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Green-tech supplies tree planting materials

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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

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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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Achieving Smooth and Healthy Greens at Shrigley Hall

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Achieving Smooth and Healthy Greens at Shrigley Hall: At Shrigley Hall Hotel & Spa, a prestigious Georgian country house nestled in 262 acres of picturesque Cheshire countryside, Head Greenkeeper Ben Evans ensures that the greens are always at their best by using Mansfield Sand’s MM35 Golf and sand compost mix. These products are key to providing golfers with an exceptional playing experience, keeping the greens true and divots expertly filled.

Shrigley Hall boasts a championship course that presents a true test of skill and stamina for golfers of all abilities and is regarded as one of the finest in the North West of England.

Achieving Smooth and Healthy Greens at Shrigley Hall

Achieving Smooth and Healthy Greens at Shrigley Hall

Ben, who has been at Shrigley Hall for six years and in the greenkeeping industry for 15 years, emphasises the importance of using high-quality materials to maintain the course’s standards. “It is a hotel and resort course, covering 260 acres with lots of woods surrounding it,” Ben explains. “It’s a very busy course, and our membership is thriving.”

Ben has been working with Mansfield Sand for six years, primarily using their MM35 Golf for top dressing the greens. “We started using MM35 Golf because we had issues sourcing our previous sand product,” Ben notes. “We use it for top dressing on greens and probably go through about 60 tonnes of it a year. Our approach is little and often to keep it topped up and at a good level.”

Mansfield Sand’s MM35 Golf, a pure silica sand sourced from the company’s Two Oaks Quarry, is renowned for its benefits, including improved recovery, firmness, smoothness, and an enhanced rootzone. “The MM35 Golf helps us ‘true’ the greens up, smooth the surface, and fill in any indentations,” Ben explains. “If we just put a little bit on at a time, matching it with the growth, it helps build up a nice healthy rootzone. We have a budget to work with, and MM35 Golf from Mansfield fits nicely into that budget. Without it, our drainage would probably be worse.”

The reliability of Mansfield Sand’s service is another key factor for Ben. “I call up the Mansfield Sand office, and they arrange my order. It will be delivered on time, every time – I can’t fault it at all.”

In addition to MM35 Golf, Shrigley Hall also uses Mansfield Sand’s sand compost mix for divots. “We purchase this once a year, and it is a really good product. It is a 60.40 mix, perfect for divots, filling in holes around the tees, and any sort of construction work we do,” Ben adds.

Mansfield Sand’s products, with their consistent quality and exceptional performance, have become indispensable to Shrigley Hall’s course maintenance. The MM35 Golf not only ensures the greens remain smooth and true but also significantly enhances the rootzone and drainage, contributing to the overall health and playability of the course.

For more information visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk

You can also follow the company on Twitter – @MansfieldSand and Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MansfieldSandSportSurfaces/

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Data Access is Just a Click Away with Turfkeeper

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Data Access is Just a Click Away with Turfkeeper: For the last 18 years Course Manager Geoff Smith has been spending hours meticulously setting up and inputting into an array of spreadsheets to help him manage the greenkeeping staff and grounds at the beautiful Abridge Golf Club in Romford, Essex.

‘All my spreadsheets were stored on a USB stick which I guarded with my life. It recorded everything I needed to manage all areas of the golf course including budgets and provided the necessary evidence and reports to justify everything we did. It didn’t bear thinking about if it was to ever get lost!”

Data Access is Just a Click Away with Turfkeeper

Data Access is Just a Click Away with Turfkeeper

Geoff joined the Abridge 18-hole, par 72 Championship golf course in 1996 and knows the greens better than anyone. He was a customer of Rigby Taylor, Headland Amenity and Symbio for around 12 years before they merged in 2021 to form Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS). “I love working with Origin, it’s been around 15 years now, and can’t praise them highly enough. They have great reps and some fantastic products. I put nearly all of my business through them.”

The course was first designed, in 1962 by renowned maestro of English Golf, Henry Cotton, whose outstanding feature was that both loops of nine holes started and finished at the clubhouse. It is considered one of the finest in the county and is an Open Regional Qualifying Course. It has held various Essex tournaments and was host to the PDC EuroPro Tour event in 2022. Geoff uses a combination of non-biological and biological products as part of an Integrated Turf Management programme. “The OAS reps work with me to choose products that complement each other well and ensure the very best outcome.  We have around 750 members and our course and greens are expected to be in the best possible condition free of disease”, adds Geoff.

In 2023 Geoff was persuaded to trial the OAS TurfKeeper web-based digital platform which is designed to replace all manual spreadsheets and ledgers. He had a demonstration from Kevin Scarce, Turf Keepers Product Manager and whilst impressed was reluctant to move away from his trusted spreadsheets.

