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RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden beds in at London school

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RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden beds in at London school: The first ever RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden designed by and for children has been relocated to its permanent home at Sulivan Primary School in southwest London.

The RHS No Adults Allowed Garden was designed by pupils from the school and award-winning garden designer Harry Holding and was visited by HRH King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Reimagined to suit its new setting in the school grounds, the unique garden will now be a lasting feature for pupils to explore, learn and play in, as well as take care of.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden beds in at London school

RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden beds in at London school

Nearly all elements from the original show garden have been transferred to the school, with the exception of the stream and rock pool. Instead, the subterranean den is set within a sea of wildflowers and has been reimagined by treehouse builders Root and Shoot into a sustainable climbing frame using timber from RHS Garden Wisley and rubber from waste material. Sculptural clay elements, crafted by land artist Finbar Ward and decorated by pupils, which previously adorned a wall within the show garden have now been positioned on the façade of the school itself.

As part of the relocation, the layout of the show garden has been adapted to suit the school’s setting, which is surrounded by a number of mature trees.  A path through the garden separates two distinct areas; one is low intervention with a wildflower meadow, a composting zone and dead hedges which provide habitats for wildlife, while the more cultivated side of the garden is packed with a variety of bold and colourful summer plants including kniphofias and gladioli, as well as edibles such as strawberries.

Wendy Aldridge, Headteacher at Sulivan Primary School, said: “We are so excited to welcome the RHS No Adults Allowed Garden to its new home. This garden will be a fantastic resource for our pupils, allowing them to develop hands-on gardening skills and a deeper appreciation for the natural world. It provides a unique, interactive space where children can learn about biodiversity, sustainability, and the importance of caring for our environment. The collaborative process of designing and now maintaining the garden has been invaluable, fostering a strong sense of community and pride within our school.”

Harry Holding, Award-winning Garden Designer, said: “It has been such a joy to work on
this momentous project and reimagining the show garden for its permanent home has been every bit as enjoyable as preparing it for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Seeing the pupils’ excitement as they interact with the garden, both in its original form and now in its new home, has been incredibly rewarding. In its new location, the design benefits from more space, lots of mature trees, and plenty of environments to explore. This garden will provide endless opportunities for discovery and learning, and will live on to benefit thousands of children and families from the local community for years to come. I am very much looking forward to seeing how it evolves with the students’ care and creativity.”

Alana Cama, RHS Senior Learning Manager, said: “The RHS is committed to nurturing a love of gardening in children and creating opportunities for them to engage with nature in a meaningful way. By involving pupils in the design and maintenance of the garden, they have quickly cultivated a sense of responsibility and connection to the environment. We’re excited to follow the progress of the garden and to see how it inspires a love of gardening amongst the school’s pupils for years to come. This project exemplifies our mission to make gardening accessible and enjoyable for all ages, and we are thrilled to see it find a permanent home at Sulivan Primary School.”

Sulivan Primary School is a member of the RHS Campaign for School Gardening which provides teachers with free resources and training, designed to help them give more children the opportunity to learn about caring for plants and our planet through gardening, while connecting with nature and boosting their wellbeing. The RHS is committed to fostering a love of gardening across generations and ensuring that it is an accessible activity for everyone.

For information on how to get involved with the RHS Campaign for School Gardening visit: https://schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk

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Origin Introduces Fiata Stressgard® from Envu

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Origin Introduces Fiata Stressgard® from Envu: Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS) is delighted to announce the launch of a groundbreaking product – Fiata Stressgard® to the UK golf market. This new Biostimulant promises unrivalled results that will transform the care of turfgrass.

OAS is the UK partner and distributor of Fiata Stressgard®, developed and manufactured by Envu, a leading brand in sustainable turf management solutions.  Fiata Stressgard® contains a blend of compounds that act as powerful bio-stimulants which activate plant defence mechanisms and enhance turf health, resilience, and overall performance.

