Tag Archive for: Tree

Carnoustie Golf Links Plants 1000th Tree

Carnoustie Golf Links Plants 1000th Tree: On Thursday 25th May 2023, Pat Sawers (Lord Lieutenant of Angus), Brian Boyd, Provost of Angus and Councillor David Cheape planted the 1000th sapling into the ground on The Carnoustie Buddon Course. In attendance was Michael Wells (Chief Executive of Carnoustie Golf Links), Craig Boath (Head of Sustainability at Carnoustie Golf Links), Simon Inger and Steven Reid (Seagreen) and local children from Carlogie and Burnside schools.

In 2018 Carnoustie Golf Links began working with Seagreen, a joint venture project between SSE Renewables and TotalEnergies, on a development that will provide Scotland, and the wider UK, with critical green infrastructure and will become Scotland’s largest and the world’s deepest offshore wind farm, helping to meet Scotland’s net-zero targets and tackle climate change. Part of this project required Carnoustie to fell or transplant 200 trees from the route along the new cables. In agreement with Angus Council, Carnoustie Golf Links were required to re-plant one tree for every tree that was felled. The Links then went one step further, not only committing to replacing all trees felled, but to plant a total of 1000 new trees across the courses.

Carnoustie Golf Links Plants 1000th Tree

Carnoustie Golf Links Plants 1000th Tree

Craig Boath, Head of Sustainability at Carnoustie Golf Links said: “We are dedicated to contributing to the natural environment of our courses. With an abundance of wildlife calling the Links ‘home’, we want to make sure that we both protect what we already have and enhance the eco-system for the future. Although there were a few delays on the way, the Seagreen Project felt a very natural opportunity to combine with and deliver our own planting project.”

The new trees at the Links will offset approx. 1,610 tonnes of carbon over their lifetime of roughly 40 years, helping the Links on their way to achieving their ambition of becoming a Carbon Net-Zero organisation.

Michael Wells, Chief Executive of Carnoustie Golf Links said: “Carnoustie Golf Links is dedicated to doing the right thing for our local community and the natural habitats that surround us. We took a big step this year in appointing the brand-new role of Head of Sustainability, a position focused on ensuring that we are doing all that we can to protect and enhance our environment. This tree planting project is one that the whole team have got behind, with many of our staff helping in the planting efforts and leaving a small but significant legacy on the Links.”

Seagreen’s Onshore Project Manager, Steven Reid said: “We have formed a good partnership with Carnoustie Golf Links as we have tried to minimise the impact and disturbance felt during the construction works of Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm, Seagreen. We’re pleased to have helped contribute to the number of trees being planted across the course at Carnoustie and to the overall ecology of the Golf Links as part of our project works.”

Carnoustie once again aims to lead the way, this time in the sustainability aspect of the business. The new Head of Sustainability role is a first for Carnoustie, and a rare position within the sport of golf.

Pat Sawers, Lord Lieutenant of Angus and past Chairman of CGLMC Ltd said: “As a current Season Ticket Holder at Carnoustie Golf Links, it’s wonderful to know that the team at the Links are taking the sustainability and ecology of the golf courses seriously. If we want our courses to flourish well into the future, we know that they need to be looked after, and should work harmoniously within the eco-system. It is a great honour to be involved in planting the 1000th tree in this admirable project.”

Brian Boyd, Provost of Angus said “I am extremely honoured to have the opportunity to plant the 1000th tree here at Carnoustie. The Links are very well placed to make a significant impact on the local natural environment and it’s excellent to see the great work that’s going on down here. I know that this is not the end of the tireless environmental work that is happening across the organisation and I look forward to seeing more projects like this coming to fruition in the future.”

Councillor David Cheape said: I am very proud to see a project like this taking place in my home town. As Convenor of Carnoustie Golf Links Community Benefits Programme, I often get to see much of the good work that goes on here at Carnoustie, and this is another project that I’m delighted to be part of. The golf courses at Carnoustie are excellent natural habitats and I hope that these new trees will benefit not only the wildlife on the courses, but also enhance the vistas for all of the local people who walk the courses.

