FairWays Foundation completes third grant cycle

FairWays Foundation completes third grant cycle: Founded in 2019, The FairWays Foundation has now completed its third grant cycle, bringing the total funding to $441,791 since its inception with 29 projects supported across the USA, Canada and UK.

The FairWays Foundation is a stand-alone 501c3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting conservation and stewardship within the turf industry and beyond. The foundation supports conservation-based projects both big and small by granting funds to successful applicants globally.

FairWays Foundation completes third grant cycle

FairWays Foundation completes third grant cycle

12 projects have been funded in the 2022 grant cycle, totalling $169,000 in funds. The Grant Committee and Board were delighted to review a diverse array of projects including a Great Salt Lake Field Trip program, the expansion of previously supported Irvine to Girvan Nectar Network, an on-course vegetable garden to serve the golf club restaurant, the installation of bat boxes, restoring an agricultural field to prairie, phragmites removal, canal bank restoration and more.

Matt Foster, CEO & President of Aquatrols and President of The FairWays Foundation said, “We understand making a difference locally takes tremendous grit from a local champion. It might be a green keeper or parks manager or a program volunteer. Regardless, without their will, these projects would never move forward. Our message to those individuals out there with a wish for a healthier environment is The Fairways Foundation can help with the way to get there.”

The 2023 funding cycle opens February 2023. Find out how to apply.

To view more information about all the projects that have been supported this year, click here.

The FairWays Foundation is looking for ambassadors to help reach those who wish to champion environmental projects but are unable to proceed due to lack of resources. Find out how you can get involved here

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Suståne delivers strong and sustainable greens

Suståne delivers strong and sustainable greens: A greens programme from Suståne® has been praised for delivering sustainable, steady and healthy growth at Wildernesse Golf Club. After making the switch six years ago, Course Manager Mark Todd cites that the combination of bi-monthly granular feeds and regular liquid applications has actively encouraged the natural soil biology, helping to reduce disease occurrence and in turn costly fungicide applications.

Wildernesse is widely recognised as one of the finest courses in Kent, with tree-lined fairways and fast-paced push-up greens regularly playing host to a number of England Golf and Kent County events. On the maintenance, Mark is supported by a team of ten. “For us, sustainability begins with working with what we have, looking at ways of encouraging both the biology and the species we want for our greens” explains Mark. “We chose the organic route to be more in-keeping with the older-style construction and straight away spoke to Suståne® after hearing great feedback from other clubs.”

Suståne delivers strong and sustainable greens

Suståne delivers strong and sustainable greens

“Russell Riley from Suståne® came in and, following some soil analysis, created a programme which we first trialled on our chipping greens. After just six months we could see the good results it was achieving which was when we decided to roll the programme out across all of our 20 greens.”

The programme consists of Suståne’s 4-6-4 slow-release fertiliser, 5-2-4+Fe and Suståne® Turf Revival® 6-2-4 which is applied regularly, in addition to being Mark’s ‘go-to’ for post renovation recovery. Turf Revival® 6-2-4 combines sources of water-soluble nitrogen with Suståne’s unique organic compost base which supplies a range of nutrients to enhance recovery and replenish soil – including a rich supply of humus and mycorrhizal fungi which contribute to efficient nutrient uptake and overall plant health.

“We have definitely noticed an improvement in plant health, less disease activity and steady growth – not peaks and troughs which tend to be evident with other products. We have also seen an increase in our bent population which is obviously beneficial for a more sustainable management approach moving forwards.”

Mark continues, “In addition to our regular feeds, we’ve also had great success with Suståne®’s Bolster® liquid plant biostimulant.” Bolster® is specially formulated to prepare plants for stress conditions by increasing root mass and growth, and accelerating chlorophyll production, improving its tolerance to heat, cold & frost and minimising pressure from parasitic nematodes.

