Familiar face returns to Symbio

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Familiar face returns to Symbio: Turf managers in the South West of England will note the presence of a familiar face in the region after Neil Carter rejoined Symbio in a sales and advisory role.

Neil has more than 30 years of horticultural experience behind him. RHS qualified, he then completed an HND in Golf Course Management at Cannington College in 1996. A diverse greenkeeping career followed at venues including the Manor House at Castle Combe, Paris International, Dartmouth Golf & Country Club and the London Golf Club. He initially joined Symbio at the turn of the millennium and spent a decade with the Surrey-based soil biology specialists before starting a successful gardening business in his local area.

Familiar face returns to Symbio

Familiar face returns to Symbio

He rejoined the company in March and is looking forward to working with customers in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset, Hampshire and Gloucestershire again. “It’s great to be back, and at an exciting time for Symbio. The team has grown significantly; the breadth of expertise our customers have access to today is incredible. New product research and development has continued and it’s fantastic to see additions such as Symbio Biotabs and Incision join mainstay products like Thatch Eater and compost teas in a portfolio that’s helping turf managers across the country.

I was reassured to see the company ethos completely unchanged. It remains driven by people with a passion for a biological approach that delivers results. It’s also positive to see that through education and networking, many more sports turf managers recognise that healthy soil is essential for sustainable improvements to playing conditions and also for problem solving and that there’s a growing appetite for managing turf with that as a priority.”

Neil can be contacted on 07928 574550 and by email at neil@symbio.co.uk.

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S&C Slatter names new Managing Director

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S&C Slatter names new Managing Director: Leading sports construction specialists S&C Slatter have appointed Ben O’Connor as Managing Director, with David Slatter moving into CEO role at The Slatter Group.

The Newbury based company, a leading provider of sports and estate infrastructure for the sports, leisure and education sectors has enjoyed accelerated growth over the last five years.

S&C Slatter names new Managing Director

S&C Slatter names new Managing Director

Ben joined S&C Slatter as Pre-Construction Manager in 2015. Bringing considerable industry experience, including work on the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, he quickly established himself as a key player on the management team and an architect of success for the company.

Ben commented:

“It is an honour to become Managing Director of S&C Slatter; the Company has a market leading position built on integrity and a personal approach.  I’m excited to work with a fantastic team who are determined to keep us at the forefront of the industry.” 

Last year saw the formation of The Slatter Group swiftly followed by the acquisition of soil and water engineering experts, White Horse Contractors. David Slatter, whose father founded S&C Slatter in 1991, moves into the role of Chief Executive Officer at The Slatter Group.

David commented:

“I am delighted to welcome Ben to the role of Managing Director of S&C Slatter. Ben’s commercial experience of the sports construction and surfacing and civils industries as well as his strong sense of integrity mean he is the perfect person for the role.

As CEO I will spend more time on site with customers and construction teams ensuring that we deliver our services to the highest standards in the most efficient, environmentally friendly, and safe manner.” 

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A spotlight on Allan Wright

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A spotlight on Allan Wright: From groundsman to greenkeeper, contractor to sales advisor – the experienced Allan Wright has turned his hand to most jobs in the turf and amenity industry.

“In all of the positions that I’ve had in my career, I’ve always looked at the next step as a new challenge,” he said. “I’m certainly not looking to move anywhere else now. I love what I do here, we have great support from the hierarchy of the business and it really is a fantastic company to work for.”

A spotlight on Allan Wright

A spotlight on Allan Wright

Allan first learnt his craft when he started his journey in the eighties as an apprentice groundsman at Stirling University. By working in a multi-sports facility, he gained broad experience in a variety of sports turf – including golf, football, rugby and cricket.

Having been particularly fond of maintaining the nine-hole golf course at Stirling University, he moved into greenkeeping and went on to work at two different golf clubs.

After seven years he accepted a position as the assistant head groundsman at a private school before Falkirk Football Club came calling. For most of the nineties he was head groundsman at this great Scottish football club.

However, as the millennium approached, Allan felt that it was time to pursue new opportunities outside of the turf and amenity industry. “I started managing a pub, but it didn’t last long,” he said. “Quite honestly, I just didn’t like working inside! I couldn’t wait to get back to what I knew best.”

