cool™ technology helps to optimise temperature for longer run times. It is battery performance that goes beyond.

To find out more visit egopowerplus.co.uk

External porcelain tile pointing – perfect with GftK

The owners of this property and their architect selected top quality porcelain tiles for this pool terrace, but they also wanted to be sure the pointing would not discolour or stain the expensive tiles, and that the grout was durable in the narrow >3-5mm joints between these larger format tiles.

They had seen other people’s quality porcelain terraces effectively ruined by poor quality pointing, including

cement grouts that initially left a lot of residue and then stained easily from spillages; or ‘brush-in resin’ grouts that blew out after jet-washing, which is essential to keep external porcelain tile paving in pristine condition.

Fortunately, their architect found GftK’s vdw 815+ Paving Joint Mortar from NCC Streetscape, which is ideal for narrow joints and porcelain, plus it is 2-part epoxy resin based, so non-

staining and highly resistant to jet washing – a perfect solution.

GftK’s vdw 815+ is unique and ‘state of the art’, specifically designed for narrow joints in quality porcelain and prestige natural stone paving. Application is quick and easy by wet-slurry techniques, which means no waiting for dry weather to prepare, grout, harden, and get the pool open for use.

Euroflor urban meadows colour the landscape

Euroflor urban flowers have been colouring the UK countryside for many years since their first introduction.

From the north of Scotland to west Cornwall, from Wales to East Anglia, metropolitan and parish councils, golf clubs and owners of holiday parks have been using these high attractive mixes.

NCC

Streetscape Enquiry 12

Now the new and updated Euroflor brochure is available from Origin Amenity Solutions Ltd.

This 60-page brochure features all the mixes in full colour with details on their composition, sowing and flowering dates, rates of use, tips on seed bed

preparation, trouble shooting and an Identiflower feature indicating, colour and height. For your free brochure, just ask

Council commits to DuraPost

Chesterfield Borough Council has recently specified DuraPost® By Birkdale, a galvanised steel fence post system, for all future fencing projects.

Having previously worked with traditional systems, the council team felt it was necessary to look for a sustainable alternative that could match or improve upon concrete and timber in terms of long-term durability.

Keith Redfern, Project Manager for Chesterfield Borough Council, started a search for an alternative that led him to Birkdale and a trial of the company’s DuraPost fence post system at a small council property.

Impressed by the trial, Keith explained why the council had opted for DuraPost: “We could transport considerably more DuraPosts in a single trip than

we could with concrete posts. The installation process was also quick and straightforward and the finished fence looks fantastic. It’s also a far more sustainable option compared to concrete.”

Manufactured from cold rolled galvanised steel, DuraPost is 100% recyclable and 80% lighter than comparable concrete fence posts. As such, installation requires only one tradesperson, lowering labour costs and improving onsite safety. Despite its light weight, the solution has an impressive strength-to-weight ratio and is proven to withstand winds of up to 110mph. As such, Birkdale supports the DuraPost system with a guarantee of up to 25 years.

Finally, as well as offering outstanding performance credentials, DuraPost is an attractive option. It is available in four colour options: Galvanised

your Headland, Rigby Taylor or Symbio area manager.

Rigby Taylor Enquiry 13

Steel, Sepia Brown, Olive Grey and Anthracite Grey and comes with colour-matched accessories, such as gravel boards, capping rails and post caps for a professional and neat finish.

Birkdale Enquiry 14

Snickers Workwear to weatherproof your workday

Midlothian Council making an impact with Pellenc

Midlothian may be one of the smallest councils in Scotland, but it is certainly making a big impact with a little help from a range of Pellenc batterypowered equipment.

From managing teams to choosing equipment, Jim Hay, Grounds Maintenance Manager, is responsible for overseeing the maintenance of all the grounds and green spaces throughout Midlothian.

One of his biggest responsibilities is the health and safety of the personnel who are operating grounds maintenance equipment, and it is for this very reason that he fi rst started exploring batterypowered technology.

A forerunner when it comes to lithium-ion technology, Pellenc

has established itself as the number one choice in the ‘zero emission’ professional power tools market for the maintenance of urban and green-spaces.

A demonstration was arranged through Pellenc dealer Agrovista Amenity, and Midlothian Council purchased a wide range of Pellenc products which included Rasion pedestrian mowers, Helion hedge trimmers, Selion chainsaws, Excelion grass strimmers and Airion blowers.

Jim feels that the purchase of the Pellenc equipment is another step in the right direction for Midlothian Council. “The public are becoming more ‘green aware’ – and we are doing our utmost to boost our green credentials. We first started investing in electric equipment five years ago we are proud of

what we have achieved already. “Going forward we are keen to record the savings in CO 2 emissions from this change in power source to further demonstrate our green credentials. We are already

telling people to keep their eyes peeled because we have more electric equipment coming.” Pellenc is distributed exclusively in the UK by Etesia UK.

UK Enquiry 17

You can count on real comfort and protection from the rain with Snickers Workwear’s AllroundWork and FlexiWork Jackets for professional tradesmen and women.

Stay dry, warm and comfortable by choosing from a range of water-repellent jackets that will keep you dry in light showers and deliver great breathability to ventilate your body when you’re active on site. But if you need 100% waterproofness for long periods, check out the GORETEX jackets and the PU garments with welded seams.

As part of Snickers Workwear’s ‘outer shell’ clothing layer, GORE-TEX jackets are extremely durable. With a waterproof membrane to keep you dry, they’re windproof to keep you warm and breathable to keep you comfortable all day long.

There’s a host of AllroundWork and FlexiWork jacket styles and extensive size options available so you can layer your working clothes properly to ensure that your energy and performance levels are as weatherproofed as you are.

Snickers Workwear Enquiry 16

Takeuchi join the green revolution

Takeuchi Mfg UK Ltd will now include the enhanced CESAR ECV (Emission Compliance Verification) system as standard across the full Takeuchi line up.

Since 2008, Takeuchi Mfg UK Ltd has fitted the CESAR scheme to their full line up of machinery and following the recent achievement of Stage V compliance on all its models up to 15 tonnes, Takeuchi will now include the CESAR ECV bolt-on product as standard, providing

accurate emissions information to their customers. Following the significant success of the CESAR security scheme, the CEA recognised an opportunity to add emissions verification to the existing scheme. With the help of Datatag, CESAR ECV (Emission Compliance Verification) was developed to create an easy and reliable way to confirm the emissions category of construction equipment.

Takeuchi Enquiry 18

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

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

reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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

Etesia

UltraScape paves the way at City of Culture

UltraScape are delighted, and proud, to have been involved in the redevelopment of Coventry City Centre – the City of Culture 2021.

In preparation for the official opening of the City of Culture 2021, Coventry City Centre has undergone a huge redevelopment of public realm works.

Highland Edgar Driver, the architects working on this exciting redevelopment, created beautiful designs, which included multiple water features located outside the Bull Yard and within the shopping precinct.

To bring the architects vision to life, contractors Eurovia, required a bedding mortar that would make light work of installing the Portuguese Granite and Italian Porohyry paving, supplied by BBS Natural Stone, in and around the many water features.

To install the eye-catching circular design, Eurovia used resi-bed epoxy bedding, bonding and repair mortar from paving specialists, UltraScape. UltraScape resi-bed is a twopart high strength epoxy resin mortar and primer system, especially suitable for bedding granite setts, paving elements up to recess covers, tree grids and coping stones, as well as concrete repair for areas subject to heavy wear and tear.

Once cured, UltraScape resibed is entirely waterproof and chemical resistant, making it ideal for use in projects, such as this one, where water features are due to be installed.

It has an exceptionally high bond strength and the ability to withstand higher flexural strain than traditional sand and cement mortars.

Instarmac Enquiry 20

Green-tech supply largescale restoration project at a Yorkshire limestone quarry

Barnsdale Bar is a limestone quarry on the border between South and North Yorkshire and is owned by Darrington Quarries, a long-established quarrying company operating in Yorkshire.

Green-tech has a long-standing relationship with Darrington Quarries and use the Barnsdale Bar site to produce their awardwinning Green-tree topsoil.

The land earmarked to be restored has been backfilled and planted with over 5000 trees and shrubs. Green-tech supplied in the region of 3000 Tubex tree shelters and 2000 Tubex shrub shelters, along with the accompanying stakes.

The shelters are necessary for initial establishment and survival of vulnerable young trees and shrubs. With their own microclimate, the shelters shield from grazing wildlife, support strong root growth and reduce the contact of spraying damage. This will be the first of many projects

throughout the restoration of the quarry complex over the coming years where there will be a number of areas that will be put back to woodland with the assistance of Green-tech.

This will restore and improve the quarry site, greening it up and encouraging wildlife, insects, and biodiversity back to the site. It is intended to improve the environment in and around quarry sites.

Green-tech is the largest official distributor of Tubex shelters and works in partnership with them in a collection and recycling programme for tree shelters at their end of their useful life.

Durability is a key consideration

This Hampshire Garden owner worked with his contractor to produce a right on-trend patio design, using the latest external porcelain tiles in combination with traditional tumbled granite setts for striking feature edging and detailing, in this relatively small area.

To complete the paving grouting it was obviously an advantage to use the same jointing for both materials, which then also had to be able to withstand frequent jet washing of the paved surfaces

to keep the paved surfaces in tip-top condition.

After some research online and then talking to NCC streetscape, they identified that GftK’s vdw 850+ was the ideal solution for both, plus at this early time of the year, they would not be restricted by waiting for the bed to fully cure and in trying to find a suitable weather window to complete the pointing.

This is because the vdw 850+ can be applied at low temperatures and in wet weather, which

together with its speed of installation, was naturally also an attractive advantage to Fairview Drives and Design, who were to be a first-time user of this unique paving joint mortar.

This is the result, an overall ease of application with minimal cleaning works, as well as this highly aesthetic finish were a winwin bonus for both the owner and their contractor. A durable stain free and easily cleaned patio.

NCC Streetscape Enquiry 21

Remove Soil Salts with RePhlex LS

Over time, areas of managed turf can build up excessive levels of salts which are either dissolved in the soil solution or adsorbed on to soil particles. Salts affect plant growth due to increasing soil osmotic pressure and to interference with plant nutrition. A high salt concentration in soil solution reduces the ability of plants to acquire water.

Indigrow have developed a product, RePhlex LS, for soils which are too high in salt, which has been trailed and compared against other similar products. Our product, RePhlex LS, and the competitor product used in the trials can be classed as wetting agents. The wetting agents in RePhlex LS are organic acids and are naturally derived.

Recent trials at the University of Lincoln compared another synthetic wetting agent (Product H) against RePhlex LS. Rephlex LS was the most effective in slowing down the passage of water, being 20% slower than the control.

