Schools Into Stadia Heads to Home Of Cricket

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Schools Into Stadia Heads to Home Of Cricket: The Grounds Management Association’s (GMA) NextGen group is taking its inspiring Schools Into Stadia initiative to new turf, literally for the first time, as it heads to the legendary Lord’s Cricket Ground on Friday 27 June for its first ever cricket edition.

Designed to inspire a younger generation of groundspeople, Schools Into Stadia opens the doors to iconic sporting venues, offering local students a rare behind-the-scenes look at the world of grounds management, showing off the wide range of career opportunities in a sector that supports sport, recreation and community spaces across the UK.

Schools Into Stadia Heads to Home Of Cricket

Schools Into Stadia Heads to Home Of Cricket

From pitch prep to turf science, students will get hands-on with the skills and technology that keep the game running smoothly.

Created by the GMA’s passionate NextGen group – rising stars in the industry – Schools Into Stadia is all about sparking curiosity and showcasing the exciting career paths in grounds management. With support from Reesink UK, the initiative is building a future-ready workforce by championing the vital role of grounds teams in sport, recreation and community life.

Having already inspired students at venues like Wimbledon’s All-England Club, Anfield Stadium, Goodison Park and the King Power Stadium, the programme now steps up to the crease at Lord’s – cricket’s most hallowed ground.

The event will see local students experience the day-to-day responsibilities of a groundsperson including pitch preparation and understanding the science behind turf care. They’ll also hear first-hand from professionals about the pathways into the industry and how their work impacts everything from elite sport to grassroots facilities.

With workforce development a growing priority across the sector, initiatives like Schools Into Stadia are a vital part of the GMA’s strategy to engage the next generation and build a sustainable pipeline of talent.

Meg Lay, GMA NextGen Co-Chair and Groundsperson at Lord’s, said: “We’re excited to bring Schools Into Stadia to Lord’s and shine a light on the work that grounds staff do in cricket. Events like this give young people a real glimpse into the industry and help us show that this is a rewarding, hands-on career. If we want a thriving industry in the future, it starts with inspiring the next generation today.”

Lord’s Head Groundsman, Karl McDermott, said: “We’re proud to support the GMA and the NextGen group in delivering this event at Lord’s. Grounds staff play a vital role in making sport possible at every level, and we’re pleased to give students a chance to see that in action at the Home of Cricket. We hope it opens eyes and perhaps even sparks some future careers in the industry.”

To find out more about the GMA NextGen group and how they’re shaping the future of the industry, visit www.thegma.org.uk/nextgen.

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From shears to smart technology

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From shears to smart technology: The forestry team at Bathurst Estate and Cirencester Park have credited STIHL’s battery-powered tools and cleaning solutions in helping them to maintain the world’s tallest yew hedge, which is believed to have been planted on the estate back in 1720. 

The hedge, which is a species of Yew (Taxus Baccata), is listed in the Guinness Book of Records for its towering height, reaching 14m. The hedge, which measures 120m in length, was planted by the 1st Earl more than 300 years ago when he redesigned the mansion that overlooks it. Back then, it was cut back by hand with shears by a team of up to four people using ladders.

From shears to smart technology

From shears to smart technology

Given the feature’s historical and cultural importance, the hedge is carefully maintained annually. In a bid to preserve it, Bathurst’s four-strong forestry team, which includes Forest Manager, Iain Garret, and Lead Forester, Oliver Murray, monitor both the inside and outside of the growth regularly to check for any issues that could result in degeneration.

The most common issues that occur are browning due to needle blights and insects, and a specific type of fungus named Laetiporus Sulphureus, which can cause cuticle root inside the stem. When these problems do occur, the affected areas and surrounding growth are cut to prevent the spread.

The Yew hedge is trimmed once per year, not only is this required to maintain its classification as a hedge, but it also provides an opportunity to look for defects and disease.

The task is no small feat. At 3000 square metres, it takes a team of two a fortnight to complete the maintenance, which sees the professionals trim around 300 square metres from the hedge each day.

Before work gets started, the Bathurst forestry team make sure that its equipment, a selection of STIHL hedge trimmer blades are sharp and clean, thoroughly disinfecting the machines using methylated spirits.

STIHL’s SUPERCLEAN, is also used to spray the equipment’s blades. This prevents resin build-up and keeps blades lubricated to support productivity and preserve hedge health. Daily checking of equipment is also required to guarantee that tools remain in the best condition for cutting.

