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Quality equipment meets quality fuel

Quality equipment meets quality fuel

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Quality equipment meets quality fuel

For Hampshire’s Wildwood Machinery, supplying premium groundcare equipment has always been about more than simply selling machines. It’s about providing customers with the products, advice and support they need to get the best performance from their investment – which is why the company’s partnership with Aspen Fuel has been such a natural fit.

Quality equipment meets quality fuel

Quality equipment meets quality fuel

As distributors for Aspen’s alkylate petrol for the last 18 months, Wildwood Machinery can offer customers a cleaner, high-quality fuel that complements the leading brands within the dealership’s portfolio. As Managing Director James Bastian goes on to explain, the partnership is not only delivering significant health and environmental benefits for the operator, it is also helping to reduce costly servicing and maintenance issues typically triggered by the use of conventional pump petrol.

“Being an Aspen distributor has been a fantastic fit alongside our machinery range” he says. “The fuel is safer to handle and store, delivers better engine longevity and offers our customers the convenience of not needing to source their fuel elsewhere.”

James continues, “There’s a lot to like about the Aspen product, not least the sustainability angle which ties in nicely with Wildwood’s own environmental ethos and that of the wider groundcare industry. The lower overall emissions and reduced exposure to harmful fumes is a real plus for the greenkeepers and grounds staff using this fuel day in, day out, making a real difference to operations both immediately and in the longer term.”

A key factor behind the partnership’s success over the last 18 months has been with the close working relationship between James and Aspen Fuel’s Roy Narbey, the pair working together to introduce councils, sports club and contractors to Aspen through joint demonstrations and trials. “Enabling customers to discover the benefits first-hand has been the key to encouraging people to make the switch. This collaborative approach has helped both companies to extend our reach, strengthen relationships and generate new business.”

“For clubs and contractors already investing in quality machinery, it just makes sense to pair that with a fuel that looks after both the equipment and the people using it.”

Virtually free from ethanol, aromatics and benzene, Aspen alkylate petrol is 99% cleaner than ordinary petrol in terms of the amount of hazardous hydrocarbons. Suitable for all types of modern 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines, Aspen offers better performance and a longer service life helping to maximise the return on your investment.

For more information, visit aspenfuel.co.uk

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New Saralis Bio enters sports turf market with science-led biological solutions

New Saralis Bio enters sports turf market with science-led biological solutions

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New Saralis Bio enters sports turf market with science-led biological solutions

New company brings 30 years of plant physiology expertise and research-led biological technologies to professional turf and amenity markets.

New Saralis Bio enters sports turf market with science-led biological solutions

New Saralis Bio enters sports turf market with science-led biological solutions

Saralis Bio, a newly established biological technology company, has entered the sports turf and amenity market with a portfolio of research-led biological, biostimulant and nutrient technologies designed to support plant performance, resilience and more sustainable turf management.

The company brings more than 30 years of expertise in plant physiology and application to the sports turf sector, along with established knowledge and technologies to the challenges faced by professional turf managers.

Combining plant physiology, soil biology, genomics and data-driven agronomy, Saralis Bio has developed its approach around the increasing pressures facing professional turf management, from climate volatility and water availability to reduced pesticide options, rising costs and growing expectations around sustainability.

John Haywood at Saralis Bio said: “We have spent more than 30 years developing our understanding of plant physiology and application, and we’re now bringing that knowledge into sports turf, where the demands on plants are exceptionally high.

We combine decades of plant physiology expertise with a detailed understanding of biological technologies to identify what plants need, when they need it, and how best to deliver it. This enables us to develop practical, targeted solutions that deliver reliable results for turf managers and greenkeepers.”

The company’s technologies span biologicals, biostimulants and nutrition, with products available as seed treatments, foliar solutions, powders and granules. Its approach also enables complementary technologies to be ‘stacked’ to address specific agronomic challenges.

Saralis Bio has an extensive portfolio of products listed under the new EU regulatory framework for biostimulants, providing a strong foundation for its development programme and future expansion.

Six further products are commercially ready and will be available to join the existing range, while 19 active ingredients are currently being analysed and assessed for their potential across areas including rooting, water-use efficiency, salinity management, nutrient-use efficiency, thatch mitigation, stress management, soil health and plant health.

The company will officially launch its expanded sports turf portfolio at BTME in January, where it will unveil further products and technologies for the professional turf market.

John Haywood added “BTME will be an important milestone for us. It’s where we’ll formally introduce the wider Saralis Bio portfolio to the sports turf industry and demonstrate how our science-led approach can support the future of turf management.”

To learn more, visit saralisbio.com and to join the Saralis Technical Group, please visit saralisbio.com/technical-group/.  

