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NEWS ARTICLES

New heavy duty hedge trimmers from EGO

New heavy duty hedge trimmers from EGO: Battery-powered outdoor power equipment specialist, EGO Power Plus, is giving gardening and groundscare professionals the cordless long-reach hedge trimmers they need to cut more with less effort.

The HTX5300 hedge trimmer range is available in two versions – and both have variable cutting speeds from 3200 – 4,000 strokes per minute, allowing for maximum user control.

New heavy duty hedge trimmers from EGO

New heavy duty hedge trimmers from EGO

Both models also have triple-sharpened blades featuring a cutting edge on the front, back and side, this design creates score marks on larger branches to prevent slipping when the branch enters the cutting zone.

The HTX5300-P is a short-reach pole hedge trimmer with 53cm cutting head and excellent tool balance. The HTX5300-PA has a longer pole, plus the ability to angle the head for increased manoeuvrability. It also comes with a front loop handle, enabling the operator to use it safely for trimming above head height. An adjustable harness point ensures better comfort for a full day’s work.

The long-reach version enables professional users to cut more with less effort, allowing tall and deep hedges to be cut in a single sweep and without the need to use ladders while the carbon fibre shafts make the tools lightweight and durable.

Chris Buck, Product Manager at EGO, said: “These long-reach hedge trimmers bring the benefits of EGO’s battery technology to professionals who need their tools to have high performance and work remotely all day.

“Robust and durable, with swap-out batteries and a portable charging solution, the HTX5300 hedge trimmers are ideal for heavier-duty applications in groundscare, gardening and facilities management.”

Designed specifically for the rigours of work by contractors and local authorities, both models feature three speeds for different trimming and cutting tasks, a variable trigger for precise cutting control and a rear-geared motor compatible with all portable EGO 56V ARC Lithium batteries. They are also IoT-ready thanks to a built-in Bluetooth module.

The HTX5300 range is part of the new Pro X series of hard-wearing and powerful tools for professionals, which also includes a lawn mower, grass trimmers, brush cutters, a chainsaw and our next-generation PGX battery charging solution.

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Exclusive Discounts on Market-Leading EuroGrass Mixtures

Exclusive Discounts on Market-Leading EuroGrass Mixtures: DSV has announced exclusive discounts on four of their market-leading EuroGrass grass seed mixtures.

Each mixture is meticulously designed to meet the specific needs of various sports turf applications. EuroGrass, a renowned name in turf management, offers a wide range of high-quality mixtures tailored for professional use and high demands.

Exclusive Discounts on Market-Leading EuroGrass Mixtures

Exclusive Discounts on Market-Leading EuroGrass Mixtures

Featured Mixtures on Discount:

  1. EG PRO Rye Fairway

PRO Rye Fairway is perfect for areas subject to moderate to high levels of play. This mixture ensures a robust and resilient turf, making it ideal for fairways, pathways and roughs.

  1. PRO Summer Sport

Engineered to meet the rigorous demands of extreme hard wear sports, PRO Summer Sport is suitable for cricket squares, tennis courts and golf tees.

This mixture is known for its outstanding recovery and strong shoot density, ensuring a durable and high-performance turf.

  1. PRO Pitch

The flagship mixture in the EuroGrass portfolio, PRO Pitch is tailored for winter sports pitches and features only top-performing perennial ryegrass cultivars. It offers outstanding wear tolerance and exceptional recovery. PRO Pitch is the go-to choice for maintaining high-quality winter sports pitches.

  1. PRO Multi Sport

Designed for dual-use facilities and drought tolerance, PRO Multi Sport provides excellent sward density, good wear tolerance and increased drought resilience.

This mixture is ideal for sports pitches and academic facilities, ensuring a versatile and durable turf.

About EuroGrass Mixtures

EuroGrass mixtures are the result of over a decade of breeding and testing, embodying the pinnacle of turf grass quality. With over 90 DSV turf varieties approved worldwide, EuroGrass has firmly established itself as a leader in turf innovation.

