Deere keeps park in great shape

Deere keeps park in great shape: Multi award-winning Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) attracts half a million visitors annually to its 500-acre estate near Wakefield.

Fashioned around 18th century Bretton Hall, the Grade II listed historic park and garden features 100 sculptures and installations scattered across the valley destination, with north and south sides sloping down to two ornamental lakes.

Deere keeps park in great shape

Deere keeps park in great shape

This year YSP celebrates its 45th anniversary. The Park opens every day except 24 and 25 December, so the eight-strong grounds team knows the work to keep presentation pristine rolls on relentlessly.

Diverse demand across the Park stretches from amenity grass and close-mown turf to formal gardens, arb work, water management and even a living roof on The Underground Galley, notes Mark Chesman, Head of Estates and Projects, who started life here as a landscape co-ordinator.

“Exhibitions and events run year-round,” he says, “and visitors expect everything to look clean, tidy and well-maintained to set the sculptures off in their best light.”

Handling the scale of the park’s upkeep depends on minimal machinery downtime and helping the team in that capacity is a full, flexible service agreement with local John Deere dealer Balmers GM.

A longstanding Deere customer, YSP had no hesitation moving across to Balmers when it opened a branch locally in 2015 after the previous dealer closed.

“All the Deere kit is exceptionally reliable,” Mark says. “Balmers are just a phone call away if we have any snags and they respond swiftly with fast turnaround on machine replacements.”

The cost of the annual service, undertaken in autumn/winter when summer’s heavy footfall lightens, is spread over 12 months, “which helps improve cashflow and gives us added peace of mind in knowing what the outlay will be”, Mark adds. “We replace older machinery as and when we need to, with new Deere units, such as our wide area and front deck mowers, covered by JD Powergard protection.”

The fleet of five diesel Gator TH 6x4s does the donkey work of transporting equipment, tools, material and green waste around the park. “The tipping facility is particularly useful, while the Gator’s six tyres ensure lower ground impact in the more sensitive areas of the site,” Mark says.

Under his mission to switch over to electric tools and machinery, Mark has started the process by adding a Gator TE to the fleet. “Our environmental policy and action plan is designed to reduce fossil fuel use and minimise our impact on the climate,” he explains.

“The Gator TE delivers zero emissions, has less vibration and is cheaper to run because it is a far simpler vehicle – just a battery and motor. It’s charged up overnight using a three-pin plug and we get a full day’s work on that – particularly important because of the size of the Park.”

Covering the 30 hectares of grassed open space around the hall is the JD 1600 turbo mower, with front and two side decks, supported by a 1580 ride-on collector mower, which Mark says is “a fantastic machine that comes into its own at the start and end of the season and to ensure the Park is tip-top for exhibitions”. Summer and other peak periods see the Deere mowers on duty trimming the overflow car park, meanwhile.

Under Balmers’ aftercare service, the park team attend an on-site induction programme when new machinery is delivered, followed by an in-house equivalent that includes a rundown on tyre checks and grease points, ensuring everyone’s fully competent.

John Deere’s 997 zero-turn ride-on handles the critical cutting in confined spaces, Mark says. “We want to be able to operate in ever tighter areas, as the complexity of maintaining the park rises. The 997 is coming up for replacement so we’ll be discussing options with Balmers soon.”

For some work, machinery and tools cannot replace the age-old traditional methods, Mark explains. “The team has to keep a safe distance from the sculptures when using ride-ons.

“Close cutting is completed with hand shears as we cannot risk even the slightest chip on any of the artworks.”

YSP includes works by British and international artists such as Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore (one of the largest open-air displays of his bronzes in Europe).

The Park manages a stand of historic woodland of high conservation value that numbers native species such as oak, ash, beech and hornbeam, with some veteran specimens estimated to be more than 300 years old.

“All trees on the estate are surveyed regularly. We have 2,000 parkland individuals, excluding the woodland,” says Mark. “Our longstanding arborists, Earnshaws, manage the large mature trees, while everyone is qualified to complete ground level work up to 380mm.”

With a board of trustees whose members include the present Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, YSP has every opportunity to wax lyrical about its many qualities but Mark does a pretty good job himself.

