On Friday 10th February, Agrigem opened its doors for the official opening of ‘Gem House’. Guests attended a champagne reception before the unveiling and a grand tour of Agrigem’s new 6000sqft office and warehouse headquarters.

The building was opened by the chairman of the Amenity Forum, Professor John Moverley OBE. John was chosen for this role as he plays a key part within the amenity agrochemical and horticultural Industry and after the continued support he has shown Agrigem over the years, he was proud to have been asked to do the job.

Agrigem have invested £750,000 in the relocation of its headquarters and includes 4000sqft of specialist racked warehouse space to house 185,000 litres of hazardous product; and 2000sqft of office space which is designed to accommodate 15 full time employees. Founded by Managing Director Kieran Would in 2013 Kieran Said “This is an incredibly exciting time for my team whose hard work has made it all possible; we have seen exponential growth over the last three years and we are confident that the relocation can continue this.’’

Earlier this month, The Amenity Forum announced their 2017 conference date. An event which has become a must attend for all involved or with an interest in weed, pest and disease management. It will take place on Thursday, October 12th, at the Pirelli Stadium, Burton on Trent, and is set to be as big as last years!

The conference is entitled ‘Keeping Britain Moving’ and speakers will address the key issues in the sector. Speakers include John Parker, who works for Transport for London, who will address the issue of keeping our cities moving. Colin Mumford from Bayer will speak on the ‘appliance of science’ and Professor Alan Gange will take a specific look at biological control linked to his research programme at Royal Holloway University of London. A leading head groundsman will give his views on the pressures of producing high quality sports surfaces and a session led by two leading sector experts will pose the question ‘What is the future for weed, pest and disease management’.

The bunker is all dressed and the preparation completed just before the competition and then down comes the rain. At this time of year it can be anything from heavy showers to a hard, rain-driving storm and where does that leave you at the end of the day? With a bunker that needs a lot of work. One of the most useful tools for the golf course and greenkeepers is the BunkerMaster. Light in weight, and easy to carry around in a buggy or ATV, it’s the ideal solution for dressing a bunker in about a quarter of the time it takes with conventional tools. Those greenkeepers who use one swear by it. Even if bunker preparation is last minute it pays to have a BunkerMaster handy for sand trap restoration, working tight edges and banks. It will also deal with thick moss, thatch, overgrown grass and ingrained sand. The BunkerMaster aerates the top 36mm/1½” of sand but never aggressively digs in and it’s designed to work away from the operator for maximum control.

So you have a fast route after the rains to getting the bunker back into shape and ready for play. You have a choice of powerful commercial grade engines in the 4-stroke Honda 25cc or Subaru 35cc, and a powertrain that’s virtually indestructible. The speed and efficiency of the BunkerMaster translates into less effort required by staff and an improvement in productivity. Set that alongside the low initial outlay for the machine and it soon becomes clear there is a real financial benefit. While bunkers cover approximately only one or two percent of the course their upkeep can take as much as twenty-five percent of the greenkeeper’s resources.

There is no doubt the BunkerMaster will give you a fast return on your investment and make considerable savings in the long-term. It also comes with a five-year warranty in commercial use, which is an added benefit for additional peace of mind.