Green-tech celebrates after winning Employer of the Year

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Green-tech celebrates after winning Employer of the Year: Green-tech, the UK’s leading supplier of landscaping and forestry products, is thrilled to announce that it has been awarded the prestigious title of ‘Employer of the Year’ at the ProLandscaper Business Awards 2024.

The category award, sponsored by Fresh Horticultural Careers, celebrates excellence in leadership, workforce development, and employee satisfaction within the landscaping industry.

Green-tech celebrates after winning Employer of the Year

Green-tech celebrates after winning Employer of the Year

The ProLandscaper Business Awards, held annually, recognise outstanding achievements and innovation across various sectors of the landscaping industry. Green-tech was among six distinguished finalists for the esteemed Employer of the Year award. However, the company emerged victorious after successfully showing where staff ideas and comments have resulted in change to create a positive work environment, and how Green-tech demonstrated a desire to support the physical and mental health of its employees.

The awards ceremony was held at Old Billingsgate, London on Friday 19th April, and brought together companies from across all sectors of the industry to celebrate the accomplishments within the landscaping community.

Green-tech’s Managing Director Kris Nellist attended the event with some of the Green-tech team, who were thrilled to accept the award on behalf of the entire company.

Commenting on the win, Kris said: “We are incredibly honoured to be named Employer of the Year at the ProLandscaper Business Awards 2024. Green-tech strives to create a supportive and inclusive work environment where our employees can thrive and reach their full potential. Winning this award not only validates our efforts but is a testament to the dedication and hard work of every member of the Green-tech team for working to get Green-tech where it is today.”

Green-tech is celebrating its 30th anniversary so this year is particularly poignant for the company who have set itself an ambitious target to raise £30,000 for five very deserving charities – BALI Chalk Fund, Candlelighters, Macmillan Cancer Support, Perennial, and Shelter. The company is striving to raise £1000 for every year of trading and has six challenges planned over six months, bringing staff together to take part in events ranging from a ‘big sleep-out’ to marathons, cycling, and endurance challenges. The company has raised just over £14,300 so far. To contribute please visit https://bit.ly/49MSksI

For more information about Green-tech please visit www.green-tech.co.uk

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Two ICL biostimulants prove better than one

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Two ICL biostimulants prove better than one: An ICL trial at St Andrews Links demonstrated that tank-mixing Vitalnova SMX with an H2Pro TriSmart programme significantly enhanced golf green turf quality and rootzone health, surpassing the improvements achieved by using TriSmart alone.

A trial conducted at St Andrews Links in 2022 illustrated the advantages of combining two proven technologies. Tank-mixing the seaweed biostimulant Vitalnova SMX with the non-microbial biostimulant surfactant H2Pro TriSmart programme yielded significant additional benefits. This research emphasised the capacity of the combined treatments to improve turf health, particularly during dry summer months.

Two ICL biostimulants prove better than one

Two ICL biostimulants prove better than one

The trial, employing a randomised, replicated, block design, was conducted on a Fescue-dominant golf green turf nursery underlain by a sandy rootzone. The study aimed to assess the benefits of incorporating Vitalnova SMX, a liquid biostimulant containing 10% Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed solids, into a TriSmart wetting agent programme (a product that also boasts proven biostimulant properties).

In the trial, plots treated only with TriSmart and untreated plots served as bases for statistical comparison. The trial was assessed every 2-3 weeks for turf quality, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and soil moisture content at two depths (38mm and 76mm). At the trial’s conclusion, soil samples were analysed for rootzone microbial content.

Over the course of seven monthly applications from March until August, the assessment results revealed that the H2Pro TriSmart-only programme significantly increased volumetric moisture content (VMC) at both depths, as well as achieving improvements in Turf Quality and NDVI compared to the untreated plots. Most notably, the addition of Vitalnova SMX to the H2Pro TriSmart programme further enhanced Turf Quality Scores, both early and late in the season, surpassing results from the TriSmart-only treatments.

In terms of rootzone microbial analysis, the TriSmart-only treated plots contained significantly greater total bacteria, total fungi, and total microbial biomass than the untreated control plots. The combination of TriSmart and SMX significantly increased microbial biomass and total fungi beyond the already enhanced TriSmart-only results.

Key findings from the trial include:

  • The H2Pro TriSmart-only programme resulted in a significant increase in Turf Quality, % VMC (to 38mm and 76mm), and NDVI.
  • Tank-mixing Vitalnova SMX with H2Pro TriSmart significantly boosted Turf Quality Score beyond that achieved with H2Pro TriSmart alone (but did not affect the % VMC).
  • Applications of H2Pro TriSmart and Vitalnova SMX combined also resulted in a notable increase in total fungi and total microbial biomass in the rootzone.

“Our primary objective was to demonstrate the efficacy of H2Pro TriSmart in managing soil moisture levels and reducing turf stress, and to explore how Vitalnova SMX could further enhance these benefits,” stated Dr Richard Collins, ICL’s International Technical Manager for Amega Sciences. “The results clearly demonstrate the advantages of integrating these products into a turf management programme, offering significant improvements in turf quality and rootzone health.”

Richard concluded, “This trial not only underscores the potential of these treatments to improve turf performance during critical stress periods but also opens avenues for further research into sustainable turf management practices.”

Discover a wealth of information on this and other insightful ICL trials by visiting the dedicated page on the ICL website.

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-growingsolutions.uk and icl-growingsolutions.ie if you are in Ireland.

