The Dennis Razor: The Ultimate Mower for Wycliffe Bowls Club

Wycliffe Bowls Club head greenkeeper Keith Freakley and his assistant Raymond John Carter have both praised their recently purchased Dennis Razor Ultra 560 for its ease of operation.

For the past six years, Keith has been looking after the stunning greens at Wycliffe Bowls Club, which can be found in Lutterworth, Leicestershire. As the club continued to grow and membership numbers soared, Keith brought in Raymond to take on the mowing responsibilities in order to enable Keith to concentrate on other areas of maintenance.

In taking their procedures to an even higher standard, Raymond was presented with a brand new Dennis Razor Ultra 560 cylinder mower – which made for the perfect start to his new role.

“The Razor Ultra has made life a lot easier for me. I was already familiar with Dennis, having used one of their machines at my previous club. That was an older model, which still worked a treat, but getting to use a brand new Dennis machine on my first day was just fantastic.”

“It is beautiful to handle, always starts with the first pull, and it cuts nice and even across the blade when you’re mowing. It also has a great roller to give you good runs on the green for that all important presentation.”

“I think it’s just perfect to use. It goes at a nice even pace and you can slow it down if you want to. In my opinion, it is the ultimate machine.”

The Razor Ultra 560 has been developed specifically to meet the demands of fine turf such as bowling greens, golf greens and cricket pitches. With a 560mm (22”) cutting width, the Razor Ultra 560 incorporates many key features including an 11 bladed cutting cylinder, ultra-short wheelbase for undulating surfaces, tungsten tipped groomer, compact handle design for extra maneuverability, click height adjusters and stub free transport wheels for easy transport from site to site.

Selected by many greenkeepers like Keith and Raymond for its quality of cut, the Razor Ultra 560 also boasts incredibly simple operation controls – something which Keith believes is essential.

“As a greenkeeper I don’t like anything too complicated – and in that respect the Razor Ultra is the best mower anyone could wish for. Before I purchased the machine I looked at other models but felt they were incredibly complicated to operate – I just couldn’t get on with them at all.”

“With the Razor Ultra it was totally the opposite. Instantly we saw how very easy it is to set it up and the click adjusters for a precise height of cut and controls are so easy that I think anyone could operate it.”

“The Razor Ultra is the first brand new mower the club has ever purchased – and the club has been going nearly 25 years. For that reason, we wanted to ensure we made the right decision and by all accounts we certainly did.”

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

Rigby Taylor Products Help Paul Thompson Present Pristine Pitches For Derby County FC

Paul ‘Tommo’ Thompson, head groundsman at Derby County Football Club’s Training Ground and Academy Centre, says he has been achieving “outstanding results” by using Rigby Taylor’s R14 100 per cent perennial ryegrass on a number of pitches.

R14 – which comprises the Columbine, Poseidon, Duparc and Berlioz 1 cultivars – offers a host of advanced and unique specialised characteristics including rapid establishment and high tolerance to wear and disease, plus all-year-round colour and the fact that pitches recover very quickly.

Rigby Taylor’s R seed range is pre-treated with Germin-8 – a unique treatment of a cocktail of speciality penetrating surfactants, nutrients, sugars and mycorrhizae to stimulate and support accelerated germination and emergence. And, as Tommo says, “I’ve never seen such excellent coverage, colour and density on the pitches, even in February”.

He continues: “We started trialling R14 on the three first team pitches three years ago when I moved here (from the club’s Pride Park Stadium, where I spent six years), for seeding at the annual renovations and for subsequent overseeding, usually around September/October. We’ve used it ever since on these pitches – and subsequently on the Under 23 show pitch and the Under 18 match pitch – because it’s proved so successful. The coverage is fantastic and so is the wear tolerance.”

Paul oversees a site that has a total of 15 pitches which includes 12 grass pitches and warm-up areas, plus three artificial surfaces.

