ICL is delighted to announce the appointment of Lewis Blois to the role of Business Development Manager - Landscape & Industrial for the UK & Ireland.

With over 15 years of experience in UK and Ireland amenity sector, Lewis' journey started with Agrovista Amenity. He subsequently joined ICL in 2010 as a Technical Area Sales Manager within the T&L business. Lewis eventually ascended to the Key Account Manager role.

Lewis then joined Bayer Environmental Science as the Key Account Manager for Industrial Vegetation Management (IVM) and Rail, where he played a crucial part in launching and managing iconic brands including Roundup, Ecoplug Max, and Valdor Flex/Lockstar. His responsibilities also extended to managing key amenity distributors in IVM and Turf.

Before rejoining ICL, Lewis built on his expertise at Barenbrug as the Technical and Product Manager for their Amenity business.

On his appointment, Lewis expressed, "I am delighted to re-join the ICL team. My vision is to bolster the success of the Industrial and Landscape business, ensuring ICL remains the top choice for customers in these areas."

 For more information, please visit www.icl-growingsolutions.uk

As one of the longest-standing exhibitors at SALTEX, SISIS is looking forward to attending the 77^th edition of the show.

For over 90 years SISIS has been designing and manufacturing a range of professional groundcare equipment which is ideal for the maintenance of sports and amenity turf and artificial playing surfaces.

This year, on stand E70 there will be a great line-up of SISIS products including:

Auto Rotorake Mk.5

The SISIS Auto Rotorake Mk. 5 - a self-propelled lightweight and easy tomanoeuvre scarifier for removal and control of thatch on fine and other quality turf. Its contra-rotating reel has specially designed tipped blades for a clean, consistent cut and maximum thatch removal to reduce the risk of disease, encourage healthier growth and ‘true’ surface.

Quadraplay

The multi-functional SISIS Quadraplay single pass maintenance system is perfect for busy groundspersons as it incorporates a mounted frame for up to four implements such as grooming rakes, spikers, slitters, rollers and brushes. The implements are fitted to the mainframe and can be independently adjusted to achieve the desired effect. Compact, robust, versatile and with the ability to carry out up to four operations simultaneously - the Quadraplay makes life a lot easier for many groundspersons.

1.2m Multitiner

Simple design with low maintenance, the 1.2m Multitiner is a drum type tractor mounted aerator for use on fine turf surfaces and sports fields and is well suited to performing a range of various aeration methods such as solid, chisel and hollow tining. Fast and effective, this aerator has a maximum depth of 100mm and will leave minimal surface disturbance.

TM1000

The SISIS Rotorake TM1000 is a tractor-mounted scarifier and linear aerator and is unrivalled when it comes to removing and controlling thatch. It includes a collector box and floating unit to follow ground contours and its contra-rotating reel throws debris forward ensuring a clean, consistent groove resulting in an excellent finish. The TM1000 also features interchangeable blades and a quick, simple depth setting without tools.

SISIS’ experienced and knowledgeable members of staff will also be on hand throughout the two days to offer valuable advice about turf maintenance programmes.

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact SISIS on 01332 824 777 or visit www.sisis.com

Dennis Mowers is continuing its long-standing tradition of being at every SALTEX since the show was founded and will be showcasing a wide range of leading battery-powered equipment on stand E070.

SALTEX visitors can expect to see the following line-up of products on the Dennis Mowers stand:

ES-510

This new mower is based on the Dennis FT510, with a choice of 12 interchangeable cassettes, the ES-510 is capable of scarifying down to -10mm. Ideal for fine turf it has the power to cut 4-5 bowling greens or approximately 10km on a single charge.

The current FT cassettes will also fit the ES-510.

ES-860

Users of the Dennis G860 cylinder mower will no doubt see familiarities in the new ES-860. This 34” battery powered turf management system delivers maximum versatility and the range of 13 interchangeable cassette options provide a solution to many day-to-day maintenance tasks. The power of the battery system ensures the machine is capable of cutting at least 3-4 pitches on a single charge or verticutting a full pitch without anxiety. Furthermore, current G860 cassettes will also fit the ES-860.

ES-36

The ES-36 provides a perfect finish every time and capable of cutting 2-3 pitches on a single charge. The powerful battery system allows the addition of a trailer seat to be attached and still achieve a minimum of 20km of cutting. A uniquely developed micro adjuster makes it very easy to set the bottom blade to cylinder.

ES-34R

The ES-34R rotary mower has twin contra rotating blades with the height of cut controlled by an easy to use ‘click’ system. Suction and blade speed can be adapted to meet the most challenging collection conditions. The mower is also available with optional front wheels, smooth or wiele roller, and has excellent sight lines.

ES-22 Ultra

Users of the Dennis Razor Ultra will be familiar with this machine, which features an ultra-short wheelbase for undulating surfaces. Using a 7 or 11 bladed cutting cylinder and groomer reel, this 560mm (22”) battery mower produces a quality of cut which provides an ultra-fine finish on bowling greens, golf greens and tees, and cricket pitches.

ES-26

Easy to use, superb balance, control, and easy pull back for accurate alignment of next run are just some of the features of the ES-26. With a 26” cutting width, this mower is available with a standard front roller for maintaining fine turf sports surfaces such as golf greens and tees, or with the larger front roller for maintaining ornamental lawns and gardens.

The E-Series features a robust LCD keypad screen which provides the operator with a multitude of information options including speed, clip rate, service checks, lifetime running reports and battery information. The mowers take just 2-3 hours for an ultra-fast full battery recharge.

