Professional Groundscare April 2017

Turf Maintenance LIVE! a unique turf care event with an emphasis on working demonstrations and up close inspection of the new season’s products returns for 2017.

The collaborative event by eight of the industry’s leading innovators will be held on Wednesday, April 26 and Thursday, April 27.

Location is The Worcestershire Golf Club at Malvern Wells and those involved are GKB Machines, Husqvarna, Iseki, Jacobsen, Martin Lishman, Rigby Taylor, Wessex International and Wiedenmann UK.

The event, featuring working machines and equipment that

are not static as in exhibition halls, targets groundsmen, greenkeepers, contractors, local authority personnel, estate managers and schools as well as amateur and professional clubs.

A TML organiser said: “The Worcestershire Golf Club is a superb venue as it’s within striking distance of the M5/M50 intersection and Three Counties Show Ground it’s pretty accessible.

“We’ve had good indications of people travelling not just locally but from Shropshire, Herefordshire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Gloucestershire, Bristol, South Wales and Oxfordshire so there should be a quite a buzz.

“We’ll be showcasing some of the latest technology with a serious amount of diverse kit on view, so there’s plenty of incentive to make a day of it.

“We’re indebted to two associate sponsors – The IOG and BIGGA - both of whom will be awarding CPD points to attendees.”

On both days the event will start at 10am with free registration. Online registrations are being taken at www.turfmaintenancelive.com or by phone on 0141 814 3366. Follow the event as it develops on Twitter @liveturf or on Facebook.

Rigby Taylor Enquiry 57

Woodhall Spa Golf Club has acquired an Air2G2 from Campey Turf Care Systems, via the dealer Burdens.

The sprawling 36-hole complex includes the world renowned Hotchkin Course, and is home to the National Golf Centre.

The vast site is managed by course manager, Sam Rhodes, where he and his 17-staff work to keep the courses at a standard befitting of the tournaments they host, with the Air2G2 now an integral part of the maintenance operation.

The importance of the machine comes from the expectations of golfers. Gone are the days when winter golf is seen as a bonus, and in are the demands for perfect putting surfaces all year round. This expectation is managed by Sam and is the reason the Air2G2 is an exciting addition.

“In modern day golf the condition of the greens is important throughout the year,” says Sam. “Years ago, winter golf was a bonus, now there is a lot more pressure on turf professionals to maintain good quality playing surfaces 12 months a year.

“The beauty of the Air2G2 is I can go out there now, I can do the work on a green to break up any compacted layer underneath and help with the drainage, come off, cut the green and you wouldn’t know I’d been on it.”

Time has been taken to figure out exactly where the pan layer is, and then with the three varying size of tines Sam has cracked

that layer and experimented with depth to reduce compaction as much as possible.

Club brings in year-round aeration BIGGA support team for the BMW PGA Championship

By doing this he now has welldraining greens with the added ability of reacting to any heavy rain fall before or during tournaments, giving him a 12-months a year aeration operation.

A support team of British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association members will be heading to The Wentworth Club in May to help prepare the course for the BMW PGA Championship.

The greenkeepers will be on hand to assist Director of Golf Courses & Estates Kenny Mackay and his team throughout the European Tour’s flagship event. The team will help out with early morning course work and preparation in advance of each day’s play.

“I keep going out of my love for golf,” said the Links (Newmarket) head greenkeeper. “How many tournaments can you get inside the ropes? I learn something everyday, that’s what’s so great about this job.”

New Zealander Rob Boyce is a Wentworth veteran and this will be the 19th time he has joined the support team.

BIGGA Enquiry 59

Campey Turf Care Enquiry 58

Jakarta redesign set to take off

Duncan Ross executes first phase of bunker redevelopments

Duncan Ross has executed the vision of renowned golf course architect, Jonathan Gaunt, with the fabrication of four bunkers at Astbury Golf Club, which have been very well received by the board of directors and members.

It was the aim of Jonathan to reinstate some character to the course through the bunkers, making the design process crucial, but the interpretation of those designs from Duncan Ross even more so.

and Duncan has interpreted that really well,” Jonathan explained.

“When it comes to designing bunkers for courses it’s more of a job for me to implement the ideas of the club and pick the right contractors to oversee the work to make sure it’s done to the right standard.

An Indonesian golf club is rerouting its course because of an airport expansion - and it’s going to showcase its new look with the assistance of Harris Kalinka, the world’s leading golf course animation company.

Cengkareng Golf Club, in Jakarta - a semi-private club - is located adjacent to the city’s international airport, Soekarno-Hatta.

The golf club has engaged US architecture practice Golfplan to help replace the fi fth hole and renovate the fourth and sixth. The club also contacted Harris Kalinka - which helps golf firms and architects communicate ideas and designs through images and animations - requesting some visualisations of the changes which could then be presented to members.

The co-founder of Harris Kalinka, Andrew Harris, said: “The plan is to create an aerial image of the proposed new course, so members can easily see the land taken by the airport and the new hole layout and routing.

“In addition, we will produce an animation of the new and renovated holes, in order to create excitement and anticipation among the members, so they buy into the concept.”

Harris Kalinka’s visualisations have been used successfully to attract members, raise investment, sell off-plan, develop a design or to present an idea.

Harris Kalinka Enquiry

62

“The bunkering at Astbury is designed not to be too severe to play from, visually attractive and in view from the tee or approach,

“They asked me to provide them with a master plan and that included if bunkers should be filled in, repositioned, reshaped or remodelled. I worked my way around the course and came up with an 18-hole master plan, and that plan has become their blue print for future works.”

With the second phase of work planned to take place on the site this year the success of the first phase was very important for all parties, not least the club itself. Dave explains the teamwork involved in the project and the results that can now be seen on the 1st and 13th holes. The project also

incorporated a rubber membrane into the bunkers for the first time. It’s hoped that whilst the initial outlay for the product was expensive that the long-term benefits will far out way the cost by keeping the sand clean and stopping it getting contaminated.

Duncan Ross Enquiry 61

Award for Operation Pollinator champion

outstanding ecological habitat creation and management.

The Award was presented to Steve at the Golf Environment

Awards ceremony, organised by the STRI at BTME Harrogate, along with colleagues Kevin Armstrong and Chris Watts of the John O’Gaunt greenkeeping team.

As one of the great champions of the Operation Pollinator initiative - set up to introduce more bee-friendly wildflower areas around golf coursesSteve has successfully overseen the planting and management of more than three hectares of

AQUA-AID Europe and ProGrass host information days

AQUA-AID’s Eu’s Irish distributor, ProGrass Ltd, held two successful industry information days at NAAS Golf Club, Kildare House and Castletroy Golf Club, Limerick Clubhouse at the beginning of March.

