Redexim Turf Tidy tackles thinning roughs

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Redexim Turf Tidy tackles thinning roughs: The delivery of a Redexim Turf Tidy 3000 has brought a swift end to the hunt by Arbroath Golf Links for a versatile cut and collect machine for maintenance of their roughs and fairways.

An impressive demonstration sealed the deal for delivery by HRN Tractors in November 2023, with the Turf Tidy going on to thin out over an acre of roughs over the winter period – improving the playability and ecological status of the Scottish club.

Redexim Turf Tidy tackles thinning roughs

Redexim Turf Tidy tackles thinning roughs

The maintenance of the traditional coastal links course, designed in 1877 by Old Tom Morris and opened a year later, is currently managed by Head Greenkeeper Ally Wyllie and a team of two. “We decided to try and tackle our thick rough to create a more enjoyable experience for our members” Ally explains. “After a conversation with David Raitt at HRN Tractors, we had a demonstration of the Turf Tidy and could immediately see how well it performed… so much so, we placed the order there and then!”

The versatile Redexim Turf Tidy 3000 offers effective scarification, flail cutting or sweeping with collection in a single pass. Designed with a fully floating head, the Turf Tidy is able to follow the contours of the ground making it suitable for a range of fine turf and sports turf applications. A 1.8m working width and 3m3 hopper – with hydraulic high-tip function – complete the specification.

“Since its delivery, the Turf Tidy has done a fantastic job of cutting through the long grasses to thin out over an acre of roughs. With this work well received by the members, we’re looking to continue this project into the spring, with the aim of enhancing our ecological status through the encouragement of finer and more native grasses.”

He continues, “One of the main reasons we purchased this machine was its ease of use and the speed at which we can change between functions. We’re planning on using this machine between October and March, and by quickly and simply adjusting the rollers we can change the set-up from flail mowing the roughs to scarifying the fairways – bringing these up to the standards we’re setting on other areas around the course.”

Ally also comments on the brilliant back-up support and service received pre and post-purchase. “David, together with Allen Whellans from Redexim, have been brilliant throughout. The help we’ve had has set us on the right track to get the best out of our machine and achieve the very best results.”

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New recruits join GMA Young Board of Directors

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New recruits join GMA Young Board of Directors: The GMA’s Young Board of Directors, sponsored by Reesink Turfcare, has recruited four new talented young grounds professionals to its ranks. The new additions will add fresh energy to the Young Board’s efforts to inspire the next generation of young people to join the sector.

Joining existing members are Meg Lay, Beth Gibbs, Liddy Ford and Jack Langley. Meg, who recently moved from Gloucestershire CC to Lord’s Cricket Ground, and Beth, who is part of Wellington School’s grounds team, join the Young Board fresh off the back of successes in the GMA Industry Awards 2023 where Meg won Newcomer of the Year and Beth won Young Groundsperson of the Year.

New recruits join GMA Young Board of Directors

New recruits join GMA Young Board of Directors

Liddy joins the Young Board with a background in horticulture as well as a BSc in sport and exercise science. Her current role is as a part of the grounds team at St George’s Park, the Football Association’s base for all 23 of England’s national football teams.

Jack joins having progressed from Assistant Grounds person to Deputy Head Grounds person at Ashton Gate Stadium, a multi-sport facility that acts as the home of Bristol City Football Club and Bristol Bears. The four new additions will use their varied backgrounds across sporting and educational facilities, and enthusiasm for grounds management, to represent the GMA in activity that aims to inspire young people to join the sector.

Work will begin with three of the new Board members, Meg, Liddy and Beth, representing the GMA as part of the all-female grounds team preparing the pitch at Emirates Stadium for Arsenal vs Tottenham in the Women’s Super League on Sunday 3 March 2024.

Geoff Webb, CEO of the GMA, is delighted to welcome the four new members to the Young Board:

“We established the Young Board of Directors in 2011 with the aim of encouraging more young people to consider careers in grounds management. Since then, a number of the founding members have gone on to achieve great things, including John Ledwidge, Head of Grounds and Landscapes at Manchester City FC, Ryan Golding, Head Groundsman at Leeds Rhinos, and Nick Phillips, Training Center Manager at Tottenham Hotspur FC.

“Beth, Meg, Liddy and Jack, bring fresh ideas and energy, and it’s clear that we’ve brought some exceptionally talented young professionals onto the existing team. We’re delighted to welcomethem all to the Board and are excited to see them contribute to our work on inspiring the next generation to join the sector.”

Gillian Haverson, Marketing & Communications Manager at Young Board sponsors, Reesink Turfcare said:

“Reesink is thrilled to offer its continued support for this great initiative and the excellent work done by the GMA Young Board of Directors. It’s always exciting to see women flourishing in this industry and we look forward to working with each of the new members. With this new injection of enthusiasm, we’re confident the GMA Young Board can only go from strength to strength.”

Beth, Liddy and Meg will all be in action as part of the trailblazing all-female grounds team preparing the pitch at Emirates Stadium for Arsenal vs Tottenham in the Women’s Super League on Sunday 3 March 2024, which will be free to view on the BBC.

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STIHL announces charity partnership

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STIHL announces charity partnership: Leading premium garden tools brand, STIHL GB, is partnering with Perennial, the UK’s only charity dedicated to helping people in horticulture.