“We had the first team pitches re-laid in 2106, by SISGrass,” he continues. “These rootzone surfaces were ready for an upgrade – hence the new pitches – but we’ve continued our R14 programme on the pitches and never looked back.”

Explaining that because the pitches are used every day of the week, Tommo and his team of six grounds staff – Deputy Head Daniel Tunnicliffe and groundsmen Daniel Elevy, Paul Hitchcock, Sam Morris, Curtis Neasham and Mike Vickers – follow a regular maintenance regime of aeration, fertilisation and treatments, as well as cutting routines (to 25 mm in summer/27-28 mm in winter) to consistently present first-class surfaces across the site.

Each summer, every surface is Koro’d or fraise mowed (by contractor Talbot Turf, the company which also renovates the stadium pitch and a company that Tommo works closely with throughout the season) and seeded with around 30 bags of R14, then in the September/October overseeded with another six bags.

“Presentation and playability are everything,” he says. “I need to ensure that at least three pitches are ready for use by 10.30am every day (plus Academy day release every Tuesday and Thursday), and our established maintenance routines – and a hard working grounds team –ensure that we meet that demand.”

Now 31 years of age, Tommo has been involved in groundsmanship all his working life, starting off by helping out at his local cricket club where he used to play. “I was about 14 then and it is thanks to the groundsman Lee Spendlove (now a groundsman in Scotland) that I entered the industry, with a contracting company, before joining Derby County FC as an assistant at the stadium.”

With such practical experience underpinned by NVQ Level 1, 2 and 3 accreditations – “I’m hoping to sign-up soon for Level 4” – Tommo says that while “the trick is always trying to stay one step ahead in terms of pitch usage and the weather,” he adds that perhaps the most valuable lesson he has learned is “if in doubt, don’t do it”.

The R14 seed mix, however, is not the only Rigby Taylor product that he uses to keep the surfaces in pristine condition. The list includes Apex Organic mini granular and the controlled–release PolyPro and Microflow liquid fertilisers, as well as Blockade-LX black layer treatment and Activate R biostimulant – which, he says, “has been instrumental in creating root growth of 180 mm”. He also uses the Mascot Hi-Aktiv Amenity glyphosate herbicide.

Rigby Taylor’s Impact Glider line marking machines and Impact XP paint, which won the Queen’s Award for Innovation, also play a key role in pitch presentation. Boasting speed of use, ease of application, long-lasting bright lines and cost savings, there’s no measuring or mixing with Impact XP – the 10-litre paint drum is simply loaded to the Impact Glider and up to eight standard size pitches can be marked without the need for re-filling.

“Another major benefit of dealing with Rigby Taylor is the fact that I know that the company’s sales representative Mike Brear is always available,” Tommo concludes. “It’s great to have someone effectively ‘on call’ to provide any back up that’s needed.”

Wembley pitch gets helping hand ahead of FA Cup semi-finals

A 10-year-old boy from Birmingham has played a major role in helping get the Wembley pitch ready for the two FA Cup semi-final showdowns this weekend.

The big guns are in town as Chelsea face a big London derby against title rivals Tottenham on Saturday, while Arsenal face Manchester City just 24 hours later.

The Wembley pitch will need to be in perfect condition and budding groundsman Harry Kness was given a once in a lifetime opportunity to work on the hallowed turf in the build-up to one of the biggest weekends in the football calendar.

Young Harry become something of a social media sensation when he was captured by his father Gerry, painting the white lines of his local pitch.

The Football Association spotted the video and invited him along to the national stadium to hold a master class with Wembley’s Head Groundsman Karl Standley.

Harry has played his part alongside Karl and his permanent team in getting the pitch in pristine condition for the two big games this weekend.

Sporting his own Wembley Stadium groundsman jumper, the 10 year old helped to paint the pitch markings and was then given an extra treat as he got his hands on the Emirates FA Cup trophy.

