Christina Walker joins the GroundsFest sales team

Christina Walker joins the GroundsFest sales team

/in , , /by

Christina Walker joins the GroundsFest sales team

GroundsFest has welcomed Christina Walker to its sales team as preparations continue for the 2027 exhibition.

Christina Walker joins the GroundsFest sales team

Christina Walker joins the GroundsFest sales team

Christina joins the award-winning team with an extensive background in publishing and exhibitions spanning more than two decades. She began her career working on leading publications including The Engineer and New Scientist before moving into the exhibition industry.

She spent 17 years at the prestigious Four Oaks Trade Show, working alongside the late Pat Coutts before leading the event through two highly successful post-Covid editions. Most recently, she spent almost three years at HortWeek, where she developed industry partnerships and led the collaborative presence of landscape and horticulture organisations, including GroundsFest, at New Scientist Live.

Her appointment further strengthens the GroundsFest team as the event continues its rapid growth, having become the UK’s largest event for the grounds management, landscaping and amenity sectors in just four years.

Christina said: “I’m delighted to be joining the wonderful GroundsFest team, with whom I share a passion for the sector and a desire to deliver excellence.

“I’ve watched GroundsFest grow, becoming the largest, best and most fun event in the landscape, amenity and grounds management sectors in such a short time. It’s down to the hard work, professionalism and innovation of the team. They simply don’t stop and are always looking to improve, innovate and they dare to do things differently – which I really admire.

“I’ll be bringing my own energy, experience and ideas, working closely with Lindsay Bassett on The Landscape Zone. We want to hear from anyone considering joining us so that we can work together on developing an even bigger, better and more exciting Landscape Zone at GroundsFest for 2027.”

For more information, visit at www.groundsfest.com

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters

Origin Green-Tech opens its doors to GRO members

Origin Green-Tech opens its doors to GRO members

/in , /by

Origin Green-Tech opens its doors to GRO members

Origin Green-tech recently welcomed members of the Green Roof Organisation (GRO) to its Knaresborough headquarters for a day of networking, knowledge-sharing and a behind-the-scenes look at the business and operational facilities.

Origin Green-Tech opens its doors to GRO members

Origin Green-Tech opens its doors to GRO members

The visit reflects Origin Green-tech’s wider commitment to building strong industry relationships, regularly welcoming customers, suppliers and industry partners to share expertise, exchange ideas and explore opportunities for collaboration.

GRO members joined the Origin Green-tech team for a series of presentations focusing on the company’s role in supporting sustainable landscaping and green infrastructure projects, with particular emphasis on green roof solutions.

Richard Gill, Landscapes & Land Management Director, opened the event with an overview of Origin Green-tech, its position within Origin Enterprises plc and the breadth of products, expertise and services available across the business.

Further presentations explored the technical solutions offered by its specialist brands, John Chambers Wildflowers and Green-tree, focusing on wildflower seed mixtures, biodiversity net gain (BNG) and green roof substrates, along with the role these products play in creating sustainable, biodiverse landscapes.

In addition, the event provided an opportunity for GRO members to network, share experiences and discuss developments and challenges across the green roof and wider landscaping sectors.

The visit concluded with a guided tour of Origin Green-tech’s Knaresborough facilities, where members gained a first-hand insight into the company’s warehouse operations, extensive stockholding capabilities and soil mixing bays. The tour also highlighted the logistical operations across its Knaresborough, Snitterby and Essex sites, demonstrating the infrastructure behind supplying specialist products to projects across the UK.

Richard Gill from Origin Green-tech, commented, “Strong industry relationships are built on more than simply supplying products. Bringing people together, sharing knowledge and giving them an insight into our business are all important parts of how Origin Green-tech works.  We enjoy welcoming visitors; it gives us an opportunity to exchange ideas; understand the challenges facing the industry and explore how we can work together to deliver better outcomes. It was a pleasure to welcome GRO members to Knaresborough. Green infrastructure has an increasingly important role to play in creating sustainable, resilient landscapes, and opportunities to share expertise and strengthen industry connections are incredibly valuable.”

Chris Bridgman, Chair of the Board of GRO added, “It was a brilliant day with Origin Green-tech on our GRO Member’s Tour. We were able to meet the team, explore their site, and find out more about the business, its products and the work that goes into supporting landscaping and green infrastructure projects. A huge thank you to Origin Green-tech for welcoming us and giving our members such an interesting insight into the business.”

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters

Kress blowers help Forest Green Rovers beat the frost

Kress blowers help Forest Green Rovers beat the frost

/in , /by

Kress blowers help Forest Green Rovers beat the frost

When freezing temperatures threaten the pitches at Forest Green Rovers FC, speed is everything. Protecting the stadium and training ground with frost covers can be a race against the weather, but thanks to Kress battery-powered blowers, the club’s grounds team has found a faster and more efficient way to get the job done.