In a bid to contribute further to the area of sustainability within the golf industry, Carnoustie are currently working with Bob Taylor and Sophie Olejnik, Ecological Consultants from The R&A with the purpose of delivering an exciting new 5-year project which has the aim of demonstrating the biodiversity value of golf courses. The R&A Sustainable Championship Agronomy Team have selected a series of exemplar Championship venues for this project to be undertaken, one of which is Carnoustie Golf Links. Although the study was to be contained only over The Carnoustie Championship Course, the scope has been widened to cover the whole estate. Carnoustie hopes to help by providing further evidence to illustrate that golf is good for the maintenance of natural habitats and biodiversity. The project will consist of a series of surveys including wildlife audits and habitat condition assessments. The information gathered will be used to inform the management of habitats to further enhance the golf course, and to develop a monitoring plan to be delivered over four years focussing on different groups of population across mammals, plants, invertebrates, herpetofauna (amphibians and reptiles) and birds. It is hoped that the project will be able to truly quantify the ecological value of golf.

Carnoustie Golf Links is not new to contributing to the nature on the courses, over the years, the Links have carried out a wealth of environmental projects with some highlights including Operation Pollinator – where wildflower seeds were sown throughout the courses (on areas out with play) and kidney vetch planting – to help encourage more Small Blue Butterflies to the area. Both projects were carried out with help from the local primary schools. Sea Pea planting has also taken place in conjunction with Dundee Botanic Gardens. Furthermore, managed turf areas have been cut down to increase habitat corridors and the acquisition of an Eco Green Composter has helped recycle turf, soil, and sand to create a great growing medium for future works on the Links.

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Green-tech Specifier launch Urban Tree Planting Cell System

Green-tech Specifier launch Urban Tree Planting Cell System: At 10am this morning (Tuesday 7th March) Green-tech Specifier launched their new urban tree planting cell system – TreeParker®, at the FutureBuild 2023 exhibition.

TreeParker® is a versatile urban tree planting cell system from TreeBuilders, a manufacturer of innovative tree planting systems, and will be distributed in the UK exclusively by Green-tech.

Green-tech Specifier launch Urban Tree Planting Cell System

Green-tech Specifier launch Urban Tree Planting Cell System

Speaking on behalf of Green-tech, Business Development Director Mark Wood comments, “I am delighted to announce that we have expanded our urban tree planting offering with the addition of TreeParker® – a modular structural soil cell system for planting trees in city centres and other urban environments. Our corporate vision and values are aligned with TreeBuilders and our collaborative approach to this joint venture is exciting for the industry.  The TreeParker® cellular system offers superior functionality and is a smart combination of Green, Grey and Blue. The system has already proven itself in numerous projects throughout Europe and the Middle East, so I am thrilled that its addition completes the urban tree portfolio for Green-tech Specifier, making this a unique offering to the UK market with a full product offering to satisfy any urban tree planting need.”

TreeParker® has been developed from extensive trials, projects and feedback from landscape architects, clients, contractors, and nurseries to provide the most cost-effective, fit-for-purpose solution for growing large trees in urban environments.

The system provides optimum rooting space below pavements subjected to heavy traffic loads. It maximises the space available for the growing media and is in contact with surrounding soil to ensure a natural growth environment.

Through a simple and smart design, the TreeParker® system can be installed into any tree planting space. It is easy to customise a tree pit design to meet individual needs, working just like a LEGO system. Each independent unit has sufficient load-bearing capacity, so units do not need to be linked. The load is transferred from the pavement to underlying foundations via the system and avoids soil compaction to ensure optimum root growth.