The days were organised by Prograss’ Managing Director Gerard McEvoy, and hosted by David Behan, course manager

at NAAS Golf Club and Aiden Hiney golf course superintendent at Castletroy Golf Club.

The aim of the days was to showcase the AQUA-AID range of products alongside talks from Duco Van Der Veen from Mivena, and an explanation of organic matter control in greens from Harris Turf Improvements ltd. Brian O’Shaughnessy from Campey Turf Care Systems

was also there to support with machinery demonstrations of the award winning Air2G2 and Imants shockwave.

The uptake of the AQUA-AID range has been very positive across Europe and In Ireland with programmes in place at the Aviva Stadium, Croke Park and Dunmurray Springs Golf Club.

AQUA-AID

Enquiry 64

dedicated habitat; welcomed by the club’s players and a wealth of pollinating insects. Syngenta Operation Pollinator Manager, Caroline Carroll, highlighted that John O’Gaunt’s success in winning award was recognition of the entire greenkeeping team’s efforts, led by Course Manager, Nigel Broadwith, and the Club’s commitment to proactively utilising the whole area of the golf course.

Syngenta Enquiry 63

John O’Gaunt Golf Club greenkeeper, Steve Thompson, has picked up the prestigious Syngenta Operation Pollinator Award, for the golf club’s consistently

Club gets by with a little help from their friends

England’s most south westerly course, The Isles of Scilly 9 hole Golf Club, offers stunning views and is maintained by a team of three volunteer greenkeepers, headed by Derek Metcalfe.

Having no previous greenkeeping, or even gardening, experience Derek relies on advice and guidance from trusted friends and industry contacts –like Headland Amenity for the clubs nutritional requirements.

Richard Shapland from Headland visited the club and has been helping with the nutritional side of maintenance.

“Richard came over and advised that, because we had not previously done a lot of work on the fairways over the years, we could struggle to maintain them with the amount of moss, weeds, fibre content and heather encroachment that we had,” said Derek.

“We trialled a couple of products, Mulitigreen and Xtend

46-0-0 Soluble, in different parts of the course. The results were impressive and following this we formulated a weed control programme. Since the application we have seen a big improvement in the sward and now we are able to start work to remove the moss with verti cutting, brushing and spring raking.

“We now have a full Headland programme in place including Greentec, Protec NK and C-Complex fertilisers, Seamac Ultra Plus and CalciComplex which has helped to raise the pH on some of the greens which were almost peat.”

The Isles of Scilly course is also not on a mains water supply so they spend time hand watering when water is available and the rest of the time they’re relying on rainfall. To help with it also uses Headland’s Tricure AD which helps to prevent hydrophobic conditions.

Headland Amenity Enquiry 68

First Terra Spike SL6 goes to golf club

Market Drayton Golf Club has taken delivery of the first Terra Spike SL6, Wiedenmann’s super light aerator for fine turf.

“It came along just as I was looking for extra depth,” said head greenkeeper, Simon Cotterill. “Our previous microtine machine operated to about 100 mm but going to 210 mm just suits us better.”

No stranger to Wiedenmann aerators, this is the fourth Terra Spike Simon Cotterill has purchased in his 26 years at the parkland course, having bought an original P6 and two subsequent XP6s.

“The plan is to use solid tines across all greens every 3 weeks or so falling back to four to five weeks in winter, weather depending. If we’re out early morning and

follow with a cut, no-one will know we’ve been out.”

Smart in every sense of the word, an innovative cover is one of several bespoke features designed to keep the SL’s weight to just 470kg.

An updated version of Wiedenmann’s patented TwinDrive takes up less room and moves the centre of gravity closer to the tractor. Other developments include a built-in tine return system and additional shock absorbing facility.

At 1.4 m this new aerator is wide enough to cover the greens quickly but small enough to be very nimble. The XP6 at 400mm deep is at the opposite end of the aerator range so Simon and the lads have all bases covered now.

CE marking for Classen aerator

Classen’s new TA18 aerator now has CE marking in compliance with EU health and safety requirements.

The width of the aerator is just 27.2”/69cm allowing it to fit through almost all gates and doors and the small footprint with the handles folded makes it exceptionally easy to store and transport.

For groundsmen, landscapers, hire outlets and homeowners the Classen TA18 is the ideal solution for highly productive treatment of grass areas including hills, slopes and inclines. It’s the most compact aerator in its class and easily negotiates around trees, shrubs and in tight spaces while aerating at speed.

There are five banks of tine wheels with tight tine placement to pull more holes for faster results, and yet the width of the aerator is just Power comes from a Honda GX120 engine

which drives the aerator at speeds up to 4.2mph/6.7kmh and the easily reached operation controls ensure user comfort and less fatigue. The TA18 can aerate up to 29,500 square feet of lawn per hour, making it the ideal, productive addition to a landscaper’s equipment fleet.

Another key feature of the Classen TA18 is the two ergonomically shaped and removable weights at the front and top of the machine, which ensure even weight distribution.

The Classen TA 18 Aerator has been designed with productivity and portability in mind and it comes with a two-year commercial warranty to add to it being fully certified, to give the contractor, hire outlet and end user complete peace of mind. Orders are being taken for delivery in mid-April.

Schiller

Groundscare Enquiry 67

Wiedenmann Enquiry 69

Reesink Turfcare appoints new national accounts manager

Alastair Rowell has been appointed national accounts manager for grounds at Reesink Turfcare, a position created due to the company’s growing prominence in the groundscare sector.

The appointment comes after a period of great growth for the

company who, through working directly with manufacturer Toro, has helped develop a comprehensive turfcare machinery range ideal for the sometimes harsh conditions and environments across the UK.

With customer relationships central to his role, Alastair brings

over 35 years experience in the industry including most recently eight years as sales manager at dealer Carrs Billington. Here he looked after grounds and horticultural machinery with over seven horticultural outlets.

Alastair says: “I started in the industry as an apprentice mechanic and then worked up to sales manager, I have been involved in selling the Toro brand now for over 20 years and from personal experience can recommend the quality of Toro’s build and reliability. I am really looking forward to working with the team at Reesink and Toro to continue to provide service and support to customers.”

Toro’s research and development is market leading and, with Reesink’s input on the challenges facing groundscare professionals today, the range is comprised of innovative solutions to tackle reduced budgets and tough mowing conditions. The product

line includes cylinder and rotary mowers to flails with optional cylinder attachments that give a tough cutting flail a fine cylinder finish when needed.

David Cole, Reesink’s managing director, says: “Alastair has experience in all the areas important for this role, he understands and has used Toro machines, he has a wealth of sales experience and has worked as a dealer selling direct to customers. With this kind of experience and breadth of knowledge regarding customers, dealers and distributors, he’s a valuable asset to our groundscare team.”

Alastair will be supporting and working closely with Reesink’s biggest clients across the country, and upholding the company’s reputation for providing awardwinning aftermarket support to customers.

