Holcim Pro Range aims for enhanced playability

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Holcim Pro Range aims for enhanced playability: Holcim UK has launched a Pro Range of sports sands and rootzones developed to keep football pitches in peak condition throughout the year.

With many pitches struggling to open during the wetter winter months, the Pro Range of sands has been developed to help improve drainage, durability and ultimately aid player performance.

Holcim Pro Range aims for enhanced playability

Holcim Pro Range aims for enhanced playability

The Pro Range, which includes world renowned specialist sands Levenseat and Garside from quarries at Fauldhouse, Scotland and Leighton Buzzard in England, are laboratory-tested sands that can be matched to different applications and ground conditions.

For football and rugby grounds staff, Holcim has developed a range of sands for both natural and synthetic pitches.

Levenseat ProPitch is a specialist washed silica sand for natural pitches that can be used for medium fine moist top dressing, rootzone sand or where pitch amelioration is required.

Both the ProPitch 20 & ProPitch 25 have a high performing percolation rate which will improve any area where drainage is an issue – in turn improving durability, playability and player safety.

The range also includes Levenseat ProPitch Rootzone for improved grass root growth and an enhanced version, Levenseat ProPitch™ 20 Rootzone. Both versions use silica sand to enhance drainage.

Four different versions of the Garside ProPitch sand are available, including ProPitch Medium for amelioration and top dressing on natural pitches and ProPitch Elite, a highly permeable infill sand for artificial pitches requiring increased penetrability.

In addition, ProPitch 2EW is a specific sports infill sand that can be used on both natural and artificial pitches and is ideal for sports pitches because of its inherent drainage characteristics and consistent hard-wearing capabilities.

Top dressing sand is also a key part of the range. ProPitch Top Dress is crucial for maintaining a pitch’s permeability, especially in wet conditions, providing a more stable playing surface.

Holcim UK, recently rebranded from Aggregate Industries, can supply the Pro Range using its nationwide logistics network that promises contractors and grounds staff rapid delivery of the sand products needed for their facility or event.

Mark Hickingbottom, General Manager for Garside Sands at Holcim UK says the Pro Range is not just for elite sports: “The Pro Range is aimed at those professional grounds staff who want to give their members, players and users the ultimate performance-ready surface, either natural or synthetic, that combines both playability and durability.

“In recent years, often due to changing rainfall patterns resulting from climate change, sports facilities of all kinds have been forced to close temporarily, postpone fixtures and deny their use to members, which has had an enormous impact on club finances and the health and well-being of players and participants.”

Duncan McCool, Sales Manager for Levenseat Sands at Holcim UK adds: “The Pro Range with its market-leading percolation rate, improved aeration and stable surface, aims to help keep facilities open by providing outstanding surfaces that can withstand the changing seasons and be performance-ready throughout the year.”

To learn more about Holcim’s Pro Range of specialist sports sands, visit www.holcim.co.uk/products/aggregates/sands/sports-sands.

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Green-tech’s new Landscaping & Grounds Maintenance brochure

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Green-tech’s new Landscaping & Grounds Maintenance brochure: Green-tech, the UK’s leading landscaping and grounds maintenance supplier, has launched a new 50-page seasonal brochure packed with essential products and trusted solutions for summer maintenance.

The brochure can be downloaded from the Green-tech website (www.green-tech.co.uk), or you can request a printed copy by emailing marketing@green-tech.co.uk.

Green-tech's new Landscaping & Grounds Maintenance brochure

Green-tech’s new Landscaping & Grounds Maintenance brochure

Tailored for landscape contractors, grounds maintenance teams, estate managers, and local authorities, it brings together Green-tech’s most popular and effective products to help maintain green spaces during the demanding summer months.

The brochure includes a wide choice of professional grass seed and wildflower seed mixes suited to a range of applications, from high-wear school pitches to biodiversity-rich verges and open spaces. It also features fertilisers, weed control products, pesticides, barks, composts, soil improvers, and weed suppressant fabrics; all supported by technical advice from Green-tech’s experienced team.

To support year-round maintenance, the brochure showcases hard surface cleaners, application equipment, reinforcement products for grass and turf areas, and a comprehensive range of edging systems and landscaping tools.

Green-tech’s Sales Director, Richard Gill, comments, “Our new brochure is designed to simplify summer maintenance planning. Whether you’re maintaining school grounds, public parks, commercial or domestic landscapes, you’ll find proven products that work. Green-tech holds high stock levels and delivers quickly to give landscape professionals the products they need when needed, from one supplier.”

Green-tech is recognised as the go-to supplier for the UK landscaping industry, offering over 5,000 products and an unrivalled level of service and technical support. Working across landscaping, forestry, construction, and amenity management sectors, the company champions product innovation and sustainability.

In 2025, Green-tech was proudly named Pro Landscaper’s Service and Supplier Company of the Year, acknowledging its commitment to customer excellence and its leading role in supporting the success of the UK landscaping sector.

To view the brochure or explore the full product range, visit: www.green-tech.co.uk

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Origin Welcomes New Seeds and Turf Product Manager

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Origin Welcomes New Seeds and Turf Product Manager: Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS) is pleased to announce that Luke Hunt has been appointed as their new Seeds and Turf Product Manager, effective Monday, 19th May 2025.

Luke brings over two decades of industry experience, a strong technical background, and genuine enthusiasm for turf and seed, making him an exciting addition to the business.

Origin Welcomes New Seeds and Turf Product Manager

Origin Welcomes New Seeds and Turf Product Manager

Luke joins OAS from Barenbrug UK, where he was the Amenity Business Development Manager responsible for managing a portfolio of distributor accounts and helping bring new research-led products to market.