It was at this point in 2001 that Allan began working for Terra Firma, one of Scotland’s largest specialist suppliers to the amenity and local authority markets. It was the perfect fit.

“The best part of my job is the variety of it all – I like speaking with customers, demonstrating products and I visit a multitude of different sites too. You never know what each day will bring – and I like it that way.”

Terra Firma became part of Agrovista in 2017 and Allan claims his role has not changed. He still gets to do what he loves and that is working with machinery. In fact, Allan has been integral in increasing the company’s groundcare machinery portfolio by adding several key brands such as Pellenc, Kioti and Shibaura, and says that he is incredibly selective when it comes to machinery and partnerships.

“I will only go for what I see real value in and what I believe will be of benefit to our customers. We look for unique products; equipment that we will have exclusivity on. Our portfolio consists of innovative products, – the Pellenc brand is a prime example of that.”

A forerunner when it comes to lithium-ion technology, Pellenc has established itself as the number one choice in the ‘zero emission’ professional power tools market for the maintenance of urban and green-spaces.

A spotlight on Allan Wright

A spotlight on Allan Wright

“I see battery technology as the way forward,” continued Allan. “It’s something that the whole industry is embracing – particularly local authorities. They are looking at their carbon footprint, the low vibration levels, the cost of fuel and it just all makes sense.”

Allan admits that when he started out as an apprentice groundsman in the eighties, he never could have dreamed of one day using an electric mower or an electric chainsaw to carry out commercial work. However, the industry has moved at an incredibly fast pace and not just in its technological advancements.

“The biggest change I’ve seen throughout my career is the rise in education – and it’s great to see. A lot of people know the science behind a grass plant now, which is a huge change from 35 years ago. In my opinion, the most notable rise in education has been in greenkeeping. I speak to a lot of greenkeepers and golf course managers and they are all very well educated – it will result in a great future for the sector.

“Agrovista is fully committed to the training and development of its people. Back in my day we only had the tools to work with, but now companies such as Agrovista are providing the younger generation with a world of opportunity.”

As Allan says, the Agrovista Academy was created to provide opportunities for every employee to progress, which includes; agronomy and technical training, customer service training, warehousing and logistics training and more. The aim is to provide a framework of learning experiences that will help its staff to continue to develop their key skills and behaviours throughout their career.

While Allan is optimistic about a bright future, he has no plans to stop just yet. When he does, he is looking forward to jumping in his touring caravan and spending more quality time with his wife and two Labradors at their favourite spot in the Moray Firth.

When that time comes, there is no doubt that his name will be fondly remembered in the turf and amenity industry for years to come.

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

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Jeff Anguige takes early retirement

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Jeff Anguige takes early retirement: Reesink Turfcare has announced the retirement of its national sales manager Jeff Anguige after 21 years working with the Toro UK distributor and its predecessor Lely UK, and a total of 46 years serving the turfcare industry.

Jeff, 63, began working in the industry straight after leaving college, learning the business working at golf and grounds dealerships and turf machinery manufacturers such as Ransomes. In 1999 he joined the then Toro UK distributor Lely UK, with headquarters at St Neots, Cambs., as national Toro sales manager, responsible for spearheading sales of its golf course and sports turf maintenance machinery.

Jeff Anguige takes early retirement

Jeff Anguige takes early retirement

At Lely, and latterly Reesink, he has played a leading role in helping develop the Toro name and reputation for quality products that today sees it as the market-leading brand it has become.

It is, he says, his biggest career achievement: “Toro has been the constant in my working life at Lely and Reesink,” says Jeff. “For over two decades I’ve worked with a brilliant team to help it grow to where it is today – in my view, holding the number one spot for quality with its reputation preceding it.

“I’ve always had total belief in Toro. So many of my career highlights have come from witnessing how Toro has made such a huge difference for our customers. How it has greatly improved the quality of the golf course, made tasks easier for the greenkeeping team or solved a particular problem.  In my time I’ve seen Toro go to the top of not only the golf industry, but the sports sector and other fine turf sites, too. It’s now at a point where around 80 percent of Premiership football clubs, as well as other major sporting venues in, for example, cricket, rugby and tennis, also use Toro.”

