Turf News is the perfect place for professionals working within the UK’s vibrant turf industry – keeping you up-to-date with topical news, latest market developments and much more across all areas of the industry.
NEWS ARTICLES

Campey Turf Care Systems Returns To Saltex 2017

/in , /by

Campey Turf Care Systems returns to Saltex 2017 with additions to their all-star line-up of machines.

Stand Number: D117

Campey Turf Care Systems will be bringing an all-star line-up of machines to the exhibition halls of Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre for Saltex 2017, including the introduction of new Koro® FIELD TOPMAKER® model.

The new 1.6 metre model of the Koro® FIELDTOPMAKER® will be at the centre of Campey stand D117, and will be launched to the sports turf industry as a natural evolution of a truly innovative machine.  Saltex will also see the launch of a newly designed and patented Universe® Rotor, developed by Campey Turf Care Systems in response to requirements from professional groundsman working out in the field.

Campey Turf Care Systems Returns To Saltex 2017

The FTM® will be joined by the newly upgraded Koro® TopDrain 1000, specifically designed to be used on sports pitches and golf course fairways. It complements the successful TopDrain 1500 machine that harnessed the unique function of trenching, removing spoil, injecting sand and re-compacting the surface all in one operation. It also offers material and labour savings, faster processing times and less contamination than conventional methods.

These machines will sit alongside the award winning Air2G2 Air Inject, an aeration machine that is becoming a stalwart of the Campey range. It uses pressurised air to target compaction deep at root zone level. Probes penetrate the soil and force air sideways to create fissures in the sub structure improving aeration and drainage throughout the soil.

Completing the line-up on stand is the Dakota 310, offering the accuracy expected from any Dakota 400 series spreader, but in a compact version. It spreads light to heavy and wet to dry, with easy calibration and no tractor or truckster required.

There will also be a new machine unveiled on the Campey stand, but no details are available before the show.

Campey Turf Care Systems is one of Europe’s largest independent grounds care machinery dealers, supplying equipment to countries in most parts of the world.  Over the years Campeys have earned a reputation for offering practical advice and superb aftercare service. The company acts as a new equipment dealer for some of the most respected grounds care machinery manufacturers including Dakota, Imants, Koro, Raycam, Vredo, Omarv, Votex, VGR and GT Air 2G2 injector.

The company also has a thriving used machinery business and a subsidiary company, Tines Direct, which supplies replacement tines, blades and replacement parts for a wide range of turf care machinery.

More information is available at www.campeyturfcare.com

For the latest industry news visit turfnews.co.uk

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

STRI Research Shows How To Make Every Seed Count 

/in , /by

STRI Research shows how to make every seed count: Every seed counts when it comes to restoring playing surface quality on golf courses or getting stadium pitches established and stable for the new season. Typically there are now greater expectations for turf managers to achieve excellent turf surfaces, with shorter intervals in which to achieve it.

Reporting new trials at STRI Research in Bingley, Yorkshire, this week (20-21 September), Syngenta Technical Manager, Marcela Munoz, highlighted the push for rapid seedling growth – with warmth and high humidity – creates conditions highly conducive to disease, especially in sports stadiums with poor airflow or under germination sheets.

“Seedling blight diseases can affect success at many levels, from individual plant losses reducing sward density, to patches of bare ground or even total seedling kill – possibly losing two or three weeks in the restoration timeline that may never be recovered,” she warned.

STRI Research shows how to make every seed count 

Syngenta research, in association with STRI, has investigated application timings and agronomy options to utilise new fungicide technology that can reduce the impact of seedling diseases and establish stronger swards more quickly.

“The work has looked at ways to protect seedlings through the first 14 to 21 days from emergence, when new growth is especially vulnerable to infection, but managers want to avoid travelling or walking on the surface to avoid seedling damage,” reported Marcela.

Pot trials at STRI have already established that the crop safety of new Instrata Elite has no adverse effect on germination or seedling establishment on the Fescue, Bent or Ryegrass species tested. The trial looked at application at sowing, or in the days immediately prior to sowing, to investigate the potential to reduce disease pathogens on the soil surface and provide a reservoir of protection that may be taken up by the seedlings.