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

Visitors to SALTEX 2023 can expect to see a range of Syn-Pro by SISIS products on stand E070 at the event which takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, on 1 and 2 November.

Syn-Pro by SISIS is a range of synthetic turf maintenance equipment, ideal for sand-dressed, sand-filled, irrigated and rubber crumb 3G/4G surfaces. They are used around the world for routine and aggressive brushing, grooming, decompaction, infill distribution and debris collection of synthetic playing surfaces.

Here is a snapshot of some of the Syn-Pro products that will be on the stand.

Osca3

The Osca is a tractor mounted powered oscillating brush with a 1.9 meter working width and is equally effective when used on synthetic turf with sand or rubber infill. The two oscillating brushes stand the carpet fibres up and redistributes the infill evenly, minimising compaction on the surface and improving its performance - giving consistent playing characteristics while preventing pile damage caused by reduced infill levels.

SSS1000 sweeper

The SISIS SSS1000 is a towed sweeper which can be pulled by any vehicle. There are no tools required for the adjustment of the brush or the angle of the draw bar and to make storage easy the draw bar lifts to an upright position. With an aluminium hopper with stainless steel mesh, any infill that is collected when using the machine is returned back down to the surface leaving it free from contamination of debris.

Twinplay with Flexicomb and Brush

The SISIS Twinplay single pass maintenance system is perfect for busy groundspersons as it incorporates a mounted frame for two implements such as grooming rakes and brushes. The implements are fitted to the mainframe in any order and can be independently adjusted to achieve the desired effect. Compact, robust and versatile - the Twinplay makes life a lot easier for many groundspersons.

A popular combination for the Twinplay is the Flexicomb and Brush. The Flexicomb ensures even distribution of infill materials and lifts the pile. The adjustable setting ensures the effect of a rake, but with the softness of a brush, reducing the risk of damage to the fibres. The bristle sections are replaceable and the Flexicomb is designed for a long working life with minimal maintenance. For greater results, users can attach the Brush with the Flexicomb which helps to even out the rubber crumb.

The Syn-Pro SISIS staff will be available throughout the two days to answer any synthetic pitch maintenance queries visitors may have.

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Syn-Pro by SISIS on 01332 824 777 or visit www.synprobysisis.com

Lloyds Mowers will be showcasing its highly regarded Paladin cylinder mower along with the trailed Leda standard and Giant gang mowers at SALTEX 2023.

The Lloyds Paladin is one of the very best fine turf pedestrian mowers available and is a fine example of classic British engineering. Available in 21” and 24” width of cut, the Paladin, Paladin Dual and Paladin TG have a choice of various bladed cutting cylinders, ranging from 5,9 or 11, single or dual adjusters and a turf groomer. Lightweight, easy to manoeuvre with an ultra-short wheelbase, the Paladin excels when cutting cricket wickets and squares, bowling greens, golf greens and tees and it is also ideal for maintaining fine lawns.

SALTEX visitors can also expect to see the renowned Leda standard and Giant gang mowers from Lloyds, which are used extensively for wide area mowing. The Leda standard gang mower maintains fine sports surfaces such as sports fields and cricket outfields while the Giant gang mower is ideal for maintaining semi rough and amenity spaces.

The cutting units have a superb through flow of grass and leave a high-quality finish. Both models are available with pneumatic or cast wheels and have various multi cylinder options with a choice of 4, 6 or 9 cutting blades.

Featuring a simple and robust build quality, these sharp, well-set gang mowers will perform in dry or wet conditions.

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Lloyds Mowers on 01332 824 777 or visit www.lloyds-mowers.com.

It was a year ago at SALTEX 2022 when the announcement was made which saw the Hunter Grinders and Lloyds Mowers brands become divisions within the Howardson Group alongside the Dennis and SISIS ranges. A year on and Hunter Grinders is returning to SALTEX where visitors will be able to see a range of the company’s leading grinding machinery.

 The Jupiter ATI series 6 flagship model will be of particular interest to attendees. It is a fully automatic grinder which combines the accuracy of full relief grinding, full spin grinding and also relief and spin grinding, with the ability to grind bottom blades, in one machine. Further benefits include:

• Fully programmable, with automatic traverse, indexing and infeed, returning cylinders and bottom blades back to manufacturers specification.
• Will grind up to 42-inch cylinders and bottom blades out of situ.
• No need to change grinding wheels between spin and relief modes.
• The Jupiter ATI series 6 will achieve the highest standard of accuracy automatically.
• It absorbs shock, vibration, and
• The grinder converts to a precision bottom blade grinder in under a minute.
• Variable cylinder speeds in spin mode for increased operator control.
• Automatic docking mode for the grinding head, should you wish to stop the machine mid-operation, again giving the operator greater control and flexibility over the grinding process.
• A countdown to indicate the number of cycles completed on full spin grinding allows the operator to take that coffee break without losing sequence.

The Amazon, a dedicated bottom blade grinder which grinds top and front of the blade at the same time and is fully automatic with full guarding, will also be on display.

Visitors to SALTEX 2023 can find Hunter Grinders on stand E071.

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Hunter Grinders on 01332 824 777 or visit www.huntergrinders.com

Visitors to the Mansfield Sand stand (E150) at SALTEX can expect to see a wide range of sand-based products that are vital to the overall health and performance of a sports pitch.

Mansfield Sand has pioneered the development and production of premium silica sand-based products for over 170 years. The company provides a wide range of innovative products for sports, landscaping, and equestrian uses. These include stadium and training ground facilities; championship golf courses and world class show jumping arenas.

