Landscape & Amenity Product Update August 2017

Coalition of industry experts call for a sustainable park policy

Parks and green spaces in UK towns and cities are in danger of falling further into neglect unless the Government shows leadership to safeguard their future, a coalition of park professionals and researchers has warned.

In a call to action, they highlight the need for Ministers to work with the sector to develop a “sustainable parks policy” at a time when park budgets are under increasing strain.

The call came at a national conference in Westminster organised by the University of Leeds on the future of the UK’s parks. The event was a collaboration with The Parks Alliance, Historic England idverde, Groundwork and the university’s Social Sciences Institute.

At the moment, councils are under no legal obligation to maintain parks and, in times of squeezed spending, park budgets have been targeted for cutbacks.

The coalition says although there is scope for local authorities to run parks in partnership with charities, residents’ groups and private enterprise – the reality

is that many parks have to rely on council funding. Dr Anna Barker, from the University of Leeds’ Future Prospects of Urban Parks project, said: “MPs reported earlier in the year that parks are at a tipping point.

“There needs to be an urgent look at how parks can be put on a sustainable footing.

“This is not something Government can fix on its own – but there needs to be leadership from Whitehall. One way of doing that is to establish

a national agency which would work with park managers and the public to ensure the parks legacy is sustained for future generations.”

There are already signs that the quality of some parks is declining. An audit of the state of the nation’s parks published by the Heritage Lottery Fund found a declining number of park managers who reported that their parks were in a good condition, from just under 60 per cent in 2014 to 53 per cent last year.

Parks are increasingly being seen as important places for health and wellbeing. Dr Barker, said: “Parks and green spaces are much valued community resources but they are under considerable financial pressure. Park managers have being doing more with less – but there is a limit to how far that approach can go.

“Since the Victorian era, parks have provided beneficial spaces set apart from the surrounding, rapidly developing city.

“Interestingly, people still hold quite positive expectations for the future of parks that they are going to be there long term and free to access.”

The coalition argues that while money is an issue for the maintenance of parks, the challenges they face also relate to the pressures of urban development, unequal access to quality green space and competing demands for their use.

Parks Alliance Enquiry 1

Dennis mowers integral for Stoke City LI supports call to help ‘Build on Brexit’

Both the Dennis G860 and the Dennis Premier play an integral role in maintaining Stoke City FC’s bet365 Stadium pitch and training ground, according to grounds manager Andy Jackson.

Andy oversees all of Stoke City FC’s grounds maintenance –which includes the pitch at the bet365 Stadium and the multitude of facilities at the Clayton Wood training ground – and a team of 12 across both sites

He has a fleet of Dennis mowers which sees four Premier’s and three G860’s based at the training ground, while the stadium has two G860’s.

“I feel that the Premier’s do a very good job on the soil based pitches,” he says. “We also use them on the Desso Grassmaster pitches if we need to firm them up

a little bit - especially when we’ve been growing pitches in. We use the Premier in conjunction with the G860 and the two machines give us plenty of options.”

The G860 features an interchangeable cassette system.

“We have the Verti-Cutter cassette and the Brush as well as the cutting cassette,” says Andy.

“We use the Verti-Cutter cassette at the stadium and at the training ground and use it quite intensively

in April, May and then again in September or October.

“It’s a very effective tool and I find that we get really good results from using it after a match.

“The most important thing is that the players have a good surface to play on every week - that the pitch is cut at the right height and that it is nice and flat.”

Dennis Mowers Enquiry 2

The Landscape Institute has welcomed the All Party Parliamentary Group for Excellence in the Built Environment report, Building for BREXIT: inquiry into the impact of Brexit on future skill needs.

Highlighting a skills shortage among the domestic workforce, the report calls for transitional arrangements to allow time to train a greater number of UK practitioners.

Daniel Cook, Chief Executive of the Landscape Institute, commented: “Many EU citizens employed in landscape roles today make a major contribution to the UK economy. There are also many EU and other nations’ students studying on

LI-accredited landscape courses operating in the UK. This is an important supply of new talent, upon which our sector is reliant.”

The LI is already working to meet the future skill needs of the profession by conducting a major cross-sector review into education and practice. But, Daniel added:

“The LI would welcome assistance to create more apprenticeships, work to enhance digital skills across the landscape profession, and improve productivity through greater investment in skills and access to new technology.”

Landscape Institute Enquiry 3

It has been an important month for our parks and green spaces, with the vast majority of the news and updates proving to be extremely positive.

Reporting good news about our industry is always important and the last few weeks have provided plenty of opportunity to do just that. From a successful Love Parks Week, to the record number of Green Flag awards presented, the high quality and popularity of our community assets amongst the general public has never been higher.

The Land Trust also weighed in with a weekend of celebrations and the HLF announced a significant £40m investment to safeguard the future of 13 sites.

Amongst all this, the University of Leeds organised an important national conference on parks that provided an important spotlight on where future Government policy and local government priorities need to focus.

Bringing together a coalition of industry experts, the university presented sobering research on the scale of the challenges facing our parks and green spaces. More importantly, the coalition provided a blueprint for a sustainable, long-term future for these sites that policy-makers cannot afford to ignore.

This month’s magazine includes our quarterly Play & Activity supplement, highlighting the latest news, products and case studies from this vibrant sector.

We also have a special focus on Compact Tractors, Weed and Pest Control, Fencing and Security and Hedge and Verge Machinery that further highlights the diversity and success of the UK’s landscape and amenity industry.

There is also an interesting Q&A with the Clerk of the Course at Uttoxeter Racecourse, the usual mix of product news and industry views, as well as a round-up on page 4 of just what a busy summer our parks and green spaces have enjoyed so far this year.

The sun is out – sometimes – so get out and enjoy our impressive and important community assets.

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Sherriff Amenity and Terra Firma (Scotland) Ltd combine

Sherriff Amenity, the fine turf and landscaping division of Agrovista UK Limited, one of the UK’s leading agronomy firms announces the acquisition of Terra Firma (Scotland) Ltd, one of Scotland’s largest specialist suppliers to the amenity and local authority markets.

The purchase will allow the two businesses to combine existing technical expertise and broad product ranges to provide land managers, local authorities, contractors, groundsmen and greenkeepers in Scotland with a full agronomy service, research driven advice, new product innovation and access to an extensive local distribution network.

Commenting on the announcement Simon Gough,

founder of Terra Firma (Scotland) who will lead the combined team, said: “The combination of both companies’ industry knowledge, experience and customer service ethos will form a strong, sustainable and service focused business model moving forward.”

Chris Clayton, Managing Director of Agrovista commented: “The acquisition will strengthen the business in Scotland and provide synergies across the business which will ultimately benefit our customers. This combined with further product developments will generate exciting opportunities from the combined business.”

Sherriff Amenity Enquiry 7

New online maps to experience local greenspaces

Industry leaders congratulated on launch of apprenticeship standards

With Government approval secured for the new Trailblazer Apprenticeship standards for arboriculture, forestry, horticulture and landscaping, those employers involved in the initiative are being congratulated on their success.

Businesses from across the four sectors have developed a suite of new apprenticeships that meet the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s arboriculture, forestry, horticulture and landscape sectors.

Since the start of the project in 2015 more than 40 employers, 8 industry bodies and 18 training and assessment organisations have successfully worked together under the leadership of Richard Trippett of Bartlett Tree Experts, Geraint Richards of the Duchy of Cornwall and

Neil Huck of Ground Control to develop the standards for the Arborist, Forest Operative, and Horticulture/Landscape Operative apprenticeships.

In addition, a new standard for Horticulture and Landscape Supervisor has been approved and their assessment plans and training specifications are being developed.

Seventy-five delegates from around 50 organisations attended the launch event, which was held at the new offices of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) in Didcot, Oxfordshire. Morning presentations provided an overview of the project and introduced the four occupational apprenticeships.

During the afternoon, breakout sessions for each sector –Arboriculture, Forestry, and

Horticulture & Landscape – gave training providers an opportunity to learn more about individual apprenticeships. A plenary session concluded the event.

The development of the apprenticeships has been a

significant undertaking for those involved in the Trailblazer Project. They now look forward to working with employers and training providers on their successful delivery.

The culmination of a project to comprehensively map greenspaces throughout Great Britain has been published.

The greenspace mapping project funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and delivered by the Ordnance Survey provides the public with a rich source of information on the location and extent of greenspaces up and down the country.

Greenspaces featured on the map include local parks, play areas, sports pitches and allotments.

Universities and Science Minister Jo Johnson said: “Greenspaces are a vital part of our landscape and this new database and online map will make it easier for people across the country to access local parks and lead healthier lives.

“With the completion of this mapping project, we have delivered on an important commitment and shown yet again how innovation can improve everyday lives.”

The free comprehensive maps of greenspace, which includes areas such as National Nature Reserves, will provide a hugely valuable resource to the public and public sector organisations who manage these important spaces.

As well as providing information about access points to these sites, this rich dataset will provide a framework that will support a wide variety of analysis on our greenspaces to ensure they continue to prosper.

BEIS Enquiry 8

Campaign steps up to safeguard future of UK parks

Last month hundreds of communities across the UK came together to celebrate the UK’s parks and green spaces as part of Fields in Trust’s Have a Field Day campaign.

Thousands of people joined a movement of park users championing the spaces that are so special to them.

The events were as varied as the parks that hosted them, from small picnics amongst neighbours to large community festivals with thousands in attendance.

Fields in Trust is championing our green spaces and raising awareness of the positive impact they have on our communities.

Fields in Trust Chief Executive, Helen Griffiths, said: “Our parks

and playing fields are used by whole communities from preschoolers to retired adults.

“Research helps us understand how a local park can contribute to its neighbourhood but the real value of a green space is determined by the local community who use it for play, sport and recreation. Each of the thousands of parks playing fields and playgrounds across the UK is valuable to the neighbourhood that it serves.

“Fields in Trust believe we should re-value our green spaces as resources which contribute to public health, mental wellbeing and community cohesion, not simply view them as a drain on council finances for upkeep.

“It was clear from all the activity during the weekend that communities love their local park and want to protect our precious parks and playing fields.”

Fields in Trust Enquiry 10

Football returns to Bobby and Jack Charlton’s childhood park

Hirst Park in Northumberland is one of 13 UK public parks and cemeteries being revived by £40million National Lottery funding.

The local park where the footballing legends Sir Bobby Charlton and Jack Charlton OBE began their illustrious careers to become 1966 World Cup Champions has received a £2.3m cash boost from the National Lottery.

tip from the colliery and these were our first training grounds –our very own Wembley.

“The park was a precious place where me and Bobby learned our craft, training and playing for fun, before going on to join Leeds and Manchester United and then playing in the world-cup winning England side in 1966. Hirst Park made it all possible for us and we would play all day if we could… and we often did.”

the Parks for People programme. Alongside Hirst Park, a total of 13 parks and cemeteries across the UK are receiving grants totalling £40m to regenerate and revitalise these vital community spaces.

Wirral to host World Urban Parks European Conference

This October, Wirral will be hosting the World Urban Parks European Congress.

This is part of celebrating the 170th anniversary of the opening of Wirral’s Birkenhead Park in 1847 - designed by Sir Joseph Paxton and considered as the World’s first municipally funded public park. The Congress will feature high profile speakers from across

the globe including the CEO and President of Central Park, New York. It will explore key issues around the crucial role of parks for towns and cities; the challenge of sustainability; and a celebration of the rich heritage that parks create within communities.

Day-tickets are available for lecture sessions and site visits on Tuesday 17th, Wednesday 18th

and Thursday 19th October as well as a Delegate Pass for the entire Congress (including the Gala Dinner).

Site tours during these days will include New Brighton Promenade/ Vale Park, Flaybrick Memorial Gardens, Birkenhead Park and Port Sunlight Village.

Wirral Council Enquiry 12

Hirst Park sits at the heart of the Charlton brothers’ hometown, the former coalmining district of Ashington, Northumberland. It is where they first began to play and train as youngsters - as did their cousin and fellow footballer Jackie Milburn - before going on to play for Manchester United, Leeds United and England’s national team.

Sadly, during the decades that followed their success, the park fell into decline. Now, thanks to £2.3m from the National Lottery it will be given a new lease of life. Its currently under-used football pitches are being restored and this grant will help revive its footballing heritage. The funding will also establish an annual Charlton and Milburn Cup tournament for local youth groups to follow in their footsteps.

Sir Bobby Charlton welcomed the news, saying: “Hirst Park is as necessary and valuable to the youth of today as it was for me. Thanks to the generosity of the National Lottery may it continue to fl ourish for the benefit of the community.”

Jack Charlton, OBE, was spotted playing at Hirst Park by scouts from Leeds United. He said: “The football pitches where we played were created on the ash

Hirst Park was built in 1915 to provide much-needed green space for a rapidly expanding mining population. Now the project led by Northumberland County Council will enable it to continue its 100-year role at the heart of the community.

As well as inspiring the next generation of footballers, people will benefit from a new horticultural training centre, water splash zone and facility for charities. A Growing Zone including therapeutic gardening will provide valuable wellbeing activities and contribute to the long-term maintenance of the park.

The National Lottery money has been awarded jointly by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery Fund England, through

The money will help sustain these important spaces for the future by restoring historic features and planting; creating new facilities including play areas, cafes and toilets; and improving habitats for wildlife.

HLF’s Chair Sir Peter Luff, said, on behalf of HLF and Big Lottery Fund: “Our parks are where we play some of our first games, where we make some of our first discoveries and where some of us take our first steps to stardom.

“However we use them, parks are an important part of life, which is why we’re delighted to be investing National Lottery players’ money in parks and cemeteries from Northumberland to Poole to carry out vital regeneration and create some wonderful opportunities for communities and wildlife.”

The 13 parks and cemeteries are:

• Victoria Park and Watercress Fields, Ashford -£3.2million (Initial support*)

• Boston Manor Park, London - £3.9million (Initial support*)

• Poole Park, Poole£2.9million

• West Smethwick Park, Sandwell - £4.8million

• Hirst Park, Ashington, Northumberland - £2.3million

• Victoria Park, Stafford£1.9million

• Staunton Park, Hampshire - £2.9million

• Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted - £981,200

• Springfield Park, London£3.3million

• Marble Hill, London£4.3million

• Canons Park, London£4.7million

• Pearson Park, Hull£3.1million

• Bishop’s Park, Abergwili - £1.4million

HLF Enquiry 11

Refurbished paving still looks good as new eight years on

The traditional granite sett paving of the historic Hitchin Market Square in Hertfordshire, was refurbished and repointed with GftK’s vdw 850 Paving Joint Mortar eight years ago.

Faced with the prospect of having to lift and re-lay the whole square, at huge cost, the Local Authority and their Consultants undertook some tests and decided to have one last roll of the dice with what looked like a very promising

product: GftK’s vdw 850 from NCC Streetscape Ltd.”

Like many old town centres and market squares, this is a very demanding environment for paving, particularly the pointing, due to multiple heavy duty loadings and all sorts of different traffic and exposure, plus the frequent mechanical street cleaning.

However, this time the project was not only successful, but also

completed on time and on budget, because work could continue and be completed using vdw 850, even despite the wet weather and low temperatures throughout (carried out in November), which would have made any cement based or single-pack pointing mortar useless and doomed to failure.

NCC Streetscape Enquiry 15

Record number of Green Flag Awards in the UK

A total of 1,797 parks, gardens, cemeteries, universities, museums, hospitals, shopping centres and canals have met the tough criteria demanded by the Green Flag Award.

Parks matter, this year more than 37 million people in this country will visit a park, five million more than voted in June’s General Election.

The Green Flag Award is a sign of a well-managed, clean and safe park and with many people increasingly relying on their local park as a place to exercise, relax and have fun, quality green space

has never been more important. Research shows that people will only visit a park if they perceive it to be clean and safe and the Green Flag Award is an easy way for the public to see at a glance that their park meets the highest standards.

Among this year’s new entries are the community garden at London’s Tate Modern and the grounds of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.

Also raising the Green Flag for the first time this year is Milton Keynes which is celebrates its 50th anniversary. Keep Britain

Tidy Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton said: “Research shows that parks are a vital and valued resource in communities across the UK and we are delighted that so many of them are meeting the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.

“But we cannot be complacent. We know that budgets are being squeezed in local authorities across the country and we must be vigilant to ensure that everyone, where ever they live, has access to the very best parks and green spaces.”

Flag Enquiry 16

Trade body warning on dangers of Giant Hogweed

National trade body The Property Care Association is urging caution as the invasive weed Giant Hogweed takes hold this summer.

The plant’s sap is extremely toxic to the skin in sunlight, making it a danger to public health.

And experts from the PCA say if anyone comes into contact with any part of the plant, followed by exposure to sunlight, they can sustain severe blistering to the skin and discomfort, which can become a long-term condition, recurring in subsequent summers.

Professor Max Wade, Chairman of the PCA’s Invasive Weed Control Group, said: “Giant Hogweed is turning out to be a problem again this summer. It is continuing to spread and, in one area alone, I’ve seen it appear in five new locations.

“It is really important that the plant is spotted and that its toxic sap does not come into contact with skin in the sunlight.

