fusion media europe - LJN Blog Posts - Landscape Juice Network2024-03-29T09:16:41Zhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/fusion+media+europeTrimax a Hit at German Open Dayhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/trimax-a-hit-at-german-open-day2015-05-14T14:31:51.000Z2015-05-14T14:31:51.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>Trimax Mowers proved to be of great interest to a large audience at a recent two day event held in Germany by dealer Stavermann.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314762479?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314762479?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>With a number of branches throughout Germany, Stavermann is a brand associated with quality and reliability. The company’s open days were attended by industry professionals from across Germany wanting to catch a glimpse of the newest machines on the market.</p><p>Trimax continues to gather recognition in the European markets and the company’s invitation to attend the event is testament to its ever growing presence. Held in Wallenhorst Germany, the two days saw over 500 visitors from the golf and local authorities sectors in attendance.<br/> <br/>Visitors to the Trimax stand had the chance to receive an in-depth look at the FlailDek, Snake and Striker; which proved to be extremely popular with many professionals commenting on the cut quality in particular, as well as talking to knowledgeable staff.</p><p>The Trimax FlailDek gathered interest amongst those looking for a high performance alternative to the standard factory-fitted rotary mowing attachments, whilst the Striker demonstrated why it is perfect for areas where presentation is vital. The Snake, which was launched last year, also showed why it is becoming the number one choice for those looking for an all-round top performing rotary mower.</p><p>For more information, please contact Trimax Mowing Systems on 01933 652235 or visit www.trimaxmowers.co.uk.</p><p>For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Trimax on Twitter @TrimaxMowers and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/TrimaxMowingSystems.</p></div>Everris Provide All-Round Package For Leeds United FChttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/everris-provide-all-round-package-for-leeds-united-fc2015-05-11T11:11:43.000Z2015-05-11T11:11:43.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>Leeds United FC’s head groundsman Kiel Barrett has praised <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.everris.co.uk" target="_blank">Everris</a> for providing him with an all-round package - from products to customer service, which has helped create the pristine pitch at Elland Road.</p><p>Elland Road, the home of Leeds United FC, has been the club’s only stadium since its foundation in 1919. It is a special place in West Yorkshire with an equally impressive fan base. The club has graced the likes of Don Revie, Billy Bremner, Eric Cantona and Jack Charlton and it is somewhat of a travesty that the club find themselves outside of the Premier League. One thing is for sure - the playing surface at Elland Road is certainly worthy of Premiership status.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314758484?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314758484?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>“I’ve been using products from Everris now for just over two years and you can see the improvement they have made. We have previously used other products but what I use from Everris is a lot better; they are easier to spread, I’ll get exactly what I want from them and there’s a big colour difference; you can easily tell when someone is using Everris products because they are the best pitches around,” said Kiel.</p><p>Kiel, who was once the youngest head groundsman in English football is tasked with maintaining not only the pitch at Elland Road but also the club’s training ground at Thorp Arch. As with most professional football club’s now, the training ground is built and maintained to exactly replicate the club’s main playing pitch.</p><p>To keep both premises in immaculate condition, Kiel relies upon a full Everris turf management programme which consists of a wide range of products including the likes of SierrablenPlus - a variety of granular controlled release fertilisers, Greenmaster liquid - a fast and effective way to directly give turfgrass available nutrients when needed, ProTurf granular fertilisers - renowned for delivering a healthy and consistently growing turf for up to two months and Primo Maxx - an advanced, liquid plant growth regulator.</p><p>“The programme has evolved in the last few years because it is impossible to get right straight away. For every site I think you need to find out what works best for you.</p><p>“The programme has vastly improved the presentation and the pitch is better to play on because we use the SierrablenPlus products as a base feed now. The growth doesn’t have that peaking and troughing issue anymore because it’s released in such a controlled manner. It’s not like drinking a can of red bull – it’s like eating a banana.” he said.</p><p>Kiel works in conjunction with Everris’ technical area sales manager Simon Hardcastle, to devise the tailor-made programme, and Simon believes that the secret to excellent turf is to constantly assess the programme.</p><p>“It’s not just a case of coming in at the start of the year and then designing a programme for the season. You have to review it every week to see if we can put more of a product on the turf or less, can we do that or try this; it’s finding out the best programme to help you achieve your main goals. It’s all about the right product, the right time and the right rate,” he said.<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314760874?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314760874?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-right"/></a></p><p>As well as being remarkably impressed with Everris’ products, Kiel also believes that Simon’s assistance has been invaluable.</p><p>“The relationship we’ve got with Everris is really good. I can ask Simon questions about all sorts and he is full of great advice. He’s got a lot of ideas and he’ll explain them – he genuinely cares about his customer’s pitches.</p><p>“For example, last winter we were not really achieving the desired effect. So after chatting to Simon, we put on a SierrablenPlus Stress Control at 25g per square metre, so it’s not too much nitrogen. It was perfect advice, because we didn’t want too much growth during that period of time,” said Kiel.</p><p>For further information, please contact Everris on 01473 237100 or visit <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.everris.co.uk" target="_blank">www.everris.co.uk</a></p><p>For more news and insightful views, you can follow Everris on Twitter @Everris_Turf</p></div>Two Sherriff Amenity Specialists Pass BASIS Examhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/two-sherriff-amenity-specialists-pass-basis-exam2015-05-08T14:11:06.000Z2015-05-08T14:11:06.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>Adam Hartley and David Chammings - amenity specialists for Sheriff Amenity, have successfully passed the Full BASIS Amenity Advisor Award.</p><p>Sherriff Amenity not only provide the most comprehensive range of goods and services to the UK amenity and landscape markets, but the company’s amenity specialists are also relied upon to offer advice and guidance. It is for this reason that the company ensures that its staff are all suitably qualified.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314757142?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314757142?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>The BASIS Award is the national qualification for all those advising on the use, selling or supplying of plant protection products in the amenity industry. It is designed to enhance the understanding of turfgrass management, pest, weed and disease control, environmental issues and legislation. Those who gain the certificate become members of the BASIS Professional register; and newly added to that list are Adam and David.</p><p>Adam and David, who have both been working for Sherriff Amenity for five years, prepared for the exam by spending three weeks at the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) where they were educated by STRI’s Head of Research Dr Ruth Mann and researcher Christian Spring. The training was followed by two days of exams which Adam and David passed and in doing so ensuring that Sherriff Amenity maintain their 100% pass rate for all members of staff.</p><p>Commenting on his new qualification, David said: “I am delighted to have gained this certificate. It has definitely given me more of an understanding in turf management and I think it provides customers with a greater confidence in your abilities.<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314754016?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314754016?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-right"/></a></p><p>“Everybody selling chemicals should have one but unfortunately not everyone does. A major benefit is that I am now qualified to advise my customer on their exact requirements.”</p><p>Adam was also upbeat about passing the exam:</p><p>“There was a lot of work involved so I’m really pleased to have passed the test. I’ve learnt a lot of valuable information such as the importance of understanding active ingredients and how they work within the plant. I now feel extremely confident in recommending chemicals to my clients,” he said.</p><p>Adam will now be looking forward to advising his clients on products and nutritional programmes in the areas of Dorset, Hampshire and Sussex, whilst David will be attending to the areas of Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.</p><p>For further information, please contact Sherriff Amenity on 01638 721 888 or visit www.sherriffamenity.com</p><p>For more news and insightful views, you can follow Sherriff Amenity on Twitter @SherriffAmenity</p></div>Britannia Rules with MM60 Grass Seedhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/britannia-rules-with-mm60-grass-seed2015-05-07T15:54:33.000Z2015-05-07T15:54:33.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>As one of the oldest professional football teams in the world, Stoke City FC has long standing traditions and standards to uphold. It is essential that the club has a playing surface in line with its historic reputation, which is why head groundsman Andrew Jackson has selected Limagrain UK’s MM60 grass seed.</p><p>After winning promotion to the FA Premier League in 2008, Stoke City has been a regular in the top tier of English football; and the playing surface at The Britannia is up there with the best.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314760638?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314760638?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>The MM60 grass seed is a 100% Ryegrass formula which is perfect for renovation and divot repair. Renowned for its extremely fast germination; MM60 has a high wear tolerance combined with a high disease resistance giving fantastic aesthetic qualities; something which Andrew is particularly pleased with.</p><p>“I like the fine leaf and the colour it gives is fantastic. It produces a beautiful mid-dark/green colour which has also resulted in less disease on the pitch,” he said.</p><p>It’s no wonder that a whole host of Premiership clubs have opted to use MM60. Andrew first became familiar with the product after recommendations from the head groundsmen at Arsenal, Tottenham, West Ham and Swansea, who all use this variety.</p><p>Andrew initially trialled the seed at Stoke City’s academy set-up two seasons ago. After impressive results, he made the decision to apply it to all nine pitches - which are a combination of training areas and pitches added to the pitch at The Britannia. It is a decision which Andy believes has really paid off.<br/>“The seed has had a big effect on all of our pitches. The sward density has also increased with more plants per square metre, which really helps in the recovery process after a match.</p><p>“I have found the product really good to work with from the grow-in period, due to the Headstart GOLD treatment. There is always good recovery from matches and training and recovery is really fast in the spring time,” he said.