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

Reinforced Rootzone

A range of Reinforced Rootzones developed to obtain greater use from natural turf surfaces whilst maintaining the high standards demanded by today’s sports industry and meeting the expectations of ground staff at all levels. Mansfield Sand’s reinforcement technology provides stability and durability to all sand dominated Rootzones allowing the pitch to remain free draining and consistent over the whole surface.

Products include Fibre Reinforced Rootzone – reinforced with polypropylene fibres; Fibrelastic Rootzone – reinforced with polypropylene fibres and flexible Elastane fibres and Fibresand – particularly advantageous when grass cover has been reduced due to heavy usage and wear during the winter period.

Sand Soil Rootzones

Mansfield Sand understands exactly what is needed to achieve the surface that turf managers require week-in-week-out and that is why their rootzones contain only the best quality materials to meet that demand. For renovation or construction, the company’s superior rootzone blend Mansil 40 Silica Sand with a quality screened topsoil, guarantees the perfect start.

Sand Compost Rootzones

A range of premium quality sand organic material blends which are perfect for creating a rootzone where an organic rich material is required within the profile, aiding in the retention of nutrients whilst providing increased drought resistance.

Top Dressing

Produced for the fine turf market, Mansfield Sand’s Soil Top Dressing is a manufactured homogenous product made from their own premium silica sands combined with top quality soils. All passed through a sterilising unit, over a 3mm screen to produce an easy to spread, stone and pebble free dressing. Mansfield Sand can also produce bespoke dressing blends and combine soil amendments into any product.

Mansil Silica Sand Sports Range

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

For more information visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk

Chris Jordan, Head Groundsman at Belper Town Football Club in Derbyshire, believes that the SISIS Quadraplay helps him to maintain the pitch after high usage on at the Raygar Stadium.

Chris has been working for Belper Town FC for just over a year and he says that he jumped at the chance of helping his local club. In addition to his role at Belper Town FC he also carries out a lot of other grounds maintenance work for the local council including four other football pitches. However, the pitch at the Raygar Stadium is by far the most used pitch he tends to.

“We had over 70 games on the pitch last season, and you never know what you are going to turn up to after a game,” said Chris. “The ground was very bumpy when I first arrived and so the playing surface was the first thing I wanted to focus on.”

With the tool shed containing just a drag mat and a compact tractor, it is fair to say that it was somewhat empty on his first day. As a result, the club quickly applied for and received an FA grant, and Chris was left to choose which equipment he wanted. The SISIS Quadraplay was top of his list:

“I researched the Quadraplay and I’ve seen them in the press a lot,” said Chris. “There was nothing but good reports about them so I thought it would be ideal for us.”

The SISIS Quadraplay multiple-purpose, single-pass maintenance incorporates a mounted frame for up to four implements such as grooming rakes, spikers, slitters, rollers, and brushes. The implements can be fitted to the mainframe in any order and can be independently adjusted to achieve the desired effect. compact, robust, versatile and with the ability to carry out up to four operations simultaneously the Quadraplay makes life a lot easier for many groundspersons.

“Time isn’t always on my side, and the Quadraplay allows me to carry out essential maintenance tasks quickly,” said Chris. “More importantly it enables me to put right all the damage which has been done following high usage.

“After a game I will often see how bad the pitch is. Sometimes it just needs a light roll and a brush, or sometimes we wind the roller right down to put the divots back. Other times it will need a good rake.

“The Quadraplay allows you to alter settings easily to suit the task at hand,” continued Chris. “You can put all four implements to play, or you could just use one of them - the versatility of it is incredible.”

“It's also so strong, robust, and simple to use. I can get volunteers to drive it as well, which does help me a lot. Once it is setup, anybody can use it.”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact SISIS on 01332 824 777 or visit www.sisis.com

Roger Neale, Head of Grounds and Gardens at King’s Hall School in Somerset, has claimed that his new Dennis ES-860 battery-powered mower has been “unbelievable.”

Roger was a greenkeeper for 22 years before landing the position of Head of Grounds and Gardens at Kings Hall School - an independent school for boys and girls aged from 2 to 13.

He is currently working towards a ten-year replacement machinery plan, and explained how a new mower for the cricket square was of the utmost importance.

“The previous mower we were using was old, so the time had come to replace it. We had conversations with the Operations Manager as the school are very keen on enhancing its green credentials. We are doing all we can to be environmentally friendly, so we decided to explore the possibility of battery-powered mowers.

“There were a few different brands we looked at; some were good while others had issues but the Dennis ES-860 stood out. Dennis is a British company with lots of great history and quite frankly their mowers are everywhere.”

The Dennis ES-860 is a 34” battery powered turf management system which delivers maximum versatility and has a range of 13 interchangeable cassette options to provide a solution for many day-to-day maintenance tasks such as cutting, scarifying, brushing and verticutting.

The aim with the Dennis E-Series is to help professionals meet sustainability and environmental initiatives, reduce carbon footprint emissions, running costs and noise without any range anxiety.

After working with petrol machinery throughout his entire career, Roger was somewhat sceptical about the performance of a battery-powered mower but admitted that the Dennis ES-860 quickly changed his opinion.

“It is unbelievable,” said Roger. “I need not have worried about the battery running out too quickly. In fact, we can double cut our squares and the percentage of the battery afterwards will be 98%. Plus, with it being a smart charger, you can top the battery up in no time at all if we ever need to.