Reesink Turfcare Enquiry 72

Abbott’s new tractors help company’s growth

Ordering four new John Deere tractors led to MJ Abbott Limited’s sales & technical director Adrian Abbott experiencing a golden moment when he drove the first one off the production line at the Mannheim tractor factory in Germany.

MJ Abbott is one of the UK’s leading sports turf construction and maintenance contractors, specialising in golf courses and sports pitch construction as well as irrigation and water management, land drainage, landscaping and environmental works.

Supplied by local dealer R Hunt Ltd at Tilshead in Wiltshire, the four new John Deere 6120M tractors, all equipped with

grassland tyres, take Abbott’s total fleet of John Deere large utility and compact tractors to 23. They were chosen due to their ease of operation, and the ongoing reliability of the machines in the contracting fleet.

They will be predominantly used on a wide range of sports turf projects from golf courses to football and rugby pitches, mainly for towing gravel hoppers, Weidenmann Terra Spike aerators, Blec Groundbreaker rotary decompactors and a range of other cultivators and seeders. Current projects include reconstruction of Wentworth Golf Club’s West Course, and drainage and irrigation work at Adare Manor Golf Resort in Ireland.

“We have been John Deere customers for over 20 years, so this latest deal reinforces our brand loyalty,” says Adrian Abbott.

“Our core tractor fleet ranges from 80 to 120hp, and with this latest purchase we now have 12 units in this power range. We have hired machines but this was

a false economy, and we quickly realised that we needed to expand the tractor fleet to cope with our expanding workload – we are fortunate to have a strong order book at the moment, which gave us the confidence to make this new investment.”

Deere Enquiry 73

GreenMech again for Arboreco

Arboreco carry out a range of tree and hedge works for both domestic and commercial customers.

With such differing projects the company needs a fleet of chipping machinery capable of getting into small and restricted spaces, as well as man enough for large site clearance projects.

Already owning a GreenMech QuadChip 160, Director Eddie Litchfield turned again to GreenMech again to purchase a smaller machine - a new MK II Arborist 130 unit.

Arboreco have always used GreenMech machines and been really pleased with them. When it came to adding another chipper to their fleet they were particularly impressed by the new features added onto the ever-popular Arborist 130 model.

The MK II units include a new folding table; bottom control bar; all new infeed touch controls; led lights - even a new livery.

GreenMech Enquiry 71

A

•

• Wide range of tank-mix options

John

SIS Pitches enjoy dominant year following key projects

ICL & Syngenta launch Ultimate Offers for 2017

ICL and Syngenta have launched their popular Primo Maxx Ultimate Offers for 2017, which are set to provide turf managers with a combination of great products through a range of extremely cost-effective packages.

Primo Maxx is commonly used on all types of sports and amenity turf because it improves the quality and performance of the turf and encourages root development as well as significantly reducing the mowing requirements.

Due to these benefits Primo Maxx has become a fundamental component of many maintenance programmes and so the Ultimate Offer is always most welcome at this time of year.

liquid fertilizer AND Syngenta XC nozzles. The packages are designed for use on greens or stadium pitches (Ultimate Offer 1), tees and surrounds or multiple pitch applications

(Ultimate Offer 2) or fairways, roughs or larger multiple pitch applications (Ultimate Offer 3).

Available exclusively through ICL distributors until December 31 2017, the Ultimate Offers can

help stretch budgets by saving turf managers up to £4,000 per year.

ICL Enquiry 76

Sports pitch-specialists SIS Pitches enjoyed a standout year in 2016, as a number of prestigious projects helped to propel the company to even greater heights.

With a group turnover exceeding £50 million, SIS Pitches is one of the world’s largest sports pitch companies, and is also unique in its ability to design, build, manufacture, install and maintain natural grass, synthetic turf and hybrid pitches.

Last year’s investment saw new tufting lines installed in the factory, new SISGrass machines capable of completing a full size fi eld in fi ve days commissioned, and new site equipment purchased.

Not only were more square metres of synthetic turf manufactured in the Cumbrian plant, SIS Pitches installed more pitches than in any previous calendar year.

The most prestigious project completed throughout the year was the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, where the opening match and final of the 2018

World Cup will be played. Incorporating technologically advanced SISGrass as well as the SISAir under-soil heating and cooling system, SIS Pitches has ensured perfect playing conditions for the most famous football event in the world.

The company has also agreed contracts to complete work for three more of the twelve stadiums to be used at the tournament.

SISGrass fields were completed for clients such as Chelsea, Derby County, Besiktas and Athletic Bilbao whilst the company also installed a new SISGrass hybrid pitch at AFC Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium, making Premier league history in the process.

In London, SIS Pitches upgraded the SISTurf pitch for English and European rugby champions Saracens, whilst SIS Pitches also constructed two RFU funded projects at Aylesbury and Preston Grasshoppers.

The Ultimate Offers combines the grass growth regulator Primo Maxx, Sportsmaster WSF water soluble fertilizer, Greenmaster

SIS Pitches Enquiry

77

New QF header system gets the most out of dripline irrigation

The benefits of on-surface and sub-surface dripline irrigation are widely recognised.

Efficient installation of dripline systems has, however, been challenging for contractors who had to build on-site any required header assemblies. Rain Bird’s new QF Dripline Header has changed this.

It is the market’s only selfdispensing coiled and pre-fabricated header system for dripline

installations. Users simply roll it out and attach any number of lateral lengths of dripline tubing to the T-piece barbs. When connected to the water source, consistent levels of irrigation are then assured.

Contact Peter Longman, Rain Bird Northern Europe Landscape Area Manager, email: plongman@rainbird.eu www.rainbird.eu

Rainbird Enquiry 78

Taking on the Tigers is no mean feat

Laurence Gale meets up with Ed Mowe, new head groundsman at Leicester Tigers, to talk about the challenge of working at one of the UK’s biggest rugby clubs.

It has been 10 years since my last visit to Welford Road, home ground of Leicester Tigers, plenty has changed in terms of new stands and the installation of a new hybrid pitch supplied by County Turf.

Tigers regularly play to a full house of 26,000 and attract some of the world’s best players, the club have in recent seasons also invested heavily in improving their training facilities at Oval Park.

So it is a good time to catch up with their Head Groundsman Ed Mowe who took up this new challenging post last December.

Q - What was the reason for taking up this new post at Leicester Tigers?

“Up until now I have spent most of my working career working in football, having spent 17 years at Leicester City FC , and three years at St Georges Park. I felt I needed a new challenge and Leicester Tigers will certainly give me that, in terms of getting their pitches up

to scratch. As with most of the Premier rugby sides they do not have the staff and resources we have in professional football.

