Landscape & Amenity Product Update March 2016

MARCH 2016

Landscape Amenity PRODUCT UPDATE

Weed Control

The products and services to tackle invasive pests

Page 12-16

Artificial Turf Maintenance

A round-up of the growing market Page 18-20

Ride On Mowers

Page 31-34

Green light given to over 80 pocket parks throughout the country

More than 80 unloved and neglected urban spaces across the country will be transformed into green oases for everyone

to use, thanks to a share of a £1.5 million dedicated fund, Communities Secretary Greg Clark has announced.

Increasing the availability of green space draws more people outside, giving residents, particularly in urban areas without gardens of their own, more space to relax, get together with their neighbours, grow food and provide a safe space for their children to play.

Now 87 community groups, from Newcastle to Penryn in Cornwall, will have the money to create their own ‘dream’ pocket parks, developing small parcels of land, sometimes as small as the size of a tennis court.

Communities Secretary, Greg Clark, said: “Parks and green spaces breathe life into our bustling towns and cities providing communities with precious spaces to get together, exercise and play.

“Our funding will benefit urban areas with few green spaces,

John Deere Gators get on track

John Deere has approved the use of Camso rubber tracks on its Gator utility vehicles in Europe, following their availability in the US for several years.

An XUV 855D Gator equipped with a Camso UTV T4S four-track system supplied by UK distributor Supatracks was recently featured on the company’s stand at LAMMA 2016.

Designed to extend the versatility and all year round use of these popular all-terrain vehicles even further, the Camso tracks reduce ground pressure by up to 75 per cent to less than 1 psi and take less than two hours to install in place of the wheels, with no other modifications required.

Track widths are 318mm (12.5in) in front and 356mm (14in) at the rear. The tracks are steered and therefore minimise disruption of the soil surface when driving off-road.

Camso tracks are manufactured in Canada by the same company that supplies units for John Deere’s

8R, 9R and new 9RX four-track Series agricultural tractors.

The Gator’s standard deluxe Mauser ROPS frame can be upgraded to a full glass cab if required, and models can be ordered with a variety of other factory and dealer installed options and attachments.

delivering on the government’s manifesto commitment to deliver pocket parks across our country.

“These winning bids all have a strong community focus at the core of their plans and their designers have thought up highly creative ideas to turn unloved urban spaces into the green lungs of their communities that will be enjoyed for years to come.”

Graham Duxbury, Groundwork Chief Executive, said: “Every year Groundwork helps hundreds of thousands of people of all ages to organise and work together to protect, preserve, improve or create green spaces on their doorstep.

“We’re delighted the government is supporting communities and

councils to do more. For many local groups, improving the park at the end of their street is the first step in getting much

The winning bids include:

• Permarin Community Group plan to turn an unused area of tarmac in Penryn into a native Cornish garden with space place for children to play outdoors.

• The One Voice – Action for Disability Community Group in Wolverhampton, who plan to turn a 30-year-old tipping zone into a natural wildlife area, working with local residents and people with poor mental health or physical disabilities to create the pocket park.

• The Monkey Park Community Interest Company in Chesterfield who will use their funding to build a riverside

more involved in how their neighbourhood is run.”

DCLG Enquiry 1

walkway, allowing people to walk along the Holme Brook and enjoy the natural green space threading through the heart of the community.

• The Friends of The Chuckery Village Green in Walsall will make the most of the cherry trees on their derelict plot by planting an edible herb and vegetable garden with a plan to create pies and jams.

• Cherry Orchard Gardening Services, a community group in Staffordshire, have been awarded funding to create a pocket ‘Park-our’ for local teenagers to practice parkour, the increasingly popular urban sport, in a safe environment.

Lely splits into new trading company

The turfcare side of Lely’s businesses has split and a new trading company, called Turfcare Technologies Limited, is now effective.

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David Cole, managing director of the new Turfcare Technologies, says the rationale behind the business separation was to create two independent businesses, each having the freedom to develop their own strategies and able to focus on growth in their own and respective markets.

“This process of evolution, while challenging during its implementation, places the Turfcare business including Turfcare in Ireland and Denmark

in an ideal structure for growth in current market segments and as importantly, for any new ones, when they should come along,” he added.

Since January 1 2016, when Turfcare Technology came into effect, an approach has developed for the Turf business to become part of Royal Reesink N.V., resulting in Lely and Reesink, with the full support of The Toro Company, signing a ‘letter of intent’ for Reesink to acquire the Lely Turf business.

Royal Reesink N.V. is a Netherlands based holding company specialising in the distribution and sale of capital

equipment and allied support services.

David confirms that at this stage this announcement is one of mutual intent to reach agreement for the change in the ownership of the Turf business.

“While not finalised yet, this is seen as a further, positive opportunity for the future of the company’s Turf activity,” he added. “The ‘agreement of intent’ with Reesink will now move to the final stages of a due diligence process with the completion of the transfer of ownership expected during the second quarter of 2016.”

Jane Carley casts an eye over the latest models

John Deere Enquiry

Lely UK Enquiry 3

Parks and the future of our urban green spaces seem to be dominating many of the headlines at the start of 2016 –mainly for positive reasons, which makes a refreshing change.

After far too many years of doom and gloom, with budget cuts and shifting local and national government priorities having a significant impact on our parks, there may well be long-overdue signs that we are turning a corner.

The importance of parks and green spaces to our built environment is finally becoming more widely recognised. We are seeing new funding for parks, wide-ranging reports on the future of our green spaces which are setting clear goals and achievable benchmarks as the focus slowly starts to shift back again.

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We cannot help but think that it’s better late than never. But it also begs the question why has it taken so long for decision-makers to join the dots?

This narrow view has caused serious problems for our industry in the last decade or more. So it would be somewhat churlish to now say: “I told you so.”

But, the simple fact is that we have been telling them for too long that such short-term approaches do not work. So we will keep a close eye on the various funding initiatives, programmes and reports that have made the headlines so far in 2016 and see how bright that light at the end of the tunnel is still shining towards the end of the year.

This month we take a look at several key product areas and Jane Carley turns her attention to the ever-popular and growing ride-on mower market.

The product features look at weed control, fertilisers, artificial turf and maintenance and aeration. We also look at the urban environment and latest machinery and vehicle news.

Groves Editor

Paul

BALI-NCF challenges Government on impact of National Living Wage

BALI-NCF, the National Contractors’ Forum for grounds maintenance contractors, has written to Government ministers and members of the Low Pay Commission highlighting the implications for the local authority grounds maintenance sector of the introduction of the National Living Wage (NLW).

Signed jointly by BALI Chief Executive Wayne Grills and BALI-NCF Chairman Phil Jones of ISS Facilities Services –Landscaping, the letter detailed the following consequences for local authority grounds maintenance contractors who are unable to pass the additional cost burden on to their customers:

• Over the five year period of implementation if the NLW, existing local authority grounds maintenance contracts will become financially non-viable;

• Typically, labour costs for the staff involved will rise by 20 per cent over the five years, based on reaching a level of £9.00 by 2020-21 (the end of the current parliament);

• Contract indexation will not match this increase, even where it is not capped, given the number of staff currently on the National Minimum Wage and the fact that indexation only reflects the average increase. The increase that the local authority grounds maintenance industry will experience will be well in excess of general labour inflation;

• Contractors will regrettably default on contracts and, potentially, go out of business with obvious consequences for employees and for local authority clients.

The letter asked Government to recognise that these increased costs cannot be funded by the contractor and should therefore be treated as a ‘pass through’ cost, with the local authority picking up the cost in full. An allowance would then need to be made in each council’s annual settlement to fund this increase with councils acknowledging that they will need to pay more for the grounds maintenance services they receive.

Enquiry 6

Volvo transforms into impressive tool carrier

Danny McAuliffe, of Springbok Haulage based at Kilkhampton, Cornwall has added a new Volvo ECR25D compact excavator to his arsenal of equipment complete with an impressive array of specialist attachments.

The machine has been supplied by Volvo’s utility dealer for the south west of England - Plant & Engineering Services.

The new 2.5 tonne ECR25D replaces a smaller EC15 model and was chosen primarily for its optimum size for the typical work Danny McAuliffe undertakes.

In order to facilitate the operation of a range of different attachments that have been ordered alongside the new machine, the ECR25D has been fitted with an optional X3 rotation circuit (hammer/ shear lines come as standard on the machine).

The arsenal of attachments include a range of buckets including a tilting slope bucket, a hydraulically operated 2’ diameter saw, a flail, log grab

and a hydraulic hammer which doubles up as a post driver.

The ECR25D is the smallest zero swing model in the Volvo

compact excavator range and is powered by a 1.1 litre low emission engine developing 21hp.

BALI

Volvo Enquiry 7

Greenways plants energy efficiency in college scheme

The £5.8 million ‘Collections House’ development at Warwickshire College Group’s Pershore College has been completed following a building services design project by sustainability specialist, Greenways.

Delivered as a design & build project based on architectural designs prepared for the college by the Hitchman Stone

Partnership, the BREEAM ‘Very Good’ development provides a two-storey teaching facility for the prestigious horticultural college.

The scheme also includes a double-height greenhouse as the entrance lobby to showcase the rare and delicate specimens grown by students. Greenways specified a Horticultural Management System (HMS)

that controls the heating and ventilation to the Collections House. The HMS is linked to an external weather station located on the roof of the new building.

The Collections House is ventilated via a natural ventilation scheme again controlled by the HMS. The weather station will monitor wind speed and direction, air and humidity temperatures and even rainfall.

The HMS system enables students to monitor the atmospheric conditions within the Collections House. Ventilation will be increased in the morning to encourage plant growth with an influx of cool, fresh air and rainwater harvesting will provide water for the irrigation system.

The main reception has a hydroponic wall and this feature will also be served from the rainwater harvesting system. The main building includes classrooms, office spaces and a Learning Resource Centre (LRC), with zoned heating control to provide individual heating control for each area, aiding comfort and energy efficiency.

The lighting system in the Collections House has also been designed to create optimum growing conditions for the plants and also showcases the building with LED lighting at high and low level and scene-based feature lighting.

Greenway Enquiry 10

ICL launches new product guide

ICL has announced the launch of their 2016/17 product guide –including some new and unique products and services.

The comprehensive brochure, designed using feedback gathered from a wide range of end users detailing what they wanted and needed to be included, will provide a detailed look into the company’s market leading products as well as offering valuable technical information.

Also included is the new ICL Custom Build feature, which

offers the chance to create bespoke liquid fertilisers.

The product guide also provides a wealth of technical information.

Spreader setting guidelines will help readers with the accurate application of fertiliser; a tankmix table provides guidance notes for compatibility of liquid formulations and a ready reckoner will assist with nutrient application for granular fertilisers.

Specialist debt advice service sees increase in cases

Horticulture trade charity

Perennial has seen a year-onyear increase in the number of people using its specialist Debt Advice Service since its launch in 2007.

Over 300 people were helped last year, making up just over a quarter of all casework.

The service helped write off over £44,000 of debt and secured additional financial help of over £20,000 for clients, many of whom had fallen into debt due to injury at work, long-term illness or unexpected unemployment due to redundancy.

Sheila Thomson, director of services at Perennial, said: “Clients facing unmanageable debt repayments tend to not only accumulate more debt, but often present with

mental health issues including depression and anxiety that prevent them from tackling the problem.

“Our advisers are trained to help people understand their financial responsibilities, appropriately access the benefits system and help put manageable financial planning in place.

“Although demand for all our services continues to increase, we are finding that casework associated with debt is becoming ever more complex as the benefits system becomes more difficult to access and navigate.”

Enquiry 11

S&C Slatter becomes first FIH Certified Field Builder

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has confirmed that Sports Construction Specialist, S&C Slatter is the first FIH Certified Field Builder.

An FIH Certified Field Builder is defined as a company which specialises in building hockey fields and provides a holistic service to their clients.

The FIH Certified Field Builder designation is an important part of the FIH Quality Programme for Hockey Turf, which is designed to ensure the sustainability, affordability and accessibility of hockey turf worldwide.

This internationally recognised quality-assurance programme recognises that a new hockey field is a major investment which demands that it meets the expectations of all stakeholders –hockey players, associations, clubs and schools. It looks to help in ensuring that good quality hockey fields are built for all levels of play from elite competition through to community development.

S&C Slatter is currently working with a number of clients in developing plans for new artificial turf hockey fields.

S&C Slatter Enquiry 13

Perennial

Rethinking Parks report gets enthusiastic response

A new report brings together the insights and lessons from Rethinking Parks, a joint Heritage Lottery Fund, Big Lottery Fund and Nesta programme to test new ways to fund public parks.

The key findings include the need for public parks to diversify their funding sources to meet the size of cuts faced by local authorities and the creation of new partnerships to contribute to future development.

The report also stresses that cost savings need not be at the expense of people’s enjoyment of parks.

Mobilising the skills and energy of businesses, supporting

people into employment whilst improving green space, using less intensive planting techniques and tapping into the public’s willingness to give have all shown impact in reducing costs for running parks. However, no one idea tested through Rethinking Parks is forecast to completely replace local authority funding.

Accurate financial data and park user insights, working with partners who bring new skills, resources and ideas, and providing space to quickly test ideas are all necessary to find out what mix of management practices and revenue opportunities are best able to sustain their park.

Mark Camley, chair of The Parks Alliance, the national voice of UK parks, said: “There is no single solution to financing parks.

“The sector had been struggling with a new funding model for the last 10 to 15 years and with no ‘silver bullet’ - governance, leadership and collaboration are key. All of us who love parks should support the sector to try new business models and be brave enough to accept that some might not work. To fail fast, fail forward.

“One of the report’s recommendations is for park teams to involve more people and the Parks Alliance is seeking to reach out and create space for further and greater community involvement.

“We have already established a project that will provide a model for establishing a wider connected community network of those who support the aims of the Alliance. We hope to reveal findings of the project soon and use these to take the work of the Alliance forward.”

The Parks Alliance Enquiry 17

Replay moves to new purpose-built facility

Synthetic maintenance specialists Replay Maintenance have moved to a new purpose-built office and warehouse site. The new headquarters reflect Replay’s continued expansion and will help the team better manage the evergrowing order book.

Director Garry Martin said: “This is a small, but well needed, step that will make a big difference to the daily running of the business and our commitment to continually provide the best service possible.”

Replay Maintenance Enquiry 16

HLF awards £14m to historic towns

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced £14m of funding for historic British towns as part of its ongoing Townscape Heritage programme.

Chief among the winners are Victorian seaside towns, with the holiday destinations of Cleethorpes, St Austell and Rothesay netting a total of £4.7m between them.