Kness said: “It started with me painting the lines of my local pitch. My dad put it on Twitter and quite a few people seemed to like it.

“I couldn’t believe it when my dad told me I was invited to come to Wembley. It’s been such a cool day.”

Wembley’s Head Groundsman was pleased to see Kness get his hands dirty and hopes he will become a big groundsman in the future.

Standley said: “The Emirates FA Cup Semi-Finals are two of the biggest events in our calendar and eyes from all over the world will be on our pitch this weekend.

“We were delighted to invite Harry to Wembley after noticing his diligence in painting his lines at his local pitch. It’s been great to introduce him to what we do and perhaps even inspire a groundsman of the future.”

Harry and dad Garry will return to Wembley on Saturday to watch the first of the Semi Finals, as Chelsea take on Tottenham Hotspur.

To read the original article, click here

Hybrid Pitch Technology Set To Revolutionise Football

Parched touchlines, bobbly goal mouths and penalties struck into Row Z – as entertaining as it might be for rival fans – are set to become a thing of the past.

Combining speed, mobility and laser precision, SIS Pitches’ game-changing hybrid pitch system, SISGrass Universal, is the latest addition to the company’s award-winning technology.

After a soft-launch at the Cobham training ground of Premier League highflyers Chelsea F.C. late last month, the global pitch specialists are now rolling out the compact machine for wider use.

SISGrass Universal is an advanced reinforced turf system featuring patented fibre injection technology, utilising yarn that is tested to FIFA recommendations, which offers increased pitch stability, more playing hours and faster recovery than 100% natural grass surfaces.

Just 1.20m wide, 2m in length and weighing a maximum of two tons, SISGrass Universal offers flexibility of stitching at every location quickly and accurately, with different depths, spacing or size using precise laser guidance, making it the perfect solution for groundskeepers who are challenged to maintain uniform grass quality in high-wear areas such as goalmouths, touchlines and warm up areas.

Phil Blackwell, UK Projects Director, commented: “On-going innovation, simplicity and a passion for performance is central to everything we do, and SISGrass Universal is the embodiment of that.

“We have taken the qualities of our award-winning flagship hybrid pitch system, SISGrass, to develop a fully electric, mobile and multifunctional machine open to football and a wider market, opening new possibilities for landscaping, golf, cricket and tennis. This is a unique and bespoke solution, that every club needs.”

SISGrass Universal is 100% electric, mobile and easy to transport. The machine is operated by two members of trained crew, under experienced supervision to deliver the best quality of reinforced turf surface, and is able to strengthen any natural grass surface such as:

  • Goalmouths
  • Touchlines
  • Warm up areas
  • Training grids
  • Golf tees
  • Tennis courts
  • Walkways
  • Cricket wickets and run-ups

ESSMA Pitch Management Workshop

The European Stadium & Safety Management Association (ESSMA) will assemble for the Pitch Management Workshop taking place at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, England, from May 10 to 11, 2017. Delegates will enjoy panel discussions, pitch visits and workshops, as well as in-depth presentations and a networking dinner.

Last year’s keynote speaker, John Ledwidge, Grounds Manager at Leicester City Football Club (LCFC) and his team will welcome ESSMA members to the King Power Stadium and LCFC training centre. Official host of the event is Jonathan Calderwood, Grounds Manager at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Chairman of the ESSMA Pitch Management Expert Group and member of the ESSMA Advisory Committee.

After last year’s edition in Paris, which drew 36 pitch industry experts, the ESSMA Pitch Management Workshop will now take players to the home of Leicester City, visiting both the King Power Stadium and the LCFC training centre.

About the event:

What: ESSMA Pitch Management Workshop

Where: Leicester, Leicester City Football Club (King Power Stadium and LCFC training centre)
Date: 10-11 May 2017

Goal: To share valuable content, organise discussions on the future of pitch management and create strong networking opportunities between pitch industry peers

Topics: Pitch renovation, tools & technology, player injury management, budget control (pitch management & finances), training centre pitch management and managing & delivering events

Speakers: Arsenal FC, Manchester City, Leicester City FC, Paris Saint-Germain, the Institute of Groundsmanship,..

