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Toro U.K. Limited Demonstrates Full Turf Care Capability at GroundsFest

Toro U.K. Limited Demonstrates Full Turf Care Capability at GroundsFest

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Toro U.K. Limited Demonstrates Full Turf Care Capability at GroundsFest

Toro U.K. Limited delivered a strong and hands on presence at GroundsFest 2026, showcasing the breadth of its professional turf care range and giving visitors the chance to experience equipment designed for the everyday demands of grounds teams, contractors and professional gardeners. With high footfall on day one and steady engagement on day two, the stand attracted a wide mix of industry professionals eager to explore what’s new for 2026.

Toro U.K. Limited Demonstrates Full Turf Care Capability at GroundsFest

Toro U.K. Limited Demonstrates Full Turf Care Capability at GroundsFest

“GroundsFest continues to be a standout event for hands on demonstration, and this year was a fantastic opportunity to show just how broad the Toro range has become,” said Craig Hoare, UK Sales & Marketing Manager at Toro U.K. Limited. “Whether you’re maintaining a sports pitch, a commercial site or a private estate, there’s a Toro machine built for the job.”

Live demonstrations highlight precision, striping and control

The live demo zones remained a major draw, with visitors testing the manoeuvrability of the Toro GrandStand® through a slalom course and putting the Toro Dingo® TX1000 Turbo through its paces by lifting and stacking pallet boxes.

Striping performance was a key talking point, with both the Hayter Harrier Pro 60V and Toro eProStripe demonstrating the clean, consistent finish that grounds professionals expect from both brands. Their presence reinforced Toro and Hayter’s reputation for delivering high quality presentation across sports turf, estates and commercial landscapes.

“The feedback from visitors was incredibly positive,” said Matt Coleman, Area Sales Manager for the EMEA Equipment Business (Grounds & Landscape Contractor Equipment). “People enjoyed getting behind the controls of the GrandStand and Dingo, and it was great to speak with so many grounds professionals about how our equipment supports their day to day challenges. It was also a pleasure to introduce our two new Territory Sales Managers to dealers from across the country.”

Toro U.K. also showcased several new additions to its commercial range, including the new 32″ GrandStand®, engineered specifically to fit through standard gate openings, and the rear discharge Z Master 4000. The rear discharge deck is being designed and engineered by Toro’s UK team to meet the needs of councils who want to avoid side discharge clippings spreading onto pavements and surrounding areas.

Visitors were also able to see the revamped TimeCutter®, previewing the 2027 styling update inspired by the Titan series and featuring the new Toro Bull Horn design cues.

Hayter Garden Tools: first public viewing

Following their trade launch at Glee last week, GroundsFest marked the first opportunity for end users to see the new Hayter Garden Tool Range. The tools attracted interest from both domestic users and professional gardeners looking for durable, well engineered hand tools.

Branded Merch: A Popular Talking Point

Merchandise sales continued to grow at GroundsFest, with the new build your own Harrier and TimeCutter kits proving a real talking point among visitors to our indoor area. Many enjoyed the chance to take home a miniature version of the machines they aspire to own one day, whether that’s a new Toro TimeCutter or a Hayter Harrier.

Celebrating 80 years of Hayter heritage

Inside Hall 1, the Hayter Museum Exhibit offered a detailed look at the brand’s engineering legacy. The display included the original Royal Warrant from Queen Elizabeth II, a timeline of Hayter’s history, and a curated collection of historic machines—from early Hayterettes and Motor Scythes to the Harrier Diamond Edition.

“Hayter’s 80-year story is something we’re immensely proud of, and seeing visitors connect with machines they still own was a real highlight,” added Craig Hoare. “Pairing that heritage with our latest engineering developments shows how both brands continue to evolve while staying true to their roots.”

Visitors shared stories of still owning and using Hayter machines from the 1970s and 1980s, reinforcing the brand’s reputation for longevity and British engineering excellence. Many commented on how refreshing it was to see British manufacturing celebrated at a major industry event.

Strengthening dealer relationships

GroundsFest also provided an opportunity for dealers to meet Toro U.K.’s two new Territory Sales Managers, supporting future collaboration and strengthening regional relationships. A small refreshment area, complete with celebratory cakes marking Hayter’s 80th anniversary, offered a relaxed space for conversations with the sales team.

Reesink showcases wider Toro portfolio

Supporting the stand, Reesink presented a selection of Toro’s larger golf and municipal machinery, giving visitors a glimpse into the broader professional portfolio and reinforcing Toro’s capability across every scale of turf management.