In Cleethorpes, two streets connecting the town and seafront will have their distinctive architecture

preserved while St Austell town centre will improve its historic buildings and public spaces. Rothesay’s bid is for the regeneration of its Winter Gardens and seafront, including Victorian public lavatories on the West Pier, has also been successful.

Other successful funding bids are for a conservation area in Hartlepool, County Durham; a craft project in Padiham, Lancashire; Pontmorlais heritage quarter, Wales; and regeneration zones in Coventry, Worksop and Armagh.

HLF chair Sir Peter Luff said: ‘Historic town centres are the beating heart of communities, so where they fall into disrepair, the community pays a heavy price. Research shows that this can be changed and that even small changes – improving shop fronts or restoring architectural features – can make a real difference.’ The schemes will also help boost local economies, providing jobs and training opportunities.”

HLF

Hultafors Tools new product catalogue for 2016

SOLO SLIDE product range is kite-marked

Fabweld Steel Products has announced it can now offer its recessed SOLO SLIDE range with the prestigious Kitemark and EN124 accreditation in A15 and B125 loading.

Predominately used for entry to underground telecommunication networks, it is recessed and can be filled with a material to match the surrounding area.

The range is unique to the market being configurable, up to spans of 1000mm c/o and a maximum cover width of 400mm, with infi nite lengths for duct runs. For more information, visit www.fsp.co.uk, email sales@fsp.co.uk or call 01952 581430.

Fabweld Steel Products Enquiry 21

New investment initiates Unilog Pro sales boost

M&M Timber’s Unilog Pro landscaping timbers look set to become one of the company’s best selling products of the year, following further investment at the company’s Worcestershire manufacturing centre.

Demand for M&M Timber’s market leading Unilog Pro landscaping timbers continues to grow and this has initiated new investment to step up production output to meet demand. Stockholding has now increased dramatically after the recent commissioning of further drying kilns, used

in the preservation process of Unilog Pro timbers, enabling a competitive 7-10 day turnaround of orders. Recommended for all commercial applications, Unilog Pro landscaping timbers are pressure treated with Tanalith E preservative in accordance with BS8417 and, significantly, are the only landscaping timbers on the market to be backed with a full written warranty by the company for a 15 year warranty, which can be extended to a full 30 years.

M&M Timber Enquiry 22

Everything you find in the Hultafors Tools range carries the hallmarks of a company that has over 100 years experience in knowing what it takes to get a job done efficiently, effectively and safely.

Hultafors’ ingrained quality and innovation is found in every Hand Tool. Ergonomically crafted with built-in Fisco

technology, there’s a host of Tools for Measuring and Marking, Chopping, Striking and Levelling – as well as the new range of Saws and Clamps.

Whatever job you’ve got in hand, these Hand Tools deliver top-class solutions for making your workday easier.

Hultafors Enquiry 20

Long Rake Spar increases decorative aggregate range further for 2016

Long Rake Spar, a leading supplier of decorative aggregates into multiple sectors, have just expanded their product range to include 4 new products for 2016.

Marketing Director Sarah Hill states: “New product development is a fundamental requirement of our business, with customers always looking to Long Rake to offer something different in a very competitive market place, hence the introduction of these new products.

Following on from the popularity of their Ice Blue decorative chippings, they have further launched both Ice Blue

Pebbles 20-50mm and Ice Blue Cobbles 40-80mm. These light grey-blue decorative aggregates have natural light reflecting properties so are perfect to brighten up dark or shady areas in general landscaping projects.

The introduction of an additional Slate Mulch in a Black Charcoal colour has already proved popular amongst customers. Available in both 40 and 20mm grades, this product will undoubtedly reach similar sales potential as the existing blue, plum and green coloured slate already sold extensively.

Long Rake have also created a unique blend called Sunset Red, which is a mix of subtle

Riven Indian Paving Project Packs unveiled

CED Stone Group have introduced Riven Indian Paving Project Packs – the most cost effective alternative to other paving ranges.

Now available and stocked across all depots, each pack provides a coverage of 15.18m2 (which includes a 10mm joint) and is made up from a mixture of four different sizes (all with a thickness of 22mm +/-2mm) – making them ideal for random laying patterns.

Sourced from ethical suppliers, these packs have been put together to provide our customers with a convenient natural stone solution.

Stocked in all the popular coloured Sandstones including mint, beige, grey and black limestone, the packs are perfect for creating a traditional and rustic look, with complementary stone circles and setts also

available.

Ideal for those working with a tighter budget, not only are our Indian Riven Paving Project Packs a cheaper alternative, you will only be charged for 14.72m2, making this an economic choice for any project.

CED Stone Group Enquiry 24

golden peach tones contrasting with a strong brick red chipping. Available in a 14-20mm grade it offers a distinctly different,

unique and highly decorative chipping Long Rake Spar Enquiry 23

Prestige scalloped fencing –the ultimate in good looks

M&M Timber’s top of the range Prestige scalloped post and rail fencing is in high demand due to it’s ultimate good looks, superb specification and smooth sanded surfaces.

Strong and elegant, with chamfered tops, the scalloped post and half round rail fencing looks good in any application and has become the top choice for high end perimeter fencing and commercial applications throughout the UK. As suited to the entrance and driveway of a stately home, as it is to public leisure areas, such as woodland walks, heritage sites and theme parks, M&M’s Prestige fencing is also an established favourite in equestrian circles, and is widely

used in stabling enclosures, ménages and sporting venues.

Prestige scalloped post and rail fencing is recommended by professionals for its aesthetic appeal and versatility, offering a choice of specially selected light or heavy weight timbers and two, three or four-rail scalloped post options.

Kiln dried and pressure treated in accordance with BS 8417, all M&M Timber’s Prestige scalloped post and rail fencing timbers are designed to last, with the backing of a no-quibble 15 year service life warranty.

M&M

Timber Enquiry 26

Northgate High School students visit Ransomes

Reform dealers get ‘A’ rated training

Recently a number of delegates from the Reform Werk dealer network attended a training session at the company’s Wels, Austria factory.

Simon Richard, UK Agent for the Reform range said: “The training was in support of the installation at their premises of the very latest diagnostic equipment.

“Any downtime for contractors can prove costly and Reforms

policy is to invest in provision of the best back-up service. In addition to the most up to date equipment these ‘A’ rated dealerships now also have the support of a UK based Factory Product Technician.

“The training programme was delivered by Reform staff assisted by staff from engine manufacturers VM.”

Simon Richard Enquiry

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Postsaver adds value and performance to fencing

With 16-year independent test results just released further confirming the effectiveness of Postsaver ground line sleeves in preventing ground rot there has never been a better time to start fitting Postsaver sleeves or universal Wrap and Tack sheet to your fence and gate posts. They’re low in cost, easy to apply

and allow you to offer a premium and proven long life post to your customers whist at the same time adding value to your standard fence and gate posts. Call 01452 849322 or order online at www.postsaver.co.uk

Postsaver Enquiry 29

Eleven students from Northgate High School in Ipswich visited Ransomes Jacobsen’s European Head Office as part of their involvement in the Greenpower IET Formula 24 competition to inspire more young people to become engineers. The Northgate students have constructed a 24volt electric vehicle with support and guidance from teachers.

Jason King, a former apprentice at Ransomes Jacobsen and now Customer Care Director, invited the Northgate students to visit their European Head Office to see how the long established manufacturing company introduces a new vehicle into the market.

Ransomes Jacobsen Enquiry 27

Heyland’s flat-bottomed workboats

Heyland Marine produce Flatbottomed Workboats that are very stable for their size and maintenance free, competitively priced these Craft come in a range of sizes, from very small boats that will fit into work vans to larger sizes for Lakes, they come complete with roller wheels for ease of launching.

Heyland also manufacture Hire boats for Leisure Parks

and County Councils to earn income for Companies, these can be made in various colours with company logos on hulls. Suppliers of Marine accessories, ropes, trailers, life jackets, wooden Oars and paddles.

Please contact 01628 528830 www.heylandmarine.com

Heyland Marine Enquiry 32

Snickers’ Kneepads offer top quality protection

If you work a lot on your knees, Snickers’ range of revolutionary Kneepads will deliver cutting edge protection for those working in tough working environments.

They’re all ergonomically designed to suit a wide range of on-site working environments and will mold around your knees for maximum comfort on rough, damp ground and help ward off

niggly knee problems and long term injuries.

Every Kneepad in the range is comfortable and efficiently designed to fit the unique KneeGuard Positioning System on every pair of Snickers WorkTrousers, so you can pick and choose whatever you need for the job in hand.

Snickers Enquiry 33

Round-the-clock irrigation control thanks to Toro investment

Pontefract & District’s course manager David Mulholland has praised the golf club’s recent investment in Toro irrigation, reporting “round-the-clock” control since its installation.

PlayGuard is top choice for playground timbers

M&M Timber has long been regarded as the UK’s leading manufacturer of timber products for playgrounds, educational and other outdoor leisure applications.

Its specially developed PlayGuard range opens up exciting new possibilities in innovative design projects that combine flexibility with durability and ease of maintenance.

Utilising only timber selected from high quality Radiata pine, which has inherent lowsplit properties and therefore minimises finger traps, the PlayGuard range is kiln dried, fully sanded and treated with Tanalith E for durability and long service life. PlayGuard is available in a choice of Standard or higher grade premium ranges.

M&M Timber Enquiry 34

While proud of its historic roots dating back to 1904, the West Yorkshire club also embraces modern technology, and was in fact home to the first complete installation of Toro Infinity sprinklers with Lynx Control System.

In operation since spring this year, ready for the high season and dry weather, David says the new system is more efficient, controllable, and offers great flexibility.

“Our previous system comprised of old PVC pipe that was glued, and the glue was breaking down; it was a real liability. Not only did we have leaks, but during dry spells, when we rely heavily on irrigation, it wasn’t delivering,” he explains.

“The new sprinklers are great; easy to access, easy to service and have cut right down on watering time,” David adds.

Now able to operate the entire system from his mobile phone or laptop, he singles portability out as a key benefit: “For situations when we apply a product to the turf, for example, and need to water immediately after, being

able to use my mobile while out on the course is fantastic. I can stop it should golfers approach and not have to interrupt play.

“And if I’ve set a watering programme and by the time I’m at home it’s started to rain, I can easily stop it from there too!

Couple that with easy-to-adjust sprinklers and I have roundthe-clock control able to choose exactly how I water and when I water,” he says.

The Lynx system conveniently combines all of your essential irrigation information in a single, intuitive interface, where it’s always readily available. You can instantly access relevant

course management informationpast, present or planned-from multiple sources.

Installed by local Toro dealer Full Circle Irrigation Ltd, based in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, David says that as well as being impressed himself, the club’s management were also happy and surprised how little disruption there was during installation.

“We chose Toro because they’re a reputable company, known for high quality, and we’re all happy to say we made the right choice,” David adds.

Toro Enquiry 35

Sherriff Amenity create mirror-like pond

After a number of improvements were made to the stunning eighteen hole golf course at Exeter Golf and Country Club, course manager John Parr encountered a problem with the newly built pond on the eighteenth hole.

To find a solution to the problem he sought the advice of Sherriff Amenity and following a site visit, a monthly programme was devised which included the use of LakePak WSP and Black Out.

LakePak WSP is a concentrated microbial product containing a proprietary blend of bacillus bacterial strains that biodegrade nutrients, organic matter and hydrocarbons to reduce foul odours and sludge in water. Renowned for improving water clarity and

quality, LakePak is also non-toxic to fish, humans and other animals – making it the perfect product for countryside based Exeter Golf and Country Club. To further enhance the aesthetic qualities of the lake, Black Out was used for its ability to transform pale, off-coloured water to a decorative, mirror like black colour. This highly concentrated lake and pond colourant also poses no threat to wildlife as it does not harm or discolour any of the lake’s residents. It works by acting as a shading barrier on the surface of the water to inhibit algae’s main food source - ultraviolet light, whilst allowing other light sources to pass

Enquiry 38

Club benefits from Limagrain advice

As a long time user of Limagrain products, Simon Cotterill – head greenkeeper at Market Drayton Golf Club, believes that the company has been instrumental in helping him transform the greens.

In 2010 he decided to undertake a major greens renovation programme and to help him along the way he sought the advice of the company.

To improve the overall quality of the grass species, Simon overseeds with Limagrain’s MM9 grass seed, which is a product of the MM range – one of the most respected brands

in the UK amenity industry. The MM9 grass seed produces a fine, dense sward for the ultimate playing surface, and Simon has certainly noticed the improvements.

“MM9 has extremely quick germination and we’ve seen a massive increase in grass coverage and density in the last five years on the greens,” he said.

Limagrain Enquiry 37

Pictorial Meadows turf makes an impact

Based on the same beautiful designed meadow seed mixes which Pictorial Meadows supplied for the Olympic Park – the new PM turf offers a quick and simple method of establishing a sustainable and impactful meadow; completely unique and different from other ‘wildlife’ and ‘turf’ products.

Developed over years of research this amazing new product has

only just become available to the UK market, where it is already in high demand from public authorities, private contractors and domestic gardeners.

Available only from Pictorial Meadows, please place orders or enquiries to: 01142 677 635; or sales@pictorialmeadows.co.uk .

Pictorial Meadows Enquiry 39

Sherriff Amenity

“We now have greens dominated by up to 70% bent grass instead of annual meadow grass.”

Shining a light on Torbay

Townscape gives concrete the visual edge

Townscape Products is launching a pioneering new concrete casting service that enables images, designs and textures to be embossed into the surface of walls and pavements.

The process, which is new to the UK, was the brainchild of interior architect Samuli Naamanka who wanted to apply graphics onto large concrete formats and speed up the hand process.

As part of the launch, Townscape Products, which has

manufactured concrete street furniture from its Sutton-inAshfield base for more than 40 years, has created a new division called Graphic Concrete HQ to reach out to architects, designers and town planners.

Jonathan Goss, managing director of Townscape Products, said: “Concrete has recently experienced a surge in popularity in the UK, but as widely used as it is – concrete has never previously provided much artistic or creative potential.

“Using our new method however, architects and designers now have Carte Blanche to turn walls or pavements into unique pieces of art that lift their projects and give them a signature look. From a simple pattern or transfer to an intricate artwork or deep sculpting – the potential is limitless.”

Townscape has already supplied an eye-catching 40-metre long art wall in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, on behalf of Ashfield District Council, displaying photographs

taken by students at Ashfield Academy.

Mr Goss added: “This innovative new product is ideal for local authorities, hospitals, schools and colleges, residential developments, retail sites, transport hubs, workplaces and many other public locations. We have already taken enquiries from architects and designers across the county.”

