Fields in Trust Green Space Index launched

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Fields in Trust Green Space Index launched: At an event in Edinburgh, Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge helped to launch the Fields in Trust Green Space Index which reveals that, despite their value for health, wellbeing and climate change mitigation, some parts of the UK have access to 50% less green space than others and 2.8m people in Great Britain live more than a ten-minute walk from their nearest park.

The parks and green spaces that have been so vital to the nation’s wellbeing during lockdown are not equally accessible to all, according to new data from green space charity Fields in Trust. The Green Space Index is an annual barometer of green space provision and distribution and shows that people in the most well provisioned locations have the equivalent of 45m2 of accessible parks and green space per person compared to just 19m2 per capita in others.  Areas with the least provision tend to be those with a higher incidence of deprivation – precisely the communities who benefit most from green space access.

Fields in Trust Green Space Index launched

Fields in Trust Green Space Index launched

The visit came ahead of COP26 climate change conference, which will be taking place in Glasgow later this year, with today’s event one of several projects which have a positive effect on climate change that The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have visited across Scotland. Urban parks and green spaces boost air quality, support habitats and mitigate the effects of climate change.

At the event in Starbank Park, Edinburgh’s Lord Provost, Frank Ross, announced that the City of Edinburgh Council would be using the Green Space Index to determine strategic green space locations. He said: “Edinburgh is already a wonderfully green city, and we want to ensure it remains that way for generations to come.

“I’m extremely pleased to announce that the City of Edinburgh Council will be looking to partner with Fields in Trust in protecting in perpetuity a further 25 green spaces – adding to the 34 already protected. This will mean that almost everyone in Edinburgh will be within a ten-minute walk of a protected green space, ensuring that for years to come citizens are guaranteed a lifetime of opportunity for activity, play, learning, recuperation and community.

“Scores of volunteers across the city work alongside the Council to support our parks, green spaces and cemeteries. We are very grateful to Friends of Starbank Park their ongoing hard work and dedication and we will continue to work with them to make sure these important areas are preserved for the benefit of our future generations.”

The City of Edinburgh Council are the first Local Authority in Scotland to adopt this approach and follow the pioneering example set by Liverpool City Council in March 2021 to protect all 100 parks in the City.

During the event Their Royal Highnesses met with volunteers from the Friends of Starbank Park Group and park users of all ages who have found sanctuary in the park over the last year as a place to play, exercise, relax, and reflect.

Fields in Trust Chair of Trustees, Jo Barnett said: “Through the pandemic we’ve realised just how valuable parks and green spaces are to our health and wellbeing, yet across the UK only 6% of parks are protected and access to them is not equitable. The proven physical and mental health benefits of local parks is unchallenged. These are valuable places; places where we can all move, breathe, run and play. Fields in Trust welcome this significant commitment by the City of Edinburgh Council, we need to champion and support these precious spaces by protecting them for future generations to enjoy. Because once lost, they are lost forever.”

Full details of the Green Space Index – including an interactive web app to explore local provision can be found on the Fields in Trust website www.fieldsintrust.org

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Soil Scout celebrates US expansion

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Soil Scout celebrates US expansion: Wireless underground soil monitoring solution Soil Scout has officially launched its full integration package with US-based provider of autonomous aerial intelligence services GreenSight.

The technology partnership gives turf and agronomical professionals a real-time understanding of how to create optimal above and below-ground conditions while increasing efficiency in water and nutrient usage.

Soil Scout celebrates US expansion

Soil Scout celebrates US expansion

“Our technology partnership has combined Soil Scout sensors with GreenSight’s TurfCloud platform, providing a cutting-edge machine vision analysis of the entire grounds captured by drone-mounted sensors. Now it’s possible to see everything in their soil – and be able to plan their day’s work – before setting foot outside. This is a major step forward in both smart farming and turf management sectors in the US for Soil Scout” says Soil Scout CEO Jalmari Talola.

