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NEWS ARTICLES

Pellenc Portfolio To Shine At GroundsFest

Pellenc Portfolio To Shine At GroundsFest: Pellenc UK is set to impress at GroundsFest 2024, taking place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on 10 and 11 September.

Attendees can look forward to an exciting display of Pellenc’s innovative, battery-powered equipment.

Pellenc Portfolio To Shine At GroundsFest

Pellenc Portfolio To Shine At GroundsFest

Over recent years, Pellenc has established itself as a leader in the market by offering an exceptional line of ‘zero emission’ battery-powered tools. This success is largely due to their advanced Lithium-ion ultra-high-performance batteries.

Visitors to the Pellenc stand (OSA150) will have the opportunity to explore an extensive array of top-tier equipment. The impressive Pellenc product lineup includes chainsaws, pole saws, hedge cutters, grass strimmers, brushcutters, blowers, and mowers.

Throughout the two-day event, the Pellenc team will be on hand to provide expert assistance and advice on all battery-powered tool enquiries.

Pellenc stands out in the industry with its generous warranties, offering a four-year commercial warranty for all batteries and a three-year warranty for all tools.

Pellenc is distributed exclusively in the UK by Etesia UK.

For more information, visit www.etesia.co.uk/pellenc

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

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Wilkinson Sword shares cheap and simple task

Wilkinson Sword shares cheap and simple task: If you only have time to do one job this season, tidying lawn edges and neatening up the borders around a patio or terrace is one easy task that is guaranteed to have the most impact.

Having the right tools can make all the difference in keeping an outdoor space looking pristine. Whether you’re tackling weeds, trimming edges, or refining lawn borders, investing in quality garden tools like those from Wilkinson Sword can streamline gardening tasks, help improve the overall look of a patio or terrace and make spaces look neat and tidy.

Stainless Steel Hand Patio Knife

RRP – £12.99

The Wilkinson Sword Stainless Steel Hand Patio Knife is a must-have for tackling moss and weeds that stubbornly cling to your paved areas and patio stones. Crafted with high-quality rust-resistant stainless steel, its mirror-polished blade effortlessly slices through unwanted growth. The ergonomically designed weatherproofed ash handle ensures comfortable grip and durability, while the leather hanging strap allows for convenient storage.

Single Hand Grass Shear

RRP – £14.99

For precise lawn edge maintenance in hard-to-reach areas, the Wilkinson Sword Single Hand Grass Shear is your go-to tool. Featuring non-stick coated blades and a 180-degree rotating blade, it allows for vertical and horizontal cutting with ease. The single-handed safety lock adds an extra layer of security during use, while the compact design makes it ideal for intricate trimming tasks. With a 15cm blade length, this shear is perfect for refining the edges of your lawn around your patio to perfection.

Long Handled Edging Shears

RRP – £24.99

Designed to minimize strain on your back, these shears feature 850mm long durable handles with soft grips for comfortable use. The high-quality carbon steel blades with non-stick coating ensure clean and precise cuts, while the 17cm blade length makes quick work of edging tasks. Keep your lawn edges and borders looking sharp without the hassle of bending, thanks to these long-handled shears.

Ultralight Edging Knife

RRP – £34.99

For a lightweight yet powerful tool to maintain a crisp lawn edge, look no further than the Wilkinson Sword Ultralight Edging Knife. Up to 30% lighter than traditional edging knives, its ultralight design reduces fatigue, allowing you to enjoy gardening for longer periods. Crafted with rust-resistant stainless steel, the half-moon blade effortlessly slices through turf to leave a neat edge where your lawn meets borders, paths, and patios. The comfortable T-handle provides excellent control, making precision edging a breeze.

To view more of the range visit www.wilkinsonsword-tools.co.uk.

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Calling All Grounds Care Heroes

Calling All Grounds Care Heroes: Nominations and entries are now open for the Grounds Management Association’s (GMA) Industry Awards and, this year, we’re turning up the excitement!  

Anfield Stadium, the iconic home of Liverpool FC, will be the new backdrop for this prestigious event on Thursday 13 March 2025.