<br/>Headstart GOLD is a further development of the well-recognised Headstart treatment and has been developed using the latest scientific findings and field experience. It is a natural revolutionary grass seed treatment that ensures rapid germination and is perfect for enhancing performance on grass seed coatings for sports fields, golf courses, lawns and amenity turf.</p><p>More and more industry professionals like Andrew are turning to Limagrain due to the extensive range of agricultural and amenity seeds available. With the addition of an experienced team, all rigorously trained to identify a customer’s needs, it is easy to see why the company are spearheading the UK market. <br/> <br/>In response to whether Andy would recommend Limagrain and its products, he said: “Yes definitely; due to the excellent results we have had.”</p><p>For further information, please contact Limagrain UK on 01472 371471 or visit the company’s website www.limagrain.co.uk. You can also follow the company on Twitter: @MM_Seed</p></div>New Addition to Complete Weed Control’s Head Office Teamhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/new-addition-to-complete-weed-control-s-head-office-team2015-05-07T15:05:45.000Z2015-05-07T15:05:45.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>Complete Weed Control, the UK’s largest weed control contractor, has announced the appointment of Carrie Taylor, who will be assisting in administrative and financial operations.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314761588?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314761588?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>Carrie brings with her a number of key skills after previously working for a large insurance company where she was responsible for performing administrative tasks to ensure the smooth running of day to day tasks. As well as implementing her own projects and facilitating the insurance renewal process, Carrie also had some participation in the finance department; something which enticed her to apply for the position with Complete Weed Control.</p><p>“I’m very excited to learn and hopefully excel in new areas such as the financial role. These new skills may lead to further qualifications for the long term benefit of both myself and Complete Weed Control,” she said.</p><p>Her new role will see her assisting the accounts personnel where required and performing administration duties. With over 48 UK based franchises and a further 2 operating in the Republic of Ireland, Complete Weed Control has the largest operational force in the marketplace and the company continues to go from strength to strength. As the company grows in stature and reputation, so too does the work behind the scenes, and Carrie is relishing the opportunity of playing a part in it.</p><p>“I’m looking forward to a number of aspects, in particular the opportunity to work with a good team.</p><p>“I am motivated and enthusiastic about whatever tasks or obstacles I may encounter and I hope this will not only assist my direct team but also make the company stronger as a result.</p><p>“The company has a great reputation and I’m very much looking forward to getting stuck in to my new role and assisting not only my team but all members within the company,” she said.<br/> <br/>For more information, please contact Complete Weed Control’s National office on 01325 324 277 or visit www.completeweedcontrol.co.uk</p><p>You can also follow Complete Weed Control on Twitter @CWCLimited and view the company’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/completeweedcontrol1</p></div>West Ham Choose Dennis G860https://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/west-ham-choose-dennis-g8602015-05-06T15:08:01.000Z2015-05-06T15:08:01.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>West Ham United FC has been the surprise stand-out performers of the new Premier League campaign so far with a string of excellent opening results. Perhaps less surprising is the pitch condition at Upton Park, which is maintained by two Dennis G860 mowers.</p><p>The Dennis G860 is proving to be the number one choice for Premier League groundsmen and with the accolade of being selected as the chosen mower for two consecutive FIFA World Cups; it’s easy to see why football’s finest stadiums are turning to this machine.</p><p>Versatile, precise and comfortable: The Dennis G860 comes with an extensive range of unique features and benefits. With the interchangeable cassette system; the user has the option of fitting 11 quick changeover cassette including scarifiers, verticutters, brushes, spikers, and slitters as well as 6 or 8 bladed cutter cassettes. The versatility of it is something which West Ham’s head groundsman, Douglas Roberts, is particularly fond of.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314757687?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314757687?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>“For me, by the far, the best feature on the G860 is the fact that we can adapt the machine and use it with the different cassettes, rather than buy a multitude of different machinery,” he said.</p><p>The Desso pitch at the Boleyn Ground, which was laid in 2002, will mark an end of an era, with the club now in its last eighteen months before the move to the Olympic Stadium and Douglas is keeping the ground’s excellent reputation intact with the purchase of two new G860 machines.</p><p>“We use the 6 bladed cassettes on the G860’s and we cut the pitch 3 or 4 times prior to match day, just to give it an extra definition of stripe. We’ll also give it a tidy up with a verti-cut and then follow up with the rotary mowers to keep the swards as clean as possible and debris free.</p><p>“We always have different events on the pitch close season and that’s when we tend to use the brush cassette more – it really is a fantastic piece of equipment,” he said.</p><p>Doug first began using Dennis mowers at the club back in 1998 when he had two smaller FT510 models and is keen to continue using the leading British machinery for many years to come.</p><p>“The machines have worked really well for me and Dennis have been great themselves. If we’ve had to make an adaption or change the machine, Robert Jack (area sales manager) is always there and ready to lend a hand or provide the advice that is required.<br/>“I’ve recommended the G860 to lots of clubs, including non-league football teams, just because it suits everyone’s needs. We would certainly buy further Dennis machines in the future,” he said.</p><p>For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com</p><p>For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on Twitter @DennisMowers and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK.You can also view the latest Dennis videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers</p></div>LEARNING LIVE comes to SALTEXhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/learning-live-comes-to-saltex2015-05-06T08:37:11.000Z2015-05-06T08:37:11.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>Education to play major role at SALTEX 2015</p><p>With a new venue, a more convenient date and an exhibitor list containing the industry’s biggest names, SALTEX 2015 is already promising to be the must-attend event of the year. Now the exhibition is set to be even better with the announcement of an enhanced, all-encompassing and free to attend education programme called LEARNING LIVE.</p><p>This programme is set to cater for all sectors of the groundscare industry and will offer a more extensive information-sharing experience than that offered at previous Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) conferences. A packed timetable will see three dedicated seminar theatres, featuring programmes running from 10am through to 3.30pm each day of the show. With the full timetable set to be released soon, the IOG has provided a glimpse of what to expect.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314752635?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314752635?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>The seminar theatre next to the IOG Hub on the show floor will feature sports turf management panel debates with high-profile industry professionals taking centre stage. SALTEX visitors will be able to learn from those tasked with preparing the pitches for some of the world’s major international sports events such as this year’s Ashes and the Rugby World Cup. While visitors with interests in fine turf and a variety of sports surfaces will be able to choose from a range of informative seminar sessions presented by some of the industry’s national and international experts.</p><p>Two further theatres will feature dedicated seminars relevant to those working in the school, play, amenity, parks, arboriculture and forestry environments. The Parks Alliance will give an update on the state and future of the nation’s parks and green spaces, while other sessions will include an update on industry groundscare regulations, a question and answer session on pests and diseases while the inspection and safety standards in the play industry will be explored.</p><p>For young people looking to advance their career in the groundscare industry, the Rigby Taylor/Top Green Young Groundsmen’s Conference, organised by the IOG’s Young Board of Directors, will offer information on educational opportunities, a guide to what some of the top grounds managers are looking for in a young recruit, and a day in the life of the 2014 Young Sports Turf Student of the Year.</p><p>Pete Hussey, manager of Stanley Park Sports Ground, Chippenham Council, recognises the importance of an extensive education programme at the national groundscare industry exhibition and is particularly pleased with the vast range of people the programme has been designed for.</p><p>“Offering SALTEX visitors the opportunity to learn while visiting the event is a real bonus,” he says. “It looks as if there will be something for everyone - particularly from a public sector point of view. It’s good to better understand what the groundsmen at elite facilities do on daily basis but as these seminars cater for all - the sessions offer a true reflection of what people can achieve with or without limited budgets.”</p><p>Rob Bradshaw, head groundsman at One Leisure sports centre in St Ives, passes his knowledge onto local volunteer workers on a weekly basis through various seminars and knows first-hand just how important education is to the future of the industry.</p><p>“It’s great that the IOG are paying a lot of attention to the education provision at SALTEX this year. The NEC, being at the centre of England, will give visitors from all over the country an opportunity to learn from both the event exhibitors and industry experts at these sessions. Education is the key and I’m sure that a lot of people will have a greater understanding of their work after they have spoken to the right people at SALTEX,” he said. <br/> <br/>SALTEX 2015’s new website is now live and visitor registrations are open. To confirm your attendance on 4/5 November 2015 visit www.iogsaltex.com<br/> <br/>For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow SALTEX on Twitter @IOG_SALTEX and Facebook – www.facebook.com/IOGSALTEX</p></div>Three New Dealers for Etesia UKhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/three-new-dealers-for-etesia-uk2015-04-24T12:36:09.000Z2015-04-24T12:36:09.000ZEtesia UKhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/EtesiaUK<div><p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.etesia.co.uk" target="_blank">Etesia</a> continues to spread its wings to every corner of the UK after announcing another three dealers to its growing network.</p><p>Specialists in building high quality grass cutting machinery for both the professional and domestic market, Etesia’s extensive range of products are in high demand. It is for this reason that the company’s vast dealer network continues to grow. From the UK to Ireland, Etesia dealers are providing their customers with innovative solutions to their landscaping requirements.</p><p>Midlands Grounds Machinery (MGM), based in Solihull, will be Etesia UK’s recognised dealer for the West Midlands area. Offering professional support, sales and servicing for a wide range of lawnmowers and groundscare equipment, MGM was seen as a perfect fit for Etesia.