Key Benefits of EuroGrass Mixtures:

  • High-performing and top-quality turfgrass varieties
  • Suitable for a wide range of sports and professional applications
  • Excellent wear tolerance and recovery
  • Tailored mixtures for specific turf needs

DSV’s announcement of these exclusive discounts presents a unique opportunity to upgrade your sports turf with EuroGrass’s premium mixtures.

For more information and to take advantage of these exclusive discounts, contact your local DSV distributor today.

Please visit www.dsv-uk.co.uk for more information.

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STIGA will be trucking into GroundsFest

STIGA will be trucking into GroundsFest: STIGA will be exhibiting at GroundsFest on 10th and 11th September. They will be showing a cross range of garden machinery from the STIGA, Mountfield and ATCO brands highlighting the new product ranges and upgrades for the 2025 season…10-4 Roger that!

But why do we sound like something from Smokey and the Bandit?  Well, the STIGA touring truck will be on site showcasing the extensive range of battery tools, mowers and the popular autonomous robot mower range – products to suit novice gardeners right up to professional users.

STIGA will be trucking into GroundsFest

STIGA will be trucking into GroundsFest

And not forgetting the large petrol range which includes the iconic petrol-powered Park Pro front mower that offers supreme cutting quality, exceptional performance and unbeatable manoeuvrability – perfect for cutting complex large areas. To the STIGA battery powered Gyro, with a 360° turning circle and unique drive-by-wire joystick controls which can mow grass quickly and efficiently.

The STIGA team have invited their large dealer network to the event and will be unveiling the new upgraded Mountfield tractors for 2025 plus a few other surprises.

During the show STIGA will be holding a competition to win their award-winning battery pruners SC 100e.  Make sure you visit stand OSA 790, chat with the team and simply pop your name into the raffle. The draw will be held at 11.30 and 3.30 daily and 4 lucky people each day will receive this fantastic prize to take away with them.

Plus, every entry will also be included in an end of Show draw, where one lucky winner will win a SWIFT 372e battery garden ride-on.

GroundFest is the largest annual, must-attend event for grounds staff, greenkeepers, landcapers, designers & architects, gardeners, local authorities, estate managers and contractors as well as specialist garden machinery dealerships.

Registration is FREE, it is not too late to register.  www.groundfest.com

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Green-tech supplies tree planting materials

Green-tech supplies tree planting materials: Lushill Farm stands in picturesque North Wiltshire as an arable farm with limited tree cover. This has been the focus of a significant afforestation effort led by Jonathan Ayers of Ayers Forestry Limited.

The project was to establish small well-designed woodland blocks to enhance the local landscape amenity, to aid biodiversity recovery, and to improve shoot and timber production. This was an ambitious tree-planting project undertaken by woodland management and consultancy firm, Ayers Forestry Limited, to create a new woodland that will provide diversity of habitat as part of a move towards more biodiverse and ecologically rich farmland.

Green-tech supplies tree planting materials

Green-tech supplies tree planting materials

Project Details

A diverse species mix of native and non-native broadleaves and conifers were planted to improve forest resilience to pests, diseases, and climate change. Despite the challenges posed by heavy winter rains that temporarily flooded several planting sites, the project progressed as planned, with all planting completed before spring.

Ayers Forestry Limited turned to leading landscape supplier Green-tech to source the materials they needed to support and protect a total of 22,950 trees, which included:

  • Broadleaves: 14,700 in 1.5m Tubex tree shelters with 32mm stakes
  • Conifers: 8,100 in 1.5m fine mesh guards with 32mm stakes
  • Shrubs: 150 in 60cm shrub shelters with 90cm stakes

Tubex standard tree shelters are designed to protect young trees from wildlife while creating a microclimate that promotes healthy growth. The use of the 1.5m high option was necessitated by the presence of fallow deer in the area to ensure that the young trees are protected from browsing.

Paired with the Tubex tree shelters, the 32mm Softwood Stakes provide the necessary support for the young trees, whilst the 90cm Softwood Stakes provide support for the shrubs. The 1.5m Fine Mesh Guards were used for the conifers to protect them from deer while allowing for adequate airflow.

