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NEWS ARTICLES

Demand for trenchers ‘sky high’

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Demand for trenchers ‘sky high’: Trencher Hire UK has had its busiest August ever since starting out a decade ago – bucking the usual  trend of a slowdown during this, the main month in the holiday season.

Operations Manager Steve Kingdom commented: “We’ve been working flat-out delivering and picking up machines, then preparing them prior to hiring out to the next customer. Demand has exceeded supply and we are now having to offer dates in September.

Demand for trenchers 'sky high'

Demand for trenchers ‘sky high’

 

“The weather has been for the most part sunny and the ground conditions dry and very hard in places, but nothing to worry our fleet of trenchers which are real workhorses that just keep neatly digging-out out sometimes hundreds of metres of channelling in a day.

“September looks like being a very busy month too – so it’s best to make an inquirer sooner rather than later.”

The current fleet of units comprise Toro and Vermeer machines covering trenching depths of between 150mm up to 900mm.  The units available to hire comprise: Toro TRX-16, Toro TRX-20, Toro TX-525 with trencher head, Vermeer RTX200 and Vermeer RTX525.

To find out more about Trencher Hire UK call: 01939 211900, or email: team@trencherhire.com, or visit our website: www.trencherhire.com

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Paul Langford appointed at Redexim

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Paul Langford appointed at Redexim: A well-known industry name has joined the team at Redexim to support their continued growth and spearhead the UK’s commercial activities.

As the new Director of Commercial Operations, Paul Langford will be leading the team of Regional Sales Managers and in charge of the development of the overall sales and marketing strategies to further cement Redexim’s position at the heart of the natural and synthetic turf maintenance sectors.

Paul Langford appointed at Redexim

Paul Langford appointed at Redexim

Formally the Managing Director of TigerTurf UK, Paul has an illustrious track record for building successful B2B and B2C relationships and proactively driving business change, which has resulted in over 20 years of commercially-driven experience in leadership and sustainable growth. Alongside his position at TigerTurf UK, Paul held the role of Manufacturing Group Chairman at The Sports and Play Contractors Association (SAPCA) for six years – during which he also represented the synthetic turf manufacturing sector on the FIFA Turf Advisory Group (TAG).

On his appointment, Paul comments “In Redexim, I have found a like-minded company that have a pedigree of high-performance products and ambitions to grow in what is an ever-changing marketplace.”

“I’m a big believer that business should be approached with a strong sense of purpose, the right tools and the right plan to deliver excellence – but not forgetting to have some fun along the way!” he adds.

Paul lives in Northampton with his wife of 25 years and son who is a trainee lawyer and when not working, can often be found on the golf course at weekends or indulging in his passion for guitars and all things cars.

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Steve Braddock – 1964 – 2022

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Steve Braddock – 1964 – 2022: One of the most influential figures on our industry, Steve Braddock, has died, following a long illness.

Steve was synonymous with Arsenal and was a significant figure in the move from Highbury to The Emirates, and in making the training ground at Colney such a success.

Steve Braddock – 1964 - 2022

Steve Braddock – 1964 – 2022

He won countless awards for the quality of his pitches; was voted the turf’s top influencer in 2019, and became only the second inductee to the GMA’s Hall of Fame the following year. The respect in which he was held could be seen as Arsenal wore black armbands in his honour in their match away at Bournemouth, while tributes appeared in the national press.

Steve had been brought to Arsenal by former manager, George Graham, but the man who was closest to him throughout his career was Arsene Wenger, who was as much a close friend to him as he was a mentor.

While the work he carried out on the Arsenal pitches was universally regarded as gold plated, it was his nurturing of talent that he will be perhaps best remembered. There are so many Head Groundsmen at home and abroad who owe their success to the education they received at the feet of Steve Braddock.

Our thoughts are with Steve’s family and friends at this very sad time.

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International Thank a Greenkeeper Day

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International Thank a Greenkeeper Day: The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association, in conjunction with other global greenkeeper and course superintendent groups, is recognising those who help keep golf courses enjoyable and sustainable with an international ‘Thank a Greenkeeper Day’.

