PSD’s Landscaping Solutions At SALTEX

/in , , /by

PSD’s Landscaping Solutions At SALTEX: PSD Groundscare are giving visitors to Saltex the opportunity to view a fantastic range of innovative, time-saving solutions to assist with a host of landscaping requirements including the launch of the next evolution in green waste shredding from innovative Belgium manufacturer Eliet, that follows the proven Eliet shredding principle and gives improved functionality and performance.

From the management of long grass and banks mowing, general turf care or the disposal of green waste from the maintenance of trees and hedges, the PSD range of niche specialist landscaping equipment has an unrivalled range of products, all designed to improve productivity and performance in a multitude of grounds maintenance and turf care operations.

PSD's Landscaping Solutions At SALTEX

Showcasing on the stand will be a range of high-quality machinery to manage the challenge of long grass and banks mowing including the New Taurus 2-wheel tractor with optional remote control functionality from innovative German manufacturer Koppl. This addition to the range is popular with local authorities and contractors and is capable of operating on slopes up to 120% (50°) and is equipped with the Köppl Easy-Drive as standard. A new feature is the finger joystick control on the handlebar, which can be used to conveniently (both forwards and backwards) control the shift of the implement’s centre of gravity.

Visitors will also be able to view the AS Motor AS 1040 Yak ride-on flail mower with benefits including a flail rotor drive which diminishes the need for path overlap and guarantees high work rates, reaching 6,800 m²/h and, making it a highly efficient alternative to traditional rotary mowing.

For efficient lawn and turfcare maintenance, PSD will showcase a number of machines that expands the Eliet range; including the Turfaway 600 turf cutter, which is highly effective for major lawn renovation and complete reconstruction. Its’ unique concept allows the user to quickly loosen a complete layer of turf with precision, in to 60 cm wide sods. In addition, visitors will be able to view the new Eliet self-propelled C550 scarifier, with a collection feature which gathers discarded material into narrow rows for easy disposal, reducing the cleaning-up process time by 50% and the DZC600 Pedestrian overseeder which is fast becoming the machine of choice of groundsmen and contractors when renovating sports turf or ornamental lawns.

PSD also offer a comprehensive range of debris clearance machinery including the lightweight and agile AS30 E battery powered weedbrush from AS Motor, a timesaver when it comes to removing weeds on uneven surfaces such as cobblestones, along walls and kerb stones, and in narrow areas. With a quiet rechargeable battery drive, the machine is highly effective in residential areas and hospitals, where noise can be a concern.

PSD also offer a range of innovative green waste shredders, capable for dealing with material up to 6 inch with wheeled, tracked and trailed models.

Chris Gibson (Managing Director) of PSD Groundscare said:

“We are exceptionally excited about our attendance at Saltex this year, and we are very much looking forward to unveiling our innovative new products. We believe that the new additions to our range will ensure we continue to be able to offer machinery that revolutionise groundscare and maintenance.

“Saltex is the perfect place for the unveiling of the exciting new machine from Eliet, as it is arguably the industry’s show stopper event. It’s part of our ethos to speak to our customers face-to-face wherever possible and with over 8,000 attendees expected, it will be the perfect platform to show what PSD Groundscare has to offer”.

PSD Groundscare will be exhibiting on stand G120

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Toro Joins PGA Partnership Network

/in , /by

Toro Joins PGA Partnership Network: The Toro Company has further strengthened its relationship with The PGA after agreeing to become a PGA Partner in a milestone year for the American company.

Toro first entered the golf equipment business 100 years ago with a mower designed to maintain the fairways at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Today, the U.S.-based company has cemented itself as one of the world’s leading brands of turf and landscape maintenance equipment.

Toro Joins PGA Partnership Network

Toro now has professional distributors, dealers and retailers in more than 125 countries, and offers a wide range of products for the golf course market. The company’s products are currently being used around the world at notable facilities such as Carnoustie Golf Links, St Andrews Links, Torrey Pines Golf Course and Pinehurst Resort.

As part of the agreement, Toro will look to establish relationships with other PGA Partners and PGA Branded Properties to provide solutions that help golf courses maintain healthy turf and outstanding conditions for players.

The partnership will also allow Toro to support The PGA National Training Academy with its educational objectives, providing educational material from key industry experts at the continuing professional development (CPD) and degree level.