Townscape Products Enquiry 41

Torbay Council has partnered with GE Lighting to deliver significant financial and energy savings as part of a major refurbishment of the street lighting assets on its main roads.

The ambitious project saw more than 1,600 sodium streetlamps replaced with low energy LEDs, resulting in a dramatic 60 per cent reduction in energy consumption. In addition, the project has slashed C0 2 emissions by 57 per cent, as well as creating a brighter, safer nighttime environment.

reflector technology to minimise glare and direct the light, preventing it from trespassing into unwanted areas. This has enabled the council to switch to white LED light on the majority of its main roads, delivering improved facial recognition, less glare and better driving conditions.

The light fittings also have the capacity to be dimmed and the system is compatible with a variety of central management systems, giving the council full control of its lighting assets moving forwards.

GE Lighting Enquiry 42

Radhaus cycle parking tower launches in UK

A space-saving automated parking tower for bicycles developed and manufactured in Germany is being launched in the UK.

Parking solutions company Cardok has just secured the UK distributorship for the multistorey Radhaus cycle garage which has been designed by the Nussbaum Group.

New Hauraton Hydraulic Interactive App

Hauraton have developed an interactive Hydraulic App for tablets and lap/desktop computers that provides engineers and contractors with a selection of their surface water drainage channels available against four criteria, namely:

1. A specified rainfall – millimetres per hour (mm/h),

2. The surface coefficient of concrete, asphalt or pavement, or a specified surface coefficient value.

3. The length of the channel run required – metres (m).

4. The depth (breadth) of surface area to be drained – metres (m).

The Radhaus tower occupies a surface area of only 55 square metres by just 10.5 metres high, but can park up to 120 bicycles securely, protecting them from vandalism, theft and bad weather. It can be installed completely above ground or below ground with just the access level above ground. Cyclists open and lock their individual parking cubicles using an electronic RFID card.

They then slide their bike backwards into the storage box and secure it using a hinged wheel clamp.

To retrieve their bike, users log on to a screen that shows them which of 12 access points to collect it from. The bicycle is then moved automatically from the storage shelf and carried to the ground floor for collection.

Cardok UK’s

Nick Child said: “It’s particularly suitable for train stations and other places where lots of cyclists need to park their bikes at the same time. Most transport hubs just have sectioned off areas of flooring for this which takes up a massive amount of space and offers precious little security.”

Cardok Enquiry 44

Once the preferred values have been chosen, the App will automatically select all the channel options that can be used. The 3D channel images displayed can then be rotated on screen and show the water capacity held for each metre of channel based on the four criteria. Civil Engineers, and Landscaping Contractors can request the new Hauraton Hydraulic App by emailing technical@hauraton.co.uk

GE Lighting’s Spinella lanterns were installed throughout the project, using advanced optical

managing director

Bituchem used for major university development

Furnitubes celebrates 70 years

Furnitubes International Ltd, a leading supplier of park and street furniture, welcomes 2016 as its 70th year in business and launches new corporate branding to mark the occasion.

Bituchem’s specialist hard landscaping material has been applied to provide a new landscape for Hertfordshire University’s College Lane Campus.

As part of a major redevelopment project of the university’s existing campus, Bituchem supplied around 3000m² of its bestselling Natratex Gravel to provide maintenancefree footpaths across the campus.

surrounding black tarmac to form aesthetically pleasing pathways to match the modern surroundings of the university campus.

history of providing public seating, bollards, signage, litter bins and other products, Furnitubes offers a full suite of street furniture solutions.

Kelkay introduces decorative aggregates range

Kelkay has introduced new handy packs to the market leading aggregates range.

The company was started in 1946 by Jack Cluer and is still owned by the Cluer family. The key foundations remain in place to this day, as the company was built on a sensible alliance of traditional process and contemporary thought, values which continue to drive the company forward.

Over the last 70 years, Furnitubes has evolved and adapted to suit market needs,

The company continues to regularly introduce its own designs for new products and street furniture ranges, including the popular new RailRoad modular seating collection in 2015. This year promises more exciting new developments, with a variety of new products and interesting projects already in the pipeline.

To celebrate the company’s 70 years in business, Furnitubes is launching a new logo and

Taking the most popular decorative products – Natural Slate, White Sparkle, Alpine Grit, Autumn Gold and Washed Pebbles are now available for smaller areas and finishing touches. Ideal for plant pot toppings, interiors and water features, the smaller pack size is ideal to pick up and go.

aggregates lead the market because we assure unrivalled quality, provide a wide choice - and listen to our customers. That’s why we’ve launched the new handy packs.”

Kelkay Enquiry 49

Additions of Natural Slate Chippings, Yorkdale Cream and Cotswold Rock extend the aggregates core range, all are available in large and bulk bags,

Included in the development works is the surfacing of existing and new footpaths, for which Bituchem’s Natratex Gravel was used. The material presents a surface that contrasts with the Addagrip Terraco Ltd are delighted to announce that their Addaset, Addabound and Terrabound Resin Bound surfaces have all achieved BBA certification, making them the first and only Resin Bound Surfacing manufacturer to achieve this standard.

Natratex Gravel offers a fully compacted finish compared to real gravel, making it safer for pedestrian use and is virtually maintenance free once applied. The strong resin binder gives the surface a seamless finish that is resistant to deterioration, such as cracks or potholes, to prevent the likelihood of trips and falls whilst offering a soft, smooth surface to reduce injury.

Bituchem Enquiry 47

BBA certification received for surfacing range

BBA certification is widely known throughout the construction industry as a symbol of quality and reassurance.

It is a vital ingredient for product manufacturers to help ensure acceptance with specifiers, building control, Local Authorities and insurers. The BBA have worked with Addagrip to achieve the approval of their Resin Bound Surfacing through the BBA’s robust testing and assessment schemes.

Roger Critchley, Managing Director of Addagrip Terraco Ltd, says: “The BBA accreditation will set a benchmark for quality resin bound products and installations within the industry. The Addagrip Terraco Resin Bound products are a complete resin and aggregate system, installed by an Addagrip approved contractor to ensure that the correct ratio of resin to aggregate is achieved and the product installed according to our specific guidelines.”

Addagrip Terraco Ltd views the BBA certification as a major step forward and one that could be potentially game changing for the Resin Bound industry.

Addagrip Terraco Ltd Enquiry 50

Early weeds means action now

With the mild winter we’ve seen, weeds are germinating sooner than usual, according to Bayer technical manager, Colin Mumford.

“The lack of frost means weeds are coming through very early this year, so it’s advisable to treat once and treat effectively,” he says.

“Although the weeds are not prolific, they are appearing earlier than usual. Therefore treating with Pistol, which has a systemic and residual mode of action, means that once it is applied it will continue its effectiveness by creating a barrier on the upper profile of the soil throughout the season as more weeds germinate.”

Using only one application of Pistol, compared to the normal practice of two glyphosate applications at eight week intervals, equates to using 66 percent less glyphosate without compromising the effectiveness of controlling weeds. Additionally, with no mixing required and no product settling in the tank, Pistol offers a uniform consistency which means less chance of blocked nozzles making it easy to apply.

Pistol is a non-selective herbicide for the control of annual and perennial weeds and grasses, on soft and gravel surfaces in amenity situations.

As an all-in-one herbicide, Pistol also offers minimised operator exposure, reduced risk of spillage and a cost saving, as it does not need to have glyphosate added to it.

Bayer Enquiry 53

Foamstream continues to lead the way in the “Alternatives market” to traditional herbicide

Foamstream is scientifically proven to be more effective than all other alternative methods of herbicide free weed and moss control.

Foamstream can prove less than twice the applications per season compared to hot water only techniques, 75% cheaper than hand weeding, 5 times more effective than vinegar. Multi award

Weeds are a growing problem

With the change in climate, regulations and operational pressures, weeds have never been such a visible problem.

Weeds grow in channels and unsightly areas; light duty spraying only kills the weed turning it brown, however most seeds drop into the detritus and weeks later the weeds appear again.

The Nimos WeedRippers create an immediate visual effect by removing both the weeds and the detritus they grow in, an optional fine metal brush allows for cleaning sensitive areas like patios.

Overton Enquiry 55

New Kurtail Gold herbicide is a winner

It is not very often that replacement herbicide products offer greater value for money and much wider areas of use than previous incarnations.

However, this can be said of new Kurtail Gold (150g/L glufosinate ammonium), available from Progreen.

Kurtail Gold comes as the replacement to the already highly rated, market leading herbicide Kurtail, which established itself not just as an effective total weedkiller but also as a solution to controlling the notoriously difficult to treat weed marestail/horsetail.

Louise Boothman, Progreen Business Manager, says: “We

believe Kurtail Gold will become this years must have weed control product for contractors as it now not only gives strong weed control but has a wider scope for use, being approved on hard surfaces, natural surfaces such as gravel, along fence lines and even for line marking on sports pitches.”

Progreen Enquiry 57

winning Foamstream continues to be adopted by contractors, councils and land owners, in the UK, helping them reduce their herbicide use in areas where restrictions apply, for use off season and in all weather conditions.

Selecting the right product to safeguard landscape and amenity areas

Landscape and amenity areas are recognised as vital to our quality of life but must be managed to maintain them in good health. So how do you select an appropriate product for tackling pests, weeds and diseases?

The on-line version of the UK Pesticide Guide has a powerful search facility and typing ‘Amenity’ into the Crop search box produces a list of 197 products with approval for professional use in amenity areas. This includes 24 products for pest control, 43 products for disease control and 130 products for weed control. A similar exercise with ‘forest’ in the crop search box produces a list of 204 products with 30 for pest control, 34 for disease control and 140 for weed control.

A knowledgeable advisor can select an appropriate product from this list to combat the problem to be addressed or the target search box may be of assistance here. These lists contain products with label approvals for these uses and those whose use is permitted under the Extension of Authorisation for Minor Use (EAMU) programme and it is

WeedingTech Enquiry 54 kept up-to-date with regular updates throughout the year.

In addition to helping identify which products are available for pest, weed or disease control, the UK Pesticide Guide also provides details of maximum dose levels, maximum number of treatments and latest dates of application. It also provides essential reference to hazard classifications and required safety and environmental precautions. Annual subscription to the UK Pesticide Guide online is just

£65+VAT. For instant access visit www.ukpesticideguide.co.uk.

The UK Pesticide Guide is produced by the British Crop Production Council and is also available in hard copy (£51.00 = P&P), or take advantage of a package offer of hard copy and online access for just £99.

For further details visit bcpc.org or call 01420 593200, or email publications@bcpc.org

BCPC Enquiry 56

Cleveland Sprayers offers complete solution

Gambetti Mini demountable sprayers are available from Cleveland Sprayers and are strong but light as they are made in aluminium. Ideal for trucks, ATV’s, UTVs and trucksters, the tank size is 200 litres and comes with an electric pump.

Boom sizes range from 6m down to 2m with the possibility to add shrouded covers to 3.5m boom. Contact 01361 883418 for more details.

ICL launch four new products

ICL has kick-started 2016 by expanding its product portfolio after announcing the launch of four new formulations.

Over the years, ICL has developed a rich portfolio of products serving the needs of turf and landscape, professional horticulture and specialty agriculture with market leading brands.

A commitment to investing in research and development has ensured that the company continues to bring to market the most innovative products year on year.

Emphasising high standards in sprayer operations

In launching the Amenity Forum

2016 Sprayer of the Year Awards, John Moverley, Chairman of the Forum, emphasised how important it was for the sector to get involved, demonstrate its commitment to best practice and showcase the high standards of operation across the sector.

The Awards were launched at the exhibition in Harrogate and, as in 2015, they are being sponsored by Syngenta and ICL, with support from BASIS Registration.

All of these organisations are members of the Amenity Forum, the voluntary initiative for the

sector in all aspects of weed, pest and disease control, promoting and supporting best practice. The 2016 Sprayer Awards will have four categories and the winners will be announced at the Forum’s annual conference on October 13 at the Pirelli Stadium, Burton on Trent. Categories are: sports and amenity turf using boom sprayer; sports and amenity turf using hand held equipment; hard and porous surfaces using vehicle mounted equipment; and hard and porous surfaces / Invasive weed species using hand held equipment.

Amenity Forum Enquiry 63

This year sees two new cleaning products added to the ICL product range, starting with Sp0tless – which is a highly formulated cleaning agent for the cleaning and decontamination of spraying equipment. Especially effective for clearing

sticky formulations, Sp0tless thoroughly decontaminates the sprayer after use and maintains the overall efficiency of the equipment. It is also incredibly easy to apply - simply half fill the tank with clean water and add Sp0tless at the selected rate.

The second product added to ICL’s cleaning variety is the biocide Ranger – a hard surface cleaner for use on all hard surfaces. Ranger can be applied to concrete, asphalt, tarmac, block paving and artificial sports surfaces and continues to work for up to seven days after application. Economical to use, Ranger is excellent for cleaning and removing severe algae, slimes and lichens.

Also new to ICL’s product portfolio is Colour Pro Indicator – an advanced spray pattern indicator which assists spraying and minimizes spray drift. It has

been formulated to provide the optimum conditions for the most accurate application of liquid sprays to turf and bare ground. This low-staining formulation features a premium blue indicator and includes a sequestering agent to prevent lock-up.

The quality of the water used in spray solutions can have a significant impact on the performance of the pesticide or foliar nutrition being used and it is for this reason why ICL has developed this unique formulation.

pHixer is a specialist water conditioner that adjusts spray tank water to an optimum pH level of 4.0 - 5.0. It contains chemical water conditioners that dissolve the carbonates in the spray solution to reduce their ability to react with pesticides or foliar feeds. Users will see the water turn pink when it reaches

the optimum pH level and pHixer is especially useful for herbicide, fungicide or foliar feed treatments in hard water areas.

ICL Enquiry 62

Cleveland Crop Sprayers Enquiry 61

Monsanto explains the future of Glyphosate

Restrictions on and withdrawal from the market of pesticide products is an ongoing concern for amenity managers looking to provide top quality sporting and leisure facilities.

Glyphosate herbicide is one of the latest products to come under the spotlight as it undergoes its EU registration process. Monsanto explains what the process entails and how it affects users’ access to the market-leading Roundup family of products now and in the future

Is glyphosate about to be affected by legislative changes?

EU re-registration of glyphosate has been in progress since 2012 as part of a routine review of all pesticide active substances that takes place every 10 years. The approval for this active ingredient is underway and expected to be complete by June 2016.

What happens then?