Kress blowers help Forest Green Rovers beat the frost

Kress blowers help Forest Green Rovers beat the frost

Head Groundsman Nick Johnstone and his team have discovered an unexpected use for the Kress blowers, using them to lift and separate frost sheets with air so they can be rolled out quickly when time is of the essence.

“When we come into the winter months and have to deploy frost sheets, the Kress blowers have actually halved the time it takes us to get the covers rolled out,” said Nick. “It means we can react much quicker when we’ve only got a short window to get the pitches protected.”

The time-saving benefit became particularly apparent during a busy fixture schedule when Forest Green Rovers faced a Tuesday evening match followed by another game just a few days later, with temperatures forecast to fall to as low as minus six degrees overnight.

“We knew we needed to get the pitches covered straight after the game,” he explained. “That was probably the first time we realised just how much time the equipment was saving us.

“We had one person going ahead using the blower to lift and separate the frost sheets while the rest of us rolled them out behind. It just made the whole process so much quicker and meant we could get home at a reasonable hour before coming back in early the next morning.”

The quicker deployment doesn’t just benefit the grounds team – it also helps protect the playing surface.

“When temperatures are below zero, you want to leave the covers on for as long as you possibly can,” said Nick. “Knowing we can put them on and take them off so quickly gives us real peace of mind because it means we can protect the pitches for longer from those harsh conditions.”

Both the Kress backpack blower and handheld blower have become invaluable during the winter months, but Nick says their versatility extends well beyond frost protection.

“We’ve used both the backpack blower and the handheld blower and they’re both equally as good,” he said. “They’ve genuinely made us more productive. We use them all year round and even for jobs they probably weren’t originally intended for.”

The blowers form part of Forest Green Rovers’ wider range of Kress battery-powered equipment, which also includes mowers, strimmers and hedge trimmers used across the stadium and Eco Park training facilities.

For Nick, the performance of the equipment has been every bit as impressive as its sustainability credentials.

“The Kress equipment is really easy to use, and you don’t compromise on power,” he said. “We’ve actually found it’s saved us time across a number of different tasks compared to battery equipment we’ve used in the past. It’s made us more productive and more efficient in our day-to-day work.”

Nick also praised the battery technology, particularly during busy periods when the team is working across the wider site.

“The battery performance and charging speed are massive for us,” he said. “There are days when we’re doing a lot of landscaping work and the team don’t have to keep making trips back for batteries. The CyberSystem charging unit keeps everything charged, tidy and ready to go, so it’s incredibly easy to manage.”

Having experienced the equipment in all conditions, Nick has no hesitation in recommending Kress to others in the industry.

“If there are others out there wondering what equipment to go for, I’d absolutely recommend Kress,” he said. “It’s reliable, easy to use and you don’t compromise at all on power or performance. Some of the equipment we’ve used, not just compared to other battery equipment but also combustion equipment, is the best I’ve ever used.”

For more information, please visit https://www.kress.com/en-gb/

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters

STIGA Accelerates Robotics Evolution

STIGA Accelerates Robotics Evolution

/in , /by

STIGA Accelerates Robotics Evolution

STIGA, leading European manufacturer and distributor of garden machinery, has announced a major multi-year innovation cycle. Backed by record R&D investments and a rapidly expanding patent portfolio, the company anticipates the launch of its next-generation robotics platform ahead of its global commercial rollout in 2027.

STIGA Accelerates Robotics Evolution

STIGA Accelerates Robotics Evolution

The groundwork for this technological surge was laid in 2025, driven by a robust double-digit year-over-year increase in the Group’s Capital Expenditure. This strategic capital allocation marked the beginning of an intensified, multi-year investment roadmap directing significant financial resources toward high-impact R&D programs across Robotics, Battery-Powered, and Professional turf technologies. This long-term commitment drives a twofold objective—enhancing STIGA’s core consumer portfolio while accelerating growth across high-performance commercial sectors.

STIGA Reveals Next-Gen Robotic Architecture

Central to this strategic push is the continued evolution of STIGA’s robotic category. Following the partnership announcement earlier this year with Silicon Valley company SiMa.ai, a leader in Physical AI technology that delivers a purpose-built, software-centric platform, STIGA previews its upcoming autonomous robot mower lineup. By combining over 90 years of garden care know-how with STIGA’s proprietary technology stack—including STIGA Active Guidance System, Vista Technology, and ePower battery—and SiMa.ai’s low-power, high-performance Physical AI, the upcoming robot range features a future-proof, scalable platform engineered for unprecedented spatial awareness, real-time obstacle navigation, and uninterrupted cutting performance.