GreenSight’s drones have three high-resolution infrared-NDVI cameras, and a radiometrically calibrated thermal camera; paired with an industry-leading flight time of 60 minutes. Combined with Soil Scout’s soil sensors that have solar-powered base stations and repeaters that have a 20-year in-ground battery life, we can provide users with a comprehensive, real-time understanding of their grounds through the GreenSight dashboard.

GreenSight CEO James Peverill commented, “We look forward to helping customers manage their soils more efficiently and improve their facilities across the world. We’re equally excited to be able to distribute their intuitive soil condition sensors to our growing customer base.”

Soil Scout has also expanded its US operations with an aim to accelerate its go-to-market efforts and combat the ongoing drought in California while adding feet on the ground in New England, Texas, and Arizona with the new hires of Kevin Hauschell, Dan Jennings, Zach Sevens, and Joe Lazzaro.

“I’m excited to join the team and bring this incredible technology to farmers, turf managers, vineyard managers, and orchard managers alike throughout the US. In drought years like we are experiencing currently in the Western US, making more informed decisions with regards to water is vital. If we don’t start monitoring and becoming more efficient in our water use in industries like golf, viticulture, and farming; we will see golf courses close, farmland sit barren, and wineries close their doors,” says Kevin Hauschel, West Coast Sales Lead for Greensight Ag / Soil Scout.

“Industries will have to justify their water use to ensure the sustainability of the golf, viticulture, and farming industries in California, so the time is now to use tools that conserve water, improve fertilizer timings, decrease fungicide and chemical use, and increase profitability,“ continues Hauschell.

A report from the Drought Monitor shows 97.5% of California is in some stage of drought, with 87% of the state in severe drought and 52% in extreme drought. In addition, the past two years in California have been extremely dry and the state relies on ‘wet years’ to replenish its water supply.

“Plants are sucking water out of the soil to survive, and that dry soil needs to be irrigated more and more to keep them alive. Agriculture relies heavily on groundwater during droughts in California, but until recently, groundwater hasn’t been regulated so they haven’t had a chance to recharge. More sustainable groundwater management is needed to maintain these key drought reserves. Understanding when and how much to irrigate with smart solutions such as Soil Scout and GreenSight is critical if places like California are to sustainably improve their water usage,” says Adam Sedgwick, VP of International Sales at Soil Scout.

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Bernhard strengthens relationship with Delta Turf Care

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Bernhard strengthens relationship with Delta Turf Care: Industry-leader in turf sharpening equipment and management solutions, Bernhard and Company, has strengthened its relationship with Saudi Arabia-based distributor, Delta Turf Care, which has been appointed as the official distributor for the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Bahrain.

New to the UAE, Delta Turf Care has been the company’s distributor in Saudi Arabia for over a decade and has played a crucial role in the development of the Bernhard and Company brand and product presence in prestigious golf venues throughout the country.

Bernhard strengthens relationship with Delta Turf Care

Bernhard strengthens relationship with Delta Turf Care

This appointment comes as Bernhard and Company looks to ensure it can service current customers more efficiently, while also helping to increase sales through improved contact with new prospects. Delta Turf Care will be responsible for direct sales and customer relations in the Middle East and will demonstrate the knowledge and passion that Bernhard and Company possess for its grinding philosophy.

David Murphy, Managing Director of Delta Turf Care, said: “We are delighted to be strengthening our partnership with Bernhard and Company to help them take their business to the next level in the Middle Eastern region.”

Scott Purdy, Business Development Manager EMEA for Bernhard and Company, added: “It’s crucial to us that we align ourselves with partners that reflect our core values of support and education. Delta Turf Care has been a fantastic partner to us in years past and we are proud to be expanding our relationship.

“We look forward to growing our presence further in the Middle East and working with some of the area’s most prestigious venues to deliver first-class turf management solutions.”

Bernhard and Company grinding machines are used by more than 65 of the world’s top 100 golf courses to ensure perfect, tournament-ready playing conditions year-round, while the company’s turf management solutions and educational support are utilised at major sporting events around the globe.

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Terrain’s deep aeration in Yorkshire Sculpture Park

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Terrain’s deep aeration in Yorkshire Sculpture Park: Situated near Wakefield, West Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park is an open-air gallery that showcases work by world-class British and international artists, including Yorkshire-born Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and Damien Hirst.