Outcome and Feedback

Jonathan Ayers of Ayers Forestry Limited expressed satisfaction with the collaboration and the products supplied by Green-tech. “Initial signs indicate a high survival rate of the planted trees, reflecting the success of the project. We are very happy with the service and products provided by Green-tech; they were helpful and efficient.”

The Lushill Farm woodland project exemplifies a successful partnership between Ayers Forestry Limited and Green-tech, showcasing the impact of quality materials and how to achieve ecological and economic goals in rural tree planting projects. The diverse species mix and protective measures implemented promise a resilient and thriving woodland that will benefit the environment and the local community for years to come.

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Successful Synthetics Seminar at Loughborough University

Successful Synthetics Seminar at Loughborough University: Loughborough University recently played host to the Synthetic Surfaces Seminar, organised by Syn-Pro by SISIS, part of the Howardson Group.

The event brought together over 60 delegates eager to enhance their understanding of synthetic sports surfaces, covering a comprehensive agenda from environmental impacts to maintenance practices.

Successful Synthetics Seminar at Loughborough University

Successful Synthetics Seminar at Loughborough University

The day kicked off with registration and networking, followed by a warm welcome from Jason Briggs of the Howardson Group. Jason set the stage for a day packed with insightful presentations and practical demonstrations.

The first speaker, Professor David James, Group CEO of Labosport and Technical Chair of SAPCA, highlighted the Benefits of Synthetic Turf Sports Surfaces, emphasising their durability, reduced maintenance costs, and all-weather playability.

Following this, Alastair Cox from the European Synthetic Turf Council presented on Managing the Environmental Impact of Synthetic Pitches, including EU regulations, field design, and maintenance strategies. This session was particularly well-received, with attendees appreciating the focus on sustainability and compliance.

Hayley Wilson from SIS Grass then discussed Considerations When Installing a Synthetic Surface, providing valuable tips on choosing the right materials and ensuring long-term performance.

Derek Field of Musco Lighting wrapped up the morning sessions with a talk on Changing Over to LED Lighting, highlighting the cost benefits and eco-friendly aspects of modern lighting solutions for sports facilities.

After a complimentary BBQ lunch and networking session with industry trade representatives, the delegates split into outdoor groups for hands-on demonstrations. Topics covered included Line Marking with Fleet Line Markers, Goal Post Safety & Maintenance by Harrod Sports, and the Performance Differences in Maintaining 3G Pitches by SISIS and Labosport.

The seminar continued with a presentation from Alastair Cox on The Future of Hockey Pitches, before a discussion on the future of 3G and Hybrid pitches, where the experts shared their insights on upcoming trends and innovations in synthetic surfaces.

Professor Paul Fleming from Loughborough University concluded the formal presentations with a session on Good Maintenance Practices During Various Weather Conditions, offering practical advice on keeping synthetic surfaces in top condition all year-round.

The day ended with a lively Q&A session, allowing delegates to pose their questions directly to the panel of experts. Reflecting on the event, Jason Briggs said, “We’ve had over 60 delegates today that have all been very keen on learning more about synthetic surfaces.

These days are all about people wanting information – such as the latest legislation for synthetic surfaces and the maintenance of machinery and surfaces. It’s all about learning as much as you can and being one step ahead in the industry, and establishing where synthetic is going.”

Delegates expressed their appreciation for the seminar. Bradley Tennant from International Greenkeepers for Hire said, “These events are really important to help give back to the industry. There is a lot of misinformation out there, especially around synthetic pitches and maintenance, so it is nice to see experts delivering the correct knowledge to the end user.”

Sean Clixby, Chair of Trustees for Broughton Community & Sports Association, added, “We are in the final stages of building our own 3G facility, so the seminar was perfect timing. I thought it would be a good opportunity to come and get the advice and talk to people who are experts in the field, take the advice back and put it into practice. I would definitely recommend this seminar to other people.”

A video round-up of the day can be viewed by visiting https://youtu.be/DTtPSQdg74k

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Syn-Pro by SISIS on 01332 824 777 or visit www.synprobysisis.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Syn-Pro on Twitter or Instagram @synprobysisis and like the company’s Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/SynPro-by-SISIS.

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