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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BIO-CIRCLE Honoured with International Green Apple Environment Awards

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BIO-CIRCLE Honoured with International Green Apple Environment Awards: BIO-CIRCLE has achieved a significant milestone in environmental excellence by winning three International Green Apple Environment Awards, a prestigious recognition in the global campaign to identify and celebrate the greenest companies.

Selected from over 1,200 nominations worldwide, BIO-CIRCLE received this coveted accolade at a glittering awards ceremony held at Kensington Palace, London, on 18 November. The event celebrated organisations committed to sustainability and innovative environmental practices, reinforcing the palace’s historic reputation. The award was presented by Richard Wilkins – General Manager at Sony UK Technology Centre, Wales, winners of this year’s International Green Apple Awards Champion of Champions.

BIO-CIRCLE Honoured with International Green Apple Environment Awards

BIO-CIRCLE Honoured with International Green Apple Environment Awards

As part of this achievement, BIO-CIRCLE has been invited to further their success as a Green World Ambassador. This honour includes the publication of their award-winning environmental projects in The Green Book, an internationally recognised reference on environmental best practices. Through this publication, BIO-CIRCLE will inspire and guide others worldwide to adopt sustainable solutions.

The Green Apple Awards are organised by The Green Organisation, a respected independent, non-profit environmental group established in 1994. Dedicated to recognising, rewarding, and promoting environmental best practices worldwide, the organisation’s efforts have grown to highlight the critical importance of sustainable action in today’s world. The independent judging panel of The Green Apple Awards commented:

“BIO-CIRCLE has led the way in sustainable cleaning solutions for over 40 years, creating the innovative GT Maxi system. This VOC-free solution recycles cleaning fluids for up to 12 weeks, reducing waste by 1,440 litres per machine annually and enhancing workplace health and safety. In addition, BIO-CIRCLE EKO is an innovative washdown system for Groundcare equipment, cutting water use from 40 litres to just 400 millilitres per minute, saving over 123,500 litres annually and promoting sustainability.”

Kensington Palace served as a fitting backdrop, with its royal history and iconic status as a premier venue for hosting globally important events.

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New sales manager for Reesink E-Vehicles

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New sales manager for Reesink E-Vehicles: Darren Clewes is the new sales manager for Reesink e-Vehicles.

As the only distributor in the sector with a division entirely dedicated to only sustainably powered vehices, it needed an experienced manager to take it forward and ensure its growth which is where Darren comes in.

New sales manager for Reesink E-Vehicles

New sales manager for Reesink E-Vehicles

With a focus on electric and sustainable transport options, the e-Vehicles division of distributor Reesink UK, is home to innovative, award-winning, rapid-charge lithium-ion phosphate battery-powered passenger buggies and utility vehicles.

The enviromentally friendly fleet management journey is one nearly all turfcare customers are on in some shape or form, with buggies certainly at the forefront for golf clubs and leisure venues.

Darren brings 25 years of turfcare experience to the role and is a familiar face in golf. “When I realised I wasn’t going to make it as a golf pro, I delved deeper into alternative career options in the sector and I was amazed by the size and extent of it,” he says. “The opportunities, possibilities and options hooked me in.”

Specialising in sales early on, he says he’s visited “all golf clubs in the North of England” in his roles with Tacit Turf Equipment, Collier Turfcare and Allett Mowers, and it was his role with Eco Bunker that gave him his first experience of innovative and sustainable turfcare solutions.

“Through my role of Sales Manager for Eco Bunker I got a taste of working in this relatively new area and it sparked my interest, so when the role came up at Reesink e-Vehicles it instantly appealed. I could see how beneficial electric transport options were for the sector by then and I was eager for a challenge on a national level.

“To join a relatively new division brings the ambition to grow it. There’s a huge amount of potential within the dealer network and I can see the untapped areas of the market.”

The recruitment process for the role was competitive, exhaustive and essential to ensure the right candidate took on the role says Reesink’s Managing Director, Alastair Rowell: “This is one of the fastest growing sectors in the industry and a great opportunity to reach customers – new and existing – with our range of innovative solutions. Darren demonstrated he had the experience, insights and relationship management skills to continue the strong start for the division.”

Darren is now position and can be contact via Reesink head office on 01480 226800.

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