</p><p>As well as selling Etesia’s walk-behind range, ride-on mowers and the popular Attila brush cutters, MGM has also embraced Etesia’s green technology ethos and will be stocking their range of robotic ETmowers.</p><p>Managing director, Dave Tullet, has worked within the groundscare industry for over 27 years and is optimistic about working with Etesia.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314743177?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314743177?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>“We wanted to invest in serious, market leading machinery and Etesia seemed the perfect choice to offer our customers. They want quality machines and Etesia provides them with this. Having been in the industry a long time now, I’m confident that the Etesia range will be a great addition to MGM’s range of machinery and services.</p><p>“I’m particularly optimistic about the ETmowers. Not only will they be appealing to the commercial market but Solihull is an affluent area and the robotic mowers will be sought after for those large domestic gardens where they can take out the laborious chore of mowing whilst still providing a superior cut. They are also great for the environment.”</p><p>Revill Mowers, recently formed by Russell Revill and his nephew Jason, is the newly appointed Etesia dealer for Gloucestershire. Both Russell and Jason are trained mechanics and the family-run business will also be benefitted by Russell’s previous experience of dealing with Etesia.</p><p>“I’ve been dealing with Etesia for the past 20 years now and I used to sell the very first Hydro 100’s, which became the industry trend setter. That has continued over the years with everyone else copying various Etesia models.<br/>“When we first set-up the company I was adamant that I wanted to be able to offer them to our customer base. A lot of our customers have dated machines, 10 or 15 years old now, so I’m hoping to convince them that they should be replaced with Etesia machines! They certainly won’t regret it,” said Russell.</p><p>Allans of Gillock will be covering the expansive area of Northern Scotland, offering Etesia machines to customers as far as the Orkney and Shetland Islands. The company, which has built a great reputation since being founded in 1980, believe that becoming an Etesia dealer is a step in the right direction.</p><p>“Up until now it is fair to say that we have mainly catered for the domestic market but we are looking to reach more into the commercial side of things. We wanted to have a slightly more upmarket range of machines available and this is where Etesia comes in. They are renowned for their quality and I believe this is the next step to where we are wanting to go,” said general manager Alan Gair.</p><p>For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.etesia.co.uk" target="_blank">www.etesia.co.uk</a></p><p>For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Etesia UK on Twitter @EtesiaUK and like the company’s Facebook page – <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.facebook.com/EtesiaUK" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/EtesiaUK</a>. You can also view the latest Etesia videos by visiting <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.youtube.com/EtesiaUK" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/EtesiaUK</a>.</p></div>Shrewsbury School Chooses SISIS TM1000 for End of Season Renovationshttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/shrewsbury-school-chooses-sisis-tm1000-for-end-of-season-renovati2015-04-22T09:41:25.000Z2015-04-22T09:41:25.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>Andy Richards, Grounds Manager at Shrewsbury School, one of the country’s leading independent schools, has recently purchased a new SISIS Rotorake TM1000 complete with a range of interchangeable reels to complete end of season renovations.</p><p>The new machine, which was delivered by Jim Clarke Machinery, will be used by Andy and his team of grounds staff on not just the football, rugby and lacrosse pitches for end of season renovations but also the cricket wickets.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314740670?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314740670?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>The SISIS Rotorake TM1000 is a tractor mounted heavy duty scarifier and linear aerator which removes and controls thatch on fine and other quality turf.</p><p>Boasting first class sports facilities, Shrewsbury School’s U15A cricket team have recently secured a place in the Finals of the National ESCA/ECB U15 T20 and Andy and his team are paying particular attention to the cricket squares to ensure a quality team play on a superior surface.</p><p>“We are starting our autumn renovations on our cricket squares and have decided to fraise mow the surface to remove the organic matter. To do this we’ve been using the SISIS TM1000 with the fraise mowing reel,” said Andy.</p><p>Fraise mowing is one of the most important areas of maintenance on any sports or amenity turf area to reduce or remove ‘thatch’ and moss. By carrying out this procedure in autumn, it helps turf drain and end of season over-seeding establish before winter sets in. Andy’s aim is to apply a heavier top dressing this year so that he doesn’t get any trapped organic matter underneath the surface, which can affect ball bounce.</p><p>“The fraise mowing we’ve completed on this square with the TM1000 has given us excellent results in a quick and easy manner.</p><p>“We will use this machine not just purely on our cricket pitches, but also for scarifying our first team football pitch in four or five directions down to a depth of 10 mm. We will also use it on our lacrosse pitch and our rugby pitch to verticut and thin out unwanted growth and not only do we fraise mow our cricket squares but we also scarify our junior squares. All of this is possible with the TM1000 because of the new interchangeable reels; meaning one machine can carry out a number of different jobs,” he said.</p><p>Andy has been the grounds manager at Shrewsbury School for the past four years and the arrival of the SISIS TM1000 has signalled the end of under-performing machinery he has previously used.</p><p>“We purchased the SISIS TM1000 because of its versatility and its ability to do different tasks. Our previous scarifier was one dimensional,” he said. “One of the big plus points with the SISIS TM1000 is the interchangeable reels. We can quickly change the fraise mowing reel to a scarifying reel to a verticut reel which makes it a much more versatile machine than any other scarifying machine on the market.</p><p>“I’d recommend the SISIS TM1000 to any sports facility. Its versatility and user friendliness will benefit any surface, whether it’s a light scarificaton, verticut or fraise mowing.”</p><p>For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact SISIS on 01332 824 777 or visit www.sisis.com</p><p>For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow SISIS on Twitter @SISISMachinery and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/SISISMachinery. You can also view the latest SISIS videos by visiting www.youtube.com/SISISMachinery.</p></div>Sussex CCC Bowled Over By Sherriff Amenityhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/sussex-ccc-bowled-over-by-sherriff-amenity2015-04-17T12:47:09.000Z2015-04-17T12:47:09.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>One of the UK’s leading cricket clubs, Sussex CCC, has heaped praise on Sherriff Amenity’s range of Marathon fertiliser products, noting a vast improvement in the turf of its famous cricket pitches.</p><p>Founded in 1839, Sussex CCC was the first ever first-class county cricket club to be formed, and some of the game’s finest players have worn the Sussex shirt over the years. Names such Greig, Fry, Prior, Snow, Ahmed, Goodwin, Khan, Yardy and Robinson are all associated with greatness and banners celebrating these cricket legends can be seen at the club’s main venue - The County Cricket Ground in Hove.</p><p>Although it may be the players that take all the headlines, the pitches that Sussex CCC plays their home games on are all un-sung heroes, making it all possible for the club to produce such legendary sportsmen.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314740739?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314740739?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>Andy Mackay has been head groundsman since 2008 and his team of twelve look after the County Cricket Ground in Hove, as well as the grounds at the Academy Ground, Horsham CC, and Preston Nomads CC. In order to keep the pitches to a standard of a top tier County Cricket club, Andy chooses the finest products from leading supplier Sherriff Amenity - the UK’s market leaders in providing turf care and amenity solutions.</p><p>Andy has been working with Sherriff Amenity since 2010 and hasn’t looked back since.</p><p>“Historically I have always contacted several companies for prices on products and Sherriff Amenity has consistently been the most competitive – in fact this is the first year that I haven’t even looked elsewhere at other prices.</p><p>“The company has been superb and the customer service is always excellent - particularly my Sherriff representative Adam Hartley who always works hard for me when I want him to and I trust him implicitly. I always receive my deliveries on time and there is never any hassle when it comes to ordering,” he said.</p><p>Amongst Sherriff Amenity’s extensive array of products is the ever popular Marathon range of fertilisers which provides a long-lasting, balanced growth. More and more cricket groundsmen across the UK are turning to Marathon and in particular Andy uses Marathon Allround and Marathon Sport Summer, which are perfect for cricket outfields.</p><p>Marathon Allround is a versatile long release fertiliser for use on all outfield areas that provides a reliable growth response with good colour for up to three months. The patented nitrogen complex ensures steady growth, using nutrient sources that avoid excess leaching and help prevent soft growth that can bring on unwanted disease attack.</p><p>“We put Marathon Allround down in early March depending on the weather and then we apply Marathon Sport Summer mid-June, which is a finer granule and is why we use this during the playing season. That gives us a base feed so it’s working in the background and then we use liquid feeds to supplement that,” said Andy.</p><p>Marathon Sport Summer has an analysis with zero phosphate and additional magnesium to provide fresh summer colour. The methylene urea content provides the extended release characteristics required to keep turf well supplied with nutrients for 12 to 16 weeks after application.</p><p>“I would definitely recommend the Sherriff Amenity products; we’ve seen a big increase in the quality of the turfs since we’ve been using the Marathon fertilisers,” he said.</p><p>For further information, please contact Sherriff Amenity on 01638 721 888 or visit www.sherriffamenity.com</p><p>For more news and insightful views, you can follow Sherriff Amenity on Twitter @SherriffAmenity</p></div>Etesia Dealer Richmonds Groundcare Opens its New Look Showroomhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/etesia-dealer-richmonds-groundcare-opens-its-new-look-showroom2015-04-17T09:27:57.000Z2015-04-17T09:27:57.000ZEtesia UKhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/EtesiaUK<div><p>Established for over 30 years, Richmonds Groundcare has been supplying groundcare, forestry and arboriculture professionals, as well local domestic customers, with top-quality products and machinery from world-renowned manufacturers.</p><p>The company is pleased to announce it has opened new showroom & offices in Haslemere, Surrey, & has expanded its workshop facilities.</p><p>“We all have a strong focus on customer satisfaction and great service. We are looking to make it a great year for both our customers and the business. The new showroom and workshop is fantastic and will be displaying the latest Etesia and Pellenc range of products as well as the other brands we work with,” commented Adam Greenslade, Richmonds Groundcare’s general manager.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314736024?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314736024?