Free Registration to GroundsFest 2024 Opens

/in , /by

Free Registration to GroundsFest 2024 Opens: Get ready for the most anticipated event in the groundscare industry. GroundsFest 2024, which takes place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on September 10 and 11, is set to return, promising an even more impressive lineup of exhibitors, new features, and experiences.

Last year, the first ever GroundsFest took the groundscare industry by storm, heralding a new era for trade shows. Now in its second year, GroundsFest has rapidly become the largest event of its kind in the UK, boasting the most space, exhibitors, and products on display. It’s also the only event in the industry where visitors can see machinery in action and get hands-on with the equipment.

Free Registration to GroundsFest 2024 Opens

Free Registration to GroundsFest 2024 Opens

Why You Can’t Miss GroundsFest 2024

Outdoor Demos: GroundsFest gives you the opportunity to test a wide range of machinery. Whether you need to dig, move, cut, mow, climb, mulch, or build, it’s all here for you to explore.

NEW! Machinery Nation LIVE: Watch top brands compete in the ultimate machinery face-off and participate in exciting equipment challenges for a chance to win amazing prizes.

Free Educational Seminars: Gain insights and solutions to the industry’s biggest issues. From management to apprentices, there’s something for everyone.

The Landscape Zone: Discover the latest in outdoor environment technologies and innovations. This is a must-attend for landscape architects, garden designers, contractors, and more.

Free Practical Training: Enhance your skills with hands-on training sessions on a variety of groundscare topics, delivered by Lantra-approved instructors.

Retail Area: Purchase tools, clothing, and accessories at discounted rates exclusive to GroundsFest.

Live Music Festival: Unwind with live music, street food, and fun activities. Enjoy performances from great DJs and bands, including the returning Queen tribute band, and explore the revamped festival area with exciting new features like bumper cars.

Exciting Registration Prize from Toro

Every person who registers will have a chance to win a Toro ProStripe 560 pedestrian mower. Designed to provide a precise cut and clean striped finish, the Toro ProStripe leaves your turf looking its best. Sports fields and fine turf applications are no match for this high-quality, versatile machine.

In addition to these exciting features, GroundsFest 2024 offers free on-site parking for everyone. There will also be a dedicated camping area, which should be pre-booked in advance. More information on staying in the camping area is available on the GroundsFest website. This year, the camping area has been upgraded with improved facilities.

Don’t miss out on the must-attend event of the year. Secure your spot now and join thousands of industry professionals for an unforgettable experience.

Register for free on the GroundsFest website and bring your email confirmation to the registration desk on the day of the event.

Profits from the event are reinvested back into the industry through the Education Fund, supporting the next generation of groundscare professionals.

For more information, please visit www.groundsfest.com

You can also follow GroundsFest on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @GroundsFest for much more news, reviews and insightful views. 

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

New grass trimmer and brush cutter from EGO

/in , /by

New grass trimmer and brush cutter from EGO: Leading battery-powered outdoor power equipment specialist EGO Power Plus; is expanding its Pro X range with a new heavy-duty grass trimmer and brush cutter which are ideal for all-day use.

Both the STX4500 Pro X loop-handled grass trimmer and the BCX4500 Pro X bike-handled brush cutter boast a powerful 1.6KW motor and are an integral part of EGO’s new Pro X series. They are well-balanced for more comfortable all-day working and feature a 45cm cutting diameter with a 2.7mm line and rapid reload head.

New grass trimmer and brush cutter from EGO

New grass trimmer and brush cutter from EGO

Chris Buck, Product Manager at EGO, said: “Garden and groundscare professionals need heavier-duty electric tools that have the power to work all day and the durability to last for years. Our new Pro X range brings the benefits of battery power to a market segment that until now has had to rely on petrol tools – that is no longer the case.”

Both models come with a rear-geared motor and are compatible with all portable EGO ARC Lithium batteries. They feature a carbon fibre drive shaft that reduces weight while maintaining stability and strength. They are compatible with EGO’s metal brush cutter blades and its Rotocut attachment for the toughest of tasks.