“This is a wonderful place to work and members of staff tend to stay here a long time [Mark himself has clocked up 17 years] to face the everyday challenges of what is a complex though beautiful place.”

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Preventative, non-pesticidal approach proves key

Preventative, non-pesticidal approach proves key: Autumn is the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, according to Keats, but for turf managers it is also the season when turf surfaces are most at risk from disease.

Management of disease, particularly Microdochium nivale which can be hugely damaging to both fine and sports turf surfaces, has changed dramatically in recent years – due to two main drivers: the changing climate and legislational changes, removing effective pesticides from turf managers toolkits. Headland Amenity explores.

Preventative, non-pesticidal approach proves key

Preventative, non-pesticidal approach proves key

With the reduction of available curative chemistry, it is no surprise that the latest approaches to tackling disease focus on challenging it before it strikes – utilising preventative treatments rather than relying on costly, repeated fungicide applications. Together with effective aeration and cultural maintenance programmes, applications of products defined as ‘non-pesticidal’ (not directly acting on the pathogen) are proving to be an effective management tool. Research indicates that if disease populations are kept to a minimum through October and November – traditionally the key months for disease infection – the potential for aggressive outbreaks during December and the following spring is significantly reduced.

The aim of a non-pesticidal programme, implemented as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy is three-fold:

  • To change the plants surface environment to make it harder for disease pathogens to grow on and into the leaf’s surfaces
  • Stimulate the plant’s natural defence mechanisms
  • Improve plant health, growth and strength by stimulating root and shoot development and chlorophyll production

Headland Amenity have been pioneering research work, carrying out trials using combinations of product to minimise Microdochium nivale, since 2007. This work paved the way for the now renowned 20-20-30 enhanced plant health (EPH) approach – utilising two plant protectants and a plant elicitor, all fully tank-mix compatible to boost plant health and combat disease. Headland’s 20-20-30 mix has been independently tested annually at the STRI in Bingley which has seen refinements and improvements to the programme, with the recent addition of Mantle®.

The first ‘20’ refers to protectant Liquid Turf Hardener. This is a low pH, liquid formulation of calcium, magnesium and nitrate nitrogen to facilitate rapid uptake and response even at low air and soil temperatures. Its role is to strengthen the plant cell wall to produce a harder, more disease resistant sward.

Turfite® Elite is a potassium phosphite-based elicitor and is the second key component in the 20-20-30 mix. Alongside potassium phosphite, Turfite® Elite features Salicylic acid, to maximise stimulation of the plants natural defence mechanism (SAR) and encourage plant growth. Research work by Headland Amenity as part of the Phosphite biostimulant stewardship group has also positively linked phosphite with both enhanced rooting and more efficient nitrogen utilisation – all contributing towards healthier growth and limiting the potential for damage by pathogens.

The second protectant product, Seamac® Proturf Fe is the final component, incorporated at a rate of 30l/ha. Seamac® Proturf Fe is a liquid formulation of chelated iron supplemented with magnesium and seaweed which acidifies the surface of the leaf to discourage pathogenic fungal growth. By using multiple forms of iron, Seamac® Proturf Fe also offers a rapid green up after application, and optimum long-lasting winter colour.

Found to enhance efficacy, Mantle® has been recommended to supplement applications of the 20-20-30 tank-mix since 2018. Mantle® is a water-soluble micronutrient package containing manganese, zinc, magnesium and Harpin Plant Elicitor. Mantle® creates an environment on the plant leaf surface that discourages pathogen growth and stimulates physiological processes conducive to better plant growth. Mantle® should be applied at 10kg/ha during normal and high disease activity periods.

Preventative, non-pesticidal approach proves key

Preventative, non-pesticidal approach proves key

Over the winter of 2021-22, trials were conducted at the STRI along with Headland’s own study at the Origin Amenity Throws Technology Centre. The findings demonstrated extreme effectiveness of the 20-20-30 mix in preventing disease – with minimal disease at all recorded on the treated plots between the months of September to March, while an average of 13% disease content was recorded on control plots during the same period. Along with excellent control, visual merit was also apparent even in areas that were neighboured by severely affected plots. In addition, turf health was measured via NDVI (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index) readings where, again, the 20-20-30 mix maintained superior health to control.