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>Among the products Richmonds will be handling from these impressive premises are the Etesia range of ride-on and pedestrian mowers, Attila brushcutters and the complete range of Pellenc battery-powered tools.</p><p>Etesia UK are very proud of the association with Richmonds as it demonstrates the success and reputation of both companies, their products, their workshop services and level of customer service.</p><p>“There have been a lot of changes over the years, but we feel this is the best one yet. We are all looking forward to seeing what the local community and loyal customers think of it, particularly the next-level service we can now offer.”</p><p>The new contact details for Richmonds Groundcare are:</p><p>Technology House<br/>Church Road<br/>Haslemere<br/>Surrey<br/>GU27 1NU<br/>T: 01428 658487<br/>F: 0845 838 8847<br/>E: sales@richmondsgroundcare.co.uk</p><p>For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.etesia.co.uk" target="_blank">www.etesia.co.uk</a></p><p>For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Etesia UK on Twitter @EtesiaUK and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/EtesiaUK. You can also view the latest Etesia videos by visiting www.youtube.com/EtesiaUK.</p></div>Souters Sports Gives World’s Oldest Golf Course New Lease of Lifehttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/souters-sports-gives-world-s-oldest-golf-course-new-lease-of-life2015-04-14T15:43:01.000Z2015-04-14T15:43:01.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.souterssports.co.uk" target="_blank">Souters Sports</a>, one of the UK’s leading specialist sportsturf contractors, has breathed new life into the world’s oldest golf course following the installation of a new irrigation system.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314735780?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314735780?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>History books prove that golf was played on Musselburgh Links as early as 2 March 1672 and there is further evidence that Mary, Queen of Scots reputedly played there in 1567. It was also an original Open Championship venue, hosting the event on six occasions between 1874 and 1889.</p><p>Although the previous irrigation system may not have dated back to the times of Mary, Queen of Scots, the watering system for the greens and tees was seriously outdated and old lead pipes supplied the water system. The signs were not good and in order to preserve this historic golf course, East Lothian Council decided that urgent action was needed.</p><p>“There were many leaks in the system and watering the course was extremely difficult which disrupted playing time – the council decided that it was time for an upgrade.</p><p>“We had heard that Souters Sports were the best at this type of work and they were contacted to initiate a plan and costing for a new irrigation system,” said Mark McGrath, Amenity Officer for East Lothian Council.</p><p>Firmly established as a leading player in the UK irrigation market, Souters Sports has unsurpassed expertise and experience in designing and installing irrigation systems. From manual hose point systems, drip systems and travelling sprinkler systems to fully automated, complex computer-controlled sprinkler systems, Souters Sports deliver a solution to fulfil every requirement.</p><p>Flexible in their approach to the design of irrigation systems, the Souters Sports irrigation team work with every client in order to provide a complete design and build service. This entails an initial meeting where the team use their specialist knowledge to advise the best course of action.</p><p>“I met with Robert Smith and James Fitzpatrick from Souters Sports for an initial site meeting and along with my greenkeepers, the location of water points run of pipes was agreed.<br/>“Once the plans were put in place, the work quickly begun and I had the pleasure of working with James, who is so professional in his approach to the job. There has been very little disruption to the course during the installation with James keeping me constantly updated on progress and any issues he encountered resolved.<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314736040?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314736040?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-right"/></a></p><p>“The quality and standard of work that James brought to the job, in my opinion, is second to none and his whole professionalism and dedication to the job has to be commended.”</p><p>With all of the irrigation work Souters Sports carry out, great care is taken to minimise the impact of the installation and to ensure that reinstatements are carried out to the highest standards. As water is a precious commodity, Souters Sports’ systems incorporate the latest technology for water efficiency and system control, such as variable speed drive pump systems, automatic weather stations and radio remote control systems.</p><p>Whilst the quality of Souters Sports work is of the highest quality, the company also provide excellent customer service, which according to Mark, is not always the case in his experience.</p><p>“In the line of work I am responsible for, I have contact with many contractors who are mostly interested in getting the job done quickly and as a result customer service always suffers. This I found to my pleasant surprise was not the case with Souters Sports and in particular James and his team.</p><p>“I would be more than happy to recommend Souters in the future for any other works associated to this type of work. If the aftercare is as good as the installation then I foresee only good things for the Old Links course for the future.”</p><p>For further information, please contact Souters Sports Limited on 01236 453030 or visit <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.souterssports.co.uk" target="_blank">www.souterssports.co.uk</a>. Souters Sports are also on Twitter @SoutersSports</p></div>Trimax Announces New Appointmenthttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/trimax-announces-new-appointment2015-04-09T13:47:13.000Z2015-04-09T13:47:13.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>Trimax Mowing Systems UK has announced the appointment of David Thompson as their new UK and Europe Manager.</p><p>Expansion is in the air at Trimax, as the company continues to make its mark in the groundscare market: David’s appointment signals the second newly created role in a matter of weeks and follows the appointment of new European Supply Manager - Patrick O’Callaghan.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314734565?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314734565?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>David will be responsible for ensuring that the Trimax European hub continues to achieve profitable growth in line with the proud company ethos of forming valuable enduring partnerships with the Trimax family. With experience in technical, high quality, market leading manufactured products, David’s employment history has seen him working at companies such as Valor, Ingersoll Rand and Elwis; something which he believes will be of great benefit to him in his new role.</p><p>“I am fortunate to have gained a wide range of business experience, starting in sales (both UK and International), progressing to management of commercial support activities and then on to general management. I hope to be able to apply this to my role with Trimax,” he said.</p><p>Trimax’s rise can, in part, be attributed to the company’s commitment to bringing innovation to the groundscare industry. 2014 saw the launch of Trimax’s Snake rotary mower, which took the market by storm; and this year sees the arrival of the highly anticipated Warlord S3 – a heavy duty flail mulcher mower. Dealers across the UK and Europe are being treated to a continuous steam of high quality Trimax machinery and David is particularly keen on becoming familiar with some of the company’s trusted dealers.</p><p>“I’m looking forward to getting to know and working closely with our dealer network and to build on the success we have enjoyed together so far.<br/> <br/>“Though there is a great deal to learn, I am keen to get to grips with the challenges and opportunities of managing Trimax through the next growth phase and I am looking forward to becoming involved in and getting a deeper understanding of the groundscare industry,” he said.</p><p>Commenting on David’s appointment, Michael Sievwright, General Manager of Trimax, said: “I’m delighted that David has come on-board. He has gained great experience by working for some market leading companies and his management skills will prove to be extremely valuable.</p><p>“This is a fantastic industry to be involved in and I’m confident that David will be up to speed in no time. He’s the right person to help us continue progressing in the right direction.”</p><p>For more information, please contact Trimax Mowing Systems on 01933 652235 or visit www.trimaxmowers.co.uk.</p><p>For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Trimax on Twitter @TrimaxMowers and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/TrimaxMowingSystems.</p></div>Dennis G860 Tops Wish List For Addicks Groundsmanhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/dennis-g860-tops-wish-list-for-addicks-groundsman2015-04-09T10:17:42.000Z2015-04-09T10:17:42.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>A recent change of ownership at Charlton Athletic FC means that Christmas has come early for head groundsman Nathan Chapman. After the new owners revealed their intentions of a significant investment at the stadium and also in the turf maintenance machinery, Nathan was asked to compile a machinery wish list. At the top of his list were two Dennis G860 mowers complete with a range of interchangeable cassettes.</p><p>Charlton Athletic endured a torrid time last season which found them battling relegation and playing their home games on a constantly waterlogged pitch. After being built in the 1950’s the pitch was beginning to show its age. The drainage system had collapsed and with wet weather conditions over the winter period many games were postponed. With 20 years’ experience in the industry Nathan was facing his toughest test yet.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314733801?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314733801?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>“I love football and I love being in the industry. I pride myself on carrying out the right practices and one of those is presentation. Last season’s pitch problems were an absolute nightmare for me personally. I couldn’t even bring myself to watch our highlights on the Football League Show - it was embarrassing,” he said.</p><p>However the club received that much needed investment and a new pitch was constructed. In turn, Nathan was presented with the opportunity of getting his hands on some new turf maintenance machinery which would do the new pitch justice.</p><p>“I put a machinery wish list together coinciding with the new pitch because we needed the right equipment to maintain it. Last season we just didn’t have the right machinery and the mower I was using was just too heavy – most of the time I didn’t want it on the pitch.</p><p>“I wanted two Dennis G860s because I knew of their capabilities and how well they perform. They are very lightweight, you can brush, you can scarify, you can verti-cut; you can pretty much do everything with just one power source. The G860’s also stripe the pitch perfectly for presentation. I was delighted when I received them,” said Nathan.</p><p>Nathan is just one of many head groundsmen at professional football clubs who have turned to the Dennis G860. Internationally recognised, the G860 maintains the finest pitches in not just the Premier League and Football League, but has also been selected as the mower of choice for two consecutive World Cup’s at Brazil and South Africa.</p><p>With an interchangeable cassette system including scarifiers, verticutters, brushes, spikers and slitters as well as 6 or 8 bladed cutter cassettes, a groundsman has never had so much versatility in one mower. Nathan has the complete set of cassettes and he now looks forward to his match day preparation, which is a far cry from last season.