Turf Matters September-October

Glenalmond College and its talented grounds team have so much to offer

Style and flair to spare

ROBOTIC MOWERS

Continued rise of the machines

TURF

Don’t forget Sport…

An event not to miss

This time last year we were preparing to attend the very first GroundsFest and, to be honest, we didn’t really know what to expect.

The last two months have been a nightmare for many people in certain parts of the country and my heart goes out to everyone dealing with the aftermath of unprecedented flooding and devastating erosion.

Distributed every two months to sports turf professionals, independent schools, universities, local authorities and buyers of turfcare machinery and products.

The best case scenario for many is months of temporary living. For others, lives will never return to what they were.

Yes, we knew about the inside and outdoor elements to the show and we knew that there was going to be a festival at the end of the first day, but beyond that, what was it going to be like?

While the fate of sports grounds and golf clubs might seem inconsequential in the face of such hardship, we at Turf Matters have a particular empathy with everyone who has seen years of agronomic husbandry literally washed away in the space of a few weeks.

As we head towards the second edition we are much better informed and the anticipation for what we will experience when we get there is much greater. The first show was super, even allowing for the less than ideal weather in the build-up and on the opening day –Hurricane Nigel, I believe it was, who gate-crashed proceedings – but the second promises to be another step up.

It must be hoped that banks – the financial institutions, not the things which edge overflown rivers – take an understanding approach to sporting facilities which have been unable to service loans as a result of them being unplayable and so unable to bring in revenue.

There weren’t too many wrinkles to iron out from year one – the weather affected signage was one of the few – but that has been tweaked, while the festival has also seen the bar raised, with more indoor elements including the food stalls and bumper cars.

As we have seen with the recent Winter Olympics, sport has such a galvanising effect on society and can be the catalyst for so much good, that it is imperative sporting facilities are not forgotten when the promised assistance is being allocated.

The whole show will be much larger too.

On the issue of improving sporting facilities, we have been invited by Briggs & Stratton to become involved in its Pitch to Win competition, which provides a £3,000 makeover for what is judged to be the Under 18s football pitch in most need – find out more on pages 16-17. I am on the judging panel and visits will be made to a shortlist of deserving pitches soon. We will be looking not so much at the DESSO but the desperate!

How do I know all of this? Well, I sat down with the three guys behind GroundsFest, Chris Bassett, Chris Bennett and Charles Neale, for an extended interview covering the past, present and future of the Show. You can read the article elsewhere in this issue.

I look forward to meeting many of you in Stoneleigh.

Scott MacCallum, Editor

On a final note, I am thrilled by the reception that the first issue of Turf Matters received. Many people have taken time to say how much they liked the look of the magazine and how they enjoyed the articles. We’re all pleased you found it to your liking and we will work hard to maintain the high standards. Thank you all very much.

Scott MacCallum, Editor

Distributed every two months to sports turf professionals, local authorities and buyers of turfcare machinery and products.

Editor: Scott MacCallum scott@turfmatters.co.uk

Editor: Scott MacCallum scott@turfmatters.co.uk

Design/Production Editor: Tim Moat tim@turfmatters.co.uk

Design and Production Editor: Tim Moat tim@turfmatters.co.uk

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Sales Executive: Marie Anderson marie@turfmatters.co.uk

Contributor: Summer Rogers

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Turf Matters is published by Straight Down the Middle Communications Ltd.

Turf Matters is published by Straight Down the Middle Communications Ltd. All material © Turf Matters magazine 2024. Winner of awards including Best Writing and Best Design in the Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA) Awards 2019-2024

All material © Turf Matters magazine 2014. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form whatsoever, either for sale or not, without the written permission of the publisher. Information contained in Turf Matters is published in good faith and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. Turf Matters can accept no responsibility for any error or misrepresentation. All liability for loss, disappointment, negligence or other damage caused by reliance on information contained in Turf Matters or in the event of any bankruptcy or liquidation or cessation of trade of any company, individual or firm mentioned is hereby excluded.

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No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form whatsoever, either for sale or not, without the written permission of the publisher. Information contained in Turf Matters is published in good faith and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. Turf Matters can accept no responsibility for any error or misrepresentation. All liability for loss, disappointment, negligence or other damage caused by reliance on information contained in Turf Matters or in the event of any bankruptcy or liquidation or cessation of trade of any company, individual or firm mentioned is hereby excluded. Printed by Warners Midlands PLC.

May

POWERFUL BLOWER FROM STIHL

STIHL has launched the new BGA 250, a batterypowered blower that offers professional users an impressive power-to-weight ratio and a new standard of performance and efficiency.

Thanks to the constant power output technology, the BGA 250 offers 100% power even as the battery discharges, making it the world’s most powerful handheld battery-powered blower throughout the full battery charge.

Weighing 2.7kg, the BGA 250 is lighter than its BGA 86 counterpart and boasts a significantly higher blowing output of 26 newtons. The maximum blowing force can be selected from the simpleto-use speed level controls, allowing for efficient energy management and longer working times.

n www.stihl.co.uk

SISIS Maxislit boosts turf health at Ramsey club

Ramsey Golf and Bowls Club in Cambridge, is experiencing remarkable improvements in turf health and playability thanks to the SISIS Maxislit. Head Greenkeeper Richard Shilling, who has dedicated 35 years to the club, highlights how this aerator is transforming their maintenance practices.

Richard began his journey at Ramsey Golf and Bowls Club as an apprentice and has been a mainstay ever since, now serving as Head Greenkeeper for the past four years.

“Although we do have issues with flooding, we have been open more than local courses because the course is built to flood. The flood is a good thing because it puts all the nutrients back in the fairways, so in that 40-degree summer the other year, everyone thought we had fairway irrigation!” he explained.

As part of his efforts to modernise the club’s maintenance practices, Richard recently purchased

the SISIS Maxislit.

The Maxislit is a tractor-mounted deep slitting aerator, designed for sports field and golf course maintenance. It is effective in improving drainage, reducing turf compaction, and minimising thatch buildup.

“The tines are well designed – these are well-shaped, sturdy, and well-built.”

The machine’s angle of the tines and spiral design of the tine shaft assist penetration, giving

DANNY NEGUS COURTS SUCCESS WITH MM50

Danny Negus has been spearheading the grounds maintenance efforts at Devonshire Park in Eastbourne since 2016.

His journey to becoming Grounds Manager reflects a dedication to his craft that spans three decades, starting as a Greenkeeper in 1994 and transitioning into Groundsmanship in 2006 and steadily climbing the ranks.

“Every year is filled with challenges. Eastbourne Borough Council owns and operates Devonshire Park, so as a local authority, financial constraints are a reality. But with this monumental year ahead, it’s an exciting challenge – a chance to showcase our capabilities.”

Devonshire Park holds a special

place in the world of tennis.

For Danny, one of the first significant changes upon assuming his role in 2016 was switching his grass seed to MM50.

“One of the first things I did when I took my role here in 2016 was that I gave MM50 one year of trial. Because of the success we had with it, we

have used the seed ever since.” MM50, in particular, is one of the UK’s biggest selling grass mixtures.

The hard-wearing ryegrass mix is very fine leaved, has high shoot density, is tolerant to close mowing down to 4-5mm and produces a great colour all year round. It also has quick recovery from damage and play.

At Devonshire Park, where nearly all maintenance operations are liquid-based, the compatibility of MM50 with their approach is evident.

Danny emphasises the importance of creating a surface that not only meets the demands of the sport but also aligns with the venue’s aesthetic standards.

“One of the biggest challenges

maximum underground cultivation with minimal surface disturbance.

Richard also praised the Maxislit’s simplicity and mechanical reliability. By implementing the Maxislit in his maintenance routine, Richard has seen significant benefits. “I see deeper rooting and more air is pumped in. We’ll slit the greens one month, then vertidrain and alternate –we always mix it up as we go along because it gives you different depths.” n www.sisis.com

you always have is to create a surface that is fit for the sport that is being played,” he notes.

“The main characteristic of MM50 is that it actually does both. It creates an exceptional performance surface while responding in such a way that, for the sake of the venue and the event, it looks as it should.”

Reflecting on his partnership with MM, Danny highlights the invaluable support provided by Matt Gresty, MM and Designer Sales and Brand Manager for DLF UK.

“Matt is brilliant. He is an exceptional part of why you would choose MM Seed – he is Mr MM in my view.”

n www.mm-seeds.co.uk

Guide to overseeding

Overseeding is best carried out in the spring or autumn when weather conditions are conducive. Each grass has its own optimum temperature for germination so getting this right is essential.

Guidance on germination temperature: Grass Minimum Optimal

Perennial

5ºC 10-20ºC Fine Fescue 10ºC 14-18ºC

Bent 12ºC 16-22ºC

Before starting, ensure that everything is in place for a successful overseeding. Consider which seed is most suitable for your surface and what it’s being used for. Grass breeders have developed some fantastic grass mixes as well as dwarf ryegrasses; some having leaves as fine as fescue, which is more disease resistant and can be happily mown down to 4mm.

The quality of your turf starts with choosing the right seed. As well as looking at cultivars it is important to pick a seed that has the highest purity so that you are not planting

weed seeds, chaff or annual meadow grass Seed contains its own bank of nutrients and all it needs to germinate. Seeds do not need to be coated in fertiliser; this just means that you get less seed for your money. A pre-seed fertiliser can be used just before seeding to encourage strong growth once seed has germinated. Seedlings need a balanced NPK fertiliser to allow root and shoot growth. Avoid any applications of Sulphate of Iron as this can dry out and desiccate the leaf. For a seed to germinate and establish it needs to be planted in a rootzone, kept moist and have sufficiently warm temperatures. A new seed needs to grow in soil and is unlikely to germinate successfully in a compacted thatch layer. Before overseeding, prepare the ground by scarifying to remove as much thatch as you can. Ensure that the moisture levels are adequate and are maintained from sowing right through to full establishment. Seed needs to be planted at the correct depth into the rootzone, if there is some thatch present then plant into the soil below the thatch layer. There is a variety

of great seeders on the market, including disc, dimple or slot to suit every situation.

Recommended planting depths: n Bent – Soil contact n Fescue – 8mm to 12mm n Rye – 10mm to 15mm.

Professional soil moisture meters are a great tool to check soil moisture levels before, during and after germination. An important thing to check is that soil isn’t hydrophobic, if this is the case it will need a curative wetting agent such as Aquatrols Aqueduct liquid or Aqueduct Flex granules. Once the soil is moist it is good practice to maintain moisture levels with a quality wetting agent such as Prestige Super Replenish Plus, Aquatrols Zipline or ICL H2Pro TriSmart. To further aid establishment, apply Primo Maxx II at half standard recommended rate five days before overseeding and again two weeks later. Primo Maxx II holds back the top growth and allows new seedlings more room to establish without competition for light and with no detrimental effects on seed germination.

n sales@collier-turf-care.co.uk

Carus Green fully automated

Carus Green Golf Club in the north of England, is now reaping the rewards of automation, thanks to the installation of a fleet of Husqvarna professional robotic lawnmowers.

The 18-hole course, on the outskirts of the Lake District, embarked on its automation journey back in August 2023.

Since then, the club has rapidly scaled up its fleet of robotics to ten machines altogether.

Warren Bevan, Course Manager at Carus Green, talked through the club’s robotics journey and how they’re benefitting from full automation.

TELL US HOW YOUR ROBOTICS JOURNEY BEGAN?

“We initially had a demo of CEORA on our driving range and were instantly impressed. Both myself and Graham Curtin, owner of the golf course, quickly noted the quality of the cut and finish and wanted to invest in the technology and expand it onto the course itself. We’ve always been progressive and forward thinking in our approach to new ideas and technology, and after a short demonstration, it became apparent that robotics was absolutely the path we needed to explore.”

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO SCALE UP TO TEN UNITS?

“We initially started with one CEORA and one Automower 550 EPOS which together managed one area of the course that included four fairways with some semi-rough. This allowed us to observe the machines and plan

their usage across the full course. The time period from implementing those first machines to rolling a full fleet of mowers out across our whole course was approximately six months – a quick transition but we haven’t looked back. It took some time to get all the necessary infrastructure and electrics installed, but nine months later we’re enjoying the benefits of being fully automated.”

HOW

DO THE ROBOTIC

MOWERS OPERATE ON A DAILY BASIS?

“Four of the five CEORAs are cutting the fairways at a 10mm cutting height; and those machines cut overnight, every night, whilst the course is closed so as to not interrupt the golfers. The machines will then recharge before automatically changing their cutting height and commencing the rough cutting during the day at 60mm.The four Automower 550s are cutting the ‘carrys’ from tee to fairway around the clock on a 24-hour cycle. The last CEORA maintains our driving range split into different zones and can cut the full range over the space of 48 hours, which has eliminated significant hours of labour a week for our team who can now focus on other tasks. The last machine, the Automower 430X NERA cuts an area just in front of the clubhouse.”

HOW HAS THE FEEDBACK BEEN FROM MEMBERS AND STAFF?

“The feedback we received from the members was overwhelmingly positive, with many noting the improvements in the quality of the

finish, and in particular the edge of the fairways which are now immaculately maintained. Members also commented on the reduction in noise pollution as well as the absence of tyre marks which our former ride-on mowers sometimes caused during wet conditions.

“The feedback from our Greenkeeping team has also been really positive, with many of our staff now able to dedicate more time to take on and complete jobs we didn’t previously have capacity to do as often as we’d like, such as edging bunkers, which has now increased from once every two weeks to once a week.”

HOW HAS AUTOMATION HELPED OVERCOME INDUSTRY CHALLENGES?

“There are two main issues that robotics have helped us to overcome. The industry is currently navigating changes to the climate, with more frequent wet days making maintaining the quality of the cut typically difficult, however, robotics really help overcome these challenges, as they can cut in any condition. This year, we were able to mow the course throughout March and April, which we haven’t been able to do in previous years.

“The other challenge robotics has helped us to overcome is the labour shortage. The industry is experiencing a huge drop off in the number of greenkeepers, and robotics has not only helped plug this gap but has also freed up staff to do jobs that they previously didn’t have time to do.” n www.husqvarna.com/uk

Dennis in groundbreaking link to Edgbaston Stadium

Dennis Mowers has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Edgbaston Stadium and Warwickshire County Cricket Club.

This collaboration is aimed at achieving two significant objectives: becoming the most sustainable cricket ground in the country by having a fully electric range of mowers and enhancing education and support for local grassroots cricket clubs.

Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Edgbaston Stadium, are committed to becoming fully sustainable by 2030. This ambitious goal includes transitioning to a completely electric fleet of mowers.

The partnership with Dennis Mowers, part of the Howardson Group, is a crucial step toward this objective.

Gary Barwell, Head of Sports Turf at Edgbaston, explained the vision.

“We have made a commitment that by 2030 we would like to have a fully electric fleet of mowers. We didn’t want to do it as a half-baked project; we wanted it to be across the main ground and the training ground, making us the first club to be fully electric. It was a case of finding a manufacturer that could supply everything we needed.

“Choosing to work with Dennis Mowers was an easy decision due to their high standards and their extensive experience supplying mowers to top-tier sporting teams. Bringing them in was a secure and confident move for both the club, the venue and myself. The quality and reliability of the mowers also ensure

we maintain the high standards we have adhered to over the years.”

The Dennis E-Series range, including the ES-22 Ultra, ES36, ES-760, and ES-34R, has been chosen for this transition. These battery-powered mowers offer exceptional performance, with features like adjustable speeds, interchangeable cassettes, and superior cutting quality, all while being environmentally friendly.

Gary highlighted the advantages of the mowers.

“The performance levels have been so good, the grass is healthy, the cut is so strong and there has been no drop-off from switching from petrol to battery. In fact, I would argue that there has been an upturn. The balance and overall

performance are being praised by all of the team members.”

In addition to sustainability, the partnership focuses on educating and supporting local grassroots cricket clubs. The aim is to help improve the skills of groundstaff, enhance pitch quality, and ultimately increase participation in the game.

Gary is enthusiastic about this educational aspect.

“The partnership is incredibly exciting. I want to help people by demonstrating the work we are doing here at Edgbaston and extend this knowledge to other clubs. I am extremely passionate about turf and cricket, and the idea

is to work together with Dennis to improve cricket pitches.”

Dennis plans to involve Gary in educational seminars and training sessions for cricket clubs, sharing best practices and demonstrating the capabilities of their equipment.

