Beautiful lawns the sustainable way

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Beautiful lawns the sustainable way: Some say that it must be impossible to have a lawn that is both good to look at and good for the environment.   This is simply a myth that needs busting once and for all!

The Lawn Association team know that lawn care should be taken seriously as its vital to our living environment and more importantly, to our planet.  The team believe in the ethical and organic promotion of grass as an integral part of our living landscape and will never support practices or products that damage or destroy our natural habitats and our environment.

Beautiful lawns the sustainable way

Beautiful lawns the sustainable way

Today, due to excellent modern technology, more and more mowers are produced which are powered by lithium batteries. Lawn feed has come on in leaps and bounds too, a new lawn feed that will be launched soon through the Lawn Association is made from re-constituted food waste and into plant food and soil conditioner for your grass and soils. It’s the ultimate in green gardening – and your lawn will love it!

We must not forget the benefits to us from lavishing love on our lawns either, lawn care is beneficial for our mental health, with scientific research pinpointing several reasons why it reduces stress. The first key reason is simply being outdoors. Secondly, the exercise involved in mowing a lawn is not only great for our physical health but can also boost our mood. This also has an element of mindfulness, of being in the moment.  And finally, the act of nurturing our lawns and seeing them flourish, give us a feeling of positivity.

To say that we cannot have stunning lawns produced in a sustainable way is simply not true and risk whisking away one of the greatest pleasures we will have in the coming seasons.  This is a myth constantly pushed by some.  Our countryside is green and certainly, grass and Britain’s lawns are green. If you don’t think so then well be happy to talk.

For more information on how to look after your lawn in a modern, sustainable way throughout the year why not join the ‘Lawn Association’?

Our core mission is to make accurate lawn care information readily available via our website and through our Free Membership Scheme for gardening enthusiasts. Go to the @LawnAssociation Facebook page to join the Lawn Enthusiasts Group, and get free association membership via the website, www.lawnassociation.org.uk 

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Kubota introduces the F-251 front mower

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Kubota introduces the F-251 front mower: Kubota continues to expand its ground care machinery offering, with the addition of the F-251 to the company’s front mower range. This professional mower benefits from the latest engine technology to offer enhanced performance alongside features designed for productivity and high-quality cutting.

The new model uses a powerful three-cylinder 1123cc Kubota diesel engine which complies with the most recent EU Stage V emissions directive, while delivering 25hp for increased productivity.

Kubota introduces the F-251 front mower

Kubota introduces the F-251 front mower

A highly efficient two-range HST transmission offers on demand four-wheel drive (4WD) with the capability of selecting permanent 4WD.

This new F-251 model will also see the introduction of newly designed 1.52m (60in) side and rear discharge mowing decks with improved cutting quality. Both new decks have optional mulch kits available which offer a high-quality finish. All the controls are perfectly positioned, and the instrument panel is clear and easy to read in all light conditions, making work easier and quicker. Operators can set the adjustable steering wheel to the position that suits them best for comfort and convenience, and the F-251 is equipped with LED headlights for optimum visibility and as a key safety feature. To add extra reliability, the decks are equipped with puncture-proof tyres and for ease of maintenance, the engine cowling can be fully opened, and blades are quick to replace. It has also been designed for easy transportation, with tie down points at the front and rear for reliable and secure anchoring when transported on a trailer.

Once again, Kubota has demonstrated its commitment to making ground care tasks easier and quicker by means of innovation and market research, and will continue to do so and support its customers around the world, offering the best solutions for their needs, whatever they may be.

About Kubota

Kubota has been a leading manufacturer of agricultural, turf and construction equipment and Industrial Engines since 1890. With world Headquarters in Osaka Japan, and offices in more than 120 countries, and with over 41,000 employees throughout North America, Europe and

Asia, Kubota achieved revenues in 2020 of $17.3 billion. Although agricultural equipment is Kubota’s primary line of products, Kubota also produces a diverse portfolio of other products including city wide water filtration systems, irrigation, piping, roofing, housing and large underground valves.

