Professional Groundscare January 2021

Grounds Management Association announces the first ever #GroundsWeek

March (1 -7 March 2021) and will celebrate and highlight the vital role of professional grounds staff, volunteers, and the turf sector play in making sport possible.

parks and green spaces have been valuable to the public’s health –with increased use for ‘daily exercise’ and physical activity.

Grounds management continues to be challenging beyond 2020 due to limited resources and budgets, coupled with more varied and unpredictable weather conditions that makes planning tasks more difficult.

The Grounds Management Association (GMA) has announced the launch of #GroundsWeek. The inaugural celebration week will take place

Following a difficult year for the sector, due to the impact of Covid-19, the GMA aims to showcase grounds staff and the amazing work that they do – and have continued to do – despite sport coming to a grinding halt. It also comes after a year where

Geoff Webb, CEO of the GMA, said: “We know that the skill involved is often misunderstood. We want to inspire sports fans and the general public to celebrate alongside us and get even more people to enter the profession and lend a helping hand at

pitches across the country. Without the vital work that grounds staff do, many sports would face cancellations and potentially closure. This is a chance to recognise all the hard work that goes into making sport possible and keeping green spaces accessible.

The GMA’s campaign will encourage individuals and organisations across the industry, whether they have a career in grounds management or volunteer for an hour a week, to get involved both on the pitch and on social media.

Further details about the campaign will follow in February, alongside #GroundsWeek graphics

and content for wider use. This will include top tips and a social media pack for organisations wanting to get involved. Businesses can also get involved by pledging to be a #GroundsWeek partner.

Geoff continued: “Grounds staff are vital and the work they do is essential to getting the nation active – from professional athletes to local communities. After a really tough year, we’re launching this celebration week to raise awareness and give our members the opportunity to get the recognition they deserve.”

Management Association

Update regarding golf course maintenance in lockdown

The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) has sought clarification regarding the level of course maintenance work that is able to take place on golf courses and other facilities.

BIGGA has reviewed the UK Government guidance and liaised with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf and The R&A and can confirm there will be no limitations placed on maintenance activities able to be undertaken by the greenkeeping teams at golf facilities, driving ranges and other venues where golf and shorter forms of the game take place.

While golf courses in Scotland are able to remain open, golf courses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are closed. Taking place primarily outdoors with limited opportunities for crosscontamination, greenkeeping teams have adapted well to ensure staff stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Staff at all facilities should continue to be aware of social distancing requirements and ensure any activities are undertaken in a manner that minimises interaction with others.

BIGGA is also appealing to the operators of golf clubs to use common sense when assigning tasks to the greenkeeping team and reminds club managers of their responsibility to provide a COVIDsafe working environment for all members of the team. BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton said: “With widespread vaccinations taking place across the country, our hope is that this is the final hurdle and golf courses will take the opportunity presented by reduced playing levels to prepare their courses for what we hope will be a busy and prosperous summer season out on the fairways.

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

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

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

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

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

Contact the Amazone Team on: 01302 755 725.

Grounds

BIGGA

Durable sweeper is made

The HSTS98 Artificial Surface Sweeper from SCH (Supplies) Ltd is robust in construction to withstand prolonged heavy use.

A differential mechanism allows the sweeper to be manoeuvred in tight corners without the wheels “scuffing”.

The machine benefits from the differential mechanism by having both wheels able to drive the pick-up brushes, giving it superior sweeping power over competitors. The height adjustment is simple, and gives the sweeper versatility on many different surfaces.

The main drive is transmitted via strong metal gears. The large capacity solid plastic

catcher is rot and tear-proof, and simple to empty. Reversing onto the tipping heap can be difficult for some, but it is made easier with the HSTS98 as it only has two wheels in contact with the ground.

This sweeper benefits with a sprung floor, which lets the sand or rubber crumb fill to flow back through the base of the hopper, at the same time collecting debris such as leaves, and twigs.

A cover plate is supplied with each machine, to cover the mesh floor in sweeping operations where all debris is required to be collected.

SCH

P&K strives for excellence

Pyle & Kenfi g Golf Club in Bridgend, commonly known as P&K, is one of Wales’s few true championship links courses.

