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Trilo C12 delivers for Walsall Council

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Trilo C12 delivers for Walsall Council: With a decision made to reduce grass cutting on around 75 sites across the borough, came the necessity to purchase a more durable and efficient cut and collect set-up for the team at Walsall Council.

The solution – a high-capacity C12 unit from Trilo. Delivered in the autumn of 2024, the Trilo was swiftly put to task, making light work of the mowing and clean collection of wildflower areas and other green spaces, all while reducing labour and fuel requirements too!

Trilo C12 delivers for Walsall Council

Trilo C12 delivers for Walsall Council

Andrew Stokes, Principle Operations Manager for Walsall Council, has been with the local authority for the last 17 years and currently oversees the team responsible for all elements of grounds management and street cleansing. He explains the changes to the cutting schedule which drove the purchase. “We previously had around 4 sites which would only be cut once a year, for the benefit of supporting pollinators and wildlife more generally. As part of a larger 10-year ‘managing grass’ plan, this was increased to 75 for the 2024 season. While this brings many benefits, it posed a challenge for our equipment which only had limited capacity.”

Working closely with supporting dealers F R Sharrock, Andrew and the team looked at the Trilo C12, with its robust steel fabrication and heavy-duty flail head designed to cope with the most demanding cut and collect tasks. Boasting noise reduction, dust suppression and a 12m3 hydraulically controlled hopper, the C12 was the right choice to deliver both the quality and quantity of mowing the council were looking for.

“We’ve gone from using a machine which could only collect 1m3 which, when you factor in the need to empty and transport the waste, meant the whole task would take two or three people. With the introduction of the Trilo the task can now be completed by one person all from the tractor cab. Not only is that reducing the reliance on resources, it’s minimising the number of trips required to dispose of the cuttings thereby freeing up equipment and lowering our fuel usage.” He continues, “We are working with ever tightening budgets so being able to reassign our workforce and benefit the environment at the same time is the kind of efficiencies we really need.”

“The feedback from the operators has been nothing but positive” he adds. “The C12 proved to be a workhorse right through the tail end of the year and, moving forwards, will only continue to play a greater role and allow us the potential to add more areas to the programme.” The Trilo is also equipped with a handheld hose and brush attachment, allowing it to also be used for leaf collection. “The idea is we’ll be able to complete all of our cut and collect work before the leaves start to fall, then change the C12 to bring greater productivity and efficiency to this side of our operation.”

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Greenstripe Groundcare Experience Remarkable Business Growth

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Greenstripe Groundcare Experience Remarkable Business Growth: Over the last two years, Lincoln-based Greenstripe Groundcare has seen remarkable growth, largely thanks to the addition of the Iseki TG6507 compact tractor.

Owner James Pask attributes the company’s increased productivity, efficiency, and premium client base directly to the versatility and performance of this high-specification machine.

Greenstripe Groundcare Experience Remarkable Business Growth

Greenstripe Groundcare Experience Remarkable Business Growth

By incorporating the TG6507 into daily operations, Greenstripe Groundcare has expanded its services, allowing them to take on more high-end contracts, including football clubs and cricket grounds.

The ability to attach high-quality implements and transport them without using a trailer has significantly improved productivity and the quality of work, ensuring that Greenstripe can easily meet the professional aesthetic demands of sports pitches and fine turf maintenance.

“The Iseki TG6507 has been absolutely instrumental in growing the business over the last two years,” says James. “It’s enabled a very significant uplift in productivity, in efficiency of operation, and the reach of the customer that I was trying to bring into the business as well.

“With the quality implements that you can put on to the tractor, the kind of aesthetic that we’re looking for football clubs and cricket fields is much easier to attain, and that’s what has helped us grow”

One of the standout features of the TG6507 is its IQ gearbox, which was a key requirement for James when selecting the tractor. The IQ gearbox allows for smooth, responsive shifting on the go, eliminating the need to set speed with pedals or rely on cruise control. James praises the three-range system, which ensures the right gear ratio is always available.

“This version does have the IQ gearbox, which was a specific want and need of mine over the hydrostatic box,” he explains. “For operating in fields like where I am today, I felt it would be much more convenient, and you’d get much more consistent performance.