With such an important and arduous task at hand, Oliver Murray and his colleagues require the best quality tools available on the market. The criteria? Hedge trimmers that are easy-to-use, lightweight, robust, and reliable.

The mammoth assignment is achieved by starting at the bottom using a STIHL battery-powered hedge trimmer, the HSA 130 T. Starting at the bottom and working upwards in the cherry picker, before making a switch to the STIHL HLA 86 Cordless Long-reach Hedge Trimmer, which is used for the top. Its adjustable head allows the team to follow the natural shape of the hedge over the top and achieve the right angle as they reach across the hedge’s width.

The HSA 130 T cordless hedge trimmer offers a high-performance and robust experience for professional users, with a high blade speed for precise, neat and powerful cutting. Its rotatable multi-function handle enables comfortable work, depending on whether trimming the tops or sides of hedges.

The HLA 86 is a telescopic long-reach hedge trimmer, designed for professionals working on tall hedges where extra length is required to master cutting, trimming, and maintenance work. The perfect choice for the largest Yew hedge in world.

The hedge trimmer, which is powered by a 36V lithium-ion battery, is light and easy to handle, whilst the extendable length makes it hugely versatile. Given that it is powered by battery, the machine is quiet too, ideal for noise-sensitive areas, such as those around the Bathurst Estate.

Both machines are compatible with STIHL Connected, a smart fleet management system that allows teams to digitally manage machine fleets and workflow, with the STIHL Connected Portal providing a detailed overview of the status of the fleet, as well as information such as the duration of use.

Here, Oliver comments on the further advantages of STIHL’s battery-operated tools:

“We are using STIHL battery-powered hedge trimmers as they are quieter and don’t produce any emissions, and in order to get a full day’s work done, we just need to charge them once on our lunch break. This avoids the need for us to get in and out of our cherry picker. 

“The quiet operation of the tool is also important to us as we are based in the centre of town and don’t want to upset the neighbours, or residents of the Bathurst Estate.” 

The Bathurst Estate is located at the heart of the Grade I listed Cirencester Park. It is a destination rich with heritage, open to visitors every day of the year for a host of leisure activities.

Sir Benjamin Bathurst purchased the Cirencester Estate, which lies in the Cotswolds, in 1695. It still belongs to the Bathurst Family today, 330 years later, and is home to the 9th Earl and Countess Bathurst.

To watch how the team tackle the annual trim, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s32U3fmfIWE

For more information on STIHL’s wide range of professional power tools, please visit www.stihl.co.uk

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

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ISEKI dealership signals further expansion

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ISEKI dealership signals further expansion: Wildwood Machinery, which launched just three years ago, has continued to expand its product range with the addition of a prestigious dealership contract. Japanese manufacturer ISEKI manufactures world-leading compact tractors and mowers.

In the UK, ISEKI is especially prominent in golf clubs, schools, sports clubs, landscaping businesses and small landholdings. ISEKI equipment is adaptable, reliable and compact.

ISEKI dealership signals further expansion

ISEKI dealership signals further expansion

“The ISEKI principle is to exceed customer expectation and we expect our dealers to provide the best possible advice, support and maintenance so that they can get the absolute best from their groundcare machinery. We’re delighted to be working with Wildwood Machinery, who share our values and commitment to quality,” commented Alan Prickett, Sales Director at Iseki UK & Ireland.

Wildwood Machinery managing director James Bastian says he is delighted to be able to offer ISEKI’s high-quality groundcare equipment.

“This new dealership complements our existing product portfolio perfectly,” says James. “Our aim is to recommend and supply groundcare equipment that is perfect for the task, whether that is cutting a large lawn or maintaining a Premiership football club pitch. With a range that includes other premium brands such as INFINICUT, Stogger, DeWalt, Wessex International and now ISEKI, we are a one-stop shop. Clients know they can come to us whatever the nature of their business or groundcare requirements.”

Just as importantly, Wildwood’s reputation for reliable and fast-response servicing of machinery continues to grow.

“For a world-renowned manufacturer such as ISEKI, one of their biggest demands is that dealers must have the capacity to keep equipment properly-maintained at all times, and to respond quickly and efficiently to call-outs. Our mix of mobile and workshop-based servicing has a growing reputation for rapid response and fast turnaround.”