With a career that spans 24 years, including a decade spent as a greenkeeper, Luke has a reputation for his practical knowledge, strategic thinking, and collaborative approach. He has extensive experience across both grass and wildflower seed markets.

Luke will work closely with the wider OAS team to advance the company’s seed strategy. He will also play a key role in developing innovative and sustainable products that support customer-led initiatives, integrated supply chains, and marketing campaigns in line with the company’s longer-term strategic goals.

Commenting on the appointment, Jayne Leyland, Portfolio Director for OAS, said, “I am delighted to welcome Luke to Origin Amenity Solutions. His depth of experience and technical expertise are clear, but his passion for the industry and his ability to connect with customers stand out. I am looking forward to seeing the positive impact he will make.”

Luke Hunt adds, “I’m genuinely excited to join the OAS team at such a progressive and forward-thinking time for the business. Origin’s values around sustainability, innovation, and strong customer relationships resonate with me. I’m looking forward to working alongside a passionate and knowledgeable team, building on the existing momentum, and helping to evolve the seeds and turf offering to deliver real value for our customers and the environments they manage.

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A Trilo proves multipurpose in name and nature

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A Trilo proves multipurpose in name and nature: A Trilo Multipurpose is proving to be exactly that, by name and by nature, for the team at Highfield and Brookham School.

Delivered in February 2025, the M3 was brought in to replace an existing Trilo S3 vacuum sweeper enabling Grounds Manager Jasper Marks and the team to not only conduct leaf clearance, but also scarification and cut and collect tasks around the 500 acres of school grounds and estate.

A Trilo proves multipurpose in name and nature

A Trilo proves multipurpose in name and nature

Jasper took over the head role in 2022, having worked at the co-educational school as a groundsman since 2019, and is currently supported by a team of three grounds staff and a part-time gardener. On the border of West Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire, the site is densely tree-populated which meant that the Trilo machine had always been a firm favourite on the fleet. This opinion looks set to stay with their latest purchase, bringing new-found versatility and productivity to maintenance tasks around the calendar.

He explains, “The S3 was a fantastic machine, robust and efficient, which would be used for leaf collection, road sweeping and general clearance of clippings and debris over the autumn and winter months. I then discovered the Multipurpose M3, which was capable of doing everything the S3 could, with the addition of flail and scarifying shafts to cut or scarify and collect all with one unit. It’s transformed the Trilo into a machine that we can fully utilise all year round.”

While only a matter of months since the M3 was installed by dealers Lister Wilder and Trilo’s Jeremy Vincent, it is already demonstrating its key trait – versatility! “We have a 9-hole golf course on the estate where the Trilo has been used to assist with cut and collect of the roughs. The large 3m3 hopper means we can cut for longer without having to make as many trips to our green waste area to empty. It’s keeping us productive, for longer.” Jasper continues, “After that, we equipped it with the scarifier shaft for use on our sports pitches. We previously hired a machine for this which often meant we were scarifying in less than idea conditions. Now we can do it ourselves whenever the weather or play schedule allows which will bring huge improvements to pitch quality.”

“What also really impressed me was the service we received from Jeremy. While the machine, in principle, is not wildly different from the S3 we were using before, no corners were cut with the handover & installation to ensure the team were confident and would get the very best out of the machine.”

“We traded in one machine and gained three in return, but needed to find no extra space in the shed as the footprint is near enough identical” he added. “It’s going to become a pivotal part of the team as we continue to drive up standards for our students and wider community to enjoy.”

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Support Greenkeepers tackling driest spring in 70 years

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Support Greenkeepers tackling driest spring in 70 years: The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) is calling on golf clubs and golfers across the UK to support their members as we face our driest spring for decades.

Following some exceptionally wet recent winters, the spring of 2025 has brought a stark contrast. According to the Met Office, rainfall across many regions has been at historic lows. Wales recorded its driest March since 1944, while East Anglia experienced its second-driest March on record. With May showing little improvement, greenkeepers are under extreme pressure to maintain playing surfaces amid growing turf stress.

Support Greenkeepers tackling driest spring in 70 years

Support Greenkeepers tackling driest spring in 70 years

David Byron, Head Greenkeeper at Thorndon Park Golf Club in Essex, said: “It’s very, very dry. It’s the driest start to spring in nearly 70 years. We’ve had almost no rain, and what we have had has come in just one hit.

“In our fairways, we’re down to about 3–4% moisture content. Normally, you’d want 10 to 15% for the grass species we have.”

These conditions are presenting major challenges for turf recovery and maintenance. Areas without irrigation, such as fairways, are suffering, while teams attempt to preserve greens and tees with limited water resources.

Royal Aberdeen’s Course Manager, Richard Johnstone, said he had recorded just 11mm of rainfall between April and early May: “We’re experiencing extreme weather patterns. There’s no longer a balance. Instead, we’re seeing one extreme or the other – either constant pouring rain or complete drought.

“There doesn’t seem to be much consistency anymore, and that presents some big challenges.”

Paul Woodham, The R&A’s Agronomy Lead for Europe and the UK, noted that warm days combined with cold nights have disrupted seasonal growth, resulting in stressed grass and delayed recovery from winter damage.

Clubs are encouraged to communicate openly with their members, sharing insight into current conditions and course management strategies. Transparent engagement and social media updates are key tools to foster support.

“Our advice to clubs is to engage in professional dialogue with your Course Manager, set agreed objectives and show open support for your team of greenkeepers,” said BIGGA’s CEO Jim Croxton.

“They will be much more motivated and determined to overcome these challenges with strong support from their members.”

“As course managers, it’s our responsibility to communicate and educate,” said Johnstone. “We need to use various channels like social media, blogs, and other platforms to help people understand the current conditions and our management approach.”

For more information about BIGGA and its various activities including how to become a member, visit www.bigga.org.uk

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