Pitch Perfection at Plymouth Argyle

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Pitch Perfection at Plymouth Argyle: Chris Ralph, Grounds Manager at Plymouth Argyle Football Club, knows that maintaining consistent, high-quality playing surfaces across the club’s grounds is essential for performance and safety.

With a wealth of experience that spans both golf and football, including stints at Torquay United and now Plymouth Argyle for the last six years, Chris has seen firsthand how Mansfield Sand’s products can elevate pitch quality.

Pitch Perfection at Plymouth Argyle

Pitch Perfection at Plymouth Argyle

“When I moved to Plymouth Argyle using Mansfield Sand was a natural choice,” Chris explains. “Our contractors also recommended it, so when we decided to upgrade to a hybrid pitch, we went with their 90/10 rootzone blend.”

The club recently underwent a pitch transformation, installing a SIS hybrid system with a 90/10 rootzone mix from Mansfield Sand. This blend, made of 90% sand and 10% organic materials, offers the ideal balance for aeration, drainage, and stability—especially crucial for the demands of high-level football. “We also took out about 1,400 tonnes of Fibresand from the old stadium pitch and moved it to a training pitch,” Chris explains. “This upgrade has massively improved the quality of that pitch.”

In his role, Chris oversees maintenance not only for the stadium pitch but also for the training ground and academy surfaces. His team of six relies on Mansfield Sand’s products for consistency across all locations. “Sand is hugely important. Once you get the right product, it helps maintain drainage rates and keeps things uniformed across all the sites ensuring the pitches are consistent.”

Chris plans to incorporate periodic mini-renovations on the new hybrid pitch, using Mansfield Sand’s products to keep the surface clean, smooth, and high-performing. “We’ll probably add around 16 to 20 tonnes a couple of times over the season,” Chris notes, emphasising the importance of ongoing care in maintaining the surface’s quality.

Reliability is also key for Chris and his team, and Mansfield Sand has consistently delivered. “We’ve never had any issues with their products,” Chris says. “They’re clean, high-quality, and always delivered on time. Gary Cunningham, our contact, is always available to help out whenever needed.”

With Mansfield Sand’s support and high-quality products, Chris and his team have found a trusted partner in maintaining Plymouth Argyle’s pitches.

For more information visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk

You can also follow the company on Twitter – @MansfieldSand and Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MansfieldSandSportSurfaces/

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Increased collaboration between John Deere and Wiedenmann

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Increased collaboration between John Deere and Wiedenmann: Under a strategic marketing agreement covering the UK, Ireland and Europe, Wiedenmann turf equipment is available for purchase through John Deere dealerships. 

Global machinery manufacturer John Deere and turf maintenance specialist Wiedenmann will continue to share technology and work on development projects together under the agreement which was established in 2021.

Increased collaboration between John Deere and Wiedenmann

Increased collaboration between John Deere and Wiedenmann

The agreement has been extended to provide all John Deere dealers with access to the ever-growing Wiedenmann range of market-leading specialist machinery for turf maintenance and regeneration.

John Deere Division Sales Manager for Golf and Turf, Chris Meacock, said: “This partnership is beneficial to turf customers who want to access Wiedenmann’s catalogue of products through John Deere’s extensive dealer network.

“Wiedenmann products are routinely used with John Deere machinery so we see this as a natural fit. Our dealers are able to offer the same great service they provide for John Deere products with Wiedenmann machinery.”

Wiedenmann UK Sales Manager, Michael James, said: “I welcome the opportunity to continue to grow our company’s sales by supplying John Deere users with turf maintenance and regeneration solutions. I look forward to demonstrating the benefits of our innovative range to new and existing customers moving forward.”

Wiedenmann will exhibit a Terra Spike SL6 deep aerator on the John Deere stand at this year’s BTME event, taking place next week. The machine will be attached to a 2038R tractor fitted with GPS. This high precision aerator package utilises John Deere Precision Turf Technology which increases productivity and sports turf quality.

The John Deere team will be available at stand 222 at BTME in Harrogate from 21-23 January to provide further information.