Manufacturers then have to apply for the authorisation of each of their formulated products – such as Roundup ProVantage – by their individual member state (MS). In the United Kingdom, this is the task of the Chemicals Registration Directorate (CRD). This is expected

to be completed by June 2017.

Has the process been affected by any of the recent concerns about glyphosate?

The European Food Safety Authority conclusion that glyphosate is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic hazard to humans was published in November 2015 so the process is now moving again and glyphosate will go before the Commission in the coming months.

Is re-registration likely to affect the range of products available to me in the future?

Because every currently authorised glyphosate product will need to be re-submitted it is possible that some manufacturers will not apply for authorisation of their products for commercial reasons. Parallel imports from reference products which are not supported will also disappear. Monsanto will be submitting a wide range of Roundup products.

Will manufacturers have to change their products at all to gain authorisation?

As each formulation will be assessed individually there is scope for changes to be made.

There will be no changes to the formulation, effectiveness or proven safety profile of popular Roundup products.

So can I continue to use Roundup during the reregistration process?

You can continue to use Roundup products as usual. All glyphosate-containing herbicides like Monsanto Roundup products have authorisations which remain in place until they are reregistered, replaced or withdrawn which will not happen until the end of the process.

I usually stock-up for the season in early spring. If I buy Roundup at the beginning of 2017 will I still be able to use it after the new authorisation comes into force?

The current products are available for supply by distribution until 30th June 2017 with a further 12 months for use-up by the end-user. Should there be further delays in new authorisations for any reason the current authorisation period will be extended.

SCH spreads the quality message

SCH (Supplies) Ltd recently sent one of their Multi Nozzle PSP sprayers to Slovakia, by request of a large design and maintenance company that are responsible for many public parks and open spaces, as well as football pitches and golf courses.

The PSP Multi Nozzle Sprayer (Ref PSPMN), has a capacity of 30 litres and is mounted on a robust three wheel chassis with the leading two wheels being pneumatic.

A 12 volt diaphragm pump is powered from its own integral battery, and a charger is supplied with each unit. A brass trigger lance is also supplied, and is ideal for spot sprayer. There are four nozzle holders on the boom, and there are three individual types of nozzle on a moveable turret on each, providing three different types of spray.

SCH Enquiry 67

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Monsanto Enquiry

Headland helps college improve grassed areas and contain Japanese Knotweed

St Catherine’s College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford with a large and diverse community.

Head Gardener Simon Horwood relies on Headland Amenity to help with the college’s complex nutritional requirements.

Alex Hawkes, from Headland Amenity, provides new ideas and technical advice and one issue Simon has had to deal with this year was Japanese Knotweed in some properties on an attached annex site. “Alex suggested Headland’s New Way Weedspray, an environmentally sensitive solution as it breaks down to just water,” he said. “This was really important as colleges and schools have to be

careful what chemicals they use. It was a strategy that wouldn’t completely remove the Knotweed but would help to bring it under control.

“The New Way Weedspray was applied on hard areas with great results before a targeted spray of stronger Dakar Pro (glyphosate) was applied. Any emerging weeds were spot-treated with New Way

Weedspray and the combination of these two products cleared the site ready for the students to move in for the start of the new term.

“It has successfully reduced the invasive growth of the Knotweed but we’ll be on the lookout for any further growth next year.”

Headland Amenity Enquiry 68

The need for integrated weed control

The Association for Public Service Excellence’s latest report outlines the argument for adopting integrated weed control methods.

It explains “how the latest guidelines on integrated weed control can help local authorities meet their legal duties to reduce harm to the public and environment”.

APSE shares the view that the reliance upon chemical methods of weed control is unsustainable and recognises the growing evidence that points towards the increased use of herbicide and pesticide is damaging to the environment.

Looking at environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional spraying, the report highlights how Aberdeen City Council have recently implemented a hot water weed and moss killing system from Cardley-Wave after a trial period proved successful.

Aberdeen City Councillor Neil Cooney said investing in the innovative Cardley-Wave hot water weed control system had paid off for the authority.

“More and more countries are banning the use of certain types of weedkillers so it makes sense for Aberdeen to stay ahead of the legislation and take the best environmentally-friendly course

of action now available to control weed growth,” he added.

Cardley-Wave Enquiry 72

Digital ID helps experts stand out from crowd

CWC sets sights on Japanese Knotweed

Japanese Knotweed has been a guest on our shores for around two hundred years, initially as a desirable ornamental but more recently as a much maligned and virulent intruder.

The need to deal with Japanese Knotweed is dictated by the circumstances in which it is found to be growing.

Complete Weed Control advises that the law is clear, as a landowner you have a responsibility to prevent its spread into the wild, (Countryside and Wildlife Act, 1981, section 14.2).

Careful consideration of the site, its history, the planned development, level changes, timescales, buried services; previous attempts at control (or concealment) are all to be considered. Sometimes minor modifications to a planned build can create the opportunity to resolve matters with ease.

There are a number of simple rules that ought to be remembered and passed on within the industry, they are as follows: always survey a site for Japanese knotweed first; never initiate site clearance prior to being certain about the presence of the weed (a little knotweed goes a very long

way); in the event of Japanese knotweed being identified, isolate it. Not doing so has cost some companies large sums of money; and take the time to consider all of the available options before embarking upon what could be a very expensive and fruitless exercise.

For the most part, a considered programme of control with sufficient thought as to how best to manage any impact upon the intended development plan will bring a happy and sensibly priced conclusion to the problem. CWC Enquiry 73

The launch of a new digital ID card will make it quick and easy for landscapers to pick out a professional when it comes to pest control.

The mobile app will effectively act as proof of credentials –creating the ability to recognise experts in the field at a glance.

The facility has been developed by BASIS PROMPT – a professional register set up by the pest control industry itself

to drive forward standards.

Acting chief executive Stephen Jacob is confident it will help landscape professionals to steer clear of a growing number of unqualified traders.

“The pest control sector is awash with people who are not true specialists and many charge big prices for jobs that are often left half-finished,” he said. “Every member of the BASIS PROMPT register is a fully-trained expert who is up

to date with the latest products and techniques, so anyone carrying the new digital identity card will be a reputable and qualified tradesperson.

“Treatment is often complicated and specialised and it’s easy for those who aren’t properly trained to get out of their depth or make the problem worse.”

Evolution knapsack sprayer system makes life easier

Rigby Taylor has launched the new Evolution knapsack sprayer range specially developed for the amenity professional user.

The system package has been designed to apply products effectively at 1 bar pressure and, with the supplied nozzles, apply a medium to coarse spray application rate of 150 litres per hectare, at normal walking speed.

Each Evolution knapsack sprayer comes equipped with 1 bar cf pressure regulator and a range of nozzles that offer operators a choice of spray swath widths as well as a nozzle for spot treating.

As the Evolution system controls many application variables, Rigby Taylor will also be supplying users with specific dilution recommendations for

its range of products – meaning that the operator simply selects a suitable nozzle for the area being sprayed.

Four knapsack models will initially be available: two backpack versions having tank capacities of 15 litres and 20 litres; and compression sprayers with seven- and 12-litre tanks. The system will also be supplied with a range of optional accessories such as 3.2 or 5.4 metre extension lances, nozzle shrouds and made-to-measure booms.

Commenting on the launch Peter Corbett, Rigby Taylor’s Chemical Product Manager, said: “The new Evolution range has been introduced to simplify the understanding and application of products applied

Quad-X and Blaney wipeout costs

Quad-X has evolved the process of Weed Wiping and their products have become a popular alternative to boom spraying thanks to massive savings on chemical through the use of the Quad-X Weed Wipers.

By targeting only the weeds with herbicide, the crops or grass/ clover are left untouched and crop or grass growth rate is not affected.

Quad-X have a unique range of wipers to cater for every application and budget. The Quad-X Wipeout and Xterminator are dual roller systems which have been developed to give you maximum coverage and reduced chemical usage, saving you time and money.

Quad-X manufacture a number of models of Weed Wiper including the 2.4m wide Wipeout, Xterminator and Weed Destroyer which can all be towed behind an ATV, Utility Vehicle or Tractor. Blaney Agri, their tractor machinery division have also developed an innovative range of tractor mounted wipers offering contact widths of 3m, 4.5m and 5.7m.

through knapsack sprayers and to promote best practice in spray applications.”

Rigby Taylor Enquiry

Wipe out weeds with Wessex

Consider the alternative to spraying weeds and you could be looking at a fast and far more cost-effective method of wiping them out.

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The concept of weedwiping was developed in New Zealand in the 1970’s and it offers a controlled method of targeting weeds.

A weedkiller chemical is coated onto a carpet roller which is wiped across the weeds, applying chemical to the underside of the leaf. It’s an ideal method for paddock, pasture and turfcare, using much less chemical than spraying and, as it targets the vulnerable undersidepart of the weed leaf, it hits it where it hurts without killing grass or clover.

The Wessex Weedwiper attaches to a standard ball hitch on an ATV, UTV or 4 x 4 and comprises a unique roller carpet mounted on a sturdy mainframe.

There’s a large wheel at each end, one of which drives the roller rotation and the roller runs in the opposite direction to the travel of the Rotowiper to allow thorough coating of the underside of the leaf.

The machine is height adjustable to ensure all weed types and growth stages are catered for. A reliable pump transfers chemical from the tank to the carpet, coating it evenly and thoroughly to ensure the weed receives the right amount of lethal chemical.

To see the flow of chemical being applied to the carpet roller

Wessex recommend adding a small amount of foam, such as Deva foam, to the chemical tank, allowing the operator a visual aid to regulate the amount of chemical being applied.

More chemical is added by a simple switch controlled by the operator from the seat of the towing vehicle.

The Wessex Rotowiper is available in a 2.4m width and can be used on any vehicle with a tow hitch.

Wessex International Enquiry 77

Sprayer investment earns rewards

Beversbrook Sports and Community Facility introduced a Martin Lishman sprayer to their range of turf care equipment.

Key features of the 250 litre Demount Sprayer include a Honda GX160 4.8HP engine coupled to an AR70 PTO

pump; 3-section balanced valve block with pressure regulation, agitation and isolator for each boom section and circuit rinse and eye wash tanks.

Beversbrook Sports Facility upgraded to a 6 metre heavy duty boom with stainless steel spray

lines for durability and a hand lance for basic spot spraying. When the sprayer is not in use, the chassis can easily be lifted out of the Kubota RTV bed and stored away.

The 250 litre Demount Sprayer has given the groundscare team

the flexibility they were looking for and the tank size is perfect for their requirements.

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Blaney Enquiry 78

Martin Lishman Enquiry

Tailored fertiliser plans improve grass sward quality

Using a bespoke fertiliser plan can pay dividends to the grass quality, sward health and aesthetic appeal of all amenity green spaces, no matter what their size, scale or function.

Joe Hendy, Germinal’s FACTS qualified technical sales representative for the South West, says it can be simple and cost effective to implement a customised nutrient programme.

The principles of preparing a site-specific fertiliser plan are the same irrespective of the green space’s purpose. “Whether the grassed area is a community football pitch, bowls green, school rugby pitch, tennis court, Premiership pitch, golf green, tee or fairway, it makes no difference, the fundamentals are always the same: the grass must receive the right balance of

nutrients in the right quantity at the right time,” explains Joe.

Once the soil status and health has been assessed, a bespoke nutrient programme can be developed. A FACTS based consultant will be able to propose a tailor made fertiliser plan which not only considers the soil’s nutrient requirements, but which also takes into account the groundsman’s budget and machinery.

“Soils and grass swards constantly change; not only over the course of a growing season, but also from year to year,” adds Joe. “It is therefore essential to monitor soil condition and sward health over time and to adapt the fertiliser programme accordingly.”

Germinal Enquiry 83

Headland Amenity helps you understand fertilisers

Fertilisers play an essential part in turf management, but the huge variety of different products in the market can make it difficult to understand which is most suitable for your situation.

Understanding what we want a fertiliser to achieve, for how long, in what part of the growing year and at what cost are some of the first steps in product selection.

Different alternatives exist for cooler spring recovery compared with a pre-tournament approach in summer for example. Some turf areas require very little in the way of supplemental nutrition, others may need significant inputs to establish a healthy sward.

“A good starting point as always, is a full soil analysis backed up by an interpretation of what the results actually mean in relation to your surfaces,” said Andy Russell, Sales & Marketing Director, Headland Amenity.

“Getting to know which fertilisers work best for you, can be a minefield at the best of times. Now, with the advent of new CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging) regulations, familiar products may now carry different labels.

“All products manufactured since the 1st of June 2015 must have been classified under CLP and some will now exhibit hazard warning symbols. This does not necessarily mean that your chosen fertiliser formulation has changed (although it may have done), it’s more that under the new rules some fertiliser constituents are now considered hazardous when previously they were not.

“Product labels may look different in that they may carry the new globally harmonised system of ‘red diamond’ hazard symbols, rather than any old, square, orange ones.

“These changes also mean that all fertiliser products should now have a new CLP compliant Safety Data sheet (SDS), which all manufacturers and suppliers should be able to supply. Only with these updated SDS’ can correct COSHH assessments be undertaken to allow safe and proper use of products.”

Headland Amenity has extended their popular range of C-Complex mineral-organic fertilisers to introduce the new C-Complex Sport formulation. Launched at BTME 2016, C-Complex Sport is designed for use on sports pitches, racecourses and general

amenity turf as well as golf tees, approaches and fairways.

C-Complex Sport 14-2-5+MgO is an outfield fertiliser designed for use on coarse turf areas.

The homogenous, regular granule breaks down easily and is formulated to provide good growth even at low soil temperatures with extended release due to the combination of organic nitrogen, ammonium and urea, alongside organic potassium.

Just like the highly successful C-Complex fine turf range, C-Complex Sport is formulated using Naturvigor, a combination of aerobically-composted cow manure and high levels of humic acid. This results in a finished product that is almost 50% organic – featuring 6% humic acid, cold-pressed seaweed meal and Kali Vinasse, a slow release organic potassium source.

Headland Amenity Enquiry 84

Aitkens provide full service at club

Aitkens have been supplying Reddish Vale Golf Club with products for some years now and the success and benefits to the course are matched only by Aitkens’ first class personal approach which Head Greenkeeper Nick Wild acknowledges has been so invaluable.

When he took over in April 2012, Nick Wild, wanted to rejuvenate

the course by rectifying some long standing issues and so brought in Paul Emmanuel Technical Representative for Aitkens to advise on his options.

After initial talks Nick started using a Terralift programme which included Rocastem, Award Ultima fertiliser and Terralift T-Thatch to tackle a drainage issue caused by the river Tame, which is prone to flooding.

