Origin Welcomes New Seeds and Turf Product Manager

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Origin Welcomes New Seeds and Turf Product Manager: Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS) is pleased to announce that Luke Hunt has been appointed as their new Seeds and Turf Product Manager, effective Monday, 19th May 2025.

Luke brings over two decades of industry experience, a strong technical background, and genuine enthusiasm for turf and seed, making him an exciting addition to the business.

Origin Welcomes New Seeds and Turf Product Manager

Origin Welcomes New Seeds and Turf Product Manager

Luke joins OAS from Barenbrug UK, where he was the Amenity Business Development Manager responsible for managing a portfolio of distributor accounts and helping bring new research-led products to market.

With a career that spans 24 years, including a decade spent as a greenkeeper, Luke has a reputation for his practical knowledge, strategic thinking, and collaborative approach. He has extensive experience across both grass and wildflower seed markets.

Luke will work closely with the wider OAS team to advance the company’s seed strategy. He will also play a key role in developing innovative and sustainable products that support customer-led initiatives, integrated supply chains, and marketing campaigns in line with the company’s longer-term strategic goals.

Commenting on the appointment, Jayne Leyland, Portfolio Director for OAS, said, “I am delighted to welcome Luke to Origin Amenity Solutions. His depth of experience and technical expertise are clear, but his passion for the industry and his ability to connect with customers stand out. I am looking forward to seeing the positive impact he will make.”

Luke Hunt adds, “I’m genuinely excited to join the OAS team at such a progressive and forward-thinking time for the business. Origin’s values around sustainability, innovation, and strong customer relationships resonate with me. I’m looking forward to working alongside a passionate and knowledgeable team, building on the existing momentum, and helping to evolve the seeds and turf offering to deliver real value for our customers and the environments they manage.

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Origin Enterprises acquires Elixir Garden Supplies Ltd

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Origin Enterprises acquires Elixir Garden Supplies Ltd: Origin Enterprises plc (’Origin’ or ‘the Group’), the international group shaping the future of sustainable land use, today welcomes the acquisition of Elixir Garden Supplies Ltd (“Elixir”), a UK-based industry leader in online gardening supplies.

Established for over 35 years’, Elixir has extensive expertise in fertilisers, feeds and garden care, delivering the essentials customers need in a fast-growing market segment. Offering a focused product range, the company has built a reputation for quality, expert customer support and a highly responsive supply chain — dispatching up to 20,000 orders across the UK each week, 90% of which are own-brand sales.

Origin Enterprises acquires Elixir Garden Supplies Ltd

Origin Enterprises acquires Elixir Garden Supplies Ltd

Elixir’s successful direct-to-consumer model further strengthens Origin’s expanding portfolio within its Living Landscapes division representing further progress towards the Group’s target for this division to deliver 30% of Group operating profit by the end of FY26. The acquisition enhances Origin’s ability to serve both professional and home gardening customers through a fully integrated supply chain, from raw material through to end user — a competitive advantage that sets Origin apart in the market.

TJ Kelly, Divisional Managing Director of Living Landscapes, commented: “Elixir Garden Supplies is a strong addition to the Origin family, which both complements our existing portfolio of businesses and accelerates our ability to serve the fast-growing online garden care market. By combining Elixir’s direct-to-consumer platform with Origin’s manufacturing scale and supply chain strength, we are positioned to deliver superior product ranges, value and service to customers throughout the UK.”

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Reesink Turfcare strengthens dealer support

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Reesink Turfcare strengthens dealer support: Reesink Turfcare is pleased to announce the appointment of two new Dealer Development and Key Account Managers, strengthening its support to dealer partners and improving key customer relationships across the UK.

Robert Hogarth steps into the role for the North – covering territory from Cheshire and Lincolnshire up to Northumberland, across into Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man – and replacing Mike Turnbull, who now leads the Reesink Scotland branch.

Reesink Turfcare strengthens dealer support

Reesink Turfcare strengthens dealer support

Darren Anderson will take responsibility for the South of England, Wales, the Isle of Wight, Jersey and Guernsey.

Jon Cole, Divisional Business Manager for Reesink Turfcare, comments: “Our dealer partners are essential to Reesink, and we want them to feel integral to our shared success and to know how much we value their contribution. The added support from these new roles will help us achieve this and further demonstrate our commitment to helping our dealers grow their businesses.”

By dividing Mike Turnbull’s former role into North and South, Reesink aims not only to reinforce the company’s dealer-focused strategy but also to offer an additional layer of support and attention to customers within dealer territories.

With the country now split into two regions, Robert and Darren will each be responsible for managing the dealer network within their designated areas and unlocking new local opportunities.

Their goals include creating strategic call plans for key accounts, supporting dealers in sales and aftersales activities and maintaining high standards of customer service for the Toro and Reesink brands.

With over 40 years of experience in the golf sector, Robert Hogarth brings a wealth of industry knowledge to his new role covering the North territory. His background spans greenkeeping and course management through to sales leadership for turfcare companies such as Hydroturf International and Fairways GM – giving him a well-rounded perspective on both the operational and commercial sides of the business.