Its lofty sand dunes and unique series of habitats hug the same stretch of South Wales coastline as its near neighbour Royal Porthcawl.

It is also one of the few golf clubs in Wales to have been awarded GEO certifi cation, in May 2020.

This environmental management award recognised the club’s efforts to achieve a credible standard for sustainable golf course operation, and its important contributions in protecting nature, conserving

resources and strengthening local communities.

“Achieving this certification is just part of an on-going commitment to continue striving for excellence in sustainable golf,” says club secretary/ manager Simon Hopkin.

“This has also seen us invest this year in more modern and environmentally friendly course maintenance equipment, with the help of Sean Brown from John Deere dealer Powercut and the company’s territory manager Nick Ashman.

“The club celebrates its centenary in 2022, when we will be hosting the R&A Men’s Home Internationals tournament,

so we’re keen to achieve the best course we possibly can, not just for that event but for the yearround benefit of our members and visitors.”

After initial discussions were held with P&K on how best to upgrade the club’s ageing mower fleet, Powercut and Nick Ashman arranged to have a brand new 2750 E-Cut hybrid electric triplex mower transported to Wales for its first ever public demonstration.

This was also the first preproduction machine to arrive in the UK after its launch at BTME in January 2019, and was shipped direct from John Deere’s stand display at The Solheim Cup at Gleneagles,

which required a special police escort off the site.

Following this P&K agreed a John Deere Financial fi veyear fi nance lease deal, with a three-month payment holiday due to Covid-19, and put in the fi rst UK order for three 2750E mowers, two equipped with cutting units for the tees and collars and one for the greens.

The order also included a 6500A lightweight fairway mower, with an HPX 815E Gator utility vehicle and a 5075E utility tractor on turf tyres plus H-Series front loader bought earlier in the year.

John Deere

Gkb machines, taking our knowledge of contracting to supply the best possible machine solution. Be it a natural, synthetic or hybrid pitch.. we have a machine to suit your needs. www.gkbmachines.com / tom@gkbmachines.com / 07495 88 36 17

Gkb machines, taking our knowledge of contracting to supply the best possible machine solution. Be it a natural, synthetic or hybrid pitch.. we have a machine to suit your needs. www.gkbmachines.com / tom@gkbmachines.com / 07495 88 36 17

or hybrid pitch.. we have a machine to suit your needs. www.gkbmachines.com / tom@gkbmachines.com / 07495 88 36 17

Gkb machines, taking our knowledge of contracting to supply the best possible machine solution. Be it a natural, synthetic or hybrid pitch.. we have a machine to suit your needs.

PSD Groundscare offer an exciting range of battery powered mulchers that are now available from innovative German manufacturer AS Motor.

There are 3 models available offering a high performing mulching solution with 42cm – 51cm cutting widths.

The battery powered models come with Lithium battery technology and offer the same excellent results as the standard

mulchers but are ideal for use in noise sensitive areas, such as hospitals, schools, housing estates and business parks due to their quiet operation.

The larger AS510 E is available in the clever 2in1 version and comes with an easy to mount side discharge deflector.

Battery powered weed strippers also available from AS Motor that offer the ideal solution to unwanted weeds. Eco-friendly and

praised

Luton Borough Council has been reaping the benefits of using innovative Mankar spraying units in its weed control programme.

The promising results come after Agrovista Amenity won a contract for the supply of weed control products to Luton Council. The tender was based on Roundup glyphosate and Mankar ULV spraying units.

Mankar spraying units are professional systems for effective, environmentally responsible and economical weed control, with Roundup glyphosate being applied without water. All the spraying units are based on ULV technology which stands for ‘ultra-low volume.’

The primary area of application for Luton Council is pavement weed control, but the units can be introduced for use on highways, parks, grounds, public gardens, cemeteries and educational establishments.

Duncan Stirling, Street Spraying Manager at Luton Council, was attracted to the many benefits of the Mankar spraying system.

He said: “A 50% reduction in the amount of herbicide rquired to maintain these areas will provide an immediate economic benefit, both in purchasing herbicide, and reduction in disposing of plastic containers.

“The ease of use with the Mankar system, in that the herbicide can be applied neat, is of continual benefit to us as it negates the need to pre-mix into knapsacks or source water supplies. This will provide a noticeable benefit to operatives in time efficiency.