With greenkeepers and turf professionals facing mounting pressure to justify every decision they make, from equipment purchases to project proposals, and with costs soaring and resources dwindling, the need for data-driven insights is critical. TurfKeeper is being used in many golf and sports clubs across the UK and is equipping turf managers and greenkeepers with the tools they need to maximise resources, streamline decision-making, and manage turf maintenance.

Geoff implemented Turfkeeper in July 2023 and after a couple of hours of training set about entering his information into the system. Geoff considers himself “Old school” and wanted to try it alongside his existing spreadsheets. “I shouldn’t have worried, it’s such a user-friendly system and works brilliantly. I love it and dropped my spreadsheets at the end of 2023. I now use Turfkeeper exclusively for all my data.”

At the heart of TurfKeeper lies a robust suite, from staff management to inventory control, task planning to budgeting. TurfKeeper provides greenkeepers with a central hub to oversee every aspect of their operations. “I use it for everything”, adds Geoff, “It’s only as good as the information you put into it though, so I spent a few days inputting – staff wages, hours, stock information, budgets, maintenance programme, etc and now it’s so easy to pull off the information I want.  That’s the beauty of Turfkeeper. It gives you graphics and pie charts to show to management or the Greens Committee – everyone loves a picture – it’s so easy to understand and takes no time to produce.”

Abridge Golf Club is set in 240 acres of beautiful parkland with some of the finest views over the Essex countryside. It’s a close-knit club and its members and a Greens Committee are encouraged to interact, question, and offer their suggestions. Geoff has a wealth of knowledge and is held in high esteem, but he does enjoy knowing he has data at his fingertips that he can show to back up his decisions or support his capital requests. His members requested the tees be cut by hand for a better finish. In seconds Geoff had a report that showed the extra labour required to achieve this and the associated cost that management needed to sign off on additional staff recruitment.

Geoff is supported by a team of nine, there are currently 2 other people in his team with access permissions to the system, his deputy Ben Scrivener and first assistant Jamie Blagdon. They both assist Geoff with stock control, applications and help assist with planning tasks in Geoff’s absence. Geoff now spends 30-45 minutes to plan for the week and month ahead, rather than the couple of hours previously.  “I use TurfKeeper for everything but primarily organising tasks for the greenkeeping team, stock control, and budget control.”

One of the most significant benefits of TurfKeeper is its ability to save time and resources. By automating repetitive tasks and eliminating manual paperwork, Geoff can focus his efforts on strategic decision-making and turf maintenance. “I am delighted with TurfKeeper, it has saved me hours of labour and I only have one platform to enter information into and extract data from. The team likes it because they can view the full picture, they know what is planned for everyone for the weeks and months ahead. I can’t recommend it highly enough.”

If you would like a free no-obligation 30-minute demonstration, call 07850 638 508 or visit www.turfkeeper.com

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DLF announce new ‘Showcase’ facility

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DLF announce new ‘Showcase’ facility: Work is underway on a brand new ‘Showcase’ facility at DLF’s UK headquarters in Inkberrow, Worcestershire. Scheduled to be fully operational by Spring 2025, the Showcase sees six hectares dedicated to amenity seed trials, product development, training and education for staff, distributors and customers – making it one of the largest of its kind in the UK.

Alongside plots sown with current cultivars and mixtures, the Showcase will have an area dedicated to new and upcoming developments giving visitors the chance to exclusively see and compare future trial and demo formulations. It will also be the base for a sizeable programme of UK testing which feeds into the global picture of climate and disease tolerance trials, ensuring that the mixtures of tomorrow are the most resistant, fit for purpose and sustainable to tackle the environmental challenges faced in the amenity market.

DLF announce new ‘Showcase’ facility

DLF announce new ‘Showcase’ facility

Centre to the Showcase will be a sports zone, featuring a hybrid winter sports pitch, cricket wicket, tennis court and small-scale golf tee, fairway and green, sown with mixtures from across the DLF portfolio by specialist contactors Fineturf who were commissioned with the construction. Having worked with many of the UK’s leading sporting venues including Lords Cricket Ground, AELTC and Tottenham Hotspur FC, Fineturf were the ideal fit for the project, utilising the very latest in their hybrid turf technology.

Commenting on the work, Amenity Sales & Marketing Manager Derek Smith said, “It’s incredibly exciting to see the start of what promises to be an industry-leading facility and asset to the Johnsons Sports Seed, Masterline and MM Seed brands. A big thank you to the Fineturf team for their work to date, and over the next six months we look forward to the construction of new conference facilities and the continued extension of the sample plots to give us a fully-functioning training centre come the Spring.”

The exciting news is the latest in a programme of ongoing investment by the world’s leading grass seed breeders. The end of 2023 saw the installation of Inkberrow’s new £3.5m ‘Titan’ mixing plant technology, together with recent expansion of DLF’s UK native wild flower production which now spans an area of over 80 acres.

Further updates on the project are expected in the new year.

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