“Following that success, new pot trials have established that Instrata Elite is also safe to use on plants from first emergence. The trial showed no phytotoxicity effects from applications at the seeding; 1st leaf or 2nd leaf stage – with sprays at label rate and even tested at double the label rate.

“Although most turf managers would aim to avoid such early applications, to prevent physical damage to the plants during spraying, well-timed treatment with an appropriate fungicide could stop disease outbreaks from developing further, and help to protect clean seedlings from infection,” she advised.

Marcela pointed out that preventing seedling blight infection is seen as important not only to protect against die-back and losses, but also to avoid the stress on small plants associated with disease attack; clean healthy seedlings are better able to establish and develop stronger roots.

A further development of the seedling establishment research – which is being shown at STRI Research 2017 – is a field-scale evaluation of the pot trials. Instrata Elite has been applied to turf pushed to create disease conducive conditions for seedling blight pathogens, to test the fungicide activity.

The trial has also been extended to include Primo Maxx II in the early foliar application, to provide information for future recommendations on the optimum time to begin the PGR programme after seeding. The work assesses potential benefits of physiological effects to promote tillering and stronger rooting, whilst evaluating any effect of growth regulation on the establishing leaf.

“The new fungicide trials are part of an initiative to provide future fully integrated recommendations for seeding best practice,” added Marcela. “It builds on previous successful Syngenta and STRI seedling establishment research with Qualibra wetting agent – which demonstrated the significant advantages for seedling growth from more effective soil moisture management.

“Together with ITM aspects of seed selection – for varieties with good germination, vigour and disease resistance – along with management of shade, moisture and fertility, there will be real chance to enhance the speed and reliability of future seedling establishment and successful renovation,” she concluded.

For the latest industry news visit turfnews.co.uk

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

New Non-Turf Practice Nets Impress At Oxenhope CC

/in , /by

New Non-Turf Practice Nets Impress At Oxenhope CC: When Halifax Cricket League side Oxenhope CC looked into investing in a new synthetic cricket nets facility at its village ground near Keighley, due to minimal space on site it became evident that additional land was required to enable construction. The club purchased land adjacent to the ground after three years of negotiation – however, the project was not to be plain sailing.

The club applied and was subsequently rejected for Sport England funding but, led by club Chair Derek Hopkinson, launched an in-house fundraising campaign to generate capital. A significant sum was raised through club efforts, with the club then applying successfully for an ECB loan to make up the remainder of the required funds.

With the funding secured, the next stage involved the selection of a supplier from a shortlist of companies providing ECB approved non-turf facilities. Significant research was carried out before total-play was awarded the contract, with the team’s in-depth knowledge, quality of product and fair quote highlighted as key factors in its appointment.

New Non-Turf Practice Nets Impress At Oxenhope CC

At construction stage came another new challenge. The newly procured land on which the facility was to be constructed was not only overgrown with unmanaged established trees and self-seeded shrubs, but the run off from the adjacent cricket fields drained into the area. The gradients on the plot were also well outside those acceptable to build a practice facility. To remedy these issues, total-play worked closely with the club’s local groundwork contractor to specify a programme of clearance and levelling.

This involved the removal of all trees, shrubs, associated root mass and organic material before the gradients – as much as 1.5m over the length of the area – were graded out. During this phase of works, catchment drains were installed to protect the base of the system from the main pitch run off, connected into new purpose-built soakaways. The exposed boundary edge was retained with a concrete sleeper wall and the whole area consolidated and graded to the required tolerance for building the new ECB approved practice facility.

With total-play then taking the reins on site, the specification for the system itself was adapted to include a deeper than normal base aggregate profile. This raised the system above the formation layer and surrounding ground and was finished with a concrete kerb perimeter to offer increased drainage capacity, longevity and performance. On top of this bespoke foundation, total-play then installed a 2 lane, 33m facility to its ECB approved tp365 system design.