“Another huge benefit of the mower is just how quiet it is. I can hear the birds singing while I’m mowing now. We no longer must be mindful of disrupting classes, exams, or assemblies and no one comes to ask us to stop what we are doing. For a small team this is great because we are no longer limited to specific mowing times.”

The Dennis ES-860 was designed following the concept of the Dennis G860 petrol-based cylinder mower and many customers like the fact that traditional G860 cassettes will fit the ES-860. Roger is no exception.

“We have very close links with King's College, Taunton, which is on a separate site about three miles away, and the grounds team there have a Dennis G860,” he said.  “This is really helpful because we often borrow cassettes from them. I’ve used the brush and the verticutter. In the case of verticutting, I like how you can increase the cassette speed but slow the walking speed down which helps to take out more material.

“I’ve not got one bad word to say about the Dennis ES-860.”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

Jo Desborough, Head Gardener for The Bedford Estates, believes that a range of Pellenc battery-powered equipment is proving to be powerful, reliable, and extremely comfortable to work with.

The Bedford Estates is the largest private landowner in the Bloomsbury area of London and manages a varied portfolio of properties. These range from office and educational premises, hotels, restaurants, and retail premises to residential properties, lock up garages and formal garden squares.

Jo, who oversees The Bedford Estates landscaping team, provided some reasons behind choosing to go down the battery-powered route.

“We've chosen battery-powered products for nearly all our major maintenance equipment because it's more sustainable. It's easier for us to use batteries and recharge than it is to go and get petrol and all the associated issues with keeping fuel storage. They don't smell, there are no fumes, which is another important issue in the city, and then there is the noise aspect because we have a lot of residents that we don’t want to disturb with loud machinery.

For all these reasons, we chose Pellenc.”

Over recent years, Pellenc has gained market recognition by offering a unique range of ‘zero emission’ battery-powered tools, thanks to the development of Lithium-ion ultra-high-performance batteries.

The extensive Pellenc product range features an impressive portfolio – from chainsaws, pole saws and hedge cutters to grass strimmers, brushcutters, blowers and mowers; many of which have been helping the team at The Bedford Estates, as Jo explained.

“We've tried other brands before Pellenc, but we have found that Pellenc’s interchangeable batteries makes it easy for us to switch between different products. It's more efficient for us to use an entire brand across the series.

“The batteries last an incredibly long time, all day in fact, and we don’t have to continually charge them. There certainly aren’t any issues in power; the lawnmowers handle whatever we throw at them, the leaf-blowers are equal to petrol ones, and I like the fact that you’ve got different levels so you can choose to be gentle or very powerful. The strimmers cut through all the things you might want them to and the same goes for the hedge cutters. Having the battery on your back, as opposed to a fuel tank attached to the equipment is a huge advantage. It’s made lighter work for us, that’s for sure.”

Jo also added that the support she has received from her Etesia dealer, RT Machinery, has been invaluable.

“They have always supplied us with our machinery and have helped us to make the right decisions for various bits of equipment that we use. They offer a very good after sales service and are always answering any queries that we have. They have been invaluable in us maintaining our machinery.”

You can view a video of Pellenc at The Bedford Estates by visiting https://youtu.be/9Ch6q0Rc7BA

Pellenc is distributed exclusively in the UK by Etesia UK.

For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit www.etesia.co.uk/pellenc

Jamie Foyster, owner of Sportsturf Management, has revealed that he has been sleeping that little bit easier since using MM50 grass seed.

Jamie began maintaining cricket pitches at the age of fifteen and has done so his whole life. In the early years it started as a hobby but in 2012 he acquired Sportsturf Management and has worked full-time on cricket pitches ever since.

Sportsturf Management currently provides all year-round pitch management for four clubs as well as carrying out end of season renovations for approximately twelve more. When Jamie is not providing first class management, installation, and repair of cricket pitches, he somehow finds time to be the Chairman of the Essex County Groundsman Association.

Jamie first turned to MM50 ten years ago after trialling various brands of seed. It was the seed which impressed him the most and he has used it ever since.

MM50 possesses exceptional shoot density along with tolerance to close mowing making it particularly suitable for cricket squares. This superior mix contains the perennial ryegrass cultivars, Singapore, Venice, Alison and Malibu, which are renowned for providing a great sward for cricket use. Singapore is a fantastic cultivar for cricket partly due to its ability to recover from play and wear very quickly meaning that wickets can be back in play quicker after use.

“We use MM50 across all of the grounds we look after,” said Jamie. “For the end of season work we will generally overseed every square - and then during the season, there might be a few ends which need topping up a little bit just to thicken them out. We might also use it later in the season to get the grass back in the foot holes to repair them and level them off.

“In terms of the grass plant the MM50 produces, you get very good root depth and density, which gives it its brilliant wear tolerance. I have one pitch where they had six days of cricket and between the five-foot markers, the important bit in the middle of the pitch, it was still good grass coverage. This shows you how strong the plant is and that's what you want, because sometimes the weather dictates that you must use a pitch more than you want to.”

MM50 is also treated with HEADSTART® GOLD – a unique seaweed-based seed treatment which helps to ensure rapid and even germination. This tried and tested grass seed treatment helps the seed get off to the best possible start – making it ideal to use in the less than favourable conditions that can sometimes be found on cricket pitches during renovations.

“When there is rain, I can get MM seed up to about an inch within a week and that is without a germination sheet or a pre-seed fertiliser,” continued Jamie. “MM50 germinates really quickly, and you don't have any sleepless nights.

“We also get great customer service which helps, and Matt Gresty (MM Sales and Brand Manager) is so down to earth. I'm a small customer that doesn’t compare with some of the massive sites that use MM seed, but Matt often calls me to find out how everything is going and is always quick to offer his advice.”