The aim is to create a lasting legacy by empowering local clubs with knowledge and tools to maintain top-quality pitches.

Roger Moore, Head of Marketing at The Howardson Group, expressed his excitement about the partnership.

“We are thrilled to partner with Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Gary Barwell. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to

sustainability and community support. We look forward to a fruitful partnership that will benefit cricket clubs at all levels.”

Ben Seifas, Head of Sales and Partnerships at Edgbaston, said they were delighted to welcome the Howardson Group into their partnership family.

“Dennis is a brand renowned around the world within elite sport venues, aligning with our values and our sustainability ambitions. This is the first partnership of its kind for the Howardson Group, and we are delighted to be the venue of choice to showcase their high-quality products.”

n www.dennisuk.com

Attraxor’s Impact at Cheltenham College

Cheltenham College, a prestigious independent school with a rich history, prides itself on immaculate grounds that reflect its high standards. Central to maintaining these exceptional grounds is Christian Brain, Head of Grounds and his team.

For the past decade, Christian has called upon Agrovista Amenity for expert advice and products, and in recent years, Attraxor has become a crucial tool in his turf management arsenal.

Attraxor is a plant growth regulator exclusively available in the UK from Agrovista Amenity. It contains prohexadione calcium, which effectively manages the growth of amenity turf. By inhibiting the gibberellic acid pathway, Attraxor reduces turf height and biomass while promoting root growth and maintaining turf colour and quality Christian’s application strategy is both efficient and effective, tailored to fit the busy schedule of an independent school.

Christian typically applies Attraxor in mid-May when the weather has improved, and the growing season is in full swing. He mixes Attraxor with fertiliser in three tanks to cover the 3-hectare main college field.

“It helps reduce poa seedheads, which is great, and at that time of the year, the grass is growing a lot, so it helps to get a lot of bulk out of it. With the added bit of nitrogen, it gives it a nice colour,” explained Christian. The timing of the application is crucial, coinciding with Cheltenham College’s Speech Day at the end of May, a major

event which takes place on the field.

“Attraxor helps present the field for all the visitors – it really shines it up and makes it ready for the day. It holds it nicely through the summertime as well,” said Christian.

The impact of Attraxor on the college grounds has been significant.

Christian notes several key benefits:

• Improved Turf Density and Appearance: “I’ve found that it improves density and enhances the appearance of the sward,” he says.

Reduced Clippings and Mowing Frequency: “Reduced clippings and mowing frequency helps in the busy spring/summer period.”

Enhanced Root Formation: “Root formation is also enhanced, which helps the plant’s vigour and colour when rainfall is less frequent.”

Suppressed Poa Annua Seeding: “Poa Annua seeding is suppressed which means less poa seeds germinating and establishing in the sward,” he adds.

Christian believes that the fast-acting nature of Attraxor is essential in a busy environment like Cheltenham College.

Thriving with DSV EuroGrass Solutions

Martin Anderson, pictured, became Course Manager at Kibworth Golf Club in 2019, aiming to improve the course in Leicestershire.

With a strong connection to the club, Martin’s journey from apprentice to leader shows his dedication to its success. One significant change he made was using DSV EuroGrass seed mixtures, which greatly improved various areas of the course.

Martin’s connection with Kibworth runs deep, tracing back to his earliest memories.

“I took my first ever steps here at a New Years Eve party,” he reminisced.

Little did he know then that Kibworth would become not just a backdrop to his life, but a stage for his growth and passion. From those first toddler steps to his formative years as an apprentice, Martin’s bond with Kibworth only strengthened.

“My mum and dad were members, and I was a junior member before becoming an apprentice,” he shares, illustrating the club’s integral role in shaping his journey. It was here that he honed his skills, learned the art of greenkeeping, and even found love, meeting his wife in the clubhouse where she worked as a waitress.

In 2019, Martin landed the position of Course Manager, a role that held both challenge and promise..

“Some areas of the course needed attention but with a new committee and investments in equipment and products, we set out to make a difference.”

Among the pivotal changes was the introduction of DSV EuroGrass seed mixtures, a decision born out of research and collaboration with trusted partners like Rhys Norville, from ReGen Amenity.

“Rhys put us in the direction of DSV,” Martin explained, emphasising the importance of building relationships with reliable suppliers.

The trial of DSV’s Dual Use blend delivered promising results, paving the way for its integration into Kibworth’s approach. For the fairways and tees,

Martin turned to DSV’s 3-way rye mix, renowned for its quick establishment, vibrant colour, and disease resistance. The impact was profound.

“The strike rate was really good and it keeps coverage throughout the season, even going into winter.”

Remarkably, this season marked the first time in years that the tees remained disease-free – a testament to the efficacy of DSV’s seed.

“We have not had to put a fungicide on the tees at all. That is extremely remarkable when you consider that it has been so wet and warm – perfect conditions for disease to thrive.” With its proven track record of performance, reliability, and innovation, DSV’s seed mixtures instil confidence with every application, ensuring that the areas it is applied at Kibworth remain vibrant and disease-free year-round.

Backed by decades of research and expertise, DSV’s seed mixtures continue to redefine standards of quality and performance, offering greenkeepers and course managers like Martin the tools they need to achieve remarkable results.

As Martin’s journey at Kibworth Golf Club continues, the future looks brighter than ever. With products like DSV EuroGrass seed mixtures leading the charge, the club is poised for continued success and excellence in greenkeeping practices.

Praise for Ninja Tines: they core with ease

PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR GOLF COURSE AND YOUR TEAM?

Hi, my name is John Rowbottom, I am one of the family members that own and run Woolley Park Golf Club near Wakefield in West Yorkshire. The golf club is part of our small family business which also incorporates a 300+ acre farm and a commercial grain store.

The core of the business consists of my father, Philip; my mother, Jane; my wife, Emily, and my sister, Emma. We employ 11 members of staff across the business, mainly in roles within the clubhouse and on the golf course.

The course sits in around 150 acres of land that was once the old deer park for our neighbouring stately home, Woolley Hall. We’ve gone from humble beginnings with a rough layout and shipping containers for a clubhouse to what is now a 27hole complex with a modern clubhouse, indoor golf simulator and great food and beverage offerings. The business has gone from strength to strength year on year.

HOW MANY MEMBERS IN YOUR TEAM AND WHAT ARE THEIR

ROLES?

My team is currently made up of four fully qualified greenkeepers, Andy, Richard, Stuart and Connor, as well as one apprentice, Matt. We are slightly unusual in that we don’t really have set roles and titles. The whole team can mix and match jobs, which keeps a little bit of variety and I always find fresh eyes looking at job or piece of machinery can help spot any potential issues or faults.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TIME OF DAY AND YEAR ON THE GOLF COURSE?

The time of year is easy, it has to be spring – not that we’ve seen one for a while! I love watching the course come back to life after winter and those grass clippings always smell so sweet in the spring. Time of day is a little more tricky, it’s definitely a toss-up between sunrise and sunset.

YOU USE NINJA TINES: WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO TRY THEM?

Ninja Tines were something I had been keeping an eye on since they came to market in the US in 2018. When I found out David and Jo at Agronomic Services were distributing them in the UK I was excited to trial them. The main reason for this was the ability the tines give for more accurate

removal and maintenance of organic matter in the greens. One of my biggest bug bears with hollow tining has always been removing perfectly good rootzone just to grab the thatch above and to then have to replace that material with new top dressing or sand. This always struck me as a waste of money and materials. As an industry we all spend a lot of money on products that are designed to improve soil biology and fertility only to remove that soil and replace it with inert sand in most cases when back filling large core holes.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN DIFFERENCES THAT NINJA TINES HAVE MADE?

Ninja Tines have had so many benefits for us as a greenkeeping team, as well as our customers playing golf. Gone are the days of disruptive maintenance weeks, we are able to cut, core, verticut, dust, roll and water the 18 hole course in a day and if we really press on with good weather we can complete all 27 holes in a long day. There is less pain for the greenkeeping team as pretty much every step is mechanised so the snow shovels that once cleared up large hollow cores have now been replaced with a tractor mounted fan which clears the Ninja Tine cores with ease. There is far less pain for the golfers too.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN USING OXY-RUSH AND OXY-RUSH NG AND HOW DO THESE PRODUCTS FIT INTO YOUR CULTURAL PRACTICES?

We have been using the Oxy-Rush range now for two years as part of our aeration and soil biology programme. It came about after a meeting with David to establish what more we could do to try and alleviate an anaerobic black layer that we have around five inches below the surface. Our aeration programme has always been robust, using a variety of different machines at varying depths but we found that with wetter winters in recent years the black layer was causing issues with drainage so we wanted to accelerate its degradation as much as possible.

WHAT RESULTS HAVE YOU SEEN AFTER USING OXY-RUSH?

We have definitely started to see a faster breakdown in the black layer than when we were previously reliant on aeration alone. We also like the results we see from the Oxy-Rush NG product as the added humic and fulvic acids always give the turf a little lift afterwards as it helps to unlock some of the bound up nutrient in the soil.

GKB’s low distruption aeration

Recognising that aeration is at the forefront of every turf professional’s maintenance plans, GKB Machines has launched the Combislit – a new, fast and effective solution to low-disruption aeration. Available in 1.6m and 2.0m working widths, the Combislit uses GKB’s unique Evolvente blades to spike and open all types of natural and hybrid surface to depths of up to 15cm.

The Combislit allows for effective aeration of the top layer with minimal friction and disruption, ensuring optimal oxygen and moisture movement and linking up with deeper decompaction work conducted throughout the season. The successor to the popular Topair, the Combislit combines solid and robust design with simplicity of operation making it a go-to for regular passes on all type of sports and fine turf surfaces including fairways and greens.

GKB’s Evolvente blades are designed to pierce the ground without disturbing or prying the topsoil. The result is a level surface, boosted with the many, well-documented benefits of regular aeration and able to be back in play almost immediately.

The Combislit’s frame ensures sufficient weight to penetrate compacted upper layers, with the option to add additional weight to the top of the unit if required. A rear-mounted pressure roller can also be specified to deliver extra precision to the end result. In addition, the blades can be swapped for cutting discs for linear aeration and non-chemical weed control.

“We are all too aware of the prolonged wet conditions, which just serves to reiterate why regular aeration is so important,” said GKB UK Operations Manager Tom Shinkins.

“When ground conditions rule out heavier or more intensive methods, GKB now have a fast and effective tool to keeping the profile open, bringing benefit to players and plant health alike. We are excited to add this to our portfolio, with stock now available.”

Agronomic Services’ David Snowden, left, with John Rowbottom

Verti-Drain is past, present and future for Heacham Manor GC

While much has changed in the fine turf industry over the last 40 years, one thing that has remained a constant for greenkeeper Trevor Dennis is the presence of a Verti-Drain. As an early adopter of the technology in his position at Kings Lynn Golf Club in 1986, the original aerator has played a major role at all of Trevor’s clubs – including Heacham Manor Golf Club in Norfolk where, on his retirement, he handed over not only the Head Greenkeeper baton, but a pair of Redexim Verti-Drains.

Trevor was one of the first to see the Verti-Drain used in a golf course environment during his apprenticeship training in 1986 and, impressed by the benefits, convinced his club at the time to invest.

“I had to explain the technique and what this would do for course condition.

Comparing it to an agricultural plough was the only way to get the committee of farmers to understand! I have only used a Redexim Verti-Drain since and have complete faith in it,” he explained.

Inheriting two Verti-Drains, including a 1513 and Redexim Carrier delivered by local dealer Ben Burgess, is Tom Brooks who became Heacham’s new Head Greenkeeper in late 2023. An American Links-style course, Heacham Manor features 18 USGA guideline greens which was the reason for the club’s most recent purchase.

“We have a Verti-Drain 7416 and wanted to complement this with something light enough for work on the greens throughout the winter months,” said Tom.

“Our Carrier and Verti-Drain will give us enough depth and versatility to alleviate any compaction on the greens without applying any unnecessary weight, all while freeing the tractor up for other maintenance tasks.

“Verti-draining is central to what we do and now we have two machines, the 7416 can focus on the fairways and walk-off areas while the Carrier and 1513 combination promises to deliver effective relief on the greens.”

Lightweight and robust, the Redexim Carrier utilises a 31hp engine and

hydrostatic transmission to power a range of high output implements while exerting minimal ground pressure.

Along with offering year-round versatility thanks to a range of tine options, the pair also work well alongside other maintenance machines – in particular, Tom notes their Rink DS800 topdresser.

“We’ll be using the Carrier and 1513 as part of spring and autumn green renovations, following with the Rink to effectively incorporate accurate amounts of sand dressing into the profile.”

You always get a uniform job with Terra Spike GXi8HD

A

sk any owner what they like best about their Terra Spike GXi8 HD and the comments you’ll most likely get back are that “it’s super smooth and extremely quick”.

Wiedenmann UK’s most popular deep aerator delivers a satisfyingly uniform job throughout. Even on undulating ground, because tines

on the GXi8 are close to the front roller, everything is neat and precise. Moving parts like springs and heave linkages are cleverly positioned to the front of the machine, away from the dirt zone. This reduces wear and tear and helps keep noise to a minimum. The centre of gravity is deliberately close to the tractor positioned optimally to encourage stability.

In truth, it is a very smooth running, quiet, low maintenance, productive spiker. The results are excellent where a good heave can be seen, but with a pleasingly clean finish on the surface.

Steve Hemsley, Course Manager at Preston’s Penwortham GC, in Lancashire, is a longtime user of the GXi8 HD.

“The shock absorption and the speed set it apart. The spring systems mean no shock is delivered

to the tractor or the operator, so it is an entirely smooth operation. Speed for me though is the biggest thing. It’s just easy to set up and go, just much less time out on the course interrupting play.”

At 1.8 metre wide, the GXi8 HD has eight legs to give more holes per square metre than you would on a traditional 1.6-metre-wide machine. It employs the patented Terra Spike Quick Set system altering depth, kick and heave angle with one tool-free, central adjustment. Within the dirt zone the only consumables are tines: the buffers and springs enjoy a long lifetime. By using a variety of tines in combination, soil decompaction and soil exchange can be done cost effectively using only one machine. Other features are the PTO shaft, safety rails and rear roller. The GXi8 HD fits tractors from 35 hp to 60 hp.

Lawns and greens restorer opts for Foley Air 2G2336

Around the South East of Scotland, Luxury Lawns are the go-to company for lawns and greens restoration, keeping them in play going during difficult weather, the company is the first in the UK to receive the new Foley Air2G2 336 in corporate grey, from Campey Turf Care Systems.

Luxury Lawns owner Donald Campbell started the company in 2009 with 20 years of greenkeeping experience behind him. In the 14 years that followed, the company has grown from providing impressive lawn transformations to completing contracting work on bowling greens, golf greens and football pitches.

Working closely with Richard Heywood, Area Manager for Campey Turf Care, Donald initially hired an Air2G2 from local machinery dealer Double A Trading Company, but with increasingly wet summers, common compaction issues among new golf and bowling green contracts and the need for no disruption to play, he knew the time was right for his own Air2G2.

“With the way the climate is changing, I knew I needed to be able to react to it, and the Air2G2 is the perfect tool for that,” said Donald.

“It operates with minimal disruption and is doing a lot of good underneath the surface, and that’s what I really like about it.

“In many areas we work, the popularity of golf is always high, resulting in greens being extremely busy so we needed a machine we could use during the season to keep the surfaces healthy and draining without stopping play.

“Some of these greens we work on are old, and they’ve developed black layer over time. In the borders, there’s been a lot of industry – with industry comes a lot of ash, and many of these greens have been built on it. That layer needs to be broken up so we can produce healthy roots which in turn will give us strong surfaces, and the Air2G2 does a brilliant job of it.”

Consistent use of the Air2G2 is proven to create healthy, firm, and free-draining

surfaces. This happens over time because the pressurised air fractures the hardpan layers without disrupting roots while increasing pore space, promoting faster drainage and root development. This respiration forces oxygen in and pushes CO2 and other anaerobic gases out. n www.campeyturfcare.com

Turf compaction and grass damage over the winter months caused by foot or vehicle traffic and other stresses can be an issue and needs to be alleviated to keep the turf healthy. Aeration helps create healthier turf and reduces maintenance requirements through improved air exchange between soil and atmosphere, better water intake, improved fertiliser intake and use, and reduced water runoff and puddling. This creates a stronger grass root structure while reducing soil compaction.

The new 4520 Ventrac multi-purpose, all-terrain compact tractor has two attachments specifically designed to help with aeration on any terrain.

