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Scots Turf Donation Will ‘Change Lives’

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Scots Turf Donation Will ‘Change Lives’: A donation of football equipment from Scots Turf may seem like a simple gesture, but Motherwell Football Club Chief Executive Dawn Middleton is certain it will change the lives of the local community.

In partnership with New World Sport, Scots Turf donated footballs, bibs, markers, coaches’ notebooks and more following a second successful Scots Turf show. It has always been the aim of organisers Richard Heywood and Alan Thomson to give back to sport-focused charities in Scotland, and the Motherwell FC Community Trust is the first.

Scots Turf Donation Will ‘Change Lives’

Scots Turf Donation Will ‘Change Lives’

As the official charity of Motherwell FC, the Trust leverages the club’s brand and the unifying power of football to drive positive change in the local community. In 2021, a UEFA Social Return and Investment report revealed that the charity’s initiatives resulted in £13.64 million worth of health benefits, saving the NHS money on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, mental health and more.

With no core income, the charity relies on fundraising and donations to operate. While you might think money is what’s needed, Dawn explains that football equipment is much more important than that.

“Firstly, I’d like to express our gratitude for the donation, which really makes a difference and does change lives,” Dawn began. “Sometimes people will say, ‘Oh, it would be great if you got money,’ but it’s not about money. This donation was far more valuable to us than money.

“It’s absolutely fantastic for us because equipment is expensive, and you can never have enough. Andy, our Head of Community Football does an excellent job, and coaches always ask him to spend money on equipment. It was great for us to be able to go back and supply it.

“The Trust supports a diverse range of 29 community teams, spanning from children born in 2019 to walking footballers in their 80s, women’s recreational football, and disability football. Each of these groups requires their own footballs, bibs, and markers, which often get lost or damaged. The donation from Scots Turf has significantly reduced the financial , burden on the Trust, ensuring the affordability of participation for all.”

The Motherwell FC Community Trust operates in one of Scotland’s most deprived areas. Due to increasing mortgage rates, food prices, and fuel costs, the community team experiences a lot of in-work poverty. Through donations, however, they have been able to limit the rise in community team monthly subscription costs to just 5p over seven years, which is invaluable for those participating.

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Kubota appoints Gary Walsh

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Kubota appoints Gary Walsh: Kubota (UK) has appointed Gary Walsh as agricultural and groundcare dealer manager for Ireland.

Gary has considerable experience working in the sector, both at manufacturer and dealer level. After leaving school, he embarked on a career as a technician following completion of a four-year apprenticeship in Ireland.

Kubota appoints Gary Walsh

Kubota appoints Gary Walsh

He has been with Kubota (UK) for the last eight years, where his previous roles included that of regional sales representative across all Kubota’s business sectors, and latterly spending two years as aftersales dealer manager for Ireland.

“I’m delighted to be able to step-up and take on the role of agricultural and groundcare dealer manager for Ireland,” explains Gary. “This is a great opportunity to work much more closely with my dealers, to support them as they grow their businesses by introducing the Kubota brand to a wider audience.”

Gary is passionate about farming and machinery, and comes from a background that introduced him to machinery at an early age. Two of his uncles ran contracting businesses, and after leaving school, much of his spare time was spent either repairing or operating equipment. It was an experience that cemented his decision to remain involved with the sector.

Speaking about Gary’s appointment as a dealer manager, Kubota’s agricultural and groundcare sales manager Tim Yates said: “Gary’s knowledge provides us with a great opportunity to continue supporting dealers as they continue to build on the growth already achieved in agricultural and groundcare markets across Ireland.”

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The Attraxor Advantage at Aberdovey GC

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The Attraxor Advantage at Aberdovey GC: Located in the stunning Snowdonia National Park, Aberdovey Golf Club in Aberdyfi, Wales, stands as a testament to the beauty and challenges of links golf. Overseeing this picturesque yet demanding course is Course Manager Nigel Green, whose dedication to excellence has been furthered by innovative solutions from Agrovista Amenity, particularly BASF’s Attraxor plant growth regulator.