Product H is from a major turf wetting agent manufacturer. Although claims are made for its use as a water management product, it moves water more quickly thorough the profile, 5% quicker than the plain water control.

In order to determine the effectiveness of the various products in removing dissolved salts, the Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the drainage water was measured, this was compared to water alone. The higher the reading the more dissolved salts are removed. RePhlex LS removed 27% more salts than plain water. Product H did not remove any more salts over and above that with plain water.

Being an organically derived acid, RePhlex LS will react with carbonate and bicarbonates and give a number of agronomic benefits, primarily by improving soil structure, water penetration and gaseous exchange and at the same time releasing Calcium within the soil making it available for plant growth.

Bringing nature into town

But long-established verges seeded with tall agricultural grasses and colonised by weeds over the decades present their own challenges.

Euroflor Boulevard is a practical and cost-saving choice for renewing these types of verges and for creating new verges, balancing the safety and convenience of road users, reducing or replacing the associated costs of grass mowing 2-5 times per annum including roadside warning cones, 2-5, machines, fuel and labour as well as the inherent safety issues.

into the landscape for people to enjoy. Sow in the spring at just 3g per square metre, 1kg covers up to 333 square metres, and the diverse species will find their own ecological niche to develop and flourish in different soil types and conditions. Flowering height in most conditions reaches 1030cm.

The Euroflor Urban Flower seed mixes have been delivering beautiful flower displays from Cornwall in the south of England to Moray in the North of Scotland, and all points east and west.

Increasing number of metropolitan and parish councils, country estates, golf courses, holiday parks and also plays an educational role in schools and colleges. All benefit from these vibrant displays that enrich our sensory environment and also serve as an invaluable habitat for pollinators, birds and small mammals.

Euroflor urban flower seeds such as ground Cover, Honey and Poppies, draw, their inspiration from enhancing habitat bio-diversity, combined with maintenance cost savings for roadside verge management. As another low growing mix, Euroflor’s Boulevard is an attractive mix of native and naturalised, predominantly perennial species, and requires minimal maintenance and in that it can reduce mowing to just one cut per year.

On the verge Although highways, roadside grass verges and roundabouts are deemed non-productive land with little or no amenity value the visual, environmental and economic impact of their management continues to attract a high level of awareness and scrutiny.

Mowing is a costly exercise and whilst budgetary pressures and re-wilding to support bio-diversity has reduced the extent of verge cutting in some regions, investment in road

building infrastructure has increased the roadside verge footprint in others.

Mowing grass verge strips and splays is an essential operation for traffic safety, ensuring site lines are unimpeded and excessive growth does not obstruct the carriageway.

Verges also play an important role as a buffer zone between the road and other structural landscape elements, forming wildlife corridors and acting as soakaways for rainwater and floodwater when roadside drains become blocked.

They also soak up carbon, pollutants and have a cooling influence, helping regulate temperatures in urban environments.

Cost v benefit Euroflor Boulevard can reduce operating costs while supporting habitat biodiversity, bringing a carpet of colour to roadsides or indeed any site where low-growing native and naturalised British Flora is essential.

The low sowing rate of Euroflor Urban flower seeds and low maintenance requirement are significant when compared to installing annual bedding schemes and maintaining grass lawns.

One local authority undertook a cost saving case study and found that they made an annual £43,000+ saving by substituting Euroflor flower sowings for their traditional bulbs and bedding plants on highways, car parking areas and cemetaries.

For pollinators and people Euroflor Boulevard provides an excellent food source for pollinators, a habitat for insects and smaller species of wildlife and brings colour

Trials at Origin Amenity Solutions, Technology and Science Centre is looking at a wide range of field trials conducted under UK conditions, including Euroflor Urban Flower mixes that both enhance our sensory awareness and act as both a food source for pollinators and small mammals.

Rigby Taylor Enquiry 24

- GftK Paving Joint Mortars - Ideal for Porcelain

GftK’s 2-part, epoxy resin based paving joint mortars are fast and easy to install, including in cold and wet weather conditions. They produce a sheen and stain free, porcelain surface with shrink-free joints that are also highly durable. Also importantly, the whole paved surface can be jet washed as often as required to clean and maintain your new porcelain paving in pristine condition!

FREE Estimating Support & Application Training - All Around the UK

A blue roof attenuation system from ACO Building Drainage will help increase building resilience and futureproof performance during increasing extreme weather conditions, thanks to its unique patented design.

The system, which features in a new animation, operates as an open attenuation tank that functions independently of the roof’s waterproofing and drainage system.

During design rainfall conditions, the ACO blue roof attenuation system allows controlled drainage of rainwater on all roof types thanks to the attenuation tank sitting above a structural drainage layer.

In exceedance conditions the roof can drain quickly. This is achieved as the system allows water to discharge by an internal overflow, as well as around the perimeter of the tank.

As a result, the system meets planning conditions and Building Regulations without compromising roof waterproofing – or overloading the roof structure. Additionally the system is compliant with Flat Roofing and Drainage building standards and the SuDS Manual hydraulic design guidance.

Suitable for both new build and retrofit schemes, it can be constructed on any new or existing fl at roof where roof waterproofing has been applied. It is also ideal when used as

part of a combined passive irrigation or active rainwater harvesting system.

Kevin Bohea Divisional Managing Director at ACO Building Drainage said: “One of the challenges facing most blue roof systems is the extent to which they can mitigate the building risk involved in holding water on a roof for extended periods.

Greater design resilience achieved thanks to ACO’s patented system Green building solutions

“Conventional blue roofs come with increased risk of a water penetration which could cause long-term damage to the building structure. Our patented system removes this risk thanks to the separate attenuation tank, which essentially prevents the water encountering the waterproofing of the building during design events.”

ACO Water Management Enquiry 26

Works complete on Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice

The beginning of the year saw the completion of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, a new build project in Herfordshire where 510m² of Bauder’s bituminous waterproofing system, Bauderflex, was installed along with a biodiverse green roof plus a BioSOLAR system.

BioSOLAR is an integrated mounting solution for photovoltaic renewable energy with a green roof where the substrate and vegetation provide the ballasted installation mechanism

which removes the need for penetrating the waterproofing to secure the mounting units to the roof. This system enabled Noah’s Ark to achieve two of their key project objectives of creating a biodiverse roof and generating renewable energy.

Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice currently supports over 160 children who are seriously unwell, 230 of their siblings and 350 of their parents/guardians by providing holistic, bespoke care.

Bauder Enquiry 27

Report shows how green systems can help mitigate climate change

A new report from the University of Southampton Energy and Climate Change Division of the School of Engineering, commissioned by the NFRC Charitable Trust, highlights some key steps that specifiers, building owners and home owners can take to use the roof to help mitigate the impacts of climate change. A roof is the first line of defence against the elements and plays an essential role in keeping a building wind and watertight.

“As the UK’s climate is set to become wetter, warmer and experience more extreme weather events such as torrential rain and heatwaves over the next halfcentury, the way we build, maintain, and upgrade our roofs will become increasingly important,” explains Peter G Rogerson, OBE, FIoR Chair, NFRC Charitable Trust.

That is why the NFRC Charitable Trust, the UK’s charity dedicated to supporting the roofing industry, commissioned the University of Southampton to undertake this vital research under its Environmental Programme. Climate change is one of, if not the greatest, challenges we face as a society, and doing nothing is not an option.

As this report makes clear, the risk of overheating, drought, and flooding is real. Doing nothing could lead

to the loss of life and livelihoods, damage and degradation of built assets, as well as a negative impact on productivity.

“The positive story from this research is that there are things we can do as an industry now to not only alleviate these risks but to maximise our roof spaces to ensure we are utilising it to the best of our ability,” he continued. “It has been said that almost every roof has the opportunity to tackle the climate emergency—whether that be through electricity generation through built-in solar PV, water harvesting through a blue roof, or reducing overheating through a cool roof, our industry has a solution.

“The challenge now is to break down the barriers stopping us from achieving this potential. The government must create the right policy environment and incentives, and as an industry, we need to invest now to make sure we have the green skills needed.

“Critical to this will be ensuring there is sufficient funding available for the specialist training required to help the industry upskill in the many green technologies identified in this report.”

Control the future today – how to manage Poa annua

Getting the most from glyphosate

Over the past year, glyphosate prices have seen a rise and stock numbers have seen a decline.

With this problem in mind it is important that we have different routes we can take to still get the weed control results we need. ProGreen offer a range of different alternatives.

NoMix Dual is the only longlasting herbicide available for use on both hard and soft ground surfaces. NoMix Dual provides residual control and it also controls already emerged broadleaved and grass weeds.

Another feature of this product is that no mixing is required, simply connect the pre-mixed pack to a Poa annua, also known as annual meadow grass, is a notorious problem for UK turf managers and greenkeepers who are looking to create perfect conditions for sporting or leisure activities.

This is, in part, due to it being a grass, rather than a broadleaf weed, which means that it can be difficult to find the right chemical to control it, whilst not damaging the turfgrass. If Poa is not successfully treated, seedheads will emerge, and the problem will increase for the following year as it rapidly proliferates.

BASF offers highly innovative turf management solutions for amenity and sports turf sectors, and it has an effective solution for Poa management.

Attraxor is a plant growth regulator that contains prohexadione calcium, a new active ingredient for turf care in the UK that reduces turf height by up to 30% and clippings by up to 70% following one application.

By reducing longitudinal turf growth, Attraxor® reduces the frequency of mowing, increases sward density and root formation, and greens up the turf.

Attraxor produces a consistent effect for up to four weeks after application, so there is no need to adjust the dose rate, regardless of the cutting height. It is effective on all cool season grass species, such as Agrostis spp., Festuca spp., Lolium perenne, Holcus lanatus and Poa pratensis.

Ideally applied early in the year, Attraxor limits the spread of Poa annua by reducing seedhead production by up to 38% and physiologically weakening but not killing the plant.

Using an innovative formulation for fast leaf absorption, the product provides almost instant results, as it is activated once diluted in water at low pH. Contrary to other plant growth regulators that need to be activated by the plant enzymes, Attraxor can be used earlier or later in the season during cooler weather (optimal temperature between 7-20oC).

Attraxor can be tank-mixed with liquid fertilisers, adjuvants, biostimulants and crop protection products.

BASF Enquiry 30

NoMix TDC Applicator and treat the required areas.

If you have managed to get some glyphosate products, there are ways to make the most of it. To begin with, glyphosate can be tank mixed with a suitable adjuvant, such as Validate. This product helps increase the efficacy of the herbicide making it able to spread further.

Another way to get the most out of glyphosate is to tank mix it with a residual herbicide such as Valdor Flex. This prevents weeds from returning for up to 4 months meaning that you save time and product by reducing resprays.