BIGGA, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and other partner associations are encouraging those who love golf to take a moment to thank their course’s greenkeeping team.

International Thank a Greenkeeper Day

International Thank a Greenkeeper Day

Thank a Greenkeeper Day will be celebrated on Tuesday 13 September, which also marks the GCSAA’s 96th anniversary.

The celebration will include a commercial that will appear on the Golf Channel and other media outlets and social media messages touting the many ways that greenkeepers benefit the game and their communities’ golfers. Others are encouraged to join in the conversation on social media using the hashtags #ThankAGreenkeeper or #ThankASuper depending on their country’s nomenclature. In addition, golf courses and other groups are encouraged to provide special recognition for their greenkeeping teams on 13 September.

During the 2021 Thank a Greenkeeper Day, social media messages reached more than 9 million followers around the world.

To learn more about BIGGA and the role greenkeepers play in the enjoyment and sustainability of the game, visit www.bigga.org.uk

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Kubota excels on historic estate

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Kubota excels on historic estate: Kubota’s ZD1211 zero turn mower is showing its versatility on a busy estate in South Wales which is a popular and picturesque events venue.

The Glanusk Estate, near Crickhowell, totals 3000 acres, of which 350 acres is parkland, much in demand for everything from weddings to festivals and as a set for film and television work. There’s also a busy caravan site and holiday cottages with stunning views, while the park boasts the second largest collection of oak trees in the UK.

Kubota excels on historic estate

Kubota excels on historic estate

Owner Harry Legge-Bourke has a long relationship with Kubota, having used a BX compact tractor with mowing deck for some 20 years.

“I was looking for a more versatile mower to work in the gardens and the areas of the parkland used for events, golf course and caravan park, and having seen a ZD at a local hotel, thought it would fit the bill,” he explains.

The manoeuvrability of the zero turn design is key, to work around obstacles such as electric hook up points in the caravan park and mow close to trees safely, Harry points out.

“It offers a good quality cut and I’ve specified a mulching kit for areas such as the caravan park, where it’s important to minimise clippings which otherwise might be walked into the vans, ” he adds.

With such a large and varied area of grass to maintain, Harry comments that the speed of the ZD1211 is its outstanding feature. Powered by a 25hp diesel engine with shaft driven two-speed HST transmission the ZD can travel at up to 17kph, making light work of long runs while turning effortlessly in its own length at the end.

“We can cut four acres of gardens in an hour for example, which helps us keep on top of mowing when we are so busy,” he comments.

The Kubota mower is also handy for topping off the park between events, and with the varied mowing requirements, the ability to swap cut height from 25-127mm just by using a convenient dial also comes in for praise. The three-blade rear discharge rotary deck cuts effectively in the wet, a useful quality in the green and lush region.

Although the zero turn lever steer design was a departure for Harry and his team, they have quickly got used to it, he comments.

“It’s very good to drive, and very comfortable with its well-padded seat. All the controls fall easily to hand.”

There’s one other factor that has brought Harry back to Kubota for this latest purchase and that’s the brand’s renowned dependability.

“The mower is built to industrial standards and that gives peace of mind. Our experiences with previous Kubota machines have shown how reliable they are and the ZD has the quality to last us for many trouble-free years.”

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Headland programme praised by Gillingham GC

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Headland programme praised by Gillingham GC: After previously suffering with the side effects of excessive thatch content, the Course Manager at Gillingham Golf Club has praised a programme from Headland Amenity for its role in transforming the health and presentation of the greens.

Together with a comprehensive cultural regime, the improvement in course condition has seen a reduction in disease activity and reduced reliance on fungicides, and saw Gillingham proudly play host to a Kent Golf Captains event for the very first time.