The park has one of the largest open-air collection of Moore’s bronzes in Europe. Spread over 500-acres of 18th century designed landscape of Bretton Hall, YSP opened in 1977 and was the first UK sculpture park based on temporary open-air exhibitions that were organized in London parks from the 1940s to 1970 by the Arts Council and London County Council.

Terrain’s deep aeration in Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Terrain’s deep aeration in Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Today, the ‘gallery without walls’ has an ever-changing exhibition programme and preparing to reopen after lockdown presented an opportunity for remedial work to be done. Following a site visit by hydrology consultants inspecting a waterlogged area, they brought in Terrain Aeration with their deep aeration treatment system. The area in question was an important part of the Lower Park and a popular area for visitors and curators. It suffers from compaction due to footfall and the weight of sculptures, resulting in the build-up of standing water.

“It is unusual for the area to be cleared,” says Mark Chesman, Head of Estates and Parks at YSP, “but the sculptures in that area were removed for conservation work, and we seized the opportunity as part of a wider project. In all, it took two-and-a-half days and they treated 4,000 square metres of land.”

Terrain Aeration’s Terralift hammers a hollow probe one metre into the soil using a JCB road breaker gun. At depth, the ground is usually so compacted it needs the hammer to break through. Compressed air is then released to a maximum of 20Bar (280psi) to fracture and fissure the soil and the process is repeated in two-metre spacings, to ensure the fissures interlink. On the end of the air blast, dried seaweed is injected which sticks to the fissure walls, expanding and contracting with moisture content in the soil and keeping the area ‘breathing.’ The 1.5-inch probe holes created by the Terralift machine are backfilled with aggregate to provide a semi-permanent aeration/ventilation shaft, helping to keep the whole aeration process working. The park’s groundkeepers then overseeded the area to finish.

We tend to take trees for granted, in our parks, public spaces and estates but they are often subjected to stress as a result of several factors, such as nutrient shortage, surface compaction due to foot traffic, and waterlogging where water drains off hard surfaces. Yorkshire Sculpture Park features lime trees, beech and Atlas cedar amongst others and these were given Terrain Aeration treatment as well. Breaking up the soil around the roots, and beyond, means excess water will drain away from the roots to help stop anaerobic conditions and rotting of the root system. “We’re confident with what’s been done,” says Mark, “and will be looking at further areas to be treated, probably in the autumn.”

Terrain Aeration 01449 673783 www.terrainaeration.co.uk

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Lawn Association – the brand new ‘True Range’

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Lawn Association – the brand new ‘True Range’: The Lawn Association is proud to introduce a new and exclusive, sustainable product range which will be available via their online shop from the end of May.

The ‘True Garden Range’ is a specifically designed fertiliser and soil conditioner range for domestic use. Formulated using composted food waste, this product will not only keep your plants happy and healthy but also your soils. The composted food waste, creates a stable humus, which is naturally high in organic matter, as well as rich in amino, humic, and fulvic acids and contains all the essential minerals, vitamins and N, P & K required to aid and increase the plant’s healthy growth, root development, disease resistance and overall function whilst also providing a food source for the beneficial microbes within your soils.

Lawn Association - the brand new 'True Range'

Lawn Association – the brand new ‘True Range’

Within the range are three tailored products, for specifically targeting certain areas of the garden:

• True Grass for your lawns
• True Bloom for flower beds, pots, and hanging baskets
• True Yield for the vegetable plots, fruit trees and bushes

The ‘True Garden Range’ offers a completely revolutionary and sustainable way to enhance and support all areas of your garden, including your vegetables and flowers as well as offering a truly unique lawn fertiliser for all year long care and all can be used as often as is necessary.

This exciting new sustainable product range comes in a compostable tube with a recyclable applicator and costs £16.99 per tube. See the whole True Garden Range on the Lawn Association link here: https://www.lawnassociation.org.uk/true-garden-range/ 

For more information or images please contact Francijn Suermondt at rabbitattackpr@gmail.com or on 07895184395.

Our core mission at the Lawn Association 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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