John Hunnisett, Course Manager at Gillingham Golf Club recently discovered the 20-20-30 programme and credits the combination of products with making a huge difference to the health and presentation of the greens. “The combination of reducing organic matter and enhancing plant health with monthly applications of 20-20-30 between September and March has drastically reduced the amount of disease we registered – and what we did get was easily recoverable and didn’t lead to scarring.”

Essendon Country Club is another venue to benefit from the enhanced plant health mix, emerging from the autumn and winter of 2021 disease-free. “Where we would traditionally begin applications of 20-20-30+Mantle at the end of September, we brought this forward to the end of August last year because of the concerns we had about disease, Fusarium in particular” explains Director of Courses Marc Winnan. “The 20-20-30+Mantle was complemented with applications of DewCure™ to reduce leaf moisture and this combination, without a doubt, had a massive impact on protecting plant health and saw us get through the whole winter with no disease.”

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SAGE opens for early bird exhibitors

SAGE opens for early bird exhibitors: The UK’s biggest outdoor trade show for the sports and grounds maintenance industry, SAGE, (19th – 20th July 2023) has opened its books to exhibitors for 2023, with exclusive discounts for those who book their space early.

Hosted at the stunning Three Counties venue in Malvern, Worcestershire, SAGE focuses on live demonstrations and experiences, which is a unique draw for exhibitors and visitors, granting them the opportunity to thoroughly “try before they buy”.  The show returns in 2023, with sponsorship from Weibang® UK, and is set to be a highlight of the year for the sports and outdoor maintenance industries, offering visitors and businesses the chance to get hands-on with products to see how they perform.

SAGE opens for early bird exhibitors

SAGE opens for early bird exhibitors

Speaking of how SAGE has been developed and enhanced for 2023, Exhibition Manager, Vicky Panniers stated: “We’re so excited that SAGE is returning in 2023. We have had a great response from previous exhibitors and are really looking forward to being joined by many new names too.

“There has been a great deal of work put into SAGE to develop the show for 2023 to offer more for exhibitors and visitors, including the development of a new and improved website, which includes a fantastic service directory. On top of this, we have appointed a new, specialist PR agency to support with brand and event awareness to attract more visitors. We have also already secured a great deal of interest from new sectors.”

Sustainability is an important focus for the 2023 event, and it will proudly play host to the Sustainability Solutions for Grounds Specialists Summit live, in partnership with GRASS, and show organisers will be setting sustainability targets for SAGE to meet. It is also the nominated home event for the new forum GRASS, who will play a key role in the Sustainability section.

Discussing the show, Head of Environmental and Sustainability Stadia Projects at Bio-Circle, Mark Tomlinson commented: “As an exhibitor, I value an outdoor show and the space SAGE offers to bring live working demonstrations to the industry. This is exactly what the industry has asked for and brings quality visitors to a trade show who can see my products and services in action.”

Stands are currently available with a 15% early bird discount until 11th November. Early birds will also benefit from a free demonstration plot (where available) and free entry into the all-new online service directory – maximising their exposure and enhancing their promotion to visitors.

This year’s SAGE has got all the pieces in place to make it a landmark event in the groundscare calendar.

For more information, or to book exhibition space, please visit sportsandgrounds.events or contact Vicky Panniers vp@sportsandgrounds.co.uk.

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Pellenc is Grade A at Marchmont

Pellenc is Grade A at Marchmont: A range of Pellenc battery-powered equipment is helping to maintain the grounds at one of Scotland’s grandest mansions.

Marchmont House is a ‘Grade A’ listed Palladian mansion in Berwickshire built in 1750 by Hugh Hume-Campbell, 3rd Earl of Marchmont. It is regarded as one of the grandest mansions in Scotland and over the years has been home to makers and creators who have inspired many through creativity.

Pellenc is Grade A at Marchmont

Pellenc is Grade A at Marchmont

It is therefore fitting that Marchmont House uses a range of Pellenc battery-powered equipment – a brand which has based its success on a policy of continuous creative innovation.

The Pellenc equipment is used to help maintain the 5,000-acre estate at Marchmont House and Head Gardener Toby Loveday explained why.

“A big part of our ethos is nature conservation and our impact on the environment,” he said. “The idea has always been to try and move away from petrol powered machinery and start using battery operated equipment.