For further information, please contact MM Sports Seed on 01386 791102 or visit the company's website www.mm-seeds.co.uk.

ICL is delighted to announce the appointment of Ryan Beck as the new Technical Area Sales Manager, covering Scotland.

Ryan brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise, having spent several years in the turf industry, making him a valuable addition to the ICL team.

Ryan's journey in the turf industry began at Broomieknowe Golf Club, where he worked as a greenkeeper. He then joined The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers (Muirfield). Ryan's career progressed to the position of Head Greenkeeper at Melville Golf Club.

Drawing from his vast experience as a greenkeeper, Ryan later transitioned to the trade side of the industry with Fleet Line Markers and then Aitkens.

In his new role as the Technical Area Sales Manager for Scotland, Ryan will be responsible for overseeing sales activities, building and maintaining relationships with clients, and providing expert guidance on ICL's range of innovative turf solutions.

"I am excited to be joining such a high-profile company and market leader in ICL," Ryan expressed. "I look forward to meeting customers and relish the opportunities that this role offers."

ICL, with its commitment to excellence and cutting-edge turf solutions, is confident that Ryan's appointment will further strengthen its presence in Scotland and reinforce its position as a market leader in the turf industry.

For more information, please visit www.icl-growingsolutions.uk

Matthew Newman, Grounds and Sports Turf Manager at Hartpury University and College, in Gloucester, believes that MM40 from Mansfield Sand plays an integral role in his renovation work.

Hartpury University and College are specialist education providers in agriculture, animal, equine, sport, and veterinary nursing, offering world-class degrees and facilities to over 4,500 students from over 60 countries.

Matthew himself was once a student at Hartpury. Fast forward two decades and he now oversees a team of thirteen members of staff at the college where he became qualified.

Matthew and his team have been carrying out their own renovations for three years after previously employing contractors to do the work. When it comes to sand for renovations, he uses MM40 Sport from Mansfield Sand. 

Mansfield Sand is a company with history and pedigree – its origins can be traced as far back to 1840. It has been a long-standing pioneer in the development and production of premium sand-based products and boasts the most up-to-date and advanced equipment currently in the industry.

From winter sports pitches, golf courses, bowling greens and all amenity turf areas – Mansfield Sand has a solution for all.

MM40 Sport is sourced directly from the Two Oaks Quarry in Mansfield where the company produces its renowned Mansil range of Silica Sands. MM40 is a medium sand which is predominantly used in the construction and maintenance of a wide range of sports surfaces.

“We mainly use the MM40 for renovations,” said Matthew. “We use two tonnes of it on the PGA spec Mackenzie golf green; so, we vertidrain it and then we will top dress with MM40.

“We use ninety tonnes of if on the football pitches. This year we are taking the pitches down to 10mm. We then take all the debris off, scarify in three directions, and then collect any debris again so we have massively opened up the pores by now and got rid of all the thatch. We then will fertilise, top dress with the MM40 sand and then apply the seed.”

Matthew continued to explain exactly why a good quality sand is so important.

“We are predominantly on heavy clay, so in the winter it is holding moisture, and, in the summer, you can’t get enough moisture into it. The reason for the sand is to try and change that soil profile and give the grass something to reach into. So, we are trying to break that pan of clay up and inject sand into it.

“It’s a theory as opposed to digging up the entire pitch and starting again, but we are already seeing the MM40 improve drainage and rooting.”

For more information visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk

It has been confirmed that BIGGA (The British and International Golf Greenkeepers' Association) CPD credits are now available for attending the education programme at GroundsFest.

The announcement comes due to the high demand of greenkeepers and course managers that are planning on attending GroundsFest which takes place at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire on 20 and 21 September.

BIGGA members can claim one education CPD credit for each session they attend and can do so by entering the details on to their CPD account. All members are eligible to join the CPD programme and are automatically signed up to the programme when they join BIGGA.

The BIGGA CPD programme has several benefits including opportunities for career advancement, personal development, proficiency, confidence, engagement with the wider industry, networking, recognition, quality standard, and to adapt outdated skills.

There will be plenty of seminars on offer at GroundsFest including topics such as: the changing face of chemicals and the effect this will have on the industry; Microdochium disease management and winter fertiliser recovery; data and water testing; the advantages of using apprenticeships in a staffing shortage; how networking and volunteering are two great ways to advance a career, plus many more.

The outdoor practical timetable will also be of interest to the golf sector and will feature free hands-on, training sessions on pedestrian mowers, ride-on mowers, handheld machinery, and the calibration and use of knapsack sprayers and boom sprayers.

Commenting on BIGGA CPD credits being available at GroundsFest, Event Director Christopher Bassett said: “We are delighted to see so many greenkeepers and course managers register to attend GroundsFest, and it is for this reason that we wanted to be able to offer BIGGA CPD credits to them. I’d like to say a big thank you to BIGGA for their co-operation in making this possible.”

For more information, please visit www.groundsfest.com

Miles Properjohn, Head Groundsman at Black Bears Polo Club, has been relying on ICL’s Greenheaven cultivar in an attempt to increase the percentage of tall fescue in the one of the world’s most renowned polo pitches.

Lower Bolney Farm in Oxfordshire, home of Black Bears Polo Club, has deservedly gained a reputation for having some of the best facilities in the UK. The five polo grounds are kept in immaculate condition by a dedicated team of grounds staff. Pitch 5 in particular is the talk of the polo community and those that have been fortunate enough to play on it have declared it to be the “best field in the UK – if not the world”.

