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ICL integral to fairways recovery

ICL integral to fairways recovery

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ICL integral to fairways recovery : Ian Cambridge, Course Manager at Saffron Walden Golf Club in Cambridge, has revealed how the correct advice, seed, and nutritional products from ICL have been integral in helping the fairways recover from drought.

The infamous drought of 2018 proved to be problematic for greenkeepers and course managers throughout the UK and Ian Cambridge was no exception.

ICL integral to fairways recovery

“Back in the summer of 2018, like most golf courses, we lost a high proportion of our grass sward on the fairways due to the drought,” he said. “We had overseeded in the spring of 2019 without great success and the fairways were quite poor through the early part of the season.”

Looking for a solution, Ian contacted ICL and Andrew Pledger (Technical Area Sales Manager) visited the East Anglian club. He and Ian walked around the course looking at the conditions and probed into the soil to see what could be done. It was at this point that Andrew suggested a programmed approach which centred around ICL’s recently launched Vitalnova Links bio-stimulant.

Vitalnova Links consists of a unique combination of concentrated seaweed extract Vitalnova SeaMax and the proven biostimulant Vitalnova Blade. In turn, the formulation brings together and accentuates the benefits of both products.

Vitalnova Links was combined with a wetting agent and 8kg of a water soluble 35-0-5 fertilizer.

Andrew also advised, that due to not having any irrigation capacity, Ian should not overseed again until the autumn. This time, however, Andrew recommended that Ian use a multi-blend mixture consisting of rye, fescue and SSMG (Smooth Stalk Meadow Grass).

“The grass species that we lost the most of was the fescue and we were unsure of what we should do,” said Ian. “However, Andrew explained that by using a blend of three different species we would be spreading our bets a bit more with any future drought.

“The nutritional and wetting agent programme had actually helped with some natural ingress of our existing sward. This helped lower the amount of seed that we needed to use in our overseeding that autumn and it was a great help with lowering the costs. The seed mix we chose was the ICL ProSelect 2 Tees/Fairways mix and we had great germination success.”

ProSelect 2 Tees/Fairways is proving to be an extremely popular choice with golf courses throughout the UK and beyond. The mixture is a blend of fine fescues and perennial ryegrass which creates a turf surface that can recover strongly from divoting.

The blend contains Traction smooth-stalked meadow grass and Torsion TRT perennial ryegrass to provide rhizomatous and Turf Repairing Tiller (TRT) growth for extra durability and recovery from divots. It is renowned for providing great colour, all-round disease tolerance and close mowing tolerance.

The new nutritional programme and seed were put to the test in 2020 when the drought inevitably returned.

“In the spring of 2020, the fairways were filling in very nicely, however, the conditions became very droughty once again,” said Ian. “The difference this time was that we were already on a wetting agent and nutritional programme, and yes the turf browned off but when the rain returned in August the sward came straight back.

“Our over-seeding requirements were reduced, we believe, due to the choice of the quality seed and the advice from Andrew on our nutritional programme.”

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.co.uk or www.icl-sf.ie if you are in Ireland.

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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Visit a park this weekend as a tribute to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

Visit a park as a tribute to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

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Visit a park as a tribute to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh – Fields in Trust : Green Space charity Fields in Trust is inviting people to visit a local green space this weekend to reflect and appreciate the work of His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh who was President for 64 years under its previous name The National Playing Fields Association. The Duke’s work has ensured that so many of the nation’s much-loved parks and playing fields remain available for play, sport and the enjoyment of nature.

The Duke took on the role of President of Fields in Trust, in October 1948 – his first national charity commitment. He served for over six decades, stepping down in 2013 to be replaced by his grandson, HRH The Duke of Cambridge, who remains in the role today. Fields in Trust is reporting a spike in spontaneous donations recognising the contribution of The Duke and suggests a fitting tribute would be to enjoy the green spaces he did so much to protect.

Visit a park this weekend as a tribute to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

Visit a park this weekend as a tribute to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh


Fields in Trust Chief Executive Helen Griffiths said: “During his long and committed service HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was involved in every aspect of the organisation. We are enormously indebted to him for his support. His tireless efforts live on through many protected parks and green spaces and Fields in Trust’s continuing work.”