“The battery life of the machine provides more than enough charge for each period of use and if required, batteries can be easily switched.”

Following the award of the contract, Agrovista Amenity delivered a training session to the team of operatives. Ed Smith, Landscape Team Manager for Agrovista Amenity is delighted to see the Mankar systems making a difference for Luton Council.

entirely chemical free, the battery powered model offers an easy and effective solution to weeding.

The AS 30 E-Weedhex 82V with lithium battery which again is ideal for use in noise sensitive environments offers low vibrations and is without exhaust fumes whilst delivering the same high performing results as the standard models.

PSD Groundscare

Agrovista Amenity

Raymo remote control model improves productivity

More than ever before contractors are being asked to meet higher standards when it comes noise and emissions.

By taking the operator off the machine and making it remote control the Raymo mower with wide 104cm (41”) deck can give unrivalled run times from its Lithium battery pack.

The Raymo mower powered by this battery pack operates at very quiet ~68db, ideal for when working in noise sensitive areas. Thanks to the low centre of gravity the Raymo remote controlled mower can tackle slopes up to 35 degrees, with

the operator working safely at a distance. By removing the operator from working on the machine it also eliminates any damaging vibration caused from spending long periods of time each day mowing.

The 4WD offers superior traction no matter what grass is being cut with a neat fi nish thanks to its easy manoeuvrability and zero turning circles, allowing the operator to be a productive as possible. The low height of the mower at only 51cm (20”) also means it can tidily cut under benches or around low bushes and trees.

Should you find you need a longer run time the battery pack can be simply replaced with another whilst out on site, alternatively where noise levels

are not so restricted you can switch to a hybrid power pack.

ISEKI

The benefits of Mean Green technology

The electric Mean Green commercial Zero Turn, Stand-On and Walk Behind mowers are continually improving.

The latest models, named the Evolution Series, highlights

The

a single battery and new drive system allowing the battery to be mounted lower down in the chassis giving greater stability on banks and slopes.

New mower models and performance upgrades will

continue throughout 2021 making it an exciting year for Mean Green Mowers in the UK. Contact Overton (UK) Ltd for more information or a demonstration.

Overton

Contractors uses Turf Tank GPS for accurate results

Countrywide Grounds has been using the Turf Tank robotic line marker with GPS base station to achieve unrivalled accuracy wherever it is needed.

The Turf Tank is the only GPS line marker available that uses a base station. It provides an accuracy of +/- 1cm over 100m and ensures that the robot will overmark lines with supreme precision and mark out new pitches with ease.

The base station allows the machine to be operated without cellular or real-time kinematic (RTK) connectivity and

coverage. Using the closed system means the marker can be used anywhere with unprecedented reliability while matching the marking speed of every robotic line marker on the market.

As well as football pitches, the team has been able to use the robot to mark out year group areas for schools including numbers, and he has also completed 100m and 200m running tracks with various other sports in the pipeline.

Jacobsen introduces the Eclipse 360 ELiTE

ELiTE batteries have powered E-Z-GO vehicles for over 15 million hours, and that technology has been adopted by the E360 ELiTE to make a mower that can cut 50+ large greens on a single charge. Noise during operation is reduced to virtual silence, meaning the machine can be used to cut anywhere early in the morning without disruption.

The significant reduction in noise pollution is combined with zero air pollution with the all-electric model, while fuel consumption is reduced when cutting with the diesel hybrid.

The Patented Frequency of Clip Control ensures a consistent cut every time by linking the reel speed to the forward speed. By having the reels turning in time with the wheels you’re able to keep a consistent frequency of cut regardless of who is mowing, but still have the option to increase it without reducing the mowing speed.

This control is taken further with individual unit control that can adapt the cutting configuration to vary wheel runs and truly eliminate triplex ring.

Turf Tank

how these mowers have evolved and been developed over the last 10-year period in the USA with input from UK customers.

new RIVAL-52 and RIVAL-60 ZTR mowers have many new features including

The new Eclipse 360 ELiTE from Jacobsen has been designed to combine the next generation of ELiTE lithium-ion batteries with a signature cut that has been trusted for a century.

Jacobsen has a decade’s worth of experience with the Eclipse range, and that has been reflected in the features of this new machine.