Calling All Grounds Care Heroes

Calling All Grounds Care Heroes

Breaking new ground, the Industry Awards are making their debut at Anfield Stadium, following previous editions at Headingley Stadium and the NEC alongside Europe’s premier grounds management show, SALTEX.

Since 2009, the GMA Industry Awards have celebrated outstanding achievements in grounds care across professional, amateur, and voluntary sectors, spanning a variety of sports. But this year it’s extra special, as it kicks off the GMA’s annual awareness campaign: #GroundsWeek, running from March 17 to 23, 2025. ISEKI returns as the Industry Awards platinum sponsor for 2025, reaffirming their support for the sector, alongside award category sponsors, DLF Seeds and Syngenta.

Shifting from its traditional November date to March, these awards now support the vital mission of #GroundsWeek, honouring the unsung heroes – the grounds care professionals and volunteers who keep the nation’s playing surfaces pristine!

Categories That Inspire Greatness: 

With 17 categories spanning the entire sector, the GMA Industry Awards provide the perfect opportunity to shine a spotlight on the year-round contribution of grounds staff towards maintaining and improving playing surfaces.

  • Young Groundsperson of the Year – Recognising rising stars
  • Newcomer of the Year – Welcoming fresh talent
  • Volunteer Groundsperson/Team of the Year – Honouring those who go above and beyond
  • Community Groundsperson/Team of the Year – Making a difference in local sports
  • Best Managed Artificial Surface of the Year – Innovation on display
  • Environmental and Sustainability Impact Award – Champions of eco-friendly practices (Sponsored by Syngenta)
  • Bowls & Croquet Groundsperson/Team of the Year – Precision and passion
  • Professional Cricket Grounds Team of the Year – Pitch-perfect excellence
  • Professional Tennis Courts Grounds Team of the Year – Serving up aces in turf management
  • Professional Horse Racing Grounds Team of the Year – Galloping towards excellence
  • Professional Rugby League Grounds Team of the Year – Tackling pitches head on
  • Professional Rugby Union Grounds Team of the Year – Scrumming up perfection
  • Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year – Scoring perfection, the MVPs behind the scenes
  • Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year (Elite) – Elevating the game, making stadiums roar
  • University & College Grounds Team of the Year - Cultivating knowledge and green spaces
  • Independent School Grounds Team of the Year – Nurturing growth in every blade (Sponsored by ISEKI)
  • GMA Grounds Manager of the Year – Celebrating the very best across the industry  (Sponsored by DLF Seeds)

Sarah Hunter, Head of Events at the GMA said:
The GMA Industry Awards are a fantastic opportunity for individuals and teams to gain the recognition they deserve for their vital work across the grounds care industry. I urge everyone to get involved and submit their nominations – It’s going to be a great event at Anfield Stadium, and we look forward to celebrating the outstanding achievements.”

Are You Ready to nominate or enter?

You can now nominate someone deserving, or enter yourself, by visiting https://gmaindustryawards.uk/. We encourage everyone in the industry to join in and celebrate the outstanding work being done in the grounds care industry.

Important Dates: 

  • Award Nominations Close: Friday 13 September 2024
  • Final Entries Close: Friday 27 September 2024

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Emily Herrington by emailing eherrington@thegma.org.uk.

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DSV to Unveil EUROBEAT at GroundsFest

DSV to Unveil EUROBEAT at GroundsFest: DSV is set to make a significant impact at this year’s GroundsFest, introducing their latest innovation in grass seed, EUROBEAT, on stand 29. The event will take place on September 10 and 11 at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, offering attendees a chance to discover this high-performing addition to DSV’s renowned range of grass seed.

Introducing EUROBEAT

EUROBEAT is a top-tier ryegrass specifically bred for sports applications. Its performance in the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) test series has been outstanding, earning a TOP 10 rank and demonstrating the superior capabilities of DSV’s turfgrass breeding department. EUROBEAT boasts exceptional summer and winter appearance scores, setting it apart as a top performer in traffic tolerance, crucial for sports pitches.