Ease of operation and user comfort are assured through features such as the three working speed modes with a variable speed trigger allowing for maximum control for any task, adjustable harness points and tool-free handle adjustment.

The new STX4500 grass trimmer with loop handle is the ideal choice for landscapers, facilities managers and municipal users. EGO’s Rapid Reload head and 2.7mm twist line is simple to load with line when empty, reducing downtime in the field.

Alternatively, the BCX4500 brush cutter with ergonomic bike handles is perfectly balanced for extended use and enables the user to cover a wide area with ease. The controls are conveniently positioned on the handle and include both battery life and speed indicators.

Both tools are part of the new PRO X series of hard-wearing and powerful tools for professionals, which also includes a lawn mower, chainsaw, hedge trimmers and our next-generation PGX battery charging solution.

For more information on the new PRO X series from EGO, visit; www.egopowerplus.co.uk.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Aquatrols Company Registers Premium Wetting Agents

/in , /by

Aquatrols Company Registers Premium Wetting Agents: The Aquatrols Company is delighted to announce that six of their premium wetting agents are now fully registered under the latest EU Fertilising Product Regulations (FPR) 1009/2019.

Revolution, Aqueduct, Dispatch Sprayable, Fifty90, Primer Select and Firmway have all recently been awarded certification.

Aquatrols Company Registers Premium Wetting Agents

Aquatrols Company Registers Premium Wetting Agents

These soil surfactant products have been taken through the stringent regulatory certification process and shown to be fully compliant. The new FPR 1009/2019 compliant product labels identify the changed registration status of these soil surfactants with the CE mark now present.

The use of Aquatrols soil surfactants within sports and amenity turf programmes is well-established with turf managers employing these products year-round to improve turf surface performance. In spring and summer soil surfactants improve water-use efficiency, drought resilience, water and nutritional uptake by grass plants and the uniformity of moisture held within the soil profile, thereby maximising the benefits of any applied water – be this irrigation or rainfall.

At wetter times of year, Aquatrols soil surfactants can be employed to improve surface infiltration rates and rates of water movement though the soil profile to ensure that turf surfaces are performing optimally.

Aquatrols strongly believe we should all take responsibility to protect our soil and water environment. By ensuring compliance with the EU Fertiliser Product Regulations, Aquatrols visibly demonstrates commitment to delivering high performing, safe and environmentally responsible soil surfactant products for our end users, distributor partners and the wider community.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

His Majesty The King announced as Patron of the RHS

/in , /by

His Majesty The King announced as Patron of the RHS: The RHS is honoured and delighted that His Majesty The King will be the next Patron of the Royal Horticultural Society – the UK’s gardening charity dedicated to helping everyone to garden for health, happiness and the environment.

Keith Weed CBE, President of the RHS, said: “As an advocate for the planet and champion for environmental issues, we are thrilled and honoured that His Majesty The King is our Royal Patron.

His Majesty The King announced as Patron of the RHS

His Majesty The King announced as Patron of the RHS

“We look forward to furthering our work to reach more people of all ages, backgrounds and gardening abilities with the joy of growing plants and gardening to create wonderful gardens, combat the effects of climate change and build a better future for generations to come.”

Their Majesties The King and Queen will be visiting the RHS’s world-famous gardening event, The RHS Chelsea Flower Show on Monday 20 May to meet the growers, designers and horticulturists that help make both UK gardens and its nation of gardeners some of the best in the world.

During their visit to RHS Chelsea on Monday Their Majesties will visit The RHS No Adults Allowed Garden, the first garden in the history of the Show to be designed by children to highlight to children everywhere how to become gardeners to help the planet, whilst having some fun.  Along with co-designer Harry Holding, the children have included in their design a woodland, meadows and a wetland with heightened colour and oversized bog plants. There is also a natural den set within a pool of water.