“The Royal Family’s request for people to make charitable donations rather than leaving flowers is to be welcomed. It is also particularly relevant at a time when restrictions are preventing people from paying their respects in person.  We are grateful for all the donations we have received, acknowledging The Duke’s work, we will ensure that they will support a fitting legacy by continuing the work that His Royal Highness began.

An accomplished sportsman, The Duke supported fundraising efforts by arranging several charity cricket matches as well as celebrity galas, a promotional film and the first ever charity record; with all the income used to support playing fields. parks and green spaces.

The Duke’s Presidency saw a period of great growth for the organisation in relation to its charitable objectives. Across his 64-year tenure the number of green spaces protected with Fields in Trust grew from 430, covering around 1,300 hectares, to over 2,000, covering nearly 12,000 hectares.

Through his support of Fields in Trust, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh has provided a lasting legacy of parks and green spaces protected in perpetuity to ensure people will always have places to play and be active., now supported by his grandson HRH The Duke of Cambridge, to protect, support and champion green spaces for good.

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STIHL expands brushcutter range.

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STIHL expands brushcutter range : STIHL has launched the new FSA 86 R, adding to its range of high-performance brushcutters designed for landscaping professionals and groundskeepers.

The new FSA 86 R offers the low weight of its predecessor, the FSA 85, with added features like the ergo lever handle cutting attachments that can be changed by hand, a new design and more power. The all-new high revving direct drive motor produces 20% more power, delivering outstanding cutting performance. The EC motor also offers excellent efficiency during operation, ensuring it permanently monitors the load and adjusts the engine accordingly.

STIHL expands brushcutter range

Additionally, the exceptional power-to-weight ratio makes the tool incredibly easy to use, particularly for line-trimming around borders and trees, without the need of metal cutting tools or a full bike-handle brushcutter.

In addition to the comfortable loop handle for easy handling and working in confined spaces, the FSA 86 R also features an ergonomic control handle from which the locking lever, ERGO lever and main trigger lever can be easily activated. The locking lever is self-resetting and prevents unintentional switching on of the device, and when the ERGO lever and shift lever are pressed simultaneously, users can work continuously with ease.

Although the new AutoCut C 6-2 cutting head is fitted as standard, the new PolyCut 6-2 is available as an alternative option that can be fitted without the need for tools. For more challenging jobs, the new DuroCut 5-2 is also available and ideally suited for dense grass and light scrub.

The FSA 86 R features a new battery housing and component design, enabling users to easily insert STIHL’s high-performance 36V AP batteries, ideal for professional use. Users can take working time from 35 minutes to 60 minutes when using STIHL’s AP 200 battery.

For more information on STIHL’s range of brushcutters including the FSA 86 R, please visit www.stihl.co.uk.

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New Hayter website launching April 2021

New Hayter website launching April 2021

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New Hayter website launching April 2021 : Hayter Ltd, renowned British manufacturer of premium lawncare equipment, has recently announced the launch of their new website. The new website corresponds with activity to celebrate 75 years of business and is a significant brand investment by Hayter to further grow the brand.

 

As the focus on digital has become increasingly important over the past decade, with significant growth over the past year, Hayter recognised that it was time improve their digital presence to better meeting the needs of their customer. The new, updated website is focused on delivering a quality customer experience while also supporting dealers with enhanced features, user guide storage, warranty registration and dealer locator functions.

New Hayter website launching April 2021

New Hayter website launching April 2021

 

Hayter’s new website will be launched in two parts. Phase one will be launched with all the immediate materials needed for customers and dealers, including key product ranges such as the Toro® Flex-Force handheld range and the iconic Harrier® Series. Phase two, due later this year, will dive into the Hayter archives to explore the rich history of the company. A series of blogs and tips on lawn care will also be established, demonstrating Hayter’s 75 years of knowledge and expertise in lawn care.