Headland programme praised by Gillingham GC

Headland programme praised by Gillingham GC

John Hunnisett joined as Course Manager just over a year ago, where he was faced with a course that lacked any definition – with multiple areas including bunker surrounds and tee banks left completely unmaintained. To make the transformation project even more challenging, the greens team consisted of three trainees and, 13 months on, John remains the only qualified greenkeeper out of the team of five. “I pretty much had to start from scratch in all areas” explains John. “I’d used a few Headland products previously but had the benefit of seeing a full Headland programme in action during a stint spent at The London Golf Club. It opened my eyes to a whole new range and so called in our Headland Technical Manager Andy Ward to help with the monumental task at hand.”

Soil analysis taken by Andy highlighted high levels of organic matter in the top 20mm which, combined with an increase in aeration, scarification and topdressing, has been improved with a new nutritional regime. “Our summer programme consists of Protec® Plus, TeMag™ Elite, Turfite® Elite and Ascoflex® Plus. This combination of products delivers a long-lasting, balanced supply of nitrogen together with maximising health and recovery following periods of heat and/or stress. We have received lots of positive comments from the members about the presentation, with many saying that the greens have never looked better!”

“In the autumn and winter we switch to Headland’s 20-20-30 tank-mix which is probably my favourite discovery and has made the biggest difference to the greens. The combination of reducing organic matter and enhancing plant health with monthly applications of 20-20-30 between September and March drastically reduced the amount of disease we registered – and what we did get was easily recoverable and didn’t lead to scarring.”

Headland’s industry-leading 20-20-30 tank-mix combines Liquid Turf Hardener, Turfite® Elite and Seamac® ProTurf Fe, proven to deliver enhanced plant strength and disease resistance when applied as part of a preventative approach. John continues, “The course emerged in the spring of 2022 healthier than ever, which was great as we entered preparations to host the Hampshire County Match at the end of June. Being selected for this for the first time was testament to just how far we’ve come, with the right products and the pure passion of my team.”

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PRO 34R’s ‘supreme’ at BT Murrayfield

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PRO 34R’s ‘supreme’ at BT Murrayfield:A trio of Dennis PRO 34R rotary mowers have impressed Jim Dawson, Scottish Rugby’s Head Groundsman at BT Murrayfield, with him labelling them “supreme machines”.

Having been a greenkeeper and a groundsman, the well-respected Jim Dawson has worked in the turf industry throughout his whole career picking up several prestigious awards and accolades along the way. After leaving his last position at Falkirk FC he has nurtured the pitch at Scotland’s largest stadium for just over a decade.

Throughout his career, Jim has always been familiar with the Dennis brand.

PRO 34R’s ‘supreme’ at BT Murrayfield

PRO 34R’s ‘supreme’ at BT Murrayfield

“When I first think of Dennis I think of very sound and robust machines,” he said. “They are very trustworthy, reliable and the construction of them is first class whether it be one of their cylinder or rotary mowers.”

Jim has been a long-term admirer of the Dennis G860 cylinder mower claiming it was a ‘game-changer’ when it was first launched. Therefore, he welcomed the news of Dennis manufacturing a 34-inch rotary mower.

“Dennis made sure they got the right machine in terms of quality, usability and for the overall customer experience. It was key for them, and it absolutely worked.

“We got a demo of the mower and we thought it was out of this world. I put it to the board to request three PRO 34R’s and they supported my decision.”

The Dennis PRO 34R is a 34-inch (860mm) rotary mower which has been designed to help groundsmen achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance and desired playing surface. It is ideal for sports pitches and lawns producing the enviable ‘Dennis Stripes’ while a powerful vacuum flow collects debris quickly and efficiently.

Many operators of the PRO 34R have praised the size and speed of the machines, claiming that they save a huge amount of time and resources. Jim and his team at BT Murrayfield are no exception.

“We used to have four 24-inch rotary mowers and it took four members of staff approximately three hours to do the pitch, but now we can go over the whole pitch with three PRO 34R’s in about 1 hour and 20 mins.