Participants: Representatives of ESSMA Leagues, Federations, Clubs, Stadiums & Stadium Partners, Strategic Partners

More information:

Speaking after the 2016 Pitch Management Workshop, Jonathan Calderwood, Grounds Manager, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), said:
ESSMA’s Pitch Management Workshop is a perfect platform for all European Grounds Managers to come together to share ideas and knowledge. The pitch has become a very important part of the stadium and ESSMA is building up awareness of the Grounds Manager’s role and the industry as a whole.

John Ledwidge, Grounds Manager, Leicester City FC (LCFC), said:
Events like these are really important for the networking element of the day, as I’ve been able to meet people I really wanted to meet. I’m sharing experiences with them about what we do and listening to how they manage things. Sharing experiences on how to overcome certain obstacles within pitch management with a group of experts was a big eye-opener for me.

For further information and the full program, visit the ESSMA Pitch Management Workshop page by http://pitch.essma-events.eu/

Etesia Launch MSC45 Pedestrian Scarifier

Etesia has launched the MSC45 – a powered pedestrian scarifier for domestic and professional use on lawns and amenity areas.

The machine has a working width of 45cm comes complete with a Honda GX160 5.5hp engine ensuring that it will be suitable for applications ranging from treating the average lawn to rejuvenating estates and formal grounds.

Scarification is one of the most essential lawn care tasks. The Etesia MSC45 pedestrian scarifier can be used for regular use or as part of a maintenance programme at different depth settings with the use of interchangeable reels that can be swapped without the use of any tools allowing the spring mounted tine reel to remove thatch and the scarifier unit to take out more of the bulk. The raking action removes thatch and organic debris to improve drainage characteristics and to allow more oxygen and water into the root zone.

The new model in the new scarifier range has been built for dependable operation and durability which has become synonymous with the Etesia brand.

Specifications include:

Working width

45 cm

Area coverage

up to 1500 m²/h

Motor

Honda GX 160

Capacity

5.5hp

Scarifier unit

Scarifier unit with fixed blades and torque overload safety clutch

Accessories

Scarifier unit with loose blades or spring mounted tines

Special features

Steel rims with ball bearings, step-less adjustment of operating height

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

The Challenges of the UK’s Most Iconic Stadium

Scott MacCallum meets up with Lee Evans, Head Groundsman at the Principality Stadium with the Champion’s League Final looming

There can be no more iconic stadium in whole of the UK than the wonderful Principality, located slap bang in the centre of rugby mad Cardiff. As the National Stadium of Wales it plays host not only to the country’s rugby team, but also its football, while in the “non grass” season it plays host to a range of different events from rock and pop concerts to speedway and monster trucks.

The ability to close the roof not only amplifies an already ferocious atmosphere from the 75,000 capacity crowd, but also adds to its ability to welcome a full range of activities with a guarantee of perfect conditions.

It has hosted some of the biggest sporting events ever held in the UK, including FA Cup and Rugby World Cup finals, but this June it will host its biggest sporting event of all – the UEFA Champion’s League Final – probably the biggest sporting match in outside of the FIFA World Cup final itself.

The man who ensures that the playing surface at the Principality remains tip top, in less than straightforward grass going conditions, is Head Groundsman, Lee Evans.

“I’ve been fortunate to have prepared pitches for FA Cup finals, Charity Shields, Rugby World Cups, Rugby League World Cups and Olympic Football, but this will be the biggest event I’ve ever overseen. I can’t wait,” said Lee, with the infectious enthusiasm which gives you the belief that everything he tackles is done so with a combination of pride and zeal.

