ICL completes trilogy of webinars

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ICL completes trilogy of webinars: ICL have recently completed a trilogy of online webinars which explored a broad range of invasive species and offered several innovative solutions.

Invasive plants are an increasing challenge for society, not least in the non-agricultural weed control (amenity) sector. Barry Browne ICL’s Landscape and Industrial National Sales Manager and keynote speaker Dr Dan Jones, Managing Director of Advanced Invasives, were on hand to provide expert advice throughout the webinars.

ICL completes trilogy of webinars

ICL completes trilogy of webinars

The first in the series focussed on Japanese Knotweed which is perhaps the best-known invasive plant species in the UK; this is in large part a consequence of invasive knotweeds possessing a range of biological properties that make them exceedingly difficult to manage.

The webinar explored how invasive knotweed biology and ecology creates a unique set of legislative, legal and management challenges and the solutions to which require evidence-based, pragmatic solutions.

By reviewing Advanced Invasives exclusive academic and commercial field trial research and publications, Dan provided practical, long-term, and sustainable recommendations for invasive knotweed management at all scales.

Himalayan Balsam and Giant Hogweed were the focus in the second edition of the invasive plant webinars. These species cause negative ecological and socioeconomic impacts and in the case of Giant Hogweed, it is also toxic to humans and livestock.

In this webinar Dan explored the biology and ecology of Himalayan Balsam and Giant Hogweed, highlighting how and why they have spread so successfully, but he also identified weak points that can be exploited for their effective management. Using Advanced Invasives exclusive commercial field trial research and unique case studies, delegates gained a better understanding of how these species can be practically applied to deliver effective long-term control and management, using less herbicide and labour.

In the final instalment of the series, Dan examined the woody invasive plants Buddleja (Butterfly Bush) and Rhododendron. He clarified how Butterfly Bush causes significant impacts in the built environment and revealed that Rhododendron is more problematic in upland conservation areas. Despite differences in the environments in which they are commonly found, Dan further explained that these species share a common growth strategy and remain popular ornamental species that are widely planted in the UK.

Ultimately this webinar examined how the evidence underpinning the management of these plants is presently incomplete, leading to the application of ineffective and/or costly management methods and herbicides, resulting in control programme failure. Reviewing the academic and industry literature in the context of Advanced Invasives exclusive research, Dan suggested how practical, long term, management of woody invasive weeds can be better achieved at all scales, at lower environmental and economic cost.

The large online audience across the three webinars consisted of a wide range of sectors which included horticulturists, landscapers, amenity grounds managers plus personnel from the infrastructure and construction sector.

“Seeing so many people attend these webinars was incredibly positive,” said Barry. “We had a range of really great questions from the attendees. The questions covered the ecology of the plants, some specific questions on how best to manage them and other queries regarding how other alternative methods work or do not work. It was good to engage with a wide audience of people that have such a diverse range of interests in invasive plants.

“I’d like to think that attendees would have come away from the webinars with a greater understanding of these invasive species and from a practitioners point of view they would have gained a greater insight into what products will work effectively, when they will work effectively and why they will work effectively. They will now be able to avoid using treatments that are not going to work.”

Recordings of the full webinars along with the question and answer sessions have been recorded and are available to view:

Japanese Knotweed webinar video: https://bit.ly/ICLJKWv

Japanese Knotweed webinar Q & A video: https://bit.ly/ICLJKWvQ

Managing Herbaceous Invasive Plants and their Seed Banks: https://bit.ly/ICLmhip

Managing Woody Weeds webinar: https://bit.ly/ICLMWW

Managing Wood Weeds Q & A video: https://bit.ly/ICLMWWq

Further information on the products discussed during the webinars can be found on the ICL website:

Roundup ProVantage: www.icl-sf.com/uk-en/products/turf_amenity/roundup-provantage/

Roundup ProActive: www.icl-sf.com/uk-en/products/turf_amenity/roundup-proactive/

Icade: www.icl-sf.com/uk-en/products/turf_amenity/icade/

Synero: www.icl-sf.com/uk-en/products/turf_amenity/synero/

Speedway Total: www.icl-sf.com/uk-en/products/turf_amenity/speedway-total

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.co.uk or www.icl-sf.ie if you are in Ireland.