The TreeParker® system can accommodate variable heights between 400mm and 1500mm. Its top 10 benefits include:

  1. Support heavy traffic loads (up to 550 kPa and an axle load of up to 15 tonnes) whilst maintaining pavement integrity.
  2. Providing unhindered root growth for large species of trees.
  3. Quick and cost-effective installation and is easy to fill with soil.
  4. Made from 100% recyclable, long-lasting and inert plastics.
  5. Modular system for design flexibility.
  6. It can be installed in curves down to a 5m radius without additional products.
  7. Utility friendly – the open structure is easily adjusted on site to accommodate new and existing utilities and provides easy access for utility maintenance and repair.
  8. Combines stormwater management and root growth, up to 25% of the volume is available for water infiltration.
  9. Up to 95% volume available for soil infill.
  10. Withstands vertical and lateral loads.

Elco van Uden, Managing Director from manufacturer TreeBuilders, adds, “I am delighted to be working with Green-tech to bring TreeParker® to the UK market. Our two companies share a similar philosophy and are closely aligned in the way we do business and our passion for innovation and offering customers a robust and flexible solution to urban tree planting challenges.”

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Green-tech’s urban tree system

Green-tech’s urban tree system: The Battery Retail Park at Selley Oak is located on the former site of the Birmingham Battery and Metal Company steel factory, first established in 1798. The term battery, referring to the method of forming metal, not the manufacture of batteries as commonly thought.

Located approximately three miles from Birmingham city centre, the site has undergone a recent refurbishment, including the development of a new retail park, Sainsburys Superstore, and student accommodation, all sited around the main customer carpark.

Green-tech’s urban tree system

Green-tech’s urban tree system

A major part of the project for the contractors was the reclamation of the ground and cleaning up a very toxic site, before any development could commence.

Green-tech’s involvement:

The project comprised of nearly forty tree pits over two phases between 2018 and 2020. The first phase was contracted to Bernhards Landscapes of Warwickshire, and the second to McPhillips (Wellington) of Shropshire; both of which Green-tech has worked with for around fifteen years.

The tree pits were set into soft central reservations around the main car parking area, although to get the required rooting volume to ensure healthy establishment and future growth, the tree pits extended out under the parking bays to some extent.

Green-tech has been manufacturing its range of Green-tree soil for nearly twenty years, and over 400 tonnes of clean, manufactured ArborRaft topsoil, and subsoil was supplied for the tree pits. In order to use a nice friable, organic topsoil underneath the paving, the contractors opted for Green-tech’s ArborRaft tree pit support system, rather than a traditional, plastic-heavy, deep-pit system.

The ArborRaft acts as a sub-base replacement, supporting the paving above, pedestrian, or vehicular, whilst protecting the soft soil below from risk of compaction. It has three big advantages over traditional deep-pit crate systems. Firstly – it sits over the top of the tree pit, taking its structural support from a 500mm wide ledge cut into the surrounding formation ground, meaning there is no plastic whatsoever in the actual rooting area of the tree pit. Secondly – its shallow profile, just 150mm deep means that there is rarely any conflict with underground services, it isn’t deep enough. And third – ArborRaft uses less than a third of the plastic of traditional crate-style tree pit systems, so it’s better for the budget and the environment.

Each tree pit also contains a strap anchor to keep the trees stable during the all-important establishment phase, along with a mona irrigation rings. In this instance, to provide even more protection from the risk of vehicular damage, the trees were also stabilised with double-staking, cross-bar, and soft rubber ties.

Alasdair Innes – Green-tech Specification Advisor comments, “We were delighted to contribute to such a high-profile scheme. We recently visited the site nearly four years after the first trees were planted, and although it was autumn, the trees still look happy and healthy. It is nice to see Silver Birch being used, as the white bark helps to lift the muted colours of the ground planting.”

For any further product information or to request a CPD in person or remotely on any of our urban or rural modules please contact Green-tech on 01423 332100

green-tech.co.uk

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Expanded GreenMech fleet for Woodworks Tree Surgery

Expanded GreenMech fleet for Woodworks Tree Surgery: For Nick Hosking it’s Woodworks by name and woodworks by nature as he tackles all manner of tree surgery tasks – with the trusted assistance of two GreenMech woodchippers!