Origin Introduces Fiata Stressgard® from Envu

Origin Introduces Fiata Stressgard® from Envu

At the heart of Fiata Stressgard® lies a unique pigment that instantly enhances turf colour and plays a crucial role in long-term stress management. By reflecting the harmful light only, it helps optimise photosynthesis and energy production, preventing the breakdown of chlorophyll.

Stressgard® Technology also contains proprietary plant health compounds specially selected to promote turf health under the most stressful conditions.

This latest product further bolsters Origin Amenity Solutions’ (OAS) comprehensive range of biostimulants. Their partnership with manufacturer Envu, reinforces OAS’ commitment to the golf and sports turf market, providing its customers with new and innovative products alongside advice that enhances their turf management programmes.

Key Benefits of Fiata Stressgard®

  1. Proven to deliver elite turf performance when under stresses such as high temperatures, drought and traffic. Helping surfaces stay healthy and vibrant during peak stress periods and enhancing recovery.
  2. Complements any integrated turf management programme. The components within Fiata Stressgard® have been proven to prime turf plants for stress and disease resistance by triggering stress-responsive genes.
  3. Instant colour and long-term photosynthesis enhancement, delivering visually appealing, healthy turf. With a flexible application rate, Fiata Stressgard® can be tailored to give the exact colour response required to elevate turf appearance and manage stress.

Phil Logan, National Account Manager, Envu UK & Ireland comments; “You can’t predict the weather, but you can predict Stressgard® results. It’s been extensively tested across a range of environmental conditions for over 25 years and is scientifically proven to protect turf all year long. Fiata Stressgard® is the latest innovative product to utilise Stressgard® technology and has been designed specifically to improve plant health and performance.  Applied in a programme approach it will help turf thrive during stress and recover faster.  I am delighted to see Mark and the team at OAS embracing the substantial benefits of this new biostimulant product and rolling it out to their UK golf customers.”

Mark De Ath, Plant Protection Products Team Lead for Origin Amenity Solutions adds, “I am thrilled to bring Fiata Stressgard®, a biostimulant developed by Envu, exclusively to the UK. It is a highly effective product that will help Greenkeepers and turf managers promote turf grass health, colour, performance, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Fiata Stressgard® is only available via Origin Amenity Solutions. It comes in 9.46-litre containers with a flexible application rate of 10-20 l/ha dependant on management factors. It’s suitable for use on golf courses, as well as sports fields, bowling greens, parks, and residential or commercial sites. Our OAS technical sales advisors will provide advice and recommendations on incorporating Fiata Stressgard® into your existing maintenance programme. Please get in touch today.”

To find out more about Fiata Stressgard® visit uk.envu.com or contact the Origin Amenity Solutions team on 0800 138 7222

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Heart of Midlothian F.C. Embraces the Dennis ES-34R

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Heart of Midlothian F.C. Embraces the Dennis ES-34R: In the ever-evolving landscape of sports turf management, combining sustainability and efficiency are becoming paramount for professionals like Colin Davie, Head Groundsman for Heart of Midlothian F.C.

In a recent move towards greener practices, Colin has invested in a Dennis ES-34R rotary mower, heralding a new era in pitch maintenance for the club.

Heart of Midlothian F.C. Embraces the Dennis ES-34R

Heart of Midlothian F.C. Embraces the Dennis ES-34R

Heart of Midlothian’s pitch, a state-of-the-art SIS hybrid pitch installed in 2018, demands meticulous care and attention. With only a small team comprising himself and assistant David, finding equipment that delivers both performance and reliability is essential. Colin’s journey towards embracing battery-powered equipment began with a growing awareness of the need to reduce the club’s carbon footprint.

“I feel that it is the correct way to go,” says Colin, reflecting on the shift towards battery-powered machinery. “I’m under pressure the whole time to move away from petrol equipment so it was about time to see what was out there.”

The decision to invest in the Dennis ES-34R was solidified after rigorous testing against other battery-powered rotary mowers. Colin notes, “I had a few electric rotaries on demonstration, one of them being the Dennis ES-34R, and the Dennis stood out by quite a way.”