The grounds team is led by Head Groundsman Miles Properjohn, a long-term employee who has honed his skills at Black Bears, and he explained the reasoning behind using ICL’s Greenheaven. 

“The pitch was originally sown with tall fescue, and we have since used other cultivars for a few seasons,” he said. “We are now keen to build back the percentage of tall fescue as we see its benefit in providing a hard wearing, low input, and great playing surface for polo. The polo schedule is very busy here with high goal being played and the players have incredibly high expectations of how the pitch should play. 

“Whenever choosing a seed we always refer to the BSPB/STRI guide and we also do our own plot trial of any new seed to assess its germination speed and visual characteristics. Greenheaven was no exception.”

Greenheaven, from ICL, is a European-bred tall fescue which presents a midgreen compact growth habit. A fine leaf texture combined with excellent disease tolerance makes Greenheaven a very visually appealing variety.

Miles and the team sowed Greenheaven in September 2022 as part of a post season renovation: “Germination and development were very good after overseeding, and we found Greenheaven to be a finer more attractive cultivar than other versions,” he said.

“The tall fescue has been extremely hard wearing under a high level of wear from all the matches. It has a dense root structure and has great stability in the turf.”

Greenheaven also features excellent drought tolerance, something which Miles believes is essential. “When making a decision on species/cultivars, drought tolerance is of high importance. The irrigation is used to provide the correct firmness and traction for the ponies and players, so irrigation is for playability more than plant health. Irrigation is time consuming so the sward will have periods of no irrigation therefore the pitch needs to have excellent drought tolerance. In the hot/dry summers of 2018 and 2021 it was the only thing that was thriving. Water security and responsible water usage will be a factor for the future, so affects the decision-making process.”

Commenting on the use of Greenheaven at Black Bears Polo Club, ICL’s Martyn Parrish, said: “It’s been very much a collaborative effort learning from each other along the way, listening to Miles’ unique needs and requirements to produce a top polo pitch and providing the correct product advice and solutions to meet those needs.”

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-growing solutions.uk or www.icl-growingsolutions.ie if you are in Ireland.

Organisers of GroundsFest have revealed more details about the festival which is taking place at the event.

The festival, which starts at 5pm on the first day of the event (20 September), will feature live music and street food stalls and will allow exhibitors and visitors to unwind, have fun and continue to network.

The live music line-up is being headlined by Supersonic Queen – the UK’s most authentic Queen tribute band. Performing regularly in UK and International theatres and festivals, Supersonic Queen have been touring for over a decade and are known for their uniquely dynamic recreation of Queen's iconic live performances.

DJ Mikey B is a first choice DJ for many high-profile events throughout Birmingham, Bristol and London and has entertained at various professional football clubs.

Dem, a solo singer/guitarist, will also be taking to the stage as well as some other well-known local bands and artists including Jazzcat, Kitty Bella and Toby Marriott.

There will be a fabulous array of street food stalls with various options such as wood fired pizza, Greek gyros, hog roast, a noodle bar, tacos, curry, crepes, ice cream, donuts, and many more. A range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will be available.

The festival finishes at 10pm and FREE shuttle buses will be running regularly throughout the evening to take attendees back to their accommodation in the nearby towns of Coventry, Warwick, and Leamington Spa. The shuttle buses will also be available the morning after on 21 September for attendees to return to GroundsFest.

Commenting on the festival at GroundsFest, Marketing Director Chris Bennett, said:

“At GroundsFest we want to keep exhibitors and visitors together for a longer period of time. Attendees will be coming to the event to do business, to network, and to learn, and that is why the festival will start once GroundsFest finishes. The festival will be held in a separate area to all the exhibitor stands meaning that no machinery or equipment will be accessible while the festival is on.

“The whole reason we decided to include the festival within GroundsFest was because of the research we conducted. An overwhelming number of people within the industry felt that a trade show would benefit from something which would allow more networking opportunities.

With some great live music and a selection of good food, we’re hoping that the festival will bring the industry together for a memorable evening.”

Event Director Christopher Bassett answers more festival questions here.

For more information, please visit www.groundsfest.com

According to Jo Desborough, Head Gardener for The Bedford Estates, the Etesia ET Lander is a luxury electric utility vehicle which can be driven from site to site through the busy streets of London without worrying about the battery life.

The Bedford Estates has owned, developed and cared for much of Bloomsbury, London since 1669. The Estate comprises some 200 properties containing over 825,000 square feet of office and educational accommodation, some 100,000 square feet of retail space, over 1,000 hotel bedrooms and more than 550 flats.

It also includes two public garden squares, Russell Square and Bloomsbury Square and several private garden areas. These include Bedford Square, the only intact Georgian garden square in London.

The location of these gardens was a reason for choosing the ET Lander according to Jo.

“We chose the Etesia ET Lander because it's a vehicle that's easier to drive on the roads.

We have to go between our gardens and in order to do that, there are busy London roads in between, so having a cab that's fully enclosed helps us with the traffic. It's more comfortable to ride in and the features that it offers are perfect for what we need.”

100% electric, spacious, well-equipped and user-friendly, the ET Lander is built on a robust chassis and has an array of options including a three-way tipper bed with dual control from the fully fitted two-seater cab or by remote control when outside the vehicle. With a length of just 3.72 meters, the ET Lander is very compact. Thanks to the power steering, the short turning radius of 4.40 meters and 360 ° visibility, it goes anywhere. The autonomy of the vehicle lasts for a full working day – without noise pollution, can transport loads of up to 940kgs and can also tow up to 750kgs.