“It has actually been an absolute joy to use. I have never been wanting for another ratio to turn around or to push on when I’m going down a straight, so it is a really good transmission.”

Another key factor in Greenstripe’s growth has been the TG6507’s versatility. The C4+ front loader has significantly expanded the range of tasks the business can undertake. From cleaning compost heaps to moving logs and loading trailers using the well-designed joystick controls, it has proven indispensable.

Whilst the productivity and quality produced by using the TG6507 have been standouts for James, his positive Iseki experience began when he first enquired about the tractor with his local Iseki dealer, Chandlers.

“I’ve had absolutely brilliant sales advice and service from Chandlers,” James notes. “When I was looking into buying the machine, I had various questions, which were very well addressed.

“When I took delivery of the machine, the handover was with the Chandlers sales rep and a senior Iseki representative as well, who made the time to come and do several hours walking around the machine to show me how to get the best out of it, and it really was a high-quality experience.”

On his experience overall, James concludes: “I absolutely would recommend the TG6 range, whichever part of the range is suitable for your needs. It has been a phenomenal tool to have.

“It’s manoeuvrability, fuel efficiency, what you can do with the soft controls in the cab when you want to fine-tune what you’re doing with your implement on the back, the versatility of the C4+ front loader, and it is just so reliable as well.

“It hasn’t let me down ever. So, I would say to anybody thinking, actually I need to upscale, should I look at something like this, absolutely go for it.”

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J 4Turf 50 proves the versatile choice

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J 4Turf 50 proves the versatile choice: One of the UK’s most prominent sports pitch contractors has praised J 4Turf 50 from the Johnsons Sports Seed range for the pivotal role it plays in the renovations of a range of turf surfaces.

White Horse Contractors note the versatility of the 50/50 tetraploid and perennial ryegrass blend, which has delivered reliable results and season-long performance at facilities across the country.

J 4Turf 50 proves the versatile choice

J 4Turf 50 proves the versatile choice

Known for more than six decades of expertise and trusted by venues across the sporting spectrum, White Horse offer the full range of specialist design, construction, drainage and maintenance services. Chris Last joined White Horse as Technical Manager just over a year ago and brought his relationship with Johnsons Sports Seed – and firm belief in the DLF 4turf® tetraploid variety – with him! “I had used J 4Turf in my previous role and had the opportunity to experience the benefits they bring to winter sports pitches first-hand” he explains. “It wasn’t long before the White Horse team saw this for themselves and quickly had the confidence to employ J 4Turf 50 in a number of our projects.”

With the ever-increasing pressure on turf managers to produce top quality surfaces suitable for year-round play, DLF’s unique 4turf® tetraploid ryegrass provides the solution for the sports turf market. With exceptional disease resistance, superior drought tolerance and reduced requirements for water and fertiliser, 4turf® mixtures are the sustainable choice and are available in 25, 50 and 100% formulations within the Johnsons Sports Seed range.

“We have found J 4Turf 50 to be an incredibly versatile seed that we can use across many sports and on sites with different Sport England pitch constructions. It has demonstrated fantastic drought tolerance during challenging periods of weather and has reliably created a strong sward that establishes quickly whether in a stadium environment, training ground, polo field or school sports field.”

Chris adds, “In addition, deep rooting was evident on all of the sites we used the mixture on during the summer of 2024, which is even more important when it comes to establishing a sward on a primary or secondary drainage line.”

With the positive experience of last season under their belt, it’s full steam ahead for Chris and the team as they prepare for another busy year ahead. “As a contractor, working at some of the country’s finest stadia and sports clubs, it’s incredibly important that we use materials that are reliable and are going to perform exactly as they say on the tin. 4turf has always done exactly that for me, and J 4Turf 50 has taken that to the next level in terms of versatility and high performance.”

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FSI B21 a great fit for JB Tree Services

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FSI B21 a great fit for JB Tree Services: An FSI B21 stump grinder is proving that compact certainly does not mean a compromise in efficiency and performance for Joe Baker of JB Tree Services.

With the majority of jobs coming from residential customers in and around Trowbridge, his recently  purchased FSI B21 gives him the manoeuvrability to tackle stumps in tight and restricted spaces as well as providing full control over his work schedule compared to the trepidation of relying on hire machines.