Wildwood – who have their main headquarters at East Horton Golf Club in Winchester increased their personnel across engineering, maintenance, customer service and sales in 2024, enabling the company to buck the trend across the economy as a whole with rapid growth.

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It’s onwards and upwards for Moffat Golf Club

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It’s onwards and upwards for Moffat Golf Club: With two new mowers from Baroness it’s ‘onwards and upwards’ for the maintenance team at Moffat Golf Club – literally!

Situated in the heart of the Southern Upland Hills of Scotland, the challenging topography of the moorland course has proved no match for the new LM311 triple greens and LM551B fairway mower which are delivering improvements in cut quality and presentation to the delight of the members.

It’s onwards and upwards for Moffat Golf Club

It’s onwards and upwards for Moffat Golf Club

For Course Manager Fraser Mitchell the recent purchase was made even more exciting by the fact the pair of Baroness machines were the first new additions to the club’s machinery fleet for many years. “Financial pressures had meant that most of our equipment was well overdue for an upgrade and I was tasked with assessing what was the most critical need” he explains. “When I opted for a new greens and fairway mower there was a lot of pressure to make the right choice – thankfully we got it spot on!”

“Getting equipment on demonstration is so important for us given the challenging nature of our course. From the very first phone call, Colin Gray at Hamilton Ross Group and Richard Connell from Baroness were fantastic, they brought us demo units and we knew there and then they were exactly what we needed to improve reliability, presentation and quality of cut around the course.”

Renowned for their samurai sword sharpness and robust build quality, the Baroness LM311 greens mower and LM551B for fairways set the standard for pinpoint precision and turf quality. The LM311 all-hydraulic triplex, with fully steerable units, economic Kubota diesel engine and optimal operator comfort is ideal for greens and tees – delivering consistency in even the most challenging conditions. Promising similar consistency for fairways thanks to its industry-leading range of motion, is the LM551B.

Strong on paper, Fraser has been delighted with their performance in the field. “They’ve been fantastic. They’re very well built and stand up to the challenge – delivering a far superior cut and finish which has been admired by so many of our members.” He adds, “From an operator perspective, they’re also incredibly comfortable and easy to maintain. The pair give us everything we need to focus our efforts on the course and not spend all of our time in the shed with our heads under the bonnet!”

For more information on any of the models within the Baroness golf range, visit www.baronessuk.com

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Problem pool saved by Otterbine

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Problem pool saved by Otterbine: Otterbine’s Fractional aerating fountain has transformed what was once a problem pool at Derwen Mill Holiday Park in Powys, Wales.

Owner Richard Jones explains how the five-star family-owned park prides itself on creating a peaceful, tranquil escape with its privately-owned holiday homes set on spacious pitches, wrapped around lakes and pools, or overlooking large greens spaces.

Problem pool saved by Otterbine

Problem pool saved by Otterbine

It therefore stands to reason that its pool experiencing problems urgently needed a reliable and effective water solution.

Richard says: “We’ve got four thriving pools but the fifth really struggles due to its location at the lowest point on the park. It suffers with Canadian pond weed and floating algae and it’s difficult to maintain. We often joke about how it just doesn’t like being a pond!”

The park has had an Otterbine fountain in the past and it met expectations, therefore, there was “no reason not to get another” Richard says.

Richard researched the best options and found the Fractional met his criteria. This was an opinion shared by Matt Gilks from MG Turf who Richard contacted to supply the product.

The Fractional is an all-in-one fountain and circulator meaning it introduces oxygen into the water column for the most natural solution to water quality management, effectively controlling algae and aquatic weeds while creating impressive displays.

With decade of experience in all areas of irrigation installation, construction, supply and support, MG Turf was well placed to support the project from all angles. Richard says: “It’s been a great experience working with Matt Gilks from MG Turf. He didn’t just help with recommending and supplying the Otterbine aerator, he helped us with a working management plan too, so I feel confident we have a long-lasting, sustainable solution in place.”

Matt comments: “Richard was keen to see a unit installed in the lake to make it a feature as much as giving it working purpose. Otterbine was a great solution for this. It was a pleasure to deal with Richard – we communicated about getting on site and arranged to install the unit over a bank holiday.”

Now, what was a struggling pool earns its place at the exclusive park: “The results speak for themselves,” confirms Richard.

To learn more about how the Otterbine range of aerators and fountains can tackle water quality issues, contact Reesink on 01480 226800 or visit reesink-hydroscapes.co.uk.

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