“If this occurs, it can lead to a nasty rash, itching and blisters when skin first makes contact with it.

“The rash and the itching can reoccur and flare up for years afterwards when skin is exposed to sunlight.

“An added concern is the fact that Giant Hogweed sap which comes into contact with items such as clothing and equipment can also be transferred via touch, so it can possibly affect somebody else.”

In previous years, there have been a number of reports of people sustaining injuries after coming into contact with the invasive weed in the UK.

Professor Wade advises that if contact is made with plant, the affected area should be covered from sunlight and the skin washed with water as quickly as possible. Professor Wade added: “The chemical in the plant, a furanocoumarin, needs bright

light to react with the skin and causes blistering and other health problems, so this is the time of year when problems can ensue.

“The general public, as well as local authorities, statutory agencies and landowners on whose property people can come into contact with the plant should be aware of the risks and Giant Hogweed needs to be controlled and managed professionally.”

The plant can grow up to three metres high with a two centimetre diameter stem and a large, white, umbrella shaped flowering head. It has sharply serrated or divided leaves which can grow up to 2 metres with bristles on the underside. The stem is usually covered in bristles and has blotchy purple markings. It can be confused with the native hogweed but this is much smaller in size in all aspects.

The PCA also provides a means of identifying specialist contractors and consultants with the expertise to control and manage invasive species such as Giant Hogweed, as well as other plants such as Japanese knotweed.

PCA Enquiry 17

Products whilst ensuring our customers’ vision becomes a reality.”

PAUL HERMON, GREEN AND GORGEOUS

Green

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What’s new on Makita’s outdoor maintenance equipment agenda

Four new machines have been introduced to Makita’s outstanding range of outdoor maintenance and grounds care equipment with the latest 4-stroke MM4 engine technology at the heart of two of them.

The new Makita EB5300TH Back-Pack Blower is a refined version of the 75cc machine designed for maintenance contractors, major property owners and tool hire operations.

Powered by a 52.5 cc version of the advanced MM4 engine this blower is lighter at 8.9 kg when dry, and delivers 15m³/minute maximum air flow volume with a maximum velocity of 82metres/ second. This performance is ample for all leaf management operations but reduces the “arm strength” required to control the direction of the nozzle during a full days work. Lighter weight,

better air control, longer run time - all positive attributes.

The new 25.4cc EM2654LH 4-stroke (MM4) 1.1hp Linetrimmer effectively replaces its predecessor, the popular EM2651LH model.

The new Makita 163cc Mulching Lawn Mower, the PLM5121N2, is a walk-behind model that has a 51cm cutting width and a singlelever cutting height adjustment with up to five positions, between 25–70mm, to achieve a spectacular, manicured lawn.

The new 18v UM603D Grass Shear G-Series will be everyone’s favourite - fast, powerful and handy - and is now available with a hedge trimmer attachment that has a tool-less blade change.

New lower emission rates for dripline sub-surface irrigation

Sub-surface dripline irrigation eliminates the risk of water evaporation by sun and wind. It irrigates plants at the roots throughout the day.

Rain Bird’s 1.6 litre per hour flow rate XFS Dripline system features Copper Shield Technology, releasing copper ions which bind to a root tip and stop it from infiltrating the emitter.

With the lower 1.6 litre per hour flow rate, the installation of dripline is more flexible and less work for the installer. Longer runs of XFS dripline can be used for more efficient irrigation systems and less work on-site. Smaller valves and pumps reduce costs too.

Rainbird Enquiry 21

Complaint washpads at affordable prices

Over 65% of customers now do. This way you are sure to save between £2,000 and £3,000.

Snickers ‘FLEXIWork’ clothing really make a difference

While fabric, functionality and fit have always been hallmarks of Snickers’ working clothes, it’s the innovation and technology in the design of FLEXIWork garments that really sets them apart from other brands.

They’re designed for fastpaced working environments with body-mapping designs that ensure superior freedom of movement on site. There’s Waterproof Jackets, Fleeces, T-shirts and Hoodies plus market-leading WorkTrousers made from a durable, stretch and rip-stop fabric and polyamide reinforcements.

As well as fashionable looks, all these clothes are packed with comfort and functionality, specially designed for

professional craftsmen who are always on the go, always delivering top class work and always a step ahead on site.

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will be a welcome addition to your weed control armoury. Highly effective against a wide range of weeds – especially Japanese Knotweed, packs a powerful punch from very low levels of active and a small 1 litre pack. Equally reassuring, has virtually no odour and is safe to grass.

There

Also, as ClearWater is a WTL approved system, businesses can write off 100% of their total investment against taxable profits in the year of purchase under the ECA (Enhanced Capital Allowance) scheme; even further savings.

Clearwater Enquiry 20

Everyone washing turf machinery and the like knows that legal compliance is necessary.

Why then are there still many golf courses, public schools and other educational establishments, sports facilities, stately homes and other heritage properties that continue to flout these regulations?

is an answer: buy a ClearWater system and selfinstall with ClearWater carrying out commissioning.

Makita Enquiry 22

Snickers Enquiry

Nothing gets to grips with invasive and tough, woody weeds like

Round Wood introduce thermo treated decking

Round Wood of Mayfield offer a range of eco-friendly, thermo treated timber products, including decking boards that are particularly suited to high end, contemporary projects.

As part of the Thermory collection, which also features cladding and flooring, these decking boards have been cut from ash and spruce sourced from responsibly managed

forests in both North America and Europe.

The thermo treatment process they have undergone is chemical free and transforms the timber, giving it a durability that rivals that of tropical hardwoods. Decking boards are currently available in both ash and pine, with a smooth face both sides.

Roundwood Enquiry 25

Consider colour outdoors with Sandtex Trade

With thousands of shades available across the paint range, all backed by time-proven and trusted formulas, Sandtex Trade brings colour and protection outdoors for trim and masonry paint projects.

The Sandtex Trade shades available are featured in the Crown Trade colour fan deck, which places them in colour families for easy reference, enabling specifiers to see the options at a glance.

Further advice can also be gained by using the Crown MyRoomPainter app which is designed to enable property professionals to offer instant schemes using a smartphone or tablet to show how any palette will look in situ.

Available for free download, the Crown MyRoomPainter app illustrates how an area decorated with Crown Paints’ products will look in any spectrum of shades, including exterior walls, wood and metal protected by Sandtex Trade.

The app also contains a colour-matching function, a handy paint calculator and an inspirational library.

Projects can be saved and shared online too, giving users the chance to consider their options before selecting a scheme.

Sharon Smith, Crown Paints Trade Brand Manager, said: “We usually think of colour for indoor projects, but the introduction of

shades outdoors is becoming an increasing trend.

“We’ve thousands of colours across the product range,

with ready mixed and tintable shades available.”

Sandtex Enquiry 26

Leeds lines up with Pitchmark

Leeds United Football Club’s groundscare team have been using Pitchmark Ecoline+ line marking paint since 2015 and are currently adding a fourth Eco Club spray line marking machine to their kit.

Ecoline+ is one of the most advanced low volume ready-touse marking paints available. When used in combination with Pitchmark’s Eco markers and special nozzles, the atomising technology allows you to mark a football pitch with as little as 1.5 litres.

Kiel Barrett, Leeds United’s Head Groundsman, and his team use Ecoline+ in the Elland Road stadium and across all eight First Team training grounds and Academy pitches.

“What we were looking for was supreme quality in our marking paint,” says Kiel, “we want the brightest and it has to be quick drying but also very costeffective.”

With these criteria laid down Kiel had a demonstration by Pitchmark in 2015 and was immediately impressed with the results, putting his order in to one of their dealers, Countrywide Turf and Amenity. He says he is also very pleased with the high level of service

Ransomes Jacobsen wins RoSPA Gold Medal

Ransomes Jacobsen Limited is a winner at the RoSPA Health and Safety Awards 2017.

The company achieved the Gold Medal award (five consecutive Golds) in the prestigious annual scheme run by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). The award was presented during a ceremony at the ExCeL, London in June 2017. The award was achieved during a special year

for family-safety charity RoSPA, as it celebrates its centenary.

Through the RoSPA Awards scheme, judges consider entrants’ overarching occupational health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement. The awards are now in its 61st year.

Ransomes Jacobsen Enquiry 28

and support he gets from Pitchmark and equally praises the consistency of the product.

Ecoline+ is manufactured using the best pigments on the market combined with advanced binders to make the paint extremely bright and durable. At the same time it is a water-based, biodegradable and environmentally-friendly product.

In the busy Leeds United groundscare schedule Kiel wanted the paint to be quick drying so they can be watering as soon as possible after application. They use Eco Club batterypowered spray line markers to achieve the most accurate lines without ghosting and find the machines straightforward to use and easy to maintain.

Irrigation system completes Foundation investment at golf club

Leeds Castle in Kent is at the conclusion of a two-year project to revitalise the golf course and clubhouse.

The extensive project ends with the installation of a Toro Lynx control system, Toro T7 sprinklers on the tees, Toro Flex 35 and 55 sprinklers on all the greens, approaches and fairways of the nine-hole golf course, and Toro 570Z series sprinklers installed around the lawns of the Castle island.

The historic golf course has invested £500,000 from the Golf Today Foundation by revising the layout of the course, adding new vistas, installing new holes and updating the clubhouse.

Recommended by PGA master professional and golf course architect Alan Walker and installed by specialist contractor MJ Abbott, the irrigation has been such a success a further system has subsequently been brought across the moat on to the castle island too, with a further 130 sprinklers providing water to the croquet lawn, Maiden’s

Tower garden and upper and lower level gardens.

Jim Price of MJ Abbott comments that installation of this project came with its challenges: “With a moat and lake to negotiate access wasn’t easy, but with a temporary floating bridge constructed to allow machinery to travel from the golf course to the lower island lawns we managed it. The effort was worth it to enable the irrigation to be installed on the castle lawns for the first time.”

If any more confirmation was needed it’s this: Leeds Castle lines up alongside the Golf in Kent Partners that comprise the county’s Open Championship venues of Royal St George’s – home of 14 Open Championships, Royal Cinque Ports and Prince’s Golf Club, as well as the London Golf Club and the Final Open Qualifying venues of North Foreland and Littletone meaning they’re in good company to say the least.

Reesink Turfcare Enquiry 29

Pitchmark Enquiry 27

WHAT A FINISH!

With its 34HP 3-cylinder diesel engine, HST transmission, bi-speed turn and twin wet-type disc brakes, the Kubota STW34 is in a league of its own. Especially when it comes to servicing the needs of amateur and professional football clubs. The STW34 can be teamed up with all implements recommended by the FA pitch improvement programme, including a mid mounted side eject cutting deck and rear mounted hopper to collect grass cuttings. A spacious panoramic air conditioned cab is also available for the STW34, offering class leading visibility and unbeatable operator comfort whatever the weather. Powerful, versatile and efficient, the STW34 is the best signing a football club can make. For more information about Kubota’s diverse range of world-class groundcare machines and aftersales support service, visit www.kubota.co.uk or call 01844 873190.

Tetraploid Technology from Rigby Taylor

Having double the number of chromosomes compared to diploid perennial ryegrass, is what makes Tetraploid perennial ryegrasses high vigour, extremely stress tolerant plants. Fastest establishment particularly when renovation windows are short and repairs are urgent is a distinct benefit at any time of year.

Cool Achiever

Tetraploids germinate and establish faster than diploid ryes especially in cooler conditions from just 40C. This is particular beneficial during the main renovation and transitional sowing period to provide faster germination at lower temperatures Superior winter wear and robust re-growth helps keep surfaces in play though this intense pressure period. Also ideal selections for cold temperature divotting.

Hot Performer

Tetraploids plants have higher root mass and together with

deeper rooting delivers greater drought tolerance and stability; vital for survival under hot conditions and for surfaces that do not have irrigation.

Tough Protector

Selecting cultivars with high disease tolerance is essential and part of an integrated management approach. The official resting programme for GEVES Turfgrass List highlights great tolerance in Tetraploid cultivars to Leaf Spot, Microdochium, and Red Thread turf diseases.

Energiser

Double chlorophyll gives the capability to harness more available light for energy. Proven response in the shade and wear stadium light trial at Les Alleuds Research Station, the latest cultivar Tetrastar is the highest performing, with 7% greater wear tolerance than its nearest rival in these conditions. The Rigby Taylor Sports Wear Trial at STRI concluded R140 Tetraploid

blend delivered superior winter wear performance compared to diploid blends.

All of the individual grass seeds in the eight Rigby Taylor Tetraploid mixtures are pre-applied with Germin-8 liquid seed treatment, a potent cocktail of speciality penetrating surfactants, targeted nutrients, stimulants and micronised mycorrhizae. The benefi ts of Germin-8 are activated when the seed comes in contact with moisture in the rootzone, stimulating rapid cell division for faster germination and emergence and earlier root mass development. Independent trials have shown up to 100%

increase in germination achieved after just 10 days.

“G0-T0” Choice

Delivering the fastest germination, establishment and survival in wide range of conditions, Tetraploids blended with diploid ryes or fescues have fast become reliable performers that always deliver. Eight distinctly different mixtures for stadiums, training grounds, sports fields, racecourses, cricket outfields, golf courses and landscaping make them the “goto” choice.

The Tetraploid Technology mixtures R140 and R14 CR were specially selected to be

used on England’s Euro 2016 training pitches to replicate the surfaces that the players are used to when training at St George’s Park or playing at Wembley.

Both seed mixtures rapidly outcompeted existing grasses to bring the surfaces up to the

standard required. Both mixtures were treated with Germin-8.” There is a recommended mixture for every grass surface for construction, renovation, transitional seeding and repairs.

Rigby Taylor Enquiry

32

It’s a one-pot-stop at festival

For the second year running, Stewart Garden is playing a major supportive role in this year’s Settle Flowerpot Festival taking place in the Yorkshire town throughout the summer.

Last year saw the company install a giant flowerpot man called Stewart on Castleberg Crag, a limestone cliff that overlooks Settle. Stewart

was highly visible from the town as he ‘climbed’ the crag. This year, Stewart Garden is, once again, donating hundreds of planters, including selected products from its Palladian and Cilindro ranges. They’ll feature prominently in flowerpot displays adorning the town during the event.

Stewart Garden Enquiry 34

NatraTex used for wheelchair-friendly path

NatraTex, one of the leading brands of hard landscaping products, has recently been used to create a disabled access footpath and viewing area at Cheltenham racecourse.

NatraTex Cotswold is the flagship product of the NatraTex range. It combines the key ingredients from their other hard landscaping products to form a durable, fully bonded, buff coloured natural aggregate surface course.

Laying the wheelchair-friendly path and viewing platform at the racecourse was a first for NatraTex, which specialises in residential, retail, regeneration and recreation projects. These include roads, paths, car parks, housing estates and playgrounds.

The hard-wearing finish of NatraTex has made it a popular

choice for businesses all over the country. The asphalt surface course used to create the smooth surfaces reduces the risk of deterioration, leading to potholes and breakages. On this occasion, it was used because it provides significant programme savings compared to other aesthetic surfaces. It was important to have the area ready

for the annual Gold Cup festival. NatraTex asphalt has been designed and developed to be as straightforward to apply as possible. This great quality has made it popular as it helps to keep projects within the required timescales and budgets.

NatraTex Enquiry 37

Terrabound on track at Buckingham Palace

Addagrip’s BBA approved Terrabound Resin Bound porous surfacing installed at Constitution Hill to form part of the new EastWest Cycle Superhighway which will run through central London from Tower Hill to Lancaster Gate.

Working for Transport for London, F M Conway Ltd were responsible for the installation of a new stretch of the cycle path that runs alongside Green Park to provide a safe route for cyclists from Buckingham Palace to Wellington Arch.

BBA approved Terrabound Resin Bound surfacing was selected to provide over 2,200m2 of smooth, seamless, porous paving that would be hard wearing and provide good slip resistance for the cyclists.

The natural aggregate finish in a 6mm Rhine Gold complements the location alongside Green

Traffic resistant pointing for stone sett driveways

Another prestige stone driveway securely jointed by pointing the 100mm rumbled magma granite setts, has been completed with GftK’s ‘stateof-the-art’ wet-slurry applied, self-compacting and nonstaining, vdw 850 jointing mortar from NCC Streetscape.

This unique material is rapidly becoming the UK’s market leader in natural stone sett paving jointing, as it is in Germany today.

On this project it was selected by the natural stone specialists, PDG Groundworks, because it provides extremely strong and durable joint installations subject to frequent vehicular traffic, making it especially suitable for driveways and highways applications.

The vdw 850 jointing mortar is capable of accommodating frequent and heavy vehicle traffic loads and in service also prevents weed growth or boring insect infestations, plus it is resistant to de-icing salts, freeze thaw action, pressure jet-cleaning, and even to mechanical street sweepers.

GftK’s vdw 850 jointing mortar also has additional advantages for both contractors and owners in its

Streetscape Enquiry 39

Introducing FlexiSet by SureSet Permeable Paving

SureSet are excited to boost their ever-expanding commercial paving product range with new FlexiSet.