To explore the full Toro and Hayter range, visit: www.toro.com/en-gb | www.hayter.co.uk

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Woodhall Spa Locks in Doak Design for Long Term

Woodhall Spa Locks in Doak Design for Long Term

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Woodhall Spa Locks in Doak Design for Long Term

The Hotchkin course at The National Golf Centre at Woodhall Spa is renowned for being one of the best golf courses in the world, with much of the credit going to the re-design by legendary course designer Tom Doak between 2016 and 2020.

Woodhall Spa Locks in Doak Design for Long Term

Woodhall Spa Locks in Doak Design for Long Term

With the focus on returning the Hotchkin to its authentic heathland roots, Doak added 43 bunkers alongside a huge tree clearance programme and the re-building of three greens, but while the new layout quickly gained accolades some of the maintenance challenges, particularly around the bunkers, became difficult to address.

“From my first day 3 years ago, stone ingress into the bunkers and the erosion of hazard walls and the surrounds were clear priorities for the course,” commented Peter Moore, Courses Director at Woodhall Spa. “The playability and the aesthetics of the bunkers were falling so we needed a solution that protected Doak’s design for the long-term while preventing all the erosion factors that were causing us real issues.”

To add an extra layer of complication, Woodhall Spa is a site of special scientific interest, so every plan had to be made with Natural England approval, including considerations for the sustainability of materials and the use of construction techniques that are sympathetic to the natural environment.

“I completed an assessment of the 143 bunkers on site and made a presentation to the board. A huge amount of work went into prioritising action, so once approved, we knew exactly what we needed from a partner,” continued Moore. “Not only did we need someone who could meet all of the various technical and environmental criteria, we needed a problem solving partner with a range of solutions that could combine across various challenges. That’s when we contacted EcoBunker.”

Following an initial meeting, EcoBunker CEO Richard Allen, used his vast experience in bunker construction, golf course design and engineering to design a bespoke solution for the unique ‘problem’ at the Hotchkin.

“This has been such an incredible project to work on because it has really tested our technical expertise and product innovations,” commented Richard. “I love a problem to solve and my background in civil engineering was certainly useful for this one. To work so closely with Peter and course design consultant Clyde Johnson, who worked with Tom Doak on the original design, has been such a pleasure. To find a solution that utilised every EcoBunker product was hugely satisfying!”

Richard returned to Peter with schematic drawings that combined EcoBunker synthetic edging, EcoTec™ bunker liners and the first large scale use of LOKSAND™ technology in the U.K. This combination would provide all of the erosion control and sensitivity to the original design that was needed for this unique challenge.

“Keeping true to Doak’s original design was our number one priority. We needed to lock in that design for years to come, eliminate erosion and stone ingress while not altering the original aesthetic,” explained Richard. “We devised a very low synthetic edge that is invisible in the finished bunker. That edge meets with a full EcoTec™ bunker liner creating a completely sealed unit that is erosion free and keeps out all contamination from below. We then used LOKSAND™ on the bunker surrounds to ensure that in high traffic areas there could be no erosion to contaminate the bunkers.”

Working closely with the team at Woodhall Spa, the plan was developed, and work began on three trial bunkers in January 26.

Peter continued, “The results have been remarkable. The look of the bunkers is exactly the same. They look so established and natural, and the issues have been completely eliminated. We’ve added a heavier sand that interacts beautifully with the EcoTec™ liner making them so consistent and playable while retaining every bit of challenge that Doak originally intended.”

“This has been a tough summer for course maintenance. Everything has dried out making it more prone to erosion, but the bunkers are still so solid. Perhaps most impressive is the areas where LOKSAND™ has been used. These high traffic areas would crumble into the hazards quite easily and create worn patches. But not only has LOKSAND™ provided the stability that we need, the grass growth has been superb.”

“From the first time the LOKSAND™ went in we ‘stress tested’ it by walking along it during the construction process. A few of us were jumping on the edges and the strength it gave was incredible. To see it in action and interacting so well with the other bunker technologies is a credit to everyone involved in the design, construction and maintenance of the new bunkers.”

The project has been such a success that the board at Woodhall Spa has expedited the original plan, reducing the timescale for the completion of all greenside bunkers from five years to two years. Combined with unanimously positive feedback from golfers, the next phase of work is highly anticipated.

“We can’t wait to get on to the next phase,” concluded Peter. “Working with a problem solver like Richard has been key to making this project work. The expertise he brought, along with the innovative product solutions has been crucial to our success. As we continue the work, we’re delighted with our partnership with EcoBunker and beyond happy that we have been able to lock in Tom Doak’s design for the long term, ensuring that the Hotchkin continues to be regarded as one of the best golf courses in the world.”

For more information on EcoBunker please visit www.ecobunker.co.uk

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

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Acacia Groundcare Equipment Rental puts its trust in Etesia

Acacia Groundcare Equipment Rental puts its trust in Etesia

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Acacia Groundcare Equipment Rental puts its trust in Etesia

When you’re hiring out professional groundcare machinery, reliability isn’t just desirable it’s essential. That is why Acacia Groundcare Equipment Rental has relied on Etesia machinery for more than 20 years, with the manufacturer’s proven range continuing to play a key role in its extensive hire fleet.

Acacia Groundcare Equipment Rental puts its trust in Etesia

Acacia Groundcare Equipment Rental puts its trust in Etesia

From commercial contractors and local authorities to equestrian businesses, environmental organisations and private landowners, Acacia supplies equipment to customers tackling everything from routine grass cutting to heavy-duty vegetation clearance. According to Operations Manager Mark Tavener, quality is the number one priority when investing in new hire equipment.

“Hire is our bread and butter and it’s essential that the machinery we hire is reliable and of a high quality, said Mark. ” It’s got to be robust enough to stand the vigour of the different types of customers using the machinery.”

Mark brings almost 40 years of experience in the grounds maintenance industry, having started his career working in parks before progressing into management with several major grounds maintenance companies. Having joined Acacia around 18 months ago, he was already well acquainted with both the company and the Etesia brand.

“When I was a contract manager, I often used Acacia for groundcare equipment,” he explained. “I’ve also used Etesia machines throughout my career. It goes right back to working for Horsham District Council in the late ’80s and ’90s, and wherever I’ve worked since, Etesia has always been a machine that’s been used.”

That long-standing familiarity is reflected in Acacia’s relationship with Etesia, which stretches back to the company’s beginnings two decades ago.

One of the standout performers in the hire fleet is the Etesia AK-88, a compact ride-on brush cutter that continues to generate repeat business.

“We hire out a lot of the AK-88’s and we get a great deal of positive feedback,” said Mark. “It’s become a recognisable machine for tackling rough grass, brambles and overgrown areas, and we get repeat bookings because customers know how reliable it is.”

Its compact size is one of its biggest strengths.

“The width is really important because it allows the machine to get through gateways and into areas where people need it. It’s a very low-slung, compact machine and that’s what makes it so popular.”

The AK-88 is hired by a broad range of customers, including landscape contractors, local authorities, environmental organisations, estate managers and private customers maintaining paddocks and overgrown land.

Alongside the AK-88 sits the Etesia AH75, a pedestrian brush cutter designed for customers who need the same impressive cutting ability on smaller or more confined sites.

“The AH75 has its own niche. If someone’s only got a smaller area or a site where a ride-on would be too big, it’s the perfect machine. We have regular customers who specifically ask for it because it suits the work they’re doing.”

Mark has first-hand experience of its capabilities from before joining Acacia.

“We hired one when I was in my previous role to clear out a dry canal bed that was full of reeds and heavy vegetation. For that type of job, the AH75 was actually better suited than a ride-on machine.”

Another established member of Acacia’s Etesia fleet is the Hydro 80, a compact ride-on mower that has enjoyed renewed popularity over the past year. According to Mark customers particularly appreciate its ability to perform in a range of conditions.

“Its compact size makes it ideal for housing estates and tighter sites, and we’ve had good feedback about how well it collects, even when the grass is a little damp. The Hydro 80 seems to cope considerably better than some rival machines.”

For Mark, Etesia’s continued success comes down to more than just dependable products.

“I’ve always thought Etesia are an innovative company,” he said. “I think they’re a good, solid company.”

With a relationship spanning more than two decades, Acacia sees Etesia remaining an important part of its future fleet.

“We’re very happy with Etesia and I can’t see any reason why that would change. We’ll certainly continue using the machines and we’re always interested to see any new products and technology they bring out in the future.”

For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit www.etesia.co.uk.

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Etesia UK on X @EtesiaUK and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/EtesiaUK. You can also view the latest Etesia videos by visiting www.youtube.com/EtesiaUK

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Bernhard Academy Announces November and December Technical Training Programme

Bernhard Academy Announces November and December Technical Training Programme

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Bernhard Academy Announces November and December Technical Training Programme

Practical, industry-focused courses designed to build confidence, improve machine performance and develop essential turfcare mechanical skills

Bernhard Academy Announces November and December Technical Training Programme

Bernhard Academy Announces November and December Technical Training Programme

The Bernhard Academy has announced its upcoming programme of technical training courses for November and December 2026, offering turfcare professionals the opportunity to develop practical maintenance skills, enhance equipment performance and strengthen their understanding of turfcare machinery.

Delivered by industry experts, the courses combine hands-on learning with proven best practice, helping organisations maximise the performance, reliability and longevity of their equipment.

Cutting Unit Set Up and Sharpening Techniques

This one-day practical workshop focuses on the principles of cutting unit maintenance, correct set up procedures and sharpening techniques. Delegates will gain a deeper understanding of cutting unit performance and learn how precision maintenance can improve turf quality and machine efficiency.

Course Dates:

  • 3 November 2026 – Haverhill, Suffolk.
  • 10 November 2026 – Moortown Golf Club, Leeds.
  • 24 November 2026 – Loch Lomond Golf Club, Dumbartonshire.

Basic Machinery Maintenance

Designed for those looking to strengthen their maintenance knowledge, this one-day course covers the fundamentals of machinery care, preventative maintenance practices and essential inspection routines that support machine reliability and operational efficiency.

Course Dates:

  • 11 November 2026 – Moortown Golf Club, Leeds.
  • 25 November 2026 – Loch Lomond Golf Club, Dumbartonshire.

Fundamentals of Turfcare Mechanics – Level 1

This comprehensive three-day programme provides a strong foundation in turfcare machinery and maintenance principles. Covering key mechanical systems, operational understanding and essential workshop practices, the course is ideal for those looking to build technical confidence and establish core mechanical skills.

Course Dates:

  • 8-10 December 2026 (Three-Day Course) – Moortown Golf Club, Leeds.

As machinery technology continues to evolve and maintenance standards become increasingly important, technical training remains a key investment for turfcare operations seeking to improve equipment performance, reduce downtime and maintain consistently high-quality playing surfaces.

Sami Strutt, Education Director at Bernhard Academy, commented: “Well-maintained machinery is fundamental to producing high-quality playing surfaces. Our technical training programme is designed to equip turfcare professionals with the practical skills, knowledge and confidence needed to optimise machine performance, improve efficiency and support long-term success.”

The Bernhard Academy’s training courses are designed to provide practical, real-world knowledge that can be applied immediately in the workplace, supporting both personal development and operational excellence.

Places on all courses are limited. To secure your place today and take the next step in developing your technical expertise visit www.bernhardacademy.co.uk.

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Visit Mansfield Sand at SALTEX 2026

Visit Mansfield Sand at SALTEX 2026

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Visit Mansfield Sand at SALTEX 2026

Visitors to the Mansfield Sand stand (E010) at SALTEX 2026, taking place on 11 and 12 November at the NEC, Birmingham, will have the opportunity to explore a comprehensive range of sand-based products designed to enhance the health and performance of sports pitches.

Visit Mansfield Sand at SALTEX 2026

Visit Mansfield Sand at SALTEX 2026

With over 180 years of expertise, Mansfield Sand has been at the forefront of developing premium silica sand-based products. The company offers a wide array of innovative solutions for sports, landscaping, and equestrian applications, including stadium and training ground facilities, championship golf courses, and world-class show jumping arenas.

At SALTEX, Mansfield Sand’s industry experts will be available to discuss how their products can transform your sports turf projects. Key products on display will include:

Reinforced Rootzone

Mansfield Sand’s Reinforced Rootzones are engineered to maximize the use of natural turf surfaces while meeting the high standards required by today’s sports industry. The reinforcement technology used in these products provides enhanced stability and durability, ensuring that sand-dominated rootzones remain free-draining and consistent across the entire surface.

The range includes:

Fibre Reinforced Rootzone – reinforced with polypropylene fibres for added strength.

Fibrelastic Rootzone – combines polypropylene fibres with flexible Elastane fibres to enhance surface resilience.

Fibresand – ideal for maintaining surface integrity when grass cover is reduced due to heavy usage or winter wear.

Sand Soil Rootzones

Mansfield Sand is dedicated to helping turf managers achieve the ideal surface condition week after week. Their Sand Soil Rootzones are crafted from high-quality materials, ensuring exceptional results whether used for renovation or construction. The Mansil 40 Silica Sand blended with screened topsoil creates an optimal rootzone foundation.

Sand Compost Rootzones

For projects requiring a rootzone rich in organic content, Mansfield Sand offers a range of premium sand compost blends. These products are designed to retain nutrients and enhance drought resistance, promoting healthier, more resilient turf.

Top Dressing

Tailored for the fine turf market, Mansfield Sand’s Soil Top Dressing combines their superior silica sands with top-quality soils. The mixture is sterilised and screened to create a smooth, stone-free dressing that is easy to apply. Custom dressing blends and soil amendments are also available to meet specific turf management needs.

Mansil Silica Sand Sports Range

Mansfield Sand’s Mansil range of silica sands, sourced from their Two Oaks Quarry in Mansfield, is essential for constructing and maintaining a variety of sports surfaces, from winter sports pitches and golf courses to bowling greens and other amenity turf areas.

For more information, visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk, follow them on Twitter at @MansfieldSand, or connect on Facebook at Mansfield Sand Sport Surfaces.

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