National Governing Bodies on SALTEX

National Governing Bodies on SALTEX: The UK’s National Governing Bodies (NGB) are crucial to the future of the industry and the sector’s success – one thing they can all agree on is, SALTEX is the show to visit.

Here five of the attending NGBs tell visitors why it’s worth clearing time in the diary and making the journey to the NEC in Birmingham on 1-2 November.

National Governing Bodies on SALTEX

National Governing Bodies on SALTEX

Ted Mitchell, National Facilities Development Manager at the Rugby Union says it’s all the things to see, do and learn: “The Rugby Football Union cherishes its annual attendance and involvement with SALTEX. It is a unique platform that brings together the crème de la crème of the natural turf industry. From cutting-edge turf technology to innovative maintenance practices, this event is a treasure trove of knowledge for the RFU.

“It’s a place where we can exchange ideas, discover the latest industry trends, and forge valuable partnerships. It enables us to connect with experts, suppliers, and fellow enthusiasts who share their dedication to maintaining impeccable rugby pitches.”

SALTEX’s Learning LIVE education programme is widely accepted and recognised for being a key reason for visitors to attend. For example, Andy Clay and Chris Smith from the Football Foundation – the Premier League, The FA and Government’s charity which is focussed on delivering quality grassroots facilities – will be covering the future of multi-sport funding and giving advice on how to secure funds for your club.

Chris Smith, Head of Programmes (Quality Pitches) at the Football Foundation, said: “Every year, SALTEX is a key date on the calendar for the Football Foundation. It’s an opportunity to connect with groundskeepers, suppliers and everyone else involved in pitch maintenance so we can learn how best to support the sector and help transform the quality of grass pitches across the country.”

Tom Little, Facilities Manager, Rugby Football League says: “SALTEX is a great opportunity to network with experts from right across the sector and see the latest technology being exhibited, but on top of this, there are some really thought provoking and engaging seminars on contemporary issues facing the world of sport, grounds, and facilities.”

It’s a view shared by Dr Iain James, Head of Facilities Services, England and Wales Cricket Board, who comments: “SALTEX is a great opportunity for cricket grounds managers to engage in unique learning opportunities, find out about the latest machinery and services, and meet with other grounds managers to share ideas and experiences.”

With SALTEX the exhibition of choice for these leading sporting bodies when it comes to meeting those who work in the groundscare industry, it stands to reason that it should make it the exhibition of choice for all those working in those sectors too.

As Jason Booth, chief operating officer of the GMA, concludes: “There really is no better place than SALTEX for grounds staff and those working in the industry to get the opportunity to meet and talk to the representatives from the NGBs about the challenges as well as paths to success. And we’re glad the NGBs recognise that too.

“We recommend those passionate about making a difference in our industry come along to learn, be inspired, network and meet the exhibitors who can support you in your job role with their products. It’s the place to be this November.”

Register now for Europe’s largest and leading sports turf, amenities, and landscaping trade exhibition at Birmingham NEC on 1-2 November 2023 at: https://bit.ly/456l0dA

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Weedingtech become members of British Water

Weedingtech become members of British Water: Weedingtech, founders of the world’s leading commercial herbicide-free weed control solution Foamstream, are pleased to announce they have become members of British Water.

Using the combination of hot water and a specially formulated organic foam, Foamstream is proven to effectively combat unwanted vegetation in a range of situations and is fully approved for safe use within the wastewater sector.

Weedingtech become members of British Water

Weedingtech become members of British Water

Weeds that are left to accumulate can pose a serious risk to successful sanitation, specifically in and around water filter beds. If allowed to grow, vegetation can interfere with the rotation of the machinery, impacting air flow and making the cleaning process inefficient. Together with inhibiting drainage through the filter bed, weeds can also damage the media that fills the filter bed or pass through the bed entirely and contaminate the watercourse.

Currently, many in the wastewater industry rely on manual weeding. The time-consuming nature of hand-weeding frequently means that operations are not conducted frequently enough to be considered effective, while also proving unpleasant and unproductive for the operatives. However, companies including Severn Trent, South West Water, Wessex Water and Anglian Water have already made the switch to Foamstream.

Being 100% organic, Foamstream is approved for use on water filter beds – treating weeds, together with seeds, spores and roots to reduce re-growth and the number of treatment cycles required per year. Together with a reduction in treatments, Foamstream also presents a significant saving in labour treating a 600m2 waterbed in as little as four hours, which would otherwise take a team of four people five days to manually weed*.

“Weedingtech becoming members of British Water is a pledge to promoting best practice and working alongside others to find and provide solutions to challenges facing the sector” comments Foamstream Co-Founder Leo de Montaignac. “We’re delighted to already be trusted by a number of leading water firms and are well placed to provide advice and support to others who may be looking for an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional weed control methods.”

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Simply the best

Simply the best: A near 125-year history isn’t stopping Orsett Golf Club from eagerly looking towards the future. Course manager, Perry Lowe, is intent on regenerating a significant portion of the Essex-based club with the very latest and best Toro machinery through Reesink’s popular lease hire model.

“We’ve quite the unique course here at Orsett Golf Club,” comments Perry. “The ground is a mix of ballast and shingle, which is unusual for clay-heavy Essex; many clubs have flooding issues in winter. While it’s excellent for our members, being open all year round does mean the course experiences a lot of wear and tear.”

Simply the best

Simply the best

To stay on top of the constant course maintenance, Perry recently took out his fourth package deal with Reesink Turfcare, leasing an entirely new fleet of Toro machinery. “At previous clubs I have seen and experienced the headaches that come with owning your own kit,” he reflects.

“You run it to death and then it needs replacing,” Perry goes on. “In my book, it’s not the best way to work with machines; older bits of kit are liable to break down at the wrong time and on top of that they can be incredibly expensive to replace.

“Rather, I prefer running a five-year lease hire model: it offers much better value for money and more reliability. The deal we’ve just completed with Reesink’s Richard Freeman, whom I’ve known for over a decade, is perfect for us – we will always have the latest technology to enact our rolling ten-year plan.”

Over the next decade, Orsett Golf Club intends to upgrade several regions on its course, with a special focus on the short game area. Perry also wants to build new greens and bunkers, as well as a new entrance to the clubhouse.

Thanks to Orsett Golf Club’s lease plan, Perry will have access to a range of the latest mowers and utility vehicles, including the all-electric Toro Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 and Toro Workman UTX.

“Electric mowers have been around for over 20 years, but they’ve always been pretty awful,” says Perry. “But we’re a club that likes to try new things. So when Richard told us about the new Toro electric range of kit, we jumped at the opportunity and we’ve not looked back since – both models are faultless.“As a club that’s always looking ahead and wanting to improve, the best quality of cut and the latest machinery available are a high priority for us. Fortunately, Reesink’s lease hire plan is a very simple way to enact that and carry out our 10-year plan.”

To discover how a lease hire package through Reesink could help your club or business, simply visit https://www.reesinkturfcare.co.uk/finance.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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