Aberdovey Golf Club spans over 6,500 yards and has earned a reputation for testing even the most skilled golfers. However, it isn’t just the golfers who have their work cut out according to Nigel. “It is challenging conditions for both golfers and greenkeepers alike,” he says.

The Attraxor Advantage at Aberdovey GC

The Attraxor Advantage at Aberdovey GC

Nigel has been working at the club for an impressive 38 years and he highlights how standards at the club have improved. “The course has benefited over the years because the industry has progressed in terms of technology, machinery and products.”

One of the products central to Nigel’s success is Attraxor, a plant growth regulator developed by BASF. Containing prohexadione calcium, this innovative solution offers precise control over turf growth while promoting root development and enhancing turf quality. What sets Attraxor apart is its fast-acting formulation, providing almost instant results and flexibility in application timing, even in cooler conditions.

Nigel’s journey with Attraxor began with a conversation with Chris Knowles from Agrovista Amenity. Intrigued by its potential to reduce seed heads in addition to plant growth plant growth regulation, Nigel decided to give Attraxor a try. The results were nothing short of remarkable. Nigel observed a significant reduction in seed heads, particularly on the greens, prompting him to expand its usage across the course.

Starting cautiously, Nigel trialled Attraxor on the main putting green before gradually increasing the application rate to 600 grams per hectare. He applies Attraxor every three weeks from January to August, sometimes extending into September due to its effectiveness. Moreover, recent independent trials commissioned by Agrovista also confirm benefits of winter application.

Nigel’s meticulous approach also involves tank-mixing Attraxor with Aquatrols’ Premium N, ensuring optimal performance and consistent results.

The Attraxor Advantage at Aberdovey GC

The Attraxor Advantage at Aberdovey GC

In addition to Attraxor, Nigel highlights the efficacy of BASF’s Maxtima fungicide. Trialling Maxtima early on as a trial before it was launched, Nigel found it to be incredibly effective against Dollar Spot, minimising the need for additional treatments and showcasing outstanding results.

Nigel underlines the invaluable support and expertise provided by Agrovista Amenity and Chris Knowles. “The technical advice and support I receive from Agrovista Amenity and Chris Knowles is very good. If you have any questions or are not too sure about something, you can always get an answer from them. It is a very good relationship.”

As greenkeeping continues to evolve, Nigel emphasises the importance of working with knowledgeable partners like Agrovista Amenity. With impending challenges and restrictions on chemical usage, Nigel believes that innovative solutions and strategic partnerships will be essential for maintaining the standards of courses like Aberdovey.

Through strategic partnerships with companies like Agrovista Amenity and the adoption of cutting-edge products like Attraxor and Maxtima, Nigel has elevated the standards of course maintenance while navigating the evolving landscape of greenkeeping.

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity

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Green-tech Donates Landscaping Materials

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Green-tech Donates Landscaping Materials: Green-tech, the leading supplier of landscaping materials, demonstrates its commitment to community support by donating a range of materials to Great Ouseburn Community Primary School in North Yorkshire. The donation aims to enhance the school’s outdoor learning and play areas, providing students with safer and more inviting environments for exploration and play.

On Saturday, 13th April 2024, Green-tech’s Managing Director, Kris Nellist, along with two staff volunteers Josh Hebden and Connor Freeman, delivered a variety of materials to the school. The donation included 110 large bags (2 pallets) of Scotbark Playbark. One of the pallets was generously donated by Scotbark, showcasing a collaborative effort in supporting the local community. Additionally, Green-tech donated 2.4m sleepers, Green-tree topsoil and enough John Chambers Dual Purpose Wildflower Seed Mix to cover 65 square meters at the front of the school.