 

Craig Hoare, Sales & Marketing Manager, said of the launch: “In our 75th year, it is fitting that we improve Hayter’s digital presence to meet the needs of our customers. This new website is the culmination of a year’s hard work by the sales and marketing team and is a huge investment in the Hayter brand. I am delighted with the result and excited to see the full launch.”

 

The new website accompanies the launch of the new Hayter® 60V battery cordless range as part of Hayter’s commitment to new technologies and the highest level of customer satisfaction when it comes to premium lawn equipment.

 

For more information, please visit www.hayter.co.uk.

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New Bobcat Wins Global Design Award

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New Bobcat Award:  The new Bobcat L85 compact wheel loader (CWL) has been announced as a Product discipline winner in the 2021 edition of the world-renowned iF Design Awards. The organizer of the awards, iF International Forum Design GmbH, is the world’s oldest independent design organization, based in Hannover in Germany. The L85 succeeded in an Automobiles/vehicles subcategory decided by a 98-member jury, made up of independent experts from all over the world, from almost 10,000 entries submitted from 52 countries.

About the iF Design Award

For 67 years, the iF Design Award has been recognized as an arbiter of quality for exceptional design. The iF label is renowned worldwide for outstanding design services, and the iF Design Award is one of the most important design prizes in the world. Submissions are awarded in the following disciplines: Product, Packaging, Communication and Service Design, Architecture and Interior Architecture as well as Professional Concept, User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI). All awarded entries are featured on the iF World Design Guide and in the iF design app.

New Bobcat Wins Global Design Award

New Bobcat Compact Wheel Loader Wins Global Design Award

Working with Bobcat on the L85 was German design company, Munich-based Lumod GmbH. Jaroslav Fišer, Product Line Director for the Bobcat compact loader range in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said: “We are delighted that the L85 has won in the Automobiles/vehicles subcategory of the iF Product Discipline Award and we thank Lumod for their important role in guiding the design of the new machine. The L85 is a product of the Bobcat Innovation Center on our Dobris campus and has been designed to set a new market-leading performance benchmark in this segment of the market.”

 

Designed and Built for Market-leading Ease-of-Use

CWLs are often used by less experienced operators, so the machine’s intuitiveness and maximum visibility are key for confident operation. When developing the L85, Bobcat focused on optimizing both of these features – resulting in the short, steep rear bonnet and fully glass doors on both sides, providing best-in-class side and rear visibility. The rear-view camera and LED lights further improve visibility. All of the operator controls are grouped on the side console, with the joystick connected directly to the seat armrest (unique in this size category). This increases ease-of-use and comfort even further.

Jaroslav Fišer added: “The L85 also brings Bobcat’s iconic ‘One Tough Animal’ brand language into the CWL market. Powerful, agile, robust. The prominent tailgate grill frame in Bobcat orange is the unique feature element. Sophisticated 3D-shape artwork – carrying signet, model number and logo – is new and underlines the machine’s robustness. The interior is equipped with strong branding elements that connect the exterior with the interior and give the operator the powerful Bobcat-like feeling.”

New Bobcat Wins Global Design Award

 

Bobcat has the largest loader portfolio

By entering the wheel loader category, Bobcat now has the largest loader portfolio of any manufacturer in the world. The L85 compact wheel loader is ideal for a multitude of tasks in a very wide range of industries. The L85 can be used in construction, landscaping, rental, industrial, waste, recycling and agriculture, but is also ideal for road work, snow removal, maintenance and many other applications.

The L85 model, introduced at the company’s revolutionary ‘Next is Now’ launch event in October 2020, is now in full production at the Bobcat plant on the Dobris campus in the Czech Republic.

 

Brief Specifications for the L85:

Standard bucket: 0.8 m3

Bucket range: 0.6 – 1.2 m3

Operating weight: 5091 kg

Lift height: 3250 mm

Cab height: 2498 mm

Engine: Bobcat D24

Engine power: 50.7 kW (68 HP)

To watch the product walkaround video for the L85 click here: https://youtu.be/4EfobNEczLU

For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit the website www.bobcat.com

 

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