All of the courses drainage outlets run into the river. When it reaches saturation point the course continues to hold water even after the river level drops enough for the flow of water to resume. With an average 120mm of rain over nine days in November, it can often be a problem.

However, after using the Terralift programme for three years Nick has

seen this issue dissipate whilst the course continues to improve in terms of the sward, drainage and thatch.

Award Ultima fertiliser is also part of the programme which has been used to great success and its promise of a thicker sward and improved colour was evident within days of using it.

Aitkens Enquiry 85

Terra Clean 100 is favoured by smaller clubs

Wiedenmann UK’s Terra Clean 100 is an effective entry level cleaner and collector.

Land driven, the Terra Clean 100 can be towed behind a wide range of utility vehicles from 12 hp without the need for a PTO. As no hydraulics or electrics are required it is favoured by those clubs or organisations with a small number of pitches to maintain.

Readily manoeuvrable and at just 1.2m wide it is sufficiently narrow to pass through the gates of most facilities yet wide

enough to cover a full size pitch quickly. With a four brush rotor, it collects dirt, debris and some rubber crumb onto a mechanical vibrating screen. Next it efficiently separates the debris from the crumb rubber before returning infill back to the playing surface and retaining the debris in the 50 litre hopper.

The windows of hopper cover allow the operator to see at a glance just how much debris has been picked from the surface.

Wiedenmann Enquiry

88

Hi-Tech Turf launches new artificial grass range

Hi-Tech Turf have launched their new artificial grass products for 2016, trade customers have a huge variety of products to choose from which cover landscaping, commercial and sport requirements.

“We are incredibly pleased with the turfs we have chosen and our current trade base are excited to get their new samples and start selling, we are currently dealing

with enquiries from prospective trade customers who feel the range can provide them with a new edge in 2016,” said a company spokesman.

Turf can be cut to size or supplied by the full roll so any size project can be catered for. All products are stocked and available for immediate despatch.

Hi-Tech Turf Enquiry 89

Championship club signs new pitch deal

Derby County FC has announced plans to build six new pitches using a new British grass system that is taking world football by storm.

In a statement of their ambitions, the club has signed a multimillion pound deal with SIS Pitches to install the company’s revolutionary SISGRASS reinforced natural grass at the iPro Stadium and Moor Farm training facilities.

SISGRASS involves injecting, or ‘stitching’, more than 240 million lengths of synthetic yarn directly into a pitch – a total of 150 miles – which provide a

critical anchor point for natural grass roots to bind onto.

The result is an immaculate surface that is up to seven times as hard-wearing as natural grass alone and yet offers softer, safer and more consistent playing characteristics for today’s injuryconscious players.

The Derby County news comes after SIS Pitches announced SISGRASS has been chosen as the bespoke surface for the 2018 World Cup final in Moscow.

SISGRASS

Enquiry 91

S&C Slatter becomes first FIH Certified Field Builder

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has confirmed that Sports Construction Specialist, S&C Slatter is the first FIH Certified Field Builder.

An FIH Certified Field Builder is defined as a company which specialises in building hockey fields and provides a holistic service to their clients.

The FIH Certified Field Builder designation is an important part of the FIH Quality Programme for Hockey Turf, which is designed to ensure the sustainability, affordability and accessibility of hockey turf worldwide.

This internationally recognised quality-assurance programme recognises that a new hockey field is a major investment which demands that it meets the expectations of all stakeholders

– hockey players, associations, clubs and schools. It looks to help in ensuring that good quality hockey fields are built for all levels of play from elite competition through to community development.

S&C Slatter is currently working with a number of clients in developing plans for new artificial turf hockey fields.

S&C Slatter Enquiry 93

Synthetic surfaces need attention emerging from winter

Emerging from winter brings with it a range of challenges and tasks for maintaining a synthetic sports surface. A proactive approach helps to ensure consistent playing characteristics, aesthetic qualities and ultimately provides a safer facility for sport to be played.

Garry Martin, director of Replay Maintenance, said: “Problems with drainage will become far more apparent during wetter weather, therefore a proactive planned approach to maintenance is necessary. By implementing the correct procedures at the right time the pile will be more fluid and the fill more mobile. Keeping the rainwater free flowing will also inhibit moss/ algae growth and in turn means a more open, de-compacted surface. By far the most robust approach to

synthetic pitch maintenance is to have strong synergy between ‘inhouse’ techniques and specialist ‘outsourced’ processes. The daily and weekly element of brushing will greatly improve the look, feel and longevity of the surface. If you don’t have the resources of your own ‘in-house’ grounds staff and equipment, a specialist maintainer can offer this type of weekly service.”

The Replay Revive process is widely recognised as the industryleading standard for synthetic maintenance techniques and this can continue to take place during wetter periods. The Replay Rejuvenation process uses compressed air to alleviate carpet compaction, remove the contaminated infill and replace this with new clean

University chooses SISIS for synthetic surfaces

A SISIS Brush-Pro ride-on brushing system and SISIS SSS1000 towed rotary brush sweeper have been bought by Nottingham Trent University (NTU) to keep its sporting facilities in the highest possible standard.

Alan Horgan, landscape services co-ordinator for the university, oversees a team of ten which is divided across the university’s three campuses; Clifton, City and Brackenhurst.

To help the team with their maintenance programmes, they have an impressive line-up of SISIS machinery including the Brush-Pro, SSS1000 sweeper and Zig-Zag brush for all synthetic surface maintenance.

With a newly built 3G synthetic pitch, Alan is full of praise for his most recent SISIS purchase, the Brush-Pro and SSS1000 sweeper. Small enough to manoeuvre through a single gate, yet capable of performing the required daily or weekly maintenance activities to keep a synthetic surface in perfect shape, the Brush-Pro ride-on system has been specifically designed for maintaining synthetic surfaces.

It consists of a pair of midmounted oscillating brush units for periodic aggressive maintenance and foldable rear mounted brushes spreading 3 metres for more regular maintenance, which means fewer passes are needed compared to more conventional drag brushing, causing less surface compaction.

Failure to regularly remove dirt, leaf debris and other detritus from a synthetic surface can lead to contamination of the infill, which in turn prevents rainwater from draining freely through the carpet. The SISIS Brush-Pro gives a nice even distribution of the rubber crumb.

granulate. The Sheffield College Hillsborough Campus maintains two synthetic surfaces within the grounds the college with the help of Replay Maintenance. Replay have been contracted to carry out brushing on a weekly basis, and operate their Revive process six times a year. Added extras within the contract means Trevor can utilise the Revive+ 3 day process once a year as well as the repair services when necessary. The other synthetic pitch is a small multi-use area on the rooftop of UTC Sheffield. The location of the pitch meant Replay had to look at the accessibility for their machinery but ithas so far been cleaned once, with the plan of doing this four times a year.

Replay Maintenance Enquiry 94

READER ENQUIRY 96

Top marks for new pitch at academy

Huish Episcopi Academy boasts one of very few provisions for playing football, with the area identified by the Football Association (FA) as one in need of further development.

Huish applied for a grant from the Football Foundation’s

(FF) funding scheme, which would allow for a high quality replacement which would avoid injury, and build on the school’s strong reputation for sports.

TigerTurf was chosen to deliver the pitch. The leading manufacturer supplied a Soccer

Real 60 XQ pitch suitable to serve the school’s strong sports curriculum of football and hockey, as well as supporting extracurricular use from two large community football clubs.

The installation itself was carried out by specialist contractor

McArdle Sport-Tec, in just three months, with the work taking place towards the end of the academic year and through the school holidays to minimise disruption.

TigerTurf Enquiry 98

Notts Sport pitch wins approval from internationals

Holcombe Hockey Club in Kent is one of the country’s leading club sides who boast a dozen full internationals in their ranks.

So when the time came for Holcombe to commission the reconstruction of their home pitch, the club approached leading synthetic surfacing supplier and official England Hockey Facilities Partner Notts Sport.

Through its unique position in the market, working with a variety of UK and international manufacturing partners, Notts

Sport offers the widest possible range of FIH (International Hockey Federation) compliant pitches and systems with a comprehensive choice of solutions which are tailored to meet each customer’s individual requirements.

Established in 1984, Notts Sport is the leading specialist in the design, advice and supply of artificial turf for hockey and other sports.

Notts Sport Enquiry 99

O’Brien Sports goes back to school for new pitch

Leading sports pitch construction specialists, O’Brien Sports, has joined forces with the Official Facilities Partner of England Hockey, Notts Sports, to install a new 3G synthetic turf football pitch for Christ’s College Finchley.

The project has seen O’Brien perform earthworks remodelling, consisting of cut and fill of the site to form a plateau level for the proposed new pitch.

The works also included the installation of a sub base, dynamic layer, prefabricated

shockpad, high performance NottsGrass 50 synthetic pitch, drainage, kerbs, fencing and floodlighting.

Steve Hillman, general manager of O’Brien Sports, said: “We are committed to investing in cutting edge surveying equipment and state-of-the-art GPS controlled dozers, so that we are able deliver the design to the precise specifications set out for the customer. This ensures we can continually improve the quality of our work and the speed of installation, saving our clients both time and money.”

The O’Brien Sports management team has over 55 years’ experience in sports pitch construction.

Recent projects have included the construction of a 3G football pitch at Worthing FC, a Lano 3G synthetic pitch at Westfield Academy, a sand dressed hockey pitch at Oswestry School, two natural turf pitches for Rugby Town Junior Football Club and preparation works for the replacement of Wasps’ Ricoh Arena natural turf pitch.

O’Brien Sports Enquiry 100

Verti-Top helps ProGround break into new business

ProGround has provided external grounds maintenance solutions to a variety of clients like schools, parks and sports clubs. Managing Director Adam Green turned to Charterhouse Turf Machinery for the specialist machinery the company has needed to complete these contracts. The Verti-Top 1200 was purchased in 2015 and has become the fundamental piece of machinery

in their ‘revitalisation’ procedure for artificial maintenance. The Verti-Top employs a rotary brush to remove debris and top-layer infill from the turf, then sifts the debris out in a unique vibratory shaker which redistributes the clean infill back on the field. Finishing the work is a rear lag brush, leaving a clean and smooth playing surface. “It’s a great bit of equipment in that

depending on the brush depth, we can conduct a deep clean as well as a remedial clean.”

Adam estimates that in 3-4 years the synthetic work is likely to make up a large percentage of their total business, making the investment in machinery very worthwhile.

Charterhouse Turf Machinery Enquiry 101

Demo day planned by GKB

RJ National achieves GEO re-certified

GKB machines will be hosting a demo day aimed at maintaining synthetic turf.

The day will be an ideal opportunity for sports clubs, contractors and carpet suppliers to get hands on with a full range of equipment.

On the day support from Branson Tractors will allow attendees to see all the kit working on both sand and rubber crumb fields.

Also expert advice will be on hand from our contracting division based in Holland and Rob Bradshaw awardwinning head groundsman at the one leisure site the event is hosted at.

The event is open to all but please confirm attendance to tom@gkbmachines.com or 07495883617.

GKB Enquiry 104

New UK distributor range for NOBLAT range

French manufacturer NOBLAT creates a range of turfcare machinery and is best-known for top-dressers aimed at both natural and synthetic sports pitches, racecourses and parkland.

Ranging from 400 to 4000L, the self-propelled, tow behind and demount machines can be configured as curtain drop or with spinners. NOBLAT spreads sand, compost, rubber crumb and other substrate to suit a wide range of applications.

NOBLAT top-dressers will be imported and distributed in the UK by newly formed AllezGrow via its network of

dealers. In addition, AllezGrow will shortly be announcing more product lines to complement the range and respond to customer requirements.

AllezGrow Enquiry 106

Ransomes Jacobsen’s threehole golf course, The RJ National, located at their European headquarters on the outskirts of Ipswich, has been re-certifi ed by the Golf Environment Organization (GEO).

With this latest accolade, the RJ National becomes the fi rst golf course in the UK to be awarded GEO Certifi ed status for commitment to sustainable development for a third time.

In his report, Keith Duff, the independent verifi er who carried out the course’s recertification audit said: The aim was to produce a sustainably managed golf course, using turf grasses (mainly bents and fescues) managed appropriately with low inputs of water, fertiliser and pesticide. This has been achieved.”

Enquiry 105

Ransomes Jacobsen

Guests from around the world visit GIS in San Diego

Over 80 Ransomes Jacobsen guests and staff from Europe, the Asia-Pacific territory and South America attended the Golf Industry Show in San Diego recently.

Following long flights from all parts of the globe, the first full day in California featured a golf competition at Rancho Bernardo Inn Golf Resort.

The next day, it was a return visit to Rancho Bernardo for a Product Demonstration event, bolstered by additional guests from Spain and Russia, which featured the Jacobsen Spraytek, the new Jacobsen HR700 batwing rotary, the Jacobsen Truckster – with an opportunity to test it against the competition, and finally a tour of the Rancho Bernardo maintenance facility.

Day three involved another early start as the group boarded coaches and were transported to the Coronado Municipal Golf Course for a combined Smithco/ Turfco demonstration event. During the afternoon there were back-to-back presentations on the construction and maintenance of different sports surfaces.

Day four was Show Day, with the Jacobsen booth at the impressive San Diego Convention Centre a major attraction for the guests. The impressive display of Jacobsen equipment included the new range of Jacobsen aerators and new Jacobsen HR700 wide area rotary.

Ransomes Jacobsen Enquiry 109

The up and downs of seeding solved by Redexim

Craigielaw Golf Club is a challenging 18-hole championship golf course designed by Donald Steel.

Situated on Scotland’s Golf Coast, just outside of Edinburgh, Craigielaw greens are undulating so finding the right over-seeder was a challenge for Head Greenkeeper, Brian McKendrick. Brian and his six full time members of staff have found the Redexim Verti-Seed 804 to be exactly what an over-seeder should be – easy to use and easy to adjust. It achieves an even spread of seed; at an even depth; over contours.

To complement the Verti-Seed, Brian took delivery of a VertiDrain 7416 at around the same time.

Craigielaw has very firm ground – built on farmland but with Links style fairways so they have areas of sandy and soil loam. They are using the Verti-Drain on greens, tees, approaches and walk-offs and use a contractor, with a bigger Redexim VertiDrain, to do the fairways because of the larger area and varying conditions involved

ATT’s INFiNi cuts costs and pitches

The INFiNiSystem30 from Advanced Turf Technology (ATT) was developed to cater for the needs of the groundsman. It can be driven either fully electrically via a single or double battery module or by hybrid electric via an engine generator configuration.