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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ABA Groundcare Celebrates 10 Years with Yamaha

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ABA Groundcare Celebrates 10 Years with Yamaha: First established in 2014, ABA Groundcare based in Tiverton, Devon celebrates 10 years of selling Yamaha’s ATV range this April. Jamie Hutchings initially set up the business following dealer changes in the area and was awarded the franchise in 2014. With a strong background selling the brand for a previous dealer, it was a no-brainer for Jamie to continue with a brand he knew and was respected in the area.

“Yamaha UK were forthcoming in working with me, it felt like they saw the opportunity to keep growing the brand in the area. We have gone from being one of the youngest dealers to now one of the older ones.” When the partnership first began, ABA Groundcare sold up to 20 ATVs per year, now the company sells over 85 units into the surrounding area. ABA Groundcare took on a bigger area in recent years following the purchase of Hayes Garden Machinery at the end of 2023. The business now operates from two locations: Tiverton, Devon and Dorchester, Dorset. “Yamaha holds a strong reputation in the area, and we will support any potential customers but most of our ATVs go to the farming community. We are confident in the brand from the product point of view but also from the back-up and after sales support we receive from Yamaha UK themselves.”

ABA Groundcare Celebrates 10 Years with Yamaha

ABA Groundcare Celebrates 10 Years with Yamaha

“We at Yamaha ATV UK are delighted to have been in partnership with ABA Groundcare for the past 10 years. Jamie and his team have consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of the needs of their customers and a true passion for the Yamaha brand. Their dedication to providing exceptional service and expertise has been instrumental in the continued growth and success of Yamaha ATVs in the southwest region. We look forward to many more years of this successful partnership.” Gareth Sloane, Manager, Power Products, Yamaha UK.

Celebrations will continue at the company’s open day on Saturday 20th April. Congratulations ABA Groundcare, here’s to another 10 years.

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Caravan and Motorhome Club Selects Toro

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Caravan and Motorhome Club Selects Toro: Caravan and Motorhome Club (CAMC), a leading organization in the leisure industry, has officially chosen Toro as its preferred supplier of 21” heavy-duty mowers, 60V Revolution® backpacks and handheld 60V blowers. The decision comes after Toro’s products successfully passed stringent testing protocols, demonstrating exceptional quality, reliability, and performance.

CAMC subjected Toro’s range of products to rigorous testing, including assessments of noise and vibration levels to determine suitability for their nationwide coverage of CAMC sites. Additionally, all manuals underwent meticulous scrutiny, ensuring clarity and comprehensiveness for end-users. Battery run times were meticulously recorded to assess product longevity and endurance.

Caravan and Motorhome Club Selects Toro

Caravan and Motorhome Club Selects Toro

Furthermore, Toro’s products underwent a secondary round of testing in the form of a season trial, conducted at two separate CAMC sites. This trial allowed CAMC operatives to provide valuable feedback on the products’ usability, durability, and overall performance, further validating their suitability for CAMC members.

One of the key factors influencing CAMC’s decision was Toro’s ability to maintain a constant supply of products, eliminating concerns about long lead times that were experienced with previous suppliers. This reliability ensures uninterrupted service and support for CAMC members.

Moreover, CAMC expressed enthusiasm for Toro’s extensive portfolio, recognizing the potential for future collaboration and the convenience of dealing with fewer suppliers for a wide range of products. This strategic partnership reflects CAMC’s commitment to providing its members with the best-in-class equipment and services.

“We are honoured to be chosen as the preferred supplier by Caravan and Motorhome Club,” said Matt Coleman, Sales Manager, Professional Landscape Contractor and Siteworks Equipment – UK Direct Market at Toro. “This partnership underscores Toro’s dedication to delivering exceptional products and service, tailored to meet the unique needs of their sites. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with CAMC and supporting their mission of enhancing the leisure experience for enthusiasts.”

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Windstorm scores highly at North Hants

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Windstorm scores highly at North Hants: At Saltex 2023, on the STM Co Ltd stand, Sam Evans, the Course Manager at the prestigious North Hants Golf Club, and his Grounds team took particular interest in the SCAG Windstorm debris blower.

This is a stand-on zero-turn machine with a 37HP motor, 10mph ground speed and a colossal output of 600cfm.

Windstorm scores highly at North Hants

Windstorm scores highly at North Hants

They could see immediate advantages over their present system of a leaf blower unit towed behind a utility vehicle, a system that means that two engines are required, one for the UV and the other for the blower. The operator also struggles with restricted rearward view because of the blower size. There is also the general safety aspect with the operator needing to look behind regularly to check blower performance and suitable clearance.

The next step was to have an on-site demonstration; this was arranged with David Gray of the STM Co area dealer Lister Wilder.

The Windstorm performance on that demo went beyond expectations; clearly an immediate saving was there being only one motor in use, but the visibility and zero-turn manoeuvrability were real sellers once experienced by the operators on their regular grounds. Not only that but there was an additional benefit; the Windstorm has so much power it can cope with clearing leaves within heather areas, which has been very time consuming in the past. Sam’s expression was “that stuff can be like Velcro”.

The general reaction and enthusiasm were such that Sam was easily able to persuade his General Manager, who was equally impressed with the demo, that this was money well spent.

So now the machine has completed its first winter debris season – but it doesn’t end there because routine mowing can leave grass cuttings on the surfaces. The North Hants greenkeeping team have always cleared this away to keep the fairways pristine, and now, with the Windstorm, they can do it in two-thirds the time it took them before.

That, with general requirements for clearing wind and storm debris, plus the fact it does its job so well has made the Windstorm a firm favourite with Sam and his team at North Hants.

The machines are available through the STM dealership network. To find your nearest dealer ring 01789 488450, email info@st-mach.com or look at our website www.st-mach.com

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