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Husqvarna strengthens commitment to Irish golf

Husqvarna strengthens commitment to Irish golf

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Husqvarna strengthens commitment to Irish golf

Husqvarna has strengthened its commitment to Irish golf through a new partnership with Golf Ireland and the launch of a pioneering Robotics and Battery Apprenticeship Programme – a global industry first – combining investment in technology with the skills needed to support the sport’s evolving needs.

Husqvarna strengthens commitment to Irish golf

Husqvarna strengthens commitment to Irish golf

The multi-year partnership will see Husqvarna become Official Turf Technology Partner of Golf Ireland, with category exclusivity across autonomous mowing, robotic ball collection and professional turf technology.

Alongside this, the Robotics and Battery Apprenticeship Programme will develop the next generation of technicians, equipping them with expertise in robotics, battery technology, GPS-guided systems, connectivity and digital diagnostics.

Together, the initiatives demonstrate Husqvarna’s ambition to contribute to Irish golf beyond the supply of equipment by helping build the technology, skills and knowledge needed to meet the challenges facing the industry.

“Our commitment to Irish golf is about much more than supplying equipment. It is about understanding where the industry is heading and investing in the technology and people that will help it get there,” said Richard Wynne, National Sales and Business Development Manager for Husqvarna Ireland. “Golf courses are facing a changing set of demands, from efficiency and sustainability to labour availability and the adoption of new technology. We want to work alongside Golf Ireland, greenkeepers, clubs and our dealer network to help address those challenges and ensure Ireland is well placed to embrace the opportunities technology can bring,” he said.

Technology that will shape the future of Irish golf

As Official Turf Technology Partner, Husqvarna will work with Golf Ireland to demonstrate how autonomous and battery-powered technology can support the changing needs of golf facilities.

As part of the agreement, Husqvarna will supply a RELOX Ball Picker, CEORA® and Automower for use at the Golf Ireland Academy, allowing the technology to be demonstrated in a live golf environment and experienced by customers visiting the facility.

The partnership will also include activity across Golf Ireland’s digital and social channels, alongside collaborative multimedia content designed to share knowledge and highlight the role of technology in modern turf management. “We are delighted to partner with Husqvarna Ireland and together help shape the future of Irish golf,” said Mark Kennelly, Chief Executive Officer at Golf Ireland. “As clubs look to manage resources more efficiently while maintaining the quality and consistency players expect, this partnership will provide valuable access to Husqvarna’s expertise and technology. We hope it will deliver practical benefits for greenkeepers and course managers across the country,” he added.

The relationship with Golf Ireland will also see Husqvarna support initiatives recognising the contribution of greenkeepers, including activity around Thank a Greenkeeper Day. As autonomous robotic technology becomes increasingly prominent within turf management, the partnership is positioned as a tool to support greenkeeping teams rather than replace the expertise they bring to the golf course.

A global first in turf technology

Technology is transforming the way outdoor spaces and sports facilities are managed, but Husqvarna believes successful adoption also depends on having the right technical skills in place.

Its new Robotics and Battery Apprenticeship Programme addresses that need through a structured three-year development pathway for technicians within the Irish dealer network. Ireland has been selected to host the first pilot of its kind across the Husqvarna global network, with the potential to become a blueprint for other international markets.

The blended programme combines 60% dealer-based workplace learning, 25% digital learning through Husqvarna University and 15% instructor-led technical and academy training. Apprentices will develop expertise across mechanical and electrical systems, battery technology, robotic mower installation and servicing, GPS and EPOS technology, connected products, software, fault tracing and customer support.

The inaugural cohort includes nine apprentices from eight businesses across Ireland, creating a new generation of technical talent for the dealer network. With many participating dealerships based in regional and rural communities, the programme is also creating opportunities for skilled employment and career development beyond Ireland’s major urban centres.

“The future of golf technology depends on more than the technology itself. We need skilled people who understand how to install it, maintain it, diagnose it and get the very best from it,” added Wynne. “That is why this apprenticeship programme is such an important part of our wider commitment. By investing in the next generation of technicians, introducing new technology and working with Golf Ireland, we are looking at the future from both sides – investing in innovation, investing in people and working with the industry to build a stronger, more sustainable future for Irish golf.”

A long-term commitment to Irish golf

By becoming the first market in the Husqvarna global network to pilot the apprenticeship programme, while also developing a dedicated relationship with Golf Ireland around turf technology, Ireland is becoming an important market for demonstrating how innovation, skills and collaboration can work together.

That commitment was reflected at Husqvarna’s recent Turf & Tech Conference at the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis, which brought together course superintendents and managers, members of the press, representatives from the ATPI Group and Golf Ireland, plus the global Husqvarna leadership team and Husqvarna Ireland staff. The event was held during the 2026 Amgen Irish Open and focused on how autonomous technology can support better playing surfaces, more sustainable practices and a more highly skilled greenkeeping workforce.