Jacobsen

INTELLIGENT TREE SURGERY FOR THE PROFESSIONAL ARBORIST

The new EGO Top-Handle Chainsaw outperforms the best-selling petrol-powered top-handle chainsaw on the market. With EGO’s industry-leading Arc-Lithium battery technology at its heart, the perfect combination of power and torque delivers best-in-class speed of cut. EGO’s unique battery holster and integrated cable design creates the optimal power-to-weight ratio and with many other unique features, specially designed for the professional arborist, switching to EGO Power+ technology makes more sense than ever. THE NEW EGO POWER+ PROFESSIONAL-X TOP–HANDLE CHAINSAW. THERE’S NOTHING ELSE LIKE IT. #bestbatterypower

Pellenc launch latest battery technology

Pellenc has announced the release of their latest battery –the ULiB 750

Extra thin, compact and lightweight, the Pellenc ULiB 750 battery revises all ergonomic standards with an unequalled power to weight ratio.

Developed to work with all Pellenc battery tools in the range, the ULiB 750 has a sleek and compact design, weighing less than 4.5kg,

making this backpack battery the ideal power source for tree surgeons as well as grounds maintenance professionals.

It has a full LCD display on the front of the battery which allows the operator to see power consumed, cost of fuel saved in terms of petrol, the tools that have been used and a battery life indicator.

The new battery is also IP54 water-proof rated, meaning

that the worry some users have of working in the rain with a battery-powered product is no longer an issue.

It also comes complete with the new battery harness designed around user comfort which allows the battery to be stood upright when taken off of the operator.

Another new feature is that it can be fitted in either direction on to the operator allowing the cable to come out of the top or

bottom depending on the type of machine being used.

All Pellenc batteries and tools come complete with a three-year commercial warranty as standard – the first manufacturer to offer this on battery-powered tools.

Pellenc is exclusively distributed in the UK and Ireland by Etesia UK.

Etesia UK

Spring into action with Makita’s latest offer

From 1st February 2021, consumers can claim free 18V LXT lithium-ion batteries or body only LXT blowers with the purchase of selected 18V and Twin 18V (36V) machines.

The demand for cordless products is ever growing –and with its new redemption scheme, Makita is helping end users expand their collection of cordless garden machinery for a safer, more efficient job site.

With the purchase of selected 18V RT, RTE, RT8 and RTX models, customers can claim a free 5.0Ah lithium-ion battery or 18V LXT blower (DUB185Z –body only).

The offer is further extended with purchases of Twin 18V

(36V) PT2, PT4, PG2 and CT2 machines, where consumers may redeem either two 5.0Ah 18V LXT batteries, an 18V LXT blower (DUB184Z – body only) or a Twin 18V LXT blower (DUB362Z – body only).

The exciting offer is available to consumers who purchase from a wide selection of eligible cordless models, including hedge trimmers, linetrimmers, brush cutters, blowers, chainsaws, lawn mowers and split shafts, as well as the DDG460T2X7 earth auger.

Makita’s redemption scheme launches on 1st February 2021 and will run until 31st May 2021.

Customers who purchase any of the qualifying models will have 28 days to register their purchase and claim their free battery or tool within this time period.

UltraGroomer gets to grips with unwanted accumulations

Glamorgan CCC are the latest in a growing list of cricket clubs to discover the benefits of the UltraGroomer cassette from the renowned TMSystem collection.

Purchased in conjunction with a 30” INFINICUT FL mower in June 2020, the unit has helped Head Groundsman Robin Saxton to remove thatch and annual meadow grass accumulations to improve both presentation and overall plant health.

“The combination of the very wet winter quickly followed by warm conditions in the spring had caused a build-up of annual meadow grass on the square” explains Robin, who together with a team of five maintains the

Sophia Gardens Ground and an off-site practice area. “We were familiar with the UltraGroomer from prior experience and felt it was going to be key to us clearing the accumulations and improving sward cleanliness moving forward. Since we’ve been using the cassette it’s exceeded what we hoped to achieve!”

Featuring over 80 tungsten carbide tipped blades, the UltraGroomer improves the plants immediate environment by removing Poa ingress, lateral growth and organic matter to enhance the movement of oxygen and nutrients and make it more difficult for disease pathogens to take hold.