The most recent addition to his fleet is an EVO 205D SAFE-Trak, which was purchased on the GreenMech stand at APF in September, and sits alongside the QuadTrak 160 for complete versatility on both domestic and commercial jobs.

Expanded GreenMech fleet for Woodworks Tree Surgery

Expanded GreenMech fleet for Woodworks Tree Surgery

Nick established the company 20 years ago and works with, and as, a subcontractor for a number of clients in and around Flintshire, North Wales and NW England including large-scale construction contracts for Hanson UK and the Breedon Group. “I’ve used chippers from GreenMech for the last seven years now, starting with a turntable QuadTrak 160 and trailer which caught my eye at APF many years ago and gives me enhanced manoeuvrability and flexibility for tasks on the kerbside” explains Nick. “Impressed with the performance of this machine, I then invested in a SAFE-Trak 19-28 as a bigger, more versatile workhorse.”

It was again at APF that Nick sealed the deal on his latest purchase, a 205D SAFE-Trak from GreenMech’s EVO series, purchased through dealers GA Groundcare. “Going from the 19-28 model to the 205D SAFE-Trak was a natural progression – this machine is newer, bigger, more reliable and more powerful.” At its heart is a Stage-V Compliant 50hp Kubota diesel engine, delivering powerful chipping performance for bulky brash and timber of up to 8”. Underneath the robust, steel chassis is GreenMech’s patented SAFE-Trak system which incorporates two independently adjustable track legs providing ground clearance of up to 530mm and allows the safe traversing of slopes up to 35o.

“With GreenMech you know you’re going to get machines that do exactly what they say on the tin. Having said that, there’s a few new features on the EVO 205D I really like namely the more powerful throw and the Smart Sense controller which automatically reduces engine revs and then ramps them up again when you start feeding material in. It’s also much quicker and easier to service. Since taking delivery in October 2022 it’s been on jobs of all shapes and sizes, most recently a roadside clearance project for Hanson, and it’s taken everything in its stride.”

He continues, “Together with the performance, the thing that keeps me coming back to GreenMech is the people. I know if I come across an issue, there are three or four people I can phone who are all very knowledgeable and will go out of their way to resolve it for you. Back up support and service like that goes a long way in this industry.”

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Agrovista Amenity launches biodegradable tree guards

Agrovista Amenity launches biodegradable tree guards: Agrovista Amenity has announced the launch of Tree Hugger™ Biodegradable Shelters – a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to plastic tree shelters or guards.

Made from organic cotton encapsulated in renewable pine tree rosin, the Tree Hugger™ Biodegradable Shelters have a minimum 5-year lifespan giving the tree valuable protection during its critical establishment period. They will completely biodegrade at the end of their lifespan meaning that the removal of single use plastic shelters is no longer required, saving time and money, and ultimately reducing the amount of plastic waste that is left in the environment.

Agrovista Amenity launches biodegradable tree guards

Agrovista Amenity launches biodegradable tree guards

The woven material structure provides strong protection against damage from grazing animals but is gentle on the plant offering little friction which could cause damage to the newly planted whip.

Agrovista Amenity has partnered with BMP Europe, the inventor and manufacturer of the Tree Hugger™, and will be exclusively distributing the product.

Commenting on the partnership and the product, Ed Smith, Landscape Team Manager for Agrovista Amenity, said:

“BMP Europe has a rich history in processing polymers and textile materials and has manufactured a product of the highest quality which meets all the criteria of a biodegradable guard. Our visions align – we have established a great partnership and we are looking forward to where we can take it.

“Plastic guards are further adding to a growing problem which is plastic pollution in the environment and there is a big movement towards sustainable planting.”