“I was happy working at St Georges Park, but when the job came up at Tigers, I thought this would be a great opportunity for me to develop my skills set further and take playing pitch standards to a new level at Tigers.”

Q - What facilities come under your remit?

“I am responsible for looking after the stadium and the clubs three training pitches at Oval Park. The stadium’s pitch was newly laid last year, with the club trialling out a new Eclipse hybrid turf pitch (exclusively grown by County Turf in the UK and for Europe under licence from the Motz Group Eclipse Hybrid Turf is a patented combination of natural grass growing in a unique stabilizing mat).

“This hybrid turf combines natural and synthetic fibres tufted into an open-weave backing, top dressed with specified sand. The reinforcement of the artificial grass guarantees stability and an even playing surface immediately after installation. The club had also invested in a

new pop up watering system that was installed prior to the new pitch being laid.

“Since my arrival, I have also managed to acquire the use of some SGL lighting rigs to help stimulate grass growth on specific wear and shaded areas of the pitch. I’ve also overseeded twice since Christmas and applied a 4:0:6 granular fertiliser to keep the grass plant ticking over.

“We also look after three very heavily used pitches at Oval Park, mainly due to the fact the club share this facility with Oadby Wyggestonians Rugby Club. Pitch one is a natural soil based pitch with no drainage , pitch two is a 13 year old Desso Grassmaster pitch with drainage, irrigation and floodlights and pitch three is a natural soil pitch with drainage.

“These three pitches are in constant demand for training and matches on a daily basis and in any one season July – April we will be accommodating 233 games and untold amount of training sessions.

“As for the Leicester Tigers, the club have 39 senior players, we

play 16 home fixtures at Welford Road, they train four days a week (9am-3pm) at Oval Park and the team train at the stadium a day before home games. We then have a development team of 16 players who train alongside the seniors. So, all in all we are kept very busy.”

Q - What staff and resources do you have?

“When I arrived, there was only me and Cheryl Hill to cope with all the work. Cheryl has been a great asset to me in terms of her 26 years of working experience at Tigers. However, we both knew we needed to recruit more staff. In February I appointed James Keywood an experienced groundmans from Oakham School to the team. Although both Cheryl and James are based at the training ground, they are always on hand to help me at Welford Road.

“I have also been working closely with Brooksby Melton College to secure the release of two horticultural students who come in and help us on Mondays and Fridays as part of their training and development, they also started working for us in February.

“As for machinery, we are in the process of evaluating our needs. Our current machinery is quite old and limiting, however. With STIHL being one of our main sponsors, they have been very helpful in providing us with any relevant STIHL equipment, strimmers, blowers and small pedestrian rotary mowers.

“I have already started to ring the changes, with the purchase of a new Dennis G860 cassette mower which will be used at Welford Road, we currently hire in a Toro Procore, I am confident once they see improvements in pitch quality and what we can achieve under our new maintenance regimes the club will support

my machinery needs, with such a small team of ground staff, we need to ensure we can be efficient and affective.”

Q - What is your current assessment of the pitches?

“One of the first things I did when I arrived was to have some soil samples taken and analysed the results, working closely with Mark Akins of Soil Harmony we have come up with a feeding regime to improve the vigour and health of the grass plant. We are now applying a range of products in both liquid and granular formulations on a little and often basis.

“As for the two hybrid pitches, they are providing a good stable surface and able to withstand a lot of ware, it merely a case of improving the quality of the sward and maintain more grass cover.

“As for the soil based pitches, these will need an upgrade at some time in the future to bring them into line with our hybrid pitches. With that in mind we have set up a trial area down at the training ground and installed an area of Eclipse hybrid turf to see how well it performs.”

I am using the GrasPro online diary system so that I can record all of our pitch usage and all maintenance, irrigation, feeding activities that go onto the surfaces. The collation of all this data which is all retrievable will help me distinguish if there are

any factors to why certain areas have performed well or not. I will then have evidence for any future renovation, machinery requests that I feel the surfaces will need to help us move forward and evolve.

Q - What have you got planned for the end of season renovations? “Yes, my renovations are planned to start on June 10, all four pitches will be renovated, it is simply a case of removing the surface vegetation, verti-draining, topping up surface levels and reseeding in the case of the Eclipse hybrid pitch and the Desso Grassmaster we will need bring in County Turf and Hewitts to undertake the renovations.

“As for the two soil based pitches, these again will be cleaned off (removal of top vegetation), rotovated, top dressed with 60 tonnes of MM45 sand, vertidrained and reseeded and with a rye grass seed mixture.

“It will then be down to us, undertaking a robust maintenance regime of regular cutting on a daily/ every other day regime depending on growth, keeping the height of cut at around 30mm.

“Coping with the reinstatement after training and matches, this will be centred on cleaning the surface with rotary mowers, divoting and brushing. We will also ensure the pitches are aerated on a regular basis and fed.”

Sherriff Amenity launches GoGreen Energy

Sherriff Amenity has announced the launch of GoGreen Energy, a concentrated bio-stimulant formulated to assist plant health and relieve stress symptoms.

Over recent years, professionals in the groundscare and amenity industry have turned to Sherriff Amenity’s GoGreen complexed iron range.

Renowned for delivering outstanding results, the GoGreen range already boasts the longlasting iron granules (GoGreen Granules) and in liquid form (GoGreen Plus).

It has now been announced that GoGreen Energy is the latest product to be added to the unique range of products.

GoGreen Energy is a concentrated bio-stimulant, formulated to assist plant health and relieve stress symptoms in a wide variety of amenity turf situations. It contains seaweed, plant sugars, simple carbohydrates and trace elements that have been specially selected to give optimum results when grass is stressed. The low NPK analysis, complemented by suitable wetting and spreading agents, makes this an ideal component of any turf maintenance programme.

A cold processed seaweed extract was chosen to provide the maximum amounts of plant growth hormones; such as auxins, gibberellins and betains, to capitalise on increasing the root and shoot development. It

Top safety accreditation for Duralock

Duralock UK has been awarded accreditation from Alcumus SafeContractor for achieving excellence in health and safety in the workplace.

Alcumus SafeContractor is a leading third party accreditation scheme which recognises extremely rigorous standards in health and safety management amongst contractors. It is used by thousands

of organisations in the UK from SMEs to FTSE 100 companies.

Duralock is principally involved in the PVC fencing sector, specialising in the Equine and Sports industries, with a £3 million turnover. Duralock’s most recent clients have included major players such as Ascot Racecourse, Epsom Downs Racecourse and the RFU.

also contains a full package of trace elements.

GoGreen Energy uses a natural plant-based source of sugars and other carbohydrates that does not require a destructive sterilisation process, such as is mandatory with products containing hydrocarbons derived from bovine materials.

It can be used all year round and is ideal for all amenity turf areas or as a pre-game stadia application.