“I was fortunate enough to work at the last year’s final in Milan, the idea being that I get to experience the run up to the final, and what is going to be happening on the pitch in the lead up to the match itself.”

While coping with a bit of razzmatazz pre-match is not new to Lee and his team – have you seen a Six Nations Rugby match lately? – the Champions League final is literally a whole new ball game, and not just with the number of flags on the pitch and volume of fireworks released.

“The main difference is the quality of the playing surface expected by UEFA. There are different parameters for rugby and there is strict criteria on how they want the pitch prepared and that goes for the length of cut, the pattern of the pitch, moisture levels etc.

“There are testing procedures which we have to go through to make sure that we are on track for what they are demanding. We actually had a test this week,” revealed Lee, as we sat in the front row of the stands just beside the dead ball area at the North Stand end.

Other changes, which don’t particularly impact upon Lee and his team but which highlight the sheer scale of the operation, include some work in the stands themselves.

“There is going to be a new television gantry fitted to the top of the North Stand and the whole of the stadium, as well as the city itself, will be transformed for the Final,” said Lee.

“Where I normally store my lighting rigs will become television studios, while the Cardiff Blue’s pitch next door to us will be covered for even more TV units.”

As I write, there is still a chance that Wales’ Golden Footballing Son, Gareth Bale, may grace the final for Real Madrid in his home country, so there is every likelihood it will go down as one of the greatest nights in Welsh sport’s history.

That said, Lee doesn’t need a big event looming in the calendar to get his juices flowing just turning up for work each day gives him a real tingle.

“I get a buzz every time I come through the gates. It is the national stadium of Wales and that is the reason I came to work here.”

Lee was speaking just a few days after the end of a monumental Six Nations Championship, one which saw him host two of the most exciting games this year offered up. One went against the home team, with England scoring a late try to keep their then unbeaten record on track and the other, a positive outcome against the mighty Irish.

“You do get an opportunity to enjoy the match as if it’s a 3 o’clock kick off we are normally finished our pitch work by 10.30 or 11 with the rest of the time devoted to flag rehearsals on the pitch and fire work rehearsals. For the game itself we have the best seats in the house, sitting on the halfway line with nothing between us and the playing surface,” said Lee, who looks fit enough to compete himself, something he actually does as a midfield dynamo for his veteran’s football team.

“Post match we try to get as much done as quickly as we can. We have 15 or 16 part-time staff who come in and help divot the pitch. We run the Hondas to clear the debris and then get the lighting rigs on. We can do it all in two hours with the extra bodies.

“It must be said we do work that much better when Wales have had a nice victory. That does make a difference.”

While the Principality – or the Millennium Stadium as it was until January 2016 – has been iconic since the day it opened its doors in 1999, one of things it was known for was the poor quality of the pitch itself.

I remember talking to an agronomist a few years after it had opened and he explained that growing grass in the Millennium Stadium was similar to attempting to grow grass in a toilet bowl “U” bend.

“It is a very challenging environment in which to grow grass,” admitted Lee, with an admirable degree of understatement.

“When I first started here 13 years ago the STRI came in and did some lighting test which revealed that we were the darkest stadium in Europe in which to grow grass. With a few more stadiums built since then we may not still have that record, but in addition Cardiff is also the wettest city in the UK.”

Initially the stadium boasted the only moveable palletised pitch in the UK. The only others Lee could think of was the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Bejing and another in Greece which were both used for the opening ceremonies of their respective Olympics.

“As we didn’t have lighting rigs until relatively recently we had to returf the pitch three or four times a season, basically because grass couldn’t survive in this environment. Every time the pitch was played on, or we had machinery on It, we lost a bit of grass cover.”