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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Makita supports Garden of the Decade

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Makita supports Garden of the Decade: The Welcome to Yorkshire Garden 2018, built by Landform Consultants and supported by Makita, has won the People’s Choice Garden of the Decade Award at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2020.

The Welcome to Yorkshire Garden 2018 was designed by Mark Gregory and constructed by Landform Consultants. Its inspiration came from Mark’s home county, the picturesque Yorkshire Dales, and featured a fast-flowing stream that cascaded through a stunning woodland glade, meadow and vegetable garden. The garden was awarded Gold and Best Construction medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2018, where it was also crowned the People’s Choice Award.

Makita supports Garden of the Decade

Makita supports Garden of the Decade

As part of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2020, ten gardens from the past ten years were shortlisted for the public to vote for their favourite – and the Welcome to Yorkshire Garden 2018 has been named as the People’s Choice Garden of the Decade.

To support the construction of the garden, Makita supplied a range of tools, including chop saws, drills, a blower and a battery-powered wheelbarrow for transporting materials.

Mark Gregory, Managing Director at Landform Consultants said: “I am delighted to win the People’s Choice Garden of the Decade award at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2020. The Welcome to Yorkshire Garden 2018 was a fantastic project from the moment we broke ground.

“Makita provided a huge support to us throughout, by supplying a range of tools which were instrumental to the construction process, including its motorised wheelbarrow. We also used Makita’s submersible pumps to power the stream that flowed through the garden, which performed brilliantly.”

Makita supplied its DCU180Z 18V LXT motorised wheelbarrow to assist the team with transporting materials and plants around site. This machine can carry up to 130kg, making it suitable for transporting heavier materials such as stone and turf. The wheelbarrow is designed with two forward speeds (Hi can reach up to 3.5km/h and Lo can reach up to 1.5km/h) and the constant speed control feature automatically applies additional power to the motor to maintain speed under load. The wheelbarrow also features a powered reverse function (up to 1.0km/h) and includes a locking break lever, for maximum on-site safety.

For operator comfort, the DCU180Z can be adjusted to three height levels. The detachable rear trailing wheels with kick down brake can also be adjusted from a width of 480mm to 760mm, offering improved stability and reduced operator effort.

In addition, the Landform Consultants team used Makita’s DUB362 powerful cordless blower. The DUB362 is powered by two 18V LXT batteries in series, to supply energy to the powerful 36V DC motor drive system. The inclusion of a brushless motor also offers high air volume and speed, ideal for high-demand tasks.

“During the last stages of construction, I contacted the Makita team with concerns that the buttercup meadows – a key feature of the Welcome to Yorkshire Garden 2018 – were lying flat,” said Mark. “I therefore needed a way to lift them; and the team suggested that I use the DUB362 cordless blower. The machine was delivered to site by one of the Makita team, to ensure that we had it in time to rectify the issues ahead of the first day of the show.”

Mark Earles, Business Development Manager – OPE at Makita said: “Huge congratulations to Mark and the team at Landform Consultants for winning the People’s Choice Garden of the Decade at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2020, for the Welcome to Yorkshire Garden 2018. We are thrilled that we were able to assist Mark throughout this project – Makita’s motorised wheelbarrow reduced on-site labour and our cordless blower helped with the finishing touches.”

Makita has worked with Landform Consultants since 2012, supporting the team on several RHS Chelsea Flower Show installations including the award winning, Welcome to Yorkshire Garden 2019. The garden won Gold and was also named The People’s Choice Best Show Garden 2019. Makita supplied a range of tools and Submersible Semi-Trash Pumps (PF1110) to help bring Landform’s vision to life.

To find out more about Makita and its range of tools please visit: www.makitauk.com

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SAGE release dates for summer 2021

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SAGE release dates for summer 2021: The all new summer grounds maintenance exhibition will take place 27th, 28th & 29th July 2021. The Sports & Grounds Expo (SAGE) has been introduced for the sports and grounds maintenance industry to showcase their market leading products as well as release new innovations in an OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT, which will provide more opportunities to both the visitor and exhibitor.

The target of SAGE is to bring together grounds personnel from a broad range of sectors and provide an engaging and well-resourced environment in which they have the opportunity to test out and see in action the latest products and ideas on the market. Many companies are looking to improve efficiency and cost effectiveness and this is a key area which SAGE is focused on, not only for the exhibition itself but exploring and showcasing the products that allows this to actually happen across the industry.

