UK a Nation of Green Gardeners

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UK a Nation of Green Gardeners: Honda UK Lawn & Garden has declared the UK a nation of green gardeners as planting season leapt into full swing. 

Gardeners made the most of lockdown, social distancing and the glorious sunshine by cultivating their way to a greener, more self-sufficient lifestyle as Honda tiller sales soared and the Lawn and Garden division achieved 110% of targeted sales in April. There was plenty of mowing and trimming action, too, as the perfectly manicured garden captured Britain’s imagination.

UK a Nation of Green Gardeners

UK a Nation of Green Gardeners

An appetite to garden, and more specifically plant, swept the nation. Honda’s tiller sales outstripped target by 327%, signalling sowing season is well underway and the grow your own movement is taking hold in flower beds across the country.

According to the Royal Horticultural Society, vegetable planting is in-vogue; a third of a million people sought advice online on growing food at home and research on sowing seeds was also up 40% in the first 9 days of lockdown.

The grow your own movement was already fast-gaining momentum with Wyevale Garden Centres reporting vegetable plant sales rose by 30% over the five years leading up to 2018. The lockdown has encouraged even more Brits to bring food from pot-to-table into their diet and reduce their carbon footprint in the process by adopting an environmentally conscious, self-sufficient lifestyle.

Lawns were not to be ignored though as keen gardeners flocked to buy izy lawnmowers, which accounted for 42% of Honda Lawn & Garden’s April sales, with the powerful, robust and lightweight HRG 416 PKEH model topping the charts.

Fully-charged with technology and left to its own devices, Small Miimo lavished greens with TLC leaving owners to enjoy, tan and play in their gardens without lifting a finger. Having just joined the Lawn & Garden range, it’s little surprise the smart and feature-packed model made up 78% of Honda UK’s robotic lawnmower sales in the month.

Sure to help those in market for a new lawnmower is the ‘know before you mow’ tool (https://www.hondaengineroom.co.uk/power/know-before-you-mow/). The free, simple, online tool matches your mowing needs to the right mower; choose your garden size, the type of gardener you are and you’ll be paired with the perfect model from Honda’s expansive range of push, ride-on and robotic lawnmowers.

The ‘Trade In To Trade Up’ savings campaign assisted with April’s success. With £100 off Small Miimo, £75 off petrol izy and electric izy-On push mowers and £50 savings on tillers, there’s a deal to had for everyone in the campaign that applies widely to the Lawn & Garden product range and runs until September 30th 2020, online (https://store.honda.co.uk/) and in dealers.

Steve Morris, Head of Power Products at Honda (UK) comments: “It’s great that we have managed to overachieve this month despite the circumstances. I’m delighted to see the public making the most of the brilliant weather and lockdown conditions, too, tending to their gardens to make them summer-ready with a Honda power tool”.

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Changes to Bobcat dealer network

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Changes to Bobcat dealer network: Bobcat has announced important changes in the company’s dealer network for South West England in the UK. TVE Hire & Sales Ltd (TVE), the Authorised Bobcat dealer based in Abingdon in Oxfordshire, has been awarded an expanded territory.

With the addition of the counties of Wiltshire and Gloucestershire to its current area, TVE will now be responsible for customers in seven counties, including Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Changes to Bobcat dealer network

Changes to Bobcat dealer network

John Christofides, Regional Sales Director, UK/Ireland, Nordics and Baltics for Bobcat EMEA, said: “Following the excellent results delivered by TVE in its first three years as a Bobcat dealer, with market share increases of up to 15% in its area, we are delighted to recognise this with the addition of Wiltshire and Gloucestershire to its existing area.”

Additional Caretaker Role for TVE 

TVE has also taken on a caretaker role providing continuity for sales, service and parts for new and existing Bobcat products in the counties of Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, in anticipation of new announcements to be made by Bobcat regarding these counties.

In its newly expanded territory and in its temporary caretaker role, TVE is responsible for sales and service of the market-leading range of Bobcat skid-steer, compact track and all-wheel steer loaders, mini-excavators, telehandlers and attachments in the construction, agriculture, rental, landscaping and industrial markets.

Mat Jones, Sales Manager at TVE Hire & Sales Ltd, said: “We are very gratified that our performance since we became a Bobcat dealer has been rewarded with an expanded territory for sales, service and parts for all of the Bobcat range. Customers new and old in Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall can also be assured of full continuity in Bobcat service in our caretaker role for these counties.”