Our Mission

Our mission, “For Earth, For Life,” speaks of our commitment to the preservation of the Earth’s natural environment while aiding the production of food and water supplies that are vital to societal needs as our world population continues to grow. That mission is realized each time a Kubota tractor harvests the land to produce life-sustaining food or our construction equipment

excavates to transport water resources or provide shelter. For more information on Kubota, please visit www.kubota-global.net or www.kubota-eu.com.

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Abbots Bromley Sports Association keep progress going

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Abbots Bromley Sports Association keep progress going: Abbots Bromley Sports Association (ABSA) has continued progress on their £1.2million multi-sport facility with the addition of a New Holland tractor, Trimax Striker and quality training from Campey Turf Care Systems.

Plans for the ambitious project began many years ago when Abbots Bromley Cricket Club started looking for a new home, but when in 2013, after finding a 14-and-a-half-acre site, ABSA was created and the vision expanded to encompass multiple sports.

Abbots Bromley Sports Association keep progress going

Abbots Bromley Sports Association keep progress going

When completed the site will be home to the villages cricket, football, netball and tennis enthusiasts as well as being a community hub for other sports. The completion of the second phase of work means senior, and junior football pitches are now ready for play along with the cricket pitch, which is in its third year. Due to Covid-19, both sports are currently on hold at an amateur level, but it is hoped the pitches will be used at some point during 2021.

To continue the progress already made on the project, ABSA needed new equipment to maintain the ground, which led the trustees, chaired by Chris Wood, to Campey.

Chris explains: “We’re very grateful to be able to partner with such a clearly well established and very professional organisation as Campey. We can’t speak highly enough about their input all the way through this process.

“Our Trustee who looks after the ground, Andrew Kirkland, found out about the offer from Staffordshire FA and Campey and brought it back to the trustees and fortunately we were able to take that forwards. It’s true to say we work very well with Staffordshire FA, and their contribution and the funding from The Football Foundation have been significant. Their introduction to Campey has been nothing short of fantastic.

“Prior to the equipment arriving, Andrew and two volunteers were trained on the new equipment. It is important that we have that level of interaction and support so we are able to get the best results for our facility, and from an insurance point of view, it is absolutely fundamental.

“We’re very fortunate that we have a lot of volunteers in our project and we rely on them, alongside a groundsman to provide the best pitches we can create, and it is imperative that we have the equipment that can deliver that outcome as well. And once we’re fully open and have fixtures at the weekend, we can make sure they are all on by having the pitches in good condition.”

Bringing multiple sports under one roof has made this a truly community led project with people in the local area raising over £110,000. ABSA has also utilised funding from Staffordshire Borough Council, their own Parish Council, Sport England, the ECB, the Premier League and The Football Foundation as well as the help and advice of Staffordshire FA.

The next phase of the project will see an all-weather court for tennis, netball and five-a-side football put down, and the development of car parking and the new clubhouse.

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Headland’s range of specialist fertilisers

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Headland’s range of specialist fertilisers: With thoughts beginning to turn to the application of early season nutrition, Headland Amenity have a wide range of fertiliser products to get growth going this spring.

Multigreen® CRF is a popular choice with golf and sports clubs alike, to overcome the efficacy issues associated with some granular feeds in high moisture situations, as nutrient release is governed solely by soil temperature.

Headland’s range of specialist fertilisers

Headland’s range of specialist fertilisers

Multigreen® features urea or potassium nitrate prills within a permeable polymer-resin coating which start to release their solubilised nutrients once soil temperatures rise above 6oc – in line with grass growth. Nutrient availability is gentle and controlled by temperature alone, avoiding ‘flush’ growth and producing a strong, healthy sward that is sustained for up to six months depending on the analysis. This field longevity makes Multigreen® ideal for use on winter sports pitches and racecourses with lighter, free-draining soils.