Sherriff Amenity Enquiry 81

Mow in any weather conditions with increased efficiency and minimum operating costs

Since its return to the UK market, Roberine has been promoting the R3 triple cylinder and F3 triple flail mowers to the John Deere dealer network through which the machines are supplied.

Roberine has teamed up with Nottingham-based Howard Marshall Engineering Ltd, who

have supplied products and solutions to the John Deere network for nearly 20 years, to stock parts in the UK and support Roberine dealers with demonstrations and technical assistance.

The F3 brings new innovation in commercial flail mowing with reduced operating costs,

minimal down time for setup and servicing, and the flexibility to mow in varying grass conditions including thick growth, sports turf and parks and recreation grounds in all weather conditions.

It also has the lowest noise levels in its class which will benefit councils working on housing estates or public parks. The R3 is a refined cylinder mower offering the latest technology and choice of 8” or 10” blades. Both machines are hydrostatic with permanent 4WD and there is also an option to have a reverse blow fan, another way of reducing maintenance down time, making the Roberine user and service friendly.

Roberine Enquiry 82

On the right lines at Ardingly College

The company’s Production & Installation Manager Jack Green, who was instrumental in ensuring Duralock worked towards the accreditation said: “Safety is paramount in every stage of the production process and it makes sense that we take the same level of care when it comes to our installations.”

Duralock UK Enquiry 83

Ian Card is Head of Grounds and Security at Ardingly College, an independent, mixed school set in a beautiful 230-acre campus in the West Sussex countryside.

In 2014, Ian returned to Ardingly and now leads a skilled team of nine maintaining the grounds and twelve grass pitches, three squares and two all-weather artificial turf pitches. Football is the dominant sport alongside rugby, cricket, hockey, athletics and tennis.

As is expected the standards of all facilities must be maintained to an exemplary level and the pitches are pounded seven days a week by the school’s 400+ students. The amount of use and the high quality expected of the grounds certainly keeps Ian and his team on their toes.

The finishing touch and stand out feature of any sports pitch is the white line presentation. This school year saw Ardingly

become a customer for Bristolbased sports paint supplier, Pitchmark. Their Eco System appealed to Ian and his staff, as he explained: “I like the marking machine. It’s very simple and easy to operate and has a nice user-friendly feel to it.”

Ian continued: “Pitchmark’s assistance before and after I became a customer has been excellent. One of their reps, Olly (Boys), comes to see me and the team, and we chat through how the paint and machine are performing and my general feedback. It’s something that was being overlooked with a previous supplier - good, friendly customer service.”

Pitchmark have been supplying Ardingly College with their readyto-use paint Ecoline+ and this is having a positive effect on work efficiency. “The no mixing is very convenient. My guys don’t have to spend down-time mixing and getting messy. The product quality and finish is consistent, allowing us to spend more time on other tasks to raise the standards further.”

“Sometimes, the paint can be too good,” he said, jokingly. “We swap some football fields to rugby every January and I could still see the old lines weeks after.” Well, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Pitchmark Enquiry 84

Fencing for a multitude of needs

importantly still that I would want my kids to play in.

Leisure and sports fencing can keep balls in play, reduce maintenance, provide safety and security, deter vandalism and graffiti and even be an integral part of the field of play.

One fantastic example where we supplied multiple types of fencing, railings and gates was Paddington Recreation Ground in Westminster, London. It is my favourite case study on a single site of creative solutions to specific challenges and issues.

Full Size Synthetic Hockey Pitch – Bespoke hockey mesh panels surround a professional-standard 101x65m hockey pitch that caters for a large number of spectators.

The panels can withstand high impact hockey balls, but also allows excellent through visibility. The goal ends use attractive ‘transition panels’, which grade the transition between the 5m-high ends and 3m-high sides.

Football Pitch – The recreation ground includes a sand dressed football pitch for a variety of sports. The 106x64m pitch is surrounded by Duo8 sports fencing for a robust playing area, with rubber inserts between the panels and posts to keep ‘rattle’ during play to a minimum.

Cricket Nets – Duo8 sports fencing was used to fashion four professional-standard cricket nets. A sports netting ‘roof’ retains cricket balls within the area, slows the transit of balls and deadens the final impact.

Tennis / Basketball / 5-A-Side MUGAs – The courts use 4m high Duo8 on the park side, but in order to maximise ball retention, use 5m high fencing on a side that backs onto a housing estate. This area further increases the options available to residents, as two of the tennis courts use Super Rebound fencing and double as 5-A-side football pitches.

Integrated lighting columns are installed in the fence line and act as fence posts.

5-A-Side Football Pitch – This innovative 3-in-1 5-a-side pitch has six goal recesses, one at each end and two on each side. This enables one large game or two smaller games to be played simultaneously. The 61x37m pitch uses Zaun’s Super Rebound system, giving an excellent rebound surface, that lasts longer than wooden boards and allows an unhindered view of the action.

Play Areas – Bow top railings are the traditional perimeter for play areas as they are in keeping with their surroundings, provide high visibility of children playing within and comply with RoSPA guidelines, such as gates which mitigate against the risk of finger traps. Gates are also fitted with self-closers that automatically draw the gates to a close so children can’t wander out and dogs cannot get in. We supplied some curved railings to encircle a round play area near some flats.

Pathways – Bow top railings mirroring those surrounding the children’s play area, delineate pathways and separate walkways from shrubbery and other natural landscaping.

Groundsman’s compound –We secured the perimeter of the groundsman’s compound in the centre of the recreation ground with 3m-high Duo8 to protect their cabinm groundscare eauipment and material sticks. This included lockable double gates to allow access to maintenance machinery.

Zaun Enquiry 87

Make sure you use your purchasing power

available before making the right choice for you.”

times are a-changing in the groundcare market, Jane Carley reports.

The groundcare industry has traditionally been focused on capital investment to expand or update its machinery fleet, but Kubota UK’s Groundcare Business Development Manager Adrian Langmead reports, buying habits are evolving.

“Today, flexibility and the whole life costs are the priorities,” he explains. “Approximately 25% of our groundcare customers now use finance as a means of purchase and we expect this will increase.

“Not all options will be right for every customer, though, so it’s important to thoroughly research and understand all the options

Customers can choose between four finance packages: Hire Purchase, Operating Lease, Contract Hire and Finance Lease. These options can also be beneficial for smaller operators, Adrian adds. “A modest landscaping firm for example can keep a tight rein on outgoings through Contract Hire, which is key if they are being paid based on a ‘metres mown’ or ‘volume of grass cut’ rate.”

John Deere Financial’s general sales manager Ed Thompson comments: ”With golfers more transient, many clubs have recently ‘sweated’ their machinery fleet assets, running up higher repair bills and stepping out from a previously regular replacement policy to meet short term budgetary constraints - to the extent that they can lose sight of their true running and depreciation costs.”