A recent study at a football club that uses a petrol mower found that fuel costs per mow were £3.52. Based on 10 cuts per week, for 49 weeks of the year,

the total fuel expenditure worked out at £1,724.80 per mower.

Mow the same pitch with the electric ATT 30” INFiNiSystem, the same number of times per week and weeks per year, and the club could save a staggering £1,592.50 a year per mower. In simple terms, you can mow a full size football pitch for less than 50p.

Charterhouse Turf Machinery Enquiry 111

Etesia launches battery powered models

Etesia has launched three new battery-powered pedestrian rotary mowers – the PACS push and PACTS single speed 46cm models and the NACS push 41cm model.

Users will be capable of mowing with or without collection in all conditions as well as undertake high-quality mulching, and with the new rear roller kit now stripe for presentation.

Built upon the DUOCUT concept of combining 100% collection and 100% mulching decks together, the new PRO 46 models deliver high performance without compromising the results of either of the functions. By crushing the grass finely, even if it is long and wet, both models excel in their collection abilities and the grass box is always filled to capacity.

Both the PACS and PACTS have a cutting width of 46cm with seven easily adjustable cutting heights ranging from 28-85mm. The NACS model has a 41cm cutting width.

The Three new models come complete with a grass box capacity of 50 litres.

The new battery-powered pedestrian models are driven by a brushless electric motor powered by a 36V/21Ah lithium polymer accumulator with an activation button and a charge display. Zero emission of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, smoke and particles ensure silent and environmentally responsible mowing.

Etesia Enquiry 114

Smaller, lighter option of an Arborist 130 hits the spot

Tree Maintenance Ltd has been an Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor since 1985.

The core business revolves around tree surgery, for both domestic and commercial customers, for which they rely on GreenMech and their Arborist range of woodchippers to cope with a variety of tasks.

Nick Organ is General Manager and has been with the company for over 30 years. “A major consideration for going with the smaller, lighter option of the 130 was the 750kg towing restrictions in force these days that impacts on our younger drivers,” he said.

“Also, we’ve noticed a trend in recent years that people are keeping the wood for burners or alternative uses which means we’re not getting the quantity of wood to chip that we used to.

Purchasing the Arborist 130’s over the 150 option also meant a considerable cost saving.”

The Arborist 130 has a generous 970mm x 790mm in-feed hopper, which aids bushy brash reduction and coupled with a 150cm x 230cm letterbox-style throat, enables heavily forked branches to be fed in easily.

GreenMech Enquiry 115

Club invests in new Campey equipment with Football Foundation grant

After 20-years of using the same tractor, originally purchased from Campey Turf Care Systems, a £10,000 grant from the Premier League and FA Facilities Fund has provided the means for Daten Football Club to upgrade their maintenance equipment for use at Culcheth Sports Club, Warrington, where the amateur team play their home games.

The club was able to get a New Holland Boomer 25 Tractor with a Trimax Striker 150 and a SISIS Quadraplay.

Given the limitations of the funding Ian Campbell, UK & Ireland sales manager for Campeys, was able to advise on the most cost effective tractor and implements to ensure maximum

improvement and maintenance benefits to the club.

The Premier League, The FA and the Government – via Sport England – fund the Premier League and FA Facilities Fund, which is delivered by the Football Foundation, who are the country’s largest sport charity.

Working with the Lancashire FA, Daten FC was able to secure a grant of £10,000 towards the equipment while the remaining balance was raised by the football club.

Campey Turf Care Systems Enquiry

118

EGO doubles trimmer range

EGO Power+ has introduced two new line trimmers to its range, bringing the total variety within its trimmer product line to four.

Previously the range had consisted of a 30cm option and a 38cm brushless model but now two new string trimmers with brushless motors have been introduced to complement the existing two.

These are a 33cm option with a 2mm dual line and two speed functionality and a 38cm option, with a 2.4mm dual line and variable speeds, with a bike handle for extra manoeuvrability and operator comfort.

All four trimmers boast a freerotating bump feed cap means that the cutting head can be rested on the ground during use without being worn away; a lightweight aluminium shaft; and a quick adjustable handle for maximum comfort, balance and control.

The trimmers are powered by EGO’s 56 volt lithium-ion battery that is available as a 2Ah, 4Ah, 5Ah or 7.5Ah. All batteries are interchangeable across the entire EGO range and featured the brand’s patented arc design and “keep cool” cell technology.

Polaris Crew gains National Trust

From its Bronze Age burial mounds to the prehistoric earthworks, the windswept landscape of the National Trust’s Ashridge Estate near Berkhamsted is steeped in history and interlaced with waymarked trails and walks.

Patrolling and maintaining the 2000 hectares of the estate falls to the watchful eye of Lead Ranger, Lawrence Trowbridge and his team. Dedicated as a site of special scientific interest, the whole area falls within the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Looking for a new 4x4 Lawrence turned his attention to low damage vehicles and tested a short wheelbase Polaris to see how it impacted on the chalk soil, areas of clay and flint, and particularly on gradients. However, given the requirements of Lawrence’s team of four and

those of the Head Forester’s four person team who would share use of the vehicle, they decided they would need a larger 4x4.

Their Polaris dealer, Taylors Tools of King’s Langley, suggested the Polaris Ranger Diesel Crew. Whilst by far the biggest vehicle they tested, the physical impact across the ground was very small, even in wet areas. The six-seater is ideally suited to the work and has been set up with specialist accessories, from essential guarding and a winch, to a roof mounted frame for carrying two and three stage ladders, and a chainsaw mounting.

The Crew is used to move both teams around the estate, fixing gates and fences, doing forestry work and generally patrolling.

Adamsons opens new dealer premises in Lincolnshire

New grounds care appointment at Ben Burgess

Going back to his Wroots

With Joe Weston retiring from Amazone Groundcare after many years on patch, then filling those boots was never going to be easy.

This task now falls to Richard Wroot, who moves over to Amazone Groundcare after completing a comprehensive grounding in the Amazone product range over the last 12 months under the auspices of Customer Service.

Ben Burgess, agricultural, construction and grounds care machinery dealer in East Anglia, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ben B Turner as Group Grounds Care Equipment Manager.

Ben Burgess GroundsCare Equipment, to recognise the level of commercial, golf and arboricultural equipment that it provides specialist sales and aftercare support for.

Working in service, spare parts and on the fertiliser settings helpline, he has thus gained a full understanding of what makes all things Amazone tick. During this time, Richard also has undergone full product and service training at the French Groundcare factory in Forbach.

East Yorkshire based John Deere

turf dealer F G Adamson & Son has opened a new outlet in Langworth, near Lincoln after a £500,000 investment to expand its sales area in the county.

Adamsons is a longstanding groundscare dealership with over 70 years of experience.

The business was originally appointed by John Deere as a full-line turf equipment dealer in 1998, covering east and north Yorkshire and the north and north-east of Lincolnshire. It currently employs a total of 42 staff across the two outlets. In addition to John Deere’s full line of professional turf and garden

equipment, Adamsons’ other leading franchises include Allett, Briggs & Stratton, Charterhouse, Echo, Hayter, Honda, Husqvarna, Lastec and Stihl.

John Deere Enquiry 122

Ben has been with the company for four and a half years, leading the dealership’s John Deere sales and marketing, having previously worked for John Deere in Germany for three years.

The change in role comes as the company also announces that Ben Burgess Garden Equipment will undergo a complete rebrand to become

Ben Burgess expanded its grounds care business in January by taking on the John Deere franchise around the Peterborough area. A sales and service team is now fully operational from the company’s Coates depot in order to support customers in the new area, and future plans include a hire department and extensive parts stock.

Burgess Enquiry 123

Polaris awards dealers at Poland conference

More than 50 Polaris dealers gathered last month for the annual business conference, held at the Polaris factory in Opole, Poland.

The 345,000-square-foot facility was also the first Polaris plant dedicated to manufacturing Off-Road Vehicles (ORV’s) outside North America, producing approximately 35 different ORV vehicle models destined for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”) region.

Winners of the Dealer of the Year Awards for Top Dealers across the country were All-4 Ltd. of Nuneaton, JMK Quads of Banbridge, County Down and Turf Machinery Engineering in Chobham. Stratton ATV from Scotland took the best newcomer award and NORA SxS Ltd of Dewsbury, West Yorkshire took the award for Best Sports & Leisure.

Polaris Enquiry 125

Flexi Dig Ltd adds Volvos to the fleet

Civil engineering and surfacing contractors, Flexi Dig Ltd has added six new Volvo compact excavators to its plant fleet for the first time, taking delivery from Volvo’s utility dealer for the area – Rickmar Plant Sales Ltd.

Deciding on the new Volvos was a new step for managing director Alistair Bett who established the company in August 2002 as an owner operator.

The six new machines range from the 1.8 tonne EC18D up to the 8.8 tonne ECR88D, the models in between being two EC27C’s, an EC35C and an ECR58D. The new range of excavators join Flexi Dig’s fleet of equipment which includes excavators up to 12 tonnes in operating weight, site dumpers and rollers.

Volvo Enquiry 126

Groundcare Enquiry 124

Amazone

Ben

Cut, collect and stripe with more Etesia models

Following the successful launch of the rear roller kit for their 41cm pedestrian rotary models last year, Etesia has announced that the kit is now also be available for 46cm models in their range.

Etesia pedestrian mowers have become world renowned for cutting and collecting in all weather conditions – even the wet, but before last year were not available with a rear roller kit for that all important presentation.

With the launch of the rear roller kit for the 46cm cutting width models, which are Etesia’s most popular models, users will be given much more choice in

their cutting requirements - cut, collect, stripe and by fitting the mulching insert, mulch – making this particular range of rotary mowers a must in anyone’s armoury.

No tools are required to fit the roller kits to an Etesia machine –just simply hang the free floating roller on two locating pins behind the grass box.

The roller has been designed so that it will operate free-floating at any height the machine is mowing at – ensuring perfect striping no matter the weather or height of cut required.

NP300 Navara raises the bar

robust and cleverly engineered pick-ups.

Improving comfort and refinement while maintaining the NP300 Navara’s acclaimed off-road ability, durability

and loading capacity, was a cornerstone of the new vehicle’s development.

The new model is a fully updated version of the previous generation, with a robust and

tough chassis which introduces a host of new engineering features designed to further improve drivability and practicality.

And using the same Crossover DNA that produced landmark passenger cars such as the classleading Qashqai, X-Trail and Juke, the new NP300 Navara brings a new level ofcar-like refinement, style, comfort and quality, as well as first in class technologies to the pick-up market.

The introduction of a five year or 100,000 mile manufacturer warranty with the new NP300 Navara is further testament to the vehicle’s credentials, and provides additional peace of mind for customers.

New John Deere zero-turn mowers for 2016

Models in John Deere’s Ztrak Series zero-turn lawnmower range feature several enhancements for 2016, including new mower decks, a new numbering system and new styling, similar to the company’s commercial models.

Ztrak mowers deliver on-the-spot turning, using easy to operate control levers. This means there is no obstacle this machine cannot easily and efficiently manoeuvre around, saving you time and effort.

With a choice of 107 and 122cm (42 and 48in) cutting widths, the all-new Accel Deep mower decks provide higher levels of cut quality and finish, as well as

greater productivity, durability and versatility.

The deep, flat-top deck allows a clean flow of grass clippings from the large discharge opening. Minimal re-cutting improves the mower’s capacity and available power, enabling the machine to maintain high performance even in difficult mowing conditions and at greater speeds.

The MulchControl attachment (optional on certain decks) provides superior mulching performance and versatility.

Etesia Enquiry 128

John Deere Enquiry 129

Nissan Enquiry 130

VW Transporter Chassis Cab offers versatile canvas

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has announced the launch of its latest evolution of the iconic Transporter Chassis Cab.

Available for order now, prices start from £21,265 (exc. VAT) for the LWB Single Cab Startline 2.0TDI 140PS Euro 5 6-speed manual.

Offering a versatile blank canvas for businesses who wish to create a load space to suit their specific needs, the latest Transporter Chassis Cab is also available to order with a drop-side body directly from the factory.

The latest Transporter Chassis Cab range has been developed to complement the range of

Volkswagen Crafter chassis and drop-side derivatives that are available through Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ ‘Engineered to Go’ programme.

Available in either single cab or double cab variants, the new Transporter Chassis Cab can carry up to six passengers in double cab form and offers a payload capacity of up to 1339 kg in single cab specification. The factory specification dropside bodies offer versatile load space of either 5.2 m2 in single cab form or 4.2 m2 in double cab arrangement.

Volkswagen Enquiry 133

Stamping out rural crime with Kubota’s

RTV-X900

Law-breakers across rural Oxfordshire villages are thinking twice before carrying out agricultural and construction machinery thefts or taking part in anti-social behaviour thanks to Kubota’s RTV-X900 utility vehicle. The sturdy RTV has been loaned to Thames Valley Police to allow the force to patrol miles of countryside and protect farms and local businesses from being targeted by criminals.

Thames Valley Police is the first police force in the UK to introduce an all-terrain vehicle to its fleet and the impact is already showing after six months, with the force seeing crime rates fall rapidly thanks to the constant

presence of police officers being able to access areas of land that were previously out of bounds or difficult to access.

Police Community Support Officer, Colin Davies, said: “The RTV has been invaluable in helping us reach a much higher percentage of rural crimes and improve the service we provide to the local community. Local farmers have recognised what we can now do and have been fantastic in supporting us, providing access to their land so that when an incident takes place, we can be patrolling the difficult countryside terrain in rapid time.

Kubota Enquiry 134

Makita expand water pump range with 4-stroke models

Three new clean and dirty water pumps have been added to the Makita range, all powered by a quiet, low emission 4-stroke petrol engine.

These pumps are suited for use in flood relief operations and have been designed for arduous operations in the most testing conditions.

The new Makita EW2050H, EW2051H and EW3051H are all powered by a reliable 169cc engine that comfortably meets the latest EPA Phase 3 and EU emissions regulations running on straight unleaded fuel held in a 3.2 litre tank for long-time running.

The new Makita EW2050H 2”pump will lift clean water from as low as 8 metres below the pump, up to a maximum

head height of 32 metres, at the rate of 520 litres per minute.

Flood waters are listed as dirty, as would a pond or fishing lake, where the 2” Makita EW2051H will shift 700 litres per minute and the larger 3” model, the EW3051H, will move 1,000 litres per minute. The two dirtywater pumps will generate a head height of 23 metres – over 70 feet above the pump level.

All three new Makita EW water pumps are protected by a sump oil level sensor which switches off the engine if the oil level is too low. Housed in a robust steel carry frame, that makes these 26kg pumps easy to handle in transport and stable in operation, starting is easy with the stringpull recoil starter system.