Made from 50% recycled rubber and 50% 6mm natural aggregate and resin, lightweight and flexible, FlexiSet is ideal for woodland trails, jogging paths, pedestrian areas, cycle tracks, equestrian centres, drainage channels, golf course pathways, pool surrounds, roof gardens, tree pits and boat decks. FlexiSet is made from shredded bus and truck tyres so the recycled

rubber itself is black, but by adding natural aggregate to the mix SureSet are able to bring a subtle colour to the surface.

A combination of the absorption and flexible properties of recycled rubber and the strength and durability of natural aggregate, bound together with quality resin, creates an external surface suitable for pedestrian use.

SureSet permeable paving have been manufacturing and installing high quality resin bound paving since 1997. Offering an 18-year guarantee, SureSet work with both residential and commercial customers across the UK and overseas. SureSet

Park and will provide a low maintenance surface in this busy area of Central London.

F M Conway Ltd carried out the installation over a nineday period working in one of the busiest tourist locations in central London and during a period of very hot weather. They started at the Wellington Arch/ Commonwealth Memorial end of Constitution Hill and finished the last 185m stretch outside Buckingham palace on July 8.

Whilst the crowds gathered to watch the Household Cavalry ride up Constitution Hill from Wellington Arch, St James’s, London to Buckingham Palace, there was also much public interest in seeing the team’s coordinated system of installing the resin bound surface and watching the transformation as it happened.

The work was completed alongside the existing path being

used by cyclists that runs along Green Park. A metal edging detail was used, separating the Resin Bound surface from the hoggin surface around the existing mature trees that line the roadside.

Oliver Stutts of F M Conway Ltd was pleased with the result: “Constitution Hill was the first scheme I have personally undertaken using this product. I was very much impressed with the delivery from Addagrip.

“I found it to be a high-end and quality product and I would most certainly use this material in the future on projects of this calibre.

“Due to the high profile nature of the works, the finished article needed to be of a high standard and the Addagrip Terrabound material certainly provided.”

Addagrip Enquiry 38

Marshalls is the UK’s leading supplier of hard landscaping products and has been supplying superior British natural stone and innovative concrete products since the 1890s.

www.marshalls.co.uk

NCC

Keeping outdoor play covered

Able Canopies design, manufacture and install quality canopy, shelter and shade systems to schools and commercial organisations throughout the UK.

The main selling point of the company’s canopies are that they provide cover from the weather to schools for outdoor play, outdoor learning and alfresco dining.

Many canopies offer protection from the sun, blocking harmful

UV rays that when exposed to excessive amounts can cause sunburn, aging of the skin and skin cancer.

The Hamilton Big Span Canopy has a maximum width of 11 metres and can be manufactured to any length. The Hamilton is a stylish canopy that creates cover from all elements and protects those underneath from over 98 per cent of the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Able Canopies Enquiry 42

Perimeter security system launches for event and festival organisers

Townscape Products has launched a brand new range of temporary, deployable security barriers to help UK event and festival organisers protect crowds of people from the threat of vehicle terrorism.

The new VAW range from Townscape is the first purpose built perimeter security system on the market. It is designed for temporary use and engineered specifically for the event management sector.

Townscape offers this new VAW range with an advisory service to assess the specific needs of events in terms of location, access points, the perimeter and expected attendance numbers.

Jonathan Goss, managing director at Townscape Products, said: “Following a spate of horrific UK terror attacks targeting major events as well as public crowds using speeding vehicles – there is a concern that the general public may be more hesitant about going along to popular events they would ordinarily attend without a second thought.

“Our new VAW range has been created to act as a visible deterrent that stops would-be terror attacks from happening. Temporary concrete blocks and barriers that fortify the perimeter of event spaces deter terrorists and make the public feel safe and confident in their attendance.”

The 2.2 tonne CT Sentry Block from Townscape Products is a temporary, rapidly deployable version of the highly successful PAS 68 rated Townscape counter terror block.

The counter terror blocks are daisy chained together with 1200mm pedestrian crossing points between blocks. The system can also incorporate secure vehicle access points as required.

Jonathan concludes: “Nothing is of more paramount importance than public safety and in the current climate perimeter security can provide the public with the peace of mind required to attend an event with confidence.

“Our VAW offering enables organisers to boost security

Kalwall creates healthy shelter for commuters

Around eight million people a year are expected to be sheltering under Kalwall at the beautifully-designed new bus station at West Croydon.

Designed by Transport for London Architects, this is an unusual example of how translucent Kalwall can offer many different advantages above its normal use for translucent traditional building cladding and rooflighting.

Kalwall is much lighter than glass, meaning that the supporting structure needed to be less strong and far less chunky. Unlike conventional glazing, highly insulating Kalwall is

at short-term pop-up events such as festivals, fairs, fetes, concerts and carnivals with temporary perimeter security. The service is also ideal for protecting music festivals, food festivals and indeed craft ale festivals against the treat of vehicle borne terrorism.

“The system can be delivered at late notice and one of our representatives will oversee the whole process until the product is removed – leaving organisers free to focus on putting on a good show.”

Townscape Enquiry 43

far more attractive than glass while eliminating shadows and glare and the stark contrasts of light and shade; improving the experience for passengers below.

Also, due to the way it diffuses natural daylight downwards and at night reduces vertical illumination and reflection upwards, it controls light pollution on the surrounding high rise buildings. Soil and detritus are less obvious on Kalwall than on glass and maintenance and cleaning is much simpler because access scaffolding is not required and maintenance staff can safely walk across its surface.

One of the main attractions of specifying high performance Kalwall for conventional buildings is its unique effect on both the interior and exterior. Internally, rooms are flooded with diffused natural daylight which creates a stimulating and very attractive environment.

Although translucent, it also offers the big advantage of privacy while the elevations appear crisp, simple and inviting. When illuminated at night they emit a very attractive ethereal glow.

Structura Kalwall Enquiry 44

An integrated approach to motorway design from Brett

A combination of specialist kerbs and a roadbase of cement-bound granular material (CBGM) has provided the Channel Tunnel approach from Junction 11a of the M20 with an effective pavement construction and a safe carriageway thanks to the integration of engineering and products from the Brett Group.

Brett Aggregates was initially approached by contractor BAM Nuttall to provide a CBGM roadbase for the carriageway and a foundation for Brett Landscaping’s Trief containment kerbs, running adjacent to the roadbase.

This was a high-specification application as the carriageway has to be able to cope with the movement of over a million articulated lorries a year on the approach to the very busy channel tunnel entrance.

Trief kerbs were an obvious choice as the go-to solution for this situation as they provided a safe boundary to the carriageway but with the

additional ability to contain and redirect any stray vehicles.

Brett provided a solution with a refined roadbase design, allowing the roadbase’s width to be extended beneath the Trief.

Through a clever approach, this allowed a safer, faster, simpler construction method to be employed, saving cost throughout, whilst achieving the performance demands of the carriageway and the Tried kerb foundation. The integration with the Brett Aggregates team made co-ordination of the engineering and the installation very straightforward.

In all, Brett supplied some 7,000 tonnes of CBGM material to the project which involved the construction of 1.5km of carriageway.

BAM Nuttall was the main contractor involved in the project, with consultancy provided by Campbell Mains.

Brett Landscaping

Enquiry 48

Development’s contemporary yet timeless theme achieved by Tobermore

As one of the UK’s largest residential developers, Taylor Wimpey projects are designed and constructed to the highest standards and this wasn’t any different with The Ladbroke Grove in Chelsea, London.

The developer worked with UK and US architect, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, in designing the lavish apartments at The Ladbroke Grove which required stylish hard landscaping materials that would complement the brick buildings on site. Tobermore held the ideal solution with the provision of Pembury block paving, Textured Flags and Mayfair Step Flags.

Having worked with Tobermore

Tobermore’s Pembury, a versatile block paving product with a textured surface finish, and Textured Flags, a unique paving slab with a granular surface, was specified for the project. The blended colour of Bracken from the Pembury range and the soft colour of Buff from the Textured Flags range were chosen as a complementary colour combination to go

alongside the dark brick facade of the apartment buildings.

Providing continuity between the flat and raised areas, Tobermore’s Mayfair Step Flags with delineation markings was chosen as a step solution. The product was specified in the colour of Sandstone which worked perfectly with the Textured Flags colour used. Mayfair Step Flags

are manufactured with a granite aggregate surface layer that produces a modern look similar to natural granite.

The combination of products chosen reflected the contemporary yet timeless vision for the project wonderfully.

Tobermore

Enquiry 47

NHS installs trio of secure cycle parking facilities

Falco recently provided NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde with a trio of secure cycle parking facilities to three separate hospitals within the City of Glasgow.

The installations took place at Glasgow Royal Infirmary on both Castle Street and Wishart street, Cowlairs Central Decontamination Unit on Finlas Street and the Royal Alexandra Hospital on Corsebar Road, providing visitors and patients with a number of secure cycle parking spaces.

The cycle parking package consisted of the best-selling FalcoQuarter cycle shelter, the stylish FalcoSail cycle shelter,

the space saving FalcoVert-Pro cycle rack and the traditional Toaster cycle rack.

Moving forwards, the shelters are designed to be maintenance free providing minimal cost of ownership to the client (only occasional cleaning required) and additionally should there be any unforeseen damage, the modular nature of the structure means that replacing any damaged items is simple to undertake.

Falco manufactures and installs a comprehensive range of cycle parking systems, cycle shelters and cycle hubs.

Falco

Tenby English-medium school fitted for 21st century

A brand new English-medium primary school in Tenby is approaching the end of its first year after being officially opened by the Cabinet Secretary for Education in the Welsh Assembly.

The council’s own in-house architect team designed the new state-of-the-art school, which was built by West Wales contractor Andrew Scott Ltd with fencing from Wolverhampton manufacturer Zaun Ltd, installed by Binns Fencing.

The school contains a Learning Resource Centre for specialist provision in the Tenby area

Alpha Rail appointed on £8m campus project

An £8m joint partnership project between the University of Sheffield and Sheffield City Council is taking place around the University’s City Centre Campus to enhance its appearance and improve safety for students, staff and the general public.

The installation of pedestrian guardrail supplied by Alpha Rail has formed part of the

transformation process. The project is intended to encourage the people of Sheffield to enjoy and use the University campus to have lunch in one of its cafes, cycle through the campus area up to Weston Park, or just enjoy sitting and relaxing in one of the new greener, safer places that will be created through the development.

Alpha Rail Enquiry 53

and a spacious playground and school field to develop the strong traditions of sporting provision and achievement at Tenby.

Zaun supplied its Duo8 fencing to make a secure perimeter, sports fencing and decorative Bowtop Play railings around the playground, which adhere to RoSPA standards.

Kirsty Williams AM officially opened the new Tenby Church in Wales VC Primary School, which, with the new Welshmedium Ysgol Hafan y Mor nearby, represent an £8.4 million investment in education in the town.

Both were built under the 21st Century Schools Programme – a collaboration between Pembrokeshire County Council and the Welsh Government, who are splitting the funding.

They replace the Tenby VC and Tenby Junior schools and cater for children aged between three and 11.

The Tenby Church in Wales school has 54 nursery and 252 reception to Year 6 pupils on roll, but can accommodate up to 380 under head teacher John Palmer.

Zaun Enquiry 51

BSW unveils garden fence panel range

BSW Timber has just unveiled a brand new range of garden fence panels that has been introduced to complement its existing fencing components.

The sawmill group now manufactures four types of panels for domestic applications, in addition to acoustic solutions and traditional components such as posts, rails and boards.

BSW’s lap, closeboard and feather edge fence panels are high pressure treated to use class 3 – and its innovative ‘seawave’ design uses imported timber and is exclusive to the company.

This follows BSW’s recent announcement that they are tapping into the acoustic fencing market with Soundshield™ – a system designed to reduce noise pollution in residential areas.

David Chapman, Sales and Marketing Director for BSW, said: “We developed the garden fence panels to expand on our current fencing offer and we believe that with this range there’s something for everyone.

“All

Plastic flood barriers provide ring of steel

An innovative flood barrier fabricated from recycled plastic is securing a ring of steel around properties in the flood-prone Stamp End area of Lincoln, as part of a £800,000 multi-agency surface water management project.

Lincolnshire County Council’s drainage team devised the novel use of Duraplas recycled plastic profiles and posts from Centriforce Products to build a 335-metre-long low-level flood baffle.

The barrier provides an important last line of defence alongside other surface water measures to deliver 1 in 100 year + climate change flood protection around a residential Tower Block and surrounding social housing close to the River Witham.

Nathan Whitfield, Lincolnshire County Council’s Principal Drainage Engineer: “Conventional flood barriers like a bund or a brick wall were ruled out because of the large number of underground utilities crisscrossing the site, some of them quite close to the surface. This solution gave us the versatility to adapt the spacing of the posts, or even the route, to fit around the utilities while still getting a good 300mm depth of protective barrier underground.

“Because we needed to build a barrier to fit the site, rather than specifying a pre-manufactured product, my team opted to build the baffle out of raw materials. After digging a shallow trench, they used the recycled plastic profiles to build a parallel ‘rail and post’ construction, then filled the core and base with concrete.

“Our contractor found the posts and profiles very easy to handle and install. So they could be easily, cut, routed and shaped to deliver the design we needed.”

The flood baffle will hold back any low level surface water flooding in the case of a peak flood to ensure the properties it surrounds are fully protected. Any attenuated water contained by the baffle will eventually recede into the existing local drainage systems when flows subside or in the worst case scenario could be pumped away.

The choice of recycled plastic profiles as a low-maintenance material was critical to ensuring automatic flood protection that did not need manpower or mechanical equipment to be deployed.

Centriforce Enquiry 52

He added: “We’ve also made sure that panels can form part of mixed loads which will be particularly beneficial during quieter times when cash flow is tighter. ”

The panels all include a capping rail for a neater finish and the lap, feather edge and seawave designs are also framed.

BSW Enquiry 54

panels use high-quality, treated timber which ensures that the final product is not only aesthetically attractive but robust and reliable as well.”

Government strategy for sport reports successful first year

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Sport has met for the first time since the General Election.

Tracey Crouch MP, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sport and Civil Society, outlined the progress made since the Sporting Future strategy was launched one year ago.

Mary Lubrano, FSPA Communications Manager, said: “Sporting Future is focussed on protecting and growing the sector so that everyone can benefit from the power of sport.

“Of course, there are economic benefits but the strategy is also firmly committed to the physical and mental impact that sport can have, as well as its effect on social and community development.”

Sporting Future has joined-up the sector so that it can work effectively to drive

up participation in sport for everyone.

“Crouch explained that while elite sport certainly inspires participation we need also to future-proof the sector by making sport relevant to people as their habits evolve over coming years,” she added. “This means continually identifying groups who are disengaged and finding new and relevant ways of connecting with them.”

The document has also changed the way participation is measured. “Crouch found that, by and large, young children’s participation in sport across the country was not being accurately reflected, and, with the amount of great work being done at grassroots level in children’s sport, this was hugely unfair.

“So, Sporting Future sets out to assess precisely who is doing what to enable funding to be directed where it’s needed most. The work on getting

School’s out for shake ups

Sport England is working with Disney and Public Health England (PHE) to get children between the ages of five and 12 active over the summer holidays.

The number of children meeting the recommended amount of physical activity – that’s 60 minutes a day as recommended by PHE – drops by 40% between the ages of five to 12. And a new study by PHE and Disney reveals that the majority of 5-11 year-olds feel happier, more confident and more sociable when they’re active.

“Tackling inactivity is a key part our Towards an Active Nation strategy, and we’re using National Lottery funding to support families and children to get active together,” said Mike Diaper, director of children and young people.

The programme offers fun, 10-minute activities featuring their favourite Disney characters

as inspiration. Each activity can be done anywhere with small or large groups of friends. Just 23% of boys and 20% of girls meet the recommended level of activity. And one in five children starting primary school or overweight or obese. That rises to more than a third by the time they leave.

The study, which looked into children’s wellbeing, also found:

• Nearly all children said they liked being active (93%)

• The main motivations for kids to be more active was having friends to join in (53%) and having more activities they liked to choose from (48%)

• Children’s overall happiness declines with age - 64% of 5 and 6-year-olds said they always feel happy, compared to just 48% of 11-year-olds

• 19% of children said they were less active due to a

more women into sport is a great example of how accurate assessment has driven the activities of the strategy.

“But it was the government’s work on developing a governance code for NGBs which was, perhaps, the stand-out news story of the day. Crouch was able to

report excellent progress on this, saying that the UK will set the gold standard for governance across the world. A press release will be issued next week by the department with further details.

“The strategy has been wellreceived since its launch and the MP thanked everyone in the

room for helping to implement it. Crouch added that it was her intention to grow the grassroots and encourage the elite because they are one and the same thing – both encouraging more participation and a more active nation.”

FSPA Enquiry 57

API membership appoint new executive committee

lack of sports or activities they enjoyed.

A number of Team GB athletes are supporting the campaign –including Olympic swimmer Keri-anne Payne. She says:

“Physical activity has always been an important part of my life, as I started swimming from a very young age. But being active is not just for Olympians, it’s for everyone.