“We see a switch from traditional HP or finance lease to operating lease as the

best way of fi xing costs. For some this is driven by partial VAT exemption, for others it simply offers the best means of budgeting for expenditure.”

Campey Turfcare is a leading dealership for New Holland tractors as well as holding franchises for Dennis, Trimax and Baroness. Richard Campey maintains that capital investment is still popular, especially for smaller sports clubs which allocate money for machinery purchases from club funds.

“I would say that its 50/50 between machinery that is financed and that purchased from

the club’s budget. It depends on the influence of the company or organisation’s accountant, however – they often don’t like having assets on the books. Plus, the leading manufacturers can put together some extremely attractive packages to include extended warranties and servicing, which have proved popular with golf clubs etc.”

He adds that some customers prefer to source finance independently, which can work well.

At Stoke City FC, Head Groundsman Andrew Jackson operates three New Holland tractors for the bet365 Stadium

Out There chooses out-fronts

Out There Services, located in Co Antrim in Northern Ireland, has invested in a new fleet of 15 John Deere commercial outfront rotary mowers.

The current models have been bought using a hirepurchase facility provided at a very competitive rate by the company’s bank, Danske Bank in Belfast, which has been applied across the whole business, says Out There’s financial director Bronagh Vallely.

“We didn’t find contract hire was a particularly good solution for us,” she explains. “In our business, working in a variety of public open spaces, we deal with some very rough grass conditions compared to golf clubs, for example, so we have to be able to allow for that when buying and trading in our equipment.

“We’ve actually returned to using HP. We can still take advantage

and Clayton Wood training ground: a 2012 Boomer 45D with loader, 2015 Boomer 45D and a 2016 Boomer 25, all supplied by Campey Turfcare.

Overseeding - from seed choice to machinery selection

The provision of favourable germination and establishment conditions are essential to the success of any overseeding operation. technical support manager for DLF John Hughes and charterhouse turf machinery’s dougie archibald offer some advice.

The first step to a successful overseeding programme is to consider the soil preparation.

“Technically grass roots will only grow in the air spaces within the soil so bearing that in mind, it is vital to create a well aerated and free draining soil structure to give the new seed the best possible start,” explains John Hughes.

With the groundwork done you can now consider which seed mixtures to use. It’s important firstly to understand what grasses you have in the existing surface, meaning an accurate survey of species is a worthwhile task.

“It is the species rather than the cultivar that affects the speed of germination but once the seed is through, the choice of cultivar becomes far more important” explains John. “The cultivars in the mixtures selected will determine its establishment rate, it’s physical and playing characteristics and ultimately its suitability for the task at hand.”

Even newer is the introduction by DLF of ProNitro, a seed

coating which provides slow and quick release N directly to the developing root as the seed germinates. This means the establishment of these smaller seeded species, with low nutrient reserves, is vastly improved and highly targeted.

“The Redexim range of overseeders encapsulates a variety of working widths, hopper capacities and delivery methods –all of which are fully adjustable for any required seed density” explains Dougie Archibald.

“First up is the Speed Seed which delivers the seed into dimples relatively close to the surface, created by a spiked sarel roller. The Speed Seed is ideal for fine

turf, where drill lines need to be avoided. An optional second roller can be fitted to increase the number of holes created from 940 per m2 with one roller up to 1840 per m2. For improved seed to soil contact, or in situations where high

germination rates are the priority, it could be worth considering disc seeders. Disc seeders will open up the turf and accurately deposit the seed into the furrow created, therefore increasing the delivery efficiency.”

of the capital allowances from a tax perspective and we own the machines at the end of the finance period, so we have the flexibility to decide whether to retain or replace them at that point.

“With HP we know the interest charges, so everything is budgeted for in advance over the four-year finance period. For this new purchase we also separately agreed and fixed prices with Johnston Gilpin for parts and servicing, which makes it easier for us to budget for the total fleet maintenance costs.”

Tractors are purchased outright as from the club’s capital expenditure budget once the purchase has been agreed by the management board.

The Eliet DZC600 Overseeder, available from PSD Groundscare, provided the perfect solution.

With the DZC600 grass seed is inserted into slots cut between existing vegetation so minimising competition from the existing grass sward. It is essential for the success of the treatment that the seed is in contactv with the soil so it can germinate as soon as possible and maximise the growth opportunities.

Landscape contractor James Collins maintains 34 bowling greens across Devon and Cornwall and wanted a quicker, more cost-effective solution to his previous method of overseeding by scarifying and brushing in seed, followed by top dressing.

Back in the game

Building new pitches or renovating existing facilities –industry developments are al leading to better playing surfaces, reports Jane Carley.

Sports clubs are now faced with strong competition from other leisure activities to attract players, and providing a top quality playing surface is an important part of the overall offering. Contractors and groundsmen are benefiting from the latest techniques to construct and renovate pitches.

Sportsturf contractor Duncan Ross has carried out a three-year drainage project at Bolton RUFC after initial work on the first pitch and training area.

Bolton RUFC has three pitches and a training area – roughly half the size of a normal rugby field –to maintain, for use by their four men’s teams and 12 junior teams ranging from ages 6-18.

“Our senior teams have league programs throughout the season, but with juniors you’re looking for continuity, because if games start getting called off on a regular basis they go and find another sport to play,” Les began.

This conscious effort to improve the surfaces has had a dramatic effect on the pitches, and these improvements aren’t being limited to renovations, with any problem areas being tackled as and when it’s appropriate.

“The main work that we had done almost three years ago was the training area and the first pitch, which are situated immediately in front of the club house.

The training area is extensively used throughout the season and the first pitch tends to be the one that gets used the most.

“This year, as well as the general renovation, we’ve focused on the other fields where there was an area that was particularly wet, which was highlighted in the winter.

“So we’ve put some additional drainage into that to try and improve it, because whilst we’ve given the fi rst pitch and training area a lot of initial focus, we know it’s important to get all of the surfaces up to a certain standard.”

In the racing industry, providing safe footing for valuable racehorses that encourages competitive, fair racing is an ongoing challenge.

Campey Turf Care Systems has supplied York Racecourse with an Imants Shockwave and Rotoknife as they continue to adopt new methods in a bid to

maintain their course in the best condition possible.

Significant drainage works were carried out in 2008 to assist in removing surface water from the racing surface, which is situated on a floodplain, fed by the river Ouse. Head groundsman, Adrian Kay has continued to focus on maintaining and improving the drainage system.

Both machines, which were supplied by Campey dealer CLS Selfdrive, are working in conjunction with a Koro Top Drain used at a depth of 25cm to trench, remove spoil, inject sand and re-compact in the same operation. The Shockwave and Rotoknife give a greater ability to move surface water, whilst providing compaction relief.