Finishing touches to the facility included black powder coated steelwork, batting curtains, training lines added to the full width woven playing surface carpets, HD Protection Tunnel netting, a 2m high security fence and access steps down to the facility from the outfield. A stretch of carpet was also laid in front of the pavilion to help keep this high-traffic area clean and tidy.

Club Chair Derrick Hopkinson says:

“We’ve known David Bates from the circuit for a number of years, so had full confidence that his expertise would deliver a first-class facility. When at quotation stage the total-play proposal was among the most competitive on the table, our decision was pretty much made.

 “The project ran smoothly throughout despite it not being the most straightforward. total-play worked well with our local contractors and the entire club is delighted with the new nets. The facility has been used throughout the season and saved wear and tear on our cricket square. Visiting Clubs are very impressed with our new facility and consider it to be one of the best, if not the best, in the League.”

To find out more about total-play’s range of ECB approved non-turf cricket pitch solutions, visit www.total-play.co.uk

For the latest industry news visit turfnews.co.uk

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

This week marks Why Amenity Matters Week

/in , /by

‘Why Amenity Matters Week’ highlights green spaces and champions the ‘heroes’ who maintain the UK’s urban landscape.

This week marks Why Amenity Matters Week. Through the eyes of the Colins family, the campaign encourages families and friends to celebrate the enjoyment of our local parks and sports grounds and recognise the contribution of those who maintain our green spaces and infrastructure.

Launched by the Amenity Forum, Why Amenity Matters Week also aims to show how the UK’s urban spaces, roadside verges, trees, hedges and railway lines are maintained and how the amenity sector, responsible for caring for this managed landscape, impacts on our daily lives; helping us travel to work and enjoy leisure activities while contributing to the economy and protecting the natural environment. The campaign highlights how invasive weeds have a negative impact on the economy estimated at £1.7 billion[i] with £6 million alone being spent on controlling Japanese Knotweed on the road network in the UK.

As well as promoting the importance of the sector, the week also highlights the benefits of enjoying local parks and sports grounds as well as saluting the sector’s ‘unsung green heroes’ who care for them and ensure they are managed safely. The campaign is also designed to raise awareness among commuters of the maintenance work that goes on behind the scenes to keep the country’s railway network, stations and highways clear from weeds.

Key facts include:

  • Over 37 million people regularly use parks in the UK (over 57% of the population)[iii]
  • There are over 27,000 parks and green spaces across the UK[iv]
  • More than 18,000 miles of railway track need to be maintained[v]
  •  Trains carry 1,650 million passengers a year
  • And carry 28,000 million tons freight a year
  • Offices or homes neighbouring railways lines are occupied by more than 7 million people
  • 2500 railway stations across the UK need to be kept weed free
  • Invasive weeds have a negative impact on the economy estimated at £1.7 billion – £6 million is the total cost of controlling Japanese knotweed on the road network in Great Britain

During the week, a social media survey on Twitter is set to quiz those enjoying urban green spaces on who they think manages our amenity areas, who is responsible for keeping streets and verges weed free and who ensures our urban trees stay free of pests and disease.

At the same time, members of the Amenity Forum who range from local greenkeepers to national water companies will lift the lid on what’s involved in looking after their patch.

The Amenity Forum represents the diverse sector behind the maintenance of the managed environment; from manufacturers to suppliers, trade associations, local authorities, major users, landscape, sport and leisure. In the landscaping sector alone, 61,500 people are employed within the UK and the annual turnover for the landscaping services industry is £4 billion.

Independent Chairman of the Amenity Forum Professor John Moverley OBE said: “Most people appreciate that the environment around them is maintained in some way but fewer realise that there is a huge contribution from something called the amenity sector behind this; working to ensure our green spaces and essential infrastructure are managed safely for public enjoyment and leisure. What they do impacts upon every UK citizen every day providing a safe and healthy environment and sports and leisure areas fit for purpose’

“Studies have shown a positive and clear link between mental health and access to parks and green spaces. The Get Moving campaign was creative to help show the importance of effective and safe weed control to the smooth running of things we take for granted, such as clear pathways and roads.

“This year we want to encourage everyone to get back out into their local parks and green spaces and to recognise the contribution of those working in them to enable us to travel, keep physically active and protect the environment.

“Those responsible for weed, pest and disease control may go largely unnoticed but their work is vital in ensuring that our journeys to work, the shops, for recreation, are safe and our environment is protected and that invasive plants like Japanese Knotweed are controlled.

“During Why Amenity Matters Week why not give a thought to the green heroes who are quietly making a big impact on your enjoyment of outdoor space.”

For the latest industry news visit turfnews.co.uk

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Research Shows Visiting Parks Contributes To Increased Well Being

/in , /by

Research Shows Visiting A Park Once A Week Contributes To Increased Health And Well Being: New research from Fields in Trust demonstrates a direct and statistically significant link between publicly accessible parks and green spaces and health and well being.

Based on new analysis of existing data from Defra and Natural England and a new primary data (sample size 4,033) Fields in Trust have established, for the first time at the national level, a link between an individual’s use of parks and green spaces and an improvement in health and wellbeing (covering General Health and the four ONS wellbeing questions – life satisfaction, sense of worth, happiness and anxiety).

Research Shows Visiting A Park Once A Week Contributes To Increased Health

On average, the more frequently park/greenspace trips are made, the higher an individual’s wellbeing. The most practical and effective use of an individual’s time would be to visit their local park or green space at least once a week to gain most of the health and wellbeing benefits. This results in a recommended ‘dosage’ for parks and green space: if it is ‘Five a day’ for fruit and veg then it is ‘Once a week’ for parks.

The new research also identifies the importance of parks and green spaces as venues for community connections, helping to reduce the risk of loneliness. Research highlights links between park usage and demographics; parks and green spaces are particularly important to families who are twice as likely (33%) to be users of parks than non-users (18%).

The findings are released as Parks and Green Spaces Minister, Marcus Jones MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Minister for Local Government formally responds to the Department for Communities and Local Government Select Committee Inquiry into the Future of Public Parks. As part of his response, the Minister announced the creation of a ‘Parks Action Group’. This advisory panel, chaired by the minister, will include Fields in Trust as a member alongside other green space organisations who are tasked with applying their expertise to inform a new cross-departmental group of government departments.

Chief Executive, Helen Griffiths said: “I welcome the Ministers response to the CLG Parliamentary Committee and Fields in Trust’s appointment to the newly established “Parks Action Group” at this pivotal moment for the future of parks and green spaces. Our ongoing research recognises how these spaces help to address significant public policy issues including health and wellbeing and community integration. We are looking forward to furthering our work with colleagues across the sector to ensure that we value parks and green spaces and take account of the vital contribution they make to local communities.”

The minister’s announcement comes in the week that Fields in Trust launches UK’s Best Park Award 2017. At a time when the UK’s parks are seeing a dramatic reduction in funding for upkeep and maintenance and childhood obesity is identified as a growing concern, the UK’s Best Park award will highlight the vital role of local parks and green spaces – for play, relaxation or sport – and help ensure they are protected from closure or building development.

UK’s Best Park is a unique award open to all local green spaces across the UK. A simple online nomination form allows anyone to suggest their favourite green space. This will be followed by a public vote with the winner announced at the Fields in Trust Awards ceremony on 29th November.

The full findings of the new Fields in Trust research will be published in a full academic paper which will identify not only details of park and green space usage but will also reveal the results of a new bespoke survey identifying the value placed on parks and green spaces by those who use them.

Fields in Trust currently safeguards over 2,600 sites, a total of 30,000 acres of land (12,140ha.) including playgrounds, playing fields, and formal and informal parkland across the UK. Recreational spaces in residential areas remain a priority for protection at a time when there is pressure on land for new housing development. Parks and playing fields safeguarded with a Fields in Trust deed of dedication ensure that the land will be protected for community use, in perpetuity. Fields in Trust work to ensure that all communities, and particularly young people, should be able to enjoy healthy, active, outdoor recreation within walking distance of home.

For the latest industry news visit turfnews.co.uk

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.