Hanley Castle property flood relief

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Hanley Castle property flood relief: Worcestershire Homeowner Allan Bradford’s cottage is in the picturesque village of Hanley Castle, situated between the towns of Malvern and Upton upon Severn and near the River Severn.

The garden of his property was subject to flooding after heavy rain, with standing water remaining for as long as two or three weeks. The cause was not the river flooding as you might expect, but the grounds being situated at the end of a slope with a substrate of heavy clay soil. Grassed areas either side and close to the gates and the drive were the worst affected areas. Allan did have a pit dug and gravelled on one side and that copes to a degree, but he says it was an expensive solution. Drains outside the property were also cleared but to no avail.

Hanley Castle property flood relief

Hanley Castle property flood relief

“Then I saw the work done by Terrain Aeration on the Clarkson’s Farm programme,” says Allan, “so I decided to get a quote from them. I am in the building trade and friends who are developers couldn’t be more skeptical, saying what the clay needed was tanks installing. That would have been three times the cost of Terrain Aeration. We went ahead with them.”

The Terrain Aeration Terralift system uses a JCB road hammer and probe to bore down a metre in depth. A release of compressed air fractures the compacted soil, creating fissures. The process is repeated in intervals on a grid so the fissures are interlinked. Dried seaweed is injected as the probe withdraws and this swells with the rain to keep the fractured areas open and allow drainage.

“We had the work done,” says Allan, “and then there was no rain. We went on holiday and during this time my father stayed in the house to be woken one night by horrendous rain storms. He called me and because we have cameras on the property covering the area, we were able to watch from Thailand on our phones as the flood developed.”

Following the storms, the deluge had filled everywhere, with a nearby stream and ditches flooded and yet, in the area at the bottom of the slope injected by Terrain Aeration’s Terralift, the water had all but gone. “The two lads who came from Terrain Aeration were great,” says Allan, “and I am so pleased with the work and result I would recommend them to anyone.”

Terrain Aeration www.terrainaeration.co.uk  01449 673783

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Edgmond Bowling Club Wins Best Kept Green in Shropshire

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Edgmond Bowling Club Wins Best Kept Green in Shropshire: Edgmond Bowling Club has been awarded the title of Best Kept Green in Shropshire 2024, a competition sponsored by leading turf maintenance brands Dennis and SISIS.

The accolade marks a milestone for the club, which is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and highlights the dedication and skill of its greenkeeper, Peter Leath.

Edgmond Bowling Club Wins Best Kept Green in Shropshire

Edgmond Bowling Club Wins Best Kept Green in Shropshire

The Best Kept Green competition was launched in 2021, in response to the remarkable efforts of bowling clubs and their greenkeepers during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The initiative, supported by Dennis and SISIS, aims to improve the standard of greens across the county, recognising the hard work of greens teams and providing them with valuable feedback to enhance their maintenance programmes. Each year, the competition grows in popularity, with a record number of clubs entering in 2024—a testament to the ongoing improvements in bowling greens throughout Shropshire.

Peter, a greenkeeper with 47 years of experience, joined Edgmond Bowling Club just before the pandemic and quickly found himself responsible for the care of the green, which was in need of attention. Reflecting on those early days, he recalls, “The green was in quite a bad condition. During Covid, I spent a lot of time managing to feed it and improve its health.”

Drawing on his greenkeeping background, Peter implemented a rigorous maintenance routine, including verticutting and aerating the green, to encourage healthy growth. He also invested in a SISIS Supaturfman, using it up to 16 times a year. His efforts have paid off, with Edgmond’s green now widely praised for its smoothness and playability. “There have been a lot of really positive comments about the green,” Peter said.

Edgmond Bowling Club’s win this year, tied on points with Cleobury Mortimer but edging ahead thanks to a perfect 10/10 score for the roll of the woods, is a fitting tribute to its 50th anniversary.

Peter’s attention to detail is key to the green’s success. He spends around 240 hours a year maintaining it, mowing three times a week in the summer and continuing regular care even through the winter months. His advice to other greenkeepers? “Make sure your mower is adjusted correctly, and cut the grass consistently. It makes all the difference.”

Phil Scott, Chairman of the Shropshire Crown Green Bowling Association, praised Peter’s work and spoke about the growing success of the Best Kept Green competition. “We started these awards to recognise the often-overlooked work of greenkeepers in our county. Since the competition began, the standard of greens in Shropshire has improved dramatically.”