ProGreen Enquiry 31

Trade body builds on RICS Japanese knotweed guidance

Valuers and Surveyors,’ the PCA’s document can be downloaded, along with the RICS guidance online.

A national trade body is signposting professional valuers and surveyors to guidance that aligns with the new RICS Guidance Note ‘Japanese knotweed and Residential Property 2022.’

The Property Care Association (PCA) has published guidance on Japanese knotweed surveys and management strategies in support of the RICS document. Entitled ‘Japanese Knotweed Guidance for Professional

PCA chief executive, Steve Hodgson, said: “The two documents working together represent a significant development. The PCA’s information is specifically designed to dovetail with the new RICS guidance and to help property valuers and surveyors understand how to recognise the presence of Japanese Knotweed, the challenges of detecting and identifying it and the benefits of long-term guarantees underwritten by appropriate insurance.

“It covers all aspects of knotweed surveys, examples of the RICS Management

Categories and provides advice on Japanese knotweed Management plans and options. The PCA guidance also ensures that valuation surveyors can assess documentation provided by vendors, and signposts to other supporting documents in the PCA’s Invasive Weed Document library.”

The PCA has played a key role in driving forward the development of new information on Japanese knotweed.

Members of the PCA sat on the working group of the new RICS Japanese knotweed and Residential Property 2022 Guidance Note, authored by Philip Santo FRICS.

PCA Enquiry 32

Weed control equipment from Becx

Fentons of Bourne Ltd is the sole UK distributor for Becx Machines, the Netherlandsbased manufacturer of high-end mechanical weed control and hedge cutting equipment for tool carriers and excavators.

Established in 2008, Becx is located in Moergestel, North Brabant, providing excellent links across Europe and to the UK.

Becx weed control implements feature weeding heads with diameters of 50 cm or 90 cm and are available with edging blades to complete two jobs in a single pass. They are compatible with almost all tool carriers, tractors or loaders providing a cost-effective solution for weeding applications

The standard OBKS50-35 has a brush diameter of 50 cm and a trimming blade diameter of 35 cm. A standard machine allows the working width to be mechanically adjusted, as well as the height of the edge cutting blades in relation to the brush. The angle of the brush can also be mechanically adjusted.

The working width and the height of the blade can also be adjusted hydraulically and can

easily be retro-fitted at a later date. If your machine does not have enough double hydraulic functions, the machine can be fitted with hydraulic valves and an accompanying control panel.

The machine’s intelligent design keeps production costs to a minimum, which pays off in the initial purchase price! Without making concessions in quality or functionality, Becx offers you a very efficient and competent machine: great performance for a great price.

The OBKS90-45 is a larger, more productive machine for

the professional user. This fully hydraulic machine allows the operator to control all rotation and swivel functions from the cabin.

This improves the number of metres that can be brushed and cut each day. Because the brush and blade can be configured from inside the cabin, this machine is able to trim most grass verges and brush most surfaces. It is also possible to fully withdraw the blade, thus allowing only brushing activities to be carried out.

The extra-large weed brush, with many bristles, has been developed to prevent damage to brushed surfaces. This brush offers excellent results at low engine revs.

Fentons of Bourne are the UK distributor of Becx machine and director, Glen Bellamy says: “The quality of the Becx equipment is exceptional and the growth in their business in just over a decade is testament to the machinery they produce. We are delighted to have secured the UK distribution rights.”

Fentons of Bourne Ltd Enquiry 35

Bayer launch new ‘Glyphosate Hub’

To support the use of glyphosate in the amenity sector, Bayer has launched a new amenity specific ‘Glyphosate Hub’ to empower contractors by providing them with relevant information about this vital active ingredient.

Freddie Bendall-Brown, digital marketing specialist at Bayer Environmental Science, explains that after surveying amenity professionals last year, the company believed it was important to help amenity professionals sort fact from fiction when it comes to glyphosate.

“This is why Bayer has developed the ‘Glyphosate Hub’.

It provides amenity contractors with the references and information they need to respond to queries from the public and colleagues alike,” he says.

“The hub also emphasises that there’s few alternative tools out there to control such a broad spectrum of weeds, especially with such a good safety profile backed by years of research and scientific study. Something many people outside of the amenity sector are not aware of.”

Freddie adds that historically, the focus on glyphosate has been centred around agriculture. “This is why we’ve developed this

bespoke amenity hub, so relevant factual information for amenity contractors is in one place.”

“The hub also provides glyphosate specific information on UK and EU regulations, best practice guidance and independent research and resources from organisations such as CRD, the glyphosate renewal group and DEFRA,” he adds.

To visit the ‘Glyphosate Hub’ click on the link below: https://www.environmentalscience. bayer.co.uk/turf-management/ glyphosate-hub

Accurately apply your products with Smithco

When spraying large amenity areas, precision and consistency when applying liquid fertilisers and chemicals are the key attributes of GPS-enabled sprayers.

With regard to precision, individual nozzle control means sprayer operators will only spray inside designated boundaries, without wasting chemicals on non-targeted areas and negating the need for the operator to manually turn on and off boom sections when spraying.

The ability to correct over spraying/over application brings additional environmental benefits, including reducing the usage of chemical inputs and more accurate distribution.

Smithco were one of the first companies to introduce GPS technology when the Star Command system debuted in 2012.

The Spray Star range features four self-propelled sprayers with control options such as the

TeeJet Radion Rate Controller, Radion with Dyna-Jet Pulse Width Modulation, or Smithco’s Star Command 3.0 providing minimal corrections, turn compensation, and the industryleading 25cm nozzle spacing offering a 100% greater accuracy than competitors.

The centre-mounted engine and hydro-pump provide easy access and the ultimate in serviceability and balance. Hydrostatic drive allows a constant engine RPM providing constant flow and pressure to the spray system for a consistent spray application.

As the largest capacity dedicated sprayer in its class, it ensures that efficiency is optimised with a 757-litre low profile elliptical polypropylene tank, warrantied for life. The high performance, cost-efficient pumping system features a selfpriming and corrosion resistant, stainless steel centrifugal pump generating 341 litres/minute and providing the capability for high flow applications with superior agitation.

EGO ready for the toughest of tasks

EGO’s range of battery-powered line trimmers and brush cutters has its own benefits, with some more suitable for specific tasks than others.

The difference between line trimmers and brush cutters isn’t always obvious. Line trimmers tend to be smaller, lighter and, using a piece of nylon cord, are built for trimming tough-to-reach areas of lawn and for clearing small weeds and shrub.

Brush cutters, on the other hand, are more powerful machines and use heavy duty steel blades to clear thicker areas of long grass, strong persistent weeds, heavy brushwood and even small trees.

Most of EGO’s line trimmers have an interchangeable head so users can alternate between the two depending on the job at hand.

For professional users, EGO offers it’s Professional-X Rotocut attachment which cuts through grass, weeds and moss

on concrete, pathways and verges with ease.

Featuring two counterrotating blades instead of line, it maximises run-time and prevents debris from being thrown, making it ideal for use in built up areas where risk of damage or injury is higher.

Users that have a smaller budget but are looking for a good all rounder could opt for EGO’s multi tool which has interchangeable heads including line trimmer, brush cutter, pole saw, hedge trimmer, bristle brush, lawn edger and rotocut attachments.

When using line trimmers, line replacement is one of the biggest frustrations for both homeowners and professionals.

It’s a notoriously fiddly task that takes a lot of time to complete. For users that struggle with replacing new line onto the spool, EGO has introduced Powerload technology to some of its models.

Powerload is the world’s first selfwinding line trimmer technology which enables users to load new line in as little as 10 seconds, meaning jobs can be completed more quickly, and with less stress.

Like all of EGO’s tools, the company’s line trimmers and brush cutters use EGO’s Arc Lithium 56v battery technology, rather than petrol. The benefits here are obvious and the market is now realising that these tools can deliver power equal to more than their petrol counterparts without the noise, fumes, or fuss.

The cab-forward design provides superior visibility, handling, and operator comfort, providing and excellent platform that makes the work simple, comfortable, and enjoyable.

The popular Spray Star 1200 features the most accurate spray technology at your fingertips, while the GPSenabled state-of-the-art Star Command 3.0 ensures a precise application every time. Superior construction materials combine to ensure industryleading longevity across all product lines.

Through strategic partnerships around the globe such as Ernest Doe & Sons in the UK, Smithco provide outstanding customer service helping to increase the efficiency on your facility.

Smithco

Enquiry 39

The long-term activity of Valdor® Flex keeps soil weed-free for up to 4 months, making it

@AgrovistaUK

www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity

a cost-effective solution for our customers.

Ed Smith Agrovista Amenity

The eco-friendly weed removal solution

PSD Groundscare offer a range of weed strippers and brushes that offer the ideal solution to unwanted weeds.

Eco-friendly and entirely chemical free, these devices offer an easy and effective solution to weeding.

The weed strippers from Koppl & AS Motor provide completely green weed removal, they will eliminate all traces of weeds, algae, moss and lichen and the debris that they thrive in, making regular maintenance simple and effective.

The weed strippers offer outstanding performance on

many surfaces, including cobbles and block paving and with the quick change functionality of the Koppl power unit it can be used for many other tasks such as sweeping or snow clearance.

E-Power models are also now available – the high performing battery models from Koppl and AS Motor are ideal for use in noise sensitive environments, offer low vibrations and are without exhaust fumes whilst delivering the same high performing results as the standard models.

PSD Groundscare Enquiry

42

Makita expands its range

Makita has added the UR006G XGT 40VMax Brushless Brush Cutter to its selection of XGT 40VMax machines.

The UR006G is supported by Makita’s best-in-class XGT battery system that provides professional landscapers and groundskeepers with the reliability, power and performance they need to achieve top quality results.

The UR006G is a high-power machine that can deliver output of up to 7,000 rpm and similar power to a 30CC class engine grass trimmer, so users can experience the benefi ts of cordless without compromising on output.

To deliver optimum performance, the UR006G has three speed options and features Automatic Torque Drive Technology (ADT) that intelligently adjusts the operation speed depending on the load conditions.

For maximum productivity, the UR006G features a reverse rotation switch that allows the operator to quickly clear the trimmer head or blade from entangled grass and weeds.

What’s more, the UR006G uses smart Active Feedback Sensing Technology (AFT) to prevent kickback by automatically

turning off the motor if the tool rotation suddenly slows, improving operator safety.

The UR006G also features a toolless quick fastening handle holder, so operators can quickly and easily adjust the machine for comfortable operation and ease of storage.

Makita UK Enquiry 43

The natural alternative to Glyphosate for total weed and moss control

Based on naturally occurring ingredients, Headland Amenity’s New-Way Weedspray provides a fastacting alternative to glyphosate when it comes to grass, broadleaved weed and moss control.