</p><p>“On a Thursday I will cut width ways at 27mm and that will be a string-cut for precision and then on the Friday I will cut length ways and that will also be a string-cut. I use the 6 bladed cutting cassettes because they deliver a fantastic finish,” he said.<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314736206?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314736206?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-right"/></a></p><p>“We are up there now with great machinery which will take this pitch further on. Last season’s pitch was an old clapped out Fiat Punto but this year it is now a Formula One car and that is, in part, thanks to the Dennis G860’s,” said Nathan.</p><p>Nathan says that the Dennis G860 makes his life much easier, especially as he looks after the pitch by himself while he awaits a new assistant to be appointed. So with a new pitch, new machinery and an encouraging start to the season, Nathan believes that Charlton Athletic are now in a much better place – both on and off the pitch compared to twelve months ago.</p><p>For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.dennisuk.com" target="_blank">www.dennisuk.com</a></p><p>For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on Twitter @DennisMowers and like the company’s Facebook page – <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK</a>. You can also view the latest Dennis videos by visiting <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.youtube.com/DennisMowers" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/DennisMowers</a></p></div>FA Recommends Replay Maintenance to Shrewsbury Sports Villagehttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/fa-recommends-replay-maintenance-to-shrewsbury-sports-village2015-04-08T15:21:43.000Z2015-04-08T15:21:43.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>Following a failed FA test on Shrewsbury Sports Village’s 3G pitch, England’s football governing body recommended bringing in the help of Replay Maintenance to help solve the problem.</p><p>The eight year old pitch unfortunately failed to pass a pitch test to see if it could become FA accredited, which in turn would allow the pitch to be used for match play in all competitions outside the National League System (NLS). Before this can happen all pitches of all sizes must undertake a rigorous testing procedure based on the British Standard for synthetic turf sports surfaces.</p><p>The failure of the test at Shrewsbury Sports Village was due to inconsistencies in the level of the pitch and the nature of the ball rebound. Urgent action was required and the FA advised the sports facility to get in contact with the UK’s leading artificial surface maintenance contractor Replay Maintenance.</p><p>A full site survey was conducted and Replay Maintenance was confident that by implementing the correct maintenance procedure, the results would soon be turned around. It was decided that the company’s class defining Replay Rejuvenation process would be carried out which, in some cases, can double the playing life of 3G pitches while restoring it to an ‘almost’ new condition both in performance and appearance.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314733249?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314733249?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>Using state-of-the-art machinery, Replay Maintenance’s fully qualified and experienced team firstly extracted the contaminated infill utilising compressed air delivered into the carpet. Pile fibres are then cleaned, untangled and restored to a vertical position. The newly imported rubber crumb is next distributed and brushed to the manufacturer’s specification leaving the optimum free pile using a purpose built machine. Finally the infill is worked into the surface resulting in a pitch which maximises playing performance, surface life and sees the customer with an excellent return on their investment.</p><p>It is a far more cost effective option compared to a replacement of the surface. Not only is it a fraction of the cost but, unlike replacing the artificial surface, the Replay Rejuvenation process can be completed in days - saving facilities time and minimising loss of revenue.</p><p>Contract Manager for Shropshire Community Leisure Trust, Angela Creighton, who called in Replay Maintenance after the FA recommendation, was particularly pleased with the speed of the work.</p><p>“I would definitely recommend Replay Maintenance to other sporting facilities needing a similar solution due to the speed and quality of the response - I found them to be extremely professional. We are incredibly pleased with the work that has been undertaken.</p><p>As a result of the good work carried out by Replay Maintenance, Angela revealed that the sports facility have placed an order for Replay to carry out their specialist Revive maintenance at regular intervals over the next 3 years.</p><p>For further information, please contact Replay Maintenance on 01636 640 506 or visit the company’s website www.replaymaintenance.co.uk. You can also follow the company on Twitter: @ReplayMaintain</p></div>Limagrain’s MM60 puts the Pride in Pride Parkhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/limagrain-s-mm60-puts-the-pride-in-pride-park2015-04-08T11:30:24.000Z2015-04-08T11:30:24.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>Notable for being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888, Derby County FC is a proud club that plies its trade at the aptly named Pride Park stadium. The stadium’s pitch is something that the club take particular pride in, and that in part, is thanks to <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.limagrain.co.uk/mm" target="_blank">Limagrain UK’s MM60 grass seed</a>.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314732006?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314732006?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>Much of Derby County’s illustrious history came at the previous stadium - The Baseball Ground. It was at this stadium where the club won two league titles and an FA Cup. Since relocating to Pride Park in 1997 it is fair to say that the team has endured a rather quiet period in the club’s history. However, after a great start to the 2014/15 season Derby remain within touching distance of the Premiership and fans are quietly optimistic that the club are about to enter a new glorious era.</p><p>Head groundsman, Andy Croft, is certainly playing his part in helping guide the club back to where it belongs by maintaining a pitch that is already fit for the highest tier of English football. Pride Park is one of the Championship’s finest playing surfaces and Andy can only be commended for the fine work that he does on a daily basis.</p><p>Andy first started his career at Derby County by cleaning the stands and the toilets as a Derby fan. 24 years later and he is now the head groundsman overseeing a team of eight members of staff divided between the training ground and the iPro stadium. Andy likes to put his own stamp on things and one significant improvement he has made since landing the top job in 2006 is choosing to work with Limagrain’s MM60 grass seed.</p><p>“I’ve been working with Limagrain for about four seasons now and haven’t looked back since. When I first took over, the previous head groundsman used to use a seed from a different company and I just stuck with that to start with. But I thought “’you know what? You’re never going to get better by doing this.”’ I was just following suit with what my predecessor was doing, so I decided to look at different products which could make an improvement to the pitch,” said Andy.</p><p>He then decided to trial two other seed mixtures from two different companies before trialling MM60. Each of the four products, including one that his predecessor used, had one whole season to prove themselves and there was one clear winner.</p><p>“It was a case of trialling the top four seed mixtures around and seeing which one I liked best. MM60 came out on top so I’ve stuck with that ever since.<br/>“MM60 just comes into its own in winter with the colour, the vigour and how it plays. It offers good resistance to disease and stands up well to all the battering that it gets, and that’s what you want as a groundsman.”<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314729465?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314729465?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-right"/></a></p><p>The MM60 grass seed is a 100% Ryegrass formula which is perfect for renovation and divot repair. Renowned for its extremely fast germination; MM60 has a high wear tolerance combined with a high disease resistance giving fantastic aesthetic qualities. It is also treated with Headstart® GOLD, which is a further development of the well-recognised Headstart® treatment which has been developed using the latest scientific findings and field experience. It is a natural revolutionary grass seed treatment that ensures rapid germination and is perfect for enhancing performance on grass seed coatings for sports fields, golf courses, lawns and amenity turf.</p><p>As well as being impressed with MM60 grass seed, Andy was also full of praise for the excellent customer service he receives from Limagrain UK.</p><p>“Limagrain’s MM60 has never let me down but part and parcel of it is the relationship you have with the company. I receive a truly great service and I get on really well with Matt Gresty (amenity sales manager) and that plays a massive role.”</p><p>For further information, or to get your copy of the 2015 MM brochure, please contact Limagrain UK on 01472 370117 or visit <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.limagrain.co.uk/mm" target="_blank">www.limagrain.co.uk/mm</a> to download the PDF. You can also follow MM on twitter: @MM_Seed</p></div>3 Machines in 1 – Cut, Scarify and Collecthttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/3-machines-in-1-cut-scarify-and-collect2015-04-08T08:59:40.000Z2015-04-08T08:59:40.000ZEtesia UKhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/EtesiaUK<div><p>The Etesia Hydro 124 and Hydro 144 models, which are available with high-tip, ground tip or four-wheel-drive options are living proof you can have three machines in one working all-year round for you.</p><p>One minute they can be the best cut and collect ride-on mowers on the market, the next it they be a scarifier for use in sportsturf, parkland and amenity areas.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314729802?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314729802?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>The scarifier attachment means that your investment goes a long way in dealing with a whole range of tasks - for which you would usually need to buy and store several machines.</p><p>The front-mounted scarifier attachment, which can be quickly fitted with no tools, has two fully-floating heads which allows it to follow ground contours. It has a working width of 1.25 metres and has been specifically designed for fast and effective coverage on large areas such as sports grounds and large ornamental lawns.</p><p>Debris can be collected in just one pass and working depths are variable. The units can also be lifted for transport between sites or retracted for passing through narrow entrances. Etesia is renowned for being able to cut and collect long or short grass efficiently without blocking, even in wet conditions, which also makes it ideal for long grass applications.</p><p>Other attachments are available such as mulching decks, deflectors, blowers, spreader, sweepers and snow blades making these models a 365-days-a-year workhorse for the maintenance of amenity turf, golf courses, parkland and large gardens.</p><p>For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.etesia.co.uk" target="_blank">www.etesia.co.uk</a></p><p>For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Etesia UK on Twitter @EtesiaUK and like the company’s Facebook page – <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.facebook.com/EtesiaUK" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/EtesiaUK</a>. You can also view the latest Etesia videos by visiting <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.youtube.com/EtesiaUK" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/EtesiaUK</a>.</p></div>SISIS Osca Helps St Georges Park to Best Artificial Pitch Awardhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/sisis-osca-helps-st-georges-park-to-best-artificial-pitch-award2015-04-07T14:11:50.000Z2015-04-07T14:11:50.