Agrovista Amenity launches biodegradable tree guards

Agrovista Amenity launches biodegradable tree guards

Tree Hugger™ Biodegradable Shelters are available in two different heights: 0.6m which protect against small browsing animals such as rabbits and 1.2m which protect against larger grazing animals such as deer. There is a choice of two ties – a releasable tie, which is nylon and can be recycled and reused, and a metal tie which will biodegrade. Furthermore, unique laser etching is available for company / customer logos.

Agrovista Amenity also distributes WhiptecBio tree and hedge guards which offer a smaller alternative to the Tree Hugger™ Biodegradable Shelters. The WhiptecBio guards are made from recycled material, are 100% sustainable, have an estimated lifespan of 2-4 growing seasons and do not require clips or ties.

A video introducing Tree Hugger™ Biodegradable Shelters can be viewed here.

More information on WhiptecBio tree and hedge guards can be viewed here.

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

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Terrain Aeration launches Tree Division

Terrain Aeration launches Tree Division: David Churchyard has joined Terrain Aeration Services to head up the new Terrain Aeration Tree Division. The company has been treating trees for over thirty years and sees this as an opportunity to expand their specialist service. David brings an extensive wealth of knowledge regarding pests, diseases and fungal growths to trees as well as turf.

He was employed as a head forester for twenty-one years on a 6000 acre estate where he was involved in working on and looking after all aspects of the estate’s extensive woodlands. This covered planting heritage oaks, caring for the veteran 900-year-old trees and drawing up management plans for current and future works. To increase his knowledge over the years, David has taken part in many lectures and courses on veteran trees in various locations, including Windsor Castle estate. He also took part in a film on AOD (Acute Oak Decline), the relatively new disease that began affecting many British oak trees since the last quarter of the 20th century. Climate changes are strongly affecting our trees and helping keep them alive is now a priority and one which David relishes in having a key role in.

Terrain Aeration launches Tree Division

Terrain Aeration launches Tree Division

Terrain Aeration’s Terralift machine is recognised by Tree Officers as a solution to deep aeration and relief of compaction panning around tree roots. The Terralift is the only machine which can aerate around the root zone and put oxygen back into the soil. It breaks up compaction and panning, providing relief from waterlogging and the danger of the waterborne disease Phytophthora. Terrain Aeration’s Tree Division can inspect and advise on suitable treatment without exposing entire areas of tree roots, which may cause undue stress to the trees. One metre deep penetration aeration treatment is used around trees and to treat compacted turf and grass areas. David has joined Terrain to head and expand the division and to get the critical message out there that “it’s the roots that are the root of the problem!” Many trees of all ages are struggling with compaction. This means that essential nutrients are not getting down to the life-giving area of the tree. The message is simple, take care of the bottom-the roots-and the top of the tree will look after itself.

Terrain Aeration 01449 673783 www.terrainaeration.com

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BIGGA launches ‘Plant a Tree for BTME’

BIGGA launches ‘Plant a Tree for BTME’: The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) has launched a new scheme that will see exhibitors at its annual trade show and education conference encouraged to ‘Plant a Tree for BTME’.

The 2022 edition of the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME) was held from 22 to 24 March at the Harrogate Convention Centre, but is anticipated to return to its regular January date in 2023. Exhibitors who sign up to attend the 2023 event will be given the option of purchasing a tree, to be planted at a nominated golf course.

BIGGA launches ‘Plant a Tree for BTME’

BIGGA launches ‘Plant a Tree for BTME’

It is hoped that over the years sufficient trees will be planted to create a network of ‘BTME community woodlands’ around the UK, with Harrogate Golf Club the first club to participate in the scheme.

With individual trees capturing up to 1 tonne of carbon dioxide from our air over its lifetime, the scheme will raise awareness of the carbon footprint generated by major events such as BTME and be a flagship initiative as BIGGA seeks to improve its sustainable practices, as is echoed at forward-thinking golf facilities everywhere.