Green-tech Donates Landscaping Materials

Green-tech Donates Landscaping Materials

The project aimed to revamp several key areas within the school grounds. The Early Learning area received a makeover with the installation of sleepers and topsoil to build up the existing digging play pit. Playbark was installed to augment the safety and aesthetics of the playground climbing area, creating a cleaner and more inviting space for children to enjoy. The wildflower seeds will create a vibrant ‘mini-meadow’ in the front garden, fostering biodiversity and supporting insect habitats.

Nick Oswald, Headteacher at Great Ouseburn Community Primary School, expressed gratitude for Green-tech’s support, stating, “We were delighted to receive support from Green-tech with a kind donation of materials for our outdoor learning and play areas. Green-tech staff listened to what we needed and offered several suggestions. Along with one of their manufacturers, Scotbark, they provided a huge quantity of fabulous, attractive, high-quality play bark, which not only makes our Early Years outdoor learning area and play equipment safer to use, but cleaner and more inviting for all children. It is now a fun place to learn, and it is noticeable how much more it is used since the bark delivery!

Early Years have also now got a planting pit where we can grow plants, fruit and flowers, learning how to make things grow. Green-tech has also provided wildflower seeds for our ‘mini-meadow’, which we will use to encourage and support insect habitats, including bees. None of this would be possible without their support so a big thank you to Green-tech.”

Green-tech’s Managing Director Kris Nellist adds, “I am thrilled to be able to help improve the learning environment for some local children. Green-tech’s involvement in the project is part of the company’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and giving back to the community. By donating materials to revamp the school’s outdoor spaces, we hope to create an interest and appreciation, and encourage environmental stewardship from an early age.”

For more information about Green-tech and its initiatives, visit www.green-tech.co.uk

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Toro irrigation leads longevity

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Toro irrigation leads longevity: Longevity has been key to Toro’s irrigation strategy since its early development and it’s certainly something Reesink Hydro-Scapes can attest to seeing ‘on the ground’ in the UK.

As the sole Toro distributor in the UK for golf and sports fields irrigation products, Robert Jackson, manager of Reesink Hydro-Scapes, the distributor’s water division, is only now, after 30 years working in the business, needing to help the clubs he worked with in the early days of his career to update their Toro systems.

Toro irrigation leads longevity

Toro irrigation leads longevity

“Looking back through the orders books and from experience we can attest to Toro’s longevity and length of performance the systems get at UK golf clubs,” he says. “For us to see Toro giving up to 30 years of service is testament to the quality, technology, craftmanship and construction of the products.”

But it’s more than that, it’s as much to do with the design, installation, maintenance, and servicing of the system too, and that’s where Reesink Hydro-Scapes and its network of irrigation contractors step in to create the perfect partnership with Toro.

Rob continues: “There’s a reason it takes time to fit a brand-new irrigation system, and that’s because it’s being done properly. The phrase Rome wasn’t built in a day couldn’t ring more true than when it comes to this – it takes time to create great things – and if it doesn’t, it usually means corners have been cut.

“Replacing or updating an irrigation system is a big job, it’s timely and disruptive work and could mean months of delays to play,” Robert says. “There’s no escaping it but the point is that when you do it you want to know that the system you choose has got the best shelf life possible and proven longevity. And that’s never in doubt with Toro. Do it properly now and don’t think about it for another two to three decades.”

Plus, with Reesink’s irrigation finance options clubs don’t even need to pay now. Reesink can spread the cost of new irrigation systems over tailored plans to give better control over operational budgets and stabilise costs in the face of fluctuating market conditions.

“We understand the outlay of a new irrigation system is significant and we don’t believe that should stop anyone accessing the best options available,” Robert concludes. “Irrigation finance does just that and includes not just the products but the installation too.”

To find out more about how the longevity of Toro and service from Reesink unite to bring the best value irrigation solutions, call Reesink Hydro-Scapes on 01480 226800, email info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk or visit reesinkhydro-scapes.co.uk.

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