Andy Brown, senior sales manager at The Toro Company, commented: “Becoming a PGA Partner is the perfect way to celebrate our landmark 100 years in the golf industry.
“The PGA is at the heart of golf, and we share the same values of integrity and commitment. As a PGA Partner, we are proud to support The PGA in all of its work to advance the game and the success of the industry overall.”

Robert Maxfield, chief executive of The PGA, added: “Toro has been a valued PGA Official Supplier for more than three years, so The PGA is delighted to welcome them on board as a PGA Partner as they celebrate 100 years serving the golf industry.

“Many PGA Members work closely with greenkeeping staff on a day-to-day basis and through Toro, they have a unique opportunity to expand their knowledge base. We look forward to continuing our relationship with one of the most trusted brands in turf landscape and maintenance. We recognise Toro as the leader in their field and the company offers a great service to PGA Members.”

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Best Park Shortlist Announced

/in , , /by

Best Park Shortlist Announced: Four parks from across the UK have been shortlisted in Fields in Trust’s search to find the UK’s Best Park. Castle Gardens, Antrim; Cyfarthfa Park, Merthyr Tydfil; Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline and Stanley Park, Blackpool have each been shortlisted following a public vote.

The UK’s Best Park is organised by green space charity Fields in Trust who, for over 90 years, have legally protected parks and green spaces ensuring they will always be available for future generations to enjoy. A record 364 nominations were received for UK’s Best Park 2019. Those nominations were supported by park users, communities, Friends of Parks groups, and landowners and an unprecedented total of 36,832 votes were cast for parks and green spaces across the UK.

Best Park Shortlist Announced

The shortlisted parks are:

  • Antrim Castle Gardens, Antrim. The nomination identified that Antrim Castle Gardens has completed a transformation “… from local gem to national treasure” and recognised the “passionate team driven by the ambition to put their place on the map”.
  • Cyfarthfa Park, Merthyr Tydfil was identified as “…a park for people of all ages and interests”. The park was celebrated for its “…sensory garden and meadowlands which provide a haven of tranquillity”; and “The woodland walks, a delight for dog walkers and nature-lovers …  it is a park for all”.
  • Pittencrieff Park in Dunfermline, Scotland is known locally as “The Glen” and was celebrated for its diversity “… from kid’s areas to glasshouses, peacock sanctuary and historical features …. rocky waterfalls, imaginative paths, well-stocked, neatly trimmed flower beds and herb gardens”.
  • Stanley Park, Blackpool, was described as “… a beautiful, tranquil place away from the hustle and bustle of the Blackpool seafront”. The “great volunteers and staff who keep it in tip-top condition” were also recognised in the online nomination.

In addition, 73 parks and green spaces have achieved “Much Loved” status, having been placed in the top 20% of all UK’s Best Park 2019 nominations throughout the UK. The “Much Loved” status recognises the support of local people who use and love these parks and green spaces.

Fields in Trust is a UK-wide charity that since 1925 has been legally protecting parks and green spaces in perpetuity. The UK’s Best Park Award recognises the role that parks play in our communities, supporting mental and physical health and bringing people together. The charity is concerned that many parks and green spaces are under threat and are at risk of being lost to development or a cycle of decline and disappearance.

Fields in Trust recently published research, the Green Space Index, which revealed that over 2.5 million people across Great Britain do not have access to a local park within ten minutes walk from home. With public sector cuts leading to pressure on parks and green spaces, there is a risk that a lack of legal protection could lead to more being sold off or developed. Yet these vital outdoor spaces deliver health and wellbeing benefits to those that use them regularly. Fields in Trust research reveals that overall, parks and green spaces contribute £34 billion each year in health and wellbeing benefits to their regular users and save the NHS £111million each year simply in avoided GP appointments.

Fields in Trust Chief Executive, Helen Griffiths said: “The increased number of parks nominated, and a record number of votes cast, show just how much the UK’s local green spaces are cherished by the people who use them. Recognising the UK’s Best Park is a way of revaluing our green spaces for the physical and mental health benefits they provide to their local communities. I congratulate all our “Much-Loved” parks and green spaces and wish the four Home Nation winners well for the UK’s Best Park award which we will announce on September 12th. 

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Carbon Gold & Carbofex Join Forces

/in , /by

Carbon Gold & Carbofex Join Forces: Biochar companies Carbon Gold and Carbofex have signed an MOU to establish a commercial agreement that will strengthen both companies’ position in the UK and European markets.  