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Origin expands winter protection range with Eco Ice Melt

Origin expands winter protection range with Eco Ice Melt

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Origin expands winter protection range with Eco Ice Melt

Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS) have expanded their product portfolio for winter surface management with the addition of Eco Ice Melt. This premium de-icing range is designed to provide effective, long-lasting ice control while reducing corrosion and surface damage by up to 80% when compared to traditional rock salt.

Origin expands winter protection range with Eco Ice Melt

Origin expands winter protection range with Eco Ice Melt

Available in granular and ready-to-use liquid formulations, Eco Ice Melt combines marine-grade salt, liquid de-icer technology and corrosion inhibitors to deliver reliable performance in demanding winter conditions. In granular form, it works in temperatures as low as -20oc and can remain active for up to three days depending on conditions. Remaining active on treated surfaces for longer than alternative treatments helps to reduce repeat applications and – with a 15kg bag treating an area of up to 1,000m2 – provides more economical winter protection.

The ready-to-use liquid formulation provides a fast-acting solution for application with sprayers and liquid application systems. Available in 20L, the liquid can be applied proactively to prevent ice forming or snow settling, as well as reactively to treat existing snow and ice.

Eco Ice Melt’s proven reduction in corrosion makes it particularly suited to sites where protecting surrounding infrastructure, vehicles and equipment is a priority. Suitable for commercial and public spaces, potential uses include, but are not limited to, stadiums, car parks, educational establishments, local authority sites, railway infrastructure and industrial estates.

“Severe winter weather places additional pressure on site managers to maintain public safety and protect infrastructure, making Eco Ice Melt an important addition to Origin’s winter surfaces offering” says Craig Lalley, Key Accounts Manager & Aggregates Lead. “With both granular and liquid options available, we’re confident that we can work closely with customers to find the right winter management strategy to suit available application equipment, site considerations and treatment requirements.”

Get in touch with your local Origin Amenity Technical Representative for more information on Eco Ice Melt and discover how we can support your winter planning.

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Policy, practice and resilience take centre stage at Amenity Forum conference

Policy, practice and resilience take centre stage at Amenity Forum conference

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Policy, practice and resilience take centre stage at Amenity Forum conference

Government, regulators, industry and practitioners will come together at the Amenity Forum Annual Conference this October to explore the changes shaping professional amenity management – from evolving policy and regulation to responsible delivery and future resilience.

Policy, practice and resilience take centre stage at Amenity Forum conference

Policy, practice and resilience take centre stage at Amenity Forum conference

Under the theme Navigating Change: Regulation, Stewardship and the Future of Amenity Management, the 2026 Annual Conference will take place at the British Motor Museum, Warwickshire, on Thursday 8 October.

The programme has been structured around three questions: what is changing around us, how should the sector respond responsibly in practice, and how do we prepare for what comes next?

The opening session, Policy, Regulation & Practice – What’s Changing for Amenity?, will bring together perspectives from Defra, HSE’s Chemicals Regulation Division, the Environment Agency and Bayer Crop Science, examining the direction of pesticide policy, the changing regulatory landscape, what inspections are telling us and the implications for professional amenity management.

Attention will then turn to delivery on the ground in From Expectation to Reality – What Works on the Ground? LanGuard and GB Railfreight will share practical experience of contractor delivery and vegetation management at scale, while the Weed Resistance Action Group (WRAG) will consider resistance risk, stewardship and what the sector needs to do now.

The final session, Building Resilience – Adapting Amenity for the Future, will look ahead to the pressures shaping professional amenity management, with perspectives around soil, water and drought resilience, and the future management of public spaces. Further speakers for this session will be announced shortly.

Ian Graham, Chairman of the Amenity Forum, said: “Professional amenity management is operating in a period of considerable change. Policy and regulation are evolving, expectations around environmental management continue to increase, and those responsible for managing amenity spaces need to deliver effective outcomes while preparing for new pressures.

“Our conference is an opportunity to bring those different perspectives together – from policy makers and regulators to the people responsible for delivering work on the ground – and have an informed conversation about how the sector responds.”

The Amenity Forum Annual Conference takes place on Thursday 8 October 2026 at the British Motor Museum, Warwickshire. Registration opens at 8.30am and the conference runs from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

Delegates can also attend the Amenity Forum Annual Dinner on Wednesday 7 October at Ashorne Hill, Warwickshire, providing an opportunity to meet and network with colleagues from across the sector ahead of the conference.

For further information, to view the programme and to book, visit the Amenity Forum website – include weblink.

For further information about the Amenity Forum, visit: www.amenityforum.co.uk

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