BIGGA Membership Services Manager for Sustainability James Hutchinson said: “The idea of planting trees as a means of offsetting carbon generated by people travelling to attend BTME was first proposed by a BIGGA member a couple of months ago and it is something that struck me as making a lot of sense. Those who know me know that I’m a dendrophile – I love trees – and as we explored the possibility further we uncovered schemes such as the National Trust’s pledge to plant 20 million trees by 2030, so it just made a lot of sense to get involved.

“It is always important to take great care when selecting what trees to plant on a golf course as not all species are appropriate or will generate the desired result, but by working with courses that are eager to create areas of woodland for the wider community, we believe this scheme will help to raise awareness of the good work that golf courses are doing to protect the natural environment.”

Harrogate Golf Club’s course manager, Ken Ward, said: “An old employer of mine once told me, ‘we’re just custodians of this land’. That rang true with me. We’re not here for that long but we want to leave it in a better place than we found it. This is an opportunity to get our members and two local primary schools involved with a project on the golf course, which is a fantastic thing.”

Plant a Tree for BTME is just one of a number of initiatives that BIGGA has undertaken to reduce the carbon footprint of BTME. BTME returns from 24 to 26 January 2023 at the Harrogate Convention Centre. The event is free to attend and for more information visit www.btme.org.uk

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Agrovista Amenity celebrates National Tree Week

Agrovista Amenity celebrates National Tree Week: After joining The Tree Council as a Jubilee Partner, Agrovista Amenity recently participated in a planting day to celebrate National Tree Week.

The Tree Council is an official delivery partner of The Queen’s Green Canopy, which is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

Agrovista Amenity celebrates National Tree Week

Agrovista Amenity celebrates National Tree Week

By becoming one of the Jubilee Partners, Agrovista Amenity will be playing an integral role in planting trees and hedgerows in honour of Her Majesty’s service to the nation, creating a lasting legacy which will benefit future generations for years to come.

The aim is to achieve the planting of an incredible 35,000 trees and 7 kilometres of hedgerows.

Agrovista Amenity recently celebrated its Jubilee Partner status during National Tree Week by attending a planting day which took place in Bicester in Oxfordshire. The Agrovista Amenity team joined 50 other volunteers who also came from corporate partner organisations.

Together the volunteers planted along a riverbank and a bridleway, creating connectivity for local wildlife as well as helping introduce all the other benefits that trees and hedgerows can bring, such as pollution mitigation and flood prevention. Species included hawthorn, blackthorn, white poplar, holly, oak and more in an incredible 183 metres of hedgerow.

Furthermore, the volunteers planted some rare black poplar trees, of which there are only 10,000 of these left in the UK – so it was encouraging to be boosting their numbers.

Ed Smith, Landscape Team Manager for Agrovista Amenity, was delighted to play a part in the planting day.

Agrovista Amenity celebrates National Tree Week

Agrovista Amenity celebrates National Tree Week

“The positive work that The Tree Council and so many volunteers have undertaken to restore woodland and hedgerows as part of a greener future has been amazing,” he said.

“Our planet is changing and joining The Tree Council on their planting day was a great opportunity to practice what we preach. Not only are we planting to make positive changes for the future, but we are making these changes in the most sustainable way possible.”

Cat Gransden, Development Manager for The Tree Council, said: “We’re so grateful to Agrovista for attending our planting day and for being part of our Jubilee Partner programme. Together, we’re creating an environmental and cultural legacy in honour of Her Majesty’s historic 70 years of service and growing a greener future for all of us. It is thanks to our incredible corporate partners, like Agrovista, that we’re able to plant, protect and promote so many trees and hedgerows. Working together for the love of trees allows us to achieve great things, and green-hearted corporate heroes help us to create a healthy, tree-filled future for our planet. Thank you.”

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

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EVO 165DT keeps S P Tree & Landscaping on track

EVO 165DT keeps S P Tree & Landscaping on track: Wiltshire based S P Tree & Landscaping have recently taken delivery of a brand-new EVO 165DT woodchipper from GreenMech, to keep pace with growing demand from commercial customers.