SAGE release dates for summer 2021

SAGE release dates for summer 2021

SAGE is a three-day event and has been formed out of the heightening demand by visitors and exhibitors to get “hands-on”. The Three Counties Showground provides the ideal situation for both the exhibitor and visitor alike. It is beautifully set at the foot of the famous Malvern Hills and within easy reach of Malvern and Worcester which both have ample amounts of accommodation. The Three Counties Showground already plays host to the RHS Spring & Autumn shows as well as the famous Three Counties Show.

Keep up to date with all the SAGE news by following us on Twitter & Facebook.

Hospitality will be provided by many of our exhibitors onsite. There are no entrance fees and onsite parking is free of charge. The Three Counties is in a central location with good transport links easily providing a national and international reach. We look forward to seeing you next summer.

Get in touch …

For further information contact us: team@sportsandgrounds.co.uk

Visit us: www.sportsandgrounds.co.uk

#Letsgetoutdoors #OutdoorEvents #Staysafe

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GGM group step out for charity

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GGM group step out for charity: A Lancashire business has demonstrated that it will always go the extra mile for charity -even when faced with a global pandemic.

Staff from the Colne-based GGM Group were disappointed that due to current restrictions in the lake district, they are unable to complete the company’s annual charity walking event, which this year was to climb the three highest peaks in England. Determined not to be defeated, Managing Director Chris Gibson has come up with his own ingenious way of completing the challenge.

GGM group step out for charity

GGM group step out for charity

Chris has pledged to travel from his home town of Lancaster to the businesses’ head office in Colne and then back again covering a distance of approximately 100 miles – through a combination of cycling and walking. The walking element will cover the Lancashire Witches Walk which passing through the Forest of Pendle, the town of Clitheroe and the Forest of Bowland to finish at Lancaster Castle.

He explains more:

“Last year the GGM team completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks in aid of our company charity, Greenfingers, and we were looking forward to this year’s event.

“As part of the Government’s initiative to get us back to work via walking or cycling, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to continue our fundraising. I’ve decided to create my own version, which adheres to Government guidelines and so I will be cycling to work from Lancaster and then walk home over the Lancashire Witches Walk. I’ve chosen this route because it was created to mark the 400th anniversary of the trail of the “Lancashire Witches” held at Lancaster Castle and I wanted to recognise the injustice and prejudice of the past and the need continue to fight to remove these from society today.  Our team will be participating in our efforts, with people undertaking different legs in pairs, to enable social distancing.

The event will raise money for charities who are finding themselves cash-strapped during these difficult times. Greenfingers is the company charity for the second year running, dedicated to supporting children who spend time in hospices around the UK, along with their families, by creating inspiring gardens for them to relax in. In addition, funds will also be raised for St John’s Hospice in Lancaster which provides free palliative care to patients with life shortening conditions across North Lancashire, South Lakes and parts of North Yorkshire and Pendleside Hospice in Burnley, which exists to promote and enhance quality of life for people with life-limiting illnesses.

The GGM Group consists of two businesses across two depots. PSD Groundscare is the national distributor of specialist landscaping equipment, including AS Motor and Eliet, Koppl and TS Industrie. GGM Groundscare is a specialist supplier of tractors and high-quality professional land-based equipment for commercial and domestic use. Servicing the North West and Yorkshire, it supplies a range of products from leading franchises including Kubota, Baroness and Amazone.

Chris Gibson concluded:

“It’s a key part of our ethos at The GGM Group to give something back to the local community  so for this event we’ve decided to support  both St John’s Hospice in Lancaster and Pendleside Hospice in Burnley, as local charities who are desperately in need of funds at this time alongside Greenfingers our nominated company charity

“As we all adapt to the “new normal”, becoming more environmentally aware is a key part our business strategy and we are currently working with East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce undertaking ISO14001 accreditation–the small things like staff walking or cycling to walk all make a difference.

The GGM Group has set a target of £1000 for the event. You can support this worthy cause by donating at

www.sponsorme.co.uk/scottgrieve/chris-gibsons-cycle-and-walk-challenge.aspx

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