“The 10 Minute Shake Ups provide a load of fun activities to get kids moving more. Anyone can try them and they are a great way for kids, their friends and the whole family to get moving throughout the summer.”

Sport England Enquiry 58

The Association of Play Industries (API) held its Annual General Meeting and appointed seven Executive Officers. Three new candidates were appointed for a two-year period - Steve Sylvester, MD Kompan UK, Mark Wood, MD of Playforce Ltd and Bill Worthington, General Manager Abacus Playgrounds.

Rob Baker, MD of Proludic, Mark Grace, MD HAGS SMP; Helen Jones, MD of RTC Safety Surfaces; Andrew Sparrow, MD of Fenland Leisure and Charlie Howard, MD Wicksteed Playgrounds have also been elected for a further two-year tenure.

API Chair Mark Hardy says: “Our Executive Committee is a team of passionately committed play

industry experts who dedicate their time and efforts for free to improve quality and standards, and to lead the industry’s campaigning to raise the profile of play amongst policy makers.

“We’re delighted to appoint all seven of the nominees proposed by our membership. The new officers have over 25 years’ experience within the play industry and are subsequently well placed to promote the benefits of play and the API membership.”

Members of the Executive Committee remaining in position for a further twelve months are Michael Hoenigmann, Vice Chair, Jupiter Play and Leisure; Vicki Braithwaite, Pennine Playgrounds.

API Enquiry 59

Putting the spotlight on the vibrant play industry

Mumsnet take up the #Nowhere2Play campaign

Mumsnet, the website which campaigns on issues affecting parents, is today launching #Nowhere2Play as one of its Guest Campaigns.

Chair of the Association of Play Industries (API), Mark Hardy, says: “We’re delighted that Mumsnet, an organisation with massive reach and influence, is supporting #Nowhere2Play.

“It’s an issue which touches so many families. Across England, communities are

being affected by the closure of local playgrounds. Without this campaign, they might have thought these closures were isolated when, in fact, play spaces are disappearing on a large scale.

“Our research revealed that between 2014/15 and 2015/16 local authorities across England closed 214 children’s playgrounds, with plans to close a further 234 – that’s 448 places in which children can play that have disappeared in England alone.

“We are in the midst of a childhood obesity epidemic and study after study has shown that the provision of play spaces is essential to keep children active. Lack of physical activity is a root cause of childhood obesity, so the alarming decline in play provision in England is an issue that none of us can afford to ignore any longer.”

Mark goes on to highlight the inequality of children’s access to play spaces. “Many children don’t have gardens in which to play and indeed, it’s the most deprived communities that are hit hardest by these cuts. We also know that it is in precisely these areas that childhood obesity is most prevalent.”

There are implications too for children’s mental wellbeing. ‘One-fifth of children experience mental health difficulties and without access to play children can’t develop the

emotional, social and cognitive skills necessary for healthy development. More evidence emerges all the time about the positive association between physical activity, play and mental health.

“We hope that #Nowhere2Play will push play back up the political agenda. We want a clear and unequivocal show of support from government to reinvest in playgrounds to halt their decline and secure their future for generations to come.

‘We are now asking for parents, families and communities to tell us about their local playground closures, so we can demonstrate the often profound effect these closures can have. If your playground has closed or has been earmarked for closure by your local authority, then please do get in touch with us.”

API Enquiry 61

Touchwood Play helps create £3m bespoke indoor timber play experience

The UK’s leading specialist design and build play company, TouchWood Play, has completed a three-year project to create bespoke play equipment for William’s Den, a brand new, £3 million indoormeets-outdoor play adventure, in North Cave, Yorkshire.

Believed to be the UK’s largestever bespoke indoor timber play experience, owners Christian and Tor Carver, who both grew up on farms, describe William’s Den as a ‘nostalgic nod’ to a bygone era of child’s play where children were free to explore and play in natural surroundings.

William’s Den includes a 475 sqm play barn in which TouchWood’s specialist design team has brought the outside-in, to enable children to play, whatever the British weather has

The bespoke play features include a 25-metre granite installation, complete with a cascading stream and pool, a rainmaker to simulate a rain shower, a unique six metre high Ancient Oak linked to a tree house, which incorporates swings, balancing pole branches, bridges and a three metre slide off a deck down into a sandpit below. To emulate the great outdoors, the barn is filled with natural light from huge windows and plenty of fresh air from huge

In the extensive outdoor play area, kids have plenty of space to jump and roll around freely. They can choose to fly on a 50metre zip wire, get practical in the den making area or get

Touchwood’s Founder Joe Cooper says: “This has been the most incredible, large-scale project we have ever worked on. Our team has had their own three-year creative adventure to help Tor and Christian fulfil their vision.

“We are all extremely proud to have been a part of this groundbreaking, multi-sensory project and are delighted it has been so much enjoyed by the first children to visit.”

Tor Carver, William’s Den cofounder says: “TouchWood’s team of designers and craftsmen have enabled us to realise our dream to create something very special, which will help children learn through active play.

“William’s Den inspires and challenges children with a natural play experience, giving them freedom and space to play inside and out, whatever the weather. It’s the stuff our childhood memories are made from.”

Christian Carver co-founder, says: “William’s Den will be a place where children can run, splash, jump and climb their way to the ‘best day ever’. We want kids to have freedom to play outside, get lots of fresh air, always finishing their day at William’s Den with rosy cheeks and big smiles.”

musical on pieces of sculpted wood, which TouchWood’s team has carefully carved and tuned to a pentatonic scale.

Touchwood Play Enquiry 62

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Feel ‘the power’ with Connor Sport Court

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

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

It provides products that are ideal for a myriad of sport uses in education colleges and universities, schools, sports and leisure centres, together with dance floor studios and fitness venues.

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

The patented Double-Tier shock absorbing grid and Lateral Forgiveness reduces joint strain

and fatigue to help participants play longer and more safely than ever. Available in 16 stunning colour choices the performance of PowerGame is also designed to deliver excellent ball bounce, a huge factor in both on-court response and enjoyment. After all, who wants to play a dull game?

A strong partnership with the charity Beyond Sport looks set to enable this commitment to flourish as Beyond Sport are focused on using sport for social change and connecting NGOs and community organisations with groups who can help them make a difference.

In London Connor Sport and Gerflor have worked with Beyond Sport and the Mayor’s Office to identify applicants for a ‘Court Award’. This meant seeking a community group who had a need for an updated space, but also who would require the programming and student engagement necessary to properly use the product.

The award went to the Phoenix Community Housing project which falls under the responsibility of Lewisham Council in inner London.

Gerflor

Enquiry 66

School benefits from Notts Sport’s hockey expertise

Roundhay School is an Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ school located in Roundhay, Leeds, and Notts Sport were approached to project manage the installation of a new full size sand dressed hockey facility, overseeing planning, design, building and maintenance.

The project was developed from 2014 through to 2016 in partnership with Leeds Council, and it has allowed the school to introduce hockey into the curriculum for the first time.

In the first four months since completion of the new pitch, the school has seen over 50 girls playing hockey, a tremendous start illustrating how a synthetic turf facility has the ability to improve participation and engage a wide range of pupils. Rachelle Le-Bourdin, PE teacher at the school was able to tailor the pitch to the school’s needs: “Working with Notts Sport was brilliant right from the beginning: they came up straight away, met with us and asked about our vision and what

we needed from the pitch, so it was always about what we wanted and needed, and not ever about what they were trying to sell.

“From the brilliant initial meeting the relationship grew, and they’ve actually helped with the wider planning of an expansion at the school. They’ve been absolutely brilliant from start to finish: coming and checking that everything’s been installed properly, and helping with our opening ceremony.”

The sand dressed hockey pitch is the first of its kind in the area, meaning that it will benefit the wider community: “We’ve gone from having about 15 at hockey practice to having over 50 at every session – and that’s only the girls.

Notts Sports Enquiry 64

Replay Rejuvenation process pays dividends

Ecclesall Lawn Tennis Club in Sheffield has enlisted the help of Replay Maintenance to bring some much needed TLC to its 4 artificial grass courts to bring them back to a safe and playable condition.

Replay’s unique Rejuvenation process uses compressed air to remove the contaminated top

layer of infill; restore the pile to vertical and fill again with new clean infill.

Thanks to the club choosing 15mm pile when the courts were installed, the tests conducted by Replay showed that there was still a good amount of life left in the carpet. After the Rejuvenation process

the courts were back to an as-new condition. Replay will now visit 4 times a year to ensure the club has great looking courts for the foreseeable future. It has also extended the lifespan of the club’s original investment much further.

Replay Maintenance Enquiry 65

London

Creative Play picks top projects of the past academic year

The last academic year has been extremely busy for Creative Play with the company completing a huge amount of playground development.

Staff have chosen their top 5 projects for the period:

Hinderton School - there were two different areas to be redeveloped, KS1 and KS2. Within the KS1 area we removed the existing Timber Climbing frame and surfacing and replaced them with our Dart Activity Centre and Rubber Mulch Safety Surfacing. Along with this we added our vibrant Land Ranger and Perspex Board to encourage role play and imaginative play.

For the KS2 area we created a challenging Trim Trail circuit, along with Rubber Mulch Safety Surfacing to ensure the whole play space met all BSEN 1176 and 1177 safety standards and allowed for all-weather use. Trim Trail items such as our Crawling Net and Tyre Crossing were incorporated to ensure balance, co-ordination and climbing skills were targeted while still focusing on more traditional physical play aspects.

Christ the King Catholic Primary School - we agreed that an impressive Multi-use Games Area (MUGA) would be ideal to provide physical play, as well as sports and fitness, opportunities that could be utilised during both play and lesson times. Completed

with Artificial Grass Safety Surfacing, court markings and custom engraved goal ends, this new one-stop sports area will become a real asset for the school.

Along with their MUGA, we transformed their adjacent tarmac area with our popular Jungle Climber Midi climbing structure, as well a number of trim trail items and classic hopscotch playground markings, to provide even more outdoor play opportunities for the KS2 pupils to enjoy. Wetpour Safety Surfacing was also included under the equipment operating areas to ensure all BSEN 1176 & BSEN 1177 safety standards were met.

Our Lady & St Edwards Catholic Primary School – the school wanted to incorporate a mixture of play equipment ensuring all areas of learning were covered. To do this we created different sections within the outdoor play space. In one section we added

one of our new Jigsaw Play Towers as this gave the school the opportunity to add specific components to create the perfect tower system to encourage physical play, helping to develop fundamental development skills.

Within a different section of the playground we added our First Mate ship, this was added along with Blue/Black flecked Wetpour safety surfacing to encourage Role Play and social interaction. We also added several Trim Trail products next to the Jigsaw play tower to add additional physical play aspects allowing even more children to play at one time.

Blenheim Primary School (pictured) – updating existing KS1 and KS2 outdoor play areas. For the KS1 area we wanted to create an impressive play structure that could be used by all the children during break times. With a 4-tower design we were able to include lots of exciting play features, such as an arched timber bridge, net climber, climbing wall and 2 slide, to encourage ageappropriate risky play.

We included two structures in the KS2 area to provide a wider variety of play opportunities. Again a bespoke Jigsaw Play Tower was created in collaboration with the school, this time a 1.5m high one-tower design, along with our popular

Jungle Climber Midi. Together these two play structures are ideal for providing physical play in the playground. Grass mats were used in both areas to ensure all BSEN 1176 and 1177 requirements were met as well as to prevent the surrounding grass for being worn away during play.

The Castle School (pictured)looking to develop their KS1 playground, catering for children with a variety of complex learning difficulties, it was essential that we worked closely with the school to include a variety of equipment that all ability levels could enjoy.

Wanting to incorporate a variety of water, musical and creative play opportunities into their KS1 area we included popular sensory items such as our Water Wall, Glockenspiel and Chalk Board. We wanted to include a large number of play items to ensure everyone had a play station to enjoy. A number of playhouses, such as our Cambridge Shelter, DenMaking Teepee and Mound Tunnel, were also added to the design to provide more secluded zones in the playground. The whole development was then finished off with Artificial Grass Safety Surfacing to provide a high quality, tactile all-weather play surface.

New AGP opened at Liverpool college

A Liverpool arts college is enjoying a new state-of-the-art football pitch after it was opened by a former Premier League referee and the Everton Ladies captain.

Chris Foy joined Michelle Hinnigan and her first team coach, Andy Spence, to open St John Bosco Arts College’s new £1m floodlit third generation (3G) artificial grass pitch (AGP) and changing room pavilion.

A £637,245 grant from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund made it possible to build the 3G AGP and pavilion, which will be used by Everton FC Centre of Excellence and local grassroots clubs, community groups and primary schools. Through this project, the school worked in close partnership with the Football Foundation and Liverpool FA to establish a fiveyear Football Development Plan to increase female participation by over 40%.

ETC Sports Surfaces collaborated with long term sports fencing partner Zaun to put in the 3G AGP surrounded by Duo Sports fencing, which will host a new 11v11 mid-week floodlit league throughout the winter months.

Chris Foy said: “Grassroots sport in Liverpool is better off thanks to the investment in this new pitch and changing room. St John Bosco will serve as an important sports hub in its community, with provisions for people of all ages and abilities to play sport just for the pure enjoyment of it.”

Everton Ladies secured a place in the Women’s Super League in 2017-18 just last Friday, when the FA announced them as the preferred bidder to take the place of Notts County, who went out of business. Captain Michelle Hinnigan, who is also a PE Teacher at St John Bosco, said: “It is really important to have quality facilities at the grassroots level because this not only helps youngsters to maximise their potential, but give whole communities a focal point to come and enjoy playing sport with their mates.”

Safer playgrounds for Hyde Housing

HAGS Installation and Service (formerly RSS) was selected by Hyde Housing as the sole supplier of playground inspection and maintenance services to the Hyde Group.

Hyde are a major social housing provider in the South of England.

The agreement means that HAGS will be carrying out the Quarterly and Annual inspections on around 70 play areas across London and the South East, plus on-site repairs up to an agreed value.

Morley Young, Head of Compliance for the Hyde Group said: “We are really pleased to be working with HAGS who enjoy a reputation as a global partner in outdoor equipment for playgrounds and recreational areas.

“Our partnership will help us to provide safe, attractive and robust play areas for our residents to enjoy and take pride in.”

Creative Play Enquiry 70

Zaun Enquiry 69

HAGS Enquiry 71

Wicksteed creates polar bear-themed playground for Scottish Wildlife Park!

Wicksteed Playgrounds, known for its bespoke outdoor play schemes, has designed and installed an engaging Arctic play experience at the Highland Wildlife Park.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) commissioned the play area for the park which is situated in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park.

The main focal point of the play area is a giant climbing Rockscape, which features a polar bear standing on a block of ice with tunnels to explore underneath.

A double width slide onto bright blue seascape surfacing also features, alongside wooden planks between 3 floating glaciers, all watched by an inquisitive seal.

This exceptional play area is situated near the Polar Bear Kiosk to enable adults to relax while their children are occupied in a safe environment. This creative scheme also features a single slide into the play area from the kiosk, a balance board and both an interactive polar bear head panel and tactile menu play panel.

Delighted with the play area, Daska Mackintosh, Head of Operations and Visitor Services at RZSS Highland Wildlife Park, said: “This is set to be a really popular attraction at the park this summer and Wicksteed impressed us from the start with their creative interpretation of our ambitious brief, which was far and away the best we had seen.”

Playdale’s MD receives MBE

Playdale’s Managing Director, Barry Leahey has been named on the Queen’s Birthday List 2017 and will receive an MBE for services to UK Trade and Exports.

Barry began working for Playdale in 2004 as Sales and Marketing Director and progressed more recently to Managing Director in 2015.

He has been the driving force behind Playdale’s growth strategy and has successfully formed distribution agreements in 46 countries in less than seven years. Playdale products can now be enjoyed by children right across the globe from Spain to Singapore.

Playdale have won several awards in the last few years, including National SME Exporter of the Year in 2016. Barry said: “Receiving an MBE will be one of my greatest achievements and I could not have done it without the support of my team at Playdale and my family.

“When the UK market began to decline six years ago, I made it my mission to explore opportunities abroad and make Playdale a success globally. We still have a way to go but we have increased our export sales from £0 in 2010 to over £2m in 2017.”

Playdale Enquiry 74

Fifteen years of fun for Proludic

Proludic recently celebrated its 15th birthday having grown to become one of the biggest play and sports manufacturers in the UK.

Proludic Ltd was born as the UK subsidiary to Proludic, a French company based in Vouvray, established in 1988 and known for innovative and ground breaking play equipment products.

Since then there has been no turning back and the company has gone from strength to strength:

• Installing over 2000 play sites and 693 sport sites –improving community spaces

• Moving offices twice (Pump House to Play Hub) – due to continuous growth and development

• Having had over the years 115 employees –demonstrating staff retention is excellent

Proludic has also enjoyed a few firsts too for the UK play industry:

• Launching the first dynamic play and sport equipment range in 2005 which revolutionised the design of play equipment and gave birth to the Skysurf, Rodeoboard and Aeroskate

products (amongst many others)

• Installing the first Playbuilder site in the UK in Higher Holway and the largest destination park worth over £500,000 in Withy Grove

• The first company in the UK to use a hydraulic piston in their outdoor gym offer which allows users variable resistance on their work outs

Rob Baker, Managing Director of Proludic Ltd comments: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our employees (past and present), clients, partners and the

French head office for making the journey over this time so enjoyable and successful. “It’s fair to say the staff have had just as much fun working for Proludic as the children who play on our equipment. We are all big kids at heart.”