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DSV’s PRO Bent Delivers Exceptional Results at Millbrook Golf Club

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DSV’s PRO Bent Delivers Exceptional Results at Millbrook Golf Club: Millbrook Golf Club’s greens are thriving thanks to the use of DSV’s PRO Bent grass seed, which has aligned perfectly with the greenkeeping team’s ethos of continuous improvement.

Chris Jones, Deputy Head Greenkeeper at Millbrook, reflects on the transformation since incorporating the PRO Bent seed, working closely with Craig Rodwell from Soil Biology Ltd – a DSV distributor, to ensure the best results for the course.

DSV's PRO Bent Delivers Exceptional Results at Millbrook Golf Club

DSV’s PRO Bent Delivers Exceptional Results at Millbrook Golf Club

Located in the scenic Bedfordshire countryside, Millbrook Golf Club is a course rich in history and renowned for its beautifully maintained greens. The club, nestled between the village of Millbrook and Woburn Forest, boasts year-round playability due to its elevated position on the Greensand Ridge and its free-draining sandy soil. The course is a mix of heathland and links-style features, with indigenous pine and silver birch lining many of the holes, creating a challenging yet enjoyable environment for golfers.

Chris Jones has been with the club for 18 years and shares a deep connection with it. “The majority of the people who work here tend to stay here. We’re always trying to improve and push the course forward. The course is unrecognisable from what it was when I started; literally, every hole has had some improvement, whether it’s the putting surface, bunkers, or new tees. We’re not just maintaining – we’re here to improve and push it further and further,” he said.

When their previous seed supplier underwent changes, Chris and the team began looking for alternatives. It was then that Craig Rodwell, a consultant from Soil Biology Ltd, introduced them to a range of nutritional products and DSV’s PRO Bent grass seed. From the start, the results were impressive. “By the end of the summer, we noticed remarkable improvements in the greens, including better root systems, healthier plants, and a reduction in thatch. We even went through the winter virtually disease-free,” Chris explained.

PRO Bent is part of DSV’s EuroGrass range, a collection of high-performing seed mixtures developed to meet the specific needs of golf courses and sports pitches. PRO Bent, made up of 100% Browntop bentgrass, is particularly suited for summer and autumn overseeding, as well as species exchange operations. It offers excellent density, drought tolerance, and is ideal for close mowing—making it perfect for maintaining high-quality greens.

Chris highlighted how they overseeded all 18 greens at Millbrook. “We got very quick germination—almost 100%—in just six days, even while people were still playing on the course. By the weekend, the greens were already a good putting surface.”

The positive feedback from both members and visitors has been overwhelming. “We’ve had a lot of compliments about the greens not just from members but also from visitors. It’s great to be recognised, especially since there are so many good golf courses around us. The hard work is really paying off,” Chris said.

The results have been so impressive that Millbrook has expanded its use of DSV products beyond the greens, applying them to the tees and fairways as well. “Once we saw the germination, we quickly realised this was money well spent. The most important thing is getting good seed strike, and that it’s surviving the winters. It’s been progressing each year, and that’s the hardest part with overseeding—getting the cultivars to thrive,” Chris added.

DSV's PRO Bent Delivers Exceptional Results at Millbrook Golf Club

DSV’s PRO Bent Delivers Exceptional Results at Millbrook Golf Club

The success at Millbrook has also been bolstered by the guidance and expertise of Craig Rodwell, who has provided invaluable support throughout the process. “Craig has been fantastic. He has a lot of knowledge and is always there to offer advice,” Chris said.

Craig also praised the EuroGrass range for its suitability to Millbrook’s conditions: “DSV has some excellent cultivars that are healthy and wear tolerant. They’ve really fitted the bill for this type of course.”

Thanks to DSV’s PRO Bent and the ongoing collaboration with Soil Biology, Millbrook Golf Club’s greens are in top condition, demonstrating that continuous improvement and the right products can truly elevate the quality of a golf course.

Chris concludes, “From the results we’ve had, I’d recommend DSV’s PRO Bent to anyone. It’s been a game-changer for us, and we’re excited to see how it continues to improve the course year after year.”