The advent of those lighting rigs meant that Lee was able to cut the re-turfs down to one a year and he know that with the rigs he could develop enough root to withstand modern day rugby. Until…

“Modern day rugby got ahead of what turf suppliers, and we, could achieve. Nowadays you can’t tell forwards and backs apart. They are all machines. Take the French pack for example. It is over 1000 kilos in combined weight – which is over a tonne. So, in the middle part of my career here, the turf, only 14mm thick, once again couldn’t withstand the rigours of the scrum. A tonne of weight would be pushing against a tonne of weight and it was inevitably going to tear and push up. So we had to make a decision on what to do next.”

Ultimately what they did was follow the route taken by other major stadiums in the country, and most recently in advance of the Principality, at BT Murrayfield in Edinburgh. They installed a DESSO Grassmaster pitch.

“BT Murrayfield went in the summer three years ago and we went in the autumn so now all Six Nations venues in the UK have DESSO Grassmaster pitches.

Its arrival has brought about changes in Lee’s maintenance practices.

“With a natural turf pitch we’d start off with 100% grass coverage and the challenge was to maintain that. With lighting rigs we could achieve that, until that modern rugby developed and the pressures were too great. With a DESSO Grassmaster you start off with plastic strands and the challenge is to achieve 100% grass cover within that surface.”

This is where the stadium’s multi-use capability doesn’t actually help Lee, because the “non grass” season in the summer means that no seeding can be carried out until mid to late September, a time when only a quarter of the pitch sees any sunlight at all. Most Head Groundsmen would be seeding at the end of June.

That presents a real challenge, but the fact that the Principality pitch no longer attracts the criticism that it once did shows that Lee and the team clear all the hurdles which are put in their way.

The latest tool in their box is the Seegrow tent, which sees Co2 being pumped into the tent to speed up the photosynthesis, thus aiding pitch recover.

“Co2, water and light is the formula for good grass and the Seegrow tent just enhances it. It is a controlled environment and we keep the tent on the same place for two days before moving it to the next spot.”

While that famous roof does create a unique atmosphere, and opportunities for coaches to work tactical advantages, Lee would be more than delighted if it was never closed at all.

“Grass doesn’t grow indoors, or in the dark! With the palletised pitch, which didn’t drain very well, it was important to be able to close the roof, because, as I’ve said, Cardiff is the wettest city in the UK. The DESSO Grassmaster is 97% sand and drains incredibly quickly without any help from the roof. If the roof is closed, though, the pitch will become wet by the second half. With 75,000 people in here the grass sweats,” he explained.

“The roof is closed if both sides agree and if that’s the case it is also closed for the Captains’ Run the day before. In my experience if the roof is shut for two or three days the grass plant starts to fall over on itself which isn’t great,” said Lee, who revealed that on one occasion England Coach, Stuart Lancaster, couldn’t decide what to do about the roof and eventually called him at 9 o’clock at night with his decision.

“He decided to close it but we went on to win easily as the atmosphere in here was rocking which very much plays in favour of the home team.”

I naively thought that with boxing matches, rock concerts, speedway and monster trucks on his pitch Lee and his team would be just as busy at these events as they are at the “grass reliant” events. Not so.

“Normally at the beginning of May we strip the vegetation off the pitch and put on the Terraplast covering. Last year we had six or seven concerts as well as the Monster Trucks and the speedway, which meant 3000 tonnes of shale spread out across the Terraplast. Once that is finished we take the Terraplast off and the pitch is relaid. We tend not to take any time off during the grass season so we take our time off when the pitch is covered as there is not so much work for us to do.”

On the up-coming schedule are concerts from Coldplay, Robbie Williams and Justin Bieber, each doing two nights each, and the Principality Grounds Team will have prepared the pitch for just short of 40 rugby matches and five football matches.

But it will be that very last football match which will be the one which creates the memories which Lee and his two colleagues will remember for the rest of their careers, and when that famous Champions League theme music is being played Lee and his team will have the best seats in the house.

Laurence Gale Joins Turf Matters

Turf Matters is delighted to announce that Laurence Gale has joined the editorial team as Executive Editor.

