GroundsFest 2024 – Save the Date

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GroundsFest 2024 – Save the Date: After the resounding success of the inaugural GroundsFest, the organising team is gearing up to make next year’s event even more spectacular. Scheduled to take place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on September 10 and 11, GroundsFest 2024 promises to be an experience like no other.

Building on the feedback received from the first edition, the organising team is working behind the scenes to implement improvements that will elevate the event to new heights. One of the significant changes is the introduction of a more free-flowing layout, enhancing the overall event experience. The addition of a new entrance is set to reduce the walk to the event, ensuring attendees can immerse themselves in the festivities more quickly.

GroundsFest 2024 – Save the Date

GroundsFest 2024 – Save the Date

The camping zone is set to see new facilities and the festival area is also in for a makeover, with plans underway to introduce brand new attractions. This strategic move aims to keep the excitement levels high and provide both exhibitors and visitors with novel and engaging experiences. The goal is clear: GroundsFest 2024 will not just meet expectations but exceed them.

The success of GroundsFest 2023 speaks volumes about the event’s unique approach. With over a 90% rebooking rate from exhibitors, it is evident that the industry has embraced the innovative event concept with open arms. According to the post-show exhibitor survey, a staggering 93% of exhibitors generated new sales leads, showcasing the event’s tangible impact on business growth.

Robbie Hayter from Net World Sports commended GroundsFest, stating, “GroundsFest is doing things differently for the industry, and I think it is refreshing. A lot of the visitors are really excited to see the outdoor demos and the festival is a great idea because you loosen up a little bit and there are more conversations and networking opportunities.”

Megan Oliver from the Howardson Group echoed similar sentiments, emphasising the appeal of seeing products in an outdoor environment. “People are loving GroundsFest and the footfall has been really good. We’ve seen people from all over the country and we’ve taken a lot of enquiries. It’s got a nice festival feel and it makes it an enjoyable place to be.”

GroundsFest visitors were equally upbeat. Christopher Mortimer from Mortimer Contracts Limited said. “It was a fantastic show – the best in years. I bought new kit and saw lots to benefit my company for the future. I also made some great contacts and I’m already looking forward to next year.”

Finn Greer from Trackstars attributed GroundsFest’s success to the diversity of the event. “I think GroundsFest, being indoors and outdoors, and having such a wide variety of demos are the reasons why it has drawn such a large number of people.”

“The buzz is all about GroundsFest now,” shared Tom Duchesne from Top Garden Services, emphasising the event’s growing reputation and influence.

Marketing Director Chris Bennett highlighted the importance of industry feedback in shaping the evolution of GroundsFest. “The only way to evolve GroundsFest is by listening to the industry. This commitment to responsiveness and adaptability ensures that each edition of GroundsFest is a reflection of the evolving needs and desires of the landscaping and grounds management community.”

As anticipation builds for GroundsFest 2024, the industry can expect an event that not only celebrates the latest innovations but also sets new standards for collaboration, networking, and business growth.

GroundsFest 2024 is poised to be an unmissable highlight on the calendar for all sectors of the grounds management industry.

For more information, please visit www.groundsfest.com

You can also follow GroundsFest on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @GroundsFest for much more news, reviews and insightful views.  

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Service from George Browns seals the deal

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Service from George Browns seals the deal: The installation of a fleet package by George Browns Limited at Links Golf Club in Cambridgeshire is proof positive that it’s sometimes about who you know, not always what you know!

Taking delivery of a fairway mower and brace of Baroness greens mowers, together with a L-1452 and G-261 from Kubota marks a first for the Newmarket-based course, with Head Greenkeeper Simon Corrigan citing that it was the outstanding service and support received from the George Browns Area Sales Manager that helped to seal the deal.