FSI B21 a great fit for JB Tree Services

FSI B21 a great fit for JB Tree Services

After working as a tree surgeon for Bath Council for six years, Joe started working for himself full-time in 2021. Commercial and council work for Trowbridge Town Council remains a key part of his offering, but he explains that the majority of demand for him and his team of two comes from residential customers. “These sorts of customers are looking for a ‘one stop shop’ – if they’re having a tree removed, they also want the stump dealt with on the same day.”

“I started off hiring a stump grinder as and when I needed one, but found they’d turn up used and abused, nearly always blunt. The time was definitely right to invest in our own machine that would be well maintained and available whenever we needed it.” While no stranger to stump grinders, Joe had no prior experience of an FSI, but admits it took little convincing that the brand was the perfect solution! “We had the slightly bigger FSI B31 on demonstration from GA Groundcare Ltd and the first thing we noticed was the outstanding build quality. The whole team had the opportunity to use it and all agreed that of all the various makes and models they’d used, in operation, this was by far the best.”

Peace of mind

Decision made, the pedestrian FSI B21 stump grinder joined the machinery fleet in August 2024. “There’s a lot to like about this machine, with a lot of features bringing newfound efficiency to stump removal.” He explains, “Firstly, the 14hp engine delivers impressive power. The turntable feature is brilliant in terms of operator comfort, the safety bar allows us to disengage the cutter wheel for safe and unhindered movement around the stump. The hill-hold system which is unique to FSI is another gamechanger – blocking any forward wheel motion and allowing us to pull the machine backwards to easily navigate ramps, steps and uneven terrain.”

“The peace of mind of being able to fell a tree in the morning and having the FSI B21 to hand to grind the stump in the afternoon is brilliant, seeing the machine in high demand since we’ve had it. The back-up from GA Groundcare has also been excellent. We can’t fault the machine or the service we’ve had from start to finish.”

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GroundsFest 2025 Expansion Continues

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GroundsFest 2025 Expansion Continues: Following an outstanding 2024 event, GroundsFest 2025 is set to be even bigger, with significant growth in exhibitor numbers, stand space, and industry influence. The event’s rapid expansion highlights its position as the largest event for the grounds management and landscaping industries.

The numbers speak for themselves:

  • 19,365sqm of sold exhibitor space already—with seven months still to go
  • 6,300sqm of extra stand space added to accommodate exhibitor demand
  • 91% of 2024 exhibitors have rebooked, proving the event’s exceptional value
  • 52 brand-new exhibitors already confirmed for 2025, with many more to come
GroundsFest 2025 Expansion Continues

GroundsFest 2025 Expansion Continues

This rapid expansion cements GroundsFest as the industry’s fastest-growing trade event, offering exhibitors and visitors more brands, more networking, and more hands-on experiences than ever before.

The 2025 exhibitor list is already shaping up to be the event’s most diverse yet, with leading industry names and exciting newcomers joining the GroundsFest community. Some of the new first-time exhibitors include, DEWALT, Bosch Outdoor Garden, AMAZONE Ltd, Martin Lishman, BLOCK BLITZ, Först, Wessex International and Trilo – to name just a few.

The addition of these exhibitors—along with the overwhelming rebooking rate from returning companies—is a clear indicator of GroundsFest’s growing influence and industry-wide trust.

Sales Director Charles Neale expressed his enthusiasm for the show’s exceptional momentum, stating:

“The speed at which GroundsFest is growing is simply phenomenal. The fact that 91% of last year’s exhibitors have already rebooked speaks volumes about the success of the event and the business opportunities it provides. The increasing demand for space, the addition of 52 new exhibitors, and the support from the industry show that GroundsFest is exactly what the sector needed—an engaging, interactive, and accessible event that truly delivers for exhibitors and visitors alike.”

With its expanding footprint, exhibitor line-up, and industry support, GroundsFest 2025 is shaping up to be the most impactful edition yet. The event’s strong focus on education, live demonstrations, and hands-on experiences, is setting new standards for industry trade shows.

GroundsFest 2025 takes place on 9 and 10 September at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. Stay tuned for more updates as the industry’s biggest and most exciting event gets even bigger.

For more information, please visit www.groundsfest.com

You can also follow GroundsFest on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @GroundsFest for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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