The EB480 Aerator, with its working

Aerate with Ventrac

width of 1.22 metres, offers the perfect tools to address your turf conditions. No matter what aeration treatment your turf requires, coring, slicing, or fracturing, the EB480 can be easily configured to suit your requirements. The tines are replaced either individually or by quickly changing the entire mounting heads. This gives the EB480 both versatility and longevity to best accommodate your aeration needs.

The EA600 Aera-vator is designed to vibrate and loosen the soil beneath the grass without destroying the turf. It creates a hole without bringing a core to the surface, leaving the turf ready for use immediately following aeration.

With a working width of 1.52 metres

and a depth of 70 mm, the vibrating heads create six holes every 300 mm (66 holes per square metre) with the hole size regulated by the drive speed. The slower the forward speed of the Ventrac tractor unit, the larger the hole. The tines can be replaced individually or by quickly changing the entire mounting heads, providing the versatility required for efficient operation. The AERA-vator is built with the Ventrac Mount System, allowing for easy attachment changes, and comes with a standard jack stand. With the optional Gandy Seeder, you can save time by reseeding while aerating, for a thicker and healthier sward.

n www.priceturfcare.com

Terrain Aeration scores with Hallam Grange

Hallam Grange Bowling Club has its roots in a tennis and sports club dating back a hundred years.

Located to the west of the vibrant city of Sheffield, today’s club draws enthusiasts of all ages and levels with first-class facilities and until recently the bowling green was no exception.

Well maintained and meticulously taken care of by a small number of members and led by volunteer greenkeeper, Martin Westley, the green had begun to suffer after last winter and the exceptionally wet build-up into spring. It was known the green was originally constructed on an area used for spoils from house building many years ago and the only drainage was in the gutters around the edge.

“Usually, we have a smooth, even, and top-quality surface but last winter was so very wet and we started to get pooling across the green,” explained Martin.

“We have done regular vertidraining

down to about 12 inches, but each time there’s heavy rain we have standing water. We were certain the combination of the original foundation of the green and sixty plus years of play had led to compaction at depth and lack of drainage.”

Martin did some research to see what was available to solve the problem. He came across Terrain Aeration and spoke to other clubs whose greens had been treated as long as 15 years ago and were still draining freely.

The Terrain Aeration Terralift system works on the principle of a probe drilling down to a metre depth and releasing compressed air at a maximum of 20Bar. This fractures and fissures the soil to allow drainage. On the tail end of the blast, dried, milled seaweed is injected. Over time, the seaweed expands and contracts in the soil, similar to ‘breathing’ underground, to help keep the fractures open. The probe is removed, and the process repeated using

two-metre centre spacings on a staggered grid pattern. This grid ensures that each probe shot links with the previous ones.

Terrain Aeration says the long-term solution leaves little surface disruption and allows immediate play after treatment. That was certainly the case for Hallam Grange.

“Terrain Aeration arrived at ten in the morning and worked through to about three in the afternoon, and you couldn’t really tell where they had been. We played a league match at six-thirty the same day,” said Martin. n www.terrainaeration.co.uk

How aeration followed by topdressing can be stress-free

Whenever aeration is undertaken, be it slitting, solid tining or coring, followed by topdressing, there’s sure to be a reaction from the golfers and, in all likelihood, it won’t be a positive one.

However, vast improvements in aeration quality and speed of operation together with the introduction of fast, wide area spreading top dressers has ensured that turf maintenance programmes are much less disruptive to both the golfer and the playing surface. Aeration relieves soil compaction, helps in thatch management, increases nutrient availability, promotes a thicker sward and reduces water runoff and puddling. Compacted soil can prevent air, water and fertiliser from reaching the turf’s root system, causing dead spots, patches and/or thinning. By removing cores in the aeration process, soil density is decreased, thus relieving compaction. Generally, a freer draining substrate will be one with a high sand content and low clay/silt content. Laboratories who can run tests and provide a detailed

soil profile. Low pore space soils, those that contain a higher percentage of clay/silt can sit wet for longer periods of time and these surfaces will be slow playing, soft, have a high risk of disease encroachment, and poorer turf quality.

In this instance, modifying the soil through aeration and topdressing will provide a significant benefit. The aeration procedure carried out would normally be hollow coring to remove material, leaving open holes into which sand can be introduced. The sand will help to create a drier surface by increasing the total pore space. The higher percentage of air and water movement gives a higher percolation rate. Choosing a compatible material is essential, whether it is a sand/soil mix or pure sand. Removing organic matter and then topdressing stimulates microbial activity. This activity reflects the flux of carbon through biotic systems. This may sound technical, but basically the microbial biomass (bacteria and fungi) decomposes the organic matter. With

thatch levels reduced, the organic matter left in the profile will hold the required moisture. A dry soil is inactive and will not stimulate microbial activity.

A reduction in thatch, produces a firmer, faster surface that recovers better, uses moisture and nutrients more effectively, and produces a healthier, stronger plant.

Top dressing is a small cog in the big machine of turf maintenance. No operation has a greater immediate effect on the surface and turf health than top dressing, but like all greenkeeping disciplines, it begins with an understanding of the existing soil structure. n jmoore@turfco.com

The sustainable solution

With Kress RTKn mowers, Kress showcases the pinnacle of possibilities in automated mowing. These mowers integrate advanced technologies such as RTKn - Real-time kinematic to the power of network; MAPMowing Action Plan, and OAS - Obstacle Avoidance Systemwith new innovations, setting a new benchmark for performance and precision in turf care.

RTKn Technology: The Kress RTKn mowers utilise a real-time kinematic network, eliminating the need for traditional powered antennas. This innovation not only makes the system immune to power surge damages, enhancing its reliability and resilience, but also avoids the extra costs and eyesores associated with line-of-sight aerials, this ensures the aesthetic and beauty of the course is preserved.

Mowing Action Plan: This feature optimises the mowing pattern for efficiency, ensuring complete and systematic coverage of the area.

Obstacle Avoidance System:

Advanced sensors and algorithms enable the mower to detect and navigate around obstacles, minimising the risk of damage and ensuring uninterrupted operation.

Slope Handling: Kress mowers excel on sloped areas, showcasing their exceptional performance even on uneven terrain. They are engineered to manage slopes of up to 20 degrees effortlessly, ensuring consistent and even mowing. This superior slope-handling ability sets Kress mowers apart, making them an ideal choice for greenkeepers seeking robust and versatile mowing solutions.

Unmanned Mowing: Significantly decreases labour

costs and reduces energy bills.

Maintenance Savings: The durability and advanced technology reduce maintenance expenses.

Health and Environmental Benefits: These mowers provide a quiet, emission-free alternative to traditional mowing methods, contributing to a healthier environment and sustainability goals. Switching from petrol mowers to Kress RTKn robotic mowers on a golf course can save up to 10 tonnes of carbon emissions per 18-hole course, significantly reducing the carbon footprint.

Investment Worthy: The operational savings and health benefits provided by Kress RTKn make it a smart investment for any landscaper or groundskeeper.

The efficiency, reliability, and technological advancements set a new standard in commercial turf care.

n kress.com/en-gb/rtknwithout-boundary-wire

Robot questions answered

Mark Earles, Business Development Manager (OPE) at Makita, discusses the company’s new RM350D Robotic Mower…

Ait Makita, we’re constantly looking for ways to innovate and make outdoor maintenance more efficient and convenient. The RM350D Robotic Mower is our response to the growing demand for autonomous lawn solutions. Here are answers to some of the common questions we’ve been asked:

WHAT SETS THE RM350D APART?

The RM350D is designed for convenience and performance. It can cover lawns up to 3,500m 2 (nearly the size of a small football pitch) and handles slopes of up to 25°. With a cutting width of 250mm and adjustable cutting heights from 20-60mm in 5mm increments, it offers precise lawn maintenance.

HOW DOES IT NAVIGATE THE LAWN?

Unlike some mowers that rely on satellite navigation, the RM350D uses

a boundary wire system. The mower follows the boundary wire and uses guide wires to navigate the lawn efficiently, ensuring complete coverage.

IS THE RM350D EASY TO OPERATE?

One of the key features of the RM350D is its simplicity. Simply set up the boundary wires and guides and then press go. The control panel on the mower itself allows for easy programming and adjustments.

CAN YOU CUSTOMISE A MOWING SCHEDULE?

Yes. The RM350D features a schedule setting function. Users can programme the mower to operate on specific days and times of the week.

HOW DOES IT HANDLE DIFFERENT GRASS LENGTHS?

The mower has an automatic cutting height adjustment feature. You can set both the starting height and the target height, allowing the mower to gradually cut grass to the desired length over several days to provide a consistently well-maintained appearance.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE GRASS CLIPPINGS?

The RM350D cuts the grass into fine pieces and scatters them onto the lawn. This mulching action allows the clippings to act as a natural fertiliser.

HOW QUIET IS IT?

One of the robotic mower’s greatest advantages is its low noise level. Being battery-operated, it is significantly quieter than traditional petrol-powered lawnmowers.

IS IT WATER-RESISTANT?

Yes, the RM350D has an IPX5 rating, so it is protected against low-pressure water streams from any direction.

HOW SECURE IS IT AGAINST THEFT?

Security is a crucial feature. Our robotic mower includes an alarm that activates if it is moved without authorisation.

The Makita RM350D Robotic Mower is ideal for people looking for a reliable and user-friendly lawn care solution. n www.makitauk.com

STIGA Park front mowers: versatility at its best

STIGA’s ‘Park’ range of front mowers have been at the forefront of commercial grass maintenance for years.

Once bitten by the ‘Park’ bug, users find it hard to resist enjoying the benefits of these innovative machines whenever they need to renew their mowers.

Do you want to know the secret behind this mower’s success? It is the patented 50:50 articulated steering, the rear wheels follow the exact path as the front wheels, which makes it easier than ever to manoeuvre between rocks and trees, round corners and in confined places.

The cutting deck features patented Multiclip technology that delivers best-in-class cutting results and the quick -flip system makes cleaning the deck and checking for maintenance so much easier.

Built for comfort the Park seat with high back support ensures you can mow for hours, and the ergonomics panels are within easy reach with just one hand.

With a large selection of additional implements that can be quickly connected to this model making this a very versatile front cut lawn mower.

Power steering, electric height adjustment and a range of other professional features come as standard for each machine, with a choice of 2WD or 4WD.

Owner of ‘Le Jardinier,’ Stuart Fenwick, explains why he changed from his John Deere mower 17 years ago, and has never looked back.

When asked why Stuart decided to try ‘Park’ mowers in the beginning.

“One of our agriculture dealers had started selling STIGA, and at that time Gary Whitney came and demonstrated one for me and I bought it straight away after that. After buying my first ‘Park’ I never looked back”

The manoeuvrability of the ‘Park’ mowers has always been the secret to their success.

Stuart has found that this and their amazing versatility are key to cutting the different types of lawns and grass areas for the wide array of customers he has.

“These machines are so versatile! I was cutting at some cold stores in Grimsby and then I was cutting one of the church yards I look after, and then I moved on to a domestic property.” Stuart revealed.

“So you can use the ‘Park’ for large commercial grass areas with utility grass and slopes, but also the pivoting is so excellent you can move around with ease too. You can go from utility grass to church yards then to domestic lawns so smoothly, as the electric height on the deck can be adjusted for every type of grass.”

Stiga have more than 80 years of experience in producing professional gardening products.

The ‘Park’ range of products have the ultimate combination of raw power, versatility, and perfect precision, which will get the job done! n www.www.stiga.com/uk

Style and flair to spare

Scott MacCallum speaks with Glenalmond College’s Head of Grounds Tim Holden, right, about how he uses his remarkable array of skills to enhance the environment of this amazing independent school

FOR MANY, THE SCHOOL’S CONNECTION WITH HARRY POTTER IS MUCH MORE EXCITING. HOGWARTS’ GROUNDSMAN, HAGRID – IN THE SHAPE OF ACTOR ROBBIE COLTRANE – WAS AN

“OG”, THAT

IS TO SAY A GLENALMOND FORMER PUPIL

Glenalmond College, halfway between Perth and Crieff in the glorious Perthshire countryside, is an amazing place. It is set in over 300 acres of ground, 240 of it maintained, while the range of sports catered for at the college is truly mouthwatering. As well as the usual rugby, football, cricket and hockey there is, among many others, the school’s own golf course, archery, mountain biking and bush crafts.

Managing the grounds, and such a diverse range of sports and pursuits, is a team of six, led by a man who is truly a Swiss Army Knife in human form.

Head of Grounds Tim Holden turns his hand to whatever is required, whether that be gritting the roads to allow access the school; maintaining all the vehicles and machinery to looking after all the thousands of trees on site thanks to his tree surgery qualification.

In addition, he is perfectly qualified to engrave the names on the school’s trophies or mend

any of its clocks. Tim, you see, is a former qualified jeweller. Oh yes, add into that, should the college wish to add sailing to its sporting offering, you have the very man on site. Tim is a former national champion in the Javelin class. Indeed, with Glenalmond College being landlocked, Tim would no doubt drive the minibus full of students to the marina as well.

But does Tim feel taken advantage of because his range of skills are more than fully ultilised and that he finds himself banking one salary for an output of three or four? Not a bit of it.

“Working here is fantastic. It is a glorious place and to be able to work in a setting as diverse as this is wonderful. We have kites, buzzards and deer. It is such a beautiful part of the country,” said the Mancunian, leaving us in no doubt that he doesn’t feel hard done by with the weight of his workload.

The College was actually founded by former UK Prime Minister William Gladstone in 1847, giving it a certain kudos from the start,

but for many, its connection with Harry Potter is much more exciting. Hogwarts’ Groundsman, Hagrid – in the shape of actor Robbie Coltrane – was an “OG”, that is to say a Glenalmond former pupil!

Glenalmond has shaped the futures of so many and it is easy to see why. The tranquil setting coupled with range of sporting opportunities make it a very special place.

“The boys play rugby from September to December and we have four dedicated pitches over that time including our first team pitch. In January, February and March they become lacrosse pitches for the girls. The boys play hockey from January through the March and the girls play hockey from September to December. In other words we play hockey all the way through winter, it just swaps from boys to girls.,” explained Tim.

And that’s just rugby and hockey over the winter.

“In summer those pitches are swapped to athletics. We put down a 300 metre track and have a guy who comes in and marks it out for us. It would take us quite a long time but he comes in and does it in a day for us.”

The cricket, football and golf are played a little further away on the estate and could take a 400 metre track but logistically it is a little more inaccessible.

The wonderful rolling countryside of Perthshire is genuinely lovely, but not for sports pitches and many of the Glenalmond pitches have had to be levelled, some many many years ago.

“One of our pitches was created by digging up on one side and filling in the other and, on our cricket pitch, one side of it has completely different soil to the other.

“Earlier this year was when we had the MCC playing here and they had a cracking day, but it poured down in the evening and for the tournament the next day we had to pull the boundary in by five metres because there was a pool of water on

one side from the overnight rain.”

What solutions are possible?

“You really have to live with the problem as you can’t really change it through the season. We can create secondary drainage to link to the primary and that is something we will look at, but it’s not really been an issue until the last 12 months when it hasn’t stopped raining. We’ve not had a week when it’s not rained since June last year.”

Being one of the most northerly premier educational establishments in the country does carry its issues and Tim has known times when there was snow a metre deep on the astro pitches. There is nothing to do but wait for the thaw in those circumstances as you can’t push 100 metres of snow to the back of the pitch when you only have five metres of space.

“We do have snow clearers. Living in a town the council comes round and clears it but not up here. I do the surrounds and the roads to the college to enable students, teachers, food deliveries, medical etc. You have got to have access,” said Tim, who lives on site.

The golf course is nine holes with 18 tees, but don’t go thinking this is nothing more than an afterthought. It is a serious golf course as befits one designed by

“THE CHALLENGES OF THE JOB CAN PROVIDE US WITH VARIATION, EVEN IF THEY DO CAUSE HEADACHES. IT’S NEVER DULL. WITH SUCH A BIG AREA TO MAINTAIN THERE IS A VAST VARIETY OF TASKS TO DO WHETHER THAN BE PULLING OUT WEEDS TO CARRYING OUT MAJOR TREE WORK AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.”

the great James Braid, who has Carnoustie, Gleneagles, Dalmahoy and Lundin Links included among his canon of work.