Service from George Browns seals the deal

Service from George Browns seals the deal

Simon has overseen the maintenance of the 18-hole heathland course for the last five years and is currently supported by a team of five and a vast array of equipment and implements. “Historically we’ve been quite loyal to certain brands and, like most clubs, we’ll hold onto them for a good number of years” he explains. “We had a visit from Will Montgomerie of George Browns approximately 18 months ago and it was at a time where I was looking at new machines and open to trying different makes and models.”

“Right from the start of the process, George Browns were proactive in working with me to find solutions that would work on our site. They brought lots of equipment in for us to try meaning that, by the time we made our decision, we could be confident that we’d thoroughly explored all of the options.” Simon continues, “The package was competitively priced and delivery times were good which was another big plus.”

Delivered in August 2023 was an LM551 fairway mower and two LM315 triple greens mowers from Baroness, a Kubota L-1452 compact tractor and a G-261LD ride-on mower for quick and effective cut and collect on some of the courses more delicate areas. “I hadn’t used a Baroness mower for about 20 years but as soon as we demonstrated them, we agreed that we liked the cut quality and the user-friendly controls and set-up. In terms of tractors, we have other brands, but felt the Kubota gave us comparable quality at a better price and, at 45hp, will be an incredibly versatile addition to the fleet.”

Simon explains that the service received over the last two years from Will and colleagues at George Browns has been second to none. “From bringing in all the various demonstrator units, through to answering our many questions before and after delivery, nothing has been too much trouble. We received service and spare parts packages from Baroness to keep the mowers in top-flight condition, while George Browns will continue to support us and work with us on regular servicing on the Kubota products through the ‘Kubota Care’ five-year warranty scheme. It’s been slick and simple, and we couldn’t be happier.”

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Firm expands product offering

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Firm expands product offering: A Haydock business continues to demonstrate its commitment to the surrounding area with the launch of a new franchise that will benefit local people, in terms of both employment opportunities and access to an exciting range of garden machinery.

After 5 years in Haydock, GGM Groundscare, are continuing to grow and are delighted to announce their appointment as a Honda authorised dealer for the lawn and garden range, which includes walk-behind lawn mowers, ride-on lawn mowers, robotic mowers, tillers and a range of handheld equipment including brushcutters, hedge trimmers and blowers.

Firm expands product offering

Firm expands product offering

The new Honda business is focussed on serving customers in Warrington, St Helens and Wigan and has just invested over £50,000 in a new customer experience as part of the appointment, and has redeveloped it’s showroom and storage facilities at it’s premises located on the Haydock Industrial estate on Winchester Road.

Already providing an exceptional level of service, the business will now be able to enhance this offering with latest additions to the range which are ideal for discerning gardeners.

As a result of this announcement, GGM will be recruiting for several new roles including sales, service and admin, offering additional local employment opportunities.

GGM is a specialist supplier of tractors and high-quality professional land-based equipment for commercial and domestic use across the North-West, Cheshire and Merseyside, with depots in Haydock and Colne. With a proven record of delivering a trusted service and exceptional after sales support, driven by a set of deep-rooted values, GGM takes pride in building long lasting customer relationships, based on anticipating needs, solving problems and delivering on time, every time.

The development of the new Honda franchise and newly improved Haydock showroom offering is overseen by Thomas Gibson who has been involved with the projects from the start and has been instrumental in GGM securing the Honda opportunity.

Thomas said:

“This is an extremely exciting time for the business to coincide with our five years at Haydock. As a customer and staff centric organisation, it gives us the means to offer new opportunities to local people in the form of both job opportunities and service levels. We’re looking forward to developing the Honda brand and welcoming customers into our showroom.”

Honda has an established reputation for its commitment to producing high-quality and durable equipment that are built to last. Honda lawnmowers are particularly popular and are known for their highly-efficient cutting and easy-to-use design. They have a variety of options, including self-propelled, push, and robotic mowers, as well as different engines, cutting widths and other features.

