Worldwide support for SALTEX

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Worldwide support for SALTEX: SALTEX, Europe’s largest FREE sports turf, amenities, and landscaping trade exhibition, proves Britain’s exhibition scene is back to pre-Covid levels with international exhibitors and visitors from over 40 countries now signed up to attend.

Such overwhelming overseas support with 12 weeks to go before the show opens its doors on 2 November shows the strength of this event, now in its 76th year, and it’s a great indication that Britain is back to being fully open for business as exhibitors and visitors travel to the event from as far afield as Australia.

Worldwide support for SALTEX

Worldwide support for SALTEX

But what is it about SALTEX that is generating such international interest? Francesco Dotto, president of GrAssMed, the Mediterranean Groundsman Association, tweeted: “[SALTEX] is the most important green fair in Europe, for real professionals, but also for those who to approach sustainable and serious green.” He refers to, of course, the show’s focus on sustainability and the environment, key topics at this year’s show featuring prominently in the Learning LIVE seminars, with the show bringing together the best in the business from around the world and the most effective products and innovations to help tackle current issues.

This is certainly a view shared by SGL, manufacturers of grass growth products such as grow lighting systems and data monitoring tools, based in The Netherlands – and just one of many international businesses exhibiting at this year’s show. Derk Pelle, content marketeer at SGL, confirms the reason they attend is because “SALTEX is an inspiring, international event where turf professionals come together to exchange knowledge and learn about the latest innovations in the industry and engage with turf professionals face-to-face.”

Matthew Williams, national account manager UK and Ireland at Compo-Expert, said: “European visitors come to SALTEX because they recognise it as the best golf and groundsmanship event in Europe.”

The International Greenkeepers Association will again have a presence at SALTEX with members from around the world registering to visit. Among these is Daryl Davidson, head groundsman at Sydney University, who is excited to be making the journey: “This is a great opportunity to catch up with a heap of new and old friends from our great industry,” it was he says, “an easy decision to jump on board”.

And it’s not just international exhibitors who are signed up for the show, overseas visitors’ enthusiasm for SALTEX is at an all-time high too. Geoff Webb, CEO of the Grounds Management Association, says: “There promises to be a diverse visitor profile this year, we know there are visitors from over 26 countries already. We had a good show last year with our post-show visitor survey, showing that 83 percent of attendees rated SALTEX 2021 overall as excellent, very good or good, and 67 percent of those saying they attended specifically to purchase new products or services, and 84 percent either had full purchasing responsibility or contributed to the process. These are great stats, but we knew that it was post pandemic and people were longing to get out and meet up again but to continue this momentum is really encouraging.”

For visitors keen to confirm their attendance at this show which is promising to be its biggest and best yet, find out more about SALTEX 2022 and register online at www.saltex.org.uk

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ICL helps to modernise Warrington Wolves

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ICL helps to modernise Warrington Wolves: From seed to nutrition – an ICL integrated turf management programme is helping Warrington Wolves modernise its grounds department.

Before taking the position of Head of Grounds at Warrington Wolves Niall Hazlehurst had always been involved in football grounds management having worked at Bolton Wanderers FC, Rochdale A.F.C. and Fulham FC.

ICL helps to modernise Warrington Wolves

ICL helps to modernise Warrington Wolves

However, the job at Warrington Wolves, a Rugby League club signalled the prospect of a new and exciting chapter which would allow him to put his own stamp on the project.

“I had a chat with the management team, and it became apparent that I would be working with a blank canvas,” said Niall. “There were so many old machines and so we cleared everything out and started fresh. It was time to modernise the department and also the pitch.”

With the full backing of the owners, Niall got to work, and his first action was to investigate new grass seed options at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. After recommendations from fellow groundstaff at Doncaster FC and seeing it perform well at other venues, Niall decided to go with ICL’s ProSelect 1 Premium Pitch.

Combining four top-ranked perennial ryegrasses and with rapid establishment, it provides a fast-recovering, dense, hard-wearing surface.

“My plan was to use ICL’s nutritional products, so I thought it made sense to use the seed as well,” he said. “I liked the fact the cultivars in ProSelect 1 rank very highly in the BSPB ratings. Last season we scarified as much as possible and overseeded with the ProSelect 1, and we had really good results.

“It helped keep Poa at bay, and the germination and establishment are quick. What stands out to me is how well the pitch plays. Now the seed has had a chance to establish we no longer get those big divots when the rugby players all come together.”

After seeing successful results from the seed, Niall and Phil Collinson, North West Key Account Manager for ICL, started to explore the possibility of introducing ProSelect Sport TRT into the seeding programme.

“We took the next step, and we are now using a combination of ProSelect 1 Premium Pitch and ProSelect Sport TRT,” said Niall. “ProSelect Sport TRT is a hard-wearing creeping ryegrass mix and will bring a lot of benefits to a pitch that doesn’t have full surface removal each year.”