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>St Georges Park, the FA’s National Football Centre, was recently awarded the Institute of Groundsmanship’s (IOG) Best Maintained Artificial Pitch of the Year. It was a great achievement for head groundsman Alan Ferguson and his team, who have acknowledged the SISIS Osca as being integral to winning the award.</p><p>Having been nominated the previous year for the same award and narrowly missing out, the grounds team at St Georges Park, this time round, picked up the coveted trophy, and is testament to the great job that Alan and his team are doing on a daily basis.</p><p>“We were delighted to win the award at the second attempt having been nominated the previous year. It’s the first award for the park so we are especially pleased that the grounds team have won it,” said Alan.</p><p>“I was particularly pleased for my crew members Andrew Cubbitt, Reece Venning and Luke Bowden who between them have carried out the maintenance. We have also been well backed by Julie Harrington the managing director so it is nice for her to see national recognition for the park,” said Alan.</p><p>The Desso I-DNA artificial pitches at St Georges Park were installed to the FIFA 2 star standard and Alan uses the SISIS Osca as part of his in-house maintenance programme; which he says is essential after the level of use they receive on a regular basis.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314732693?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314732693?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-full"/></a>The SISIS Osca is a tractor mounted powered oscillating brush with a 1.9 meter working width and is equally effective when used on artificial 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 whilst preventing pile damage caused by reduced infill levels. To complement the final result an additional brush can be fitted to the rear of the unit.</p><p>A contributory factor to the reduction of compaction is that the Osca’s working width will use fewer passes than other more conventional drag brushes to complete a pitch. Its aggressive brushing action agitates the upper infill level of the surface from side to side as well as brushing forward, helping reduce surface compaction and encourage the fibres to stand up straight which reduces the risk of contamination, drainage problems and leaves a consistent playing surface across the whole pitch.</p><p>Alan, who sees synthetic pitch maintenance as just as important as maintenance on natural turf, believes that there is a place for both surfaces as long as the synthetic pitches are maintained to an excellent standard; something which the FA are committed to implementing.</p><p>“As a team we have bought into the concept of the 3G turf and see this recognition as reward for the time, money and effort that has gone in to the maintenance programme so far. 3G surfaces are a fairly hot topic at the moment, but I believe they have a place and we as an industry should be working together to find a balance between synthetic, natural and hybrid pitches. The FA are trying to provide more 3G pitches and have them maintained correctly so it’s nice to be seen to do our own well,” said Alan.</p><p>St Georges Park is an excellent example of exactly how 3G pitches should be maintained. The key to an efficient maintenance programme is quality equipment and Alan is full of praise for the SISIS Osca.</p><p>“There is no other machine like the SISIS Osca, which sets it apart and makes it that little bit special. It’s allowed us to keep ball roll below ten meters which let me tell you isn’t easy when you consider we have around 40 hours of use on our synthetic pitches each week.</p><p>“I have always thought its unique oscillating action was beneficial to the synthetic fibre and it has proved to be case. Having used it on two venues now with equal success it is something I would not be without where I have 3G pitches to look after.</p><p>“I can’t recommend the Osca highly enough and would be happy to show anyone how we use ours to great effect.”</p><p>For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact SISIS on 01332 824 777 or visit <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.sisis.com" target="_blank">www.sisis.com</a></p><p>For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow SISIS on Twitter @SISISMachinery and like the company’s Facebook page – <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.facebook.com/SISISMachinery" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/SISISMachinery</a>. You can also view the latest SISIS videos by visiting <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.youtube.com/SISISMachinery" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/SISISMachinery</a></p></div>SALTEX 2015 Attracts Major Industry Exhibitors and Partnershttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/saltex-2015-attracts-major-industry-exhibitors-and-partners2015-04-07T08:12:22.000Z2015-04-07T08:12:22.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>SALTEX 2015 continues to attract the industry’s biggest names after both Ransomes Jacobsen and John Deere confirmed their attendance at the November show.</p><p>The news follows the recent announcement that show organisers have added an extra hall to accommodate the wide-range of exhibitors. Now, with three large halls containing many of the major players from across the industry, SALTEX 2015 is the only exhibition of its kind to provide an all-encompassing experience for a diverse range of grounds management sectors.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314726891?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314726891?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>John Deere and Ransomes Jacobsen join more than 150 exhibitors representing various sectors including forestry, play, groundscare machinery, artificial surfaces, natural turf, landscaping products, pest control, line marking, waste management, sports equipment, litter and landfill and engine fuels.</p><p>Show visitors will particularly welcome the news of Ransomes Jacobsen and John Deere’s attendance at the exhibition - the two companies are global leading brands and their commitment to exhibit at SALTEX acknowledges the importance of the event in the industry’s calendar.</p><p>Commenting on Ransomes Jacobsen’s attendance at SALTEX 2015, international marketing manager Karen Proctor said: <br/>“We have been supporters of the Institute of Groundsmanship for decades and of SALTEX in particular. The IOG do a good job of providing the groundscare industry with guidance and direction for all its members. Geoff Webb and the IOG board have made a bold decision to move SALTEX to a new venue and we wish the IOG every success at the NEC in November. It is very encouraging to see that the IOG have committed to an additional hall proving that the demand from exhibitors is there. Ransomes Jacobsen have committed to a significant stand space and will be displaying a major new product at the show, so I would urge the industry at large, to support the event.” <br/>The move to the NEC has also reignited interest for companies such as Sherriff Amenity and Barenbrug UK that have been absent from recent shows. It has also caught the attention of the likes of Bayer CropScience, which saw the relocation as the perfect opportunity to exhibit at SALTEX for the first time.</p><p>The show has also been boosted by the support of The Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA) - the trade association that represents businesses committed to raising the quality standards of all sports, physical activity, recreation and play facilities that are designed, built and maintained across the UK.</p><p>Following an agreement which sees the IOG and SAPCA working closely together this year, SAPCA will participate in and support SALTEX. As well as having a presence in the exhibition, SAPCA will support the show’s comprehensive educational programme, by presenting seminars on key technical subjects on the design, construction and maintenance of sports facilities.</p><p>Welcoming the agreement, SAPCA chief executive Chris Trickey said: “SAPCA and the IOG share common objectives in raising the standards of sports facilities. Many IOG members maintain playing surfaces and facilities that are designed and built by SAPCA members. There has always been a positive relationship between the two bodies, but it makes great sense that we develop an even stronger partnership in the future.”</p><p>IOG CEO Geoff Webb said: “The IOG is delighted to continue working with SAPCA, and we look forward to further extending the good relationship that we’ve developed over the years.”</p><p>For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow SALTEX on Twitter @IOG_SALTEX and visit the website at www.iogsaltex.com</p></div>Clyde Wind Farm Calls Upon Expertise of Complete Weed Controlhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/clyde-wind-farm-calls-upon-expertise-of-complete-weed-control2015-04-02T08:34:46.000Z2015-04-02T08:34:46.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>Occupying around 47 square kilometres, SSE’s Clyde wind farm is one of Europe’s biggest single consented onshore wind projects. To eradicate and control problematic weeds on site, Complete Weed Control was called upon to provide its expertise.</p><p>The 152 turbines at Clyde wind farm are split into three sections with a total installed capacity of 350 megawatts. The wind farm is spread over a large area, and a significant number of tracks exist to enable access to the furthest reaches of the site. As with any tracks or hard surfaces the emergence of unwanted weeds can cause a number of problems.</p><p>Weed growth can interfere with visibility for road users and obscure signs. If they appear in kerbs or around drains then they can prevent or slow down drainage. Their growth may even damage the roads causing broken and uneven surfaces. Complete Weed Control, the UK’s largest weed control contractor, has been tackling such problems for over 42 years and the contract with Clyde wind farm was one which Keith Gallacher, CWC Contracts Manager for Scotland South East & West, particularly enjoyed working on.</p><p>“It was great to get the contract because the wind farm really is a fantastic place to work. The views are absolutely stunning and while it’s been challenging work with such a large number of tracks to treat, I have really enjoyed it,” said Keith.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314725244?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314725244?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>Keith and his team used a sophisticated spraying application to all the access roads and hard standing ground platforms. He also used a reduced herbicide application to protect the nearby livestock. However, being a wind farm in such an expansive and open space, it was inevitable that Keith would encounter some challenging weather situations.</p><p>“The weather closes in very quickly up there. One minute it’s nice and sunny and the next it’s absolutely pouring down. Responding well to weather conditions was the most challenging aspect of the job – it makes spraying extremely tricky especially when it’s particularly windy. But I was fortunate enough to have some great employees from SSE on-site who really understand the weather conditions. It’s great working with SSE and I look forward to continue working with them in the future,” said Keith.</p><p>The original work is now complete and after delivering excellent results, Keith is already in the process of planning the next instalment of work. Following Keith’s recommendations there will be two sprays per year – one in spring and one in autumn.</p><p>Experience plays a major factor in successful treatment and Complete Weed Control has experience in abundance. Knowing when and how to apply the appropriate product is absolutely vital; it can speed up eradication and save time and money. All of Complete Weed Control’s work is undertaken by adhering to strict health & safety guidelines.