“Another reason was because we have a lot of events taking place and we wanted to be able to continue working, regardless of the presence of our visitors. To do this we needed to be able to work quietly and you get that with Pellenc equipment.

“The reason we chose Pellenc above other brands was because we wanted equipment which has been built to last. There is going to be a lot of use with this equipment over the next few years, and it must be reliable and able to perform at a really high level. We get this with Pellenc.”

Pellenc is the world’s leading expert in battery-powered tools for maintaining landscapes. Light, odourless, noise-free, with no starting problems and enough power to enable professional users to work for a full day on a single charge, it’s no wonder more and more professional users are turning to Pellenc. It is an attractive alternative to those who have, for several years, been relying on fuel-based machinery.

With an extensive product list available from Pellenc, Toby chose to invest in a whole new fleet consisting of Helion hedge-cutters, Rasion mowers, Excelion strimmers and Airion blowers, which he purchased through Agrovista Amenity.

“The mower has proved particularly good at getting between obstacles,” said Toby. “The Rasion is lightweight and manoeuvrable, and all the staff can use it in a trouble-free manner. It has great features and I like the ease at which you can adjust the height of cut and the variable speed settings.

Pellenc is Grade A at Marchmont

Pellenc is Grade A at Marchmont

“I also like the option of having different heads on the strimmers and the City Cut head has been particularly effective in dealing with brambles and some of the more awkward things to control. The hedgecutters, being lightweight and powerful, have been fantastic too.

“For us, the biggest benefits when it comes to using the Pellenc equipment have been the long battery-life, the low vibration levels, and the overall comfort for the operator. We can also use the equipment in all weathers which is important in the Scottish climate.

“I would recommend Pellenc to anybody who is considering switching to battery-powered equipment.”

Pellenc offers an industry leading 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 further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit www.pellencuk.com

You can watch an interview with Toby by clicking – https://youtu.be/zvcHUP70R4E

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

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Irrigation demo days a success

Irrigation demo days a success: Origin Amenity Solutions has seen an overwhelmingly positive response to its free irrigation demonstration day events, which have been held at golf clubs throughout the UK since August 2022.

Rain Bird is a leading global manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services. As the UK distributor for Rain Bird Golf, Origin Amenity Solutions is committed to education and training of greenkeepers throughout the UK to develop their knowledge on how the Rain Bird irrigation systems operate, and how they can improve their grounds maintenance processes and water conservation.

Irrigation demo days a success

Irrigation demo days a success

Starting at Stocks Golf Club in Hertfordshire in August 2022, the Irrigation demo days have been attended by over 100 delegates across six demonstrations, with more scheduled events throughout October.

The events feature live demonstrations of a range of Rain Bird sprinklers in action, as well as informative presentations on the wider RainBird range and the benefits provided.

Irrigation system hydraulics are covered, as well as how to operate an efficient and cost-effective irrigation system when working to a tight budget.

Irrigation Product Manager, Peter Robin, and Irrigation Sales Engineer, Richard Jones, deliver the events together. Peter demonstrates the RainBird sprinklers in action as well as fielding questions and showcasing the DAB Pump Sets, whilst Richard talks through the Rain Bird software for PC driven irrigation controllers.

In addition to the informative presentations and demonstrations, all attendees are awarded three CPD points.

Peter Robin, Origin Amenity Solutions Irrigation Product Manager, comments; “These events are something we’ve been asked for on numerous occasions and I am delighted to be able to deliver them at regular intervals. Attendance has been superb and feedback positive. I am pleased we can help build people’s knowledge on the Rain Bird Golf range and demonstrate the benefits. We have a few more events still to be delivered but I am expecting the same high turnout, so Richard and I look forward to these and building on this momentum.”

For more information or to register for a free event call 0700 138 7222 or visit www.originamenity.com

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Kubota opens new European Parts Centre

Kubota opens new European Parts Centre: Kubota has opened a new European Parts Centre (EUPC) to strengthen its global parts supply chain network.

Located in Thionville in the French region of Moselle, the new warehouse was built specifically as a dedicated parts distribution hub primarily to supply dealers and distributors across Europe and the UK, but with the ability to also support key regions such as the US and Japan.