Jeff has seen many big changes throughout his time in the industry. Among the biggest, he says, is the way in which clubs now buy their machinery. He says: “When I started, people tended to get their cheque book out and buy one piece of equipment at a time, outright. Now the majority of customers invest in fleet deals on finance. It gives the option to have more machines straightaway for the same level of investment, as well as the latest technology to maintain playing surfaces. The upscale is huge, as is the improvement in quality of playing surfaces. It’s certainly a very different market to when I started, and very much for the better.”

David Cole, managing director at Reesink, pays tribute to Jeff and the instrumental role he’s played with the company: “Jeff has been at the forefront of the Toro equipment success for over twenty years and his focus and dedication will be challenging for the business to replace. I am sure that the extensive contacts and colleagues Jeff has built up during his time in the industry will want to join us at Reesink in wishing him all the very best for a well-earned and enjoyable retirement. Jeff will always be able to look back with pride on his role with the Toro brand, as a job well done”.

Jeff plans to spend his retirement in his native Yorkshire, where he lives in Gomersal with his wife, Julie, enjoying time with his family and grandchildren – and, of course, playing golf!

A man who enjoys huge respect and fondness from among his many friends and colleagues in the industry, Jeff says: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working in the industry and am delighted to have been a part of it. It’s a relationship industry and I’ve gained friends for life. I believe it still offers great career opportunities for young people and will watch with interest as the next generation comes through.

“Despite the current difficulties presented by Covid-19, I’m confident that Reesink, Toro and the turfcare industry has an exciting future,” he says. “Yes, there will be challenges and changes ahead, but also plenty of opportunities. I wish it and all my friends and colleagues in the industry every success for the future.”

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Monitor chafer beetle numbers now

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Monitor chafer beetle numbers now: Now is the time to start monitoring chafer beetle numbers to allow effective control of their vulnerable offspring with entomopathogenic nematodes, advises an industry expert.

“Chafer grubs can be extremely damaging to golf courses and with limited chemical options available for controlling them, the use of entomopathogenic nematodes can be an effective and natural way to protect courses this season,” explains Dr Colin Mumford, technical manager at Bayer.

Monitor chafer beetle numbers now

Monitor chafer beetle numbers now

To get the application of nematodes right, Colin explains that timing is crucial.

“Over the past few years, we’ve seen that chafer beetles have been emerging six weeks later than normal, so it’s important to start monitoring for activity during May and continue to do this throughout the season,” he says.

“This can be achieved by simply looking for the beetles, but to get a more definitive measurement I would use pheromone traps,” says Colin.

“The beetles are usually active for a couple of weeks, so look for the point when their numbers start to decline in the traps. You should plan to apply the nematodes three-to-four weeks after this point, as the eggs they have laid would have hatched by then.

“By getting this timing right, the nematodes will be primed and ready to attack the chafer grubs at their most vulnerable stage, when they are newly hatched or juvenile,” he says.

Colin notes that it is also important to get the application process right as well as the timing.

“Pick an overcast day with a soil temperature above 12ºC to apply the nematodes, as direct sunlight will kill them and cold temperatures will limit their activity,” he says.

“Irrigate the area the day before to ensure there is adequate moisture for the nematodes, and it will help them move through the rootzone.

“Make sure to remove all filters from your sprayer and spray nozzle, as this can cause blockages,” adds Colin.

He also explains that it is important to use whole packs, if possible, as some will contain more than one species, that won’t be evenly distributed throughout the pack, so by using whole packs you’ll get a good mix of species.

“For example, Bayer’s nematode product, Harmonix Tri-Nema, contains three different species of nematode,” he says.

“This combination of nematodes provides better control of the grubs because each species tries to outcompete each other to become the dominant species, meaning they are far more aggressive than they would usually be.”

Colin adds that it is important to maintain good soil moisture for a couple of weeks after the application, but warns not to over irrigate, as you will either flush the nematodes through the rootzone and down the drain, or simply drown them.

“Nematodes can be a very good option for controlling chafer grubs, but it’s important to get the timing right to target the grubs when they are at their most vulnerable to maximise control,” he concludes.

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