Makita UK has launched a new garden machinery redemption scheme.

Makita

Cub Cadet

Aerate and overseed in one pass with Ventrac

Turf compaction and grass damage over the winter months caused by foot or vehicle traffic and other stresses can be an issue and needs to be alleviated to keep the turf healthy. Now with Ventrac’s Aera-vator and integrated Gandy seeder it’s possible to aerate and overseed in one pass.

The Aera-vator is designed to break and loosen the soil beneath the surface without destroying the turf. It creates a hole without bringing a core plug to the surface, leaving the turf ready for use immediately after treatment. The Aera-vator works best in drier ground leaving a core hole while fracturing the sub soil.

The National Trust’s Waddesdon Manor, managed

by the Rothschild Foundation, purchased a Ventrac 4500 compact tractor and Tough Cut deck late last year and recently returned to local dealer RT Machinery to purchase additional attachments including a Turbo Blower, Landscape Rake and Aera-vator with seeder.

With a working width of 1.52 metres and a depth of 70 mm, the vibrating heads create six holes every 300 mm (66 holes per square metre) with the hole size regulated by the drive speed. The slower the forward speed of the Ventrac tractor unit, the larger the hole.

With the optional Gandy Seeder, you can save time by reseeding while aerating, increasing the

odds of germination for a thicker and healthier sward.

The tines can be replaced individually or by quickly changing the entire mounting heads, giving you the versatility required for efficient operation.

The Aera-vator is built with the Ventrac Mount System, allowing for easy attachment changes, and comes with a standard jack stand for easy mounting.

The all-wheel-drive Ventrac 4500 is rated for slopes of up to 30 degrees and is capable of handling various turf conditions allowing aeration in areas previously inaccessible with other aeration tools.

Price Turfcare

Groundsman

of aerators

The FLEXBLADE Collector was a new concept pioneered by Groundsman Industries over 20 years ago at a time when popular collection implements were power driven brush, paddle or elevator.

The principal was simple, no driven parts, just scoop the cores off the green with a series of linked platelets called FLEXBLADES, these independently floating plates follow surface undulations with precision like multiple shovels for the cleanest possible collection.

The FLEXBLADE Collector follows the aerator closely catching a large percentage of the cores before they touch the ground, the remainder are scooped cleanly from the surface dumping them in a pile when the aerator is lifted out of work.

FLEXBLADE will collect cleanly in all conditions, powder dry or soaking wet, saving vital time and labour, additional compaction on the surface of a freshly aerated green is minimised as is overall disruption on the course.

many

The new range of Groundsman universal collectors use the original proven FLEXBLADE collection system. This implement was for many years only available for use on Groundsman aerators but as the reputation for simple, low maintenance but extremely efficient method of collecting cores grew, so did the demand for the FLEXBLADE to fit other aerators.

The new range are sporting a sleek black curved and slotted collection canopy and slotted blades. The changes are however, much more than cosmetic. The new shape adds extra strength to the canopy while reducing the overall weight by more than half.

Terrain Aeration’s long-term treatment reaches one metre deep where compressed air blasts the compaction. The soil is opened up for good drainage and a healthy sward with minimum disruption. We have been successfully aerating sports turf, bowling greens, golf courses, parks, trees and gardens for over twenty-five years.

The collection blade check chains have been replaced by robust folding check links for consistent accuracy and reliability.

Groundsman Industries

Introducing the most productive pedestrian aerator

The new Air2G2 336 is the most productive pedestrian aerator on the market, with 36-inch probe centres allowing operators to cover ground quicker with the same industryleading results.

Aeration has always been an integral aspect of sports turf maintenance, and the introduction of the original Air2G2 revolutionised the process.

The principle of laterally injecting air using three

probes up to 12-inches below the surface has de-compacted countless greens, pitches, and courts at prestigious sporting venues around the globe.

The factors of no surface disruption and the option to operate the machine in wet conditions have seen many rely on the Air2G2 as their go-to solution for game or course saving aeration across all levels of professional, semi and non-professional sport. Consistent use of the machine

is proven to create surfaces that are healthy, firm, and free draining.

This happens over time because the pressurised air fractures the hardpan layers without disrupting roots while increasing pore space which promotes faster drainage and root development.