The company celebrated the milestone with a Robin Hood themed event at Rufford Country Park in Nottinghamshire.

Proludic Enquiry 76

Dura-Sport delighted to achieve ISO 9001 certification

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

Dura-Sport have always been renowned for providing first class synthetic grass installations

and exceptional customer service. Their commitment to the ISO standard further demonstrates their focus on continuous improvement and quality assurance.

Company Director Chris Stevenson said: “In an

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

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

Enquiry 77

Dura-Sport

Wicksteed Enquiry 75

eibe in Oxford’s treat

The new destination play park at Abbey Meadows in Oxfordshire has been officially opened, forming part of a major £615,000 regeneration programme to attract more visitors throughout the course of the year.

It is designed around the Grand Abbey, which, in turn, is based on the famous Abingdon Abbey, originally built in the seventh century.

The bespoke playground features plenty of space for children to exercise and socialise, including climbing towers, wobbly bridges and climbing nets.

Next to the Grand Abbey Climbing Unit, and mirroring the scene of the neighbouring River Thames, is the ‘Abingdon Lock’ river scene, a sensory area and play garden, as well as an area for ball games, featuring lots of traditional play equipment and a thrilling zip wire.

The sensory area and play garden is a great place for toddlers to explore, while the new pathway ensures the whole site is fully accessible for those with disabilities. There is plenty of inclusive equipment such as a broad slide, trampoline and roundabout.

It’s not all brand new gear at Abbey Meadows though; it was decided to retain some of the original items and refurbish them. Equipment such as the much loved rocking horse, the favourite slide and some benches have survived and seamlessly integrated into the brand new areas.

eibe Enquiry 80

Bespoke play for Bellfield School

School creates a sensory and physical development area

Woodley School and College in Huddersfield will be working with the UK’s only employeeowned playground equipment company to build a new Sensory and Physical Development Area.

PlayQuest was asked by Great Outfloors (an artificial grass supplier and installer) to partner with them in designing, supplying and installing a bespoke trim trail and Toddler Town unit, all manufactured from Recycled Plastic.

After consultation with the school, the equipment was confirmed and installation carried out during the course of a week.

PlayQuest removed and disposed of the old timber equipment, and installed its new recycled plastic play equipment, along with our

Blue PlayBond surfacing around some of the equipment.

Great Outfloors then installed artificial grass around the rest if the equipment and designated play area - and the overall finish looks fantastic and will provide the pupils of Bellfield School with an outstanding, very longlasting play area for years to come. PlayQuest have been manufacturing play equipment for over 17 years and offer a 25year warranty on their recycled plastic products.

PlayQuest Enquiry 81

Work has started on the project following a competitive tender and consultation process with children from the school helping to build their playground.

Teachers and pupils at the school have been very hands on during the design and consultation process. Pontefract based Sutcliffe Play invited teachers and pupils to get a behind the scenes look at Sutcliffe Play, including a tour of the factory to see how equipment is made and the chance to put equipment to the test on the playground outside the company’s office.

Woodley School and College has recently become a facility that caters purely for autistic children and is working with Sutcliffe Play to design not just an inclusive space but a space that specifically met the needs of the school and its users.

The space will feature five key inclusive areas:

1) Music Zone 2) Active Zone 3) Climbing Zone 4) Quiet Zone 5) Daydream Den

Kevin Sellwood at Sutcliffe Play says: “We take consultation seriously here at Sutcliffe Play and what better way than to find out the thoughts of those that will be using it.

“By inviting the School Council to visit Sutcliffe Play it allowed our designers to see how they played on the various items of equipment and importantly it highlighted what would be suitable. It also gave the children the opportunity to see how play equipment is made and how much development goes in to manufacturing it.”

Anne Lawton at Woodley School and College adds: “You can’t underestimate the importance of play to a child’s physical and emotional development.

Woodley School is a local authority special school for 125 children aged 4-19 who all have complex needs. The introduction of the new Sensory and Physical Development Area will play a major role in supporting children with autism to extend their learning in a fun environment.”

www.hitechturf.co.uk info@hitechturf.co.uk 01244289182

Wide range of turfs available for all applications including landscape, sport, play and commercial

Sutcliffe Play Enquiry 82

Free product when you train with Progreen

Progreen are continuing to expand their training programmes and now run a wide range - including pesticide application (PA1 & PA6), rodenticide control, BASIS and RAMPS courses.

Many are accredited by the likes of BASIS, City & Guilds/ NPTC and Lantra, but Progreen now offer tailored courses for businesses or individuals wanting to keep up to date on all areas of pesticides, rodenticides and related products.

Bespoke courses, suited to an individual company, will not only tick off the requirement for annual CPD but may also be eligible for BASIS points.

Louise Boothman of Progreen said: “ We are really proud of the outstanding 97% pass rate that we have maintained since 2013 for our City and Guilds pesticide application courses. This fits neatly alongside our

focus on ensuring excellence in the Amenity industry through our diverse training courses; which we fulfil via in-house trainers and qualified assessors.

“Progreen are as committed, as ever, to support the safe use of pesticides through free technical support in conjunction with our online store sales, but it is even more vital that we can offer an increasing range of training options for our customers to help them keep up to date on developments and gain personalised first class training.”

Progreen would like to offer all LAPU Readers a free safety clothing bundle worth over £30.00 when they book any Progreen training course before December 1 2017 - simply quote LAPUTRAIN17.

For more information on training visit www.progreen.co.uk

Progreen Enquiry 86

Katoun Gold is a natural weed management solution

Green-tech has announced that it has a new distributor agreement with Belchim Crop Protection to sell Katoun Gold; an innovative product to the weed management market.

Katoun Gold contains Pelargonic Acid; which is found in plants and naturally dries out weeds. It works by destroying the cuticle and damaging the cell membrane, causing dehydration within hours – a really effective natural weed management solution.

This new product complements Green-tech’s weed management product range which includes a wide range of herbicides and fertilisers; and offers their customer base even more choice.

Katoun Gold is a contact product for use on amenity vegetation

(bare soil around trees and woody shrubs). It can be applied throughout the year, although optimum results will be achieved when the weather is bright with higher temperatures.

Chris Swan, Technical and Training Manager commented: “I am delighted to be working with Belchim Crop Protection and the addition of this product further enhances our distributor agreement with them.

“We are continually looking for new products and solutions that are effective, cost-saving and above all meet our customer’s needs and support the landscape environment; Katoun® Gold fits this criteria perfectly.“

Green-tech Enquiry 88

SCH makes light work of weeds

SCH (Supplies) Ltd, a landscape machinery manufacturer that makes products for outdoor maintenance professionals, includes an impressive portfolio of sprayers of various configurations, size and mode of application.

From hand pushed sprayer with a large break back boom, to ATV-

mounted systems, the SCH range meets all requirements for weed and pest control.

With more than 30 years’ experience of manufacturing excellence, SCH also offers a bespoke service for those needing something different.

Correct nozzle selection for better weed control

Spray timing and application technique will have a highly significant impact on the success of the end result, reports Daniel Lightfoot, Syngenta’s Business Manager Lawn & Garden Controls UK & Ireland.

With application timing, most herbicides give the greatest activity if applied when weeds are actively growing, he advised.

With the selective grassweed herbicide, Rescue, for example, Daniel advocated spring applications should be heldback until greenkeepers or turf managers are recording a consistent increase in the volume of daily clippings being taken off. In autumn, treatments are best completed whilst there is still active daily growth, he added.

Daniel reinforced that nozzle selection is a vital component of the art of application. The

• assess turf growth to ensure plants are not under stress;

• select nozzles and water volume to maximise spray coverage and retention on the leaf;

• set up sprayer to reduce risk of drift;

• watch weather forecasts;

• and undertake training and talk with others to learn top tips for application.

aim is always to optimise spray hitting the intended target, and all important retention on the leaf, he advised. Targeting a small grass leaf in a tight turf sward, such as a golf green or fairway, would require a finer spray droplet and lower water volume, compared to a big plant in a long sward of deep rough, for example.

“Essentially a small leaf that is difficult to wet can be better targeted with finer droplets, from an .025 or .04 nozzle, for example, but the downside is that the smaller droplets are harder to controlcreating a greater risk of drift - and they have less velocity to penetrate a tight or deep sward, compared to bigger droplets from an 08 nozzle.”

Larger droplets can be effective in reducing drift, but the surface tension of a big droplet can physically bounce or roll off the leaf, without wetting the surface. Higher water volumes typically associated with large nozzle sizes can also result in over wetting of the leaf and reduced physical retention on the leaf.

Daniel reported the XC Nozzles have been designed specifically to very effectively reduce the risk of drift, and each droplet contains a bubble of air that acts as a shock-absorber and reduces the roll-off from the surface.

Syngenta Enquiry 87

Daniel Lightfoot’s top tips for herbicide application include:

Long lasting lines and weed control

With it taking around 4-5 man hours to initially measure out and mark a football pitch or running track, and then with the paint only lasting a couple of weeks with wear and mowing.

This is where Pearl, available from Agrigem, comes in as a fast acting, contact desiccant with the approval for use in a line marking machine.

Pearl also has the advantage of being one of very few products that has the label recommendation for the control of Mares Tail, and has approval for use on hard surfaces and areas not intending to bear vegetation.

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

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

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

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

Agrigem Enquiry 91

ACO stabilisation tile system reduces weed growth

ACO’s lightweight reinforced gravel tile, GravelGrid, is designed for driveway applications, as well as paths and gardens.

The robust system is suitable for loads of up to 40 tonnes per square metre, so is ideal

for properties with vehicles of varying sizes.

GravelGrid’s incorporated Dupont Typar geo-textile fabric allows for easy installation and reduces the likelihood of weed growth.

What’s more, the structure of the tile eliminates the risk of potholes and the porous SUDs solution also allows for an unimpeded flow of surface water, decreasing the rate of run-off and leading to significant cost savings where conventional drainage solutions are not necessary.

ACO Enquiry 92

CWC embraces innovative Jacobsen SprayTek

The south and central Wales branch of Complete Weed Control, the specialist contract service franchise, has purchased a Jacobsen SprayTek XP sprayer to help with the eradication of weeds in the region.

Chris Philips, Sarah Philips and Alan Abel are directors of Complete Weed Control - South and Central Wales.

Commenting on the decision to purchase the Jacobsen SprayTek XP, Chris said: “The Jacobsen SprayTek was the first machine we had on demo, and we used it as a benchmark to compare the others to. As it happens, no other sprayer matched up to it.

“The technology and innovation is miles ahead of anything we have seen, and it’s important

to us that we are investing in cutting-edge products that will be current for the next 10 years.”

The Jacobsen SprayTek XP features a 1,136l spray capacity and a reliable manual electric system for pressure-based spraying, computer control for flow-based system, and advance GPS mapping system for reduced chemical cost. The robust triangular truss boom is available in a variety of widths with breakaway protection, and are cross-folding for narrow transport width.

“Complete Weed Control is committed to utilising new technology and minimising the use of pesticides.” Chris continued. “The SprayTek XP fits our company ethos due to the GPS which allows us to

Looking for a glyphosate alternative?

Since its launch in 2015, nonselective herbicide, Finale 150, has been the UK’s leading alternative to glyphosate, and has proven to be particularly effective at controlling a wide range of weeds around bunker and path edges.

Dr Colin Mumford, Bayer technical manager, says that Finale 150, glufosinateammonium, has a contact mode of action and is ideal for preparing fence lines, natural surfaces not intended to bear vegetation, hard surfaces and line marking for sports pitches.

“Trials have shown that the herbicide is extremely successful at rapidly controlling field horsetail (Equisetum arvense) as well as other grasses and broad-leaved weeds,” he adds.

“The trials also concluded that the most extensive treatment was

reached when the weeds were treated twice, so we recommend two applications of Finale 150, 28 days apart.”

Bayer Enquiry 93

accurately map out a golf course or piece of land to spray so that we do not waste expensive product by reapplying pesticides to the same area, or spraying where we don’t need to. This

has made a huge difference economically to our business, and our customers as well.”

Ransomes Jacobsen Enquiry

90

Weeding out the issues with regulations

In 2016 a new EU glysophate regulation came into force, prompting councils and contractors need to look at alternative ways of removing weeds in public places.

PSD Groundscare offer a range of weed strippers and brushes that offer the ideal solution to this problem, taking away the worry of complying with

legislation whilst doing exactly the same job.

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

The weed strippers from Koppl and 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 quick change functionality the power unit can be used for many other tasks such as sweeping or snow clearance.

PSD Groundscare Enquiry 94

Headland’s new way for fast weed and moss control

New-Way Weedspray is the only registered herbicide approved for the control of moss on hard surfaces as well as being a fastacting, non-selective control for grasses and broad-leaved weeds.

The product produces discolouration and browning of the foliage within a few hours

of treatment and can be used on hard surfaces, natural surfaces not intended to bear vegetation and permeable surfaces overlying soil, such as synthetics.

Headland’s New-Way Weedspray, MAPP No. 15319, is a non-selective herbicide based on naturally occurring ingredients.

The active ingredient - acetic acid, has been formulated from the highest food-grade product and developed with a naturally occurring protein additive. This combination doubles the herbicidal properties of acetic acid compared to standard products.

Perennial weeds generally require more than a single application for control but annual weeds are usually controlled with only the one. In good growing conditions, most weeds will die within 1 to 2 days.

Unlike other moss killers New-Way Weedspray will also control weeds and grass as well, negating the need for separate applications. NewWay Weedspray can be used to control weed growth in amenity situations such as footpaths and pavements, parks, around trees, shrubs and hedges and in industrial areas such as

Weedingtech’s product range extends further

Weedingtech, the industry leaders for the foam and hot water (Foamstream) method of killing weeds, moss and algae, have expanded their machinery range with the launch of their new Foamstream Municipal.

Designed specifically for the amenity and utility markets, the latest machine release is an enhanced version of the original MW-series, their first Foamstream application machine.

The Foamstream Municipal has improved user-functionality with the addition of a touchscreen navigation panel and embedded diagnostics along with an upgraded build quality.

As well as having a smaller footprint, the Foamstream

Municipal is over 300kg lighter than the original MW-series. It is already proving popular due to its dual-purpose use to not only control unwanted vegetation but also for general street cleaning and chewing gum removal tasks.

Weedingtech Enquiry 99

railways, industrial sites and fence lines.

Kevin Wright at King Edwards School in Southampton had a problem with moss control in all areas of the schools artificial playing surfaces - made worse by some cool, damp summers.

“I tried other products but found them ineffective. Headland suggested New-Way Weedspray and explained how it was made from naturally occurring ingredients,” he says. “I very much liked the idea of a naturally based product in a school sports environment, as I’ve been trying to reduce chemical use throughout the school.

“I was delighted with the results. We first tried New-Way Weedspray in January 2013 and were amazed to see the moss starting to die within three hours, with no staining of our pitches. We have since used it in the car

park, patio and on steps – it has even controlled Liverwort which we have had no success with in the past.”

The product is not translocated within the plant and therefore is safer to use around trees, shrubs

and other valuable plants. Also, as there are no residual effects with the product in the soil, new sowing and planting may be undertaken as soon as the weeds have died.

Fast-acting total herbicide, gives exceptional control of Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense).

Hot water wins the war on weeds

The 100% hot water weed control system from Cardley Wave offers an option for those looking for an effective solution that is also efficient and ecological.

Heating the water to an optimum temperature of 98° ensures the cellular structure of the plant is destroyed by thermal energy at low pressure and absolutely no chemicals or foam additives required. As well as the instant results seen, Cardley Wave customers have noted results aren’t dissimilar to chemicals, needing only an average of 3-4 treatments per season.

In addition, the ability to wave goodbye to downtime has proven popular, with all systems being weatherproof, meaning they can be operated in wind and rain and in low temperatures. On top of that, anyone can operate with basic familiarisation training.

Its modern, multi-purpose design allows for other areas of application, such as chewing gum and graffiti removal as well as high pressure cleaning, with just a change of the lance.

Cardley Wave Enquiry 100

Extremely fast-acting 2 treatments per year

Tank-mix compatible with ProShield and flazasulfuron for contact and residual action

Credible alternative to glyphosate

Backed by BAYER & ICL

www.icl-sf.co.uk Tel: 01473 237123 Email: prof.sales@icl-group.com

Contact your local distributor or ICL Technical Area Sales Manager for more information.

Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense) trials

Headland Amenity Enquiry 98

Micro-Spray increases spraying versatility

Combining control and power with responsive easy handling, the Martin Lishman Micro-Spray pedestrian sprayer is designed for all types of sports grounds, golf courses and landscaping work. The Micro-Spray brings a new concept in spraying versatility to the groundsman’s armoury and is designed for all types of sports grounds, golf courses and landscaping work

A 120 litre tank with a 2.5m 6 nozzle, 3 section folding boom with break back and height adjustment, independent shut-off nozzle bodies and reduced drift air inclusion nozzles will suit the majority of spraying situations. An optional hand lance for spot

treatments and a bout marker are also available. The Micro-Spray has a narrow footprint so it can fit through most gateways and passageways to tackle hard to reach spraying areas. The design ensures it also has a low centre of gravity.

Teamed with smooth tyres and a single front steering wheel, this ensures a low ground pressure footprint to keep tyre marks on turf as minimal as possible, while still retaining the manoeuvrability and stability needed to tackle rough terrain.

A simple trigger throttle system and spray on/off buttons ensure precise fingertip control of spraying. The comprehensive yet

easy to use control box gives the operator more control over the sprayer with changeable motor direction to either walk behind or in front of the sprayer, 12 motor speeds, bout marker selection and a battery level indicator.

Spray application rates, operating speed and the pump pressure can be accurately and quickly controlled by the operator.

Martin Lishman Enquiry 103

DuPont Plantex Platinium tackles knotty problem

A high quality weed control membrane with proven performance, DuPont’s Plantex Platinium keeps knotweed (and other aggressive weeds such a horsetail, giant hogweed, couch grass, bamboo and himalayan balsam) reliably out of the picture.

An easy to install, single application is all that’s required for immediate results, whether covered or left uncovered in its discreet dark green hue.

Plantex Platinium also ensures a balanced soil environment and landscape stability by allowing nutrients and water to pass through, while preventing unwanted growth from penetrating upwards.

The durability of Plantex Platinium is known to be 50 years, if topped with a 10 cm layer of soil. Many years of expertise and testing thus enables DuPont to offer a high-performance, low-hassle

Little Wonder tackles weeds

The Little Wonder Hydro BRC26, available in the UK from Schiller Grounds Care, uses steel linkages and no cables, which are prone to snapping, to handle the heaviest brush and the toughest brambles.

Selling largely to contractors and councils, the Little Wonder is self-propelled and relatively effortless to operate it is

popular for its rugged build and yet smooth hydrostatic drive, which makes it less fatiguing for the operator.

Productivity is high with the forward speed of up to 4.2mph/6.7kmh and 1.7mph/2.7kmh in reverse.

Schiller Grounds Care Enquiry

104

Council saves on weed control with Chikara herbicide

Doncaster Borough Council is saving at least £186,000 a year on weed control after switching to the use of Rigby Taylor’s Chikara residual herbicide.

The use of the product, used as a tank mix in conjunction with a glyphosate, is not only producing fi nancial savings on the local council’s treatment of 100 hectares of vegetation management, but it has also eliminated the use of strimmers and their associated health and safety issues of White Finger (HAVs).

Working with Rigby Taylor, the council concluded that the use of Chikara as a tank mix with Trustee (a clean label

glyphosate), would provide major cost benefits.

Chikara is a post-emergence herbicide with a high level of residual activity and combined with the clean label glyphosate, weeds that are present at the time of application are killed. Also, the product’s long-term residual activity prevents the germination of seeds from those weeds and others still in the soil.

product with total confi dence – and with renowned levels of service and support.

Whether for public parks or private gardens, solar farms or waterside pathways, Plantex Platinium allows landscape and horticultural professionals to deliver a non-biocidal and nonmechanical solution that also prevents further dispersion and contamination.

DuPont Enquiry 102

Gravel path renovation from Kersten

Gravel is a tricky surface to maintain. But in order to keep it looking attractive, weeds must be removed regularly and good drainage should be encouraged by de-compacting the stones and bringing them back to the surface.

This will ensure the longevity of the surface as well as the safety of users. Doing even small areas by hand can be pretty challenging, let alone a large area.

There are two main tools we can use for these jobs.

The Weed burner is a great tool for weeding gravel surfaces. It will destroy the plant, and is a relatively quick method. The weed burner can be powered by machines with quite low horsepower such as the K-series

range of two wheel tractors from Kersten. Or even on a push along chassis.

Using propane gas, it works by heating the plant. When the plant reaches around 70 degrees, the proteins congeal and the plant wilts and dies.

The alternative method is with a gravel path renovator. This requires much more power to operate, and therefore a larger tool carrier, which is more expensive. But it can de-compact the stones as well as remove the weeds by the root. Even perennial weeds will be taken out in one pass.

It works with a set of specially designed cutting knives, which cut under the root and lift the

plant to the surface. At the same time, it lifts the stones back to the surface, allowing proper drainage and surface structure.

Kersten offer both solutions as attachments for our pedestrian range of machines and also as attachments for many types of tractor.

Rigby Taylor Enquiry 106

Kersten Enquiry 105

Question Time at SALTEX

The Amenity Forum will once again be hosting its ever popular Question Time at SALTEX 2017.

The event is modelled upon the BBC programme where a panel of people drawn from the sector respond to audience questions on a range of topical issues concerning amenity management.

Professor John Moverley OBE, Independent Chairman of the Forum, will act as ‘David Dimbleby’ and this year’s panel includes:

• Jim Croxton, Chief Executive Officer, BIGGA

• Will Kay, Managing Director, Languard

• Mark Pyrah, Landscaper & Industrial Business Manager UK and Ireland, IICL

• Tony Saunders, Area Manager & Professional Head of Environment, JSD Rail.

If previous years are repeated, there will be a full house and a lively debate. There is certainly no shortage of issues to be discussed. It will take place at 2pm on the first day (November 1) of SALTEX being held at the NEC in Birmingham.

John Moverley says: “We are delighted to have been invited to once again host this popular event at SALTEX. The IOG are supportive members

of the Amenity Forum and this Question Time allows opportunity at this important national event to discuss and debate key issues surrounding amenity management.”

A key element in putting together a professional approach to amenity maintenance is by adopting an integrated approach ensuring all options are considered and the optimum management programme chosen for specific situations.

A key date in the amenity calendar is Amenity Forum conference and the programme announced this year promises to be as topical and relevant as ever. This major conference has very much become the must attend event for all involved or having an interest in weed, pest and disease control matters in amenity. It also can appeal to a wider audience for those just wanting to understand more about this important and diverse sector.

The conference will be held on Thursday, October 12, at the Pirelli Stadium, Burton on Trent. The title ‘Keeping Britain Moving’ has been chosen to align with the Forum’s ongoing and very successful campaign to communicate to the wider public the important and essential nature of weed, pest and disease management and why it impacts upon every UK citizen.

ECHO scissor head offers a safer cut

The new ECHO ASK-RW23D scissor head is a rotary scissor attachment suitable for most ECHO brushcutters.

It works on the principle of a 20:1 reduction ratio gearbox and two contra-rotating blades that actually ‘snip’ the weeds or brush - just like a pair of scissors. This means you have safer and more precise cutting.

Highly versatile, the ASKRW23D scissor head can trim up close to solid obstacles, such as trees, walls and kerbs without kickback or damage.

The flat bottom design enables the operator to place the cutting head close to the ground when uncovering hidden landmarks, such as drain covers.

The ASK-RW23D rotary scissor head comes with an 18 over 15 tooth blade kit, and an optional 28 over 24 tooth fi ne cut blade kit is also available for getting an even fi ner fi nish on grass and lawn edges. The cutting head is well-balanced, making it easy to manoeuvre and comfortable to use.

ECHO Enquiry 109

Etesia offers Oeliatec weed control range

Etesia

The Oeliatec Company, based in Brittany France, has developed machines for environmentallyfriendly weed control, without the use of any chemicals. Economic and ecological, Oeliatec offers you innovative weed control solutions.

Thermal weed control or killing weeds with hot water causes the explosion of plant cells and the breakdown of proteins. Hot water weed control requires fewer treatments compared to traditional chemical treatments and cost’s significantly less in comparison to other alternatives.

All Oeliatec weed control machines kill weeds with 100%

New low drift nozzles for ProShield

ICL has announced that all bottles of ProShield – a barrier acting, pre and post-emergent non-selective herbicide, are now being supplied with low drift sprayer nozzles.

As part of the new product authorisation, which has been officially registered by the Chemicals Regulation Division (CRD), ProShield will now come with two low drift sprayer nozzles as well as a stewardship checklist attached.

The newly authorised bottles are registered through to 2020 and any individuals who possess old label stock will have until 31st March 2018 to use them up.

Many turf and landscape professionals have been benefitting from ProShield for a number of years now. Rainfast in one hour and providing rapid knockdown, one application is all that is needed. It is renowned for killing a range of problematic weeds and its

barrier action prevents germination for up to six months while protecting against re-growth on gravel and soft surfaces. Although a huge success to date, Mark Pyrah - Landscape and Industrial Business Development Manager for ICL Turf & Landscape in UK and Ireland, believes that the new nozzles will have an even greater impact.

“With these new low drift sprayer nozzles, the operator will notice an immediate improvement,” he says. “The product will only affect the targeted area with minimized chemical drift. Not only will it make the task more effective but you are essentially getting more out of the product because there will be significantly less wastage.

hot water by delivering an efficient low pressure treatment at temperatures of up to 120°C. This destroys the cellular structure of the weed to kill off the plant.

The intense heat penetrates deep into the root system killing the plant from the leaf down to the root. It is effective with all broad leaf plants and grass along with moss and algae which can also be removed at the same time.

Etesia UK is confident that the Oeliatec products will prove just as popular among UK local authorities as the Etesia and Pellenc brands have been over the past twenty-five years.

Etesia UK Enquiry 111

“In such uncertain times in which a number of products are being removed from the market, it is vital that updates such as these are made to the packaging. At ICL we champion best practice and are always looking to make improvements that are in line with current legislation, to enhance an individual’s operations.”

ProShield has an ultra-low dose rate of 4.5 litres/ha and its waterbased, non-solvent formulation is classed as non-hazard and nonirritant to the operator. It can be applied with a knapsack sprayer and the new universal nozzles can be attached to existing equipment. ICL Enquiry 112

UK distributes the Oeliatec environmentallyfriendly weed control range in the UK and Ireland.

Amenity Forum Enquiry 110

Rugby club purchases first Iseki TLE4490 in Europe

Grinstead Rugby Football Club located in West Sussex has taken delivery of the first Iseki TLE4490 tractor sold in Europe.

The tractor was delivered by local Iseki dealer, Yeowart Agricultural Ltd.

The new tractor will be used to manage and maintain three fullsize pitches covering a total of 14 acres. The pitches at EGRFC are home to a total of 17 teams; three senior teams, one veteran team, six intermediate teams

(U13-U18), and seven junior teams (U6-U12).

Chairman of EGRFC Bob Marsh is responsible for the operational management of the club as a business. He commented on the recent investment,

“The TLE4490 provides us with the capability to manage all of our own land. We are now able to mow, verti-drain and aerate our pitches without the need for dedicated machines for each job. The tractor provides us with the flexibility to hire in other equipment or attachments using our own power source.

The Iseki TLE4490 is part of the wider TLE series of compact

Hockley Golf Club, founded in 1914 and situated in the western gate of the South Downs just outside Winchester, has taken delivery of a Ventrac 4500 compact tractor and three outfront attachments from UK distributor, Price Turfcare.

Appointed almost five years ago, Glenn Kirby is the Course Manager and he organised a demonstration in early May.

“The first demonstration was with the Contour deck and I

quickly went from sceptic to fan; the way it followed the undulations was very impressive and it ticked a box straight away,” he explained. “We then tried the Rough Cut deck and it was amazing how quickly they changed from one to the other.

“However, what really sold it was the Aera-vator attachment; this a vibrating aerating head that will enable us to punch holes on slopes and that’s a game-changer.”

tractors from Iseki. It features a 46hp water-cooled diesel engine and utilises an 8Fx8R mechanical drive transmission system. Threepoint linkage with 1200kg lift capacity and one double-acting hydraulic service are equipped as standard, and the option of turf or agricultural tyres is provided.

Ransomes

Jacobsen Enquiry 115

Run ahead of the pack with KIOTI

KIOTI UK is a specialised machinery supplier based in St Neots Cambridgeshire. Providing customers with high performance tractors, the business is pleased to boast a large product portfolio comprising many widely trusted models.

Its CS Series, for example, is extremely versatile, making it suitable for employment in different environments. Environmentally friendly with its ability to work with a lower fuel consumption.

Compact tractors with great strength and ease of use come in the form of the DK 10 Series, which ranges from 45 HP to 55 HP and is noted for its competency to perform in challenging applications.

For smooth movement, the CK Series (28-40hp) is a great choice because it incorporates an ultra-quiet, low vibration Daedong diesel engine and optimal suspended brake and clutch pedals.

Another dependable workhorse is the all new KIOTI NX Series, which integrates sophisticated Daedong ECO technology and combines power and fuel efficiency .

Complex tasks can be handled seamlessly with the RX range, which boast a deluxe climate controlled cab and, even more impressively, have the heaviest lift capacity in their class.

Kioti Enquiry 116

Price Turfcare Enquiry 117

Hedgecutting innovations at Blaney

Blaney Agri, UK based machinery manufacturer, is offering new control options on their Agri, Agri Pro and Contractor Series hedgecutter range.

New ‘Soft Touch’ proportional control options have been developed in response to customer demand. These advanced electronic proportional controls are more responsive to further improve finish and user comfort.

Over 10 years ago Blaney Agri developed their acclaimed Power Shredder technology which is incorporated in the business end of the Blaney hedge cutters as well as the Blaney Power Shredder mowers and excavator heads.

The Blaney R&D team have taken some unique approaches to ensure there is more power to the head for increased rotor speed, a better cut and finish with improved efficiency saving time and fuel.

The new Blaney Compact hedge cutter is equipped with a fingerbar trimmer, featuring a low friction, self-lubricating

design which is easy to drive and reduces wear and associated maintenance costs. This also gives enhanced performance even on older tractors with less oil flow. It is ideal for smaller or compact tractors for lighter hedgecutting tasks where a flail head is not required.

Blaney offer a range of impressive machines from the Compact trimmer to a telescopic Contractor machine with 6.5m reach, and a range of machines within the Agri and Agri Pro Series in between.

As well as manufacturing hedgecutters, Blaney have also developed a unique excavator cutting head. This fl ail head head has been designed for optimum manoeuvrability to allow for cutting in closer proximity to the hedge.

Quad X Enquiry 120

Turbo charged performance from Gianni Ferrari

Italian manufacturer Gianni Ferrari now offers two machines to top the Turbo and Turbo Z ranges.

Zero turn Turbo Z 440 has seen significant developments to the traction unit while the new DualCut mulching and rear discharge deck has been introduced.

This heavy duty deck has a cutting width of 155cm and offers quick conversion from mulching to rear discharge. It also lifts hydraulically into the vertical position for servicing.

In addition to the Dual-Cut deck, the machine can also be used with various attachments such as the flail mower, snow blade or other non-collecting decks

from the Turbo 4 range. Styling updates include a new light kit.

The Turbo Z 440 is now powered by a Kubota V1505-T four-cylinder diesel engine, with the hydrostatic transmission using a Danfoss pump and motors, with reduction gear boxes in an oil bath. These improvements are joined by a cardan shaft PTO, foldable ROPS and two-wheel oscillating rear axle.

Also new is the Turbo 4 Fifty, which comes equipped with a 1400 litre capacity collector, with 230cm dump height. A new collecting turbine is designed to offer increased air flow, longer life and easier maintenance, with the option to disengage the collecting turbine when using non-collecting attachments.

Permanent four-wheel drive gives increased capacity on slopes and the new 180 RCA collecting deck has a 170cm cutting width and opposite

Next generation of wide area mowers

The powerful Ransomes MP653 has the latest Euro Stage IIIB turbo-charged engine which results in cleaner running and the ability to use advanced electronics for more precise control; it also has enough residual power to support a fully air-conditioned cab.

Wing decks are available in three sizes - cutting width options of 3.0, 3.3 and 3.5m with height of cut ranging from 25–120mm.

These new mowers have a transport width of1.65m with the wing decks folded; the front deck has 160mm of ground clearance for kerb climbing and can be lifted to a service position giving access for blade maintenance.

The five-reel wide area cylinder mowers, the Ransomes MP495 and MP655, have 70% parts commonality with their rotary counterparts, are powered by the same Kubota diesel engine options and feature the Ransomes Magna or Sport cutting heads.

The rear outer cutting cylinders fold up and rearwards for transport

improving visibility, stability and ride quality. The front units also lift and fold providing a transport width of 1.89m.

By using high strength lightweight steel, the weight of the Ransomes MP495 has been reduced by over 250kg when compared to the Ransomes

Commander that it replaces. All machines in the MP series feature an ISO-mounted operator platform, which reduces noise and vibration levels, and are available with a custom-designed cab for additional comfort.

The mowers feature the SureTrac traction control system, which

the Dual-Cut deck is also available for this machine.

119

automatically transfers power from a slipping front wheel to the opposite rear wheel, for enhanced control when hill climbing or working on side slopes. They also feature four-wheel drive in reverse, which improves traction when reversing uphill.