The Dennis ES-34R, a 34″ (860mm) battery-powered twin-blade rotary mower, with lithium-ion battery technology has been designed for mowing and cleaning operations. Its contra-rotating hardened steel blades ensure maximum collection performance. Moreover, its weatherproof colour LCD programmable display and keypad provide operators like Colin with vital information, including ground speed and battery charge level.

Colin is full of praise for the ES-34R, citing its ease of use and long-lasting battery as standout features. “It’s nice not to have to go away to the garage and waste time having to get fuel,” he remarks. “I have every bit of faith that a battery will cut the whole pitch every time on a single charge.”

One of Colin’s favourite features is the toggle switch, which enhances usability. “My favourite feature on it is the toggle switch, which works like a clutch, so you operate that with your thumb, and it’s just very easy to use and manoeuvre the machine,” he explains.

While colin’s trusty Dennis G860 petrol cylinder mowers remain integral to matchday preparation, the ES-34R excels in cleaning up and achieving an impeccable finish. “They do a brilliant job at hoovering up all the debris,” Colin notes. “But the finish on the ES-34R is incredible too. You could use the ES-34R on a matchday to prepare the pitch; it is that good.

“I also like how you can control walking speed, cutting speed and adjust the height of cut very easily. It is a very good setup,” he concludes.

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on Twitter and Instagram @DennisMowers and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK. You can also view the latest Dennis videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers

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Three in a row at TIMBERSPORTS® Championship

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Three in a row at TIMBERSPORTS® Championship: The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® British Championship delivered another weekend of edge-of-your-seat action at the Royal Three Counties Show in Malvern, with Glen Penlington securing his third Pro Championship title in style.

Competition for places was fierce, so the action kicked off on Friday with the Pro Championship qualifier. Five of the lowest ranked athletes from the 2023 British Championship, along with nine up-and-coming competitors took to the stage. With the top six athletes earning the right to take part in the 2024 British Pro Championship on Saturday, tensions were running high. But the top six all put in solid performances to progress through with Ben Chapman taking the top spot, closely followed by John Tunstall and Joe Groom.

Three in a row at TIMBERSPORTS® Championship

Three in a row at TIMBERSPORTS® Championship

Saturday’s action delivered more thrilling heats, and reigning champion Glen Penlington had his sights firmly set on securing his third Championship title in a row. Focussing first on the Underhand Chop, Penlington delivered an impressive start recording a time of 25.89 seconds, closely followed by his biggest rival for the title, 2014 champion Rob Chatley. And this excellent form continued throughout the competition, with Penlington achieving the fastest times in all five out of the six disciplines, and earning himself three personal bests in the process.

It was only the Stock Saw where Penlington didn’t get maximum points, but it did deliver a national record, courtesy of George Spencer. Spencer almost set a new British record in the Hot Saw too with a blistering time of 7.39 seconds, but the excitement was soon over, when judge Andy Hall disqualified him for an incomplete cookie.

In the end, Penlington’s dominance was obvious, with a 24 point advantage over second placed athlete Rob Chatley, to complete the hat trick of Championship wins. “I can’t quite believe I managed to win five of the disciplines this time. I think I got a bit lucky with the wood compared to some of the others, but it’s brilliant to be the champion again,” said Penlington after the competition. Graham Turner from Scotland completed the podium with a third place finish.

With the Pro championship wrapped up, all eyes turned to the competitions on the Sunday, starting with the British Women’s Championship. 2023 champion Justine Narusa was the one to beat, but a bad start to the competition with disqualification in the Stock Saw got worse after she ran out of time in the Standing Block Chop.

Instead, Felixia Banck from Denmark, newcomer Rachel Ferrington, and the youngest competitor, 17-year-old Libby Arrowsmith were the athletes to watch with solid performances from all three of them, including a new Danish national record for Felixia in the Stock Saw. Banck’s experience in logger sports ultimately saw her take the overall win, but Arrowsmith turned heads to take second place as the top-ranked British woman. Ferrington also impressed in her first ever TIMBERSPORTS® competition, taking third place overall.