Speaking on his new position, he says: “I’m excited to be taking on this role and working closely with our dealer partners in the North. This is a fantastic opportunity to build strong relationships and deliver value to both the dealers and our key account customers.”

Equally thrilled to take the lead for Reesink’s South territory is Darren Anderson MG, who brings 33  years experience in the golf sector gained through course and club management roles at Abergele Golf Club, Bromborough Golf Club and The North Wales Golf Club. Darren joins Reesink as a double national award winning course/club manager, also gaining Master Greenkeeper status in 2007.

He adds: “It’s a real privilege to join Reesink in a role so focused on partnership and performance. I’m looking forward to supporting our dealers and ensuring they have everything they need to succeed with our products and services.”

Both new appointments report directly to Jon Cole and are part of a wider strategy to drive growth and help Reesink provide world-class support through its dealer network.

Robert and Darren are only a phone call away: you can contact Robert at 07780392199 and Darren at 07780392180. To find your nearest Toro dealer or Reesink branch, visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

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ISEKI UK & Ireland Expands Technical Team

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ISEKI UK & Ireland Expands Technical Team: Iseki UK & Ireland has announced the appointment of Callum Gaskell as Field Service Engineer, as part of its continued growth and strategic focus on strengthening dealer support services.

With a heritage rooted in engineering excellence and a reputation for high-performance and durable machinery, Iseki supports groundcare, local authorities, sports turf, agriculture and estate management professionals. The growing popularity of the products, from compact tractors to mowers and robotics, has made Callum’s role essential.

ISEKI UK & Ireland Expands Technical Team

ISEKI UK & Ireland Expands Technical Team

In his new role, Callum will provide backup and technical service training to Iseki’s extensive dealer network. His appointment forms part of Iseki’s ongoing investment in strengthening after sales support and ensuring customers continue to receive first-class service.

On the appointment, Phil Catley, Product and Marketing Manager at Iseki UK & Ireland, said:

“Callum’s experience is a perfect fit for the direction we’re heading in as a business. He not only knows the Iseki product range extremely well from his time at Ransomes Jacobsen, but he also brings a fresh perspective from his recent work with agricultural technology and material handling equipment.

“His appointment enhances our ability to provide technical excellence and responsive support to our dealers and end users, and that’s something we take great pride in as part of the Iseki brand experience.”

Callum has a strong track record in the turf care and agricultural machinery sectors. He started his career at Ransomes Jacobsen, progressing through roles in engineering and production. There, he gained in-depth technical knowledge of Iseki machinery while working closely with the brand.

More recently, he worked at Thurlow Nunn, initially specialising in GPS and guidance systems before moving into after sales and service support for forklifts and telehandlers. This gave him broad experience in diagnostics, field support and customer service.

Callum’s  appointment reinforces Iseki’s strategic investment in service excellence, ensuring its dealer network continues to deliver unmatched reliability and technical expertise to customers across the UK and Ireland.

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Peter Donegan announced for Grand Designs Live

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Peter Donegan announced for Grand Designs Live: International Garden Designer Peter Donegan MSGLD MAPL is set to head the Grand Designs Live stage May 2025 at The ExCel London, the UK’s leading home design and garden exhibition has announced.

Fresh from hosting The Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) Awards for Britains greatest horticulture trade organisation at The Brewery on Chiswell Street, the title of his talk ‘working with a garden designer and how it could save you thousands of pounds’ leads Saturdays talks stage for the Kevin McCloud hosted Channel 4 television show live event and is billed as one of the not to miss highlights of The Home and Garden main stage according to organisers.

Peter Donegan announced for Grand Designs Live

Peter Donegan announced for Grand Designs Live

Named in The Top 100 UK Garden Designers and Top 70 UK TV Presenters, Donegan designed the shows featured garden at Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) winning Silver medal, The People’s Choice Award and The AIH International Horticulture Award, where he was also a garden judge at the show.

The year previous he became the first Irish landscape architect invited to design at MIFGS the Southern Hemisphere’s largest and most prestigious flower show where he won Gold medal and The Australian Institute of Horticulture’s International Award of Excellence.

Of other historic builds internationally the Irish landscape architect was one of 14 designers selected globally and designed and realises the WW1 Centenary Peace Garden at Château de Péronne in 2018. Peter returned in 2022 and designed a 2nd inaugurated garden at the 13th Century castle known also as the Historial de la Grande Guerre, home to Europe’s largest war museum.

From 2019 to 2022, The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) silver medallist assumed the role of series garden designer for Ireland’s most watched TV show, RTE’s DIY SOS The Big Build.

In 2001, aged 24, horticulturist Donegan began designing under his own name and swiftly won a host of awards for 17th & 18th century gardens designed & show gardens at national competition.

Peter Donegan MSGLD MAPL is a registered member of The Society of Garden Designers (UK) and a Designer Member of The APL (UK) has been a garden judge in London & Melbourne and, international speaker, master of ceremonies and garden design lecturer.

This summer 2025 the award winning garden designer will also speak at Limerick Garden Festival, D and M Garden Centre’s 40th anniversary celebrations, Tipperary Town Library’s Bealtaine Festival and the main stage at The Royal Horticultural Society’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.

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