Other gardens that will be visited include the Moroto no IE Garden, designed by Kazuyuki Ishihara, which is a garden where vibrant acers and a tumbling waterfall blend the beauty of the natural world with the practicalities of family life and The Addleshaw Goddard Junglette Garden designed by Mike McMahon and Jewlsy Matthews where the hardy tropical planting of the balcony mirrors the structural layers of the jungle.

Clare Matterson CBE, RHS Director General, said: “It means the world to the RHS and our wider horticultural family of growers, nurseries, gardeners, designers and plantspeople that Their Majesties The King and Queen, accompanied by The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester are visiting RHS Chelsea again this year.

“We are all hugely looking forward to welcoming them to the world famous event to enjoy the spectacular displays that everyone has worked tirelessly to create, to meet the many wonderful charities involved with the event, and hopefully, as us gardeners love to do, sharing some top gardening tips and getting lots of inspiration along the way.”

Their Majesties visited the RHS Chelsea Flower Show just weeks after the Coronation last year.  During the 2009 Show Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II presented The King, as Prince of Wales with the RHS Victoria Medal of Honour (VMH) – the Charity’s most prestigious award – as a tribute to his deep interest and expertise in horticulture.

Having spent a lifetime championing the environment, The King has transformed his own garden at Highgrove into one of the most inspiring and innovative in the United Kingdom. It is a garden over 35 years in the making, created with passion, vision and dedication by The King and is an exemplar of his organic principles.

In 2013 The King, as Prince of Wales launched the Coronation Meadows Project to create 60 meadows, in honour of the 60th year of The late Queen’s accession to the throne. They have since thrived with over 100 fields of flowers created over the last ten years.

The Late Queen Elizabeth II was previously Patron of the RHS. The Queen became Patron of the RHS in 1952. She was Patron for 70 years, visiting RHS Chelsea Flower Show nearly every year of her Reign.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Biggest Wellbeing Survey for UK Horticulture Industry

/in , /by

Biggest Wellbeing Survey for UK Horticulture Industry: Perennial, the charity dedicated to supporting people in horticulture, is proud to announce the launch of its largest ever survey to gain a snapshot into the wellbeing of those working in the industry. 

Building on the success of the 2021 Health & Wellbeing Survey, Perennial is calling upon all those working across all sectors to participate in the 2024 survey as their feedback really will make a difference.

Biggest Wellbeing Survey for UK Horticulture Industry

Biggest Wellbeing Survey for UK Horticulture Industry

The charity wants to understand more about people’s daily lives, both inside and outside of work, and the pressures they may be facing – not only to develop their services but to inform others within the industry on the key issues and challenges being faced.

The anonymous survey will run from the 17th May until the end of June and is open to all sectors within horticulture. The results will be analysed and reported on by the University of Exeter and the findings shared with the industry this coming autumn.

For example, a key finding in 2021 was that 85% of people’s mental wellbeing was poor or below average. As a result, Perennial worked with key industry stakeholders to roll out a successful mental health first aid at work programme which saw nearly 100 people trained as mental health first aiders across 11 sectors and 48 companies.

Not only has this added to the number of people across the industry already qualified to provide invaluable support to their colleagues every day, it has widened the conversation and is helping to create a culture of positive mental wellbeing.

By sharing the survey findings, Perennial aims to support and empower the industry to take proactive steps to address such identified challenges. While acknowledging that not all issues can be solved single-handedly, Perennial believes in adopting a collaborative approach and working in partnership with the horticulture sector for positive change.

Julia Hayne, Perennial’s Director of Services, emphasised the importance of sector collaboration, stating, “The research will enable us to formulate more effective tools and support strategies to enhance wellbeing now and into the future. It’s a further step towards achieving our vision of building better futures for people working in horticulture and their families.”

Open to all who work in or have worked in horticulture, everyone is encouraged to take the time to complete the survey and to share with colleagues and friends from Friday 17th May 2024. 

perennial.org.uk/survey

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.