Carbon Gold, the world leading supplier of biochar to commercial crop growers, tree care specialists and sports turf professionals in the UK and Europe, has partnered with Finland-based Carbofex, industrial-scale biochar manufacturer with proprietary technology that allows for the production of very pure (low PAH) and active (600 m3/g) biochar, certified by the EBC and with access to the PURO CO2 removal marketplace.

Carbon Gold & Carbofex Join Forces

The collaboration will see Carbon Gold and Carbofex agree terms on the production and distribution of biochar, the ownership of the resulting carbon credits, and other potential synergies or commercial opportunities which may benefit both companies.

Simon Manley, CEO of Carbon Gold, says, “We’ve long been friendly with Carbofex and this partnership comes at a really critical time for both companies.  We’re both looking for investment to scale up, and this joint venture makes us more attractive to potential strategic investment partners.  And with a no-deal Brexit becoming ever more likely, having manufacturing bases in the UK and mainland Europe is invaluable for both parties.  Carbofex is a trail blazer in Europe and we’re thrilled to be working with them more formally.”

Sampo Tukianen, CEO of Carbofex, says, “We’ll both gain access to new markets as a result of this collaboration. Carbon Gold is the leader in biochar and Carbofex will benefit greatly from the products, science, branding and market reach they’ve established over the years.  And our EBC certification and registration with PURO for carbon removal trading brings new routes to market for Carbon Gold.  It’s very exciting.”

For more information, visit www.carbongold.com.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Norwich Install Hunter Irrigation

/in , , /by

Norwich Install Hunter Irrigation: Norwich City Football Club is reaping the benefits of the latest Hunter Industries irrigation technology after new systems were installed at both the Carrow Road Stadium and the Club’s training ground; the Lotus Training Centre.

The system, which was purchased through KAR UK – a distributor of Hunter Industries irrigation equipment, consists of a variety of G995, I-40 and I-80 rotary sprinklers, ICV valves, an ACC2 controller with Wi-Fi, a Roam remote and the ST1600 system for synthetic turf.

Norwich Install Hunter Irrigation

The Lotus Training Centre Grounds Supervisor, James Randell explained that the new technology was much needed: “We had to change our old irrigation system because we just didn’t have enough stations. Previously we used to get by but when we launched the Lotus Academy there was no doubt about it that we needed to upgrade.

“We spoke to KAR UK about the situation and Mike McDonnell (KAR UK Sales Manager) came to visit and advised on what would work best for us. The systems were installed in April last year and we’ve noticed some huge improvements.”

As James says, Norwich City FC has just seen the completion of a £5m project which saw the construction of new state-of-the-art Academy facilities at the Lotus Training Centre. With the addition of new natural and synthetic pitches along with the increasing demand for better quality playing surfaces, it was imperative that the club invested in a superior irrigation system.

With this in mind the club opted for the most technologically advanced commercial rotor on the market – the all-new Hunter I-80 gear-driven rotor.

Engineered specifically for sports turf, the I-80 is built with a robust, dirt-tolerant gear drive that offers the highest torque output of any rotor in the commercial sphere, and extends a radius range from 11.3 to 29.6 meters. The I-80 features a wide range of highly efficient, dual-trajectory, wind-fighting nozzles for highly efficient performance in a range of applications. It also provides total top serviceability (TTS) via its integrated, surface-mounted snap-ring for no-dig easy maintenance.

“We had 32 I-80’s installed and they are phenomenal,” said James. “Prior to these being installed we couldn’t get the grass to grow around the pop-ups. But with these new I-80 heads, with the nozzles and the spray pattern, they are a lot better and the growth this year has been amazing.”

With the I-80’s working wonders on the pitches at the training centre, James has also been blown away with the results from using the ACC2 controller which is ideal for delivering advanced water management to meet the demands of large-scale commercial projects and the Roam remote – which eliminates the need to go back and forth to the sprinkler controller.

“The controls are very easy to use and the remote allows you, no matter where you are onsite, to activate any of the sprinklers at any time. If for example, one of the coaches wanted to irrigate one of the pitches just before the players came onto the pitch then we can easily do that at just the click of a button.

“Overall, this new system has signalled some huge improvements. It has given us greater flexibility, is more accurate and because it is more accurate, we have seen a lot less water wastage. We have really enjoyed the Hunter Industries experience and KAR UK has provided an excellent service – they are always on hand to offer advice and are incredibly reliable.”

Hunter Industries is distributed in the UK by KAR UK. For more information, please visit www.karuk.com or www.hunterindustries.com.

You can also follow KAR UK on Twitter @KARUK_LTD for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.