Ideal for use on hard surfaces and artificial sports pitches, its non-selective formulation provides total control against most soft-tissue it encounters, negating the need for separate applications when spraying for weeds and moss.

The active ingredient in NewWay Weedspray (MAPP No. 15319) – acetic acid – is formulated from high food-grade product and is developed with a naturally occurring protein ingredient.

This combination doubles the herbicidal properties of acetic acid compared to standard products.

As one of only two foliar acting herbicides approved for the control of moss on hard ground in the UK, NewWay Weedspray can be used in a variety of amenity situations such as footpaths and pavements, parks, and in industrial areas such as railways and fence lines etc.

In addition to hard surfaces, New-Way Weedspray can also be used to control moss on synthetic sports turf.

Unlike many moss treatments, New-Way Weedspray will also control a range of weeds and grasses.

While perennial weeds may require more than a single application for total control, annual weeds can usually be controlled in a single application - with browning of foliage occurring within a few hours of treatment and death of the weed in one to two days depending on weather conditions. As there are no residual effects with the product in the soil, new sowing and planting may then be undertaken as soon as the weeds have died.

Headland Amenity also have a comprehensive range of selective herbicides, offering the safe, efficient and targeted control of weeds in grassed areas.

Headland Amenity Enquiry 44

Injecting a professional approach into weed and invasives control

Stem Injection Systems (Europe) Limited constantly seeks innovative products to help in the management of unwanted plants including invasive plant species whilst protecting the environment and human health.The company helped pioneer the management of plants by stem injection and introduced injection products to the UK in 2007.

The current product portfolio has expanded to include chemical safes, protective clothing and a range of quality products.

Herbicide is by far the most costeffective method of remediation, but the traditional technique of foliar application (spraying the plant) can be problematic due to the range of variable factors. The herbicide needs to penetrate the leaf, translocating via cells to the stem, down the chambers within

the cane and eventually, the roots. Stem injection is a much more precise technique; injecting the plant directly with a measured dose of herbicide ensures there is no wastage, and allows treatment throughout the growing season, even when weather would prevent foliar applications. One of the benefits is efficiency in scheduling and completing remediation projects around the optimum time of treatment after flowering.

Celebrate achievements of BIGGA members on opening night of BTME 2022

The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) is proud to reveal that AMS Robotics has become lead sponsor of the BIGGA Welcome Celebration, taking place on the opening night of BTME 2022.

The BIGGA Welcome Celebration takes place on Tuesday 22 March at 5.30pm. At the event BIGGA will announce:

• The winners of the BIGGA Awards 2022

• The winner of the Innovation and Thought Leadership Award sponsored by Campey Turf Care Solutions.

BIGGA will also recognise the: BIGGA Annual Photographic Competition winner; BIGGA’s latest Life Members; CPD achievers; and Master

Greenkeepers. BIGGA will introduce the BIGGA president and BIGGA Vice President for 2022. BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton said: “The BIGGA Welcome Celebration is the one event of the year where every BIGGA member can join us to recognise all the hard work that has been done across the association. It’s free to attend so you don’t need an invitation and there’ll also

be all necessary COVID safety measures in place.

“All we ask is that you come along and celebrate everything we have overcome since the last time we were together in January 2020. The world has changed, but let’s use this as an opportunity to announce that we are back and better than ever.”

BIGGA Enquiry 47

The Grove, Hertfordshire’s ultimate country escape, has been awarded GEO Certified status, for commitment and efforts to achieve the credible international standard for sustainable golf course operation.

GEO Certification is assured by GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf– the not-forprofit organisation dedicated to delivering programmes that help people on the ground to evaluate, improve and credibly communicate their sustainability work.

GEO Certified is the symbol of a great golf environment, confirming that the Troonmanaged facility satisfies all the certification criteria; meeting a credible standard in the areas of nature, resources, climate and community, and is committed to continual improvement.

The Grove’s certification process was led by Golf Course and Estate Manager, Phillip Chiverton, Head Greenkeeper, Sam Reid, and Head Gardener, Natasha Geldenhuys.

Football Foundation signs up new Official Fans

The Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation has announced that John Ledwidge, Head of Sports Turf and Grounds at Leicester City Football Club, and Karl Standley, Wembley Stadium Grounds Manager, have joined the team as Official Fans.

John and Karl are responsible for the maintenance of two of the highest profile grass pitches in England.

They join the UK’s biggest sport’s charity to support its mission to revolutionise the quality of grass pitches across the country, helping the Foundation to deliver 20,000 ‘good’ quality grass pitches in the next 10 years.

To help make this ambition a reality, the Football Foundation has developed ‘PitchPower’; a game-changing web app that gives every community football club and organisation

in the country the ability to carry out their own grass pitch inspections and open up funding opportunities and free resources to help improve their grass pitch.

Football Foundation CEO Robert Sullivan comments: “Around 87% of affiliated football is played on grass pitches, yet the quality of grass football pitches is a huge issue for community football in England with over 150,000 matches being called

off in the last full season due to unplayable pitches.

“With John and Karl on board, and the expertise they each bring, more clubs and organisations will be encouraged to improve the quality of their grass pitches and thanks to PitchPower, they will have the tools they need to do so.”

Football Foundation Enquiry 48

Showcase playground

grass

Adam Patterson, owner of Patterson’s Gardening Services in Northern Ireland, needed a mower that would perform in the wet, and in his opinion, there was only one brand which was comfortably up to the job.

things that other manufacturers simply have not.”

He was recommended two models from the PRO 46 range; the PHTS3 - a single speed selfpropelled mower and the PHE3 - a push variant.

This means the grass is only cut once before being sent to the grass box.

On 6th & 7th July 2022, the Sports and Grounds Expo (SAGE) will be held at The Three Counties Showground, Malvern. This provides an opportunity for people and businesses from the sports and grounds maintenance industry to share exciting new products and make connections from across the industry.

SAGE 2022 is the UK’s largest outdoor tradeshow for the sports and grounds maintenance industry and the spectacular setting of The Three Counties Showground is ideal for hosting a safe event where all stands are outdoors.

The stands will be set up across spacious outdoor pitches with crowd management processes in place and the venue was chosen partly due to being awarded the VisitEngland ‘We’re Good to Go’ industry charter mark, which verifies that the showground meets the Government and public health guidance on COVID-19, including the required health and safety processes.

People attending SAGE 2022 can expect to network with a wide range of industry professionals, build up rapport with potential customers and discover the latest trends that are impacting the industry.

With the central location selected and easy transport links, SAGE 2022 is expected to attract visitors and businesses from all across the UK for this widely anticipated event.

Who will be exhibiting at SAGE 2022?

Many different types of businesses will be exhibiting at the event and employees from local authorities, education establishments and contractors will benefit from the chance to see a wide range of playground equipment in action.

It is very rare that there is a venue large enough to enable playground equipment manufacturers to set up the equipment to allow a hands-on demonstration. This set up allows the people responsible for procuring playground equipment to get more insight into the quality and functionality of the equipment they order.

Opportunities for local businesses

Businesses selling playground equipment, as well as sports and grounds maintenance products such as machinery, turf care, workwear and chemicals for

grounds are invited to exhibit by booking a stand at this muchanticipated event.

Employees from local authorities and schools will be in attendance to see demonstrations of playground equipment, so this is a great opportunity for equipment suppliers and installation contractors to make key connections.

Due to the large volumes of people working in the sports and grounds maintenance sector who will be in attendance, the event will be a great marketing opportunity for businesses to meet customers face-to-face and build up sales leads.

If you are interested in exhibiting at SAGE 2022 you can book a stand here, or if you are interested in visiting the event you can register on the website.

Sports and Grounds Expo Enquiry 50

Over the past 30 years, Etesia ride-on and pedestrian mowers have become world renowned for being able to cut and collect – in all all weathers.

Even in long and wet grass conditions, the mowers provide a quality finish with outstanding collection performance.

“We chose Etesia because it has a reputation for being the best at cutting and collecting wet grass,” said Adam. “When it comes to the design and build, Etesia has thought about all the

Following the same concept of the PRO 46 range of pedestrian mowers first launched in the early 1990’s, both models feature Xenoy cutting decks for increased strength, shear washer crank protection, individual height of cut adjusters, a new 22mm handlebar design, the latest Honda GCV170 engine and are supplied complete with 80 litre grass box and rear deflector as standard.

One main feature of these models is the ‘one cut’ principle.

The benefits of this are reduced power consumption from fast deck material ejection and secondly, as it is not multi chopped, the grass does not stick to the cutting deck in the same way as multi-cut grass does prevent unwanted blockages.

The grass box is manufactured out of the same Xenoy compound as the cutting deck for maximum strength and comes complete with fill indicator.

Adam ended up buying two of each model from his local dealer RD Mechanical and hasn’t looked back since.

Etesia Enquiry 51

Ravens rave about the Dennis G860 The Origin of carbon capture

We are all experiencing dramatic changes that are shaping our environment.

It is within everyone’s interest to do the utmost to minimise the impact.

Origin Amenity Solutions, in partnership with its seed breeding partner Top Green has developed and brought to the industry a range of Carbon4Grass seed mixes that have been shown to significantly sequester

(lock-up) more CO 2 in the soil when to comparative mixes.

Selecting these Carbon4Grass mixes form both intensely and infrequently managed turf will help mitigate our carbon footprint by lock-up additional carbon and reducing carbon gas production.

For your free brochure, just ask your Headland, Rigby Taylor or Symbio area manager.

55

Rigby Taylor Enquiry

Sean Kauffman, Head Groundskeeper for National Football League (NFL) side Baltimore Ravens has revealed how two Dennis G860 cylinder mowers have significantly helped the grounds crew to improve the standards of the pitch at the M&T Bank Stadium.

M&T Bank Stadium is a multi-purpose football stadium located in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the home of the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL, and Sean has been working for the organisation for 17 years.

Sports turf managers have relied on the G860 to provide the perfect cut; and the popularity of the machines in the States is growing all the time.

Lightweight at just 166kg; it is easy to manoeuvre and

comfortable to operate. The handlebar console houses the controls for - throttle, parking brake, roller drive and cutting cylinder drive.

The mower features a large diameter front roller with an adjustable scraper which has been designed for a precise height of cut control, giving an excellent finish on every occasion.

The Dennis G860 also features an interchangeable cassette system to assist with a wide range of tasks such as including cutting, de-thatching, verticutting, brushing, spiking, and slitting.

Sean revealed that the spring tine cassette and the 8 bladed cutting cassette are the two that he most relies on.

SISIS Veemo hits the spot at Stourbridge

After trialling various tractor mounted scarifiers, Steven Harvey, Head Greenkeeper at Stourbridge Golf Course, concluded that the SISIS Veemo MK 2 was by far the most suitable for his fairways.