“They are brilliant at cleaning up after any game or event we have on the pitch, and we use them on our back pitches to thin them out as well. The good thing about the PRO 34R is that you can go as slow as you want with maximum uplift, which is beneficial especially in winter or when the grass is damp. When the dry weather arrives, we’ll increase the speed to level 2 or 3. They are supreme machines.”

Jim was also quick to acknowledge the support he has received over the years from Ewen Wilson, Area Sales Manager for Dennis and SISIS.

“I’ve known Ewen ever since I was working at Falkirk,” he said. “He’s happy to help and is great for technical information. He always takes the time to talk you through how the machines work.

“Once you’ve used a Dennis machine, they are very hard to go away from.”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on Twitter and Instagram @DennisMowers and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK.You can also view the latest Dennis videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers

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ISEKI is brilliant in Bradwell

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ISEKI is brilliant in Bradwell: A volunteer who is passionate about helping his local sports club has revealed how an ISEKI compact tractor is significantly improving the standard of pitches.  

The picturesque village of Bradwell in Milton Keynes boasts successful football and cricket teams and both sports are played at the Bradwell Sports & Social Club. Until recently, the Bradwell teams had no control over the condition of the pitches as David Keene – Old Bradwell United FC’s Manager, Groundsman AND Chairman explains:

ISEKI is brilliant in Bradwell

ISEKI is brilliant in Bradwell

“We were at the mercy of the parish council who carried out the groundwork on the football and cricket pitches, and they did it at their convenience, but it wasn’t always convenient for us.

“It got to the point where our pitch was deemed poor by the Football Association and as a result, we secured some funding through a Football Foundation grant. This finally enabled us to purchase our own machinery so that we could maintain the pitches ourselves.

“Our local dealer, RT Machinery, recommended some tractors and specifically the ISEKI TM3267. We found that during the demonstration, the ISEKI tractor was the best within our budget.”

The ISEKI TM3267 compact tractor is a versatile 25hp diesel compact tractor with a F8/R8 mechanical transmission. The ISO-mounted operator’s platform combined with ergonomically positioned controls ensures operator comfort during extended working periods. The 3-point linkage has a lift capacity of 600kg or 800kg when fitted with the high-capacity lift kit.

It also features, as standard, a rear-PTO, two double acting valves, mid-PTO, two double-acting auxiliary valves, weight frame and a choice of AG or Turf tyres. The TM3267 is available with an optional front loader. Should you ave any other questions please give me a call, included do

Further benefits include:

  • Excellent performance coupled with high efficiency
  • ISO mounted operator platform for reduced noise and vibration
  • Power: 18.9 kW (25.3 hp)
  • Drive System: Mechanical or HST

David was quick to stress the importance of the ISEKI TM3267 being user friendly and explained how it has helped to improve the pitches.

“I’m not a mechanically minded person – I work in an office,” he said. “I have absolutely no problems using the ISEKI tractor – which tells you how easy it is to use. Swapping the mower and other attachments is very straightforward. No preparation is needed – it is simply a case of getting onto it and then start using it.

“We use it specifically for the football pitch and the cricket outfield,” continued David. “We will attach the mower to it predominantly in the dry months, and we then we attach a SISIS Quadraplay (a mounted frame which allows for up to four implements) to it in the winter months to break up compaction and allow for drainage. Since we have been using it the quality of the pitches have improved no end.

“I would recommend the TM3267 to any sports club who are looking to take control of their own ground maintenance. Essentially, any club – from grass roots to semi-professional – would benefit from this.”

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TAG confirms new Shropshire depot

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TAG confirms new Shropshire depot: Tallis Amos Group (TAG) has confirmed plans for a new depot in Shropshire at Allscott between Shrewsbury and Telford. The announcement follows TAG’s confirmation in July that it had been appointed as the John Deere dealer to cover Shrewsbury and Newport in Shropshire. The new depot is due to open in October 2022. 