The latest models are fully N1 homologation compliant meaning that the ET Landers are fully road legal along with being able to be used off road. They also feature lithium-ion batteries which ensures that the range of the ET Lander extends to 100km and have a charger system compatible with a standard type 2EV car charger.

The battery-life on the ET Lander certainly doesn’t concern Jo and she also revealed that the team wouldn’t be without it.

“We've had the ET Lander since January, so we've been running it around our gardens for the last six months or so. The battery life has been really good, and we hardly ever have to charge it, so that's very impressive. We use it to do lots of short journeys and you might expect that the batteries would run out maybe slightly quicker, but in fact, we find that they last several weeks for us.

“We often use the ET Lander for collecting our tonne bags to pick up and bring back to our main head office where we have our green waste storage, and also for taking all our equipment over to the gardens.

“Using the ET Lander has made life a lot easier going between the gardens and driving on the roads. It's very comfortable in the cab, very manoeuvrable and easy to drive. It also has windscreen wipers and having a radio is the icing on the cake.

“It has a very luxury feel to it and it feels more like driving a car rather than garden equipment.”

Bloombury Estates purchased the ET Lander through Etesia dealer RT Machinery and Jo was quick to praise the service she has received to date.

“RT Machinery were very helpful throughout the whole process. Scott Reynolds (Area Sales Manager) came and delivered the ET Lander and ran through all of the directions and showed us how to use it, which was clear and comprehensive.

“They also come and do our servicing, which they do on a regular basis. They get the equipment back to us as soon as they can and generally provide a really good service and are always available when we need them.”

You can view a video of the ET Lander with The Bedford Estates by visiting https://youtu.be/cbxnh6nF9p8

For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit the dedicated Etesia ET Lander website www.etlander.co.uk

A mix of indoor seminars and outdoor practical sessions

With five seminar theatres, outdoor practical sessions, and an abundance of land-based education providers in attendance, GroundsFest is set to have the largest display of educational opportunities ever seen at a groundscare event.

GroundsFest’s all-encompassing education programme has been designed for all sectors of the groundscare and landscaping industry and will feature a mix of indoor seminars and outdoor practical sessions.

In addition to the seminars, there will also be an education area featuring many of the UK’s leading land-based colleges. BAGMA (British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association) will be offering advice about its specific industry training courses, and We Are Land-Based Engineering by the AEA have a stand to provide information on a career in land-based engineering.

The free-to-attend, CPD accredited education programme is set to be a major attraction at the event which takes place on 20 and 21 September at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.

The programme will provide grounds and open space practitioners across all disciplines – volunteer as well as professional, with an abundance of knowledge-gathering sessions. The indoor sessions will take place in five purpose-built seminar theatres while practical training sessions will be held in the outdoor areas. There is also a theatre dedicated to bowling green maintenance which is being organised by Bowls England and is sponsored by Dennis and SISIS.

In the indoor seminar theatres Martin Sampson from Grounds Training will be starting procedures by delivering an informative session for grounds managers, bursars, club managers and committee chairs. Martin will be focussing on workplace training, current legislation, and tips on creating a skilled workforce.

Lantra, sponsors of Seminar Theatre 2, will be offering tips on how to embrace technology across the landscaping sector; Bradley Tennant (International Greenkeepers for Hire) and Victoria Fiander (Wiltshire College) will be discussing the advantages of using apprenticeships in a staffing shortage, and how networking and volunteering are two great ways to advance a career in the sports turf industry.

Peter Corbett (Origin Amenity Solutions) will be presenting about the changing face of chemicals and the effect this will have on the industry, while Geoff Fenn (Origin Amenity Solutions) will discuss Microdochium disease management and winter fertiliser recovery.

Adam Witchell (The Nurture Landscapes Group/Harlequins Rugby) is explaining how data and water testing are key to his operations; Emma Gayler (EGO) will be presenting

Challenge 2025 - a campaign which calls for batteries to become the principal power source for outdoor power equipment by 2025; Dr Amanda Gummer, on behalf of the API (Association of Play Industries), is discussing how playgrounds are at the heart of communities; turf professional Ed Ramsden will be delivering a vitally important seminar which focusses on mental health; DLF will be exploring several environmental solutions for winter pitches and the Amenity Forum and the STRI (Sports Turf Research Institute) will also be having a presence within the education programme.

Carried out by Grounds Training, the outdoor practical timetable will feature free hands-on, training sessions on a range of groundscare topics including line marking, pedestrian mowers, ride-on mowers, handheld machinery, and the calibration and use of knapsack sprayers and boom sprayers. The sessions will be delivered by a fantastic team of Lantra approved instructors which includes Keith Kent, Martin Sampson, Chris Parry, and Steve Potter.

In the Landscape Zone, there will be two theatres. In the Design Theatre speakers include multi-award-winning garden designers and architects such as Paul Hervey-Brookes, Peter Donegan, Laura Ashton-Phillips, Naomi Ferrett-Cohen and Zoe Claymore plus many more.

In the Landscape Theatre Wayne Grills from BALI (British Association of Landscape Industries) will be leading an informative panel debate; Rob Woodhouse (Solent Garden Services Ltd) and Mark Youde (Urban Landscape Design) are exploring the role of company culture in business; Tim O'Hare (Tim O'Hare Associates) is taking to the stage to discuss soil science; Paul Hadley (Paul Hadley Design) is delivering a seminar entitled Wildflowers in Landscaping and the Young People in Horticulture Association are participating in a debate about the possibility of rebranding horticulture.