Ransomes Jacoben Enquiry 121

rotation;

Gianni Ferrari Enquiry

Bomford Turner reveals telescopic TVFA

With a reach of 6.5m this machine gives an excellent range of reach, not only at 6.5m but at much closer working parameters, giving the opportunity to cut close in to the tractor as well.

With a powerful 125 litre per minute cutting system producing 74hp at the cutting head, the Falcon Telescopic VFA will be a real winner contractors. This system is the trusted gear system used throughout the current Falcon range, and can run a variety of cutting attachments, in addition to the standard 1200 Pro Cut cutting head.

The significant advantages of the Tele VFA arm system, is the ability to cut alongside the tractor

cab, and drivers view through the side window. This eases the strain on the operator and seating position when being used for prolonged periods of time.

The arm can travel up to 1.8m forward, and rearwards of 0.9m. The arm travel allows the cutting head to be place in behind the rear tractor wheel for use in confined areas.

Choices of controls ranging from EPP proportional control to the top of the range ICS fully proportional, ensures that every customer requirement is catered for, along with additional accessories such as warning arrows, and debris blowers. Standard features include hydraulic breakout, LED road lighting.

Bomford Turner Enquiry 125

Spider mower maintains slopes for logistics company

Howard Tenens Ltd is one of the largest privately managed logistics companies, providing tailored storage solutions with over 3,500,000 square feet of high quality warehousing across the UK.

They have recently purchased a Spider 1 remote-controlled slope mower for the grounds maintenance of their premises in the southwest of England.

Pip Turley is the proprietor of PT Landscapes, based at Minchinhampton in Gloucestershire. For the past 20 years he has been responsible for the groundscare of Howard Tenens premises in the southwest of England. He explains the reasons behind the purchase of this particular mower.

“Many of the properties in the Howard Tenens portfolio are sunken below the original ground level to mitigate their impact on the surrounding area,” he said. “This results in many grassed

banks and slopes that have to be maintained. I’ve always used brushcutters to keep the grass banks presentable, but this was becoming ever-more time consuming as Tenen’s opened more facilities in the southwest, so I needed a solution that would reduce the time and enable me to focus on other areas.

“I put a proposal to Howard Tenens and they contacted TH WHITE Machinery Imports, who came down with a selection of machines for me to demo. I’d already discounted tracked vehicles as they have a tendency to tear the turf, so when I saw the Spider, I was literally, blown away; it’s an amazing piece of kit! One bank at Tenen’s depot in Sharpness used to take between 3-4 days to cut with brushcutters; now it takes less than a day.

“That’s a massive improvement in productivity and the finish is much cleaner. Not to mention the health and safety aspects – significantly reduced noise

pollution during operation, no hand/arm vibration issues and no awkward standing on slopes with excess strain on hip, knee and ankle joints. Also no possibility of roll-over accidents, if using ride-on machines. This machine

has the ‘WOW’ factor and, as I said earlier, it’s a truly amazing bit of kit and one that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to other contractors.”

Spider Enquiry 124

Flail mower attachments for Bobcat excavators

Bobcat has launched new flail mower attachments for use on the company’s market-leading range of compact excavators.

The flail mowers are ideal tools for cutting and shredding vegetation, branches, thick

grass, bushes and small trees alongside ditches, roads, hillsides, river banks, parks, fences and for preparing new land for development.

They are particularly suited for the landscaping, land clearing,

municipal, parks, utilities, recreational, construction and rental industries.

A flail mower demonstrates the versatility offered by a compact excavator, utilising the long reach and manoeuvrability of

the carrier to cut vegetation in hard-to-reach places like hillsides and riverbanks. By being able to access areas where other equipment cannot go, the flail mower extends applications for compact excavators.

Two Bobcat flail mower attachments are available, the 30FM and 40FM, with working widths of 762 mm and 1016 mm and hydraulic flows of 46-74 l/min and 53-85 l/min, respectively.

The new excavator flail mowers complement related attachments such as the fl ail mowers, Brush Cat mowers and forestry cutters available for Bobcat compact loaders.

Bobcat Enquiry 126

Bomford Turner Falcon Telescopic VFA – the company’s first telescopic – variable forward arm hedge cutter.

Spurs choose Ventrac to help maintain grounds

Last season’s FA Premier League runners-up Tottenham Hotspur Football Club have taken delivery of a Ventrac 4500 compact tractor and three out-front attachments to help maintain the landscaped areas at their world-class Training Centre in Enfield, North London.

Commenting on the new equipment, Darren Baldwin, Head of Playing Surfaces and Estates at the club said: “I looked at the machine, and to be absolutely honest, I doubted its ability to perform here.

“We took it to the western end of the complex, which we are developing as a community area and where we have a large perimeter bank, which we have not touched since we moved here from our old Training Centre in Chigwell.

“We had the Tough Cut deck on the tractor unit at the time and I was blown away by its performance. It knocked down and mulched vegetation that was probably two metres high and on some very severe slopes. I was amazed that a 24 hp machine could clear unmaintained areas with apparent ease.

“However, that’s only part of the reason for purchasing the Ventrac.

I was sold on its versatility; changing the numerous attachments is so easy. He changed to the Finishing deck in a couple of minutes and we went out and tried that.

“Again, it performed extremely well. Completing my initial purchase is the Trencher attachment, which can reach a depth of 1.2 metres and will be invaluable when we are doing renovation work in the future.”

Price Turfcare Enquiry 129

Flexible solutions available from Kuhn

Expanded range puts McConnel at cutting edge

McConnel’s flagship 85-series includes the 6.5m TelescopicVariable Forward Reach model.

The new PA6585 Tele-VFR has been created to meet the demands of contractors who want to combine the popular 6.5m reach option with the performance of McConnel’s 85-series machines, the visibility and comfort enhancements of VFR, and the fl exibility of a 0.9m telescopic extension.

Driven by high-performance 85hp hydraulics, the new machine features McConnel’s Revolution control system which offers precise proportional control of eight different functions; rigid 5-point axle mounting, and heavyduty build quality capable of withstanding the busy workloads of professional contractors.

It also comes with McConnel’s Easy Drive System as an option, which automatically adjusts the

flailhead to the contours of the ground, reducing operator fatigue and increasing verge mowing speeds up to 18 km/h.

One of the most important characteristics of the new armset is that it takes full advantage of the 120-degree focal range of the human eye, allowing operators to flick simultaneously back and forth from the road to the flailhead’s position alongside the cab without compromising safety.

These improvements in visibility help increase working speeds; enhance safety and greatly increase comfort for the operator, says McConnel.

By enabling an extended forward reach of up to 2m, the new machine increases the working area by as much as 400% and allows operators to work safely and effectively around roadside

the cab when working in very narrow lanes where space is at a premium and there is no room to extend the arm. This creates opportunities for work in challenging environments where a conventional reach arm machine would struggle.

The new machine is the first Tele-VFR model to be designed for use with McConnel’s 1.2m TwinCut dual-rotor flailhead. TwinCut can tackle even mature hedgerows in a single-passdelivering both a heavy-duty cut and a fine finish in a single operation and saving time and fuel costs.

McConnel’s 85-series offers a choice of six different reach options from 6.0m to 9.0m; three control systems; a choice of mounting options; four different armset configurations, four floatation options, and 32

The Kuhn Amenity Pro offers shredders, verge mowers and hedge cutters designed to accept a variety of different shredder heads: from standard rotors and T-flails, to specialist thick wood rotors, cutter bars and tree pruning saw heads.

Kuhn’s hedge and grass cutters are offered in a range of reach arm options from 4.20-6.20m and are available with several different cutting heads for brushcutting, hedge and bank trimming and verge shredding.

The compact Agri-Longer is the smallest Kuhn hedge and grass cutter with a reach from 4.20-4.80m. The positioning of the arm and cylinders allows the machine to be easily used in narrow lanes and even with the cutting head positioned behind the tractor wheel.

The Poly-Longer has a reach from 5-5.50m while the Kuhn Pro-Longer has a reach from 5.10-7.40m: both machines use a swivel-mounted parallelogram arm for extended vertical and horizontal reach and for increased arm rigidity.

(working widths 1.60m, 2.00m and 2.30m) and three models of the TBE and TBES range in working widths from 1.80m to 2.50m.

The Spring Longer mower unit’s 900 mm hydraulic offset (makes it easier to clear obstacles; it can also shift to the back of the tyre making it highly compact for road transport. TBE/TBES verge shredder’s features an offset gearbox design making it possible to obtain a 1.15 m lateral offset in relation to the centre of the tractor, particularly suitable for wide tractors and combinations with a front shredder.

Kuhn’s range of multi-purpose shredders also includes the BPR and BPR PRO horizontal axis shredders. These machines can be either front or rear mounted and are available in working widths from 2.10-3.05m for the BPR and from 2.80-3.05m for the BPR PRO range which is intended for use with higher power tractors.

Solar farms can be controversial developments, but landscaping maintenance of the grassed areas surrounding the panels is offering useful work or contractors.

Profihopper - five machines in one Mow, Scarify, Collect, Mulch and Roll. The incredibly tough, easy to manoeuvre Profihopper does it all.

Exceptional manoeuvrability

Thanks to the compact design and intelligent 4WDi system, the Profihopper enjoys a 0-turning circle to get where others can’t.

Large hoppers means less emptying With an equivalent capacity of 1000 litres and the ability to empty at heights of up to 2.1 metres, non-productive time is kept to a minimum.

Clears rough ground as well as providing a lawn finish

Even in damp conditions the renowned Profihopper delivers a perfect finishlong or short, wet or dry.

Kuhn

Attention to detail and quality control are firm favourites at Uttoxeter

Uttoxeter Racecourse is part of Arena Racing Company (ARC), the largest racecourse group in the UK created by a merger between Northern Racing and Arena Leisure Plc.

Contributing Editor Laurence Gale met with Charlie Moore, Clerk of the Course.

Like most Clerks of the Course (COC), Charlie Moore is obsessive when it comes to ensuring Uttoxeter Racecourse is fit for purpose and a safe surface is provided for both horses and jockeys.

In horse racing, the COC is the person responsible for turf management and race-day preparation at the racecourse.

Important tasks of the role include: deciding whether the course is fit to race and declaring the official going on the day of racing; protecting sections of the turf from over use; on National Hunt courses, preparing and managing fences; and liaising with racecourse management on optimising the racecourse’s fixture list.

Q: How long have you been a COC at Uttoxeter?

A: I came to Uttoxeter in 2010 to take up the vacant post of COC. In the seven years I have been here, we have concentrated on improving the course and racing experience at Uttoxeter; this has

been achieved by ensuring we maintain a consistent going and provide competitive racing all year round.

Q: How many races/events do you cater for?

A: We race eleven months of the year, catering for twentyfive race meetings, with our key fixture being the Midlands Grand National at the end of Cheltenham Festival week, and well supported meetings on New Year’s Eve and the week before Christmas.

With fixtures as little as six days apart, this is no mean feat on a track which is 1 mile 2 furlongs round, and surrounded by industry, a railway line and a golf course.

Q: How many grounds staff do you employ?

A: I am fortunate to have an exceptional grounds team of five, led by Head Groundsman (HG) Reuben Langridge, the team are responsible for maintaining everything green and growing, essentially the racetrack, all of the ornamental areas, car parks and the centre course, which includes a show ground and caravan club site.

Reuben has a long association with the course having previously worked under his dad, David Langridge when he was HG at the Uttoxeter Racecourse.

I am extremely lucky to have Reuben and the rest of the team. Having a dedicated, reliable team is a key requirement in our line of work, the days are long and tiring and more relentless especially on race-days. You’ll often see them working 6am to 8pm and they take immense pride in what they do.

Q: What new machinery have you invested in in recent years?

A: With over 10 hectares of grass to manage, one of our biggest challenges is the ongoing mowing of the track - we try and mow every ten-fourteen days with the aim to maintain a sward height of between 100- 125mm, however, it is not has straight forward as that, and we have to time our mowing activities around events/race-days and the setting up of fences and irrigation requirements.

We have recently acquired a brand new Trimax Pegasus S4 610 rotary mower, initially to mow the paddocks and central grass areas of the course, however we have been so pleased with its performance and cutting quality, we now use in on the track along with our tried and tested 4m front mount Votex Mower.

Having two mowers gives us greater flexibility, we have also been impressed with the speed of the Trimax and its quality of cut, it is also easy to set up and less greasing points to worry about.

Q: What

other improvements

have you been initiating at the course?

A: As always, horse and jockeys safety are paramount on racedays, so we need to ensure the course is set up to ensure we can race on a consistent going, usually aiming to achieve (Good) ground conditions for racing.

We have achieved this by improving the way we prepare, repair and monitor the condition of the course on a daily basis. We have achieved this by astute monitoring of the ground conditions pre and post-race days using the going stick, keeping an eye on the weather front, and irrigating the course when needed.

Post-race work is centred on getting the course renovated as quickly as possible, forking and divoting damaged areas of the track and applying a divot mix and seed to hoof marks.

Pre-race preparation is centred on keeping the grass healthy, regularly mown and harrowed using spring tine rakes to keep the grass standing up.

We also keep the course furniture, the running rail and fences in tip top condition. We were one of the first courses to use the new foam padded hurdles, and developed our own method of installing these hurdles using a motorised auger, making the job easier and less time consuming, also these hurdles are more forgiving and cost less to maintain than the old birch hurdles.

We also continue to reinstate our permanent fences after every race, replacing any damaged birch, which can be a time consuming and costly exercise, especially when the cost of birch is rising.

Q: What is your current wish list for Uttoxeter?

A: Like most of us in the industry, it is to ensure we can attract larger crowds, continue

to offer a good racing experience and provide a safe surface and improved facilities for the trainers, horses and jockeys.

To achieve this, we need to further invest in staff, machinery and facilities. On the machinery front, having reliable tractors with the appropriate power is essential, so I am sure we will be investing in some new tractors sometime in the future, as well as replacing our old faithful Votex rotary mower.

We also need to invest in a new watering system, continue to improve course drainage, redevelop the course, making better use of existing space and facilities.

Another aim is to improve animal welfare and jockey facilities, this would be in terms of upgrading stable areas, weighing rooms, warm down area and wash down facilities.

In the seven years I have been COC at Uttoxeter, we have seen a continued improvement and investment in the course, and the results of this are being seen with an increase in race day numbers and better support of the many events we promote here at Uttoxeter.

Bomford Turner reveals two new remotecontrolled mowers

Two new models have been added to Bomford Turner’s remotely-controlled mower range, consisting of a compact 40hp model, and a much larger Supreme 70hp model.

Each of the two tracks can be independently extended by the operator by 250mm / 10”. By widening the footprint to aid stability and grip, the mower can operate on inclines up to 55 degrees.

With a powerful Perkins 40hp/70hp engine variants, twin-track grip, excellent manoeuvrability and flexible tool attachment options, Flailbot delivers robust allterrain performance. Rubber and studded steel track choices offer the best traction for different surface conditions, whilst automatic track tensioning prevents track loss.

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

A range of tools and accessories allow Flailbot to be configured for a wide range of applications, including stump grinders, trench cutters, earthmoving, snow clearing and agricultural processing.

Remote control makes Flailbot ideal for use on hilly, banked and even mountainous areas.

With a range of up to 150m / 492’, the remote ensures precise joystick control of forward or reverse track speeds, from 0-7 km/h / 0-4.5 mph. The unit also displays real-time data, including machine incline, attitude and speed.

Bomford Turner Enquiry 135

Second-hand Snake puts contractor on course for success

Brian Keighery from BAK Services in North Lincolnshire has over 30 years’ experience with forestry, plants and machinery.

Originally the company’s primary focus was fencing services, but as time went on Brian was approached with mowing contracts. After purchasing a second hand Trimax ProCut, a rotary mower known for its versatility and low maintenance, Brian needed a wider machine that didn’t require a larger tractor and so he went for a used Trimax Snake.

“It was the best decision I have made,” he said. “The Snake is one hell of a machine, how it cuts both long and short grass he same is unbelievable.

“There is no real maintenance on the Snake; I grease it, clean it and sharpen the blades. That’s all that is required. Compared to the gang mower where I couldn’t go anywhere without a bag of spanners. It’s incredible.”

One particular mowing contract has to be completed on a Sunday, when the track is clear of horses.

“Previously with my cylinder gang mower it used to take me all day but now we’ve got the Snake I’m back home by 2pm to enjoy the rest of my weekend,” he added. “I’m so glad I bought the Snake.”

Trimax Enquiry 136

New Koro TopDrain 1000

The new Koro TopDrain 1000 is available now from Campey Turf Care Systems and has been specifi cally designed for sports pitches and golf course fairways.

The TopDrain 1000 model joins the successful 1500 machine (manufactured by Imants BV) that harnessed the unique function of trenching, removing spoil, injecting sand and recompacting the surface all in one operation.

It also offers material and labour savings, faster processing times and less contamination than conventional methods.

Although smaller, there has been no compromise in quality, 1,000kg lighter (unladen) causing less surface compaction, and requires less tractor power to operate.