DLF’s Stuart Yarwood, a well-known expert in the industry and a key supporter of the Dennis/SISIS educational seminars, was part of the judging panel. He visited the top ten greens and provided invaluable advice to clubs on how to further improve their playing surfaces.

Looking to the future, the Shropshire Crown Green Bowling Association, in collaboration with Dennis and SISIS, plans to continue supporting greenkeepers with initiatives such as forums, educational days, and factory tours. “We’ve set up new initiatives to keep the momentum going. We’re already planning to take all the greenkeepers who entered this year to the Dennis and SISIS factory for a tour, and we’re looking at adding new categories like ‘Most Improved Green’ or ‘Best Newcomer’ for next year,” Phil explained.

Further information about the range of maintenance products available can be found by visiting www.dennisuk.com / www.sisis.com.

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on X @DennisMowers and SISIS @SISISMachinery. You can like the Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK and www.facebook.com/SISISMachinery. You can also view the latest Dennis and SISIS videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers and www.youtube.com/SISISMachinery.

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TGA bans use of plastic netting in turfgrass production

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TGA bans use of plastic netting in turfgrass production: Following extensive member engagement and feedback, the Turfgrass Growers Association (TGA), the leading body representing the UK turfgrass industry, has announced a bold and progressive step towards environmental sustainability by banning the use of plastic netting in turf production by its members. This decision, supported overwhelmingly by members in a recent vote, will take effect from 31st October 2026.

The decision to ban plastic netting reflects the TGA’s commitment to sustainable practices. From 31st October 2026, grower members must cease using plastic netting to grow turf, in order to retain their membership of the association during the 2026/27 subscription year and beyond.

TGA bans use of plastic netting in turfgrass production

TGA bans use of plastic netting in turfgrass production

Richard Owens, Chair of the TGA, commented: “This is a defining moment, and the decision reflects the growing consensus among our members and the wider industry about the urgent need to prioritise sustainability. By committing to eliminate plastic netting, the TGA is leading the way towards a more environmentally responsible future for turf production in the UK.”

Despite industry efforts to develop alternatives, there are currently no proven, cost-effective bio-degradable netting solutions widely available that meet the practical and economic requirements of turf production. While some options, such as degradable or biobased netting, have shown promise, challenges remain regarding durability, affordability, and large-scale adoption. This underscores the importance of continued research and innovation to find viable, sustainable solutions.

The vote saw overwhelming support from TGA members, with 17 voting in favour of the ban and just 1 against. The TGA is committed to supporting its members during the transition period by providing guidance, resources, and collaborative opportunities to explore and implement alternative practices.

This initiative represents a significant milestone for the turfgrass industry, aligning with broader environmental goals across the agricultural and horticultural sectors. The TGA’s decision sets an important precedent for adopting sustainable practices in industries that impact the environment.

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SIS Pitches celebrates record year

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SIS Pitches celebrates record year: The UK’s leading sports manufacturer, SIS Pitches has announced it has secured a patent for its new machine, rounding off an exceptional year.

A patent has been granted for the vacuum mechanism ‘Revolution’ machines, made by SIS Pitches to produce premium hybrid pitches for an array of sports. The machine is the first of its kind, allowing the manufacturer to stitch pitches at variable depths, offering more flexibility to clubs and sports facilities.

SIS Pitches celebrates record year

SIS Pitches celebrates record year

The patent is the latest addition on a long list of achievements for SIS Pitches in 2024 – the company’s most successful year to date. In addition to investing £500,000 in its Maryport factory for new tufting machines and solar panels, and growing its overall employee headcount by 20% since January, the company has opened four new offices globally. These are located in Poland, India, Saudi Arabia and Georgia, in order to meet rising demand locally.

Earlier this year, one of SIS Pitches’ major pitch maintenance projects in the Middle East, the Kingdom Arena, in Riyadh, built in partnership with Sela, won two Guinness World Records for the largest covered football stadium and the highest capacity for an indoor covered stadium. The stadium itself was the first ever indoor grass pitch grown entirely without natural sunlight.

In India, the SIS Pitches team installed the country’s first hybrid cricket pitch – a SIS Grass Hybrid product tried and tested across the English game – marking the beginning of a series of projects in the country. The manufacturer, working with Greater Ten locally, used its own ‘Universal’ machine to stitch hybrid cricket pitches in locations including the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamshala.