</p><p>For more information, please contact Complete Weed Control’s National office on 01325 324 277 or visit <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.completeweedcontrol.co.uk" target="_blank">www.completeweedcontrol.co.uk</a></p><p>You can also follow Complete Weed Control on Twitter @CWCLimited and view the company’s YouTube channel at <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.youtube.com/user/completeweedcontrol1" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/user/completeweedcontrol1</a></p></div>Souters Sports Impresses Yet Again At Championship Golf Coursehttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/souters-sports-impresses-yet-again-at-championship-golf-course2015-03-12T13:23:42.000Z2015-03-12T13:23:42.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>Following tell-tale signs of sand contamination, the De Vere Carden Park Golf Resort near Chester, has recently called upon the services of leading natural sportsturf contractor Souters Sports to carry out wholesale bunker rejuvenations.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314719231?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="250" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314719231?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="250" class="align-left"/></a>The Carden Park Golf Resort boasts not one, but two championship golf courses, the Cheshire and the Nicklaus; with the latter being a previous project for Souters Sports when they successfully completed major drainage work. It was this impressive work which led course manager Peter Pattenden to place his trust in the company once again for the bunker rejuvenation on the Cheshire course.</p><p>The Cheshire, built 24 years ago with bunkers in revetted style had shown the telling effects of sand-trap erosion and with the Nicklaus course receiving significant investment over recent years, it was imperative that the Cheshire was not left in its shadow.</p><p>Leading the Cheshire project was Souters Sports’ bunker shaper Rab Tait, who engineered the lifting and replacing of nearly 8,000 metres of turf for facing and surrounds, and the installation of 1100 tons of fresh Bunkerites sand. A 13-ton excavator with swivel bucket and two turf-tyred dumpers handled the earthworks and transportation.</p><p>However, as the project unfolded it became apparent that many of the bunkers had no drainage at all, so for Souters it became a drainage project too. To solve the problem, Rab and his team installed 80mm of piping where necessary to see that the freshly shaped bunkers would drain efficiently.<br/>“We knew many of the bunkers were poorly drained and actually had no idea whether there was anything in place. It was a voyage of discovery, you might say. Much of what was there was either blocked or had collapsed, we discovered,” said Peter.</p><p>Peter and Rab planned and made decisions about re-developing bunker set-ups hole-by-hole. This was governed very much by what the topography would allow along with weather conditions. Much of the work involved bringing noses in and taking noses out where appropriate or moving bunkers left or right slightly to influence play.<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314720083?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="250" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314720083?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="250" class="align-right"/></a></p><p><br/>With a series of high profile clients, the Souters Sports team has completed a number of services to golf courses throughout the UK including renovation and maintenance, irrigation, reservoirs and water harvesting and primary and secondary drainage installations - to name but a few.</p><p>The company also adheres to a best-of-the-best recruitment policy, in which they have patiently spent a number of years assembling a group of proven, enthusiastic and talented professionals, trained in all facets of golf course construction, which has been reflected in their work; and Peter is yet another satisfied customer.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314719521?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="250" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314719521?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="250" class="align-left"/></a>“The project has been a huge success with great feedback from the members. It’s a joy not to have standing water in the bunkers any more, and know that they all offer a high level of consistent playing quality. They look amazing too.”</p><p>For further information, please contact Souters Sports Limited on 01236 453030 or visit <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.souterssports.co.uk" target="_blank">www.souterssports.co.uk</a>. Souters Sports are also on Twitter @SoutersSports</p></div>Dennis and SISIS to Appear at Campey Turfcare Machinery Demonstration Dayshttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/dennis-and-sisis-to-appear-at-campey-turfcare-machinery-demonstra2015-03-12T10:17:32.000Z2015-03-12T10:17:32.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>An array of Dennis and SISIS sports turf maintenance equipment will be on display at Campey Turf Care Systems’ forthcoming Sports Turf Maintenance Machinery Demonstration Days.</p><p>Dennis and SISIS dealer, Campey Turf Care Systems, are hosting three demonstration days where the latest equipment in sports turf maintenance can be seen in action. The days, to be held in Bolton, Cheadle near Stockport and Stafford, on the 24th, 25th and 26th March 2015, will see demonstrations commencing from 10am followed by lunch and a Q&A session from an Institute of Groundsmanship regional advisor.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314719835?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314719835?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>All attendees can expect to see the popular Dennis FT system with its interchangeable cassettes, including scarifiers, verticutters, brushes, spikers and slitters. As well as the FT system, the appearance of the Razor Ultra will be of particular interest to those interested in meeting the demands of cricket pitches and bowling greens. Known as the ‘World Cup Mower’ after being selected as the official mower of choice for two consecutive FIFA World Cups – the Dennis G860 completes the line-up.</p><p>The SISIS machines in action will see two pedestrian scarifiers – the Rotorake 600HD and the Auto Rotorake MK.5, the Rotorake TM1000 – a tractor mounted heavy duty scarifier, the SISIS Dart - an independently powered vertical action pedestrian aerator and the Multislit - a tractor mounted deep slitting aerator.</p><p>Campey Turf Care Systems will be showcasing the award winning GT Air 2G2 Air Inject. The Air 2G2 is a revolutionary approach to relieving deep rooted compaction which uses pressurised air to aerate the soil. The Koro by Imants Field Top Maker fitted with the patented Universe® and Terraplane® rotors will demonstrate how to successfully tackle turf renovation and have it back in action in a matter of weeks.<br/>To register for tickets or for more information please email info@campeyturfcare.com or call 01260 224 568 by the 19th March 2015. <br/> <br/>For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on Twitter @DennisMowers and SISIS @SISISMachinery. You can like the Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK and www.facebook.com/SISISMachinery. You can also view the latest Dennis and SISIS videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers and www.youtube.com/SISISMachinery.</p></div>Limagrain Flower Mixtures Wow Festival Goershttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/limagrain-flower-mixtures-wow-festival-goers2015-03-11T09:11:22.000Z2015-03-11T09:11:22.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>Founder of LodeStar music festival, Doug Durrant, had a lifelong vision of creating an event with a special atmosphere that brought people together in a beautiful place of natural surroundings. Through the help of Limagrain UK, Doug has achieved a truly stunning setting for the festival to take place.</p><p>On the southern edge of the Cambridgeshire Fenland lies a quaint and picturesque village called Lode where Doug and his family have been farming since the 1930’s. However, once a year it comes to life through a music festival which unites the community and brings joy to people of all ages. At this year’s event festival goers were treated to sea of red poppies.</p><p>In a fitting tribute to mark the 100 year anniversary of the start of the First World War, Doug felt that Limagrain UK’s WW1 Commemorative Poppy mix would provide LodeStar 2014 with a poignant and memorable display – the kind that epitomises the ethos of the festival.</p><p>The extraordinary array of vivid red flowers were created by Limagrain to serve as a powerful reminder of the great sacrifice made by British and Commonwealth people during WW1.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314785080?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314785080?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>“I had seen photos of their poppies in a trade magazine and thought that not only did they look fantastic but the values behind the mixture were in line with those of our own. Having previously purchased Limagrain’s Douce France Colour Splash mixture – which added a great splash of colour to the festival, I decided to contact them again,” said Doug.</p><p>LodeStar works with many local charities and upon hearing about the festival and Doug’s decision to give-away 1000 free tickets to ‘Tickets for Troops’, Limagrain kindly donated the flower mixture in recognition of his good work. <br/>The iconic flower mixture, which is also available in a mixture of Red Poppy and Red Flax, has proved to be extremely popular throughout the UK with golf clubs, landscapers and local communities all purchasing them.</p><p>Having sown the flowers himself, Doug decided to use them as a stunning border on the edges of the fields: a border that would create a colourful display with a long life span – and he was delighted with the results.<br/>“They have done a great job in bringing colour and cover to the borders of the fields while also improving the environment and habitat of the local wildlife with minimal effort.</p><p>“I also had touching comments from the public recognising why I had planted them. The poppies bloomed gloriously for the festival and way beyond and I still even have poppies in flower in late October.”</p><p>Limagrain UK, one of world’s largest seed companies, is at the forefront of the marketplace. With an extensive list of products available, Doug said that he would definitely be turning to the company again.</p><p>“The seed quality is high and the staff are friendly, knowledgeable and willing to help in order to provide the best solution for growers to get the results needed,” he said.</p><p>For further information, please contact Limagrain UK on 01472 371471 or visit the company’s website www.limagrain.co.uk/wildflowers. You can also follow the company on Twitter: @MM_Seed</p></div>SISIS Flexi400 Proves To Be Main Attraction at GIS 2015https://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/sisis-flexi400-proves-to-be-main-attraction-at-gis-20152015-03-10T09:57:17.000Z2015-03-10T09:57:17.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>Dennis and SISIS have returned to home soil following an extremely successful Golf Industry Show (GIS) in San Antonio, Texas, where the new SISIS Flexi400 was the star of the show.</p><p>‘Where Big Things Happen’ is the motto of the world famous GIS event and it proved to ring true for the turf maintenance equipment giants after they were inundated with high quality enquiries.</p><p>The SISIS Flexi400, which was introduced to the US market for the very first time at the event, was of particular interest to many superintendents who made their way to the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. It proved to be so popular that one eager visitor, who couldn’t wait to get his hands on the machine, purchased the very one that was being showcased on the stand. <br/> <br/><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314766578?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314766578?