Makita Enquiry 135

First established drainage systems installed on greens

Duncan Ross – specialist sportsturf contractors –has completed a project at Wolstanton Golf Club to install the courses’ first ever established drainage systems.

The picturesque course had been plagued by flooding on greens 5, 8 and 18 and the decision was taken to install drainage systems, as head green keeper, Andy Brougham explains.

“There was no drainage in any of the greens what so ever,” he said. “We wanted a primary drainage system installed to relieve water from the greens. Without it we

knew it would be very difficult to get the volume of water currently holding on the greens to dissipate, through general maintenance alone.”

The turf that had been removed at the beginning of the process and preserved for future use was then reapplied at the end of the project to complete the work.

Some of Andy’s four staff assisted during the works helping to contribute towards the final result which has completely solved the issue.

Duncan Ross Enquiry 137

Aeration throughout the whole soil benefits sports surfaces

For many years successful aeration has been regarded as only being able using the biggest machine, to the greatest working depth, up and down the sports pitch or golf course.

Whilst this may have yielded results in times of more predictable weather, the pattern we now see with massive amounts of rainfall, require a more measured approach.

“The uppermost parts of the soil profile need to be equally as free draining for more periodic, deeper work to be successful, so focusing on the surface could now be regarded as being the starting point for success,” explains Dougie Archibald, Northern Territory Manager, Charterhouse Turf Machinery.

“If your turf canopy has a large amount of organic matter then the sponge effect will be there for all to see, bringing with it all the associated issues! When this can be reduced and managed, and the

first 2 or 3 inches kept open, this will then give your deeper work far more relevance.

“Good surface drainage, with the resultant gaseous exchange and a de-compacted root zone, will provide the required air spaces for roots to thrive. This unhindered root growth, development and establishment will then provide the stable basis for vibrant shoots with a

uniform and healthy coverage to then give the surfaces required for top quality sports to be played on.”

Knotty Hill Golf Centre was founded 24 years ago as a driving range – today it spans 560 acres and comprises three 18 hole courses and 27 holes of football golf.

So when looking at aeration three years ago, the centre

purchased a Redexim VertiCore 1600. At around the same time, Ashley also purchased two pedestrian Core Collector 3001HL’s.

The whole centre is closed once a week for the team to conduct maintenance across all the courses – carrying out aeration of the greens once a month.

Charterhouse Enquiry 139

Air 2G2 the answer to invasive aeration

A prerequisite of a links golf course is being near the ocean and when you are situated in the Scottish Highlands of Inverness overlooking the Moray Firth it brings certain weather based challenges.

Chris Haspell is course superintendent has added the Air 2G2 from Campet Turf Care Systems to his fleet of machines.

The Air 2G2 uses pressurised air to target compaction deep at rootzone level. Probes penetrate the soil and force air sideways to create fissures in the sub structure improving aeration and drainage throughout the soil.

Previous methods of aeration would cause disruption to the

surface, making play difficult and causing interruption for the guest players. The Air2G2 has provided Chris with the ability to aerate during the playing season while minimizing interference of play.

“I think the Air 2G2 is the answer to effective low key decompaction and turf maintenance while at the same time giving the roots what they need. It has great versatility with uses on all surfaces,” Chris began. “The lack of disturbance is really important, not just here but at every course because it allows golf to be played unhindered by the maintenance work that’s taken place.”

Campey Turf Care Systems Enquiry 138

Club chooses Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi8 HD for ultimate flexibility

A top Worcestershire golf club has purchased a Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi8 HD deep tine aerator to deal with compaction and drainage issues on their fairways.

Course Manager Karl Williams, who was appointed in October 2014, has put much of his early attention on the slow draining fairways to keep them playable even in the wettest months. “Until now aeration was outsourced,” he said. “Now with our own Terra Spike we’ve got absolute flexibility to go out when we want.

“The plan is every four to six weeks on the greens, every two months on the tees and quarterly on the fairways so the fairways will get tined four times a

year instead of one which I’m confident will make a massive difference.

“We expect the aerator to work hard. Four of the lads are trained to use it and the other two will get their training soon so everyone will get their turn. It’s been amazing so far. Easy to use, robust, smooth and incredibly quick even with the biggest tines.”

The club took delivery of their machine from T H Whites in Redditch, Wiedenmann’s local dealers, with Simon Bingham, Area Manager installing it during the first week of the New Year alongside Wiedenmann UK’s Sales Manager, Chas Ayres.

Wiedenmann Enquiry 143

Deep aeration remedy for school’s pitches

Councils choose SISIS Autoslit for year-round maintenance

The SISIS Autoslit is a purpose built pedestrian deep slitter which is suitable for use on golf greens and tees, bowling greens and cricket squares.

This machine produces excellent underground cultivation, aiding aeration - a key process to improve drainage, reduce turf compacting, thatch build up and boost the health of the grass. Its simple design requires little maintenance for the operator.

Once such customer is Leicester City Council – who use the machine for key maintenance tasks throughout the year on their five bowling greens.

“We wanted something that we could use throughout the playing season which causes the minimum amount of disruption to the bowling green surface” said Mark Humphrey, Leicester City Council’s Team Manager based at Evington Park

The Autoslit is easy to use and enables you to work quickly and effectively. It incorporates a rear smoothing roller and uses a cantilever system to lift the machine out of operation.

Historic school improves grounds with Toro

Oxford’s Magdalen College School (MCS), an independent day school for boys aged 7 to 18 and sixth form girls, has invested in Toro for the fi rst time in a bid to improve school grounds.

MCS aims for excellence both in and outside of the classroom, outside of which is headed up by grounds manager Stuart Webber.

Stuart, who has been at MCS for just over a year, explains how the machinery investment came about.

Following a deal with Toro UK distributors Lely UK, a new ProCore 648 and two Toro

Reelmaster 3550-D mowers recently arrived on site.

The ProCore 648 is the most productive and efficient walking aerator on the market, creating precisely cut aeration holes essential for maintaining outstanding greens.

“The ProCore is used on all our grounds, aerating our five cricket squares, 17 tennis courts, and on our 11 winter pitches, which are turned into cricket outfields in the spring,” he says. “It has helped with the drainage on the squares and courts allowing us to mow when we want.”

Sport is a vital part of life at Moulsford Prep School in Oxfordshire and the boy’s preparatory school has a welldeserved reputation for playing outstanding rugby.

Having read an article on a similar problem solved by Terrain Aeration’s deep penetration aeration process, arranged for treatment of a number of pitches scheduled for when conditions were ideal for the company’s Airforce machine to go to work.

Two and a half cold but sunny days in February saw the machine at work on the pitches showing the most water retention, with the probe reaching a metre depth and injecting compressed air to break up the compaction panning.

Working at two metre intervals on a staggered grid ensures relief from waterlogging and increases the percentage of

oxygen available to the roots. As the probe is withdrawn it injects dried, milled seaweed, which is organic, eco-friendly and sticks to the walls of the fractures and fissures.

The seaweed swells and contracts to keep the fissures open while the longevity of the treatment is further ensured by using porous aggregate to backfill the probe holes.

Terrain Aeration’s treatment also benefits overseeding by creating a better environment for growth.

The sunny days on the banks of the River Thames at Moulsford Prep School, which saw the Airforce deep aeration treatment at work, were followed by a night and day of heavy rain. Inspection of the treated area has already shown the beneficial effect of the deep aeration.

Terrain Aeration Enquiry 145

The deep, clean slitting action cuts through the turf and rootzone leaving a thin slit on the surface and minimal surface disturbance. The Autoslit produces excellent underground cultivation due to the angle of the tines and spiral design of tine shaft assisting penetration.

“We want to be spiking throughout the season, not just when the bowling greens are not being used,” continued Mark. “With the Supaturfman; it only takes us about an hour and a half to spike a green, and because it’s such a good, quick and clean machine which leaves no mess, we are able to use it once a month. To be honest, I’d like to use it twice monthly, or even weekly, but man power dictates what we can and can’t do.

Lely UK Enquiry 146

Top marks for Nutri-Pro at Merchiston Castle School

Michael Yan Hip, head groundsman at Edinburgh’s Merchiston Castle School, praises the rapid effect of Aitkens Award Nutri-Pro on the pitches.

Michael has been in charge of the 10 acres of natural sports surfaces within the 100 acre school campus for four years, but only recently started using NutriPro after sales representative Ryan Beck recommended it to him during a recent visit.

The instant impact of the product has left him extremely pleased,

and he has been surprised at just how quickly it has started taking effect on the pitches with a clear improvement in colour and recovery.

Michael explains his approach in more detail: “Here in the Colinton area of Edinburgh the soil has extremely high clay content, and it’s relatively acidic. The magnesium and calcium within Nutri-Pro break down the acid in the clay and generally improve the soil structure to promote healthy growth.”

“Running parallel with our chemical and biological approach are the mechanical procedures such as spiking and vert-draining to aerate and de-compact the soil. With the afore-mentioned treatment of the soil with sand, the drainage and percolation rates have improved and enabled the pitches to shed the surface water more efficiently.

He runs a fertiliser programme which targets seasonal activity using Nutri-Pro 8-0-12 applied in the summer with its higher nitrogen content to stimulate

growth of sward and Nutri-Pro 4-0-24 late on in the year to combat stress from autumn and winter rain and frost.

With the pitches in constant use at the all-boys school, the protection and longevity of the sward is vital. These factors along with the improvement of winter colour are what initially drew Michael to the product, with some guidance from Ryan.

Aitkens Enquiry 149

Tracmaster launches new compact CAMON

Designed and manufactured at Tracmaster’s UK-based headquarter, the new CAMON LA25 lawn aerator builds on the success of the LA20, but is a more compact machine with faster operation.

Ideal for removing sub-surface thatch and relieving compaction on a lawn, the CAMON LA25 aerator is built to Tracmaster’s exacting standards, ensuring it delivers a high level of performance and has the ability to survive the rigours of a professional working environment.

At only 66cm (26”) wide, the streamline CAMON LA25 aerator fits easily through all garden gates and is fitted with foam-filled tyres to eliminate punctures and to reduce tread marks on the lawn.

An added advantage of the LA25 is that it is supplied with both hollow corer tines and solid spikes as standard, while the ‘off-set’ crank operating system allows the power of the engine to punch the tines deep into the ground, resulting in perfect aeration.

Another convenient feature is that the tines are located at the rear of the machine, ensuring they are easy to access and can be changed in less than 5 minutes.

Every CAMON machine is built to last and offers key features including toughness, reliability, safety and ease of use. Longestablished as a firm favourite with the hire industry, Tracmaster is continually improving and developing the existing range, as well as designing and manufacturing new equipment,

and has succeeded in producing a range of groundcare and lawncare machines which is equally popular with both professional and domestic users.

“We feel that the new LA25 aerator will be a very popular addition to our CAMON range of groundcare machinery,” comments Alex Pitt, Managing Director at Tracmaster.

“Not only will its compact size make it convenient for manouevring through narrow garden gates, but it has the added benefit of being able to work with both hollow corer tines and solid spikes – a real bonus for users.”

New options for Classen aerator

Classen has announced the introduction of optional solid tines for the RA21 aerator, giving the groundsman the choice of hollow or solid tines, depending on their preference for the type of work being done.

The Classen RA21 reciprocating aerator is well known for its abilities to punch clean holes in tough, hardened soil without additional weights.

Now the groundsman can choose to solid tine on lawn areas which, say, have a low level of compaction or perhaps need treatment during periods of hot weather. In situations where hollow tine aeration will be more beneficial, lawns more heavily compacted or amenity areas suffering from a lot of wear and tear for example, a longer lasting

effect can be achieved. The tines can be quickly and easily changed to suit the work.

The RA21 is the ideal machine for getting air to the roots to promote growth, particularly after long, dry spells and is easy to use and maintain. With core tines it will cover up to 26,000 sq. ft. per hour at 450 reciprocating revolutions per minute.

Large, pneumatic tyres front and back give the machine a good flotation on turf and it turns much like a walk-behind mower, so there is all the manoeuvrability you need. The machine also comes with a twoyear professional warranty.

Tracmaster Enquiry 151

New range of Flexblade core collectors launched by Groundsman Industries

Groundsman Industries celebrated 25 years manufacturing and developing their range of turf aerators and sod cutters.

The Flexblade Aeration Core/ Soil Collectors (FASC) range is the most recent focus of developments. These incredibly effective implements remove the aeration soil cleanly from the surface of the greens with a series of blades that follow the contours scooping the cores cleanly from the surface and work equally well in soaking wet or powder dry conditions.

The new range of Flexblade collectors are now available for tractor or turf utility vehicle mounting to collect in a follow-up operation.

Groundsman Industries Enquiry 152

Schiller Groundscare Enquiry 150

Technology tackles testing times

The latest ride-on mower technology is helping amenity managers and contractors to provide a high level of service against a background of squeezed budgets, reports Jane Carley.

Electric drive mowers have been well-received in the golf market, and now Overton is offering a ride-on commercial version. The electric Mean Green Commercial Mower range is a new concept in commercial mowing which will address several issues that are particularly relevant to operator, says sales manager Stuart Rose.

“The most noticeable difference between conventional petrol/ diesel mowers and the Mean Green mowers is noise - electric

machines are substantially quieter than any other machine in their class, as you only hear the wind noise from the mower blades.”

Stuart also points out that a frustration for many operators of conventional ride-on mowers is the number of belts that require replacing which can be a time consuming process.

“The Mean Green range do not have any belts or pulleys as the mower blades are driven directly

by electric motors. This directs all of the power to the blades rather than losing a percentage through belt slippage.”

A safety benefit of the Mean Green Mowers is that there is no need to carry cans of fuel, avoiding the risk of fuel spillage or fuel thefts from the vehicle. Eliminating the use of hydraulics also avoids the risk of a hydraulic pipe splitting or breaking, with the associated downtime and potential environmental issues.

An optional front mounted blower on the Stalker SK-48 stand-on mower saves time and fuel by eliminating the need for a hand held or backpack blower.

Stuart comments: “The biggest challenge we face in marketing the Mean Green Mower range is convincing customers of the cost and environmental benefits of choosing an electric commercial mower.”

“Although the electric mower purchase price is greater than its diesel or petrol competitors, operators should consider that daily charging costs pence compared to filling up at the pump.

Running a comparable petrol or diesel mower with all fuel, oils, belts, servicing etc costs over a five-year period would amount to much more than the cost of the Mean Green Mower.”