In turn, this respiration forces oxygen in and pushes CO 2 and other anaerobic gases out for root zone gas exchange.

Operators have used the Air2G2 to solve a variety of problems from simple decompaction to reducing salt build-up, increasing air exchange and to introduce winter aeration programmes.

With the wider 336 model, the work needed to achieve these goals can be done in less time whilst always getting the same impressive results.

Campey Turf Care

Aeration machinery helping create the world’s finest sports surfaces

Amazing result at Hever Castle

The historic English Yew Maze at Hever Castle in Kent dates back to 1906 and draws 350,000 visitors a year.

Originally intended only for family use, it comprises more than 1,000 individual yew trees imported from Holland, it measures 80ft by 80ft (24.4m) and is 6,4000 square feet.

The hedges reach 8ft (2.4m) in height and there is almost a quarter of a mile (0.4km) of pathways inside.

To maintain healthy Yew hedging requires decompaction of the beach pebble pathways and specialists Terrain Aeration carried out the work using their Remote Terralift machine.

The baby of the Terralift fleet, the Remote weighs in at just

eighty kilos and measures only sixty centimetres wide.

This allows it to fit through narrow pathways such as the maze and work in confined spaces other machines cannot reach.

It still has the power of a standard Airforce Terralift to hammer the hollow probe up to one metre deep and release a hydraulic blast of compressed air at up to 20Bar (28psi).

Having fractured the soil underground and created fissures, the Remote Terralift’s probe releases dried seaweed which expands and contracts with the moisture, and the probe holes are backfilled with Lytag aggregate to maintain aeration.

Terrain Aeration

Wiedenmann GXi8 HD for contractor Avonmore

Contractor Avonmore Associates Ltd is a long- established family business providing ground care for clubs, councils, universities and schools.

Based at Stratford-upon-Avon, the company works across many sports sectors and codes.

Director Philip Buttler said: “We had reason to replace an aerator in the autumn, so, guided by Richard Ainslie at dealers Farol, we weighed up what we needed in our next machine.

“It came down to a straight choice. We could go extra wide, although slower, with need of a powerful large tractor. Or, go for a speedier 1.8m wide aerator, that would put more holes in the ground and fit behind a mid-compact”.

Philip Buttler opted for the latter, the Terra Spike GXi8 HD, the company’s first Wiedenmann.

“After its first morning at Stratford racecourse, our operator, Jason Montgomery, got out the cab with the widest smile and said he was really happy. The two anti-vibration systems protect both the driver and the tractor, so it felt effortless and just so smooth.

“That was over a month ago and the GXi8 HD has been out pretty much every day since. Our current order book is a mix of golf renovations, and regular on-going maintenance of rugby and football pitches for education establishments, as well as a handful of racecourses.”

Wiedenmann

STIHL FS 131 brushcutter for tougher jobs

The FS 131 from STIHL supplied with ADVANCE Universal double shoulder harness, metal grass blade and AutoCut mowing head, offers professionals a highperformance and efficient brushcutter suitable for landscape maintenance.

The STIHL 4-MIX engine, which runs on a fuel-oil mix similar to a 2-stroke, provides fast acceleration, more power and added torque, while also delivering lower noise and reduced emissions.

The increased fuel efficiency allows professionals to complete jobs quickly, quietly and more easily.

To make getting up and running even simpler, the FS 131 features a decompression valve meaning less force on the starter rope is needed.

Designed with a multifunction handle, the engine and speed controls are easily accessible and at the users fingertips, along with a stop switch that automatically reverts back to the start position for a quicker, simple restart.

When used in conjunction with a harness, the bike handle enables a smooth mowing action, meaning the machine can be easily guided and is ideal for working on large areas, thus reducing fatigue.

The ADVANCE Universal Harness supplied features soft padding for further comfort during longer jobs.

Additionally, the anti-vibration system dampens oscillations from the machine’s engine to significantly reduce vibrations at the handles, rendering the FS 131 suitable to use over extended periods.

The versatile tool can also be used in conjunction with a number of additional cutting attachments, including a rotary cutting head (RG), pruner (HT) and hedge trimmer (HL).