For areas featuring heavier soil types, Headland’s XTEND® range of slow release granular and soluble fertilisers are another effective option – providing two to three months of consistent nutrient release from a single application. Each urea prill in XTEND® granular features two components to enhance the slow-release nature of the nitrogen; NBPT which prevents the loss of ammonia nitrogen to the atmosphere by volatilisation and DCD nitrification inhibitor to slow down the conversion of ammonium to nitrate in the soil, allowing the ammonium nitrogen to be held in the soil more efficiently. In liquid form, XTEND® is an ideal tank mix partner to Clipless NT® and Elevate Fe®, creating a cost-effective spring/summer feed without excessive clippings generation.

Designed to fill the gap between traditional outfield and fine turf products, the H-Cote™ range of mini-granular controlled-release fertilisers are suitable for use in all coarse and close mown turf situations including golf tees and fairways, sports pitches and racecourses. H-Cote™ offers field longevity of three to four months thanks to the high levels (70-91%) of controlled release nitrogen, surrounded by dual-coat technology which allows for a high specific nitrogen analysis per prill while reducing the risk of nitrogen lock-off.

Specifically for fine turf, Greentec® Mosskiller Pro is an ideal spring starter or low temperature hardener on amenity turf where prolonged colour, but not too much growth, is required. In addition to its low NK analysis, providing a consistent response in cool conditions, it is an approved mosskiller, providing rapid control of moss in managed amenity turf.

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Makita: powering the Eden Project

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Makita: powering the Eden Project: Makita UK has been appointed as the dedicated outdoor equipment supplier to the Eden Project.

The leading power tool manufacturer has been awarded the prestigious contract to exclusively supply its cordless garden machinery and power tools to assist with maintenance and redevelopment work at the home of the famous Biomes near St Austell in Cornwall.

Makita: powering the Eden Project

Makita: powering the Eden Project

With its wide range of cordless machinery offering a reliable and powerful alternative to petrol powered equipment and a one battery fits all solution for cordless construction and grounds maintenance tools, Makita was the ideal choice to help Eden meet its sustainable vision and ecological ethos. The partnership will see the Eden Project team replace its existing petrol and corded machines with Makita’s battery-powered products.

Si Bellamy, Interim Chief Operating Officer at the Eden Project, said: “Eden is dedicated to using sustainable methods and we wanted to update our grounds equipment with more environmentally friendly kit without compromising on power or performance.

“With Makita’s extensive range of cordless power tools and garden machinery, we can make the transition over to cordless incredibly easily. Makita’s cordless range will enable us to complete day-to-day maintenance tasks and larger projects in a safer, quieter, more efficient way.

“The use of battery power as fuel completely eliminates the need for our team to transport and handle petrol and as no fumes are omitted during operation there are zero gas emissions – which is fantastic for reducing our carbon footprint further. What’s more, there is no need to consider the safe placement of cables as with corded machines. As a result, we will be able to safely carry out work when visitors are on site.”

Makita’s innovative cordless technology also means that the machines work for long periods of time without needing to be charged. As a result, Eden team can work on large areas and tasks without needing to stop to replace or recharge the batteries, improving productivity further.

Mark Earles, Business Development Manager for garden machinery at Makita said: “The Eden Project is an educational charity and visitor attraction focused on showcasing the power of nature and inspiring visitors to think more sustainably. We are thrilled to be working with the team, as part of its efforts to improve environmental efficiency, by delivering cordless solutions to help the team work more efficiently on site.

“With over 270 cordless products in our LXT portfolio, we can ensure that the Eden Project have access to the machines they need, no matter the task. Our battery platforms also mean that the team can switch between tools and tasks effortlessly, reducing downtime and improving productivity.”

Makita’s product range is designed to work in tough outdoor environments, making the partnership an ideal backdrop for the Eden Project team to put the kit through its paces in unique settings, such as the heat of the Eden Project’s Rainforest Biome. Makita will be using this as a long-term opportunity to gain user feedback on the performance of the machines, to assist with research and development into new models and tool technologies.

Si Bellamy added: “We are really excited to kick off our partnership with Makita and see what we can achieve together over the next five years and beyond. It is really important for us to develop a strong partnership with Makita and work collaboratively with them to further our capabilities here at the Eden Project.”

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

For more information about the Eden Project visit: www.edenproject.com

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