DLF Colour Boost brings burst of colour

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DLF Colour Boost brings burst of colour: Lees Hall Golf Club are celebrating the success of their growing wildflower initiative, developed in conjunction with DLF Seeds.

Led by Head Greenkeeper Ian Whitehead and Assistant Greenkeeper Danny Tozzi, the club is now entering its third year of using mixtures from the Colour Boost range which has added areas of high visual impact and a real ‘boost’ to biodiversity around the course.

DLF Colour Boost brings burst of colour

DLF Colour Boost brings burst of colour

Established in 1907 as a nine-hole course before expanding to 18 holes in 1921, the picturesque parkland course at Lees Hall is set atop rolling hills with panoramic views across the city of Sheffield. Adding to the visual merit for the past two years are bursts of colour delivered by the club’s newly created wildflower areas. “I first met with DLF’s Stuart Yarwood at BTME 2024 who suggested we start with a small-scale trial to see how we got on” explains Ian.

“We opted for Floral Carpet from the Colour Boost range which provided a bold, but low-growing display which all the members enjoyed on their way to the first tee.” Along with something that would not interrupt lines of sight or play, Ian’s other request was slightly more out of the ordinary! “My allegiance to Sheffield Wednesday meant I couldn’t bear the thought of a red floral display on the course – DLF were more than happy to oblige, tweaking the mixture to incorporate more blues and whites.”

Under the careful management of assistant Danny Tozzi, the success of the trial plot saw the expansion of the programme into new areas in year two. Danny takes up the story, “We continued with Floral Carpet and then, with the guidance of DLF’s Ben Morgan, introduced the Honey Bee & Butterfly mixture into some new areas. Despite some slightly challenging weather conditions, we were impressed with not only the way the new sowing performed, but also how much re-growth and self-seeding we saw in the plots from year one.”

As well as visual appeal, boosting ecology has been a major driver for the project. “There’s no doubt that since we established these wildflower areas we’ve seen an increase in pollinators, birds and wildlife in general enjoying these spaces” Danny adds.

Buoyed by the success, five additional wildflower areas are earmarked for sowing in 2026. “We’ll certainly be continuing with Floral Carpet and the Honey Bee & Butterfly mixtures, along with Carnival which have all delivered exactly what we’ve hoped to date.” Danny concludes, “Everyone is excited to see even more colour on the course.”

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Greg Cain appointed Business Development Manager

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Greg Cain appointed Business Development Manager: Redexim UK has strengthened its team with the appointment of Greg Cain as Business Development Manager – a newly created role that reflects the company’s continued growth and forward-thinking strategy.

Greg brings with him more than two decades of hands-on industry experience. Prior to moving into machinery sales, he spent 18 years working directly in grounds maintenance and landscaping, finishing his operational career as a senior manager for a housing association in the North West, where he led a large grounds maintenance team based around Manchester.

Greg Cain appointed Business Development Manager

Greg Cain appointed Business Development Manager

In 2018, Greg joined Cheshire Turf Machinery in Stockport, a Redexim dealer, where he first developed a close working knowledge of the brand and its product portfolio. After five and a half years there, he moved on to Kress UK as Commercial Business Manager for the North of the UK, before officially starting his new position at Redexim UK this month.

Reflecting on his move, Greg said: “It feels like a great fit for me. I’ve worked with the products before, I know the industry, and I’ve built up strong contacts across golf clubs, sports clubs and commercial sports settings.”

The Business Development Manager position has been introduced to sit alongside Redexim’s existing regional sales structure, with a clear focus on generating new opportunities and raising further awareness of the company’s extensive range.

“My role is going to be good old-fashioned knocking on doors,” Greg explained. “It’s about introducing myself, speaking to people who may have used Redexim in the past or are considering it, and getting the brand name out there. Once we’ve developed and qualified a lead, it will be passed into the dealer network to see the sales process through.”

With robotic mowing continuing to gain traction across golf and sports facilities, Greg believes this evolution presents further opportunity for Redexim’s specialist equipment.

“With the introduction of robotic mowing, greenkeepers potentially have more time to focus on key cultural practices,” he said. “That’s where Redexim’s range really comes into its own – whether it’s aeration, verti-draining, scarifying, brushing or sweeping. For me, the Redexim Verti-Drain has stood the test of time, and remains hugely important for maintaining high-quality playing surfaces.”

For Greg, the appeal of the new role lies in giving dedicated focus to the breadth of Redexim’s offering.

“I’m looking forward to speaking to customers specifically about the Redexim range in its own right,” he said. “Looking at the full portfolio of equipment available and highlighting how it can support their maintenance programmes.”

Away from work, Greg is a busy family man with four children and is actively involved with his local cricket club, where he also helps maintain the grounds. When time allows, he enjoys hiking and playing golf, a passion that keeps him closely connected to many of the customers he will now be supporting in his new role.

His appointment marks another positive step for Redexim UK, underlining the company’s commitment to investing in its people and positioning the business for continued expansion.

For more information, visit https://www.redexim.com/uk/ 

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STIHL unveils high-performance battery-powered brush cutter

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STIHL unveils high-performance battery-powered brush cutter: STIHL has launched the new FSA 250 battery-operated brush cutter, offering professionals an excellent cutting performance for both mowing and clearing work. 