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Only four weeks until SALTEX

Only four weeks until SALTEX: With more exhibitors returning to this years’ SALTEX than ever before and a plethora of new exhibitors joining the line-up, event organisers at the GMA are keen to remind visitors not to leave it too late to register for their free ticket to SALTEX, which gives direct access to the biggest brands in the industry and the latest technology all under one roof.  

SALTEX is the annual one-stop-shop for thousands of individuals working to install, manage and maintain the UK’s outdoor green spaces whether that be sports pitches, fine turf, estates and landscapes, schools, colleges and universities or parks and playgrounds and this year more than any other visitors from all these sectors can be guaranteed to have more products, more technology and more innovations available to them at the show.

Only four weeks until SALTEXOnly four weeks until SALTEX

Only four weeks until SALTEX

Geoff Webb, GMA CEO, says: “With the huge array of exhibitors at the show this year, attendees can be guaranteed of a worthwhile trip. There are innovations and product launches, with industry favourites alongside the new and unique, meaning a terrific line-up of kit for visitors to see. The vast range of subjects being covered in this year’s expansive Learning LIVE seminar schedule, means there is something relevant for all groundspeople today, addressing the issues whether working at grassroots level or the very top of the industry.

“We know many people leave it until the last minute to book events and make plans, however we encourage printing your badge in advance to gain fast tracked entry with no queuing, squeezing every available minute out of the networking and learning opportunities, whilst doing business and making deals with businesses in all sectors of the industry.”

With the ECO Village programme jam-packed with daily demonstrations for the show duration, Learning LIVE sessions extended to over 30, and with an award nomination for an EN Indy Award for ‘Trade Show of the Year’ in its pocket, the 2022 show really isn’t one to miss.

Conveniently centrally situated at the Birmingham NEC, there are plenty of transport options to access the show. For those coming by rail, the NEC is just a four-minute walk from Birmingham International railway station and for those driving, there is ample parking, with GMA members’ receiving free parking with their membership for the duration of the event. There’s also the option of bus, tram and even aeroplane for those travelling from overseas.

So there really is no reason not to register today for your free ticket to SALTEX at saltex.org.uk  or you can register here

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Kress delivers ground-breaking technology

Kress delivers ground-breaking technology: A game-changer in every way, Kress is leading the charge with a breakthrough innovation in battery-powered technology, built to deliver the performance and power of petrol. Come and be among the first to see the future of green gardening at SALTEX.

For decades, petrol-powered gardening and landscape equipment has been a reliable choice for commercial use, due to most battery-powered equipment being incapable of matching or surpassing the benefits of their petrol counterparts. This is coupled with the fact that innovation in battery technology has remained slow in meeting the dynamic and ever-growing demands of professional gardeners.

Kress delivers ground-breaking technology

Kress delivers ground-breaking technology

Gardening and landscape professionals have tended to veer away from battery-powered equipment due to excessive charging time before continued use, the high expense associated with the limited lifecycle, and unreliable performance quality.

Despite growing concerns that the air and noise pollution associated with petrol-powered equipment is having a severe impact on the environment, professionals have been forced to pick an option that provides economical advantage in terms of power and uninterrupted operation.

Tackling the current limitations of battery head-on, with a ground-breaking opportunity, Kress is taking the transformation from petrol to battery to the next level, creating a stronger, faster, quieter, more affordable option, that is specifically designed to meet the demanding needs of commercial landscapers and is set to drive battery-power technology forward to a brighter, more efficient future.

The new commercial Kress 8-minute Cybersystem™ battery platform has been engineered to have the fastest re-charge of any commercial battery system available, has twice the power output of standard lithium-ion batteries and has been developed with heavy-duty use in mind. It is battery-power as we have never seen it before.

With a petrol-free future on the horizon, and soaring prices in the UK, the latest evolution in Kress’ battery-powered technology is a remarkable, timely development for gardening and lawncare professionals, radical new technology that can help protect their planet and pocket, without compromising on performance.