There can’t be too many students who have such a course at their beck and call but it does cause Tim and his team, with their fleet of machines logistical issues.

The weather does cause issues with the day-to-day maintenance schedules at the college.

“If the weather, or rather when the weather, causes problems it can knock out the scheduling of equipment and we can find that our triple mower or greens mower can be in the wrong place. To get from the 5th hole at the far end of the golf course to the other side of the estate is close to two miles so even getting people there and back is time consuming.

“We have the same mowers sharing different tasks around the site and if it’s wet we can miss our window for mowing certain areas and that can have a knock on effect and a big catch up to do. It can be quite awkward,” explained Tim.

“Sometimes we have to adapt and do the best job we can even if all we

have access to is a different machine. For example, the golf course and the cricket field is cut at 15 mil but if all we have is the roller deck mower we can cut at 20 mil, so at least we can get fairly close to what we need until we can get back with the correct mower for the task,” explained Tim, who is also the College mechanic.

Self-taught, he had a passion for mechanics harking back to the time when as a young boy he used to dismantle his dad’s

lawnmower, usually just as he was about to put it to good use.

“I enjoy diagnosing the problems and finding out what needs to be done. The more you do the more you learn and I’ve built up a good range of tools. Most of our machines are second hand so warranties aren’t an issue and with me doing the work it saves massively in downtime as I can fix many problems in hours rather than machines being taken away to be repaired.”

The two latest additions to Glenalmond’s sporting portfolio is mountain biking and archery with brand new track for the former just completed at the end of May.

Believed to be the first bespoke mountain bike track at any school in the country it came as a result of the success of another OG. Charlie Aldridge recently won the World Under-23 Championship and he featured, strongly in the first two laps as it happens, in the remarkable Olympic race won by now double Olympic Champion Tom Pidcock.

Charlie eventually finished a very creditable eighth in the race but the Glenalmond track, which will soon be extended, will be something else for which he is known.

“The college has got to reflect modern day pursuits and mountain biking is not something which we would have considered 20 years ago but is now firmly established as an Olympic sport,” said Tim, who added that the guy who teaches the mountain biking is the same one who teaches bush craft and survival skills.

“It is very popular with the summer camps and the scouts who visit. It’s very Bear Grylls.”

Tim arrived at the college nine years ago having moved to Scotland from initially Manchester, but latterly Whaley Bridge, in Derbyshire, where he had his own jewellery business, hence his engraving and clock repairing expertise. Looking for a complete change, once arriving north of the border he trained to be a tree surgeon and worked in the capacity for six or seven years before applying for the job at Glenalmond.

Initially appointed Deputy Head of Grounds he took on the main role within a year and hasn’t looked back since.

“The challenges of the job can provide us with variation, even if they do cause headaches. It’s never dull. With such a big area to maintain there is a vast variety of tasks to do whether than be pulling out weeds to carrying out major tree work and everything in between.

“We usually lose one or two trees a year but when Storm Arwen came through we lost something in the region of 250 and we’ve still not been able to get to every one of those.

It’s a mammoth task,” said Tim, but again the college is lucky in having a qualified tree surgeon to carry out

the work safely and professionally.

“We’ve got amenity areas, woodland areas, we’ve got the bike track and all the different sports in play which are so different. That is one of the main attractions of the job for me,” explained Tim, who was Javelin Class National Sailing Champion in 1998 and who still sails as a hobby, but now in a larger boat.

He is indebted to his small but hard-working team.

“The team is fantastic and all work really hard and I really appreciate the work that they do and the effort they put in. When you think about it with holidays we are only really working with five people for most of the year,” said Tim, who has recently returned to work after a knee replacement.

With that human Swiss Army Knife leading them, the Glenalmond College grounds team will continue to make the most of every minute of every day to ensure the estate remains as spectacular as ever.

n The Glenalmond team: Tim Holden, Head of Grounds; Stan Jachacy, Deputy Head of Grounds; Graeme McLaren; Isla Keiller; Dave McLaughlin and Joshua Rodger.

IScott MacCallum speaks with the three men responsible for the GroundsFest event which made such an impact on the industry last year and which is about to take another step forward in its second year

f there was an industry-wide award for Best Newcomer for 2023 I don’t doubt that there wouldn’t be much complaint if it went to GroundsFest.

The two-day indoor/outdoor trade show, with a music festival in between, proved to be a big hit, so much so that the second edition of GroundsFest in September is already promising to be a much bigger version than the first, with record numbers of exhibitors, and even more brands, on display.

That GroundsFest hit the ground running at Olympic speed is credit to the team whose vision it was, and whose hard work it was, turned a good idea on paper into a wonderful event in reality in the grounds of the Stoneleigh Park, in Warwickshire.

Chris Bassett, Chris Bennett and Charles Neale are the three men who trusted their beliefs and launched a new show into what many had already described as a crowded market.

They took time to talk with Turf Matters a few weeks ahead of the second GroundsFest.

Turf Matters (TM): How did the idea and concept of GroundsFest come up in the first place?

Chris Bassett: We instructed an

independent third party to carry out market research surveying the thoughts of potential exhibitors and visitors. We actually looked at other options, from a series of road shows, to having one national show but moving it around the country. However, based on the research we opted for one national show in the middle of the country. Then, after looking at around a dozen potential venues, including some abandoned airfields, we identified Stoneleigh as offering the best range of indoor and outdoor space. We wanted an event which was beneficial to not just the visitors but the exhibitors as well and as a result we were able to come up with a price point for indoor and outdoor what was cost effective for the exhibitors.

TM: The industry has long urged for the two main shows – BTME and SALTEX – to combine to create one show. You’ve come along with a third show. How did you persuade the industry that a third show was something that they should entertain?

Chris Bennett: I don’t think we needed to persuade them as the research we carried out showed that there was such an overwhelming appetite for what GroundsFest was offering. All the stats, all the feedback, pointed to

an event that was held in September and which had a mix of indoor and outdoor space. It was what the industry wanted.

Charles Neale: When it came to our year one launch we had just shy of 15,000 square metres of booked space, which goes to highlight the backing we had from the start. And bear in mind that came about with us starting our planning and selling the show in just 11 months. Again I think that backs up the need for a show of our type.

TM: Were there any alarm bells clanging from the fact that others had tried to launch events and show without real success?

CBass: Well we do like a challenge, and to prove people wrong. It is fair to say that had we not carried out the extensive research in the first place we wouldn’t have done what we have done. Ok, it’s one thing to get the research, it’s another thing to get people to start backing you. But it quickly snowballed and we had a great response from the industry. We had a busy couple of months out on the road talking to as many people as possible and we found we had a lot of support. Some manufacturers did sit on the fence for the first year and sent dealers to see how it went.

New kids on the block

GroundsFest organisers, from left, Chris Bassett, Chris Bennett and Charles Neale

As it proved to be a good show they are coming back this time as manufacturers rather than sending their dealers.

CBenn: The team behind GroundsFest is very well known within the industry and has vast exhibition experience so that helped to give people confidence that we could actually deliver an event as well.

TM: How did you come about the time of year and the date for the Show?

CBass: Again that was all down to the research. There were three key times that stood out – November/December, January and then September – and September was the standout choice if we wanted to have an outdoor element to the show. Although the way the weather is changing at the moment, and what we faced that first day last year, nothing is certain! We also didn’t want to clash with the existing shows.

TM: Logistically, how do you go about putting on a new show? Do you wait until sales come in and then secure space, or do you secure the space and then seek to fill it?

CN: More of the latter really. On other exhibitions I’ve worked on I’ve preferred to sell off plan because I prefer the exhibitor to have a choice rather than have them send in their dimensions and drop them into the plan. I think it works better that way. We had a plan in mind in year one but it did change quite considerably from that original plan to accommodate the numbers who wished to book. How we have grown from even then to now is fantastic.

TM: What were the hiccups and hurdles you faced going into that first GroundsFest? You can reveal them to us now!

CBass: The biggest hiccup was definitely the weather. Obviously I died on my sword a bit by saying that our research had shown that September was the driest and best month for the show, and then we had a hurricane on the first day which wasn’t ideal for the launch. But in a funny way it actually worked in our favour. When, despite the awful weather at the start, the doors opened and so many people came through the gates I think the exhibitors where pleased and surprised. I think it brought everyone together.

CBenn: You aren’t going to get a sterner test for a launch event that facing the tail end of a hurricane (Hurricane Nigel) on the very first day.

CN: The wind speeds during build up were 40mph, The day before we had a gazebo fly from one side of the showground to the other.

TM: Talk us through your thoughts that first morning when the rain was tumbling down and the wind was blowing sideways.

CBass: When I opened the curtains in the hotel room and saw the weather I don’t mind telling you I did have a tear running down my cheek. You are praying for decent weather to give yourself the best possible

start, especially in the first year, but that wasn’t the case. But the Operations Team was great and the GroundsFest Team was great. We just wanted to make sure that from a customer services point of view we were on point, from the set up to the breakdown. I think we achieved that. We received loads of comments about how great the wider team was and seeing exhibitors saying that we made it as easy as possible for them for them to exhibit and sell products that was what we wanted to do. We didn’t want exhibitors to have issues while they were there. Whatever issue they did have, we would sort it.

CN: We were out there from minute one in the rain speaking to exhibitors, and that went down really well. Collectively the three of us picked each other up at times during the build up because, we’re not stupid, we had access to weather apps and could see the storm coming. I was down at one point, Chris Bassett, at one point and Chris Bennett at another time. We just kept picking each other up.

CBenn: I don’t sleep at the best of times but I remember looking out the window at the outdoor ring and the rain was coming in, the wind was coming in and there were nerves and anxiety. It wasn’t a nice feeling, but we stuck together and the team spirit really shone through.

TM: At what point did you think that this is going to work?

CBenn: I remember speaking to one exhibitor about 1pm in the afternoon of the first day and he said to me that he’d re-sign right away, just give him the form. I thought then that there was a huge appetite for this show and that people wanted an event like GroundsFest. That was only hours into the show. The second time was at the Festival when we were able to take

a step back and as a GroundsFest team, grab a drink and watch the thousandplus people who had stayed on.

CN: About three or weeks after the show when all re-bookings were coming in.

CBass: For me, I knew it was going to be successful a couple of months later when reached the point that we had broken even and we could then begin to give back to the industry in the way of the Education Fund.

TM: What can we expect from GroundsFest 2024?

CBass: It will be bigger and better. We will see a shift towards GroundsFest becoming the national show to attend, We are already the largest show in the industry in terms of exhibitor numbers and brands on show. We have more exhibitors booked than BTME and Saltex combined. It is up to us to prove that we are here to stay, but I believe we are giving exhibitors and visitors a unique concept that no-one else can offer and because of where we pitch our pricing and with our indoor or outdoor options, we are bringing exhibitors back who haven’t been at shows for a number of years.

CN: We’ve increased the show in every way. We have taken all of Hall 1 and moved the Landscape Zone to increase that area. The Grand Ring outdoors area is completely full and we didn’t even take a third of it last year. We have over 17,000 square metres of space taken when last year it was 14,600 square metres. From three or four weeks into re-booking it’s gone crackers. Over 90% re-booked, while we’ve had just shy of 80 new companies who will be joining us this year – as it stands we have 247 exhibitors who will be showing over 500 brands.

CBass: There will be more live demos. Companies have taken bigger plots to be able to demo their products. We’ve got Machinery Nation Live where there will be

comparison tests of like-for-like products. We have Grounds Training, both indoor and outdoor, and four seminar theatres will top quality speakers. We’ve moved the Festival to a larger hall and we’re bringing the catering indoors with an indoor seating area too. Due to popular demand we have brought back the Queen tribute band which went down so well, while we have another band and a couple of DJs. We also have Bumper cars which will be great fun.

CBenn: It’s not just the show itself. A big part is giving back to the industry and we were delighted, because of the success of year one, that we were able to start the GroundsFest Education Fund straight away. It had been scheduled for after year three but it was always one of the main reasons we launched GroundsFest. We recently went to visit some of the students who benefitted from the fund and it was really rewarding to speak with students who have used the fund to help them on their educational journey. A lot of rural colleges are situated out of the way, so we have helped fund driving lessons for some and been able to provide laptops, literature and allowed students to fund additional qualifications.

CBass: We have also been able to forge some very good relationships with so many of the industry bodies which I believe is crucial. With everyone pulling in the same direction it can only be good for the industry as a whole. We believe that GroundsFest has a key role in that going forward.

TM: Well, thank you all for your time and I hope you have another great show and manage to avoid any offspring of Hurricane Nigel! n GroundsFest 24; Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, September 10 and 11 n www.groundsfest.com

“It’s not just the show itself. A big part is giving back to the industry and we were delighted, because of the success of year one, that we were able to start the GroundsFest Education Fund straight away.”

Make the most of GroundsFest with this key information:

WHO IS GROUNDSFEST FOR?

It’s time to get ready for the most anticipated event of the year! GroundsFest is set to be the largest, annual, free must-attend event for grounds staff, greenkeepers, landscapers, gardeners, local authorities, estate managers and contractors.

OPEN TIMES

10 September: 9am – 5pm

11 September: 9am – 4pm

LIVE MUSIC FESTIVAL TIMES

10 September: 4pm – 10pm

FREE ON-SITE PARKING

Stoneleigh Park has thousands of free on-site parking spaces. Head to car park 5 where you can park.

ACCOMMODATION AND CAMPING

There are lots of accommodation options nearby. Stoneleigh Park also has a dedicated area for camping, motorhomes, and caravans. If you are interested in this area, please come, and speak to one of the GroundsFest team in the Event Organiser Office.

Reasons to get yourself along to GroundsFest

Outdoor Demos: GroundsFest gives you the opportunity to test a wide range of machinery. Experience machinery in the actual conditions they will be used, ensuring you get a true feel for their performance and capabilities.

NEW! Machinery Nation LIVE: Watch top brands compete in the ultimate machinery faceoff and participate in exciting equipment challenges for a chance to win amazing prizes.

Free Educational Seminars: Gain insights and solutions to the industry’s biggest issues. From management to apprentices, there’s something for everyone. With a great action-packed seminar programme, keep an eye out for seminars on topics such as the use of glyphosate, how to choose the correct grass seed, hybrid grass pitches, integrated weed management, water management, Official Controls Regulation (OCR), pollinators, and many more.

The Landscape Zone: Discover the latest in outdoor environment technologies and innovations. This is a must-attend for landscape architects, garden designers, contractors, and more.

Free Practical Training: Enhance your skills with hands-on training sessions on a variety of groundscare topics, delivered by Lantra-approved instructors.

Live Music Festival and Happy Hour: Unwind with live music, street food, and fun activities. Enjoy performances from great DJs and bands, including the returning Queen tribute band, and explore the revamped festival area with exciting new features like dodgems. During Happy Hour from 5pm – 6pm enjoy a wide range of discounted drinks. New Product Launches: GroundsFest will feature over 500 brands and over 60 new product launches. Be the first to see these new innovations!

What to look out for

ARIENS STAND OSA760

AriensCo, a market leader in commercial outdoor power equipment since 1933, designs every product around customers’ specific needs. We take no shortcuts and make no compromises. Our equipment is built to perform, supporting you in your work with reliable, commercial-grade, professional tools that work as hard as you do. www.ariens.eu

ASPEN FUEL

STAND OSA490

Improving the working environment of landscapers and ground professionals for over 40 years, Aspen Fuel will be returning to GroundsFest 2024 to showcase the many benefits of their 2 and 4-stroke Alkylate petrol. Find out more and also the place where brave participants can partake in the ‘Aspen Challenge’ for the chance to win some awesome Aspen prizes!

Aspen alkylate petrol is virtually free from sulphur, benzene and solvents making it much less harmful than regular petrol. The reduction in hazardous and toxic hydrocarbons contributes to a cleaner burn, improving not just the reliability of the engine but the immediate operator environment.

Standard E10 pump fuel now contains around 10% ethanol, the moisture-attracting properties of which can often be the cause of starting difficulties

or engine failures in smaller equipment such as strimmers and leaf blowers. Ethanolfree Aspen 2 with its cleaner combustion leaves very little residue or carbon deposits.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to test their strength in the ‘Aspen Challenge’ which returns for another year – with the chance to win some fantastic prizes over the course of the two days!

AVANT STAND OSA270

The Avant National Pro Challenge is set to be one the most thrilling events at GroundsFest. This exciting competition will test participants’ skills through a series of tasks including slaloms, material handling, and tool changes. Competitors will navigate a specially designed track in an Avant Loader, with time penalties for mistakes and disqualification for incomplete tasks.

