Professional Groundscare March 2022

Celebrate achievements of BIGGA members on opening night of BTME 2022

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

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

• The winners of the BIGGA Awards 2022

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

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

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

be all necessary COVID safety measures in place.

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

BIGGA Enquiry 47

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

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

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

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

Football Foundation signs up new Official Fans

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

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

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

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

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

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

off in the last full season due to unplayable pitches.

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

Football Foundation Enquiry 48

Showcase playground

grass

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

things that other manufacturers simply have not.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Who will be exhibiting at SAGE 2022?

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

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

Opportunities for local businesses

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

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

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

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

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

Sports and Grounds Expo Enquiry 50

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Etesia Enquiry 51

Ravens rave about the Dennis G860 The Origin of carbon capture

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

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

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

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

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

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

55

Rigby Taylor Enquiry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SISIS Veemo hits the spot at Stourbridge

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

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

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

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

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

Enquiry 57

Top-Brush improves play, presentation and plant health

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

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

play in the non-chemical control of worm casts.

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

Dennis Enquiry 56

SISIS

Redexim

Visit Groundsman Industries in the Red Zone 240

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

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

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

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

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

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

Groundsman Industries Enquiry 60

Double-Quick boost for pitch care productivity

Moisture management a key focus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

62

Test your pedal power with INFINICUT

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

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

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

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

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

GreenTek Enquiry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Foley Company Enquiry 65

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

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

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

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

Bayer Enquiry 66

GKB has machines for all seasons

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

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

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

The Sandfiller scarifies the surface down to depths of up

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

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

GKB Machines Enquiry 67

www.campeyturfcare.com

ClearWater gaining momentum once more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Acumen Waste Services Ltd Enquiry 70

Kubota showcases latest innovations at BTME

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

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

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

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

mowers,

discuss

New organic based fertiliser to be launched

Leading

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

Kubota Enquiry 71

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

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

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

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

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

BIGGA’s Continue to Learn education programme.

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

ICL Enquiry 72

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Green-tech Enquiry 76

Getting the grass right

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

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

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

ProGreen offer different mixtures suitable for various sporting grounds.

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

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

Enquiry 77

FloraNative Wildflower mixes

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

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

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

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

Rigby Taylor Enquiry 78

ProGreen

ICL’s ProSelect laying the foundations for ambitious club

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New Pro Flora and Colour Boost catalogues

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Following his work on the fairways, James’ attention turned

ICL Enquiry 81

Spring sowing for summer showing

An Ecological Initiative

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

DLF Seeds Enquiry 82

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

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

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

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

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

Rigby Taylor Enquiry

84

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

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

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

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

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

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

MM Sport Seeds Enquiry 85

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

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

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

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

Pictorial Meadows Enquiry 86

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

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

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

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

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

rapid establishment and exceptional wear tolerance.

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

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

Johnsons Sports Seed Enquiry 87

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

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

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

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

how the business is adapting to working with customers.

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

Vitax Enquiry 89

Mowing with the times

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kubota

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

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

Kubota keeps charity’s grounds pristine

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

in 5.3 hours using an optional quick charger.

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

The two proprietary hub and wheel electric motors work

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

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

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

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

Paul Isom, Parks & Premises Manager, Chesham Town Council

Ariens

Ariens

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact the Amazone Team on: 01302 755 725.

SCAG

Amazone

Ventrac cuts tough

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

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

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

Capable of tackling saplings up to 2.54mm in diameter,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ISEKI

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ALL- DAY operation*

The future of commercial mower connectivity

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PSD Groundscare