“Purchasing and operating a Mean Green mower enables customers to cut grass in urban areas or high footfall public spaces quieter while creating zero emissions during working hours. There are also considerable benefits for operators and

employers who have to contend with HAV’s, noise pollution, fuel smells etc during grass cutting operations.”

Flexible and durable Launched by Ariens at Saltex, the IKON-X zero-turn mower features a fully fabricated steel frame for extra strength and durability. It features a commercial grade cutter deck constructed from 10-gauge steel.

The dial-operated deck height selector gives a choice of 13 cutting heights. Both models come fitted with side-discharge decks – a conversion kit transforms them into highperformance mulchers.

User comfort is enhanced by a high back seat with armrests, padded control arms and a vibration-reducing floor mat.

Like all Ariens zero-turns, the IKON-X can rotate fully in its own footprint and allows the operator to cut grass faster than a traditional ride-on mower. Models available are the IKON-X 42 with a 107cm cutter deck or the IKON-X 52 with a 132cm deck; power is supplied by 726cc Kawasaki engine.

New launches

Latest addition to John Deere’s ride-on mower range is the award-winning 1500 Series TerrainCut front rotary.

There are five 1500 Series TerrainCut models equipped with three-cylinder diesel engines from 24 to 36hp, fourwheel drive, and a new optional grass and leaf collection system.

They are designed to mow and collect thick grass at high speeds and still produce a quality cut.

Featuring a compact design for manoeuvrability and easy transport and a robust hydrostatic transmission, the range offers a a choice of durable 7-Iron 1.5 and 1.8m side- and rear-discharge decks, with an optional mulching kit, and a John Deere factory fitted cab is available as standard on two models.

Key user-friendly features include cruise control, a comfortable seat, Twin Touch pedals for the transmission and an electro-hydraulic deck drive clutch, while an air ride seat is optionally available.

First we introduced the MP ‘3’ series, wide area rotary mowers with cutting widths of 3.0, 3.3 and 3.5 metres and latterly the MP ‘5’ series wide area cylinder mowers with a choice of Magna or Sport cutting units.

Both series are available with 49 hp or 65 hp Kubota diesel engines and either ROPS or a cab.

The quick-attach GLC1500 grass and leaf collection system has a hopper capacity of 600 or 900 litres. The collector’s fast dump speed, 203cm high tip and 83cm long reach features also increase overall productivity.

Additional attachments such as a front-mounted brush or blade allow the mowers to be used year round for a wide range of other commercial applications, including both leaf and snow clearance.

The latest addition to Toro Grounds Products’ groundscare machinery range is the LTF3000. The machine, which features a new cutting concept, is expected to appeal to councils and landscape contractors looking for ways to economically increase productivity and efficiency.

Offering lower operating costs, affordable replacement parts, easy servicing and sheer usability, the LT-F3000 is, says Toro, is the ideal option when

The LT-F3000 is driven by a Kubota 44.2hp four-cylinder diesel engine and is said to deliver an improved finish.

“Its advanced blade design delivers unmatched cut quality in all types of grass, and in all types of weather,” says Jeff, who adds that durability is also a key feature in the new model.

“The three flail cutting system has been built to withstand the rigors of all heavy-duty applications. They’re much more durable than cylinders and even rotary systems,” he explains. “The intelligent blade design ensures that if an object is hit, the blades simply swing out of the way to avoid damage. They’re also easy to sharpen and cost-effective to replace, for added peace of mind.”

Wide area

Ransomes Jacobsen launched the first in a new series of wide area mowers back in September 20114. The initial two mowers in the series, the Ransomes MP493 and MP653, are wide area batwing rotary mowers, powered by 49hp and 65hp Kubota diesel engines and featuring three all new rotary decks – one out-front and two wing decks.

The wing decks are available in cutting widths of 3.0, 3.3 and 3.5m with height of cut ranging from 25mm – 120mm. These mowers have a transport width of 1.65m with the wing decks folded and the front deck has 160mm of ground clearance for kerb climbing and can be lifted to a service

position giving access for blade maintenance.

In June last year, a further two machines were introduced. These five-reel wide area cylinder mowers, the Ransomes MP495 and MP655, have 70% parts communality with their rotary counterparts, are powered by the same Kubota diesel engine options and feature the tried and tested Ransomes Magna or Sport cutting heads.

The rear outer cutting cylinders fold up and rearwards for transport increasing visibility for the operator and also distributing the weight for improved stability and ride quality. The front units also lift and fold providing a transport width of just 1.89 metres. All units are held in place for transport with an electricallyoperated fail-safe locking system.

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, suspension seat and folding ROPS and are available with a cab. Deck lift and lower controls and the weight transfer button are located on the armrest with the remaining controls and information screen located in removable console on top of the fuel tank. A tilt adjustable steering wheel completes the

also keeping a tight rein on finances.

Lely’s national sales manager Jeff Anguige explains: “Offering a completely new cutting

concept to triple mowing, the innovative three flail cutting system in this machine gives operators a chance to cut long or short, wet or dry, and coarser grass, in one sweep.”

“This versatility means you can make real savings by mowing less often, making it the perfect choice for those working to tight budgets and timeframes.”

The mowers feature

JohnDeere

RansomesJacobsen

traction control system, which automatically transfers power from a slipping front wheel to the opposite rear wheel, for improved control when hill climbing or working on side slopes. They also offer four-wheel drive in reverse, which improves traction when reversing uphill. For additional safety, the optional TST tilt control system can be fitted; it emits audible warnings when an operator exceeds the mower’s maximum working angle and eventually shuts down the mowing process, if the persistent warnings are ignored.

Lee Kristensen, Product Manager responsible for the development of the MP series said, “We really listened to our customers before initiating the design of this new range of mowers. They replace our older models, the Ransomes HR6010 and Ransomes Commander and are lighter, more manoeuvrable, more fuel efficient and provide more comfort for the operator.

“We have been taken completely by surprise by the demand for these new products and our production line in Ipswich has been working at capacity to keep up with demand. We are obviously delighted with the response from end-users and it justifies the ‘Voice of Customer’ research we conducted at the beginning of the project.”

Toro offers a number of commercial zero turn models in its Z Master range, with platforms to suit a range of usage and budgetary requirements.

The Z Master Professional 7000 series features three diesel models, and includes models with 132cm (52”) and 152cm (60”) cutting widths. Toro’s Turbo Force decks, constructed entirely from 4.5mm (sevengauge) steel, are said to be up to 31% stronger than the ordinary 4.5mm commercial steel found in other decks. Strength is further assured by Toro’s rugged spindle assembly - designed and tested to withstand exceptional impacts.

Agile and manoeuvrable, the 74279 Rear Discharge model, features a high capacity 132cm deck which can also be easily converted to recycle the clippings with an optional kit. Its Kubota liquid-cooled diesel engine offers high torque and fast ground speeds – whilst also ensuring cleaner combustion and extended engine life.

Compact design and intuitive controls enable the operator to manoeuvre the machine around obstacles with ease and the deluxe suspension seat and refined ergonomics help deliver maximum productivity and operator comfort.

The Z Master 7000 series features a Toro Z Stand which allows the front mower to be elevated in the workshop or in the field for instant, easy under-deck maintenance. Further reassurance is offered with a four year (1200 hour) commercial warranty.

Cutting conditions

Amazone’s Profihopper is designed to cut both long and short grass and collect the cuttings efficiently both in the dry and wet.

“The out-front horizontal SmartCut flail rotor has 36 pairs of free-swinging blades which can be changed from a short lift blade which is ideal for rougher light scrub such as heather or brambles or long, rough grass. These H60 wing blades can also have a scarifying blade put with them as a combination which can then be used not only for scarifying but also leaf and litter collection, explains brand manager Simon Brown.

“It could even be used for clearing rubbish after a concert as it will pick up the vast majority of bottles or glass.”

“These shorter wing blades can be switched to a long wing for cutting shorter still and the longer H77 blade gives a higher tip speed and a finer cut. There is also a specialist H88 blade for fine lawn turf finish.

Cuttings are propelled off the blades into a cross auger that brings the grass into a centre auger from where it is then taken up into the hopper.

Simon comments: “The auger provides a physical movement of the grass rather than using a blower and so gives a clean collection in wet or dry conditions.

“It also fills the hopper irrespective of the type of cuttings as the leaves are shredded and pulped into the 710 litre hopper, which holds the equivalent of about 1000 litres of unpacked grass.”

There are three models: zDrive with lever steer is a genuine zero-turn machine for use in cemeteries, caravan parks, etc. where tight manoeuvring is necessary The iDrive which is two-wheel drive with a steering wheel and the 4Wdi with a steering wheel are both zero-turn with a turning circle of 30cm.

Cutting width is 1.2 metres only

on all models and the hopper lifts to 2.1m to tip into a trailer or pick-up.

Simon reckons that it takes about 10 minutes and £100 to convert the machine to a scarifier.

Reduced frequency of grasscutting has two immediate physical effects: the longer grass may mean a different mechanical method of cutting is needed, such as a flail as opposed to rotary, and also the increased effort involved in the action of cutting will test the machine’s strength – not only of its motor, but the cutting system, suggests STM Co.

Having had several instances of organisations finding that ride-on machines selected originally on price rather than strength and capability are not up to the task of reduced cutting programmes, the STM Co recommended approach is the SCAG Turf Tiger Zero Turn ride-on – with a choice of engines up to 35hp - fitted out with the Humus ‘System Flail’ head. With this

Amazone

low-profile underslung head you get the true benefit of the ZeroTurn capability, and this is, the only machine of this kind on the market, says the company.

With the traditional rotary deck and grasscatcher as options, the customer then has the proven strength and reliability of the SCAG Turf Tiger, using the Humus flail deck to cope with extra-long and tough grass or brush with the benefit of a roller to leave an acceptable finish, or they can utilise the traditional rotary deck and optional grasscatcher to cope with the majority of conditions later in the season.

When it comes to investing in the machinery needed for the upkeep of amenity areas, Adrian Langmead, Kubota UK’s Business Development Manager for its Groundcare Division, outlines the importance of a whole life cost approach, from initial purchase price to the ongoing servicing and maintenance of groundcare solutions.

“The Communities Secretary revealed in late 2015 that council funding would be reduced by 6.7% between 2016 and 2020, with the bulk of the cuts being introduced in the first two years. As a consequence, it’s little surprise that local authorities are feeling the pressure, with a question mark looming large over what areas local authorities will look at to cut costs first.”

What those responsible for the purchase and maintenance of groundcare machinery can do is look at the whole life cost of their vehicle fleet, he suggests. “The ride-on mower, for example, is one of the most important items of kit for any groundcare professional, with reliability, consistency of cut and the running costs of the machines key factors when deciding which model to buy.”

He points out: “Kubota’s F Series out front range is a popular choice for local authorities looking to cut down on running costs. The F3090 and F3890 models feature proven Kubota diesel engines, fabricated durable mower decks, as well as an HST transmission for a quick response.”

Kubota’s ZD zero turn mower series makes light work of grass cutting in confined areas, complete with independent steer levers giving the mower a 360deg turning radius, which

makes cutting around trees, posts and other obstacles an easy one-pass operation. The ZD range also features Kubota’s useful jack on the ZD326 for easier mower deck access, a tricut system for efficient cut and collection and a one-dial cut height adjustment.

For contractors looking for a compact ride-on mower for maintenance of smaller areas, Kubota’s G Series is the perfect choice. The range boasts low vibration levels, smooth PTO, deck lift operation and shaft driven blades; plus there’s the option of a detachable large capacity grass collector. The G Series range is equipped with ample horsepower thanks to the water-cooled Kubota ETVCS diesel engine, which means it’s ready to take on the toughest commercial jobs.

Adrian concludes: “One of the hallmarks of the Kubota brand is its reputation for durability and reliability. As such, customers have long benefitted from higher resale values for Kubota equipment, which means contractors and local authorities can rest assured that they’ll get a good return on their investment.”

For testing conditions with steep inclines or thick grass, scrub and brambles, PSD Groundcare suggests the AS Motor 940 and the AS 940 XL.

The AS Motor 940 is designed to provide a reliable and robust solution with features including four-wheel drive, differential lock, cross blade cutting system, sturdy all-round, self-supporting tubular frame and 27hp engine. For more demanding terrain, the XL model has larger wheels and therefore higher ground clearance.

The AS brush cutter mowing deck has interchangeable flexibly-mounted blades which cut and shred at the same time. A ‘surfing’ cutting deck features a blade cover which allows vertically evasive movements in uneven terrain, to protect the mower deck and provide greater ground clearance.

Permanent all-wheel drive offers improved traction up and downhill, as well as the ability to brake when riding downhill.

Operator comfort is offered by an infinitely adjustable shell seat with innovative suspension system to ensure maximum legroom.

Landscape Amenity

SALTEX exhibitors generate new sales leads

After a recent audit confirmed SALTEX 2015 as the UK’s largest turf care event, an encouraging post-show exhibitor survey has further confirmed the undoubted success of the event.

A total of 95.24% of exhibitors answered yes when asked whether they generated new sales leads, while 98.33% believed SALTEX was perfect for promoting and

maintaining their company profile. SALTEX 2015 exhibitors also felt prepared for the show with 78.95% claiming that they received excellent pre-show customer service. With over 260 companies exhibiting, 84.75% of them were impressed with the overall amount of fellow exhibitors.

IOG Enquiry 176

Aitkens Blade 7 grass seed continues to flourish at Celtic FC

Celtic Football Club Head Groundsman, John Hayes has hailed the effect of Blade 7 grass seed on the clubs’ pitches during several years of use at Celtic Park on both the old and new training ground.

The club first started using the seed following a test they

carried out at Celtic Park, where Blade 7 came out on top. It was subsequently used on the pitches at the old Barrowfield training ground, before being introduced at their current Lennoxtown complex.

As you would expect they have tested other grass seed over the

New appointment for Sutcliffe Play

Sutcliffe Play, innovators in the design and manufacture of children’s outdoor playground equipment, has appointed a new regional contracts manager, John Souter.

John joins the company from his previous role as a contracts manager working for the Ministry of Justice and Home Office.

His varied experience also includes serving in the military, in HM Forces Royal Engineers.

As contracts manager, John is responsible for overseeing the whole installation process, liaising with internal departments, clients and contractors from initial meetings and site visits to post work inspections to ensure client satisfaction.

last decade and John is quick to point out that Blade 7 has always come out as the best, especially with the way the seed has performed at the training ground.

As well as having an impact at the training ground Blade 7 has also made a difference at Celtic Park, where it enabled Hayes

to take full advantage of a gap in the fixture list to prepare for the Boys’ Europa League game against Inter Milan.

Aitkens

Sutcliffe Play Enquiry 178