Kubota opens new European Parts Centre

Kubota opens new European Parts Centre

Representing an investment of €15 million, Kubota’s new EUPC covers a footprint of 20,000 square metres, and currently employs around 90 staff. From this hub, dealers and distributors will have access to a vast stock of spare parts for agricultural, groundcare and construction products, and industrial engines, as it further strengthens its presence in Europe.

“The development of this extensive parts centre will provide greater access and availability to further support our existing regional parts supply operation in the UK,” explains Simon Chadbone, Kubota (UK)’s business development manager for parts.

“Having a European Parts Centre will greatly benefit our dealer and distributor network, by providing a more timely and cost-effective solution for the supply of original parts, which in turn will reduce the impact of downtime for our customers,” he adds.

Globally, Kubota has a spare parts strategy to build distribution centres that cover key regions in Japan, Europe and north America. This latest hub, centrally located in Europe, has a vital role in stocking a wide variety of parts and of sufficient volume, to ensure the best product availability across Europe.

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Upgrades and Launches for Etesia UK

Upgrades and Launches for Etesia UK: Etesia UK will have a range of pedestrian and ride-on mowers, brushcutters and the award-winning ET Lander electric utility vehicle on display at SALTEX 2022.

Etesia, located on stand E072, are specialists in building high quality grass cutting machinery and have been a regular exhibitor at SALTEX over the years, choosing the show as a platform to launch new products and make exciting announcements. This year is no exception.

Upgrades and Launches for Etesia UK

Upgrades and Launches for Etesia UK

In addition to showcasing many of their most popular products, Etesia UK will be launching the Electric Bahia M2EL lithium and will be announcing a new feature of the ET Lander electric utility vehicle.

The groundscare industry first got the chance to view the utility vehicle at SALTEX in November last year, where it won the prestigious SALTEX 2021 Innovation award within the vehicle category, while also finishing second within the environmentally friendly category.

The ET Lander will be returning to this year’s SALTEX but this time visitors will be pleased to see that the new models will be fully N1 homologation compliant meaning that the ET Lander will be fully road legal along with being able to be used off road.

The new models will also feature lithium-ion batteries which ensures that the range of the ET Lander will extend to 100km and have a charger system compatible with a standard type 2EV car charger. These models will also come in a new sleek, black option.

100% electric, spacious, well-equipped and user-friendly, it is built on a robust chassis and has an array of options including a three-way tipper bed with dual control from the fully fitted two-seater cab or by remote control when outside the vehicle. With a length of just 3.72 meters, the ET Lander is very compact. Thanks to the power steering, the short turning radius of 4.40 meters and 360 ° visibility, it goes anywhere. The autonomy of the vehicle lasts for a full working day – without noise pollution, can transport loads of up to 940kgs and can also tow up to 750kgs.

Etesia’s other exciting news is that the Bahia M2E – the world’s first 100% electric professional ride-on-mower with grass collection, is now powered by a 48V, 100Ah lithium battery. This enables users to get up to 4 hrs 30 mins of action before it needs recharging.

A pocket-size ride-on mower, just 0.82 m wide and 1.98 m long, the Etesia electric Bahia features an incredibly tight turning circle. It nips into every nook and cranny and can be easily transported. With its low centre of gravity, the Etesia electric Bahia’s 33/67 weight distribution on the front/rear axles make it a highly stable mower that masterfully copes with slopes.

It is also highly economical – the electric Bahia’s running costs are £0.35 against £3.57 for the petrol version and there are the obvious reduced maintenance costs – such as no belt, no filters, and no engine oil.

As always, the company’s knowledgeable staff will be available throughout the two days to advise and assist.

For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit www.etesia.co.uk.

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

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Allett announces lawn stripes champion

Allett announces lawn stripes champion: Now in its 10th year, the Allett Mowers annual Creative Lawn Stripes Competition once again attracted entries from all over the world. The prize is an Allett Liberty 43 mower with all cartridges and two cartridge stands.