Laurence, pictured right, is a respected and familiar figure within the sports turf industry and his knowledge, experience and contacts will be a very welcome addition to both the Turf Matters magazine and the website www.turfmatters.co.uk

“Laurence and I have been friends for almost 15 years and I know that he will bring a great deal to Turf Matters as we develop and grow over the next few months and years. His love of the industry, and those people who participate within it, is there for all to see while, as we all know, his enthusiasm is downright infectious,” said Scott MacCallum, Turf Matters Editor.

“With Laurence on board we will be featuring more of the work of sports turf professionals in different areas of the industry and it will help us meet our objective of ensuring that Turf Matters really is the must read title in our industry,” explained Scott.

“I am really delighted to be joining Scott and the team at Turf Matters. While we are both all-rounders Scott is best known within the golf sector, while I am known best in the groundsman side, so I believe that we will make a formidable team,” said Laurence.

Foley’s Reel Science Technology Seminar

Renowned grinder manufacturer Foley United UK held a successful Reel Science and Optimum Cut Technology seminar at The Grove Golf Club last month.

The day was organised by ProSport UK Ltd Managing Director Ian Robson and Regional BIGGA committee member; Adam McColl course superintendent of Gerards Cross Golf Club. The event was hosted by The Grove course superintendent Phil Chiverton.

Greg Turner, Global Sales Manager for Foley United with support from Arjen Spek Foley’s European Manager, delivered the seminar which is designed for course managers, head greenkeepers and technicians and centres on providing critical knowledge, backed up with technical studies and verified data on grinding research at the highest level.

Greg explains the thinking behind the presentation. “Investment in cutting equipment ranges from £15K to in excess of £40k, so we look at evaluating the grinding practices that will protect your investment and provide optimum returns. We evaluate the best grinding techniques for new grass strains and how minor changes in workshop grinding practices can have a direct impact on your machinery and agronomic investment decisions.

The Reel Science and Optimum Cut Technology seminar is approved for BIGGA CPDs and GCSAA CEUs. Foley United has conducted these accredited training sessions worldwide.

The Grove was the first club in the UK to have the top of the range Foley 653 fully automatic reel grinder and the 673 bed knife grinder the first in the UK. Both were installed in time for the recent British Masters and provided the seminar attendees with an excellent opportunity to see the latest technology in action. Jonathan Taylor Head Greenkeeper was on hand while Head Mechanic Neil Corley and Assistant Chris Sudeka put the machines through their paces.

Reaction to the seminar from attendees was enthusiastic across the board and as Sam Evans representing Fullwell GC said “We have been given a different perspective on grinding today, particularly in relation to increasing the longevity of staying on cut. It was impressive. I can really relate what I have seen and heard to our own practices and can see some definite benefits.”

Jason Horwood from West Hertfordshire GC agreed “It has been very worthwhile and given us some excellent information which we can incorporate into our current grinding schedules to improve the performance of our cutting equipment.”

“It has been a fantastic day” concluded Adam McColl “A brilliant venue and the seminar delivered factual content with scientific data to back it up. I have always been a fan of relief grinding, and the facts as they have been presented, confirm that to be the right choice. I would like to thank all those who attended and Greg Turner in particular for taking time to travel to the UK to deliver an excellent seminar.”

Invasive Species Conference Tackles Property Concerns Head On

The third annual INNSA Conference has taken place with a full agenda on the biodiversity, property and legal issues surrounding invasive species.

Held by the Invasive Non-Native Specialists Association (INNSA), the event is normally aimed at attendees from within the non-native species remediation industry.

This year, there was a particular focus on Japanese knotweed, which is believed to be the biggest unmanaged risk in the UK property market. This year’s conference also included all those affected by the invasive plant, such as local authorities, property owners and developers, surveyors, conveyancing lawyers and mortgage lenders.