STIHL

Hatfield House goes green with Husqvarna

ETESIA launch new Attila 98X ride-on brushcutter

Etesia UK has announced the launch of the new Attila 98X four-wheel-drive ride-on brushcutter, which was officially unveiled ahead of the 2020 season at IOG SALTEX.

The new Attila 98X has been designed to work in the toughest of conditions. This powerful workhorse effectively deals with clearing vegetation from a wide variety of sites – long grass, weeds, bracken and brambles on woodland paths, orchards, verges and embankments.

With a low centre of gravity, four-wheel-drive plus heavytreaded tyres and differential lock, the new ride-on brushcutter to join the Attila family provides greater stability on slopes up to 30°.

Swing or fixed tip blades with a 98cm cutting height adjusted by a centralised lever with 8 working positions from 50mm-120mm plus transport mode enable this workhorse to cut through dense growth of up to 4.5cm diameter.

something which his previous non-Husqvarna battery models struggled with.

Built in 1611 by Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury and Chief Minister to King James I, Hatfield House is a beautiful Jacobean property and popular tourist attraction.

It is here where Andrew Turvey, head of park and gardens, along with his team of ten employees, began their tool transformation to Husqvarna battery to help preserve and maintain Hatfield House’s vast estate.

Following a demonstration provided by the Husqvarna team, Andrew was instantly impressed by the product’s pricepoints and their ability to be used during unsavoury weather,

Since their first demo, Andrew’s collection of Husqvarna Battery Series has continued to grow, including the 535iRXT and 520iLX brush cutters.

“The brush cutters in particular have made a huge difference to the way we work,” he said. “The brush cutters are used daily on the estate, by the team and Lady Salisbury herself, thanks to their light-weight design and ability to be turned on and off when needed for short burst of use, without having to warm them up and refuel.

“Being able to switch the batteries from one product to another so seamlessly, without the worry of fuel is brilliant.”

Husqvarna

Ventrac for those tough brushcutting jobs

The Tough Cut deck attachment for the Ventrac 4500 all-terrain compact tractor has been specifically designed for mowing high grass, thick weeds and heavy brush. Able to work on slopes of up to 30 degrees, it can save huge amounts of man-hours when compared to strimming.

A large front opening directs material into the deck where three heavy-duty blades counter rotate to cut and deposit waste evenly without windrowing. The blades are sharp on both sides so they can be used on right or left-hand spindles, allowing for extended blade life.

Capable of tackling saplings up to 2.54 mm (1 inch) in diameter, the Tough Cut makes short work out of overgrown thickets. It has three cutting heights: 76 mm, 92 mm and 108 mm. Easy servicing of belts and pulleys is provided by the hinged and removable cover, while the flip-up deck provides easy access for cleaning and changing blades.

Peter Pattenden, the Golf Courses and Estates Manager at Carden Park, is a 30-year veteran in the industry having begun his career at Gleneagles back in 1991. He is also a

“We manage over 1400 acres at Carden Park including the two championship golf courses, the owner’s house and grounds and the tenant farms dotted around the estate. Every piece of equipment we buy has to earn its keep and this Ventrac certainly falls into this category.

“The Tough Cut deck is superb as it can cut through saplings, bracken and gorse, helping to maintain the areas that consume man-hours. We do a lot of woodland management, removing trees and scrub, and this means travelling across fairways to reach particular areas. The light footprint of the Ventrac, which I believe is just 6 psi, allows us to go in with either the Stump Grinder attachment or the Tough Cut

deck to maintain these sites, without leaving wheel marks around the courses.

“I’ve been buying machinery since 1996 and can honestly say this is one of the best machines I have ever bought. Summed up

in three words, it’s exceptional, versatile and robust.”

is distributed in the UK and Ireland by Price Turfcare, based near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk.

Powered by the new Kawasaki FS691V 24HP electric start engine, the Attila 98X has a strengthened welded tubular chassis providing a better driving position for operators.

The new Attila 98X model joins the Attila range of pedestrian and ride-on brushcutters already available within the extensive Etesia portfolio.

Etesia UK

Hertfordshire’s Hatfield House thanks battery power for helping maintain its extensive grounds, following their impressive results with Husqvarna Battery Series, after making a switch to the fuelalternative.

fan of the Tough Cut deck.

Ventrac

Price Turfcare