The past few years have been tough for everyone, say Allett, but what they have noticed is a growth in lawn-care enthusiasts spending more time in their gardens. The aim of the competition is to encourage homeowners to use their lawns to design the most creative, eye-catching designs that truly show off the craftsmanship and dedication that goes into grass maintenance. The standard of this year’s entries has again been exceptional, and it gets better year on year. This year’s judge was 2021 Champion Dennis West of Provo, Utah, USA following an internal vote done by a specialist Allett panel with the top six entries forwarded to Dennis to choose the winner.

Allett announces lawn stripes champion

Allett announces lawn stripes champion

“It was an honour to be asked to judge this year’s competition,” he says, “the top six presented some very strong entries, all of which show a love for lawn creativity Picking one winner was a tough job, but after analysing the entries I found one that, for me, embodied not only lawn striping creativity, but also a representation of the beauty of the United Kingdom.”

The top six entries came from England, Wales, Australia and Canada and the 2022 Champion is Edward Aitken, Head Gardener at Cornbury House, Oxfordshire. Cornbury Park is a private estate in the town of Charlbury, fifteen miles from Oxford, England. The estate includes 1,700 acres of the most ancient forest in Britain and is host to events such as the award-winning Wilderness Festival and charity fundraisers. Ed has entered the Allett competition three times and been placed in the top six each time. The judges’ comments praised the standard achieved.

‘The combination of radiating, straight, and angled stripes in this expansive design brings to mind the sectional features of an aerial image of the English countryside with rolling hills divided by rock walls. The strong stripes that seamlessly blend from curved forms to straight demonstrate an expertise that ensured the final design met very particular standards of perfection’ Ed describes the process that led up to the winning design. “Our lawn is a very old lawn which we have been renovating to get it up to standard. It was cut with a ride-on originally, which didn’t pick up the grass clippings, so it was a bit of a mess. Now we cut with a Hayter 56 at various heights of cut. I changed the height depending on what part of the lawn I was cutting. The circle area has to be cut higher compared to the area closest to the house just because of the thickness of the lawn and how much thatch is left in the lawn. Each different pattern is cut at a different height, which helped to show off the pattern a bit more. The inspiration for the design comes from the centre circle part of the lawn where the chequerboard is, which is actually a helicopter landing area. The idea was that it looked amazing when the family and their guests were coming in in the helicopters, which I thought was quite effective. Once I’d cut the circles, it was a case of breaking the lawn up into a couple of different sections and making sure it looked nice as you’re looking out. The family I work for have an outdoor eating area just outside the house so it looks good when they’re looking over the garden. I’d say it’s taken about a year to get it looking good. I cut it once a week with certain areas cut twice a week, so the central checkerboard area is cut twice a week in a different direction. I’m delighted to win as I’ve entered three times now. I was third the first time, second the last time. I thought I’d stand a chance this year with the circles making it an interesting lawn, so I’m very pleased to have won. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with the prize. I’ll probably use it in my own garden at home as I’ve got quite a large lawn. Maybe I will start doing some patterns!” Competition judge Dennis West’s final comment was to offer congratulations to all the finalists, saying, to make it this far is quite an accomplishment. “Most of the winners in recent years entered more than once before winning the prize, so keep entering and you may be next!”

2nd Place

Paul Wigman Nottingham

Head Gardener Clumber Lodge

3rd Place

Emile Hernandez gardener

Somerville College Oxford

4th Place

Simon Rice, South Australia

5th Place 

Dan Milne Canada

6th place

Tom Frampton, Wales

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Love at first sight

Love at first sight: Two ISEKI compact tractors are making a difference at Powfoot Golf Club and Head Greenkeeper Neil Hamilton claims they struck a chord from the very first demonstration.

Set in breathtaking scenery in Dumfriesshire, South West Scotland, Powfoot Golf Course presents a mixture of both links and parkland golf. Opened in 1903 and redesigned by the legendary James Braid in 1923, the course offers a superb test of golf with its many challenging holes which are set among whins and rough and has earned Powfoot the tag of ‘one of golf’s best kept secrets’.

Love at first sight

Love at first sight

Neil and his two trusty assistants maintain this wonderful course and for the last 5 years the team has had a little help from two ISEKI tractors in the TG range. It was love at first sight according to Neil.