The SISIS Veemo MK 2 is a tractor-mounted scarifier used for removing thatch from large areas of turf, such as golf course fairways.

The Veemo’s strong cutting blades are designed for minimum surface disturbance and maximum thatch removal via three fl oating heads which are independent from the main frame.

The heads each move in all degrees of motion and follow any undulations of the ground on a fairway without any danger of damaging / scalping the turf, whilst the tungsten tipped hook blades with variable spacing cut effectively through the thatch layer.

“We use the Veemo anytime between March and November, and the beauty of it is that not only can I use it on the fairways, but I can get it onto our tees and the approaches as well,” said Steve. “I’m also going to be looking to use it on the greens very soon, and I think it will do a great job. I want to use it to its maximum capability.”

Enquiry 57

Top-Brush improves play, presentation and plant health

When a Redexim Top-Brush was unloaded from the trailer for a working demonstration at Woolley Park Golf Club in September 2021, Head Greenkeeper John Rowbottom was so impressed that it never went back on.

Twenty minutes spent on the 18th fairway of the West Yorkshire club were enough to convince John and his team of the improvements the Top-Brush could make to course presentation, and the role it would

play in the non-chemical control of worm casts.

“Using the Top-Brush to disperse the worm casts has also helped to prevent damage, wear and tear to our equipment than can otherwise occur when casts are fed into them - we noticed that we weren’t having to constantly re-sharpen the mower blades for example,” says John.

Dennis Enquiry 56

SISIS

Redexim

Visit Groundsman Industries in the Red Zone 240

Established in 1990, Groundsman Industries based in Northern Ireland specialise in the design and manufacture of turf/sod cutters, turf aerators, core and linear aeration soil collectors distributing around the world.

Groundsman two and four-wheel drive turf/sod multi cutter range deliver exceptional sod-cutting ability in all conditions.

These versatile machines can be fitted with sod blades 30cm to 60cm wide cutting 1cm to 7cm thick plus trench, decompaction and mole-drain blades to 13cm depth.

A guillotine attachment is available to measure and cut the turf to length.

Groundsman pedestrian and tractor mounting aerators 45cm to 180cm wide all use groundsman’s proven elliptical plunge action mechanism for aeration to 15cm deep. quick-change tine holders for solid, hollow and chisel tines plus cluster heads for dense pattern aeration and seeding.

Groundsman Flexblade Collectors 0.8m to 2.3m wide for aerator attachment to core and collect as well as compact tractor mounting for follow-up collection of cores and linear aeration soil.

Groundsman Industries Enquiry 60

Double-Quick boost for pitch care productivity

Moisture management a key focus

Understanding how carefully managed moisture levels can play a significant role in the reduction of some common turf diseases, Headland Amenity will be shining a spotlight on their range of water management productsincluding TeraFirm, DewCure and TriCure AD - at BTME 2022.

The Headland technical team will be on hand to discuss this, alongside their full range of plant nutrition products for golf and sports turf on the Origin Amenity Solutions stand – Purple 424.

The Double-Quick turf maintenance system has proved an absolute winner for councils and contractors who have large areas of sportsturf to maintain.

That is according to Marcus Oliver, Product Development Manager at GreenTek, who said the system gives groundsmen and contractors the ability to tailor their aeration system to exactly suit the areas that they need to maintain.

It comes in two widths to suit tractors of all sizes from a midrange compact up to a standard agricultural tractor. You can

The Double-Quick aeration system is unique in having a single main frame onto which two attachments can be mounted, the upper one giving extra weight and ballast to the one beneath which is in operation on the ground.

In addition, a rear tool carrier can take up to three more attachments which enables this amazing machine to aerate, roll, rake, and brush, all in a single pass.

“It was born out of the need for councils and contractors to greatly increase the efficiency of their pitch care operations in view of being commercially competitive,” he continued. “But the obvious advantage of its multi-purpose operation has also not been lost on groundsmen at other facilities like sports clubs, universities, and colleges.

“The fact is that most groundscare teams are understaffed, so if they can carry out their regular aeration, rolling and grooming all in a single operation it enables them to get so much more done.”

62

Test your pedal power with INFINICUT

If you’ve ever considered yourself as a bit of a cyclist, be sure to make a pit stop on the INFINICUT stand at BTME 2022 for a true test of pedal power – all raising money for BIGGA’s Benevolent Fund.

Once you’ve taken the challenge, take a breather and check out some of the other highlights on stand Red 272 including the TMSystem collection of

cassettes for grooming, mowing and maintenance and some new innovative products from the INFINICUT stable.

The Greenkeepers Benevolent Fund is the official charity of BIGGA, assisting current or past members and their dependants with financial support and practical help during difficult times.

get more information from the GreenTek team at BTME 2022 in the Red Zone stand 200 on March 22-24.

GreenTek Enquiry

Bayer raise awareness of mental health Foley Company bring automatic quality to BTME 2022

American grinder manufacturer, Foley Company, is bringing automatic quality to BTME 2022 with their range of fully and semiautomatic spin and relief grinders.

Foley’s UK and Ireland distributor, ProSport UK Ltd, has recently completed the installation of several units.

Golf clubs including St Annes Old Links, West Sussex, Henley, Radlett, The Buckinghamshire and Kingsbarns are only some to have purchased cylinder or bedknife grinders as well as contractors Gibson Groundcare Machinery.

For many, the automated process of the Accu-Pro models ranging from the 633 reel grinder to the 673 automated bedknife grinder was the main reason behind their decision. This and the ability to relief grind back to OEM specifications are the reasons why so many turf professionals

in the UK, Ireland and worldwide are opting for Foley.

Managing Director of ProSport UK Ltd, Ian Robson, said: “We have found that in-house grinding is becoming an increasingly viable and popular option for clubs and contractors, and the automation and relief grinding options we provide really appeal to those who are looking into it for the first time.

“BTME 2022 gives us a chance to catch up with these clubs and introduce new people to what Foley has to offer, so we’re excited about the exhibition.

“We’ll have working grinders on the stand, so attendees can have a hands-on demonstration of the machines in action and have any questions they have answered.”

The 633 Accu-Pro is an industry leader in versatility and can complete quick touch-up spin

grinds or return the reel to manufacturers specifications through relief grinding.

The operation is fast and straightforward with the AccuReel Selector, and cylinder height stop automatically locating the reel for spin and relief grinding in one set-up. Pre-set relief angles are easily identified on the relief angle adjuster, which makes it effortless to grind the correct angles and achieve proper clearances for each reel type.

Using the optional Accu-Touch 3 Control makes this even easier. You tell the machine what you’re working on and it does the rest using pre-programmed spin speeds, relief torque and in-feeds. With or without the Accu-Touch 3, once the grinder has started, operators are free to continue with other tasks while grinding is completed.

Foley Company Enquiry 65

Bayer is celebrating a successful 12-month collaboration with mental health charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) at BTME this year, with a representative from the charity on the Bayer stand for the event’s duration.

Timothy Peeling, Bayer product manager, says that with suicide being the biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK, Bayer is committed to raising the awareness of mental health in the typically male dominated turf and amenity sectors. Find out more about CALM here: https://www.thecalmzone.net/.

As well as raising the profile of mental health, the Turf Solutions team will be on hand to talk about all things Harmonix Tri-Nema.

For more information visit the Turf Solutions team in the green zone on stand 338 at BTME

Bayer Enquiry 66

GKB has machines for all seasons

Stand 406 in the purple zone promises to be a showcase of equipment for all seasons as GKB Machines get set to return to BTME in 2022.

Whether its aeration, scarification or overseeding on the agenda, solutions will be on show in the form of the Deep Tine Aerator (DTA), Sandfiller and Combiseeder - with the GKB Technical Team on hand to discuss these products and many more from their innovative golf and sports turf portfolio.

The name speaks for itself with the GKB Deep Tine Aerator - efficiently and effectively aerating the ground down to depths of up to 400mm (16”) for optimal air and moisture movement.

The Sandfiller scarifies the surface down to depths of up

to 40mm, removing organic matter and creating channels which are simultaneously filled with sand or a combination of sand and seed – maximising efficiency and improving drainage and ground firmness in one single pass.

If a dedicated unit is required that is capable of both seeding and overseeding, then the Combiseeder provides an accurate solution.

GKB Machines Enquiry 67

www.campeyturfcare.com

ClearWater gaining momentum once more

The ClearWater division of Acumen Waste Services Ltd is pleased to report a surge in enquiries following the peak of Covid-19.

General Manager Matthew Mears said; “Environmental concerns are still high on everyone’s agenda and despite Covid, we’ve continued receiving enquiries and have carried out installations when permissible.”

Golf Clubs have always been a strong customer base for ClearWater but service dealers, football and other sports clubs,

educational establishments and local authorities are now swelling the client list.

ClearWater remains the UK’s leading cost-effective and efficient below ground washdown water recycling system. It enables customers to meet all current legislation by preventing pollution and by recycling treated washwater, saves thousands of gallons of precious and increasingly expensive water.

ClearWater is available in two sizes; a large 5,000 standard system and for large 4 hose plus

washing, a 10,000-litre model. A commercial model is also available which comes with a rinse package and is ideal for vehicle washes where a high-end finish is required.

All systems are available with Acumen’s in-house, 24-month interest free repayment scheme which can be spread across three budgets! See ClearWater at BTME 2022 - Stand 210 Red Sector and enter the prize draw; you may be the lucky winner of a system.

Acumen Waste Services Ltd Enquiry 70

Kubota showcases latest innovations at BTME

Kubota returns to BTME at Harrogate where the company will once again join forces with Baroness to showcase outstanding Japanese technology and engineering.

A selection of Kubota’s extensive range of machinery for golf and turf will be on show, including some of the raft of new products introduced in 2021.

Heading up the launches is the new LX Series, a range of multi-purpose compact tractors from 35-40hp that allow users to handle a wide variety of tasks ranging from mowing and snow clearance to materials handling and cultivations.

Kubota’s mowing equipment is the mainstay of leading grounds maintenance contractors and local authorities across the country, and latest addition to the renowned F Series front

mowers,

discuss

New organic based fertiliser to be launched

Leading

Kubota looks forward to welcoming visitors to stand Red Zone 230.

Kubota Enquiry 71

ICL is looking forward to welcoming visitors to its interactive stand at BTME 2022 (Purple Zone 426) where the team will be talking all things turf and providing an exclusive look at an exciting new product for the golf market.

Gronamic Golf 6-2-4, a new organic based fertiliser is a unique blend of credible and

sustainable ingredients to provide a natural turf response and is the latest product to be added to the Gronamic range.

The organic content of Gronamic 6-2-4 is 100% plant based and is formulated as a fine granule.

Aside from the exhibition, ICL is once again proud to support

BIGGA’s Continue to Learn education programme.