“STIGA vision isn’t just about making smarter lawnmowers; it’s about redefining what our local customers and professional partners can expect from autonomous green care,” said James Gordon, MD of STIGA UK, “By embedding Physical AI into our core technology stack, we are creating machines that adapt, learn, and improve every time they step onto the lawn, ensuring effortless performance for years to come. Because our R&D remains laser-focused on advancing STIGA’s in-house technology suite, these robotic mowers are engineered to continuously evolve — becoming smarter, more capable, and tailored to changing consumers’ demands season after season.”

Demonstrating the direct return on this multi-year investment cycle, STIGA’s proprietary active patent portfolio grew by an extraordinary 33.5% year-over-year, reflecting a steadfast focus on internal engineering breakthroughs. In parallel, the company continues to elevate its autonomous robotics offering through ongoing software and feature enhancements designed to maximise operational efficiency and user satisfaction, including advanced remote fleet management via the award-winning STIGA.GO app (recognised with the Red Dot Design Award 2025, if Design Award 2026). Further reinforcing STIGA’s leadership in autonomous lawn care, both the current STIGA Vista robot series and the commercial-grade STIGA APX Pro platform were honoured earlier this spring with prestigious 2026 iF Design Awards for outstanding user-centric innovation, underscoring the Group’s dedication to merging cutting-edge technology with user-friendly design that makes lawn maintenance effortless.

A New Era of Autonomous Care on the Horizon

The company confirms that the commercial rollout of its next-generation autonomous robot mower range will commence in 2027, serving domestic properties as well as professional green space management. Representing a major technological leap from STIGA’s established robot mowers portfolio, this new platform is the most intelligent robotic solution ever developed by the Group, setting a new benchmark for autonomous navigation in robotic lawn care.

Full technical specifications of the upcoming lineup will be unveiled at the official public launch in 2027. For dealer inquiries, please contact your local STIGA sales representative.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters

Wiedenmann GXi8 HD supports Bearsden GC's next chapter

Wiedenmann GXi8 HD supports Bearsden GC’s next chapter

/in , , /by

Wiedenmann GXi8 HD supports Bearsden GC’s next chapter

Following an award-winning transformation of its nine-hole course, Bearsden Golf Club is protecting its investment with a Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi8 HD, delivering regular deep aeration with remarkably little surface disruption.

Wiedenmann GXi8 HD supports Bearsden GC's next chapter

Wiedenmann GXi8 HD supports Bearsden GC’s next chapter

The East Dunbartonshire club’s redevelopment, led by Project Course Manager David McBride, included new greens, improved drainage, irrigation and extensive remodelling, earning the team finalist recognition in the 2026 BIGGA Greenkeeping Project of the Year Awards.

Purchased alongside an ISEKI TG6507 tractor, the Terra Spike came with three sets of tines — 8 mm, 12 mm and 20 mm — to accommodate a comprehensive aeration programme across greens, fairways, semi-rough and approaches. Wiedenmann UK’s Lead Demonstrator, Andy Kerr carried out the installation training and handover alongside Fairways GM Area Sales Manager, Stuart Cameron.

“We’re planning around five treatments a year on greens, five or six on fairways and five on aprons,” explained David. “We’ve already been across all the fairways and semi-rough three times, making the most of suitable weather windows. We’ve gone through a complete set of 20 mm tines, which shows how much work it’s done.”

The club’s new greens have a 300 mm sand cap, but even David was surprised by the finish following their first summer aeration.

“We used the 8 mm tines and, without exaggeration, there was virtually no surface disruption. You genuinely wouldn’t have known a tractor and deep aerator had been across the greens. We could probably have got away without rolling, but gave them the lightest of irons. The finish was impressive.”

He is equally enthusiastic about the machine’s engineering and ease of operation.

“The tines go in smoothly and come out cleanly. There’s no clinking or banging, just steady, controlled operation. Getting the speed and depth right is important, but adjustments are so straightforward. No spanners, no fuss. If you’re approaching stonier ground, you can quickly alter the depth and return to your original setting afterwards.”

The Terra Spike’s next task is the club’s extensive approaches, with green complexes sometimes stretching 50 metres from the hole.

With brand new pop-up sprinklers and service boxes throughout the redesigned course, preparation is essential. David, or a team member mark these in advance so the operator can work confidently around the irrigation infrastructure.

“In time we will know exactly where all these hazards are…”  David also praises the compatibility of the ISEKI TG6507 the GXi8 HD. “I’ve used all sorts of tractors and aerators, and some combinations feel awkward when lifting and travelling between areas. The ISEKI and Wiedenmann are a perfect fit. It’s a really confident pairing, both in transport and when you’re aerating.”

For Bearsden, the Terra Spike is now an integral part of maintaining the standards achieved through its ambitious redevelopment, allowing regular aeration while keeping disruption to playing surfaces and golfers to a minimum.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters