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NEWS ARTICLES

European Tour & Toro Renew Partnership

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European Tour & Toro Renew Partnership: The European Tour and The Toro Company have extended their long-term partnership by four years, as the worldwide provider of outdoor environment solutions celebrates its 100th year serving the golf industry.

The renewed agreement takes the European Tour’s relationship with Toro to more than 20 years,   meaning they will continue to supply turf maintenance and irrigation products across the European Tour, Challenge Tour and Staysure Tour in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, as well as servicing the European Tour Destinations portfolio of world class golf venues.

European Tour & Toro Renew Partnership

The agreement is a highlight of a milestone year for Toro as it celebrates a century of innovation in the golf market, which started with the introduction of the industry’s first motorised fairway mower in 1919.

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour, said: “The Toro Company has a long history of excellence in the golf industry, and we are delighted to extend a relationship which is instrumental in presenting host courses across the world in the best possible condition.

“Toro is a company that shares our values in areas such as sustainability and innovation, and we look forward to working with them over the next four years, extending one of our longest-running supplier associations.”

Andy Brown, Senior Sales Manager EMEA at The Toro Company, said: “We are proud to continue our longstanding relationship with the European Tour as official supplier of turf maintenance and irrigation products.

“This has been an important relationship for The Toro Company over the past 20 years, and we look forward to continuing to provide equipment and support. It’s a privilege to have a role in preparing world-class courses for some of the greatest players in the game.”

Toro products that range from mowers and utility vehicles to bunker rakes and irrigation systems, have become synonymous with quality, durability and value. Away from golf, the company’s products are used at venues and events including the Château de Versailles in France, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol in Spain and Walt Disney World® Resort.

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PSD’s Landscaping Solutions At SALTEX

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PSD’s Landscaping Solutions At SALTEX: PSD Groundscare are giving visitors to Saltex the opportunity to view a fantastic range of innovative, time-saving solutions to assist with a host of landscaping requirements including the launch of the next evolution in green waste shredding from innovative Belgium manufacturer Eliet, that follows the proven Eliet shredding principle and gives improved functionality and performance.

From the management of long grass and banks mowing, general turf care or the disposal of green waste from the maintenance of trees and hedges, the PSD range of niche specialist landscaping equipment has an unrivalled range of products, all designed to improve productivity and performance in a multitude of grounds maintenance and turf care operations.

PSD's Landscaping Solutions At SALTEX

Showcasing on the stand will be a range of high-quality machinery to manage the challenge of long grass and banks mowing including the New Taurus 2-wheel tractor with optional remote control functionality from innovative German manufacturer Koppl. This addition to the range is popular with local authorities and contractors and is capable of operating on slopes up to 120% (50°) and is equipped with the Köppl Easy-Drive as standard. A new feature is the finger joystick control on the handlebar, which can be used to conveniently (both forwards and backwards) control the shift of the implement’s centre of gravity.

Visitors will also be able to view the AS Motor AS 1040 Yak ride-on flail mower with benefits including a flail rotor drive which diminishes the need for path overlap and guarantees high work rates, reaching 6,800 m²/h and, making it a highly efficient alternative to traditional rotary mowing.

For efficient lawn and turfcare maintenance, PSD will showcase a number of machines that expands the Eliet range; including the Turfaway 600 turf cutter, which is highly effective for major lawn renovation and complete reconstruction. Its’ unique concept allows the user to quickly loosen a complete layer of turf with precision, in to 60 cm wide sods. In addition, visitors will be able to view the new Eliet self-propelled C550 scarifier, with a collection feature which gathers discarded material into narrow rows for easy disposal, reducing the cleaning-up process time by 50% and the DZC600 Pedestrian overseeder which is fast becoming the machine of choice of groundsmen and contractors when renovating sports turf or ornamental lawns.

PSD also offer a comprehensive range of debris clearance machinery including the lightweight and agile AS30 E battery powered weedbrush from AS Motor, a timesaver when it comes to removing weeds on uneven surfaces such as cobblestones, along walls and kerb stones, and in narrow areas. With a quiet rechargeable battery drive, the machine is highly effective in residential areas and hospitals, where noise can be a concern.

PSD also offer a range of innovative green waste shredders, capable for dealing with material up to 6 inch with wheeled, tracked and trailed models.

Chris Gibson (Managing Director) of PSD Groundscare said:

“We are exceptionally excited about our attendance at Saltex this year, and we are very much looking forward to unveiling our innovative new products. We believe that the new additions to our range will ensure we continue to be able to offer machinery that revolutionise groundscare and maintenance.

“Saltex is the perfect place for the unveiling of the exciting new machine from Eliet, as it is arguably the industry’s show stopper event. It’s part of our ethos to speak to our customers face-to-face wherever possible and with over 8,000 attendees expected, it will be the perfect platform to show what PSD Groundscare has to offer”.

PSD Groundscare will be exhibiting on stand G120

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Toro Joins PGA Partnership Network

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Toro Joins PGA Partnership Network: The Toro Company has further strengthened its relationship with The PGA after agreeing to become a PGA Partner in a milestone year for the American company.

Toro first entered the golf equipment business 100 years ago with a mower designed to maintain the fairways at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Today, the U.S.-based company has cemented itself as one of the world’s leading brands of turf and landscape maintenance equipment.

Toro Joins PGA Partnership Network

Toro now has professional distributors, dealers and retailers in more than 125 countries, and offers a wide range of products for the golf course market. The company’s products are currently being used around the world at notable facilities such as Carnoustie Golf Links, St Andrews Links, Torrey Pines Golf Course and Pinehurst Resort.

As part of the agreement, Toro will look to establish relationships with other PGA Partners and PGA Branded Properties to provide solutions that help golf courses maintain healthy turf and outstanding conditions for players.

The partnership will also allow Toro to support The PGA National Training Academy with its educational objectives, providing educational material from key industry experts at the continuing professional development (CPD) and degree level.

Andy Brown, senior sales manager at The Toro Company, commented: “Becoming a PGA Partner is the perfect way to celebrate our landmark 100 years in the golf industry.
“The PGA is at the heart of golf, and we share the same values of integrity and commitment. As a PGA Partner, we are proud to support The PGA in all of its work to advance the game and the success of the industry overall.”

Robert Maxfield, chief executive of The PGA, added: “Toro has been a valued PGA Official Supplier for more than three years, so The PGA is delighted to welcome them on board as a PGA Partner as they celebrate 100 years serving the golf industry.

“Many PGA Members work closely with greenkeeping staff on a day-to-day basis and through Toro, they have a unique opportunity to expand their knowledge base. We look forward to continuing our relationship with one of the most trusted brands in turf landscape and maintenance. We recognise Toro as the leader in their field and the company offers a great service to PGA Members.”

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Best Park Shortlist Announced

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Best Park Shortlist Announced: Four parks from across the UK have been shortlisted in Fields in Trust’s search to find the UK’s Best Park. Castle Gardens, Antrim; Cyfarthfa Park, Merthyr Tydfil; Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline and Stanley Park, Blackpool have each been shortlisted following a public vote.

The UK’s Best Park is organised by green space charity Fields in Trust who, for over 90 years, have legally protected parks and green spaces ensuring they will always be available for future generations to enjoy. A record 364 nominations were received for UK’s Best Park 2019. Those nominations were supported by park users, communities, Friends of Parks groups, and landowners and an unprecedented total of 36,832 votes were cast for parks and green spaces across the UK.