The challenge demands speed, precision, and agility, with tasks suited for all Avant users. The track layout will remain a secret until the day of the event, adding an extra layer of excitement. The fastest, most skilled, and precise drivers will win fantastic prizes!

The competition is open to all Avant customers and dealers, and advance registration is required. Interested participants should contact Avant to secure their spot and prove their prowess.

In addition to the National Pro Challenge, Avant Tecno will showcase an impressive lineup of loaders and attachments designed to enhance operations:

Don’t miss out on the Avant National Pro Challenge and the chance to see Avant Tecno’s innovative machinery and attachments in action.

BOSS ORV STAND OSA720

BOSS Off-Road Vehicles will be showing their range of utility vehicles, ATV brands and accessories at GroundsFest and Saltex. BOSS is the sole UK distributor of Corvus Off-Road Vehicles, Powerland, Paxster, Air-ROPS, and Faunamaster.

The Corvus Terrain range comprises the EX4 100% electric 4x4 utility vehicle and DX4 rugged diesel UTV.

The Powerland Tachyon is a complete, fully electric (Li-ion) road-legal ATV with tractor homologation and offers the benefits of conventional off-road utility vehicles while ensuring no damage to the environment.

The Paxster eCompact, eStretch and eCompact Air are all-electric, compact, and agile utility vehicles. They are suited to an exceptionally wide range of applications.

The Air-ROPS AR-QUAD is an automatic rollover protection system for ATVs that expands when the rollover is irreversible.

CAMPEY TURF CARE STAND OSA460

Campey Turf Care Systems are returning to GroundsFest with a top-tier lineup of machines, including the Imants ShockWave, Dakota Turf Tender, Foley Company Air2G2 336, and Campey UNIRAKE, which are all poised for live demonstrations.

GroundsFest’s blend of outdoor and indoor stands provides an ideal platform for Campey

to offer visitors hands-on insights into the operation and benefits of their machines.

For 2024, Campey has selected a diverse array of maintenance machines that cover aeration, top-dressing and surface grooming. The UNIRAKE stands out for its versatility in managing organic matter.

The Imants ShockWave will demonstrate wide-area aeration. Renowned as the best linear compactor for heavily used areas, it revitalises fine turf and sports fields by alleviating soil compaction, enhancing aeration, and removing surface water.

For reactive, preventative and routine aeration on smaller or concentrated areas, the Foley Air2G2 336 remains the leading pedestrian aerator.

Dakota Turf Tenders are renowned for their consistency and infinite adjustment setup. With a model for every application, it is the best topdressing option in every situation.

For areas needing overseeding where it is not possible to work with large machines, the Vredo Turf Buddy is the perfect fit. Designed for small repairs on sports fields and golf courses, the Vredo Turf Buddy is known for its precision overseeding with its slit seeding operation. For even more targeted seeding post-game, the new Campey Seed Shot deposits a precise quantity of seed into the soil for optimal germination rates.

Regardless of what turf you manage, a Campey product specialist will be on hand to provide expert advice, talk turf or give live demonstrations during the two-day event.

DENNIS STAND 50

Dennis is set to make a significant impact at GroundsFest 2024, showcasing an impressive range

What to look out for at GroundsFest

of battery-powered products.

This year, Dennis will highlight the revolutionary ES-34R, the innovative Multi Charger Hub, and the versatile ES-22U, all part of the acclaimed E-Series that has taken the industry by storm with its power, battery range, and performance.

Since its launch, the Dennis E-Series has stood out from the competition, offering reliable and long-lasting batterypowered mowers that are no-compromise alternatives to traditional petrol machines. These mowers boast ultra-low noise, low vibration, user-friendly operation, and a significantly reduced CO2 footprint, helping users move towards their carbon-neutral goals.

On display will be the Multi Charger Hub an efficient and easy-to-manoeuvre mobile unit capable of recharging up to eight large E-Series machines sequentially; the ES-34R rotary mower, designed for precision and efficiency. It features twin contra-rotating blades with a height-of-cut controlled by an easy-to-use ‘click’ system; the ES-22U Ultra Mower, a standout choice for fine turf care. The 560mm battery mower features an ultra-short wheelbase, making it ideal for undulating surfaces. Equipped with a 7 or 11-bladed cutting cylinder and groomer reel, the ES-22U delivers an ultrafine finish on bowling greens, golf greens, tees, and cricket pitches.

GroundsFest 2024 attendees are invited to visit Dennis to explore these innovative products and learn more about how Dennis is driving the future of sustainable turf maintenance. Don’t miss the opportunity to see firsthand how the E-Series and the new Multi Charger Hub can make a difference to your operations.

DLF STAND 30

Sustainable seed solutions for lawns and landscapes are set

to be showcased as the world’s largest grass seed breeders, DLF, return to GroundsFest. The DLF stand will be the platform for visitors to find out more about mixtures across the Masterline, MM and Johnsons Sports Seed brands, alongside the very best the industry has to offer in both native and non-native wild flowers.

In many aspects of modern life, we are encouraged to be mindful of our impact on the environment – and this is certainly the case for turf managers across the sporting and amenity spectrum. Those looking to reduce inputs, without detriment to turf quality and performance can improve credentials through careful seed selection, such as opting for mixtures containing Microclover. Visitors to GroundsFest can find out more about DLF’s Ecosward mixtures. Incorporating 5% Microclover, both PM26 Ecosward and PM27 Ecosward Plus from the Masterline range offer lowmaintenance yet tolerant and visually attractive swards, ideal for landscape applications.

For those maintaining sports turf, thoughts are turning to autumn renovations, where speed of establishment is key. The larger seed and improved genetic vigour of DLF’s 4turf tetraploid variety ensure fast germination and establishment in cooler temperatures, together with demonstrating increased tolerance to stresses such as cold, drought and a range of common turf diseases.

The DLF technical team will be on hand to discuss the vast array of popular sports and landscape mixtures, together with the popular Pro Flora and ColourBoost wildflower ranges.

consecutive year. Attendees explore Etesia’s impressive lineup, including pedestrian and ride-on mowers, brushcutters, and the award-winning ET Lander electric utility vehicle.

Etesia UK, known for its highquality grass cutting equipment, will unveil the ET Lander’s new differential lock feature, which enhances traction and versatility for off-road use. This innovative electric utility vehicle is fully N1 homologation compliant, making it road-legal and capable of extended off-road use.

The ET Lander, a 100% electric vehicle, is spacious, user-friendly, and built on a robust chassis. It boasts a three-way tipper bed with dual control from the two-seater cab or remote control. With a compact length of 3.72 meters, power steering, a short turning radius of 4.40 meters, and 360° visibility, it manoeuvres easily in tight spaces.

Etesia will also feature the Electric Bahia M2EL, the world’s first 100% electric professional ride-on mower with grass collection. Powered by a 48V, 100Ah lithium battery, the Bahia M2EL offers up to 4 hours and 30 minutes of operation on a single charge.

The electric Bahia is also highly economical, with running costs of £0.35 compared to £3.57 for its petrol counterpart, and reduced maintenance needs.

Etesia’s knowledgeable staff will be available throughout GroundsFest to provide expert advice and assistance on all products.

Foley Company’s UK and Ireland distributor, ProSport UK Ltd, will be on stand OSA540 at GroundsFest 2024, demonstrating the unrivalled benefits of relief grinding and the new floor level Foley 642 Quick Spin Reel Grinder.

Foley’s automated Accu-Pro

633 cylinder grinder and AccuPro 672 bedknife grinder will be in action across the two days, allowing people to experience the whole process from setup to the finished product.

The automated features on the Accu-Pro 633 provide a step-bystep tutorial for new technicians and a quicker setup and spin grind feature for the more experienced operators. You tell the machine what you’re working on, and it automatically spin or relief grinds to completion.

Joining the two machines will be Foley’s new floor level 642 Quick Spin Reel Grinder. The new grinder is designed to accommodate the widest of mower cylinders and is a simple roll-on roll-off solution to grinding, with the machine sitting at floor level.

ProSport UK Ltd’s Ian Robson will run demonstrations throughout both days of GroundsFest and be available to discuss any questions or requirements.

GREENBEST LTD STAND 28

GreenBest Ltd is a leading manufacturer and distributor of turf, lawn, and horticultural care products, offering an extensive range of liquid, granular, and soluble fertilisers, soil conditioners, biostimulants, wetting agents, and more. At GroundsFest 2024, GreenBest will be showcasing their premier brands: Velvit, SmartLawn, and Florifeed, each tailored to meet the specific needs of the turf, lawn and horticulture markets.

GreenBest is known for its bespoke services, providing custom packaging, labels, and products with global shipping options, ensuring they meet the unique requirements of their customers. Their commitment to education is reflected in the GreenBest Academy, where professionals can earn BASIS CPD points – essential for staying updated on industry developments and maintaining

Etesia UK is excited to return to GroundsFest for the second

FOLEY – PROSPORT UK LTD STAND OAS540

What to look out for at GroundsFest

the ability to recommend and sell fertiliser products.

Backed by a FACTS-qualified sales team with decades of global experience, GreenBest guarantees an exceptional, personalised service. Don’t miss the chance to discover how GreenBest can support your turf, lawn or horticultural needs at GroundsFest 2024.

GROUNDSMAN INDUSTRIES LTD

STAND 28A

Since 1990, Groundsman Industries have been developing their unique range of grass maintenance machines and accessories for maximum performance and durability.

Two Tractor Mounting and Three Pedestrian models of Groundsman Aerators are available from 45cm to 180cm working widths. All use Groundsman’s proven rugged Elliptical Plunge Action sealed bearing mechanism which move the tines proportionally horizontally as well vertical plunge for aeration down to 15cm deep with minimal surface disruption. Quick-change Tine Holders are available to switch between Solid, Hollow and Chisel Tines fitted in Twin, Triple, Quad or Quint Holders plus Cluster Tine Heads for dense pattern aeration, thatch removal and overseeding.

The Flexblade Collector attachment is available from 0.8mtr to 2.3mtr widths to fit many makes of aerators as well as Groundsman to Core and Collect in one pass. Three Point Linkage Collectors Follow-up Collection of Cores or Linear Aeration Soil. This incredibly efficient low maintenance implement follows the contours of Greens scooping the aeration soil cleanly from the surface powder dry or soaking wet. www. groundsmanindustries.com

HANDY STAND OSA740

Since 1938 Handy has grown to become one of the UK’s largest independent garden machinery wholesale distributors and manufacturers, supplying specialist dealers, large national retailers, garden centres and mail order companies, from its purpose-built 70,000ft Swindon site which is home to more than 45 full-time staff.

Handy owns some of the UK’s leading machinery brands including Webb, The Handy and Q Garden. These distinct brands are a testament to the company’s creative and manufacturing prowess.

As the UK-appointed distributor for the Greenworks brand cordless equipment, Handy is at the forefront of leading battery technology offering a full complement of cordless equipment.

To this day, Handy remains a family-owned British business. Its experience, expert knowledge and dedicated customer service – which includes carrying over 10,000 spare part lines – have enabled it to build a team driven by high performance and family values. www.handys.co.uk

HUNTER GRINDERS STAND 50

After a successful GroundsFest 2023, Hunter Grinders is excited to announce its return to GroundsFest 2024, where it will be showcasing the enhanced Jupiter ATI ‘All in One’ Grinder.

The Jupiter ATI is a fully automatic relief spin grinder, designed to deliver precision grinding at its best. It features automatic traverse, indexing, and

in-feed, ensuring that every grind is accurate and consistent. This machine meets all CE compliance standards and Health and Safety requirements for noise, vibration, and airborne dust particles.

Key features of the Jupiter ATI include Fully Automatic Operation; Precision Grinding: Stable and Accurate; Operator Safety and Comfort; Versatile Tool - The 360-degree electric 200kg hoist can be used for other heavy lifting tasks in the workshop; Comprehensive CapabilitiesGrids both top and front faces of the bottom blade, takes data measurements from the cylinder shaft, and has a 1067mm cylinder & bottom blade capacity; Programmable Grinding - Fully programmable for relief and spin grinding, with automatic docking of the wheel head and cycle countdown; Robust Construction: Features a cast bed, liquid coolant on all operations, 240-volt power supply, linear bed rails with self-

adjusting bearings, and a slow/ soft start spin grinding motor.

Hunter Grinders invites all GroundsFest 2024 attendees to visit the Stand in Hall 1 to learn more about how this state-ofthe-art machine can enhance your grinding operations.

KRESS STAND 36 AND RB290

Come and see Kress’s innovative battery technology that delivers petrol-level power without the emissions and without compromising on performance at Groundsfest 2024. Dedicated to a zero-emission future for landscape maintenance, Kress ensures a sustainable shift from petrol to battery-powered equipment, benefiting both the environment and user health.

Kress RTKn robotic mowers

What to look out for at GroundsFest

revolutionise turf care with advanced technologies that eliminate the need for on-site antennas, optimise mowing patterns, and navigate obstacles with ease. They excel on slopes, reduce labour and energy costs, and lower maintenance expenses. Quiet and emissionfree, Kress RTKn mowers significantly reduce the carbon footprint, making them a smart investment for landscapers looking for turfcare solutions.

LANTRA STAND 47

Lantra is an independent leading skills body, awarding and accrediting training and qualifications in the land-based and environment sector. We also exist to help the land-based and environment industries meet their skills needs. We develop and certify specialist training and qualifications for a range of industries.

We do this by working in partnership to: Attract, develop, and retain a diverse workforce; Train people to work safely, productively, and sustainably; Encourage and support a commitment to Lifelong Learning; Understand sector skills needs to anticipate future skills and learning requirements.

We specialise in a wide range of areas, from; landscaping and horticulture, to agriculture and plant; forestry and highways; to landscape and vehicles; and much more besides. www.lantra.co.uk

LCVT LTD STAND RB20

LCVT are exhibiting for the first time at this year’s GroundsFest Show and will have on display two innovative and unique 3,500kg vehicles

for the transportation of both machinery and equipment to site.

The first vehicle is a Side Tipping Beavertail, which allows commercial mowers to be transported during the grass cutting season, and during the winter months can be used as a conventional tipper.

The second vehicle on display will be a low floor grounds maintenance vehicle using LCVT’s own low floor chassis conversion.

With a payload up to 1,500kg, floor height of 550mm, and options including a full width tailgate, and a unique perforated aluminium floor which offers a non-slip surface in all weather conditions. The vehicle is “groundbreaking in a number of other key areas”. www.lcvt.ltd

MAKITA

STAND OSA210

Makita will be showcasing its latest outdoor power equipment – including its esteemed, high performance XGT 40VMax outdoor range.

Representing the ‘best in class’ in battery system solutions, Makita’s XGT range features an impressive line-up of products for landscaping and grounds care that deliver increased output to tackle tough jobs with ease – without compromising on battery run time.

Currently, over 125 products can be used within the XGT system, including lawn mowers, line trimmers, as well as a cordless scarifier, that are all powered by the same battery platform, allowing users to switch between tools and tasks simply by changing over the battery.

Visit Makita on their stand to learn more about Makita’s XGT range and experience its powerful performance for yourself. www.makitauk.com

MANSFIELD SAND STAND OSA260

Visitors to the Mansfield Sand stand can expect to see a comprehensive range of sand-based products vital to the overall health and performance of sports pitches.

For over 180 years, Mansfield Sand has pioneered the development and production of premium silica sand-based products. The company provides a wide range of innovative products for sports, landscaping, and equestrian uses, including stadium and training ground facilities, championship golf courses, and world-class show jumping arenas.

The company’s leading experts will be on hand at GroundsFest 2024 to explain how some of the following products could make a difference to your sports turf projects.

Mansfield Sand offers a range of Reinforced Rootzones designed to maximise the use of natural turf surfaces while maintaining the high standards demanded by today’s sports industry. Mansfield Sand’s reinforcement technology provides stability and durability to all sand dominated Rootzones, allowing the pitch to remain free-draining and consistent across the entire surface.

Products include: Fibre Reinforced Rootzone; Fibrelastic Rootzone; Fibresand and Sand Soil Rootzones.

Sourced from the company’s Two Oaks Quarry in Mansfield, the Mansil range of Silica Sands is predominantly used in the construction and maintenance of a wide variety of sports surfaces, including winter sports pitches, golf courses, bowling greens, and all amenity turf areas.