DSV to Unveil EUROBEAT at GroundsFest

DSV to Unveil EUROBEAT at GroundsFest

Key Benefits of EUROBEAT:

Optimised for Sports Pitches: EUROBEAT’s design caters specifically to the rigorous demands of sports environments.

Superior Wear Resistance: With a 20% improvement over standard ryegrass, EUROBEAT excels in durability.

Year-Round Performance: High aspect scores in both summer and winter ensure a consistently attractive and resilient turf.

Ideal for Overseeding: EUROBEAT’s characteristics make it perfect for enhancing older pitches and supporting autumn sowing for winter appearance boosts.

EUROBEAT’s versatility makes it an excellent choice for renovation mixtures, providing an upgrade in both performance and quality for existing sports fields.

Explore More EuroGrass Mixtures

In addition to EUROBEAT, GroundsFest attendees will have the opportunity to learn about other high-performing EuroGrass mixtures, each tailored for specific sports turf applications.

Featured Mixtures:

EG PRO Rye Fairway: Ideal for golf fairways and roughs, this mixture is designed to handle moderate to high levels of play, ensuring robust and resilient turf.

PRO Summer Sport: Perfect for cricket squares, tennis courts, and golf tees, this mixture offers outstanding recovery and strong shoot density, meeting the demands of extreme hard wear sports.

PRO Pitch: The flagship mix in the EuroGrass portfolio, PRO Pitch is tailored for winter sports pitches, providing exceptional wear tolerance and recovery with top-performing perennial ryegrass cultivars.

PRO Multi Sport: Designed for dual-use facilities and drought tolerance, this mixture ensures excellent sward density, good wear tolerance, and increased drought resilience, making it suitable for sports pitches and academic facilities.

Don’t miss the chance to visit DSV at stand 29 to explore how EUROBEAT and other EuroGrass mixtures can elevate the quality and performance of your sports turf.

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Suståne delivers consistent quality

Suståne delivers consistent quality: As the old saying goes ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!’. That’s certainly the motto for Came Down Golf Club in Dorchester, who have been using a nutritional programme from Suståne on their greens for over 30 years and explain that it continues to give them controlled growth, outstanding colour and enhanced plant health year after year.

Established in 1896, Came Down is a chalk-downland course nestled in the Dorset countryside which has strong historical links with some of golf’s most important institutions including The R&A, The Ryder Cup and The Open. While James Lockwood has been at the venue for 18 years, and Head Greenkeeper for the last three, he admits that the club’s relationship with Suståne goes much further back. “We think Suståne has been used here for roughly 35 years, making us one of the first clubs in the UK to use their products!”

Suståne delivers consistent quality

Suståne delivers consistent quality

James’ current programme, constructed in conjunction with Suståne’s Russell Riley and local distributors Agrovista, includes Suståne 10-1-4 as a spring starter, 5-2-10+Fe applied at lower rates and regular intervals throughout the summer and 5-2-4 to keep the greens ticking over in winter. “This is the tried and tested combination which works perfectly for us” he says.

“Firstly it’s great that it’s all organic. The club are keen to utilise more sustainable solutions and this programme, in conjunction with some of our cultural practices, has helped us to pretty much eliminate the use of fungicides. Secondly we like the control it gives us – no massive flushes of growth, just a steady, healthy growth pattern that leaves the greens looking immaculate and playing well year-round.”

James adds, “We have a couple of greens in shaded spots that have previously struggled with Fusarium. With a bit of trial and error, we’ve found that upping the rate of Suståne 5-2-10 through the back end of the summer, and 5-2-4 in the winter has helped us to limit the impact on these specific areas. It’s becoming increasingly important that we all try and resolve these issues using science and clever microbiology rather than relying on chemicals.”

“Another thing we like is that the granules are nice and fine which means we can apply it exactly when we need to without risking any interruption to play.” He concludes, “It’s testament to the continual quality and results that we rarely have to stray away from the programme that has been so pivotal to things here at Came Down for so long.”

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