“The main reason behind purchasing the Rotoknife is keeping the surface open and clean. That allows the oxygen to get in, but it also helps prevent thatch build up,” explains Adrian.

Club captain, Les Towler has been involved with the club since 1977 and explains the importance of consistently providing high quality pitches for the junior teams to play on.

AdrianKayYork Racecourse,Peter Slater CLS Sel-Drive andRichardHeywood CampeyTurfCare

Duncan Ross Bolton RFU

“When it comes to the Shockwave it’s more how the linear decompaction works with the new drainage profile that we have incorporated, and keeping that route from the surface down to the subsurface clean and open.

“We are also de-compacting with the Shockwave, which assists with the gaseous exchange and aeration we get with the Rotoknife.”

Adrian concludes: “Using all three in combination along with solid tine decompaction means the surface is getting the best chance possible to filter water and air through to the subsurface drainage system. These implements and processes

all come together to allow us to provide a safe and consistent racing surface throughout the season and in the process reduce the risk of abandonment.”

Derby County head groundsman Nathan Scarff has praised the SISIS Javelin Aer-Aid 1500 tractor mounted aerator for all-year-round use to keep the playing surface at the iPro Stadium in peak condition.

The Javelin Aer-Aid 1500 from SISIS aerates with a vertical action and injects air into the root zone at a fast working rate, creating thousands of fi ssures.

The cam trigger mechanism ensures that the air is always expelled at the bottom of the

tine penetration, enabling treatment to be targeted precisely and consistently.

This machine features 10mm diameter ‘tipped’ tines spaced at 75mm with depth of penetration, infinitely variable, to a maximum of 127mm. These air injection tines are specially designed to use the maximum air available from the compressor and produce clean, fresh air at a constant rate of 88 litres per minute, while surface disturbance is kept to a minimum.

“We use the Javelin Aer-Aid every time we get a decent break in between games - we’re trying to keep the pitch regulated in terms of how hard or soft it is.

We can aerate the pitch in under three hours and it can be played on immediately afterwards,” explains Nathan.

“The option of the air injection has proved to be invaluable to us. In a stadium environment we don’t get a lot of natural air movement or sunlight so the water movement isn’t particularly good. Being able to inject the air helps prevent any problems like black layer and it also great for helping to reduce the compaction from using the heavier machinery on the pitch.”

Timing is key for effective aeration, suggests Charterhouse Turf Machinery, Nick Darking.

Aerate anytime of the year with no disruption to play

SISISJavelin

CharterhouseVertidrain

“During the winter months, deep aeration to 30-35cm during any relatively dry periods will help to keep surfaces playable; draining and free from puddling. Thought should also be given to the top profile which may have become saturated and requires helps to rid itself of excess water. As soon as you can get a machine onto the surface, without causing issues, aeration should be conducted.”

“Heading into spring, lighter Verti-Drains such as the 1513 or 1517 from Charterhouse can be mounted behind a small compact tractor and deliver the results required to keep the surface free draining,” he says.

“It can also help to link up with the deeper aeration work done over the winter. Any holes will allow the plant to take advantage of available oxygen and nutrition which will help to deliver an improvement in overall sward vigour.”

Nick adds that If a wet spring is on the cards, the linear aeration provided by the Redexim VertiQuake is a good alternative.

“The rotary motion, combined with the forward speed sets up a wave action which helps decompaction to take place. However, it should be used with caution in dry conditions as slit lines can shrink and open up if

the ground is too dry. Again, timing is essential. “

“For the drier conditions we’d expect as we head into summer, needle tines are the most effective way to keep the surface open, helping to maximise the effects of irrigation and nutritional programmes. Again, aerating at the right time will reduce costs associated with irrigation and feeding, maximising the utilisation of any rainfall, while creating minimal disruption to the surface.”

Manufacturers have introduced a number of new products for renovation works.

The new GKB SP100 Sandspreader has been developed to meet customer needs with easy mounting onto turf trucks, such as the John Deere Gator and Toro Workman. Fitting is straightforward via a bolt-on system and stand legs allow the SP100 to be quickly set up or removed.

With its 1m3 hopper capacity the machine suits a variety of purposes, evenly distributing materials, such as sand and mulch on sports pitches, with variable spread widths and depths. It’s easily fitted with electro-hydraulic controls and runs directly off the hydraulics of the chosen turf truck.

The GKB Sandfiller is built to tackle the problems of surface drainage and aeration, simultaneously aerating and filling the topsoil with sand, creating the right conditions for root growth. To allow the machine to follow the contours of the ground, three adjustable depth rollers are used while a slitting rotor, situated between conveyor rollers, operates the aerating and slitting actions.

Two conveyor rollers are pivoted to distribute weight efficiently and material removed from the top layer by verticutting is immediately collected in a sideways tipping container. Sand flow is controlled hydraulically

by means of an adjustable valve situated on the side of the machine.

GKB also supplies the Combinator, designed to combine frase mowing and verticutting grass areas, removing and loading the complete upper layer of unwanted turf. On uneven surfaces the Combinator frase mower removes all irregularities for a level result. The cut material is loaded by conveyor belts to a trailer on the move.

The DZC 600 Overseeder from Eliet makes high tech overseeding possible at an affordable price, suggests supplier PSD Groundscare.

“As the years go by, all sportsturf is subject to ageing where grass dies thus reducing the density of growth. This gives weeds and moss the opportunity to take over the turf and while scarifying and spraying can help to briefly interrupt the decline, the only long-term solution is to rejuvenate the grass - the key to successful turf is overseeding, explains PSD Groundscare’s Scott Grieve.

The patented operating principle of the DZC 600 offers ideal conditions for the introduction of seed.

Cutting blades at the front of the machine cut open 10 to

15mm deep grooves in the soil in preparation for the grass seed. The blades rotate over the top and cast the soil in an arch to the rear of the machine so that it does not fall into the newly cut grooves.

Seed is carried under the projected excess soil by the Helix Seed Duct into small funnels leading to discharge channels precisely located above the clean grooves. A small air pressure generator blows air through the seed funnels so the seed is blown while it is being distributed, helping the seed to settle faster and with more precision in the grooves.

The MAJOR Swift Roller Mower is a high-output machine, suitable for the maintenance of parks, schools, sports grounds and turf farms. Working widths of

and 5.5m available in trailed, 3 point linkage and front mounted configurations.

Eliet

GKBsandspreader

GKBquickbrush

Earth is pressed down by a powered rubber roller which immediately follows the seed distribution process and ensures that there is good contact between the soil and the seeds.

Projected excess earth falls just behind the roller on the sown area to cover the seedbed and provide a protective layer for the seed, increasing the chances of germination and growth.