Finally, it was the Rookies’ turn to take to the stage. 2023 Rookie champion Jack Morris was feeling confident going into the competition, having recently achieved a sixth placed finish at the Rookie World Championship in Milan in May. And his confidence was not misplaced, as he stormed through all four disciplines getting maximum points in the Underhand Chop, Single Buck and Standing Block Chop.

In his last year competing as a Rookie before he moves up to the Pro league, Morris certainly went out on a high beating his nearest rival and fellow axe club member, Zac Powell, by six points. Powell was pleased with his own results though, after achieving two personal best times in the Stock Saw and Standing Block Chop and improving on his fourth placed finish in 2023. The final spot on the Rookie podium was taken by Rowan Luxton, who also managed to jump up the rankings after finishing fifth in 2023.

After a thrilling weekend of extreme sport action, focus now switches to the World Championship in Toulouse, France in November. Penlington will have to wait until later in the year to find out if he has done enough to qualify for the Individual competition, but the tricky task of selecting the athletes to compete in the Team World Championship starts now.

“All three competitions this weekend were packed full of excitement and drama,” said Vicky Tween, TIMBERSPORTS® manager at STIHL GB, “but it’s onwards and upwards now for the athletes who make the British team. They will be laser-focussed on training to make sure they do their country proud.”

For full results from the weekend’s competitions, visit the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® database.

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BASF – at the forefront of research and development

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BASF – at the forefront of research and development: Professional turf care is an art form that requires skill, precision and high-performance products to be successful.

Sometimes even the most experienced and skilled greenkeepers have been let down by their products, which is why BASF invests heavily in cutting-edge technology and the best experts in the business to ensure that its solutions are ahead of the game, providing exactly what is needed and when.

BASF – at the forefront of research and development

BASF – at the forefront of research and development

Whether a golf course manager, agronomist, farmer or landscape architect, many professionals rely on effective products that keep turf free of diseases, pests and weeds through every season.

With the backing of thousands of employees worldwide, BASF is perfectly positioned to create a powerful portfolio of product solutions that can be tailored to meet the demands of every turf landscape. Effective and efficient research and development underpins every solution that BASF creates, and it is not a company that is content to rest on its laurels. It constantly invests in the growing opportunities that digitalisation and supercomputing power offers, meaning that it constantly maintains its place as an industry leader. In fact, it invested 2.1 billion euros into research and development expenses last year alone, with 1000 products being patented.

For example, brand-new product Maxtima was launched at BTME 2024 by BASF Turf, a new cutting-edge demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicide. This crop safe solution was devised after BASF’s scientists discovered new enzyme assays in their research.

Rob Gladwin, head of technical management for UK said: “The assays test the efficacy with which the DMI chemistry, which includes azoles, inhibit the fungal target site, CYP51 –– blocking this enzyme prevents a fungal cell from producing ergosterol causing it to die.

“Together, the team discovered a unique property of an entirely new family of triazoles –– this molecule has a ‘hook’. It’s an isopropanol linker. This moiety is a small part of the larger molecule and it’s unique for a DMI. We synthesised it and noticed very strong fungicidal effects.”

The launch of Maxtima pays testament to the cutting-edge research and development that the BASF team undertakes every day. In fact, BASF’s researchers are working on hundreds of products at any one time, with research centres in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.

Furthermore, BASF collaborates with a global network of top universities, research institutes and companies, giving direct access to external scientific expertise, talented minds from various disciplines, as well as new technologies. This helps to quickly develop targeted, marketable innovations, strengthening its portfolio with creative new projects and reaching its targets for worldwide expertise and growth.

To find out more about BASF’s industry-leading turf products, visit https://www.pestcontrol.basf.co.uk/en/Products/Product-innovation/Turf/

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