Green-tech to Row 500 Miles for St Leonard’s Hospice

Green-tech to Row 500 Miles for St Leonard’s Hospice: After raising an incredible £30,000 for five charities in 2024, the Green-tech team is coming together again to make a splash! This time, they are picking up the oars and hoping to row their way to charity success.

The team has taken on an ambitious challenge of rowing 500 miles in just 5 days, to raise vital funds for St Leonard’s Hospice, their chosen charity for 2025.

Green-tech to Row 500 Miles for St Leonard’s Hospice

Green-tech to Row 500 Miles for St Leonard’s Hospice

This means, starting Monday 9th June:

  • 5 full days days
  • 8 hours of rowing each day (from 8am–4pm)
  • A gruelling 100 miles to cover daily

This challenge will be a test of teamwork and personal endurance to support a charity that provides outstanding care for people with life-limiting illnesses and their families across Yorkshire.

Green-tech is well known for backing industry events and initiatives and for supporting the local communities it serves. Each year, a member of the team nominates a charity close to their heart. That charity becomes the focus of the fundraising efforts for the year, with staff coming together to support it through a mix of team challenges, fun events, and donation drives.

Last year, their impressive ‘£30k for 30 Years’ campaign brought together the whole Green-tech community from colleagues and customers to suppliers and family, to support five fantastic charities. That same spirit of generosity and energy is powering this year’s rowing challenge.

Marketing Director Kate Humes explains, “We are proud to be a business that gives back to our industry and local communities. Green-tech’s commitment to giving back goes beyond fundraising. The business actively supports the industries we serve through on-site training, backing industry initiatives, and engaging in community support. We firmly believe in getting involved and making a difference.”

St Leonard’s Hospice provides exceptional care for people with life-limiting illnesses and support for their families. Green-tech is proud to support the hospice and help ensure it can continue its vital work. Help them raise some much-needed funds. Donate using this link – https://www.justgiving.com/page/green-tech-stleonardshospiceyork

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Apprenticeship Update – Sports Turf Technical Manager

Apprenticeship Update – Sports Turf Technical Manager: The Sports Turf apprenticeship trailblazer group are pleased to announce that a new Level 5 apprenticeship, with integrated Foundation Degree (FdSc), has been published subject to funding band approval.

The new Level 5 apprenticeship will be titled Sports Turf Technical Manager with delivery proposed for late 2025 or early 2026. The integration of the Foundation Degree in Sports Turf provides a high-quality vehicle for learning and allows the apprentice to achieve an industry leading degree level qualification as part of their apprenticeship.

Apprenticeship Update – Sports Turf Technical Manager

Apprenticeship Update – Sports Turf Technical Manager

As the professional body for grounds management, the Grounds Management Association (GMA) has recently issued a formal letter of recognition to the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IFATE) confirming that the qualifications are a suggested requirement for professional recognition at a range of levels of membership across our broad industry.

The sports turf trailblazer view this as a potentially game changing educational development for the Sports Turf Industry, offering a funded educational pathway from initial entry into the industry, to degree level.

The apprenticeship also aligns directly with the Grounds Management Framework, which brings together a range of training and education opportunities provided by both the GMA and other providers, including apprenticeship providers, to ensure a clear and coherent career pathway for those working, or wishing to work, in sports turf maintenance and management.

Employers are encouraged to check the funding rules for more information and eligibility, but apprenticeship levy payers will receive funds up to the funding band maximum, whilst non-levy payers contribute just 5% towards the cost of training. The funding of the government backed sports turf apprenticeships removes the primary barriers faced by apprentices and employers which in turn should increase uptake of apprenticeships and drive professionalisation at all levels within the industry.

Level 2 Sports Turf Operative https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/st0210-v1-2 . Level 3 Advanced Sports Turf Technician https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/st1323-v1-1 Level 5 Sports Turf Technical Manager https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/st1410

The sports turf apprenticeship trailblazer group is a voluntary group consisting of leading industry professionals, education providers and industry bodies. Trailblazer chairperson Daniel Ratling and Facilitator Dr Jonathan Knowles would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to the development of apprenticeships over the last eight years.

Expressions of interest for the new L5 Sports Turf Technical Manager are welcome here https://forms.office.com/e/edTeaZfv3E

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Jim McKenzie Backs Attraxor and Maxtima

Jim McKenzie Backs Attraxor and Maxtima: At a venue that’s hosted the Ryder Cup, 19 European Tour events, and countless visitors from around the world, expectations for course quality are sky high. For Jim McKenzie, Director of Golf Courses and Estates Management at the Celtic Manor Collection, finding products that can consistently deliver performance without disruption is essential.

With three championship golf courses under his remit—including the world-renowned Twenty-Ten Course—Jim leads an expert team managing one of the UK’s most demanding golfing venues. And when it comes to turf management, he says two of Agrovista Amenity’s products—Attraxor and Maxtima—have become standout performers.