It was the first of these conferences with new INNSA chairperson James Sherwood-Rogers at the helm. Sherwood-Rogers, who has a wealth of experience in property and environmental roles, opened the conference by explaining his role in the association outlining his plans to further INNSA’s important work in the invasives industry and acquire new members.

He said afterwards: “It was fantastic to welcome such a wide range of exhibitors, delegates, and expert speakers to the 2017 INNSA Conference. There are a lot of myths surrounding invasive species, especially Japanese knotweed, so it is key that we provide opportunities for property professionals to receive up-to-date, relevant information from the experts.”

The property focus was particularly topical following the recent court case involving a homeowner and Network Rail. The legal implications of the recent four-year legal battle were discussed by Roger Burnett, the lawyer who won the landmark ruling. Burnett gave the latest updates on the case, explaining issues such as the property value halving due to the infestation, dehydration damage caused to the soil, and the interference with “quiet enjoyment” of the property causing a legal nuisance.

The wide range of speakers also included Sean Hathaway, Environment Officer for the City and County of Swansea, and the UK’s first dedicated Japanese knotweed council officer. He outlined how Swansea undertook an Urban Knotweed Survey and first large scale treatment programme in the early nineties.

It was the first local authority to adopt a knotweed plan, showing how to deal with the invasive plant even with limited resources,

Much of the conference was focused on raising standards across the remediation industry, through comprehensive insurance for works, accreditation, and the Invasives Code. Kate Faulkner, PCCB Board member and consumer advocate, gave a presentation on the importance of using accredited and audited contractors, alongside how the Invasives Code protects property owners, buyers and sellers. The standards, insurance and guarantees that are in place for INNSA member companies are important to give clients peace of mind.

David Layland, founding member of INNSA and co-founder of Japanese Knotweed Control, one of the UK’s first remediation specialists, addressed delegates with a presentation on improving standards in an unregulated industry. He explained that the handful of remediation companies that existed in 2006 has now turned into closer to 400, making it increasingly important for companies to have accreditation, insurance and warranties, and a long-term remediation strategy. He added: “Any property professional affected by the plant can have peace of mind knowing legal guarantees are in place and they are working with a reputable remediation firm to control the problem.”

Barrie Hunt, technical development manager at Monsanto, gave an update on the ongoing EU re-approval process of Glyphosate, used to treat Japanese Knotweed. He called for the remediation and property industries to get involved in lobbying for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs to highlight the importance of Glyphosate in controlling invasive weeds.

The ongoing use of Glyphosate is still in the balance with a vote at the European Parliament expected in July 2017.

The soft launch of a new INNSA Code of Practice was also announced, which will replace the recently withdrawn Environment Agency Code of Practice. The new Code will be the definitive best practice guide for dealing with knotweed infestations, updated inline with the most recent legislation.

Full list of speakers in appearance order:

· James Sherwood-Rogers, INNSA – Welcome by Chairman

· Nick Hartley, Ebsford – An introduction to invasives

· Sean Hathaway, City and County of Swansea – How has Swansea applied the law?

· Rodger Burnett, Japanese Knotweed Claims Ltd – Successful claims for compensation

· Kate Faulkner, PCCB – The Invasives Code for INNSA clients and its regulation

· David Layland, Japanese Knotweed Control – How has an unregulated remediation industry reacted to exponential growth?

· Conor Leyden, LK Group – What are the industry standards?

· Chris Oliver, Japanese Knotweed Solutions – Launch of the INNSA Code of Practice – managing Japanese Knotweed

· Barrie Hunt, Monsanto – What is the real position with Glysophate?

· Prof John Moverly OBE, Amenity Forum – Weed, Pest & Disease Management – challenges opportunities, assurance and being proud of what we do

· Graham Ellis, RICS and Greenhouse Surveyors – Property surveying – the wider perspective

· Richard Stow, Lloyds Bank – The Lender’s Perspective

· Paul Denny, Insure Risk – The peace of mind afforded by insurance

· Mike Ockenden, INNSA – Closing summary