Honda ride-on mowers are also highly rated for their dependability, performance, and ease of use. There is a comprehensive range to choose from including compact models to heavy-duty models that can handle large lawns and gardens.

Overall, the Honda garden machinery range is known for its quality, durability and reliability, making them a popular choice among professional landscapers and homeowners alike.

Stuart Edgar, Honda Dealer Manager said:

“We are delighted to establish this franchise with GGM Groundscare. As a forward-thinking organisation, we are confident that they are a great choice to represent our lawn and garden product range, drawing on their expertise and knowledge of garden machinery and their excellent customer service reputation with customers. We’re impressed with their facilities and urge customers to visit their Haydock showroom and see the machines for themselves”.

The new Honda business comes hot on the heels of GGM’s expansion in to the agricultural sector, following the recent announcement that it is to widen its Kubota portfolio with higher horsepower M-series tractors and R0 loaders, to sit alongside its existing groundcare business.

Chris Gibson, Managing Director of GGM Groundscare said:

“This an extremely exciting time for the GGM Group. We already have a strong and competent team that is capable of delivering first class customer service and support, with professional groundcare machinery and the Honda business will only add to this”.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT SCOTT GRIEVE MARKETING MANAGER

TEL: 01282 856813   MOB: 07957 308373

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Turf Tank Brings Mental Health Boost

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Turf Tank Brings Mental Health Boost: Initial marking for athletics and other sports used to be a source of anxiety and stress at Dollar Academy, but since using the Turf Tank One, the mindset of the team has been positively transformed.

Situated in the town of Dollar, Central Scotland, the co-educational day and boarding school occupies a 70-acre site at the base of the Ochil Hills. It is there Head of Grounds, John Vaughan-Davis, and his team strive to provide the best surfaces possible for the 1300 children aged 5-18.

Turf Tank Brings Mental Health Boost

Turf Tank Brings Mental Health Boost

A significant part of that task is pitch presentation and line marking. Previously, the job of initial line marking for athletics, in particular, brought a lot of stress to the team, creating a negative environment to work in. But with the Turf Tank robot at their disposal, that’s all changed.

“I think the mental health of our team has improved because of the Turf Tank,” John begins. “Historically, leading up to athletics marking, initial rugby marking, and football initial markings, there’s always been a bit of anxiety, a bit of stress, and it was a really, really anxious environment to be around.

“Now that we’ve got the Turf Tank, it’s completely changed the team’s mindset. It’s gone from being tense to just relaxed and having faith and trust in the Turf Tank. It just eased everyone’s concerns. It’s made a much better working environment for all of us, leading up to those points by removing an added stress and taking it away.

“So mental health is probably one of the biggest benefits that I’m not sure people talk about enough.”

As well as benefitting the existing team, John has also seen an impact when recruiting. In his experience, the use of innovative technology has interested potential candidates and should be used as a tool to attract people into the industry.

By attracting new staff and boosting the morale of the existing team, the Turf Tank is helping John achieve his goals for the site and add finishes like school logos and numbers on rugby pitches, which they couldn’t do without the robot.

“Having pride in what we do reflects across the whole school, and that’s very much at the core of our working process,” John explains.

“We want to try and produce the best pitches that we can in the conditions we are given, and the Turf Tank certainly helps us present the pitches in the best way possible.

“We can’t do a lot of the things that the Turf Tank does by hand. For example, the numbers that we did today, the school badge or a lacrosse pitch at short notice that we can now do within 20 minutes. We’ve marked small football pitches for charity days and other events that we couldn’t have done without the Turf Tank.

“So for us to produce the best pitches we can is one thing, but being able to do things on short notice is another thing that we keep on having to do. The Turf Tank takes all the pressure off of that element of it, but also knowing that when we do put it out, it’s going to do a 100% job.

“It is correct every single time we put that machine out, it’s spot on. Regardless of the event, it is always, always 100% right.”

Dollar Academy Video Interview – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NC6cGNsO1A

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