Phil offered his thoughts: “By using a combination of both seeds, you get the high ranked cultivars from ProSelect 1 Premium Pitch along with the benefits of Torsion – one of the cultivars in ProSelect Sport TRT. We all crave that dark green colour that we see so much on TV and with Torsion in Sport TRT genetically being a darker variety it gives you an advantage over some of the other cultivars. And when you consider its wear tolerance then it makes sense to introduce it to a situation like Niall is managing.”

With confidence in the seed, Niall’s focus quickly turned to nutrition and specifically a feeding programme.

“I wanted to move away from a scenario where the pitch was getting fed when it looked like it needed to,” he said. “I felt we needed a more pro-active approach which would avoid peaks and troughs. This pitch needs to be always ready and playable because the club can agree to put a game on at any time – it brings in revenue. This is fine now because the pitch is continuously good, and I think ICL’s Sierraform GT Spring & Summer CalMag14.0.7 fertiliser has played a part in this.

“Because of its micro granulation, you can use low rates more frequently, fortnightly for example, to help level out that nutrition and avoid lots of lush growth. With it being predominantly slow release, we can rely on it to give great longevity out of the product and the colour it provides is unbelievable.”

Niall also revealed that a tank-mix consisting of Greenmaster Liquid CalMag at 20 L/ha and Vitalnova Stressbuster at 20 L/ha is playing an integral part in his maintenance programme.

“We like to apply this 48 hours before a game,” he said. “It gives us everything we want, including outstanding presentation and great recovery. Since we have been using this tank mix there has been very little to no damage to the pitch under play. At the end of the day, it’s similar to the way you would prepare a player before a game – the pitch is a living thing too.”

Commenting on the progress Niall has made, Phil said: “It is a unique situation here at Warrington Wolves with very high usage and high pitch demands. A bespoke plan was needed, and Niall is working brilliantly towards taking the pitch in a new direction – it is evolving all the time.”

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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GGM Group’s charity cycle challenge

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GGM Group’s charity cycle challenge: This year Lancashire based business The GGM Group have pledged to fulfil 12 months of fundraising for their chosen charity the North West Air Ambulance, and have set an ambitious target of £10,000.

Having kicked off this year’s fundraising with a 96km bike ride across the North West from the depot in Haydock back to the Head Office in Colne via the Leeds and Liverpool canal.

GGM Group's charity cycle challenge

GGM Group’s charity cycle challenge

19 team members, came together from across all departments ranging in age between 18 – 62, and took on the 95 kilometre route, despite sweltering heat, and a number of punctures the team finished the route together and enjoyed a well-deserved team BBQ to celebrate.

To date the cycle ride has raised over £2,600.00 and is continuing to rise, for this year’s chosen company charity partner The North West Air Ambulance, which are much needed funds during these difficult times. The business will be running further initiative over the coming months with their aim to raise £10,000 for the charity over the year. Since the launch of the charity in 1999, it has continued to operate 365 days a year and has responded to over 24,500 missions across the Northwest. The charity receives no government or NHS funding and must raise over £9.5m each year to remain operational.

GGM Group operates across the North West, is following hot on the heels of previous year’s highly successful charitable efforts, where the organisation raised over £10,000 for charities across the North West, and is keen to build on this success and keep the momentum running.

Managing Director Chris Gibson explains more:

“Every year we carry out a physical challenge to raise funds for our chosen company charity and it’s a huge highlight in our calendar. Previously we have completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks and in 2020 we didn’t let lockdown dampen our spirits, carrying out a charity walk and cycle ride in socially distanced stints.”

“I am hugely proud of what our staff have done in this year’s charity cycle and it is teamwork in the truest sense. Not everyone regularly cycles, yet they have committed to taking part in this challenge for our charity. As a family business, it’s fantastic for us all to come together.

“It’s a key part of our ethos at The GGM Group to give something back to the local community and North West Air Ambulance provide an essential service. Amazingly they receive no government or NHS funding so every penny we and others raise for the charity makes such a lifesaving difference.”

About GGM Group

The GGM Group operates two businesses across two sites. 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. PSD Groundscare is the national distributor of specialist landscaping equipment, including AS Motor, Eliet, Koppl and TS Industries.

To support the team and make a donation visit the Justgiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/the-ggm-group

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Henton & Chattell to make its mark at SALTEX

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Henton & Chattell to make its mark at SALTEX: Henton & Chattell will be attending this year’s Saltex event in Birmingham, the leading and largest turf management exhibition in Europe, between 2nd – 3rd November 2022.

The supplier of turf and garden machinery brands will be attending the exhibition to showcase four of its leading ranges – Cobra, Woodbay Turf Technologies, Billy Goat and Hansa Products.