The Eliet DZC 600 offers a reliable and robust solution that in the correct conditions offers visible results within 14 days and has recently been trialled and tested at the STRI research facility in Bingley, West Yorkshire,

Scott Grieve comments: “The Eliet DZC600 successfully fills a gap in the market for a pedestrian overseeder that offers a robust yet highly efficient solution to sports turf renovation.”

Classen’s new TA18 aerator now has CE marking in compliance with EU health and safety requirements. The CE has been done by an independent company to confirm the vibration figures at 3.6ms².

At just 69cm wide the aerator can fit through almost all gates and doors and the small footprint with the handles folded makes it easy to store and transport.

There are five banks of tine wheels with tight tine placement to pull more holes for faster results and power comes from a Honda GX120 engine which drives the aerator at speeds up to 6.7kmh. The TA18 can aerate up to 29,500 square feet per hour.

Removable weights at the front and top of the machine reduce its weight to 97kg for easy transportation.

Synthetic turf

Synthetic sports surfaces have long provided local authorities and community sports clubs with reliable all-weather play and reduced maintenance costs. The latest materials are seeing the pitches increase in popularity for professional sport.

Evo-Stik North club Hyde United FC has installed a new GreenFields 3G pitch at its Ewen Fields Stadium.

The club selected GreenFields MX TriMension, accredited to FIFA two-star standard and used by top clubs around the world including at Arsenal FC’s Training Ground, Falkirk FC. Stadium, PSV Eindhoven and Charlton Athletic FC’s Training Ground.

MX TriMension utilises patented triple W-weave

technology resulting in an extremely high tuft bind.

The MX TriMension 50 artificial surface was selected due to its durability and ability to sustain many hours of rigorous training and competitive play. The pitch has a total area of 116m x 70m and was tested to FIFA 2 star quality.

It was completed with a logo mat in the tunnel including both the club’s and GreenFields’ logo as well as GreenFields branding

throughout the stadium as part of an enhanced sponsorship deal with the club.

The installation was enabled by a £400,000 plus investment from Tameside Borough Council providing not only a competitive sports pitch but a facility for the whole community as well. The club runs its full time academy, all fixtures and training at Ewen Fields and is able to accept community bookings, increasing its revenue.

HydeGreenfields

Classen

Maintenance is also simplified, with the pitch just requiring a daily brush and quarterly decompaction.

Pete Ainger, Community and General Manager at Hyde United Football Club explains: “The feedback so far has been excellent! One of the officials commented it was by far the best 3G surface he had ever officiated on. The technology is massively different from other 3Gs, it performs like a grass pitch with increased durability.”

Turf Reclamation Solutions UK uses new machinery imported from the USA to strip a full size artificial grass pitch, remove it from site and prepare it for recycling in less than 48 hours. So far TRS machinery has been used at around 20 venues up and down the country.

It comprises of a base unit powered by a three-cylinder, 31hp turbo charged Kubota engine which is anchored by two 25cm wide tracks with two add-on units: a turf slicer, a turf

Getting ahead with a Major Swift

family enterprise with Keith, his son Lewis and wife Angela all involved in the business.

The Southampton-based company, established in 2012, is a bona fide

“We have many loyal customers who have come to expect a high level of workmanship from us,” explained Keith. To ensure continuous client satisfaction,

the company only use firstrate machinery and mowing equipment.

With this in mind, the company purchased a Major 2.4m Swift Roller Mower and a Kubota STV 40 last year through their local dealer Rod Gaskin.

Southern Ground Care has ground maintenance contracts throughout the South of England so the Major Swift earns its keep in a variety of locations including schools, football, rugby and cricket pitches.

“The front and rear rollers deliver a beautiful striped finish even when the grass is wet,” said Keith. “It’s a gear driven mower so any issues with belts are eliminated.

“The user friendly height adjustment system allows us to cut from 10mm to 150mm depending on where we’re working. In addition to doing a fantastic job, the mower is easy to maintain and cost effective to run.”

Major Equipment Enquiry 100

roller and a specialised tracked infill separator.

Dave Gibson, Director of TRS UK and Contracts Director of Fairways Sportsgrounds says:

“This service is exactly right for these more environmentally conscious times. Everyone –contractors, councils, clubs - is looking more closely at eco impact and to minimise their environmental footprint. Up until recently a worn pitch would almost always end up in landfill.”

A typical worn out synthetic pitch can weigh between 100 -200 tonnes depending on the original surface type. Occasionally the old surface can be re-purposed but inevitably it ends up in landfill.

The new process means that the old materials can be effectively recycled at a centre where the various elements can be cleaned and reused, becoming new feedstock material for a variety of new products.

The TRS machinery slices the worn pitch into 1.15m wide strips, before the infill material is extracted on site by the specialised Rattlesnake machine and then the old turf is wound into manageable rolls.

“For a sand filled carpet the TRS machinery extracts the sand fill from the surface and bags it directly into one tonne sacks. This bagged sand is then lab tested and, if approved, it can either be reused on the new pitch or in another part of the construction process. Elsewise it can be readily used as a top dressing material for natural grass pitches,” explains Dave.

“On sand/ rubber filled carpets the uplifted infill can be taken off site and separated. Again the granules and sand once lab tested can go on to serve in another synthetic carpet.”

Further cost savings are achieved as the low ground pressure tracked machinery causes no damage to the underlying

constructions. Existing shockpads can be reused saving the client both time and money when surface replacements are carried out.

At one recently completed project the carpet was completely removed, fill materials separated, and the old surface stacked neatly in the adjacent car park in just over two days, despite torrential rain during most of the first day.

Dave comments: “We had a very tight turn around there and the TRS machinery helped speed up the whole process. For budgetary and timing reasons the client needed us to retain the existing shock pad and we were able to start to install the new pitch within three days of us commencing the contract.

“The majority of the old carpet was transferred off site to be recycled into new plastic products. The remainder was re-purposed at a local Golf Club where the lighter carpet was easily transported around the course and placed exactly where needed. “

Synthetic turf also benefits from innovation in maintenance equipment - the GKB Rotobrush RB120 is designed to rejuvenate and maintain sports field artificial turf and help keep it in top condition. The Rotobrush offers a quick and easy method of removing dirt collected between the fibres in a single pass, with a closed deck to prevent loss of collected infill material, to bring a heavily compacted surface back to life.

GKB Quick Clean is a three-point CAT I/II linkage mounted and PTO operated machine for quick and thorough cleaning of artificial turf, sweeping up leaves, branches and dirt in a single pass. It uses a depth adaptable brush and shaking screen system to deposit dirt into a waste bin. The screens are interchangeable to allow filtering of different grain sizes such as sand, rubber, cork and TPE.

TRSFairwaysGroup

Keith Petley is a former transport business owner, whose attention to detail and organisational skills have been carried over to his sports turf management company Southern Ground Care Ltd.