MM SEED STAND 30

An impressive range of MM grass seed mixtures will be showcased at GroundsFest and visitors will get the chance to find out how the innovative seed technology could vastly benefit their sports pitches.

Here’s a snapshot of just some of the mixtures which will be on display:

MM50 is perfect for cricket squares, tennis courts and also golf tees and fairways. This hard-wearing mix has rapid germination, extremely fine leaved appearance, high shoot density and is tolerant to very close mowing, as low as 5mm, along with high disease resistance.

MM60 is a 100% Ryegrass formula and the UK’s leading winter sports renovation mixture. It is well-known for its extremely fast germination and its high wear tolerance, fast recovery plus excellent disease resistance.

MM Tetrasport. A Tetraploid based Ryegrass mixture, especially useful for seeding and overseeding of high quality sportsfields to improve sward composition, disease resistance with fast recovery from play and damage.

Pro Flora is a range of Native Origin Wildflower Mixtures that can bring colour, biodiversity and interest to any landscape area and also benefit the environment, pollinators and conservation.

Colour Boost is a range of high impact flower mixtures designed to create a dazzling display of colour and interest in many different landscape’s sites and situations.

ORIGIN AMENITY SOLUTIONS STAND OSA 240

OAS has announced its return to GroundsFest for the 2024 exhibition after a successful debut last year. OAS will showcase its comprehensive range of products and services, aimed at servicing the fine turf, sports, and grounds care sectors. With an expanded team of line marking specialists, OAS is positioned to offer the most comprehensive line marking solutions and support in the UK. Visitors to the stand will have the opportunity to see a diverse range of line marking machines, from pedestrian spray markers to the latest innovations in GPS guided TinyLineMarker robotic line markers.

Additionally, they will be highlighting their industry leading IMPACT ready-touse paint range, known for its durability, vibrancy, and ease of application.

Exclusive show offers will be available to show visitors. Furthermore, an exciting competition will be announced on the stand which is likely to attract a lot of attention.

OVERTON (UK) STAND OSA280

Overton (UK) manufacture a range of both battery and petrol powered vacuum litter collectors for the collection of cigarette ends, broken glass and general litter. We are the authorised distributor for the Mean Green Mowers, Altoz Tracked Mowers, RINO Electric, Berber Surf Rakes; Nimos WeedRippers for the UK and Ireland. www.overtonukltd.com

PELLENC UK STAND OSA150

Pellenc UK is set to impress at GroundsFest 2024. Attendees can look forward to an exciting display of Pellenc’s innovative, battery powered equipment.

Over recent years, Pellenc has established itself as a leader in the market by offering an exceptional line of ‘zero emission’ battery powered tools. This success is largely due to their

advanced Lithium-ion ultrahigh-performance batteries.

Visitors to the Pellenc stand will have the opportunity to explore an extensive array of top-tier equipment. The impressive Pellenc product lineup includes chainsaws, pole saws, hedge cutters, grass strimmers, brushcutters, blowers, and mowers.

Throughout the two-day event, the Pellenc team will be on hand to provide expert assistance and advice on all battery powered tool enquiries.

Pellenc stands out in the industry with its generous warranties, offering a fouryear commercial warranty for all batteries and a threeyear warranty for all tools.

PRICE TURFCARE

STAND RB 10

Price Turfcare, the UK and Ireland distributor of the Ventrac multi-implement, all-terrain compact tractor, is exhibiting at GroundsFest for the first time. We’ll be demonstrating the Ventrac 4520 compact tractor unit together with several attachments. You’ll be able to see this remarkable machine climbing 30-degree slopes on our specially

adapted exhibition vehicle.

Over the past 18 months Ventrac has launched several new products including two new seedbed preparation attachments – the Soil Cultivator and Primary Seeder. More recently four new attachments have been launched for soft landscaping and woodland management –the Loader and Light Material Bucket for moving landscaping materials and the Log Grapple and Rock Bucket with Grapple for transporting logs, branches and large stones and rocks.

Often referred to as the ‘Groundsman’s Swiss Army Knife’, this impressive machine has three significant USPs: versatility from its many attachments; a light footprint of just 6 psi, making it kind to your turf, even in the wet and the ability to climb 30-degree slopes with ease and safely.

For a multitude of grounds management tasks, it has to be Ventrac. To understand why the industry has embraced the versatility of the Ventrac product range come along and visit the stand.

www.priceturfcare.com

REDEXIM STAND OSA230

What to look out for at GroundsFest

with a raft of never-beenseen solutions for natural turf management. While some of the finer details are being kept strictly under wraps, visitors are assured to see a new, modern solution to the effective mechanical maintenance of hybrid and natural surfaces alongside the first UK outing of Redexim’s Verti-Air collection.

The Verti-Air range of PTOdriven blowers marks a logical extension of the Redexim portfolio, catering to the leaf and debris clearance requirements of those working in the golf and sports turf markets, together with local authorities and other green space managers. Three models make up the range, including the Verti-Air 7 – a compact and lightweight blower with a reverse exhaust nozzle which can be operated from the driver’s seat.

Also on the stand will be a selection of machines from the Redexim landscaping range, in-cluding the Multivator 1800. Featuring a roller equipped with nine durable carbidetipped blades spaced at 200mm, the Multivator decompacts and simultaneously lifts and recycles the existing soil and rootzone material to provide an environmentally-effective method of topdressing.

SISIS

GroundsFest 2024 attendees can look forward to seeing SISIS in Outside Area A, where a variety of innovative turf maintenance products will be on display.

This year, the focus will be on three key products: the Quadraplay, the Variseeder, and the Roto-rake TM1000. In addition to these highlights, visitors will have the opportunity to explore other products from the extensive SISIS range.

The Quadraplay is a multifunctional maintenance system

that can perform up to four operations simultaneously. It’s compatible with any tractor with a 3-point linkage, making it versatile for use on natural turf and hard porous surfaces.

The Variseeder is a compact, tractor-mounted overseeder ideal for renovation and repair work. It features a studded roller that prepares the seedbed, variable seed rates, and easy attachment to any tractor.

The Rotorake TM1000 is designed for effective thatch removal and control. It features quick-release interchangeable reels, contra-rotating blades for a clean cut, and a floating unit that follows ground contours.

STIGA STAND OSA790

STIGA are looking forward to exhibiting at Groundsfest and will have a cross range of garden machinery from the STIGA, Mountfield and ATCO brands highlighting the new product ranges and upgrades for the 2025 season.

Each of the brands focuses on innovation, simplicity and safety, producing equipment that transforms gardening into an effortless and enjoyable experience for everyone

During the show STIGA will be holding a competition to win their best selling battery pruners SC 100e. Make sure you visit the stand, chat with the team and simply pop your name into the raffle. The draw will be held at 11.30am and 3.30pm daily and four lucky people each day will receive this fantastic prize to take away with them.

Plus, every entry will also be included in an end of Show draw, where one lucky winner will win a SWIFT 372e battery garden ride-on. Purchase a STIGA autonomous robot at the show and claim up to £500 cashback. (T&Cs apply) www.stiga.com/UK

Syn-Pro by SISIS is gearing up for GroundsFest 2024, set to take place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on September 10 and 11. You can find SynPro by SISIS in Outdoor Area A, where a wide range of advanced synthetic turf maintenance products will be on display.

This year, the spotlight will be on three main products: the SVR1500, the SSS1000, and the Osca.

The SVR1500 is a dual-purpose machine designed for deep cleaning and decompaction of sand or rubber-filled surfaces. Its large rotating brush lifts contaminated infill, removes fine dust and debris, and returns cleaned infill back to the surface, improving water permeability and reducing bacteria and moss.

The SSS1000 sweeper is vital for regular cleaning of synthetic surfaces. It features a spiral rotary brush that sweeps debris into a mesh hopper, allowing pitch infill to be returned to the surface. It’s designed to efficiently remove organic debris and litter, ensuring a clean and safe playing area.

The Osca is a versatile brushing system ideal for both sand and rubber crumb maintenance. It features oscillating brushes for aggressive brushing to reduce compaction and encourage fibres to stand upright. It can also be used as a conventional drag brush for regular light brushing, helping maintain an even playing surface and reduce moss and algae.

Team Sprayers will be at Groundsfest with their range of pedestrian, mounted and self propelled sprayers, including their best-selling De-Mount Pro Sprayer, Team Vixen Pro SP sprayer and the Team Club sprayer.

The Demount Pro was redesigned a few years ago to be shorter and more compact, making it easier to spray difficult areas and is available with manual, electric folding or covered boom systems, all with break back pivot points to protect the booms from accidental damage from unseen obstacles.

The Vixen Pro Self Propelled sprayer has been designed to offer efficient, reliable low-ground pressure application. It features a robust and simple design with the option to spray in either forward or reverse direction. The smooth action 24V powered axle is highly responsive with fully adjustable forward and reverse speeds.

The Team Club is a full spec groundcare sprayer incorporating all the requirements to meet the latest spraying legislation and the needs of the modern greenkeeper. It’s reliable, robust design and ‘easy to use’ operator controls make this machine very ‘user friendly’.

TERRAIN AERATION STAND RB110

Terrain Aeration’s is the sole UK operator of the Terralift concept which has proven itself since 1985. Terrain Aeration have treated all kinds of turf surface for waterlogging, compaction and panning, from sports fields, golf courses and bowling greens, to trees in London’s Royal parks, green spaces and the gardens of new house builds.

The machine hammers a hollow probe one metre into the soil and a blast of compressed air is released to fracture and fissure the soil. On the tail end of the air blast, dried milled seaweed is

SYN-PRO BY SISIS STAND OSA170

TEAM SPRAYERS OSA61

British sprayer manufacturer

What to look out for at GroundsFest

incorporated and this expands and contracts with the moisture content in the soil, keeping the fractures open. The result is relief from waterlogging and healthier turf, with minimum disruption during the treatment. www.terrainaeration.com

TORO STAND OSA640

Toro is thrilled to announce our participation in GroundsFest. As a leading name in the landscaping industry, we invite professionals to visit us to explore our latest innovations designed to enrich the beauty, productivity, and sustainability of the land. We are excited to showcase our Revolution range, created to lead the charge in landscape maintenance. Featuring advanced battery technology, these machines offer superior power, efficiency, and sustainability. With advanced diagnostics, reduced noise levels, and zero emissions, the Revolution range exemplifies Toro’s

commitment to innovation and environmental stewardship.

Additionally, we will display our versatile Dingo Compact Utility Loaders. Known for their rugged reliability and unmatched versatility, these compact loaders handle the toughest jobs with ease. From powerful hydraulic systems to intuitive controls, the Dingo enhances productivity and streamlines operations, helping professionals beautify and maintain their environments.

GroundsFest is the perfect opportunity to experience Toro’s exceptional equipment firsthand. Our experts will demonstrate the features and benefits of our products and answer any questions you may have.

TRIMAX STAND OSA670

Trimax Mowing Systems is thrilled to be making its debut at GroundsFest 2024. Come to our stand and see all the latest innovations NEW! Pegasus S5 SR: Designed for wide area, long grass management, this versatile model offers a cut height range from 20mm to 180mm and is available in widths of 4.9m, 6.1m, and

7.2m. Renowned for its strength and durability, it effortlessly cuts grass from as high as 500mm down to 180mm or even lower.

Force: This is Trimax’s most robust and adaptable flail mower, capable of delivering a fine finish and mulching prunings up to 90mm in diameter. Available in 5 cutting widths from 1.1m to 2.3m, it caters to various mowing and mulching needs with a cut height range of 0-60mm.

ProCut S5: Building on the success of the ProCut S4, the ProCut S5 features automatic belt tensioning for increased drive and belt life, along with a Titan roller bearing system that eliminates daily maintenance. It offers 4 cutting widths from 1.7m to 2.9m and a cut height range of 10-110mm, providing excellent striping presentation. www.trimaxmowers.co.uk

TURF TANK STAND OSA481

Turf Tank is returning to GroundsFest with the industry’s leading autonomous line-

marking robot on their stand.

Attendees will be able to experience Turf Tank Two live, with the robot regularly marking out pitches over the two days. The Turf Tank UK and Ireland team will be on hand to discuss the technology, its benefits, and how it can make a grounds operation more efficient.

In addition to live demonstrations and the opportunity to speak to the Turf Tank team, attendees who visit the Turf Tank stand will also have the chance to win a Union Jack Turf Tank robot for a year!

A Turf Tank robot can address labour shortages, save time, or bring consistency, but for Galaxy Sports Little Kerse, a 35-acre site in Falkirk, Scotland, with 11 pitches ranging from 11-a-side grass to full size 3G and astroturf 6-a-side pods, matching precision line marking with sustainability was the aim. While overall efficiency is an important aspect of the Turf Tank, its positive impact on turf teams has also been highlighted. At Dollar Academy, a co-educational day and boarding school at the base of the Ochil Hills in Scotland, Head of Grounds John Vaughan-Davis and his team have experienced an improvement in their mental health since using the robot.

Further reasons to go to Stoneleigh

EXCITING REGISTRATION PRIZE FROM TORO

Every person who registers will have a chance to win a Toro ProStripe 560 pedestrian mower. Designed to provide a precise cut and clean striped finish, the Toro ProStripe leaves your turf looking its best. Sports fields and fine turf applications are no match for this high-quality, versatile machine.

ACCESSIBILITY AND COMMUNITY FOCUS

GroundsFest has quickly become known as the show that welcomes everyone in the grounds management sector. Not only does it attract industry leaders and

elite brands, but it also opens its doors to a much wider range of exhibitors and visitors, making it the most inclusive event in the industry. For visitors, GroundsFest goes the extra mile in terms of accessibility. With free parking, the event ensures that more people can attend without worrying about additional costs, making the event more accessible to everyone.

The event also features a dedicated camping area with full facilities.

Whether you’re an industry leader or a small business, a seasoned professional or new to the industry, GroundsFest is the event where you’ll feel at home.

DON’T MISS OUT

Don’t miss out on the must-attend event of the year. Secure your spot now and join thousands of industry professionals for an unforgettable experience. Register for free on the GroundsFest website and bring your email confirmation to the registration desk on the day of the event. Profits from the event are reinvested back into the industry through the Education Fund, supporting the next generation of groundscare professionals. For more information, please visit www.groundsfest.com. You can also follow GroundsFest on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