“Everyone is waiting for a change in professional gardening and landscaping equipment, petrol will soon have to be replaced and, for that reason, Kress has come up with a powerful solution, built for a future-focused industry.” says Don Gao, Chairman and CEO of Positec Group. “The future must rely on energy storage, energy distribution and an integrated system. It’s time for an energy system evolution – the new Kress system can fulfil that need.”

As a part of the well-stablished Positec family of brands, Kress is recognised for its superior German engineering that has been synonymous with reliability, quality, and industry leading standards for over 50 years.

This new line of Kress commercial-grade outdoor power equipment, powered by its exclusive cordless battery technology, is a revolutionary development and highlights the commitment towards a future that will forever eliminate the need for petrol-powered equipment.

Kress battery technology

  • The new commercial Kress 8-minute Cybersystem™ battery platform was engineered and designed specifically to meet the demanding needs of commercial landscapers. The system features both 4Ah and 11Ah battery packs with the ability to recharge each 60v battery pack to 100% charge in only 8 minutes, or 80% charge in 5 minutes – the fastest re-charge of any commercial battery system available.
  • Due to its proprietary battery cell technology, each 60v Cyberpack battery is capable of producing up to twice the power output of standard lithium-ion batteries. The added power output allows Kress outdoor power equipment to meet or exceed the same performance as most commercial petrol machines but with less noise and zero harmful emissions.
  • In addition, the Kress Cyberpack battery can be re-charged thousands of times – up to 10 times more than standard lithium-ion batteries.
  • The extended battery life supports multiple re-charges per day and greatly reduces the cost of replacement battery packs over the life of the equipment.
  • The Kress 8-minute™ Cybersystem™ is the first and only cordless battery power supply that will allow commercial landscapers to finally replace their expensive petrol equipment without sacrificing performance, power or runtime.
  • The new Kress 8-minute Cybersystem™ battery platform will power a full line of Kress professional outdoor equipment that includes commercial-grade backpack and handheld blowers, grass trimmers, edgers, chainsaws, and hedge trimmers as well as heavy-duty walk-behind mowers.
  • Each Kress commercial-grade tool is designed and engineered for heavy-duty use with a high-efficiency brushless motor and state-of-the-art features and performance. There are no more excuses to keep operating noisy, high-cost petrol equipment or wasting time with cordless battery tools that won’t get the job done.

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Richard Gill joins the BALI Board

Richard Gill joins the BALI Board: Richard Gill of Green-tech, the UKs largest supplier to the landscape industry, has been voted on to the British Association of Landscape Industries board of Directors at the Associations’ National Annual General Meeting held on 15th September 2022.

The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) is the UK’s largest and most active network of landscaping professionals, with over 900 accredited members.

Richard Gill joins the BALI Board

Richard Gill joins the BALI Board

Richard is the Sales Director of Green-tech, an Accredited Supplier of the Association and award-winning supplier to the industry with a product range of over 10,000 product lines covering tree planting, urban landscaping, soils, and wildflower seed.  He has a wealth of experience and a genuine passion for the landscaping industry.

BALI’s Chief Executive Wayne Grills comments: “I, the Board and the team at Landscape House look forward to working with Richard as a board member. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience of the industry, which will be vital as we move forward with the Associations new strategy.”

As a Board Member Richard will use his individual skills to support the Association and its members, including contributing to the successful delivery of the new strategy.

Richard joined Green-tech in 2003 and progressed through the organisation to head up the 30 strong sales team in 2017. He has been instrumental in steering Green-tech to become the UKs leading landscape supplier. Richard is well known within the industry for his relentless commitment to raising the profile of landscaping, driving up standards and supporting innovative solutions that address environmental challenges.

Richard’s experience will be essential in his new role as an Association Board Member.  He adds, “I am incredibly proud to have been elected to the Board. It really is an honour. I’m passionate about our industry and I am delighted that my skills and experience will be useful for the future of the association.”

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