“We originally had a demonstration with a few various tractors from different manufacturers, but we just loved the ISEKI models from the very first minute,” he said.

lSEKI’s TG Series sets the benchmark for compact tractor performance. Designed and manufactured in Japan, the TG Series is built to exceptional standards of quality — starting from the front lights through to the back three-point linkage. Every component, including the engine and transmission, features lSEKI’s stamp of approval for quality and excellence that is rarely seen in the compact tractor category. With a host of options and features to choose from, the lSEKI TG Series provides unrivalled reliability to get the job done fast, efficiently and in comfort.

Neil opted for the TG6495 – a 47 hp tractor with the innovative IQ dual-clutch 24-speed transmission and the TG6675 – a 65 hp tractor with a 6-speed hydrostatic transmission.

He provided a glimpse of how the two are commonly used on the course.

“We use the TG6675 with the front loader on it to do some flailing work – this is to thin out the roughs, to get rid of the coarse grasses and to promote the fine grasses.

“The TG6495 is used to pull the trailer and then we tip all the grass cuttings into it and then dispose of them. With the IQ transmission we can change gear without dipping the clutch, which is a massive advantage when you are working and doing flailing jobs.

“I also like the Headland management system, which is very important when you are vertidraining. It helps a lot because at the end of each line you don’t need to keep operating levers, you can just lift it to the desired height that you have set it to.”

Users of the TG range also frequently praise the spacious factory fitted cabins which are available on all models and come fitted with air conditioning as standard. All control elements are extremely clear and positioned in a readily accessible manner within the field of vision of the driver, reducing fatigue.

“The main benefits of these tractors are the ease of use and the comfort in the cab,” continued Neil. “If you are in it for long periods of time, it has everything you need from air conditioning to a radio which keeps us entertained.

“The way everything is situated around the operator is also great – from the PTO button, the throttle shifter, to the lifter which enables you to lift the arms at the back.

“We have had the tractors for approximately five years, and we will continue to use ISEKI in the future because of the reliability of them and the ease of operation.

“The dealer (Rickerby Horticulture) has been brilliant through the whole process, but I can’t really comment on the back-up because nothing has ever gone wrong with them – so in this respect, the less we see of the dealer the better!

“Ultimately, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the ISEKI tractors to any golf course.”

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Trencher Hire service just the job

Trencher Hire service just the job: A Toro TRX-16 pedestrian trencher – supplied with operator – dug-out 400 metres of trenching in challenging land conditions in just one and a half days to the delight of customer Steve Stringfellow.

Steve, who lives in a remote farmhouse in Lincolnshire, wanted to lay a new water line from his house to the main water main, as the old existing iron water pipe ran across the farmer’s field and during ploughing often got damaged.

Trencher Hire service just the job

Trencher Hire service just the job

He commented: “We expected some problems with the property being built in 1850. The ground is fairly heavy clay agricultural land, with lots of trees and other obstacles within it. My initial reaction was to get a JCB for the job, but realised that this would have caused a great deal of disruption. I also calculated that around 84 tons of sand would have been needed to backfill the trenches, which would have proved costly both in terms of buying the sand and the labour needed to do the work.

“One of my colleagues, who had used Trencher Hire UK in the past, recommended them. When I contacted the Operations Manager Steve Kingdom, he ran through a few options open to me and I selected a Toro TRX-16 with operator.

“Not only was the trencher cheaper to hire than a JCB but, with its narrow-gauge cutter, could access areas a digger couldn’t. In addition, the narrow neat channels created by the Toro meant that probably only 30 tons of sand would be needed to backfill afterwards – saving both material and labour costs compared to a digger.

“The trencher operator Paul was brilliant and cracked on with the job straight away, but was also honest and upfront highlighting patches of ground where he could not get the Toro through and had to find another path.

“The new 32mm water pipe has been re-routed, but did have to pass over the old one and Paul was able to dig down without damaging it.

Most of the trenching was dug-out to a depth of 650mm and 100mm wide, but in some places adjustments were needed to be made because of large rocks and other obstacles. This meant that in some areas he only dug down to a depth of 500mm, or even as low as 400mm.

“I could not fault the service from Trencher Hire – it was ‘spot-on’. They arrived on time, did the job that they agreed to do and with no excess costs.

To find out how Trencher Hire UK call help, contact us on: 0121 751 9319, or email: team@trencherhire.com or visit our website: www.trencherhire.com

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