After running a GreenMech SAFE-Trak unit for several years, Owner Steven Parker decided to invest in the 6” EVO 165DT to benefit from increased processing power – on par with the performance of their existing 8” road-tow machine!

EVO 165DT keeps S P Tree & Landscaping on track

EVO 165DT keeps S P Tree & Landscaping on track

With a client base ranging from domestic customers to commercial outfits, parish councils and building firms, S P Tree & Landscaping often require a tracked chipper for speed and ease of access. Steven explained, “I looked around at the tracked offerings from various manufacturers and was almost ready to commit to another brand when Ashley Stevens of GA Groundcare Ltd demoed the EVO 165DT for us. I was really impressed by the brute strength and performance of it, which, combined with the after-sales support we’ve always had from GA Groundcare Ltd, sealed the deal.”

The addition of twin-drive horizontally extending tracks makes the EVO 165DT the perfect ‘go-anywhere’ woodchipper. The track system provides ground clearance of 194mm and a tracking speed of 3.2kph to provide the operator with optimal manoeuvrability and stability when working on uneven ground. As with the other models in the GreenMech EVO series, the 165DT features a wide infeed chute, twin horizontal feed rollers and a heavy-duty flywheel which delivers unparalleled processing power for a machine in its category.

“The work that’s gone into the new EVO range is evident” Steven explains. “A lot of thought around the design and the accessibility of all the controls has made the EVO 165DT incredibly user-friendly – all of my team love using it. The position of the infeed controls in particular make a huge difference, and the ability to reverse bulky material out is great. Compared to our SAFE-Trak, it’s also smaller and lighter to navigate when on site.”

He adds, “Since we took delivery of this machine in September 2021, it’s processed everything we’ve needed it to and performance-wise, it’s been keeping up with our 8” woodchipper which is seriously impressive.”

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Biodegradable tree guards reduce environmental impact

Biodegradable tree guards reduce environmental impact: A NEW RANGE of biodegradable guards are now available, helping to reduce the environmental impact of planting new whips and improving landscape management.

WhiptecBio tree and hedge guards are made from recycled material and are 100% sustainable, biodegradable and compostable. Developed with expert arboriculturists during the past 14 years, the guards have been successfully trialled in a range of scenarios and are now available exclusively from Agrovista Amenity.

Biodegradable tree guards reduce environmental impact

Biodegradable tree guards reduce environmental impact

Landscape Team Manager for Agrovista Amenity, Ed Smith, said: “Although they play a vital role in establishing young saplings, there has also been some negativity surrounding tree guards and their impact on the environment.

“The majority are single-use and not always removed once the tree or hedge has established, leaving micro plastics in the ground and posing a risk to wildlife if ingested.

“The new WhiptecBio range is a great solution. They offer all the usual benefits of plastic tree guards such as improved establishment and protection from grazing animals, whilst also being kinder to the environment.”

The average lifespan of the WhiptecBio range is around 3-4 years, due to the product containing a natural additive that makes the guards biodegradable and compostable. Flat packed and easy to install, the guards are secured with a cane, negating the need for plastic ties.

An additional benefit of the product degrading naturally is there is no need to remove the guards – easing the burden on landscape management and improving workload efficiency.

Ed added: “Tree planting is firmly on the Government’s agenda in order to offset carbon emissions and improve the UK’s sustainable credentials.

“Trees are also often planted to restrict flooding and are therefore near to watercourses. In those instances, using WhiptecBio tree guards is even more important to reduce the risk of plastics entering watercourses and damaging our ecosystem.

“Of course, there will be instances where traditional plastic tree guards are more suitable, such as if they are required for a longer period of time. But, it’s paramount that in those cases, the guards are removed once the trees have successfully established.

“As landscape professionals, we all have a role to play in reducing the environmental impact associated with our work. Something as simple as improving our use of tree guards will be a considerable contribution.”

WhiptecBio tree guards are manufactured by Ezee Tree and available to purchase through Agrovista Amenity.

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

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