List of Exhibitors

Adtrak - Digital

Marketing Agency

L57

AE Evans LTD RB120

Aebi Schmidt UK Ltd OSA90

Aeration Jet Ltd 12

AFT Trenchers Limited 54

Agricultural and Farming Jobs L35

Agrovista Amenity L151

AL-KO - WEIBANG OSA560

Alba Trees Ltd L38

Amberol L36

AMS Robotics 17

Arbforest Ltd OSA200

AriensCo OSA760

Aspen Fuel OSA490

ATVTRAC RB270

Auto-Roller OSA661

Avant Tecno OSA270

Azpects L49

BAGMA Balcony AreaHall 1

BARBIERI SRL OSA80

Barton Hyett Associates L23

Billericay Farm Services Ltd 53

Boningale L191

Boot & Dart L48

BOSS Off Road Vehicles Ltd OSA720

Bowcom OSA190

Brian James Trailers OSA70

Bridgman & Bridgman L51

British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) L7

British Flora L32

British Recycled Plastic L135

British Wild Flower Plants L190

Brumblebee Seeds L13

Bury Hill Landscape Supplies L86

Campey Turf Care Systems OSA460

Cancer Research UK 6

Certis Belchim Amenity 24

CFMOTO UK 21

Chainsaw Attachments L25

Chappell Enterprises UK 52

Charles Taylor Trading L102

Cobra Garden OSA580

Complete Weed Control OSA510

CoNtrol Smart Nitrogen 10

CQ L218

CRAMER OSA600

Crowders L21

Crown Oil Ltd L103

D&S Factors RB240

Danarm Machinery Limited OSA62

Davis Trackhire RB210

DAX Industries RB252

Dennis Mowers 50

Ditch Witch UK & Ireland RB70

DLF Seeds Ltd 30

DnA Ramps and Access Ltd RB400

Dragon Drilling RB250

DSV UK - EUROGRASS 29

Dual Pumps Limited 48

Duralock UK Ltd 14

Earlsmere 46

Easy Petrol Post Driver OSA50

Eco Green Composting Equipment 45

EGO OSA630

Elveden Instant Hedges L30

Emak UK Ltd: OleoMac & Bertolini: OSA250

Etesia UK OSA150

Everedge OSA51

Evopos UK Ltd 43

Farol Ltd OSA520

FGM Claymore RB360

Foley Company OSA540

Forward Trust L29

FORZA 26

G Rake RB80 & 3

Garden Machines Ltd OSA690

GBR Technology Ltd 1

GCB Falconry & Pest Solutions Ltd RB260

George Browns OSA100

GRASS GAINS L2

Grasshopper Turf Equipment OSA110

GreenBest Ltd 28

Grounds Training Ring B & Hall 1

GroundsCare Products L150

Groundsman Industries Ltd 28A

Habitat Aid Ltd. L219

Hahn Plastics Ltd L59

Handspring Design L28

Handy - Home of Brands OSA740

Hansa Products OSA531

Harper Adams 11

Harrowden L64

Henchman OSA194

Honda UK OSA10

HubScape 42

Huck Play RB130

Hunter Grinders 50

Husqvarna OSA800

Hustler Turf Equipment OSA120

Hydro App System Ltd 23 ICL OSA480

International Greenkeepers For Hire 8

Jacobsen RB308

James Coles and Sons (Nurseries) Ltd. L186

Kersten Site Maintenance Equipment OSA680

Kinley L94

Kirkland UK OSA730

Kress RB290 & 36

Landscape & Urban Design L61

LANTRA 47

LAPU 49

LCVT Ltd RB20

Leica Geosystems RB261

Lindum Turf L54

Lister Wilder Hire OSA750 LITE Ltd L24

Lubbe & Sons (Bulbs) Ltd L65

M&M Timber RB90

Makita UK Ltd OSA210

Mammotion UK 33

Mansfield Sand OSA260

Meadowmania L62

Mean Green Mowers OSA280 METOS UK 25

MFL Insurance Group L188

Michelin Tyre Plc RB50

Milwaukee RB140

My Square Metre L92

Myerscough College 9

Nasco Digtec Ltd RB61

Nilfisk 16

Nomix Enviro Ltd 34

Origin Amenity Solutions OSA240

OSC Sales Ltd L3

OTR Wheel Engineering Europe L118

Outdoor Professional Products OSA140

Overton (UK) Ltd OSA280

Pellenc UK OSA160

Perennial L185

Phoenix Amenity Supplies Ltd 15

Pitchcare RB251

PLAY INNOVATION RB170

Portek Ltd 18

Postpullers (UK) Ltd 55

Price Turfcare - Ventrac RB10

Pro Green L6

PSD Groundcare OSA660 & OSA710

RANGER WORLD by Centurian OSA700 & L87

Ransomes RB308

RAT Barrow UK Ltd RB200

Re-Flow Field Management 31 Redexim OSA230

Redlynch Lesiure Installations Ltd RB350

Reel Tech L34

Regal Paints Ltd 22

Register of Play Inspectors International RB191

Remote Solar Power Systems Ltd RB190

Ren-New L26

Resin Bonded Ltd L22

Rotadairon L104

RT Machinery Ltd OSA220

RUBI UK RB230

Ryetec Industrial Equipment Ltd RB60

SealEco UK Ltd L60

An industry first

Scott MacCallum reports from the first Synthetic Surfaces Seminar and learns at the feet of three Professors!

The industry’s first dedicated synthetic surface seminar, hosted by Howardson Group, at Loughborough University gave delegates the opportunity to hear from three professors and other luminaries in the field.

Professor David James, Group CEO of Labosport and Technical Chair of SAPCA; Professor Alastair Cox, of the European Synthetic Turf Council and the International Hockey Federation, and Professor Paul Fleming, of Loughborough

University, all generously passed on knowledge and information.

The three Profs were joined by Hayley Wilson, of SIS Grass and Derek Field, of Musco Lighting, in ensuring that the day was as comprehensive as possible. It was expertly chaired by Jason Briggs, from Howardson.

Prof James opened the seminar by revealing that the Houston Astro Dome was the very first home of an artificial pitch when it opened in 1966. The astro turf was originally

known as Chem Grass, a cold and clinical name and you can easily appreciate why the marketeers switched to calling it astro turf.

“Since then it has become a complex engineered product,” said Prof James.

He revealed that there had been 53 studies between 1972 and 2020 which found no difference in the level of injury to participants playing on natural surfaces or synthetic.

In fact at grass root level injury is more likely on natural pitches as the

HAYLEY WILSON HIGHLIGHTED THE FACT THAT SYNTHETIC PITCHES CAN COPE WITH UP TO 70 HOURS OF USAGE EACH WEEK, AGAINST SIX HOURS FOR NATURAL TURF.

quality of those pitches is inferior to those played on at elite level.

The benefits of artificial surfaces are seen as the ability to withstand high usage; a constant and predictable surface, “all weather” capabilities; quality assurance through accredited testing; lower maintenance than natural turf; good sporting performance and player safety and a good revenue generator.

Hayley Wilson highlighted the fact that synthetic pitches can cope with up to 70 hours of usage each week, against six hours for natural turf. Hybrid comes in at six times that of natural turf.

Prof Cox talked about the fact that EU legislation, likely to be copied by the UK, would see rubber crumb banned by 2030 and a move away from water filled hockey pitches.

“During the Tokyo Olympics they used 39% less water than they had at the Rio Olympics which in turn used 30% less than at the London Games. But even then it meant that that Tokyo used one million litres of water during the hockey tournament,” said Prof Cox, who added that an irrigation system added about €60,000 to

€80,000 to the cost of a new pitch.

It is now being recommended that Dry Turf technology be installed and work is currently being carried out to allow Dry Turf to replicate wet turf in turf/stick friction; ball speed and pace, ball re-bound and aerial passes and turf stiffness.

“Work is also being carried out with sports shoe manufacturers on footwear required on a Dry Turf pitch while players will look at which undergarments are ideal to prevent injury when sliding on a Dry Pitch,” he said, adding that there was also research being carried out into self-wetting hockey balls.

Despite anecdotal reports of rubber crumb potentially carrying carcinogenic dangers leading to cancer, Prof Cox said that the ECHA had found no evidence to advise people against playing on pitches which contained rubber granules as infill material.

However government agencies are recognising the need to use plastics in a sustainable way and stricter environmental regulations are being put in place which will see the rubber crumb being phased out.

Derek Field outlined the benefits

of LED lighting against the more traditional HID lighting and how the greater control offered by LED can lead to significant cost savings and much more flexibility.

Prof Fleming looked at good maintenance practices during good, indifferent and bad weather. He gave an insight into the research work being carried out at Loughborough surrounding the player, including biomechanics, physiology and phycology; the ball, and its response to the surface; the playing surface and how it is impacted upon by the climate and environment, the design and construction and its usage and maintenance.

The outdoor element of the seminar carried out on both a Loughborough rugby field and Loughborough hockey pitch gave Harrod Sports and Fleet Line Marking an opportunity to demonstrate goal post safety and maintenance while SISIS and Labosport showed how the correct machine can make a huge improvement in the condition of artificial surfaces and, in Labosport’s case, how testing can ensure high standards are maintained.

Scott MacCallum spoke with synthetic turf experts at the event: see the video on the Turf Matters YouTube video channel

Ventrac a game-changer at Bishop’s Stortford

Three years ago Adam Smith, pictured, joined Bishop’s Stortford College, as the independent school’s Head of Grounds and Gardens, where he and his team have been working hard to achieve a higher level of presentation around the environs of the college grounds. His purchase of a Ventrac 4500 all-terrain compact tractor and selection of attachments has made a significant contribution to achieving this goal, with the added bonus of many

work-hour savings. The Ventrac was initially supplied with a 72-inch rotary mowing deck and he subsequently added a Power Brush attachment.

“Without a doubt the Ventrac has been a game-changer. It has enhanced the overall appearance of our large grassed areas and its ability to mow on 30-degree slopes has cut out hundreds of hours of brush-cutting for the team” he said.

“There are only four of us, so every hour is vital. Strimming is such a timeconsuming job, but we have now freed up hours that can spent on other important tasks around the facility.

“We have some serious banks across the 130 acres and I was looking for a machine that would save us from the hours of brush-cutting. My local dealer suggested the Ventrac and, at first, I wasn’t too sure; but once we’d had it demo-ed we were immediately won over.

“Andy Richards, the Grounds Manager at Haileybury, came over for the demo and he has subsequently bought one as well. We have a good working relationship and, on occasions, lend

each other attachments. It’s simple with the Ventrac linkage system, there’s no complicated set up, you just drive out of one attachment and drive in to the next.

“Before the Ventrac we were using a 50hp tractor with a rear-mounted roller mower, but it was so cumbersome with limited manoeuvrability in tight spaces. We have several outdoor teaching spaces, such as the arboretum, and getting around the trees and outdoor furniture was a major problem. The Ventrac alleviated this immediately as it has a centre-pivot steering system and can turn tightly. Again, this saves many work-hours and is much more efficient.

“This has become our front-line machine; its low ground pressure means we can go out at any time, even in some of the very wet areas and you feel really safe on the banks, it’s a machine you can trust. We have a natural spring that rises near our Pre-Prep School and we can’t usually get in there before late May, but with the Ventrac we cut it in February.

“Its versatility is endless and, as I said earlier, it’s a game-changer” n www.priceturfcare.com

Yamaha workhorses get thumbs up

Yamaha’s UMX AC light utility vehicles have proved a hit with Adam Smith, the Head of Grounds and Gardens at Bishop’s Stortford College in Hertfordshire. He and his team now have three of these electric-powered workhorses for estate management duties, while the Catering team have two, which are used for delivering food and beverages to the various houses and to outlying areas of the campus. The Maintenance team have recently taken delivery of their own unit with an enclosed carry box for transporting tools, cables and other necessary equipment.

“Prior to getting the UMXs we were using golf buggies adapted with a cargo box and tow bar,” he said, “but they weren’t really fit for purpose; their traction under load was

poor and they had limited carrying capacity.

“After the decision was made to get dedicated light utility vehicles, we demoed most of the competitor machines and Yamaha came out on top. They were not the cheapest option, but they were far and away the best, with a good towing capacity, excellent storage in the side boxes and bonnet, sturdily built and with a very comfortable ride.

“We have three UMXs for the Grounds and Gardens team and they are excellent workhorses carrying leaves, mulch, topdressing, tools and hand mowers around the school estate. The carrying capacity is just over 360kg and the aluminium cargo bed is a generous size with a one-touch tailgate latch. Storage is an important consideration, as the team need to keep their smaller tools dry in inclement weather, and the storage space under the bonnet is very good.

“Charging is very simple; we didn’t opt for onboard chargers as we have a garage building that houses the lightweight charging units, but we will soon be erecting a dedicated parking and charging area with specific parking bays for each vehicle.

Depending on use, our charging regime is usually overnight, every two days.

“Summing up, they are quiet, which is ideal in a school environment, comfortable, easily maintained, good on artificial surfaces, sturdily constructed, have a very good carrying capacity and the LED headlights are excellent, especially in the winter months. They tick all the boxes!”

At its heart, the UMX AC features a punchy 5.0 kW motor, that’s not just quieter and better for the environment, but has a good range and is simple to plug in and charge. It delivers smooth, flexible power that takes the operator just about anywhere in a park, resort, golf course, farm, airport, factory… just simply point and go.

The UMX AC is a strong, stylish and compact utility vehicle that is equipped to transport two people and their cargo efficiently and offers the versatility, userfriendliness and durability that professional operators require. It has been designed to handle everything from site maintenance duties and light farming through to gardening and housekeeping chores.

n www.yamaha-motor.eu/uk

OAS compost teas, thatch eater is transformative

At Wells Golf Club, located in picturesque Somerset, golf isn’t just a sport – it’s a tradition. Founded in 1893, this charming 18-hole parkland course is renowned for its challenging layout and warm hospitality.

However, in late 2022, the greens at Wells Golf Club were facing significant challenges. Thatch accumulation and black layer issues had left the greens in poor condition with inadequate rooting. The situation called for a transformative solution.

Head Greenkeeper Mark Lewer turned to Origin Amenity Solutions, renowned for their commitment to sustainable and innovative turf management solutions. Wells Golf Club embarked on a journey to rejuvenate the greens.

In spring 2023, a comprehensive treatment programme was implemented. This included the application of Symbio Thatch Eater and monthly Symbio Compost Tea applications, supplemented by Bio Stimulants.

“One of the pivotal changes we made was to significantly reduce nitrogen applications, which had been overused

in the past. Additionally, we ceased the use of iron, a substance that my predecessor had heavily relied upon”, explained Head Greenkeeper Mark Lewer. Symbio Compost Tea enhances the biodiversity of life contained in healthy soil. It is created by brewing specially prepared compost in an aerated solution of water with added nutrients and biostimulants. This biologically rich tea is used as a rootzone drench to give turf all the advantages that beneficial bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and predatory nematodes offer to improve soil and plant health. It is used as a natural soil conditioner which results in healthier turf, with better disease resistance.

Symbio ThatchEater is used by many top clubs to combat thatch build-up and enhance turf health. It contains a blend of beneficial fungi and bacteria that rapidly degrade thatch into humus, improving soil quality. By promoting root growth, it boosts nutrient and water uptake, resulting in stronger, deeper roots and better sward density. This microbial activity not only supports fine grasses but also releases locked-up nutrients, leading to high-quality, durable playing surfaces.

OAS Technical Sales Manager Neil Carter added that the transformation was remarkable.

“Within a short period, the greens began to show signs of improvement in all aspects. The thatch and black layer issues were mitigated, and the rooting system of the greens strengthened considerably.”

Positive feedback from the club members helped lead to an increase in membership. Furthermore, the club was proud to be listed as ‘One of the Most Improved Golf Courses in the UK’ by Golfshake, the leading golf course review site. n sales@originamenity.com

Using Turf Tank for carbon neutral line marking

In line with its carbon-neutral site, Galaxy Sports Little Kerse is using the Turf Tank One to meet their sustainability goals and raise the standards of their lines.

The 35-acre site in Falkirk, Scotland, has 11 pitches ranging from 11-a-side grass to full-size 3G and astroturf 6-a-side pods.

Whilst the Turf Tank fits perfectly within their sustainability ethos, Galaxy Sports’ main aim was to raise the standard of line marking and relieve pressure on staff who would have to mark 11-a-side match pitches and bespoke PAN Disability Football League pitches regularly.

Operations Manager Sean Witt wanted to provide the best pitches possible for the customers, and a significant part of that was looking for an alternative way to mark lines that fit in with their sustainability goals.

“The Turf Tank runs on a completely carbon-neutral site; it’s all on green energy,” Sean explained. “The energy that charges the Turf Tank batteries comes from the sun that’s shining today, so it’s a fantastic example of our

sustainability and priorities at Galaxy Sports Little Kerse for the way forward.

“We used to go out and manually mark the pitches, but we realised we weren’t meeting the standard we wanted. Now, the lines are night and day. They’re a great standard, and the precision of the Turf Tank is fantastic. We’re over the moon with it, and it’s definitely saved us hours on end. We probably mark lines now for half a day and only mark out what we need, so we’re saving paint and time.

“With the robot, it’s been great because we’re able to add our logo onto the pitches, and again, we use it during these busy periods where the customers can see it, and we get great questions and feedback.

“The logo marking is going to be a part of attracting sponsors to our Galaxy Foundation, and that’s something we never would have been able to achieve manually. But for us, it’s a fantastic marketing material and a talking point at the site.

“I find it so easy to use because the technology is all through a tablet, it’s all

pinpointed through Google Maps, and it’s all set up,” Alastair said. “All you have to do is click on the pitch, press start and make sure it’s got enough paint, and away it goes.

“We’ve got amateur teams based out here, full-time teams training here, and the local community teams. It’s brilliant because they can see the standards we provide a professional football club, and they’re getting those standards as well, so they know we treat everybody the same.”

Solution to line marking problem

As pitch use grew at Ireland’s South East Technological University (SETU) Arena, Grounds Manager David Grant needed a solution for increased pitch marking times, and the Turf Tank One was the automatic answer.

The Waterford-based site is primarily for SETUs student societies and clubs, but the impressive multi-pitch facility is used by up to 250,000 people a year, including children as young as eight learning their sports and elite athletes playing in the League of Ireland and representing the country at the Olympics. High-quality playing surfaces and

indoor facilities are a significant draw, but as demand to use the site grew, David’s team spent 630 hours line marking a year. Using the Turf Tank One, that has reduced to 120 hours.