Other major projects won by SIS Pitches this year include names football fans around the world will recognise immediately, including Manchester City Football Club, MLS’ Chicago Fire, as well as Iceland National Stadium and Uganda Athletics and Football. The company also made significant forays into other sports internationally, securing projects with Baseball United to build the first professional baseball ballpark in the Middle East and South Asia, as well as Aramco Stadium in Saudi Arabia.

The manufacturer also toasted two news milestones, joining the Green Sports Alliance, cementing its commitment to promote sustainability, and ESTC, the trade association for the Synthetic Turf Industry in the EMEA region.

To top things off, one of SIS Pitches’ installations took centre stage at this year’s Paris Olympics. The Stade de France, which features a hybrid SIS Grass pitch, was the chosen venue for a handful of disciplines, including rugby sevens and athletics.

SIS Pitches owner and founder George Mullan said: “I’m incredibly grateful for our team’s hard work and commitment this year – none of this would have been possible without them.

“2024 was a year of many ‘firsts’ for us, and one we’ll remember for a very long time. We’ve grown immensely, as a group – opening new offices abroad, working with some of the biggest names in sports and continuing to lead from the front when it comes to innovating.

“We’ve not forgotten our roots, however. The investment in our Maryport factory is a symbol of our commitment to British quality and expertise, and will enable us to meet the growing demand when it comes to high-quality sports surfaces, both nationally and internationally.”

SIS Pitches has also shared some of its plans for 2025. The manufacturer is readying to launch its innovative dry hockey solution widely in the second quarter. The surface, developed by the organisation’s experts, features a unique technology to replicate the properties of a water-based system without using a water ball, which can hinder the flow of play.

A US office is also in the works, and it was announced that current SIS Grass Managing Director, Ivo Lamot would become the company’s new Chief Executive, with owner and founder George Mullan stepping to Executive Chairman. Other major appointments also include Luke Edwards, set to become Chief Innovation Officer, while Rob Hope will continue on as Chief Operating Officer. SIS Pitches also underwent a rebrand earlier in the year and is set to launch its new website next year, focused on its philosophy of ‘Powering more play’.

George added: “Our business has evolved in the last few years, and with our new goals to expand to new markets, our structure had to follow too.

“Our ambition is to make 2025 an even bigger year, so I’m excited to have Ivo lead on the delivery of our shared vision, along with Rob and Luke.”

For more information about SIS Pitches, go to sispitches.com

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Three new Corvus UTV dealers appointed

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Three new Corvus UTV dealers appointed: UK distributor BOSS ORV is pleased to announce the appointment of three new UK dealers for Corvus Off-Road Vehicles.

Based in Colchester, Essex, Used 4 Turf has over thirty years’ experience providing turf equipment to the golf, sport turf, landscaping, amenity, public and private sectors. Founded by Neil Peachey, they supply new tractors and high-quality second-hand equipment. “We pride ourselves on exceptional customer service,” says Neil, “ensuring our principles, morals, and ethics are at the heart of all we do. Our personal service is what sets us apart from the competition and we’re proud to call our clients our friends.”

Three new Corvus UTV dealers appointed

Three new Corvus UTV dealers appointed

DJS Hydraulics Agricultural and Plant Repairs main centre is in Amlwch, Anglesey and they have recently opened a second depot in Bangor. They are taking Corvus to fulfil their UTV requirement for the area and are appointed to cover North Wales, where they have been supplying the agricultural and plant sector since 2007. DJS’ David Jones says, ”here at DJS Hydraulics Agri we take pride in supporting customers with their needs, whether it be in parts, service or sales. We’re looking forward to offering the same with the Corvus Terrain UTV’s.”

The third Corvus new dealer appointment is Chantry Engineers in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. A family-run business Chantry provides agricultural, and groundcare sales and service as well as vintage service and repairs. They boast a combined total of over forty years’ experience. “We’re proud to support the farming industry with all agricultural engineering needs,” says Mark Chantry, “and we’re pleased to be appointed as Corvus Off-Road Vehicle dealers and meet the UTV requirements of customers in our area.”

BOSS Off-Road Vehicles National Sales Manager, Neil Everett, added, “we’re very pleased to have these three new dealers join the Corvus dealer network which we are expanding, to provide Corvus UTV customers with the best possible sales and support in their local areas.”

For more information about BOSS ORV distributed machinery you can call 01785 561046

E-mail: sales@bossorv.co.uk Web: www.bossorv.co.uk

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