Please visit www.dsv-uk.co.uk for more information.

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Corrina Urquhart assumes permanent leadership at BASIS

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Corrina Urquhart assumes permanent leadership at BASIS: Corrina Urquhart, who has been serving as interim CEO of BASIS since November 2024, is now stepping into the permanent role of CEO, assuming responsibility for this training, certification and auditing body.

William Burgess, chairman of BASIS, commented : “With Corrina at the helm, BASIS has found the right leader at the right time. In a short span of time, she has provided stability and clear direction. Both I and the Board of Trustees are confident that she will develop a refreshed vision for BASIS and brings with her great energy to achieve this. We are all looking forward to working with her further to drive the business forward.’’

Corrina Urquhart assumes permanent leadership at BASIS

Corrina Urquhart assumes permanent leadership at BASIS

Before her appointment as CEO, Corrina was Director of External Relations at Lantra; a significant milestone of her 18-year career in education, research, and policy. Her accomplishments include spearheading industry-first initiatives including the annual Land-Based and Environment Learner (LBEL) Awards, a deep dive into diversity issues in the environmental sector and a comprehensive evaluation of advisory services within the agricultural industry.

In 2024, Corrina was recognised for her inspirational leadership skills as a finalist of the national Woman Who Achieves Awards.

Corrina Urquhart said: ‘’I am honoured to lead BASIS and its dedicated team into its next phase. Our focus will be on improving the organisation’s ability to positively impact on people and businesses in the land management, environmental, and amenity sectors.’’

She continued ‘’Under my leadership, BASIS will adopt a proactive approach to engagement. In January alone, I look forward to meeting with members and stakeholders at key industry events including the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC), and the UK Lawncare Association Annual Conference, plus a site visit through the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA).’’

BASIS is an independent organisation committed to providing professional qualifications, membership schemes, and certification standards for the land management, environmental, and amenity sectors. It offers a range of recognised qualifications for professionals working in pesticides, fertilisers and related fields. BASIS also operates an annual audit scheme for UK pesticides stores and rodenticide outlets, ensuring operations minimise risk to people and the environment. Additionally, it manages the professional registers of more than 12,000 qualified advisers in the plant protection, plant nutrition and public health pest management sectors; while serving as a forum for industry bodies and stakeholders to uphold and promote professional standards..

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PSD to launch EcoCure at BTME

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PSD to launch EcoCure at BTME: PSD Groundscare are all geared up for next week’s BTME show, which will see the promotion of the ELIET Turfcare range and the launch of a new product, EcoCure.

Over the past decade, ELIET has established itself as a complete supplier for lawn care and fine turf renovation and the manufacturer is now offering a new product to add to the range of climate range solutions. – the ELIET EcoCure ZR WS, a self-propelled topdresser which improves lawn and turf quality.

PSD to launch EcoCure at BTME

PSD to launch EcoCure at BTME

The ELIET EcoCure ZR WS is only 90cm wide fits through narrow spaces. The movement drive is fully hydrostatic with continuously adjustable forward and reverse speed, making the machine very manurable and allowing optimal topdressing both forwards and reverse.

Other features include:

  • A large 400 litre load container
  • Large tyres to distribute the load so the machine leaves no marks
  • A 45cm wide conveyor belt, hydraulically driven and electrically activated via a switch
  • Spreading materials fall on to two fast rotating hydraulically-driven spreading discs to evenly eject materials up to 5 metres

BTME is hailed as Europe’s premier turf management exhibition – the must attend event for anyone involved in the golf course or turf management sector.

In addition. PSD will also be showcasing their recently launched SABO range of mowers. The Export Sales Manager from SABO Hermann Kowalenko, along with Gracienne Geenens, the ELIET Sales Director, will both be attending the event, offering customers and prospective dealers the opportunity to get expert advice first hand.

Stuart Mercer of PSD said:

“We are exceptionally excited to have the opportunity to promote our product range at BTME and to launch the exciting new EcoCure and take our comprehensive range of SABO and GRIN mowers to market. It is sure to be a fantastic event.”

STAND DETAILS: PSD Groundscare, Stand 116 –

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