TAG was formed in 2012 when two long standing John Deere dealerships, Alexander & Duncan and Chris Tallis Farm Machinery joined forces. The company traces its roots back to 1912 and has been supporting farming businesses in the West Midlands for over 100 years, with 56 years as John Deere agents. Currently operating four depots in the West Midlands and Wales at Evesham, Kemble, Leominster and Narberth, TAG already has plans to open an additional site near Lampeter in October this year. Employing a team of 130, including skilled after-sales teams and experienced sales representatives, TAG has a comprehensive range of other machinery partners including Kramer, Pottinger, Sumo, Pichon, Shelbourne Reynolds, Sulky, AW & Bailey Trailers and many more.

TAG confirms new Shropshire depot

TAG confirms new Shropshire depot

To ensure that the company can deliver outstanding support to customers throughout the Shrewsbury and Newport area, TAG is now actively recruiting Sales, Parts, Service, Precision Ag and Administration staff. Rea Valley Tractors (RVT) continue to be authorised dealers until 31st October 2022.

Simon Amos, TAG Agricultural Sales Director, said: “The new depot in Allscott is perfectly positioned to support farming and contracting businesses throughout Shropshire. Although there will be some work required to get the site ready, we’re confident we can be up and running within a few months. We are also investing heavily in Parts and Service capacity at Leominster to further support customers from South and West Shropshire.”

Eve Tubb, TAG Group HR Manager, said: “At 40,000 sq. ft, the Allscott site will become the biggest in group. Anyone interested in a career at TAG can contact me directly in confidence at eve.tubb@tallisamos.co.uk.

“With a current team of over 130 we are looking to recruit an additional 30 people to help fully support Shropshire customers. The company offers attractive rewards and outstanding long term career opportunities.”

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EVO 205D SAFE-Trak delivers quality and quantity

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EVO 205D SAFE-Trak delivers quality and quantity: The Babraham Research Campus, one of the UK’s leading locations for academic and commercial bioscience, have taken delivery of an EVO 205D SAFE-Trak to keep pace with the site’s demand for wood chip and weed suppressant.

The 100-acre campus sits within an additional 360 acres of estate land, maintained by Estates and Waste Manager Matt Antrobus and two ground teams – all of whom have been mightily impressed with the power, performance and build quality of their new woodchipper from GreenMech’s EVO series.

EVO 205D SAFE-Trak delivers quality and quantity

EVO 205D SAFE-Trak delivers quality and quantity

“The site has grown and changed a lot over the last decade, both in terms of the variety and types of research conducted here and the push towards more environmentally-friendly methods of maintenance” explains Matt, who has been at the Campus for 15 years. “We use in the region of 300 tons of woodchip every year for suppressing weeds as well as decoration for borders, beds and miles and miles of public footpaths! Our previous chipper was struggling to cope and, after comparing a couple of options, the EVO 205D emerged head and shoulders above the competition.”

The backbone of the EVO 205D’s design is a deep beam, high tensile steel chassis, with a generous in-feed hopper measuring 1250mm x 700mm allowing the easy processing of bulky material. Maximum chipping efficiency is powered by a Kubota Stage V-Complaint 50hp diesel engine, while GreenMech’s SAFE-Trak system delivers ground clearance of up to 400mm, enabling access across uneven terrain and in difficult ground conditions.

“The EVO was installed in July by our local dealer Thurlow Nunn Standen and Julian Cullis of GreenMech, who delivered some outstanding training to the team that was on a par with – if not better than, some of the official woodchipper courses available. Although we’ve only had it a few weeks, the operators love it! The first major thing they commented on was the ease of manoeuvrability and access, meaning we can position the 205D exactly where we are working which saves a lot of time. Secondly, the feed rate is drastically quicker with this machine… the teams just can’t keep up with it!”

“There isn’t really much the team haven’t been impressed with. The build quality is fantastic and from a usability perspective, you can tell that GreenMech have really thought about what the operator wants and needs from a woodchipper.” Matt adds, “This EVO 205D will be fundamental to our new willow replanting and rotation programme which will help give us the quantity of wood and chip we need to continue our sustainable site management programme.”

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