Jim McKenzie Backs Attraxor and Maxtima

Jim McKenzie Backs Attraxor and Maxtima

“We’ve dabbled over the years with various cultural and chemical approaches, particularly to deal with Poa seedhead suppression,” explains Jim. “Ray Hunt from Agrovista Amenity suggested we take a look at Attraxor plant growth regulator, and we liked what we saw in the marketplace. We trialled it on Roman Road in 2023, and the results spoke for themselves.

We were impressed enough that we decided to use it across the whole site, all three courses.”

The trial proved effective. Jim noted not only a reduction in clip rate, but also smaller and less disruptive seed heads, leading to smoother ball roll and improved green presentation—even at slightly higher heights of cut.

“The Poa was still there and seeding, but it was far less invasive. That helped maintain surface quality without the need for disruptive maintenance—crucial for a venue like ours where there are no closure days.”

For Jim and the team, Poa is not just accepted—it’s the grass of choice, and managing its behaviour is key to course quality.

“We used to lie awake at night worrying about keeping Poa out. Now, it’s about how we manage it—and products like Attraxor make that job a lot more effective.”

Alongside Attraxor, Maxtima has also been introduced into the programme, further strengthening the site’s ability to tackle turf health issues with confidence. Maxtima is a next-generation DMI fungicide powered by Mefentrifluconazole, and Jim is a fan.

Jim McKenzie Backs Attraxor and Maxtima

Jim McKenzie Backs Attraxor and Maxtima

“Maxtima’s been a valuable addition too. It’s part of that progression in product development where we can use targeted solutions that fit our unique environment.”

Its flexible application window, rainfastness, and strong resistance profile have made Maxtima a valuable addition to Jim’s toolkit—especially in a high-pressure, high-visibility environment like Celtic Manor.

“We’ve had no fresh outbreak of disease since November last year and Maxtima is the only fungicide which was used during that period,” Jim adds.

But it’s not just the products that have impressed.

“We’ve known Ray Hunt and Peter Holstrom from Agrovista Amenity for a long time—both are great to work with. They bring completely different things to the table, and that synergy works really well for us. The support we get is second to none.”

Jim McKenzie certainly knows what it takes to maintain excellence—and he’s clear that Agrovista Amenity’s product innovation and personalised support are helping Celtic Manor stay ahead of the game.

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity

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Paris Saint-Germain tops Ligue 1 pitch charts

Paris Saint-Germain tops Ligue 1 pitch charts: The Parc des Princes playing surface has again been voted the French top-flight’s best during the 2024/25 season.

With an average mark of 19 out of 20, the capital club was ahead of Reims (18.12) and Marseille (18.01). Congratulations to Grounds Manager Jonathan Calderwood and his team, who have won the award for the seventh time in nine seasons.

Paris Saint-Germain tops Ligue 1 pitch charts

Paris Saint-Germain tops Ligue 1 pitch charts

Read the full story here

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Trilo announce dealer shake-up across key counties

Trilo announce dealer shake-up across key counties: Leading global manufacturer of vacuum collectors and multipurpose turf maintenance equipment, Trilo, are pleased to announce a reshuffle of their UK dealer network with an expansion of territory for Lister Wilder and the appointment of George Browns Ltd.

As two of the UK’s most experienced and respected groundcare machinery dealerships, this move brings greater strength and improved access to sales and aftersales support to customers across the central, east and southeast regions.

Trilo announce dealer shake-up across key counties

Trilo announce dealer shake-up across key counties

With multiple depots across the south of England, Lister Wilder has long been recognised for their experience in supplying a range of leading machinery franchises to golf courses, local authorities, contractors and more. In recognition of their performance with the Trilo brand to date, the partnership and dealership area has been extended to include Kent, Sussex, Berkshire and south London boroughs.

“It’s great to now be working with Trilo across all of our branches” commented Lister Wilder Sales & Hire Director Phill Hughes. “We have held a strong relationship with this leading manufacturer for many years and are delighted to be asked to support their growth throughout the South of England. The vacuums are really well received by our customers and compliment the other high-quality machinery franchises within Lister Wilder so we are excited to see what the future holds across the new areas.”

Bringing outstanding customer service and decades of industry knowledge to Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Oxfordshire, Essex and the east is George Browns Ltd. With immediate effect, the George Browns team are the port of call for the full range of Trilo debris loaders and vacuum trailers of various capacities to suit all customers and applications.

“The appointment of George Browns is a really positive step to enable us to better serve our customers across these key counties” explains Trilo’s James Boyle. “Both dealerships have a fantastic reputation for customer service, providing the industry-leading support to match the strength of our product line.”

Tim Mason, Group Groundcare Sales Manager for George Browns Ltd added, “Having had previous experience selling Trilo – knowing how well they are built and how well they perform in the field – I am excited to add the Trilo range to our line-up of market leading brands.”

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