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>After its successful UK launch at BTME in January, it is easy to see why the Flexi400 was such an instant hit at the GIS. Specifically designed for fast and effective coverage on large areas such as golf fairways and sports grounds, the new 4m wide Flexi400 is an interchangeable unit with seven fully floating heads which allows it to follow ground contours. The unit can be fitted with either a roller or brush heads and is ideal for the removal of dew, striping for improved presentation, lifting grasses prior to cutting or brushing in top dressings. It is attachable to the tow unit by a simple 50mm ball hitch or clevis pin and both arms can be raised for ease of storage or transportation.</p><p>Although the spotlight may have fallen on the new Flexi400, interest was still rife amongst the other Dennis and SISIS machines on the stand, which have proved to be consistent, top performers and relied upon by superintendents, groundsmen and greenkeepers around the world.</p><p>The impressive line-up included favourites such as the SISIS Rotorake 600HD - a heavy duty pedestrian scarifier and linear aerator; the tractor mounted SISIS Veemo MK 2 – perfect for removing thatch from large areas of turf such as golf course fairways; the Dennis FT510 - engineered to maintain areas of fine turf with a range of 11 different heads and the SISIS Auto Rotorake MK5 - a self-propelled heavy duty scarifier for the removal and control of thatch.</p><p>The GIS attracts visitors from not just across the US but also Europe, Asia and South America and offers leading manufacturers the opportunity to put the best machinery in front of a worldwide audience.</p><p>As Dennis and SISIS continue to fly the flag for British turf maintenance equipment, their appearance at global exhibitions such as GIS, is testament to its commitment and rapid growth in the export market.</p><p>For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on Twitter @DennisMowers and SISIS @SISISMachinery. You can like the Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK and www.facebook.com/SISISMachinery. You can also view the latest Dennis and SISIS videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers and www.youtube.com/SISISMachinery.</p></div>Limagrain BTME GoPro Competition Winner Announcedhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/limagrain-btme-gopro-competition-winner-announced2015-02-26T15:47:24.000Z2015-02-26T15:47:24.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>Limagrain UK has announced Simon White, head greenkeeper of the Chase Golf Club in Staffordshire, as the winner of its GoPro camera competition.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314767839?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314767839?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>The competition was part of Limagrain UK’s appearance at BTME which also saw the launch of three new Limagrain catalogues; the market leading MM grass seed mixtures, the Designer range of amenity grass seed and Limagrain’s Colour Splash flower mixtures.</p><p>Visitors to Limagrain’s stand at BTME simply had to fill out a form for their chance to win the GoPro camera – an Emmy Award winning product renowned for stunning image quality and powerful features. The draw was made two weeks later and Simon’s name was pulled out of the hat as the lucky winner.</p><p>Simon entered the competition after visiting the Limagrain stand to find out more about the extensive range of products which have helped improve a number of golf courses throughout the UK.</p><p>Set deep in the heart of the beautiful Staffordshire countryside, the Chase Golf Club will provide Simon with ample opportunity to put his new GoPro camera to use. Also, as a keen mountain biker Simon plans to take it with him on some of his adventures.</p><p>For further information, please contact Limagrain UK on 01472 371471 or visit the company’s website www.limagrain.co.uk. You can also follow the company on Twitter: @MM_Seed</p></div>Replay Maintenance Play Their Part in Landmark FA Cup Tiehttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/replay-maintenance-play-their-part-in-landmark-fa-cup-tie2014-12-09T11:49:27.000Z2014-12-09T11:49:27.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>The 1st round of the FA Cup recently made its debut on a 3G artificial pitch between Maidstone and Stevenage with synthetic surface maintenance specialists Replay Maintenance playing a key part in the historic game.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314764054?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314764054?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-left"/></a>Following the Football Association’s decision to allow the use of 3G pitches at every stage of the competition, the first ever FA Cup game, which was also live on BT Sport, took place at the Gallagher Stadium - home of Ryman League side Maidstone United. The pitch is certified to the FIFA 2 star standard - the highest rating, and is awarded to artificial pitches that are deemed suitable for professional football.</p><p>It was also a monumental moment for Replay Maintenance. The company carries out their Revive Plus+ process on the pitch four times per year to ensure that the pitch is always in pristine condition. The company were also on hand to support the club in the run up to 1st round replay being played.</p><p>The unique Replay Revive process extends the life of a synthetic sports pitch and minimises the risk of injury to players by improving surface grip and reducing compaction. It uses a specially developed, single operator machine to remove contaminants from a rubber infill surface. Rotary brushes penetrate deeper into the infill compared to static brushes, which are commonly used, breaking up the contamination and removing it with a powerful vacuum filter system for disposal off-site. The rubber in-fill is then filtered before it is distributed back onto the surface. It helps reduce compaction of the surface and lifts the pile of the carpet whilst enhancing its porosity and helps maintain the playing characteristics.</p><p>Commenting on Replay Maintenance’s part in the cup fixture, managing director Garry Martin said: “We enjoy working with Maidstone United’s stadium manager John Harvey along with everyone else involved. We take great pride in all of our work and are extremely proud to have played a part in such a historic moment in the oldest football competition in the world.”</p><p>The FA recently announced plans to invest in new and improved facilities which will include more investment into 3G pitches. These facilities will help develop better players and the key to making sure they perform as designed will be regular maintenance procedures. Mark Pover, National Facilities manager at the FA, recognises the importance of such procedures and praised Replay Maintenance and the Club for their approach and the importance they place on the maintenance programme at the Gallagher Stadium.</p><p>“It was a landmark occasion for a 3G pitch to be used at this stage of the FA Cup. We are always reminding owners and operators of 3G pitches that 3G pitches need to be maintained regularly and reflect the programme of use. Maidstone United are a club that have a very good maintenance programme. . Clearly, Replay Maintenance have helped compliment what the club do on a daily basis to get the best out of the pitch and the best performance from it,” he said.</p><p>Head of community and Gallagher stadium manager at Maidstone Utd, John Harvey, also highlighted the fundamental role Replay Maintenance play in maintaining the longevity of the pitch.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314763997?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="350" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314763997?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350" class="align-right"/></a>“We’ve got a great working relationship with Replay Maintenance. The big factor for us is that they are a recognised contractor and are supporting the FA in establishing a 3G register of accredited pitches. They provide us with advice and carry out the maintenance work that is required. Not only are they integral to our support and maintenance programme but their work is absolutely vital to maintaining the FIFA 2 star recommendation,” he said.</p><p>Maidstone United was the first football club in Britain to develop a purpose built stadium using a 3G pitch. Aside from being the first team’s home pitch, the surface is used for UEFA training courses and is played on by a number of community teams as well as businesses and schools. The extra usage on the pitch in between Maidstone Utd’s home fixtures enables the club to generate additional revenue - something which John believes is a great business model to replicate.</p><p>“Our pitch is hired out for 50 hours each week. It’s unbelievable – you wouldn’t get that on a grass pitch this time of year. The future of 3G pitches is a no-brainer really – especially for clubs like us. Personally, I think it’s a great business model.</p><p>“We’ve maximised the life of the pitch through the work and advice from Replay Maintenance and as long as we keep maintaining it, then from the club’s point of view, it’s a revenue lifeline.”</p><p>For further information, please contact Replay Maintenance on 01636 640 506 or visit the company’s website www.replaymaintenance.co.uk. You can also follow the company on Twitter: @ReplayMaintain</p></div>Complete Weed Control at BTME 2015https://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/complete-weed-control-at-btme-20152014-12-09T09:31:00.000Z2014-12-09T09:31:00.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>Complete Weed Control (CWC), the UK’s largest weed control contractor, will be at BTME 2015. Visitors to the Harrogate exhibition will be able to find out more about the specialist services on offer by visiting stand C48.</p><p>The company will once again be holding 'The Stig Driving Challenge' at BTME where visitors will be invited to set a 'hot lap' on the Top Gear track. The CWC Stig will set the 'to beat time' each morning with prizes being offered for the fastest time set from each day.</p><p>The company, which has over 50 offices throughout the UK and Ireland and also operates its exceptional franchise scheme, began its war on weeds in 1972. In the years that followed, Complete Weed Control went from strength to strength and demonstrated its commitment to spearheading the marketplace by investing heavily in research and development.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314763737?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="450" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314763737?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="450" class="align-left"/></a>Complete Weed Control’s technical expertise has been recognised throughout the UK and has resulted in many golf clubs turning to the company to keep their courses in pristine condition. With an extensive range of services available including moss control, weed control, disease management and cosmetic spraying, it’s no wonder that some of the UK’s most prestigious clubs have chosen Complete Weed Control.</p><p>The technology of weed control and spraying applications is quite sophisticated these days and knowing when and how to apply the appropriate product is absolutely vital as it can speed up eradication and save time and money. All of Complete Weed Control’s work is undertaken by a rigorously trained and experienced team who adhere to strict health & safety guidelines.<br/>It is this professionalism which ensures that course greens, tees and fairways look their best at all times.<br/>A number of Complete Weed Control’s experienced staff members will be on hand at BTME to offer valuable advice to all attendees. Although we are into the dark mornings and evenings, pests and diseases don't stop for a holiday- in fact, they become more active; so why not visit stand C48 to receive some fantastic tips on tackling winter conditions?</p><p>With winter in mind, more information will be available on Complete Ice Control; which was formed in response to the overwhelming need for a professional, reliable and trusted local gritting service to deal with snow and ice worries using the best tools and technology available.</p><p>For more information, please contact Complete Weed Control’s National office on 01325 324 277 or visit www.completeweedcontrol.co.uk</p><p>You can also follow Complete Weed Control on Twitter @CWCLimited and view the company’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/completeweedcontrol1</p></div>