Best Park Shortlist Announced

The shortlisted parks are:

  • Antrim Castle Gardens, Antrim. The nomination identified that Antrim Castle Gardens has completed a transformation “… from local gem to national treasure” and recognised the “passionate team driven by the ambition to put their place on the map”.
  • Cyfarthfa Park, Merthyr Tydfil was identified as “…a park for people of all ages and interests”. The park was celebrated for its “…sensory garden and meadowlands which provide a haven of tranquillity”; and “The woodland walks, a delight for dog walkers and nature-lovers …  it is a park for all”.
  • Pittencrieff Park in Dunfermline, Scotland is known locally as “The Glen” and was celebrated for its diversity “… from kid’s areas to glasshouses, peacock sanctuary and historical features …. rocky waterfalls, imaginative paths, well-stocked, neatly trimmed flower beds and herb gardens”.
  • Stanley Park, Blackpool, was described as “… a beautiful, tranquil place away from the hustle and bustle of the Blackpool seafront”. The “great volunteers and staff who keep it in tip-top condition” were also recognised in the online nomination.

In addition, 73 parks and green spaces have achieved “Much Loved” status, having been placed in the top 20% of all UK’s Best Park 2019 nominations throughout the UK. The “Much Loved” status recognises the support of local people who use and love these parks and green spaces.

Fields in Trust is a UK-wide charity that since 1925 has been legally protecting parks and green spaces in perpetuity. The UK’s Best Park Award recognises the role that parks play in our communities, supporting mental and physical health and bringing people together. The charity is concerned that many parks and green spaces are under threat and are at risk of being lost to development or a cycle of decline and disappearance.

Fields in Trust recently published research, the Green Space Index, which revealed that over 2.5 million people across Great Britain do not have access to a local park within ten minutes walk from home. With public sector cuts leading to pressure on parks and green spaces, there is a risk that a lack of legal protection could lead to more being sold off or developed. Yet these vital outdoor spaces deliver health and wellbeing benefits to those that use them regularly. Fields in Trust research reveals that overall, parks and green spaces contribute £34 billion each year in health and wellbeing benefits to their regular users and save the NHS £111million each year simply in avoided GP appointments.

Fields in Trust Chief Executive, Helen Griffiths said: “The increased number of parks nominated, and a record number of votes cast, show just how much the UK’s local green spaces are cherished by the people who use them. Recognising the UK’s Best Park is a way of revaluing our green spaces for the physical and mental health benefits they provide to their local communities. I congratulate all our “Much-Loved” parks and green spaces and wish the four Home Nation winners well for the UK’s Best Park award which we will announce on September 12th. 

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Carbon Gold & Carbofex Join Forces

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Carbon Gold & Carbofex Join Forces: Biochar companies Carbon Gold and Carbofex have signed an MOU to establish a commercial agreement that will strengthen both companies’ position in the UK and European markets.  

Carbon Gold, the world leading supplier of biochar to commercial crop growers, tree care specialists and sports turf professionals in the UK and Europe, has partnered with Finland-based Carbofex, industrial-scale biochar manufacturer with proprietary technology that allows for the production of very pure (low PAH) and active (600 m3/g) biochar, certified by the EBC and with access to the PURO CO2 removal marketplace.

Carbon Gold & Carbofex Join Forces

The collaboration will see Carbon Gold and Carbofex agree terms on the production and distribution of biochar, the ownership of the resulting carbon credits, and other potential synergies or commercial opportunities which may benefit both companies.

Simon Manley, CEO of Carbon Gold, says, “We’ve long been friendly with Carbofex and this partnership comes at a really critical time for both companies.  We’re both looking for investment to scale up, and this joint venture makes us more attractive to potential strategic investment partners.  And with a no-deal Brexit becoming ever more likely, having manufacturing bases in the UK and mainland Europe is invaluable for both parties.  Carbofex is a trail blazer in Europe and we’re thrilled to be working with them more formally.”

Sampo Tukianen, CEO of Carbofex, says, “We’ll both gain access to new markets as a result of this collaboration. Carbon Gold is the leader in biochar and Carbofex will benefit greatly from the products, science, branding and market reach they’ve established over the years.  And our EBC certification and registration with PURO for carbon removal trading brings new routes to market for Carbon Gold.  It’s very exciting.”

For more information, visit www.carbongold.com.

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