The STIHL team will volunteer in a wide range of fund-raising activities to provide financial support for Perennial with sponsored events including cycling, hikes, car washes and bake-offs.  Helping the charity provide free and confidential advice, information and support to people working in, or retired from, horticulture and their families.

STIHL announces charity partnership

STIHL announces charity partnership

As part of the new charity partnership Perennial will launch the STIHL equipment replacement fund, to help those in need with donations of tools and PPE.

STIHL GB’s Head of Marketing, Simon Hewitt, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Perennial, a charity whose purpose is so closely linked to our own values.  STIHL has been focused on making people’s lives easier when working in and with nature since our founder, Andreas Stihl, invented the first portable chainsaw in the 1920s.  In pledging our support to Perennial and combining our efforts we hope together we can help many more people in horticulture.”

Phil Swainston, Perennial’s Corporate Partnership Manager, said: “The financial and social pressures faced by individuals working in, and retired from, horticulture are acute, particularly in today’s challenging economic climate where horticulture professionals often contend with relatively low pay and the physical demands of their work. Perennial serves as a lifeline for many in our community, and thus, STIHL’s invaluable support plays a crucial role in our ability to assist those within the horticulture community. STIHL’s support holds immense value, especially as we’ve seen a notable 21% increase in individuals from our sector seeking personal support and a significant rise in those accessing our online tools.”

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Rea Valley Tractors joins Corvus dealer network

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Rea Valley Tractors joins Corvus dealer network: Rea Valley Tractors will now offer Corvus Off-Road Vehicles at its Sudbury depot serving Derbyshire and Staffordshire, as announced by Phil Everett, MD of BOSS ORV, the exclusive distributor of Corvus in the UK.

Phil expressed the company’s longstanding efforts to expand Corvus’s presence in these regions, underscoring the importance of selecting the right partner.

Rea Valley Tractors joins Corvus dealer network

Rea Valley Tractors joins Corvus dealer network

“We have been looking for some time to develop further coverage for Corvus in these regions,” said Phil. “Finding the right partner is, as always, a carefully considered process and we’re pleased to be collaborating with the Rea Valley Tractors to broaden Corvus’ reach and enhance its accessibility to its product range.”

Rea Valley Tractors Managing Director Matt Mulligan stated, “We’re celebrating our 40th year in 2024 and, as a trusted name in the agricultural community, we’ve forged meaningful and long-lasting relationships with both customers and manufacturers alike. We’re delighted to extend this tradition by encompassing Corvus Off-Road Vehicles sales and support throughout the regions.”

A leading dealer in the area, Rea Valley Tractors supplies an extensive range of new and used agricultural and horticultural machinery. Their stated principles include working as a team to reach the highest standard of customer service and satisfaction. Corvus was the first manufacturer in Europe to build 4×4 side-by-side utility vehicles. The all-terrain Corvus range comprises the Terrain DX4, a powerful and robust diesel model, and the all-electric Terrain EX4 with equal capability. Rea Valley Tractors say they see the range as the ideal complement to their principles in the sale and service of agricultural and groundcare machinery.

For more information you can call 01785 561046 E-mail: sales@bossorv.co.uk Web: www.bossorv.co.uk

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J Premier Pitch a game-changer

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J Premier Pitch a game-changer: J Premier Pitch from Johnsons Sports Seed has been described as a ‘game-changer’ for Northampton Saints Rugby Club, delivering outstanding resilience, wear-tolerance and overall turf quality at both the stadium and new high performance training centre.

As one of just three clubs in the Premiership with an all-natural pitch, expectations and demands on the turf are high – but with the right seed, feed and maintenance programme in place, the team lead by Head Groundsman Andrew Miller are delivering on every front.

J Premier Pitch a game-changer

J Premier Pitch a game-changer

The cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens has been the stage for a strong season for Northampton Saints, leading rugby union’s top division at the time of writing. Ensuring the aforementioned stage is set is Andrew and a team of three. “Maintaining top flight rugby facilities poses a number of challenges” he explains. “Not only do we have the micro-climate stadium conditions like many other sports, but rugby demands strong, healthy rooting if the surface is going to withstand the pressures exerted by two 900kg scrum packs! Without the help of any hybrid support, Johnsons J Premier Pitch has helped us deliver on this and so much more.”

Andrew has been using the 100% perennial ryegrass mixture for the last nine years. The new 2024 formulation blends five top-rated cultivars to create the ideal winter sport mix, incorporating Monroe and Gildara for significantly improved resistance to Brown Patch and other common turf diseases. Trusted by many of Europe’s leading stadia, J Premier Pitch delivers proven play performance and outstanding visual merit.

“The turf quality and quick establishment have surpassed our expectations, vitally important with the small windows we’re given to grow the pitch back in after concert season. It gives us more than just a great density of sward with vibrant green colour which looks fantastic in a stadium – the resilience and recovery is outstanding, particularly during intense periods of play and the bad weather we endure through the winter months.”

Besides the stadium, J Premier Pitch was also used on the replica stadium pitch at the club’s High Performance Centre – upgraded during the summer of 2022 and officially unveiled in April 2023. “We achieve fantastic consistency and know and trust the quality we’re going to get from every bag.” He adds, “This seed mix has been the foundation to elevating all of our surfaces to a standard that professional athletes love to perform on!”

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