The sand grid created by the TopDrain is meant to complement existing drainage systems, and has been very successful working on football pitches, rugby pitches, golf courses and horse racing tracks.

Campey Turf Care Enquiry 137

Redexim completes council’s capabilities

Ipswich Borough Council – via 3 teams at Chantry Park, Holywells Park and Christchurch Parkmaintain all natural surfaces of sports grounds, open spaces, schools and play areas in the Borough.

When the decision was taken to pull the synthetic surface maintenance in-house, the council decided that a Verti-Top and Verti-Comb from Charterhouse Turf Machinery were the right tools for the tasks at hand.

At the town’s two main sports centres, 3G pitches have been installed, along with an everincreasing number of schools that are now playing sports on artificial surfaces.

Chantry Park Manager Ian Clarke said: “We’d looked at the maintenance specifications as outlined by the pitch installers and then looked for machinery which fulfilled the grade.

“It was really the knowledge and support offered by Curtis Allen of Charterhouse and Adrian Brown from our local dealer Tomlinsons that sealed the deal

The new Vstrong doesn’t miss an inch

Every turf professional is naturally looking to preserve their sports pitch in excellent condition.

The problem is dealing with weed, thatch and moss requires a continuous maintenance regime. The latest GKB Vstrong improves on already proven technology to offer the professional a robust and reliable scarifying machine that swiftly

deals with the problem with the minimum waste flow.

Operating speeds up to 7.4mph/12km/h mean you can quickly cover a lot of ground for maximum productivity. You can even use the Vstrong on hybrid pitches, stitched or with a carpet, thanks to the height adjustment with two rollers and the facility to lock the working depth.

Richard Dexter, Grounds Manager at Oakham School, who uses a Vstrong for winter renovation on sports pitches has this to say: “We use the Vstrong initially to remove dead, organic matter and we can work much

more quickly. We can do in two passes what used to take four or five with a rake. It’s been fantastic, excellent quality and well-built yet simple and really, really fast.”

At the heart of the Vstrong is the CombiRotor with generically developed 3mm carbide scarifying blades. The blades, in turn, are attached to the rotor by means of the QuickLock system which allows you to attain a depth of 5cm.

In combination with the reversed rotation direction you’re guaranteed you don’t miss an inch. There is also the option of 2

– that and the quality of the kit of course.

“Curtis and Adrian trained up 12 operators on the new machines and have provided excellent back-up support when we’ve needed it.”

The Redexim Verti-Comb is the council’s most used piece of kit, utilised at least one school site a week. Whereas, depending on the specification of the client, the Redexim Verti-Top can offer anywhere between three and 16 cleans at a site each year.

Charterhouse Turf Machinery Enquiry 140

Reesink Turfcare service branch enjoys five star expansion

or 4mm blades and you can alter the centre-to-centre distance of the scarifying blades.

Vstrong’s patented roller pendulum system puts you in control of the operating depth and as a unique bonus the scarifier comes with a hydraulic adjustable slide, for scarifying close to the edge of the pitch without swiping and soiling advertising boards and pathways. GKB recommends allowing the scarified material to dry before removal to allow nutrients to benefit the turf and to help reduce the expense of removing waste material.

GKB Machinery Enquiry 141

Trilo helps Working Turf compete with larger contractors

Working Turf Limited undertakes small scale groundcare projects in and around the Cambridgeshire area.

Owner, Mark Silk, requires a vast array of equipment to ensure he can deal with the tasks at hand – and can’t own all of it.

So for a recent renovation project he turned to Ernest Doe, who hired him equipment from their Trilo range, to get the job done.

Mark hired the Trilo S3 vacuum

sweeper fitted with the flail shaft, along with the Trilo VCU 150 scarifier.

“I was delighted with both units – the VCU 150 did exactly what we wanted but I was particularly impressed with the S3 - cutting and collecting in one pass which is something competitor machines I’ve used in the past have struggled with,” he said.

“I noticed that with the Trilo products they’re well-built, yet

not over-engineered, which makes them easy and straight forward to use. The design of the S3 is short and compact, easily reversible, easy to lift and the PTO shaft with wide angle and overrun clutch means my tractor isn’t subject to abuse.”

As and when the demand for works of this nature increases to such a level, Mark says he would consider adding the Trilo units to his fleet.

Trilo Enquiry 142

Reesink Turfcare has concluded a recruitment drive to expand its service branch in East Anglia with five new members joining the team in St Neots, Cambridgeshire.

Stuart Hall joins the company as service manager and Andrew Carpenter comes on board as parts supervisor.

Both appointments further strengthen the philosophy of the brand to provide knowledge and expert advice while also giving customers direct access to maintenance, servicing and parts support.

In joining Reesink Turfcare at its East Anglia service branch, Stuart is fulfilling a longheld ambition to work for the company and brings to the role 16 years’ experience servicing and maintaining Toro‘s turfcare machinery.

He says: “As workshop manager at John O’Gaunt Golf Club, where I worked for 25 years, I have been on the ‘other’ side of things and know exactly how important it is to be able to rely on distributor and manufacturer back-up and prompt parts delivery.

“I have worked through the preparation and hosting of major events including the 2010 Ryder

Cup and can vouch that in order to keep to deadlines and tight schedules having direct access to factory-based technicians is essential.”

Similarly, Andrew Carpenter is well aware of the high level of service expected from a distributor.

Having worked for nine years with Lely Turfcare, this move continues a successful career during which Andrew progressed from temporary warehouse team member to parts sales supervisor. It was in this role that Andrew became the company’s first point of contact for technical parts queries and developed into the company’s TYM tractor product specialist.

Stuart and Andrew will be supported by a team that includes three newly appointed technicians. Matt Thomas, a mechanical engineer, and Liam Pindred with five years’ experience as a workshop technician and production workshop supervisor at Reesink, join the mobile technician team; and Keith Knight brings two years’ experience in the Reesink assembly and service department to the branch in his new role of internal workshop technician.

Reesink Turfcare

Enquiry 143

Fleet upgrade pays dividends

When Potters Point holiday resort in County Wicklow, Ireland replaced its golf course maintenance equipment fleet, it carried on a 20-year association with John Deere.

Resort members have free use of Potters Point Golf Club; established in 1987, the nine-hole parkland course is also open to green fee paying non-members. Both the resort and the course were developed by Malachy McDaniel Stone.

“We bought our first John Deere machines in 1997,” says manager Irene Lacey. “This time, rather than replace the machines individually and pay for ongoing repairs, we decided to change all the equipment at the same time.

“The benefits were a better trade-in price and all the new machines being up-to-date and equipped with the latest technology.”

The new fl eet includes three PrecisionCut cylinder mowers – an 8700A for the fairways, a 2653B for tees and surrounds and a 2500B for the greens – a JX90 walk-behind rotary mower, a 1200A bunker rake, two 3038R compact tractors equipped with mid-mounted rotary mower decks plus one

front loader, and three 6x4 diesel Gator utility vehicles.

“We opted to replace two quad bikes with an extra utility vehicle, as the Gator is far more versatile,” says Irene.

“In addition to the cargo bed, it can pull a trailer and carry two staff.

“The Gators are used as general purpose materials and staff transporters, and for jobs such as emptying the bins on the course. They’re four-wheel drive and fitted with heavy-duty all-purpose tyres, as it can be wet at times.

“The 3038R compacts are also used to mow the grass areas in the mobile home park.”

John Deere Enquiry 147

Try time for Kubota

Back in the late 1960s exmilitary man, Granville Morgan, had a vision to bring rugby to his hometown of Oswestry in Shropshire.

To this day, the same community spirit and passion for the sport remains at the heart of the club, reflected in the dedication of its recently appointed president, Richard Hughes.

Having played for the club since he was just 18 years old, Richard remains a key influence, having transitioned from playing in the 1st XV to leading the groundcare maintenance of the club.

Set up in 1973, the Hughes Bros family business is now in its second generation, with Richard and his brother at the helm. The dealership has been supplying Kubota machinery to local businesses around Shropshire including Oswestry Rugby Club since 2012.

Due to the club having only two main pitches, consistent maintenance is crucial to ensuring they’re kept to the highest standard. Richard uses Kubota’s L4240 compact tractor for day-to-day maintenance, the Kubota M7060 utility tractor for mowing and the higher-powered,

Kubota M135GX-III for aeration. The M135GX-III is also regularly used for drilling seed into the soil, helping to ensure that the drainage does not collapse and cause waterlogging.

Stewart Plant Sales appointed Baroness

Stewart Plant Sales, the construction and ground care equipment division of Scot JCB, has been appointed as the Baroness UK dealer for central and southern Scotland.

Based in Glasgow and run by Groundcare Manager Richard Green, the company also distributes Kioti compact tractors and utility vehicles, Trilo collection systems and blowers as well as Atlas Copco products.

It provides technical support via a team of mobile engineers, providing a comprehensive service and parts back up

This is crucial to ensuring that the quality of the pitches stay consistent after both heavy rainfall and significant use.

from five local depots across the territory. Baroness’s core brand values are simplicity of design, functionality, focus on materials, manufacturing quality control together with an emphasis on machinery strength and reliability; the result is that Baroness units have the lowest whole life costs of any unit in the market.

A fact underpinned by a full three-year manufacturer warranty on all ride-on units and a five-year warranty on all hand mowers.

From its unique ability to mow on terrain from mountain sides to golf course fairways, the Aebi TT range is the adaptable, reliable and affordable solution to all your mowing needs.

All Aebi equipment benefits from our Total Lifetime Care ( you the very best in safety, support and service. For advice on how to improve the safety and efficiency of your mowing operations, contact us now on 01733 363393

Kubota Enquiry 146

Baroness Enquiry 148

GreenMech’s new Arborist 200 chipper on show

GreenMech will be exhibiting their new Arborist 200 chipper at the Confor Woodland Show 2017 in September - the largest model in their Arborist range.

In addition, visitors to stand E6 will also be able to see the ArbTrak 150 and CS100 machines and consult with the sales team for comprehensive technical advice.

The Arborist 200 is the newest introduction to GreenMech’s traditional in-line format, roadtow chipper range and picks up where the popular Arborist 150 leaves off. It features a generous 1200mm x 840mm in-feed hopper which aids bushy brash

reduction and leads to a generous 200mm x 280mm letterbox-style in-feed throat opening. The twin horizontal, hydraulic rollers are powered by a 45hp turbo diesel engine and efficiently crush woody material with minimal lateral movement. As with the rest of the Arborist range, the Arborist 200 features a range of new features including a folding table, bottom control bars, LED lights, infeed touch controls and GreenMech’s patented disc-blade technology as standard.

Also on show is GreenMech’s ArbTrak 150 chipper, launched in 2012 to effortlessly get to hard-to-reach locations alongside the compact gravity-feed CS100,

designed with the professional Landscaper, Arborist or Parks Manager in mind.

Supporting GreenMech at the show will be Ashley Stevens of newly appointed local dealer GA Groundcare. Responsible for the Wiltshire, Berkshire

and Gloucestershire areas, GA Groundcare specialise in professional and commercial groundcare and arboricultural equipment, changing suppliers to GreenMech in May 2017.

GreenMech Enquiry 151

Classen cuts it with Royal St. George’s

Royal St Georges occupies a unique place in the history of golf being the first venue, in 1894, where the Open Championship was played outside Scotland.

Today’s course is presided over by Paul Larsen, Course Manager and Head Greenkeeper whose team has been working with a Classen Pro Hydro-drive Sod Cutter over the past 12 months.

The machine, supplied by Lister Wilder in Ashford, was in constant use throughout the winter, stripping turf around bunkers, stripping tees and getting turf off the club’s own turf nursery to replace and renovate.

SISIS Osca works wonders for the Potters

Andy Jackson, grounds manager at Stoke City FC, has reported phenomenal results since incorporating the SISIS Osca tractor mounted oscillating brush into his synthetic surface maintenance programme.

Clayton Wood boasts a multitude of state of the art facilities including two and a half Desso Grassmaster pitches, five soil based pitches and two full size synthetic surfaces.

“Getting the right equipment for all the different textured pitches

we have here is big task, and it’s key to how we go about our business,” says Andy.

“The use on our synthetic pitches has become incredibly high so I needed to look at something which would combat that. I wanted a machine that was going to be effective and quick but to get a machine to do those two things I felt would be a hard task.”

The SISIS Osca is a tractor mounted powered oscillating brush with a 1.9 meter working

width and is equally effective when used on synthetic turf with sand or rubber infill.

The two oscillating brushes stand the carpet fibres up and redistributes the infill evenly, minimising compaction on the surface and improving its performance – giving consistent playing characteristics while preventing pile damage caused by reduced infill levels.

A contributory factor to the reduction of compaction is that the Osca’s working width will

use fewer passes than other more conventional drag brushes to complete a pitch. Its aggressive brushing action agitates the upper infill level of the surface from side to side as well as brushing forward, helping reduce surface compaction and encourage the fibres to stand up straight which reduces the risk of contamination, drainage problems and leaves a consistent playing surface across the whole pitch.

Andy sets an hour aside each day to use the Osca and designates a fortnightly three hour time slot to carry out a more intensive clean. Since using the Osca he has noticed a significant improvement and he is not the only one.

“The Osca has brought our synthetic pitch to a new level and the feedback we’ve had from the staff, the coaches and the players has been really positive,” he added.

“The results have been phenomenal and personally I think the Osca ticks all the boxes in getting synthetic turf to a level where it needs to be.”

So far they have covered the work around twenty-one bunkers and two tees, stripping a thousand square metres in the process. Chosen by Paul’s mechanic, who had used a Classen machine before, the Sod Cutter is regarded as an essential tool in the winter renovation projects.

The combination of the vibration dampening elastomeric isolators and integrated finger-throttle

clutch control are what make the Classen Hydro Sod Cutter easier to handle.

The vibration dampening system reduces machine vibration at the operator by up to 40%, while the hydrostatic drive delivers a smooth, consistent power flow with infinitely varied transport speeds up to 4.7mph.

The power-reverse feature makes it easier to load and unload, and easier to manoeuvre. The blade placed at the centre of the machine ensures a more consistent cutting depth and the cutting blade makes twenty cutting strokes per second/twelve hundred per minute to yield those cleaner, smoother results.

The unique design of the Classen Sod Cutter lets you switch back and forth from a 12”, 18”, 20” or 24” cut in a matter of minutes with optional blade assemblies, and the machine comes with a two-year professional warranty.

Schiller Grounds Care Enquiry 152

Another franchise for Price Turfcare

Price Turfcare, the recently established business founded by Ransomes Jacobsen’s former International Sales Director, Rupert Price, has been awarded the UK and Ireland distribution rights for the Ryan range of turf maintenance equipment.

For an initial six-month period from June 2017, Price Turfcare will be the joint distributor together with existing distributor, Ransomes Jacobsen. Following the successful transition at the beginning of 2018, Price Turfcare will become the

exclusive

Supported by a group of former colleagues with over 100 years of experience in the groundscare sector, Price Turfcare has bespoke warehousing and distribution facilities near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, with excellent road links via the A14 trunk road to all parts of the UK and to Europe’s largest container port at Felixstowe.

New £3m investment announced by Fleet Line Markers

Industry leading line marking manufacturer, Fleet Line Markers, has announced a new £3 million investment scheme to significantly expand its paint chemistry and software departments.

With the scheme to commence in December 2017, this latest development will enable the line marking pioneer to advance its innovations in both line marking paint and machines – having manufactured and released four new machines over the past six months alone, including the new Kombi range and GNSS guided line marker, MAQA.

Fleet have also have released a new range of cheaper paints that will compete with lesser competitor brands.

Fleet already employs five software engineers and is excited to greet yet another member in

Managing Director of Fleet Line Markers, Iain McGuffie, confirmed: “All of our product innovations are built on our excellent understanding of customer requirements - from high quality, but cost effective paint, to line marking machines that eliminate both the time and costs associated with initial marking.

“This new investment scheme will enable us to work harder on these innovations, bringing more firsts to the market that boast the potential to be life changing.”

Kubota unveils new RTV

Kubota UK is setting the standard in power and versatility with the launch of its new four-seater utility vehicle, the RTV-X1140.

The new model, from the marketleader in diesel powered utility vehicles, builds on the popular predecessor (the RTV1140), demonstrating its ongoing commitment to developing exceptional machinery which not only supports professionals in their day-to-day activities, but provides exceptional comfort and safety as standard.

Designed to provide greater power and performance, the RTV-X1140 enables operators to easily transport both cargo and crew with its versatile two

Users can single-handedly transform the 1102” cargo bed to two additional back seats in three simple steps, allowing for the safe transportation of four adults.

Dedicated to delivering a higher standard of performance across all tasks, its four-wheel drive and unrivalled 10.8” ground clearance enables smooth travel over any terrain, whilst its hydraulic bed-lift makes light work of dumping tasks.

The three-cylinder liquid-cooled Kubota diesel engine also offers a robust 24.8 HP, supported by its Variable Hydraulic Transmission for increased power and traction.

UK distributor of Ryan branded products.

Price Turfcare Enquiry 170

August 2017; new Java expert that will complement the skills of the specialist team.