Whilst fitted as standard with a metal cutting blade, for versatility, the new addition can also accommodate an extensive range of cutting attachments, including mowing heads with traditional line and a wide 480mm mowing diameter, polymer blades for tougher trimming tasks, as well as metal tools such as shredder and circular saw blades for clearing tough areas of scrub and even small trees, respectively.  This makes the machine ideal for a range of professional landscaping maintenance tasks with the simple change of cutting attachment.

STIHL unveils high-performance battery-powered brush cutter

STIHL unveils high-performance battery-powered brush cutter

Offering a comparable alternative to petrol machines such as the FS 240 C-E, the powerful tool offers emission-free operation and provides the benefit of quiet operation, perfect for use in noise-sensitive areas and to provide a more pleasant working experience for the operator.

For energy efficiency and an optimum cutting performance, the machine’s powerful EC motor can be adjusted to 3 levels depending on the task, with its LED display indicating which mode is in use.

Combined with its optimum balance and low weight characteristics, the FSA 250’s ergonomic bike handle and grip system contributes to prolonged user comfort and effortless guidance.

Engineered with professional use in mind, its easy-to-clean air filter guarantees efficiency and effective motor cooling, contributing to a long-service life. In addition, the tool can be used in all weather conditions thanks to its IPX 4-certification.

For more information on the STIHL FSA 250, visit www.stihl.co.uk.

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Obituary: Mick Hunt

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Obituary: Mick Hunt: The cricketing world is mourning a true titan of the turf industry following the passing of Mick Hunt, the legendary former Head Groundsman at Lord’s. For nearly half a century, Mick wasn’t just a staff member; he was the heartbeat of the Home of Cricket.

Joining the groundstaff in 1969, Mick dedicated 49 years of his life to the hallowed sward of NW8. By the time he retired in 2018, he had become as much a fixture of the ground as the Pavilion itself. Known for his technical mastery of the pitch and his trademark “permanent smile,” Mick was a beloved figure among MCC Members, colleagues, and the international players who relied on his expertise.

An obituary to Mick Hunt

An obituary to Mick Hunt

Few individuals can claim such an indelible connection to the history of Lord’s. From the changing face of the game to decades of historic Test matches, Mick saw it all from the best seat in the house. His passion for the craft and his warmth as a person left a mark that time will not erase.

We offer our sincere condolences to his family and friends. Lord’s feels a little quieter today, but Mick’s legacy lives on in every blade of grass.

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Husqvarna and The R&A shortlisted for major awards

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Husqvarna and The R&A shortlisted for major awards: Husqvarna, the world leader in robotic mowers, and The R&A, golf’s global governing body outside of the USA and Mexico, have been shortlisted in two of the sports industry’s most respected awards programmes following their pioneering autonomous mowing activation at the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl.

The collaboration between The R&A and Husqvarna has been named a finalist in the Best Use of Cutting-edge Technology category at the 2026 European Sponsorship Association Awards and the Tech in Sport Award at the Sport Industry Awards. Both nominations recognise the groundbreaking deployment of Husqvarna’s robotic mowing technology across all 18 fairways during a major championship, marking the first time The R&A entrusted an entire fairway operation to autonomous machines.

Husqvarna and The R&A shortlisted for major awards

Husqvarna and The R&A shortlisted for major awards

The project was delivered in close collaboration with the late Royal Porthcawl course manager, Ian Kinley, and his greenkeeping team. Ian, who passed away earlier this year, was instrumental in championing the integration of autonomous mowing at championship level. A widely respected figure within the profession, he led the preparation of the course with characteristic vision, humility and attention to detail.

At Royal Porthcawl, a fleet of 15 robotic mowers, including Husqvarna CEORA units and Automower 580L EPOS models, worked overnight in the build up to and throughout championship week. Monitored via Husqvarna Fleet Services and supported daily by technicians, the machines delivered consistent, championship-standard conditions while enabling the greenkeeping team to focus on detailed presentation work across greens, tees, and approaches.

Jonathan Snowball, Head of Professional Development at Husqvarna, said: “To be recognised by both the European Sponsorship Association and the Sport Industry Awards is a powerful endorsement of what was achieved at the AIG Women’s Open. This was live championship delivery at the highest level of professional sport, demonstrating how autonomous technology can support elite performance while respecting the craft and expertise of greenkeepers.”

Daniel Lightfoot, Director – Sustainable Golf at The R&A, said: “At the AIG Women’s Open, The R&A’s collaboration with Husqvarna and the integration of its robotic mower portfolio enabled us to deliver high performance surfaces in a sustainable way through improved resource management, consistent lightweight mowing, and reduced carbon usage. We are proud that this innovative initiative has been recognised through these award nominations, reflecting our shared commitment to sustainability and performance excellence.”

The ESA Awards celebrate best-in-class sponsorship campaigns across Europe, while the Sport Industry Awards recognise excellence across brands, rights holders, and suppliers. Together, the dual nominations reinforce Husqvarna’s position at the forefront of autonomous innovation within global sport.

The winners of the 2026 ESA Awards will be announced on Thursday 12 March, with the Sport Industry Awards ceremony taking place later in the year.

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