The ICL Continue to Learn Scholarship, sees fi ve BIGGA members receive three nights’ hotel accommodation and 15 hours of training and personal development opportunities.

ICL Enquiry 72

John Chambers Wildflower Seed supplied to Bishop’s Waltham in Bloom

Bishops Waltham in Bloom is a registered charity run by a small group of Trustees, supported by a team of volunteers, who all share a passion and responsibility for planting and maintaining all the flower beds, tubs and hanging baskets in Bishop’s Waltham, Hampshire.

Since 2016 this work has been extended to incorporate two main wildflower areas. A 65m2 roundabout and a 180m2 patch of open ground beside a road junction that leads from the main road through the village.

Both areas have now been sown with 500gms of John Chambers Wildflower Seed Follers Manor Annual seed mix. This is a special mix of wild and cultivated annual species, originally mixed for the awardwinning gardens at the stunning Follers Manor in Sussex.

John Chambers Wildflower Seed has a 35-year history of supplying native British produced wildflower seed and mixes to rural and urban projects across the UK. Seed is sourced from growers that are long established and stringent in their collection processes; it is cleaned by hand, a labour-intensive process that will only achieve the highest quality standards. The team of specially trained seed cleaners only dispatch the best seed that ensures optimum growth and success no matter the climate or soil quality.

Having developed many bedding and shrub beds around the village, the Trustees felt that wildflower areas would add more colour and enjoyment for local residents while supporting biodiversity and a wider range of pollinators. Therefore, the wildflower project at Bishop’s Waltham was initiated with the larger open area and followed up with the roundabout. The group received sponsorship from the Waltham Society and BW Gardening Club, in addition to a grant from Winchester City Council to fund this initiative.

Susan Bircher, one of the Trustees comments, “We initially

experimented with different seed mixes and some plug plants, and found the annual based mixes gave much more impact and colour. We did use some perennial mixes to try and reduce the yearly workload as we are only a small group, but that created a problem for us with species like wild carrot taking over and dominating the annuals in both areas.

Because of our initial experience we wanted to move back to a mix which gave us real impact for the enjoyment of local residents over a reasonable length of time. When researching options, I saw the John Chambers Follers Manor Wildflower mix and we decided the mix of indigenous wildflowers for wildlife plus the ‘extras’ of Nigella, California poppies and Coreopsis would give us the ‘best of both worlds’, and the photos on your website and the Follers Manor website looked very much what we hoped to achieve.

And it did. Very successfully. Lots of colour and variety, and we had a lot of very positive feedback from the residents, which was lovely.”

Green-tech Enquiry 76

Getting the grass right

ProGreen offer a wide range of sports ground grass seeds. All of their grass seeds for sports pitches and sports grounds have been tested and used by many professional rugby, football and cricket pitches.

Sports pitch grass seed is different from ordinary grass seed you would use in your gardens, they are blended with specific grass cultivars that can withstand the wear and tear that they would come under with constant play.

When you are looking to reseed a sports pitch or simply renovate your sports ground, it is essential that you consider a grass seed that is specifically designed for the job.

ProGreen offer different mixtures suitable for various sporting grounds.

Whether you are looking for pure bent seed mixes to renovate golf and bowling greens producing a dense compact playing surface or an amenity ryegrass mix that can withstand being used as a pitch and playing field, ProGreen have got you covered.

So that you know that you are purchasing a quality product, all of ProGreen’s grass seed is germination tested to FERA standards ensuring a high quality products at a value for money price.

Enquiry 77

FloraNative Wildflower mixes

A new brochure is now available from Origin Amenity Solutions Ltd that displays and catalogues an exciting an comprehensive range of wild flowers and grasses.

The range is a collection of Native UK provenance wild flower mixes for restoring, creating and supporting a bio-diverse range of ecological habitats.

Also available within the collection are specialist Habitat 100% grass seed mixes, game cover seed, plus seasonally available Yellow Rattle, heather, gorse seed, flowering bulbs and plug plants.

A new, illustrated FloraNative brochure is available on request from your Headland, Rigby Taylor or Symbio area manager.

Rigby Taylor Enquiry 78

ProGreen

ICL’s ProSelect laying the foundations for ambitious club

James Bonfield, the Course Manager at Hertfordshire Golf and Country Club, has revealed how utilising ICL’s range of ProSelect grass seed has resulted in vastly improved fairways and greens.

With more resources at his disposal James was insistent on first targeting the fairways.

“The fairways were always lacking behind everything else, so that was our main priority. Choosing the correct seed was imperative,” he said.

Working alongside Matt Nutter from ICL, James decided on the ProSelect Classic – a multi-purpose seed blend which contains Torsion TRT Perennial ryegrass offering the unique Turf Repairing Tiller growth habit.

He overseeded the fairways with this mixture in late April and explained that the sowing rate was adjusted dependent on the condition: “Some areas were weaker than others, so they needed more seed; others were stronger so needed less –each fairway got exactly what I thought was required,” he said.

Once the overseeding had been completed, James maximised the results of the seed by applying a granular feed to the fairways.

The fertiliser he used, ICL’s Sierrablen Plus Spring & Summer CalMag 23-0-5, has proven to be extremely popular with many greenkeepers and course managers this year.

“The seed and the granular feed went hand in hand to give the full effect,” he said.

New Pro Flora and Colour Boost catalogues

In order to meet with the increasing demand for conservation mixtures, DLF Seeds have announced expansions to the Pro Flora wild flower and Colour Boost amenity flower collections, in two brand new mixture guides for 2022.

Having recently increased their in-house production for wild flowering species, a number of new mixtures have been introduced - designed to bring biodiversity and visual impact to even more amenity and agricultural spaces.

Wild flowers have long played a vital role in renovation and landscaping projects, improving visual diversity and providing support and conservation for wildlife and pollinating species.

With that in mind, DLF have introduced Pro Flora 15 –Pollinator. Pro Flora 15 contain a mixture of native origin wild flowers and fine-leaved grasses, which will thrive in a range of soil types, and produce a prolonged flowering period –perfect for bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects.

Also new for 2022 is Pro Flora 16 –Coastal. With many of our coastal

areas under threat from human activity and the sea, Pro Flora 16 provides land managers with a mixture for restoring some of these spaces and/or regenerating areas with poor quality land. Containing 20% wild flowers such as Kidney Vetch and Viper’s Bugloss, this new mixture can provide valuable habitat for coastal-dwelling insects and invertebrate species.

A number of mixtures have also been launched in the Colour Boost collection, designed for maximum floral impact. Skyscraper contains classics such as Cosmos and Zinnia and is created for areas where a taller growing mixture is required to deliver the desired level of visual impact.

As with many of the Pro Flora mixtures, pollinators are at the forefront of species selection for a number of Colour Boost mixtures, with the new Honey Bee & Butterfly mix selecting flowers that will provide both a spectacular display and a valuable nectar source for bees and other pollinating insects. Completing the expanded range is Classical, a mix of blue and white species, ideal for more formal settings.

“Sierrablen Plus allowed us to get nutrient into the soil to give the seed something to kick off and it came through beautifully. We now have a nice, uniformed consistent growth whereas before we had a lot of patches.

“This approach has resulted in much improved fairways that are far more tolerant to heat, stress and disease. The combination of the seed working with the granular nutrition has seen the fairways holding the colour a lot better, and they have great definition.

“In the space of six months we have gone from fairways that were really struggling to some of the most envied in Hertfordshire. That is a major step forward.”

to the greens and alongside Matt, the two of them worked together to identify the most suitable seed.

“Based on the pH levels we have round here, which are between 6.5 and 7.5, we felt that creeping bent was going to be the best for the greens. Anthracnose is also an issue, and with this in mind, we felt that the ProSelect Piranha creeping bent would be the best option.”

As James says, due to the genetics of the seed, Piranha has been proven to be excellent in combatting the likes of Anthracnose, Dollar spot and Brown patch disease. It is the latest creeping bent grass mixture to be added to the ICL seed portfolio and recently gained EU registration.

Euroflor 240x170 Feb2022.qxp_Layout 1 15/02/2022 08:51 Page 1

Following his work on the fairways, James’ attention turned

ICL Enquiry 81

Spring sowing for summer showing

An Ecological Initiative

Crucially, springtime flowers provide an earlier seasonal supply of energy-rich nectar and pollen, sustaining pollinators when resources are most scarce.

DLF Seeds Enquiry 82

The new 2022 grass seed mixes are now fully displayed on Origin Amenity Solution’s grass seed mixture listing.

Many of these mixtures are the ‘gold standard’ against which competitors are judged.

All mixes are displayed, including the exciting Tetraploid mixes that were first launched to the industry by Rigby Taylor.

The mixes shown are fully described showing the cultivars, on what surfaces the mixtures are recommended, sowing and over-seeding rates of use, sowing depth and mowing heights.

For your free brochure, just ask your Headland, Rigby Taylor or Symbio area manager.

Rigby Taylor Enquiry

84

MM Sports Seed, one of the most respected brands in the UK amenity industry, recently brought together their distributors for their MM distributor conference held at Hotel du Vin Wimbledon, followed by a tour of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

The conference provided the opportunity for distributors to interact with each other for the first time in two years following the COVID pandemic and give an insight in the recent acquisition of the MM and Designer brands by DLF Seeds.

The conference was the ideal opportunity to give distributors an insight into the Inberrow factory upgrade and demo site at DLF’s UK headquarters, a breeding and portfolio update

detailing the exciting new cultivars that are planned for the MM mixtures, the current market supply conditions, and future marketing of the brands as well as enhancing the communications channels within the MM Sports Seed network.

Neil Stubley, head of courts and horticulture at Wimbledon –The All England Lawn Tennis Club concluded day one of the conference with an entertaining update of the prestigious venue.

On day two, delegates were invited for an exclusive tour around the world’s oldest tennis venue to witness first hand the latest stadium developments and turf management practices.

MM Sport Seeds Enquiry 85

Pictorial Meadows, as part of the not-for-profit Green Estate CIC, are thrilled to have been selected to supply wildflower seeds for the Platinum Jubilee ‘Superbloom’ at the Tower of London.

The project has been conceived by Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) – the charity that cares for the Tower of London – and planned for several years.

HRP have worked with University of Sheffield Professor of Planting Design and Urban Horticulture, Nigel Dunnett, to bring the project to life.

Their design will bring both the stunning beauty of naturalistic designed meadows to the Tower, as well as providing a significant new resource for pollinators and seed eating birds right in the centre of London. The company will also be providing bespoke meadow seed mixes to schools across the UK as school children are invited to take part in a major school’s initiative, growing their own meadow displays to bloom alongside the one at the Tower.

Pictorial Meadows Enquiry 86

A number of new and updated formulations have been announced with the launch of the Johnsons Sports Seed guide for 2022.

Particular highlights include the introduction of new highly rated cultivars into the Johnsons J Links and J Rye Fairway fine turf mixtures, and a brand-new, first-of-its-kind mixture for sports turf - Johnsons J Premier 4Turf - delivering proven Brown Patch tolerance. The 2022 formulation of Johnsons J Links is set to deliver even better salt and drought tolerance to those courses under links conditions thanks to the introduction of Absolom Slender Creeping Red Fescue.

Absolom is a highly rated cultivar, offering exceptional disease resistance and tolerance for close mown management. Absolom joins Cezanne and Nigella in this pure Slender blend – backed by DLF’s

4Salt research, creating mixtures optimised for performance in saline conditions. New formulations of Johnsons J Fairway and J Rye Fairway are also available this year, with the inclusion of Esparina Chewings Fescue and Aniston Perennial Ryegrass respectively.

Also backed by research is the brand-new Johnsons J Premier 4Turf mixture. Following two years of trials into Brown Patch tolerant varieties, J Premier 4Turf takes full advantage of the findings - combining the outstanding wear tolerance and visual merit of the original J Premier Pitch mixture with 20% 4turf® and the most tolerant diploid varieties identified in the study. Featuring 10% Fabian and 10% Tetragame tetraploid perennial ryegrass, J Premier 4Turf promises to become the ultimate football and rugby renovation mixture for disease-resistance,

rapid establishment and exceptional wear tolerance.

The larger seed and root system of DLF’s 4turf varieties deliver strong, fast establishment at temperatures as low as 4oc, as well as healthy plant development. Its improved tolerance of drought and disease means the sward retains better colour and recovers quickly from

periods of stress. Because of their tolerance to challenging conditions and lower reliance on inputs, 4turf mixtures have become a popular choice with sports turf managers, with new formulations of both Johnsons J 4Turf and J 4Turf 100 available for 2022.

Johnsons Sports Seed Enquiry 87

Vitax Amenity’s e-brochure meets the growing demand for in-depth product information which can be easily downloaded and accessed at the touch of a button.

Providing specialist products for sport and amenity turf both in the UK and overseas, Vitax Amenity has established a reputation for producing a comprehensive range of products with a strong emphasis on quality, efficacy and cost-effectiveness.

Its latest decision to develop an e-brochure follows a significant update to its website and has been welcomed by customers across the globe as relationships continue to grow and be nurtured.

Vitax has developed its online presence over the past few years and the decision to produce an e-brochure supports a significant shift in

how the business is adapting to working with customers.

The speed of which it can be changed to incorporate new products and sent out to customers was a crucial reason for the new-look brochure.

Vitax Enquiry 89

Mowing with the times

New mower designs look to lessen the environmental impact of grass cutting while offering increased versatility and labour savings. Jane Carley reports.

The ride on mower continues to evolve, with the latest engine technology making for cleaner, quieter and more environmetially conscious working.

Manufacturers are looking to other power sources too, with electric mowers in parks and open spaces likely to follow those appearing on the golf course.

Local authorities and contractors need mowers to be versatile too, working in challenging conditions and with different types of vegetation, while labour shortages may create the need for a machine that are nimble enough to cut down on strimming and can work on more diffi cult terrain, perhaps even under remote control on occaison.

Kubota has updated and expanded its ride-on mower range over the past 12 months to come in line with Stage V engine emission requirements and the line-up now offers purchasers a choice of models to precisely suit their requirements, explains Groundcare Product and Key Accounts Manager Phil Catley.

“There are now three different options in professional mulching rear discharge mowers for different mowing situations.

“We’ve refined our popular F-Series front mower range to offer the F-251, a 25hp model for routine maintenance and the Stage V-compliant F-391 which has a 38hp engine for heavier applications.

“This is the industry standard for commercial mowing, and has been brought bang up to date with improved controls, one-piece bonnet and cut width up to 1.82m.”

The ZD1211 zero turn is a great choice for those working around obstacles such as playground equipment or street furniture, he points out.

“This productive mower can turn in its own length, working close to obstacles to minimise the need for strimming, yet has a 1.52m cut for high outputs.”

A completely new addition to the range is the G-261 RD, derived from the popular Kubota cut and collect ride-on, but with a rear discharge mulching deck.

“At just 1.2m wide, this is a great choice for sites with restricted access, such as ornamental lawns, play areas and housing contracts,” Phil comments.

Overton UK has introduced something a little different in the form of the Altoz tracked ride-on range, which features half-tracks on the rear axle.

The All-terrain track system is designed to work on sloping, wet or rough ground; turf tracks can also be specified for more sensitive ground.

Altoz mowers are powered by 31 and 37hp petrol engines as is common in their USA home, although restircitons on diesel engines may also bring this into favour on these shores, suggests Overton.With chassis, track and seat suspension, the TRX 766 and 561 are designed to offer a smooth ride with less fatigue when working in these testing conditions.

On the TRX 766 there’s a choice of 1.66m all-terrain deck with pivoting blades to protect the blade, spindle and engine in the event of a collison or aero deck with adjustable baffles for a finer finish.

Kubota

The TRX 561 has a 1.53m aero deck as standard, and the company also offers a stand on version, the 1.53m cut TSX 561.

Ariens offers the Zenith E commercial, all-electric zero-turn mower powered by a FusionCore lithium-ion battery system, an exclusive technology developed by

Kubota keeps charity’s grounds pristine

Founded in 1997 by parents of children with autism and other complex needs and registered as charity in 2001, Thomley’s eight-acre site near Thame delivers a programme of activities throughout the year from sports and outdoor play to creative pursuits and life skills.

Kubota has a long term partnership with Thomley, and has recently installed its latest G261 ride-on rotary mower to help the three-man maintenance team keep this green and pleasant space pristine.

“Grounds maintenance is just one of our tasks, so having the Kubota mower makes a big

Ariens. It is designed to provide a continuous cutting time of up to 5.5 hours on a full charge, and coverage of up to 62,726m 2 (15.5 acres).

The FusionCore lithium-ion 56v DC battery system has four interchangeable, sealed for life batteries, each with a 4kWh capacity.

difference,” explains David Francis, who heads up the team. “It takes about 10 hours to cut the whole grassed area, and there are different requirements according to its use.”

The football pitch, mini football and golf course fairways require the high level of presentation offered by the three-blade rotary deck, he points out.

“I tend to cut those areas first and then it’s a quick job to raise the deck and top some of the longer areas. We also like to cut paths through long grass for the children to enjoy exploring, or produce a tidy area for camping, so the choice of cut heights is very useful.”

Where a mix of charge levels is detected in the four batteries, the patent-pending management system prioritises how the Zenith E balances power.

It will only draw from the full batteries until they reach the same level as those with less charge.

David adds that the compact size of the G261 is handy to work in restricted areas around play equipment and other obstacles in the grounds. It also makes for easy secure storage in a container.

Revised and updated for improved transmission of power and smoother grass flow, the mower replaces the previous G series used at Thomley, and he comments: “We can see that the mower has been improved with features such as the single joystick to control the cutting deck and collector and new pto clutch and we’re looking forward to getting to know it this spring. Our Kubota mowers have always been really reliable, and it’s so straightforward to do the daily checks. You can’t fault it.”

Once all four are at the same charge level, the machine will draw power from them equally, thus ensuring consistent power and cutting performance throughout.

The system is IP65 rated, sealed from moisture, dust and debris and is safe to use in wet conditions.

Batteries can be charged in 12 hours with a standard charger or

in 5.3 hours using an optional quick charger.

The Zenith E features patentpending spindle technology, designed to protect the spindle motors from damage in the event the blade strikes a hard object, such as a manhole cover or large rock.

The two proprietary hub and wheel electric motors work

with a dual reduction planetary gearbox, designed to provide the operator with the same feel and driving experience of a petrol zero-turn.

Side discharge and rear discharge 152cm decks are available, both fabricated from 10-gauge steel. The Zenith E offers 15 cutting positions, easily selected with a vertical pin drop and footoperated deck lift system.

“The SXG326+ did more than we hoped for, it cuts and collects our parks at a low height of cut, then tackles the road verges and clears the wildflower meadows leaving the same finish. They really do cut and collect even in the wet with no blockages. It is very reliable and we have had no issues with it, I would recommend ISEKI to anyone and have done to local councils already.“

Contact your local dealer to book a demo on your site today! www.iseki.co.uk

Paul Isom, Parks & Premises Manager, Chesham Town Council

Ariens

Ariens

The ROPS is fitted as standard, and a range of optional accessories is available including LED lights, beacon light, mulch kit, rapid charger and an offboard charger.

Recent analysis by SCAG importer STM of purchasing trends in the UK amongst councils and contractors shows that while the pedestrian mower still has its following for ease of transport, use and maintenance, there has been a movement towards the stand-on mower to suit certain terrains and operator convenience.

The ride-on mower has not suffered any level of decline in interest and SCAG has always maintained its policy of continuous improvement, from humble caster wheel design through to new and more effective power units, says the company’s spokesman.

There is, of course, for all of those supplying petrol or

diesel powered equipment, a desire to look to the future with replacement power sources.

SCAG, like all manufacturers supplying high power usage equipment is balancing the desire to fulfil demand against actual in-the-field performance; however, the company has announced its plans for the phasing-in of electric power across the range, aiming at the next model year.

The range includes the Stand-on V-Ride range from 16hp with an 80cm cut through five engine options and seven deck options up to 38hp and 1.53m cut.

Ride-on machines start from the top end Domestic Liberty Z to the top end Professional Turf Tiger; this is a complex range consisting of six models with differing features and benefits generally operating from 90cm up to 1.8m cut.

Amazone’s Profihopper series featues the SmartCut system which offers clean collection without generating dust.

The SmartCut rotor, with its chevron blade attachment system, improves collection quality and has also lowered noise emissions by 10dBa.

The PowerCompactor system packs in 30% more cuttings into the hopper to reduce the amount of times the machine needs to be emptied and so reduces the hours worked and emissions generated.

“SmartCut can also handle grass up to any height, which means that the Profihopper is chosen against other mowers, as it can cope with the extra grass as well,” explains Amazone UK managing director Simon Brown.

“It also offers the ability to manage wildflower mixes with its cut and drop mode for ensuring a good seed return,

or can cut and collect to keep the nutrient levels down, reducing grass competition and encouraging flower regrowth. This is particularly sought after by local authorities.”

Both the 24.5hp PH 1250 and 45.6hp PH 1500 self-propelled Profihoppers were designed with Stage V emissions in mind to give a powertrain that is as clean as possible, Simon adds:

“The PH 1250 achieves this without a diesel additive fl uid, whereas the Yanmar engine in the PH 1500 does use AdBlue but has been Stage V compliant since its launch. Alternative powertrain sources are being evaluated.”