All sessions are free to attend.

Register for your free ticket at www.groundsfest.com.   

Matthew Newman, Grounds and Sports Turf Manager at Hartpury University and Hartpury College in Gloucester, claims that his fleet of Dennis G860 mowers are reliable, robust, and ergonomically excellent.

Matthew was once a student at Hartpury University and College completing a National Diploma in Horticulture before being offered a position on the grounds team in 2002. He now oversees three divisions which consists of a grounds team, a sports turf team, and a construction team.

The eight sports pitches, which are split equally between rugby and football, require a lot of attention as Matthew explained.

“They are arguably the most demanding surfaces because of the amount they are used,” he said. “During the week we find ourselves preparing the pitches for university and college teams, which still must be high spec because they are in the top divisions, but then it gets to the weekend, and we have premiership fixtures for the women’s teams or championship rugby games for men. In these situations, we are very much aware that we are preparing pitches for the paying public and that the games will be streamed online around the world for all to see. It is a lot of work, and we need reliable machinery.”

It is for this reason that Matthew decided to upgrade his previous cylinder mowers to four Dennis G860’s.  

Relied upon at world class stadia and major tournaments, the Dennis G860 is one of the most renowned cylinder mowers in the grounds management industry. Lightweight at just 166kg it is incredibly easy to manoeuvre and comfortable to operate. The handlebar console houses the controls for the throttle, parking brake, roller drive and cutting cylinder drive.

The mower features a large diameter front roller with an adjustable scraper which has been designed for a precise height of cut control, giving an excellent finish on every occasion. The Dennis G860 also features an interchangeable cassette system to assist with a wide range of tasks such as including scarifying, verticutting, brushing, spiking, and slitting.

“Once we trialled the Dennis G860’s, we just had to have them,” continued Matthew. “They are lot more robust, more sturdy, easier to use and more manageable. For me the usability is one of its best features – they are ergonomically excellent, and everything is in the right place in terms of controls. It does a brilliant job every time and it isn’t complicated. I think there are quite a few machines out there that are perhaps over engineered. Dennis keeps it simple and straight to the point.

 “The G860’s present the pitch brilliantly and they provide a more defined stripe than other mowers we have used.”

Matthew and his team use the Dennis G860’s on both the rugby and football pitches approximately three times a week. With such a busy schedule, time is of the essence and Matthew has noticed that the Dennis G860’s have helped in this respect.

“We seem to cover the same area more quickly with the Dennis G860’s. Previously we were only able to single cut and would never have enough time in the day to double cut, whereas we can do that now.

“We’ve had the Dennis G860’s for a couple of years now and nothing ever goes wrong with them. They are incredibly reliable.”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

Ian Dickson, a bowling green contractor, believes that COMPO EXPERT products have proved to be top of range without the premium price tag.

Ian originally started his career in greenkeeping but switched to bowling green maintenance ten years ago. While admitting it is a completely ‘different animal’, Ian says he quickly got an appetite for maintaining bowls greens and has done so ever since.

He explained how he first started using COMPO EXPERT products on bowls greens.

“In my greenkeeping days I used to order a lot of products from Agrovista Amenity (the exclusive national distributor of COMPO EXPERT’S turf products in the UK) and my representative was Ramsay MacGregor. I stayed in touch with Ramsay when I switched to bowls because he is very knowledgeable, and he gives valid reasons behind using products.

Ramsay is genuinely interested in a plant’s health and his advice is key to my operations.

“Ramsay came in and looked at the bowls greens I was working on. He suggested using some COMPO EXPERT products and explained how they had been getting great results on some golf courses, so I decided to give them a try.”

COMPO EXPERT believes in sustainable, integrated turf management by focusing on modern fertilisation concepts, consistent regeneration of growth and optimal support of the plant’s own physiological processes. All of which promote vitalisation, stress tolerance and root development while providing optimum turf quality.

The innovative product range includes specialty mineral and stabilized fertilisers, slow and controlled release fertilisers, water soluble and liquid fertilisers as well as biostimulants, trace elements and soil conditioners.

The first product Ian tried from the COMPO EXPERT range was Fertilis® Speed, an NPK complex fertiliser with emphasis on nitrogen for spring and summer application to promote growth and a quick green-up.

“The green where we applied the Fertilis® had a lot of bare areas and the growth has been tremendous,” said Ian. “We applied it in May and had a full 12 weeks out of it. There has been less disease, the sward is a lot thicker, and even during a big drought period the greens performed superbly.”

Ian also maintains a sand-based green which is prone to leaching. For this green he applied Floranid® Twin Eagle K – an extra fine granulated slow-release complex fertiliser of excellent solubility.

“The nutrient levels on this green are very hard to maintain. With the Twin Eagle K, you don’t get the flush of growth in the way you would from the Fertilis®. Instead, you get an even, consistent growth. I judge the consistency of it by looking at the amount of grass cuttings I take from the mower each week. We get three boxes of cuttings three times a week and that underlines how consistent the Twin Eagle K is. Again, we get excellent results.”

Ian claims that he has been very impressed with the longevity of the products and believes that there isn’t much on the market that can beat COMPO EXPERT products in terms of performance and price.

“A lot of other fertilisers just don’t have the longevity that these do,” he said. “We were using a cheaper fertiliser in the past and I was applying twice as much product, so it ended up costing me more.

“The COMPO EXPERT products are top the range, but you don’t pay top of the range prices for them. They are very fairly priced compared to their competitors.”

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity