GroundsFest Academy’s Free Robotics & Green Innovations Seminar

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GroundsFest Academy’s Free Robotics & Green Innovations Seminar: The GroundsFest Academy is set to host another free educational event on 31 July 2025, focusing on the latest robotics and sustainable technologies in the groundscare and landscaping industries.

Taking place at Lantra House, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, this CPD-accredited day brings together leading experts from Husqvarna, Turf Tank, and Lantra to explore how innovation is reshaping outdoor spaces.

GroundsFest Academy's Free Robotics & Green Innovations Seminar

GroundsFest Academy’s Free Robotics & Green Innovations Seminar

Attendees will gain hands-on experience with robotic mowers, battery-powered machinery, and automated line-marking technology, alongside expert-led talks and practical training sessions.

Topics include:

  • The benefits of robotic mowing systems and how to implement them
  • Sustainable machinery solutions and green technology trends
  • Live robotic line marking demonstrations
  • Career guidance and training course insights from Lantra

The event runs from 09:00 to 15:30, and is completely free to attend, with CPD points and certificates provided to all participants. Lunch and refreshments will also be provided.

Bradley Tennant, Director of Education for GroundsFest Academy, commented:

“The GroundsFest Academy is about bringing innovation and education together in a way that’s practical, engaging, and completely free to access. This Robotics and Green Innovations day is a chance for professionals to get hands-on with the technology that’s changing our industry, while also gaining CPD points and valuable knowledge to take back to their teams or their own projects.”

The GroundsFest Academy is made possible thanks to the ongoing success of the main GroundsFest event, with profits being reinvested directly back into the industry. This commitment ensures that professionals at all levels have access to free, high-quality training opportunities throughout the year – helping to support long-term growth, innovation, and education across the groundscare and landscaping sectors.

Register for your free place at www.groundsfestacademy.com

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

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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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Registration open for SALTEX 2025

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Registration open for SALTEX 2025: Registration is now officially open for SALTEX 2025, the flagship event for the European grounds management industry, returning to the NEC Birmingham on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 November 2025.  

This year’s theme, ‘Power Up Your Performance’, captures SALTEX’s ambition to energise the sector from smart technology and new skills to expert advice and opportunities to grow.

Registration open for SALTEX 2025

Registration open for SALTEX 2025

Organised by the Grounds Management Association (GMA), SALTEX continues to serve the sector with great purpose, as it has done since 1938. It’s the most influential event of its kind in Europe, bringing together thousands of professionals and volunteers from across the sector.

This year’s show promises to be the most dynamic yet, with hundreds of leading brands, industry-first product launches and cutting-edge technology on display across halls 17, 18, and 19. 80% of visitors who attend SALTEX are senior decision-makers, making it the trusted annual meeting place for professionals and volunteers across all areas of grounds care.

Whether you work in sport, education, local authorities or commercial spaces, SALTEX offers fresh ideas, the latest solutions and real-world expert advice that you can take away and put into action.

Sarah Hunter, Head of Events at the Grounds Management Association, said: “The 2025 theme, ‘Power Up Your Performance’, captures the ambition behind everything we’ve got planned for SALTEX 2025. We’re introducing fresh features and new thinking to create even more value for visitors and exhibitors. It’s shaped by what the industry’s told us it needs, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back to the NEC.”

Power Up Your Experience at SALTEX 2025:

  • Power Up Your Tech – See the latest kit and innovation from the industry’s leading suppliers.
  • Power Up Your Skills – Earn accredited CPD points through SALTEX’s renowned Learning LIVE programme.
  • Power Up Your Connections – Network with peers and decision-makers from across the sector.
  • Power Up Your Performance – Take away actionable insights and strategies to improve your impact on the ground.

Geoff Webb, CEO of the Grounds Management Association, added: “SALTEX is built around the needs of the industry, and this year’s show reflects exactly that. From grassroots to elite level, every detail of the 2025 show has been shaped by the real-world needs of groundspeople today. And what makes SALTEX truly unique is that all revenue is reinvested directly into supporting the sector.”

Join thousands of grounds professionals and power up your performance at SALTEX 2025. Registration is free and now open at www.saltex.org.uk.

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Lawn Mower Racing Roars into GroundsFest

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Lawn Mower Racing Roars into GroundsFest: GroundsFest 2025 is revving things up with one of its boldest and most exhilarating attractions yet — Lawn mower racing and the inaugural GroundsFest Cup.

Taking place across both days of the event, this professionally run spectacle promises edge-of-your-seat action, heart-pounding excitement, and a whole lot of fun.

Lawn Mower Racing Roars into GroundsFest

Lawn Mower Racing Roars into GroundsFest

This is no gentle ride around the garden. These are specially modified racing mowers, stripped of their blades but supercharged with adrenaline, skill, and competitive spirit. Expect high speeds, roaring engines, tight turns, and a field of elite riders battling it out on a custom-built track in front of a live crowd.

Organised by the West Midlands Lawn Mower Racing Association, some of the UK’s most experienced lawn mower racers will be competing for glory and the honour of becoming the first ever winner of The GroundsFest Cup. It’s fast. It’s furious. It’s fiercely competitive – but above all, it’s seriously good fun.

And there’s more to it than just the thrill of the race. GroundsFest visitors will get to see a range of lawn mower brands in action, used and pushed to their limits by the pros. It’s a unique chance to witness these machines in a whole new light — not just as tools of the trade, but as vehicles of pure entertainment.

Lawn mower racing is guaranteed to turn heads and create excitement at GroundsFest 2025. It’s just one more way GroundsFest continues to break the mould and deliver something truly different to any other trade event.

Think you’ve seen everything a grounds management event has to offer? Think again. This is lawn mower racing. This is GroundsFest.

Who will take the chequered flag? Join us on 9 and 10 September at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, to find out.

Register for your FREE tickets at www.groundsfest.com

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

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Briggs & Stratton’s innovative power solutions at demopark

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Briggs & Stratton’s innovative power solutions at demopark: Briggs & Stratton, a global leader in innovative power solutions, will present its latest product range at demopark 2025 at stand B236.

Covering an area of approximately 345 square metres near the East Entrance, the company will showcase powerful engines and advanced lithium-ion battery systems from its Vanguard brand. These solutions are specially designed for commercial use and tailored to the needs of the landscaping and green sector.

Briggs & Stratton's innovative power solutions at demopark

Briggs & Stratton’s innovative power solutions at demopark

The focus is primarily on Vanguard petrol engines equipped with advanced Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) and Electronic Throttle Control (ETC). Especially in the strong 40 HP class, these engines offer a fuel-efficient, low-emission, and reliable alternative to commonly used diesel engines. They are ideally suited for powering professional landscaping equipment as well as for agricultural and forestry applications.

Briggs & Stratton will also present Vanguard engines featuring innovative technologies such as Oil Guard, Oil Xtend, and TransportGuard. These systems are designed to extend engine life, optimise maintenance intervals, and minimise user error, all while aiming to reduce operational costs, increase reliability, and maximise uptime.

These technologies are utilised, among others, in Vanguard single-cylinder engines with horizontal shafts, built for heavy-duty continuous operation. Models ranging from Vanguard 100 to Vanguard 400 are equipped with TransportGuard technology, which automatically shuts off fuel flow, prevents fuel and oil mixing, and thereby reduces unnecessary maintenance costs due to transport-related damage—especially significant in rental applications.

The largest of the smaller single-cylinder engines comes equipped with EFI and ETC technologies. EFI ensures easy starting, smooth operation, and low fuel consumption, while ETC guarantees rapid load response, consistent performance, and stable speed. These two innovative technologies are included in Vanguard engines with outputs ranging from 14 to 40 horsepower, ensuring dependable performance on any terrain.

This also applies to the CXi engine on display, which features both EFI and ETC as well as the Oil Xtend system. Oil Xtend enables up to 250 operating hours between oil changes—compared to the usual 100—and allows for fast and straightforward servicing.

The Oil Guard system from Vanguard enables up to five times longer maintenance intervals between oil changes, as demonstrated by the 28 HP Vanguard engine with a vertical shaft. This can reduce oil maintenance costs per unit and season by up to 60%, compared to the standard 100-hour interval. Particularly useful for unmanned, remote-controlled machinery: in combination with EFI, Vanguard engines featuring Oil Guard can operate continuously on slopes of up to 45°.

The demopark showcase will also include a comprehensive portfolio of Vanguard lithium-ion battery systems for commercial use. These will be displayed both as individual components and integrated into example applications of Vanguard partners. A highlight is the tool-free swappable 48V 1.5 kWh battery pack (Si1.5), which is interchangeable and suitable for various applications, offering maximum flexibility and minimal downtime. The only requirement is that the respective device must be equipped with the appropriate interface. Also on display are fixed battery packs ranging from 1.5 to 7 kWh, capable of operating in parallel with up to 10 units to deliver up to 70 kWh of energy. With the matching chargers, the Si1.5 can be fully recharged in just 75 minutes, and the larger 7.0 kWh fixed unit in only 3 hours.

In the outdoor area, well-known manufacturers such as Eliet, Jo Beau, Swardman, and Briggs & Stratton’s own subsidiary Ferris will demonstrate application examples from landscaping, agriculture, and forestry sectors using Vanguard power solutions. Visitors will gain practical insight into how Vanguard’s “Passion for Power” is realised in real-world applications.

“With our modern engines and battery systems, we are setting new standards in terms of performance, efficiency, and sustainability,” says Pia Weimer, Marketing Director EMEA at Briggs & Stratton. “We’re excited to present innovative solutions at demopark 2025 that meet the green industry’s high demands while helping to reduce operating costs and support environmental standards.”

Visit Briggs & Stratton at demopark 2025, Stand 236 (East Entrance, Aisle B), and experience the future of power technology in the green sector first-hand.

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