David explains: “We started looking for an automatic solution to a problem because we were getting busier. We were finding that we were starting to cut corners manually lining.

“We had a man spending 630 hours lining every year. The Turf Tank does that in 120 hours. So, I now essentially have 15 weeks of extra labour that I would normally not have had. I can concentrate that on all the other small jobs that were always on a long list that we would get to but never did because we always had to go lining again.

“Now, the pressure for lining is gone. We don’t have to worry anymore. If a booking comes in that we didn’t know about last minute, it’s not a big problem. The pitch will be lined in less than an hour.”

Using Turf Tank One, the SETU team can mark a soccer pitch in 23 minutes and a GAA pitch from scratch in an hour. Reducing what used to take six and a half hours is significant for David, and it allows the

facility to take last-minute bookings while always knowing the lines will be perfect.

“Before, if we had anything out of the ordinary, a smaller pitch, a different line marking, it was panic stations, really,” David said. “How are we going to do it? How long is it going to take? How are we going to fit it into our routine? Now it’s not a problem.

“There are so many variations of what we want on the tablet. We can literally select it and send it off. It’s doing its job while we’re off doing something else. And we know it’s going to be done perfectly. It’s the exact same line from the exact same spot every time.

“There’s no variation. There’s no worry that a new guy who’s brilliant at lining is going to go out, but he’s going to be different from me or someone else. The robot’s going to do the exact same thing every time and has done since we’ve been using it.”

Along with time savings and consistency, SETU has also halved its paint usage within the first three months of having the robot. The cost was around €11,000, and the money saved has been used to pay for the Turf Tank One.

XDC launch combo mower and line marking robot

Autonomous Solutions has been appointed UK distributor of the RM21 Combo robot from FJ Dynamics. With its unique configuration, the RM21 offers a cutting deck and line marker to enable autonomous mowing and marking from the same unit.

Attendees to Groundsfest will be able to get a first look at the RM21 Combo on the XDC stand RB380.

The RM21 is easy to set up and operate, with users able to easily switch between line marking and mowing functions. It can be controlled via the supplied bespoke tablet or screen on the actual robot, with an app also available for remote operation, task scheduling, monitoring, and history log via a mobile device. Where the RM21

Combo is unmatched is the inclusion of the line marking sprayer in the same robot. The simple and intuitive user interface on the tablet enables fast and simple plotting of pitches, training grids, and other layouts. Bespoke plans are available as CADs can be supplied or layouts created from customer designs that quickly convert into a route plan on the tablet.

The sprayer mechanism can be adjusted to mark line widths of 50-160mm and can accommodate different nozzles and paints to deliver the optimum combination of line quality, longevity, and paint consumption. A 48V ultra-long life lithium battery and large 25L paint container allows the marking of several pitches one after the other.

Designed for multiple scenarios, including sports pitches, golf courses, racecourses, solar farms, estates and orchards, the RM21 mower features an intelligent control system, pure electric drive, and a large-capacity battery to maximise mowing efficiency, saving time and money, and freeing up resources to focus on other tasks.

With a choice of Eco, Normal and Power blade mode, mowing speed and cutting height adjustability from 20 to 127mm

different levels of cut and finish can be achieved from the standard rotary mower, with greater precision mowing available via the optional cylinder deck attachment.

Paused and completed operations are all recorded; with the user able to select an interrupted operation and click Continue to pick up from where it was paused or select a completed operation and tap Restart to perform the operation again in full.

Supplied with a Radio RTK station the RM21 Combo produces centimetre-level positioning accuracy for precision mowing and marking.

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with FJ Dynamics and offering this technologically advanced solution to the UK turfcare industry,” said XDC’s Director of Sales, Matt Murray.

“Having been involved with autonomous solutions for several years I’ve seen how more customers are now embracing robotic technology to assist with their time consuming, day to day jobs. Having one heavy-duty machine that offers an extremely competitively priced single solution for mowing and marking takes things to the next level.” n www.xdc-as.co.uk

Power, performance and versatility from Kubota

The Kubota RTV range of utility vehicles delivers reliable and robust performance for the safe and comfortable transportation of people and materials over the most challenging of ground conditions. Precise control of the range is assured thanks to Kubota’s innovative variable hydrostatic transmission, making it a versatile solution for tasks around estates, racecourses and sports grounds.

Of particular note is the RTV-X1110, offering the ultimate in durability and off-road adaptability – ergonomically designed to offer simplicity of operation and optimal comfort for whatever the task at hand. Powered by an economical 24hp Kubota diesel engine, the RTV-X1110 can go where other utility vehicles can’t thanks to its unique drive

train arrangement and dynamic engine braking, enhancing both accessibility and operator safety.

As standard, the RTV-X1110 features a hydraulic tipping system for the cargo area, which makes loading and unloading much easier. Optional extras are available to extend the range of applications including work lights, hydraulic outlets to power topdressers, spreaders or even a snow plough and much more!

A more compact, yet equally versatile, option is the Kubota RTV 520. Combining the very best in working comfort with superior performance from the 18hp liquidcooled 2-cylinder engine, the RTV 520 delivers quiet, dependable and highly manoeuvrable power for greater flexibility in work areas and maintenance schedules. Its rugged,

heavy-duty metal load platform, solid underbody protection and high front axle ground clearance of 225mm make it suitable for all domestic, commercial and professional groundcare applications.

n www.kubota.co.uk

Yamaha’s UMX AC gets the job done – quietly

While the successful range of Yamaha’s ATV models satisfies the requirements of the more extreme off-road user, the UMX AC is designed to handle an array of tasks in commercial, industrial, agricultural and leisure environments.

Its rugged design enables the UMX AC to be driven over a variety of terrain to give access to all areas, both indoor and outside. Two ergonomically designed individual seats and variable rate suspension system give a high standard of rider comfort, ensuring this quiet, smooth, comfortable light utility vehicle is ready to work hard, almost silently, 24/7. Rugged and durable bodywork is a feature of this efficient and quiet workhorse, which is ready to take on a wide variety of jobs in different environments.

At its heart, the UMX AC features a punchy 5.0 kW motor, that’s not just quieter and better for the environment, but has a good range and is simple to plug in and charge. It delivers smooth, flexible power

that takes the operator just about anywhere in a park, resort, golf course, farm, airport, factory … just simply point and go.

The UMX is designed to be at the ready when a job needs to be done fast – so it’s the vehicle to choose when you need to get there quickly and efficiently. Designed to operate on a variety of surfaces, even unsound ones, its tough skid plate, stable suspension and wide tyres give it the ability to traverse non-extreme off-road terrain, making it able to work in a diverse range of environments

It’s designed to carry an impressive selection of tools, equipment and supplies thanks to its spacious aluminium cargo bed, which measures 1.05 m long x 1.16 m wide x 0.3 m deep. It also features additional space in a 29-litre storage box, ensuring that it’s an asset to any business and with its easy-to-use controls and ergonomic design, it ensures that every member of the workforce gets the job done more efficiently.

The UMX AC is a strong, stylish and

compact utility vehicle that is equipped to transport two people and their cargo efficiently and offers versatility, userfriendliness and durability. It has been designed to handle everything from site maintenance duties and light farming through to gardening and housekeeping. n www.yamaha-motor.eu/uk

Understanding Integrated Disease Management: A focus on microdium patch

IBy Henry Bechelet ICL Technical Sales Manager for the UK & Ireland

ntegrated Disease Management (IDM), a term often interchanged with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) or Integrated Turf Management (ITM), signifies a comprehensive approach to disease management that transcends the simple reliance on chemicals to control them.

IDM is an all-encompassing strategy that combines good cultural practice with environmental monitoring as well as the judicious use of plant protection products when needed. The aim of IDM is to manage turf diseases effectively and sustainably.

IDM represents more than just a modern buzzword; it embodies best practice as a deliberate, systematic approach to tackling turf diseases. It requires an understanding of the disease life cycles and the environmental factors that drive their development. The aim is to use this knowledge to create a less conducive environment for the development of the disease and also to understand when the use of control measures might be needed to prevent turf damage. IDM aims to manage diseases in a manner that is extremely effective and well as being economically viable and environmentally sensitive. Effective disease management requires a focus on the following key areas:

1. Species Selection: If possible, turf managers should aim to create a dominance of turf species that exhibit a greater natural resistance or reduced susceptibility to problem diseases. For instance, Browntop bent might be preferable to Poa annua when trying to reduce the impact of Microdochium patch disease.

2. Monitoring: It is important to constantly monitor environmental conditions to determine if they are conducive for the development of the disease (temperature, leaf wetness, moisture etc.). Integrated disease management is most effective when treatments are made preventatively in anticipation of an emerging attack. Monitoring can involve the use of advanced tools such as weather forecasting systems and disease prediction models (as found on the Syngenta Turf Advisor app).

Prevention is not always possible and so constant monitoring of the turf is also necessary to identify the signs of early disease development in order to prompt a rapid treatment response. It is common for localised areas of the course to be more susceptible to attack and so these areas can be used as an early indication that a more widespread attack might be in danger of developing.

3. Cultural Practices: Considerate mowing, aeration, irrigation and nutrition techniques are needed to maintain turf health and reduce the vulnerability to

the practical application of IDM principles. We take a fully integrated approach because Microdochium patch disease can be extremely damaging, particularly in cool-season turfgrasses. Caused by the fungal pathogen Microdochium nivale, this disease can occur at any time of the year, primarily driven by cool, wet environmental conditions. Because Microdochium nivale is adapted to develop in cool conditions, the autumn and winter would be regarded as the high-risk period in the UK and Ireland.

1. Species Selection: In terms

disease. Other factors such as surface moisture removal and thatch reduction might also be needed to create a less conducive environment for the development of the disease. The cultural management strategy should employ all necessary measures needed to reduce the likelihood of the disease developing.

4. Plant Protection Products: Fungicidal controls might be needed if there is a high risk of a damaging disease outbreak developing. Preventative strategies should only be used during high risk periods and in conjunction with a fully integrated approach. Plant protection products are highly regulated technologies and should be used in strict accordance with the label specifications. The way in which we manage Microdochium patch disease, exemplifies

of species selection, the majority of golf greens in the UK and Ireland are dominated by the presence of annual meadowgrass (Poa annua), which is highly susceptible to attack from Microdochium nivale given favourable conditions. Many course managers seek to improve the sward species composition of their greens in order to reduce their susceptibility to attack from Microdochium patch. Long-term strategies to increase the proportion of Browntop bent and Creeping bentgrass species are commonly in place for this reason.

2. Monitoring: It is important to be aware of the environmental conditions that trigger Microdochium patch disease activity (cool and damp). The Syngenta Turf Advisor app can help you with the daily monitoring of the temperature

GOOD CULTURAL PRACTICE CAN BE EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE AT SLOWING DOWN THE RATE OF DEVELOPMENT OF MICRODOCHIUM PATCH DISEASE, EVEN DURING PERIODS OF HIGH PRESSURE.

(5-15oC being optimal), leaf wetness and growth potential to give an appreciation of the potential for disease activity. The “GreenCast Microdochium-model” will also help in this regard, giving a rating for the level of disease pressure. The longer the period of conducive conditions, the greater the likelihood for attack and so environmental monitoring should be used trigger preventative action.

3. Cultural Practices: Good cultural practice can be extremely effective at slowing down the rate of development of Microdochium patch disease, even during periods of high pressure. Slowing down the rate of disease development is important to give a greater level of flexibility and control, it also limits the level of potential damage, and it might help to enhance the effectiveness of fungicidal applications. We might consider the following cultural management tactics: Minimising leaf wetness: Leaf wetness can be minimised with physical removal of surface moisture/dew

where appropriate or the use of surfactant-based dew dispersants. Minimising periods of leaf wetness can also be achieved by adjusting irrigation schedules during the summer and early autumn.

• Maintaining Optimal Nutrient Levels: Ensuring adequate growth with the appropriate use of nitrogen and supporting nutrition levels (iron and potassium) to maintain turf resilience and help harden the sward against attack.

Avoid using organic or nitrate sources of nitrogen during periods of high disease risk.

Managing Thatch and Organic Matter: Maintain subsurface organic matter contents with recommended guidelines to maintain a healthy and functioning soil profile and help reduce the saprophytic habitat of the fungus.

Environmental Modification: Enhance light and airflow by managing the surrounding vegetation

4. Plant Protection Products: Modern fungicides can be extremely effective management tools against Microdochium patch disease. Generally, they work best when applied preventatively but they can also offer curative control of active outbreaks. Fungicide programmes need to be scheduled properly to be fully effective during extended periods of high disease pressure. The choice of fungicide as well as the sequencing and frequency of applications will be dependent on conditions and may require specialist advice.

Integrated Disease Management is a strategy that blends cultural practice, environmental monitoring, and chemical controls to minimise the impact of potentially damaging turf diseases. By understanding the nature of the disease, monitoring environmental conditions, and implementing management strategies, turf managers can maintain healthy, resilient and high performing turf throughout the year.

TURF RECRUIT

Turf Recruit has quickly become the largest resource for ALL industry jobs. With EVERY job in one place you’ll never miss an opportunity again. Simply browse hundreds of jobs and find the one for you!

l Featured in the Turf Recruit section of the website –our most visited page

l Featured in our monthly dedicated jobs e-shot –sent to over 26,000 industry professionals

l No time limitations – the job remains listed online until you FILL IT

l Regular social media promotion of your job to an audience of over 15,000 and growing

Perennial – the industry charity

If you’re a groundsman or groundskeeper, you know just how challenging your job can be. You work hard to keep parks, sports fields, gardens, and estates looking great, even though it can go unnoticed. You’re the true heroes making sure these spaces are well-maintained and beautiful. But despite the crucial role you play, life challenges can come into play – whether it’s financial, health, or something else entirely. That’s where Perennial comes in. For over 185 years, Perennial has been a reliable safety net for horticulturists in need. They understand the pressures of the job and are here to help when it matters most. Now, more than ever, it’s vital for both organisations and individuals in our sector to support Perennial. By doing so, we can ensure that our industry brothers and sisters are taken care of, no matter what challenges they face.

WHO ARE PERENNIAL?

Perennial is the UK charity focused on helping everyone in horticulture, which includes people like you. Whether you’re dealing with financial issues, health problems, or just need some advice, Perennial offers free and confidential support. Their services are available not only to those currently employed in the sector but also to retirees and their families. If you ever find yourself in a tough situation, Perennial is there to help you through it. This could mean anything from getting advice on managing money to receiving support during a health crisis.

HOW PARTNERING WITH PERENNIAL HELPS THE INDUSTRY

Becoming a Perennial Partner offers your company a meaningful opportunity to ensure that vital services remain accessible to everyone in the horticultural community. It’s a chance to actively support your colleagues, employees, and others within the industry.

The Perennial Partnership is designed with flexibility in mind, offering various options that can accommodate the unique needs of your business. This ongoing support is crucial for Perennial, enabling the charity to sustain and expand its services. The more companies that join, the greater Perennial’s ability to enhance and develop the support that improves lives across the horticultural community. Find out more at perennial. org.uk/Corporate/

HOW PARTNERING WITH PERENNIAL HELPS YOUR BUSINESS

Perennial offers several benefits to its partners, showing appreciation for your support:

• Showcase your commitment to the industry with a framed partner certificate, which will be sent to you by post.

• Online recognition: Your company will be listed in Perennial’s online Corporate Partner Directory.

• Social media shout-outs: Perennial will announce your partnership on their social media channels, highlighting your support.

• Perennial news and updates: You’ll receive Perennial’s magazine and regular newsletters to keep you informed about the charity’s work.

• Networking events: You’ll be invited to exclusive Perennial Partner networking events, where you can connect with others in our industry.

• Discounts and invitations: Enjoy discounts on certain Perennial events and invitations to webinars on topics like financial, mental, and physical wellbeing.

• Free pin badge: As a small token of appreciation, you’ll get a Perennial pin badge.

• Communication toolkits: You’ll receive regular updates, posters, and other materials to keep your team informed about Perennial’s services.

A COMMITMENT TO THE INDUSTRY

By becoming a Perennial Partner, you’re shaping the future of the horticulture industry. Your support ensures that Perennial can continue helping those who need it most. It’s a way to show that you care about the people who keep our green spaces beautiful and functional. If you’re interested in learning more or want to sign up, visit perennial.org.uk/Corporate/ today. By partnering with Perennial, you’re making sure that no one in our industry has to face tough times alone. n perennial.org.uk