Henton & Chattell to make its mark at SALTEX

Henton & Chattell to make its mark at SALTEX

Highlighting an impressive array of brands, the Henton & Chattell exhibit will span two large stands. This will allow visitors to explore and learn about all of the impressive innovations of each brand while showcasing a selection of products that takes turf maintenance to the next level. Cobra and Woodbay Turf Technologies will be found on stand G090, while Billy Goat and Hansa Products will be located nearby on stand G070.

Cobra proudly boasts the largest powered lawnmower brand in the UK and each piece of garden machinery in the range has been expertly designed in the UK to cater specifically for the changing conditions of the British garden. With a comprehensive line-up of quality and innovative products to tackle any gardening task, Cobra brings continuous evolution to the garden machinery sector. Its other products include hedgetrimmers, grass trimmers, leaf blowers and shredders – all of which are available in petrol, battery and electric models and help gardeners create luscious green spaces.

Having acquired the exclusive UK distribution rights earlier this year, Wood Bay Turf Technologies is one of Henton & Chattell’s newest brands and is the manufacturer of golf, lawn bowling greens and other sports turf maintenance equipment. The company has been creating world-class turf maintenance equipment since 1987, with leading products in the range being the greensIRON 3900 and greensIRON 6200  turf rollers; the fds9200 multipurpose turf dethatcher and the famous tungsten carbide tipped vertical cutting blade, dynaBLADE.

Hansa Products specialises in the design and manufacture of high-quality wood chippers. The family-run business, established in the 1980s, has a strong heritage combined with constant evolution and innovation. It prides itself on the ethos of ‘providing the best chipping experience’, whether being used in a garden at home, by a landscaper, professional arborist or other commercial users. A range of Hansa products will be displayed at the show, each providing a vigorous tool for professional landscapers and gardeners to make maintenance easy and effortless. Every Hansa product is engineered and manufactured using the highest quality components to last a lifetime, including steel and durable powder coated finish with zinc shield rust protection to guarantee longevity.

Similarly, Billy Goat offers a complete line-up of product solutions for commercial, residential and municipal needs. The family-run business has designed and manufactured property clean up products with a reputation for innovation, productivity and quality. It boasts an impressive product selection, including aerators, overseeders, sod cutters, chipper-vacs, brushcutters and leaf blowers so users can pick the most appropriate machine for the right clean up application, property and season.

Members of the Henton & Chattell team will also be on hand throughout the exhibition to discuss products and arrange demonstrations of any products.

For more information please visit https://www.hcuk.co/

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Terrain Aeration relief for housebuilders

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Terrain Aeration relief for housebuilders: One problem facing housebuilders both before and after development is ground compaction. Open spaces designated for building may suffer years of neglect, constant foot traffic or use of wheeled machinery resulting in panning deep below the surface.

Similarly, during the building process bulldozers, diggers, dumper trucks and concrete mixer lorries flatten the air out of the soil in areas that will eventually become gardens and shared grassed areas. Often the land itself may have had previous buildings, and the subsoil contains old bricks, rubble and landfill. All these factors contribute to waterlogging which normal aeration cannot relieve.

Terrain Aeration relief for housebuilders

Terrain Aeration relief for housebuilders

Terrain Aeration’s Housebuilder’s Division has developed the specialist machinery and a full service needed for deep penetration aeration to relieve the problem of heavy compaction and waterlogging. Designed to access tight areas, their Terralift tracked aerator can enter small gardens through a gateway or garage and provide unique one-metre-deep aeration. At this depth, compressed air is released via a probe to fracture the soil and create fissures, allowing drainage and letting oxygen reach deep into the soil. Such work has been carried out for many years by Terrain Aeration for the UK’s leading housebuilders including Taylor-Wimpey, Barratt and Persimmon. A typical recent contract saw them treating ten small gardens and a small open flower meadow for Barratt David Wilson Homes in East Anglia while a project for Taylor-Wimpey was treating an open space so the housing development could be signed off with the council as ‘decompacted’. In this instance, the full-size Terralift machines were used, driving the JCB road breaker probe into the ground. At one metre depth the compressed air, up to 20Bar/280psi, was released from the probe which, on the tail-end of the blast, injects dried seaweed. This sticks to the fissures created as the Terralift process is repeated at two-metre centre spacing on a staggered grid. The seaweed expands and contracts with the soil’s moisture content to allow drainage and aeration.

The Terrain Aeration process has been in operation for over thirty years, providing compaction relief for new-build gardens, sports grounds, golf courses, amenity areas and public spaces. The Terrain Aeration Tree Division provides the specialist treatment for Royal Parks and arboriculturalists throughout the UK.  Terrain Aeration 01449 673783 www.terrainaeration.co.uk

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