JJ Farm Services Now Responsible for Bobcat Telescopic Loaders for the Agricultural Market in Gloucestershire

In addition, Bobcat, as part of the company’s mission to expand its presence in the Agricultural sector, has appointed Cheltenham-based JJ Farm Services Ltd as the Authorised Dealer for the Bobcat range of telescopic loaders for the agricultural market in Gloucestershire.

Ewen Gilchrist, Network Development Manager UK & Nordics for Doosan Bobcat EMEA, said: “We have been very impressed with the results produced in its existing area by TVE over the last three years, so adding Wiltshire and Gloucestershire to their territory was an easy and logical decision. Customers in the rest of the South West can be assured of the best support from the company during its period as caretaker for their area. I would also like to welcome JJ Farm Services to the fold. We look forward to many years of working together with JJ Farm Services in the agricultural market.”

New ‘Work Now, Pay Later‘ Finance for UK Customers

Like all other Bobcat dealers in the UK, TVE Hire & Sales and JJ Farm Services have extended Bobcat’s Retail Financing solutions to include the new ‘Work Now, Pay Later’ campaign providing a very attractive 180 day deferment for the first finance payment, to underpin the purchase of new Bobcat loaders, mini-excavators and rigid frame telehandlers.

Bobcat sees this offering as an extra support to help customers working through these unprecedentedly difficult times and will run this offer in parallel with existing 0% solutions.

For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit www.bobcat.com

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Greenkeeper threatened by golfer

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Greenkeeper threatened by golfer: The manager of one of the top golf clubs in Edinburgh has expressed shock at a greenkeeper being “threatened” by a golfer.

The incident happened on Thursday at Merchants of Edinburgh Golf Club in the heart of the city.

Greenkeeper threatened by golfer

Greenkeeper threatened by golfer

Like all courses in Scotland, it remains closed due to the coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

But, in common with a number of venues, it has seen frustrated golfers starting to turn up, mainly to practise, without permission.

“We have been advised this morning of an incident which has just occurred at the course,” Merchants club manager Melanie Dobie said in an email to members.

“A member of our green staff, while carrying out his duties, was threatened by a golfer.

“This individual, who claimed to be a member, was practising on the putting green at the first tee and our green staff told him the course and all practice facilities were closed and he should refrain from playing. Our staff member was then verbally abused and physically threatened by a club. This behaviour is totally unacceptable and no one should have to experience this when carrying out their duties.”

The incident came a few hours after the police were called to nearby Mortonhall Golf Club following a report of people playing there.Mortonhall club manager Alan Mackay said: “I have been in touch with police on a regular basis about the amount of ‘traffic’ on the golf course at times, which has been ridiculous.

“The police were called again last night as a member who was out walking took a picture of people golfing.

“By time they arrived, they had gone and were then called out to another incident.”

Many golf courses around the country are being used at the moment by non-golfers for daily exercise.

Mackay added: “80 per cent of people are very courteous in where they walk on the course.

“But there are some who have no disregard in how much hard work the green staff have put in to making the course look as good as it does.”

People have also been spotted practising in bunkers at the Braids, one of the Edinburgh Leisure courses.

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Greenkeeper banished beard for NHS

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Greenkeeper banished beard for NHS: Reay Golf Club greenkeeper James Macadie wanted to do something special to raise money for the NHS – so decided to take part in his very own “Covhead Challenge” by having his beloved beard shaved off.

James (69) had been sporting his beard since the early 1970s and only once before shaved it all for charity, in 1984.

Greenkeeper banished beard for NHS

Greenkeeper banished beard for NHS

It was decided that the banishment of the beard would take place on Thursday, May 7, just before the weekly Clap for Our Carers, and a JustGiving page was opened.

His wife Irene (69) did the shaving of both head and beard in the front garden at their home in Reay, while other family members – daughter Yvonne Morris, son-in-law Cammy Morris and two granddaughters, Ashleigh and Natasha – did their best to raise awareness of the event.

They said: “NHS staff and volunteers are doing amazing work right now in caring for Covid-19 patients. Together, we wanted to show our respect and gratitude as they work tirelessly in the face of the virus and make sure we look after them, to ensure they can keep doing their vital work.

“For many, James and his bearded face was a familiar sight to see around Reay and helped keep him warm in the winter months while out on the golf course. So you can imagine the shock when it was all gone!”

Their efforts have resulted in £2420 being raised for the NHS. James and the family say they are keen to thank all who have supported the challenge and made donations.

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