Avaialble in front-wheel and all-wheel drive versions, the PH 1250 has a 1.25m working width and the all-wheel drive PH 1500 1.5m cut width.

The Iseki mower range offers a variety of fi nishes, whether cut and drop, cut and collect, or cut, mulch and drop.

High capacity Stage V-compliant engines run at low revs, producing high torque ensuring the machines are as economical as possible and reducing working noise.

Recommended for large areas of grass is the SF551 centre collect mower which is now also available with a Muthing flail deck, on which the blades can be swapped for scarifying knives to renovate turf in the autumn.

It has a large outfront deck and 1300 litre high tip collector; a turbine-driven straight through chute enables the SF551 to cut and collect without blocking.

The SXG mower range from 13.5 to 21hp has the rear axle mounted high under the seat with chain drive to each of the rear wheels, allowing the grass to flow straight through from the deck to the collector.

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

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

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

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

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

Contact the Amazone Team on: 01302 755 725.

SCAG

Amazone

Ventrac cuts tough

After seeing Ventrac’s Tough Cut deck in action, many people believe it’s a flail mower as it easily tames tall grass, thick weeds and heavy brush.

It is, in fact, a highly efficient rotary deck with a large front opening that directs material to three heavy-duty counter rotating blades that cut and deposit waste evenly without windrowing.

To aid efficient operation while in the field, the blades are sharp on both sides so they can be used on the right or left-hand spindles, allowing for extended blade life.

Capable of tackling saplings up to 2.54mm in diameter,

the Tough Cut makes short work out of overgrown thickets. It has three cutting heights: 76mm, 92mm and 108mm.

Easy servicing of belts and pulleys is provided by the hinged and removable cover, while the flip-up deck - with optional hydraulic lift - provides easy access for cleaning and changing blades.

Iain Dye is the Courses Manager at The Royal Automobile Club in Woodcote Park, and included a Tough Cut deck when he bought a Ventrac package last year.

“It really comes into its own when mowing the steep sides

of the retention walls on our new reservoir”, he said.

“It would take a huge number of team hours to strim this area, so it’s saving a lot of time that can be used productively elsewhere on the courses.

“The health and safety aspect is also an important factor; nobody likes strimming at the best of times, but on steep slopes it’s a particularly onerous task.

“The Ventrac can operate on slopes of 30° in complete safety; it seems to go anywhere.

“We also use it for woodland management as it gets into the margins for clearing brambles and brush.”

Air vents on top of the mower deck can be opened to allow more grass and debris to be picked up and passed through to the collector.

In summer these can be closed to avoid excess dust and debris being kicked up when cutting dry areas.

High and low tip 550 or 600 litre collectors are available plus a range of deck widths; an optional flip up floor kit in the collector allows the operator to cut and drop in certain areas.

Designed for the commercial user looking for a lightweight, economical mower to tow from

site to site, the SF224 has the deck built underneath the front of the mower for manoeuvrability when mowing around obstacles.

Power is supplied by a Stage V-compliant 22.5hp diesel engine, said to be fuel efficient and only requiring simple maintenance.

ISEKI

Available with a range of rotary or flail decks, tool carrier or collector.

To tackle overgrown grassy areas to abandoned woodland paths with thick undergrowth to saplings, Iseki offers the SRA which has a low centre of gravity, two wheel-drive 14hp and four-wheel drive 21hp options to tackle slopes up to 25°.

The AS Motor AS 940 and AS 940 XL ride on brushcutters distributed by PSD Groundscare have been especially developed for mowing on steep and difficult terrain.

Equipped with a 27hp B&S petrol engine, four-wheel drive, limited-slip differential and cross blade, the AS 940 cuts dense, high grass and undergrowth.

With ride-on brushcutters, steep slopes can be mown conveniently and economically. However, there are always areas where mowing is very unpleasant or unsafe for the operator, including steep terrain, loose substrate, mowing under trees and bushes, along hedges and even areas around wasp nests, says PSD Groundscare.

The AS 940 Remote Control offers all the benefits of the standard AS 940 but with the option to convert to remote control when required, using a professional remote control with 300m range.

This control offers adjustment of the cutting height; engine on/ off function; mower deck onoff switch; emergency swtich off of the machine and steering. The maximum incline transverse to the slope in remote control operation is 33deg, compared with 21° for ride-on operation.

ALL- DAY operation*

The future of commercial mower connectivity

Chris Meacock, Division Sales Manager for Turf & Golf at John Deere said: “Environmental impact is something that our commercial customers care about when choosing a machinery fleet.

These will be considered alongside a whole host of other factors which are often very specific to the situation the machines will be operating in, such as noise, running time, size and cost, for example.

“There is a lot of interest in battery-driven mowers, but the journey to electrification in the commercial turfcare sector is still burgeoning.

John Deere is looking forward to the role it will play in developing battery drive equipment.

“But the fundamentals of output, performance and efficiency are still crucial, and John Deere is always looking to leverage the technology from our agriculture division so it can be adapted and adopted by mowers and utility vehicles operating across the commercial, golf and sports turf market.”

Introduced in 2021, Deere’s Z740R zero-turn mower is powered by a Kawasaki 23.5hp commercial grade petrol engine.

It features an adjustable operator platform and ComfortGlide suspension seat with armrests, with easy access to a quick-change height-ofcut dial and on-the-go tracking adjustments to maximise mowing performance.

The Z740R offers a choice of high-capacity 122 or 137cm

side-discharge decks, or new heavy-duty rear-discharge decks with a single-belt deck design for easy maintenance, mulchingenabled for a cleaner finish.

A JD Link system can be attached to the Z740R to offer the users the ability to track position and run time. This model joins the mid-spec Z994 offering 24.7hp at 3,200 rpm, a forward speed of 10.5mph and a mowing width of up to 152cm.

Chris said: “Our zero turn mowers do the job at least 20% faster than a front mower, saving commercial operators money every time they use them.

“The Z994R combines incredible manoeuvrability with a powerful diesel engine and a high-capacity deck –plus the build quality for years of faithful service.”

PSD Groundscare

Reliability and efficiency are key for Ventrac

with Ventrac’s 4500 tractor unit, an Aera-vator with overseeder, a Finishing mowing deck, Power Broom and Front Loader and put each attachment through its paces.

“The main reason I was interested in the Ventrac package was because of the ease of changing the implements safely and quickly on my own,” said Neil.

“The compact size and manoeuvrability of the machine is ideal for our busy campsite and enables me to get in to all the tight spaces.

continual use by tents, caravans and motorhomes.

“At the end of the season, this versatile implement can also re-seed the pitch at the same time, which makes the Ventrac very time efficient and I have been more than pleased with the end result.

“It also works really well to fluff the bark around the play equipment. The mower and broom attachments are regularly used and perform their tasks well.

When Neil Osborne, a partner of the family-owned caravan touring park in St Ives, Cornwall completed his research into the Ventrac package he was considering, it didn’t take long for the local dealer, Devon

Rob Read of DGM organized a demonstration with Price Turfcare, the UK distributor,

“The overall quality of the machine and implements are excellent. I have been very impressed by the Area-vator as this helps to relieve the compaction of the pitches caused by a five-month season of

“I would not hesitate in recommending Rob from DGM and Price Turfcare and look forward to dealing with them again in the future.”

Price Turfcare Enquiry 98

Maredo Wiedenmann STrac 700 system to add new ‘HighSpeed-Corer’

The across–all-areas Maredo Wiedenmann STrac 700 system is poised to welcome a new HighSpeed-Corer head later this year, taking its number of tool type attachments to six.

Brought to you via your local Wiedenmann UK dealer, the pedestrian Maredo unit is ideal for turf renovations to bowling greens, on sports pitches, to golf courses and especially on turf surfaces where tractors cannot access.

The STrac 700 features easy controls on its powerful guiding handle and a set of interchangeable heads which all come with a working width of 65cm. A very short turning radius means the rear wheels

can adopt a variety of operating positions, while the tools connect effortlessly, cassette style.

The five cartridges that make up the system are the Flex- Verticutter which scarifies to 25 mm; a VibeSpike aerator which relieves compaction down to 60 mm while following undulations; the FlexFrase Mower which strips the top layer to 20 mm, leaving a perfectly flat and smooth surface to overseed and which also levels off uneven areas; the VibeDiscSeeder, a slit seeder which can dose seed from 0 to -15mm at as low as 2g/m² to 15g/m² and finally, the VibeSpike-Seeder, a dimple seeder which creates a pattern of dimples where the seeds will be placed.

Weidenmann Enquiry 99

Garden Machinery (DGM) and the UK distributor, Price Turfcare, to spring into action.

Better Safe Than Sorry

users of groundcare and other machinery.

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

www.facebook.com/simonrichardltd

Aggregate Industries launches Biogenic Asphalt

As part of its ongoing commitment to decarbonising the construction industry, leading building materials supplier Aggregate Industries has further developed its SuperLow product range with the launch of the UK’s first commercially available biogenic asphalt.

SuperLow-Carbon asphalt has been developed in partnership with Shell Bitumen as a pioneering product for more sustainable pavement projects.

In an industry first, SuperLowCarbon uses Shell’s Low Carbon Bitumen in a unique formula that utilises improved production processes and alternative energy sources to lower its embodied carbon footprint.

It also includes a biogenic material that effectively locks CO 2 within the asphalt rather than releasing it back into the

manufactured at lower

temperatures than standard asphalt, which means it requires lower energy to produce than its hot mix equivalent without compromising on performance.

Aggregate Industries Enquiry 115

Gerflor give budding table tennis players a sporting chance

Malcolm Dawson, Chairman, MESC TTC commented: “The Gerflor Taraflex Table Tennis Floor has completely surpassed our expectations, it not only looks superb but also performs excellently.

“We are extremely delighted with the final result and would definitely choose Gerflor’s Taraflex Table Tennis Floor again.

The former Boothen Neighbourhood Centre in Stoke has been given a new lease of life thanks to the MESC Table Tennis Club (MESC TTC) who have taken the facility on as their new base.

The club, which has been in existence for over 60 years

now boasts 90m2 of world class beating Taraflex Table Tennis Sports floor from international flooring specialist Gerflor in ‘Red’ for their main sports room.

MESC TTC is a Table Tennis England Premier Club and it has members of all ages ranging from 8-80+ years of age.

Lewis Leadeatt, Specification Manager, Gerflor North-East said: “The Taraflex Table Tennis Sports floor is extremely easy to maintain and as there is no need for strong cleaning products or cleaning machines, and because there is never a need re-polish all these elements contribute to its low life cycle costs.

“It provides outstanding levels of shock absorption and impact protection.”

Gerflor Enquiry 116