The Clubhouse is here

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The Clubhouse is here: SALTEX organisers know from post-show feedback that networking was the second biggest highlight for visitors attending the 2022 show and with that in mind are launching The Clubhouse, a relaxed, licensed, social space for 2023 on SALTEX’s busy show floor.

With a bar, relaxed seating options and a private area called The Trophy Room which can be booked for pre-arranged meetups, The Clubhouse offers visitors and exhibitors the ideal space to boost their network.

The Clubhouse is here

The Clubhouse is here

Sarah Cunningham, director of commercial and events at the GMA, says: “Creating a space where visitors and exhibitors can relax, unwind and build connections with old friends and new colleagues has been a priority following visitor and exhibitor feedback from the last two shows. Crucially, we wanted to create a space that means attendees can sit down and catch-up without having to leave the show floor.

“The Clubhouse will cater to these desires perfectly, offering attendees a comfortable place to sit down and a bar where they can purchase drinks and food at competitive prices. The Clubhouse is all about maximising the visitors’ experience and bringing the industry closer together.”

As an ideal space for groups to host dedicated meet-ups, the GMA is working with a number of grounds management communities to host members’ meetings in The Trophy Room with more details to be shared in the weeks leading up to SALTEX.

With attendees coming from all backgrounds and levels of grounds care, including elite sport, estates and landscaping, parks, playgrounds, and education settings, you will have the chance to meet likeminded people and expand your network of grounds care colleagues.

Sarah concludes: “The reason SALTEX has achieved success for so long is by constantly adapting to change and listening to feedback to ensure the show continues to cater to the needs of the sector. The Clubhouse is the latest example of this.”

Until then, register now for Europe’s largest and leading sports turf, amenities, and landscaping trade exhibition at Birmingham NEC on 1-2 November 2023 at: https://bit.ly/456l0dA

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Learn how to renovate your lawn this autumn

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Learn how to renovate your lawn this autumn: Allett Mowers is inviting lawn enthusiasts from around the UK to gain the Allett Level 1 Lawn Academy Qualification.

The one-day course, to be held at the Old Fold Manor Golf Club on October 10th 2023, is aimed at the passionate lawn enthusiast or professional lawncare specialists wanting to take their lawns to the next level. It’s an opportunity to learn how to achieve a more impressive and healthy lawn all year round. In the course, attendees will learn the science behind renovating their lawn this autumn to ensure it is in tiptop shape come spring. The day will start at 9 a.m. with a bacon bap and a hot drink with the chance to network with other lawn enthusiasts.

Learn how to renovate your lawn this autumn

Learn how to renovate your lawn this autumn

The learning journey will begin with classroom training led by leading lawn expert Richard Salmon from Pro Lawncare UK. Richard is a well-known figure in the industry, with over 38 years of experience in agronomy and a successful career in lawn management. Subjects to be covered on the day will include the history of grass, the lifecycle and types of grass, grass/lawn maintenance, thatch, soil, nutrients, weeds, moss, and irrigation. A lawn care yearly calendar will be set out where you can learn exactly what you should be doing to your lawn each month of the calendar year.

The classroom will be followed by a hands-on workshop with Allett MD Austin Jarrett. He will talk about the Allett cartridge system, showing how each cartridge works and how to use them. There will be the opportunity to use a range of machines and learn the techniques of how to employ a number of lawn tools to get the best out of your lawn. The price of the course will include a soil analysis test of your own lawn from a sample you bring with you on the day. Results can be used to help develop a personalised lawncare plan. The day will run from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. approximately. The price of the course is £145.00 (including VAT) and also includes a buffet lunch. Attendees will each receive an Allett Level 1 Lawn Academy certificate and there will also be the opportunity to purchase Allett tools.

Booking for the event can be signed up via: https://allett.co.uk/products/allett-level-1-lawn-academy-qualification

There is a 30% student discount available by contacting: sales@allett.co.uk or laura.malkin@allett.co.uk

Allett Mowers Ltd.  01889 271503 www.allett.co.uk  

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Suståne delivers perfect bill of health

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Suståne delivers perfect bill of health: A year-round programme from Suståne® Natural Fertilizers has been effectively managing moisture and turf stresses to keep the 27-hole course at Wellow Golf Club disease-free.

Course Manager Lee Payne describes how the ‘perfect combination’ of Suståne® products including 5-2-10+Fe and 6-2-4 Turf Revival® has seen a drastic reduction in the frequency and severity of a variety of turf diseases, lowering fungicide applications and delivering long-lasting visual appeal.

Suståne delivers perfect bill of health

Suståne delivers perfect bill of health

Steeped in history, Hampshire’s Wellow Golf Club is set among 200 acres of parkland surrounding Embley Park – once occupied by King Alfred and later the family home of Florence Nightingale. Skip forward a couple of centuries, the site now boasts a beautiful 27-hole course maintained by Lee and his team of five. Privately owned and broken down into three 9-hole courses; the rotation of the Ryedown, Blackwater and Embley courses enable a ‘TLC week’ to take place one in every three… or at least that’s the idea!

“We’re constantly busy!” exclaims Lee. “We conduct a lot of in-house drainage projects as we’re quite a heavy site meaning that for most of the winter months, we can’t get a sprayer out. That leads me nicely onto how good the Suståne product really is, an annual programme from whom keeps us ticking over superbly well.”

“It was the organic aspect that led me to Suståne® initially. We were looking for something that would boost the good bacteria in the profile and not be harmful to the environment or our aquatic life, while also keeping on top of the variety of turf diseases that appear.” The programme, drawn up by Suståne’s Russell Riley and Neil Rogers from AGS consists of 4-6-4 slow-release fertiliser, 5-2-4+Fe for a boost of colour during December, January and February before a switch to 5-2-10+FE during spring and autumn. Lee also uses Bolster™ Liquid Biostimulant and Suståne 6-2-4 Turf Revival® which he claims provides instant recovery following heavy renovations in March and August.

“Recovery is one of the biggest factors for us, with tight turnarounds in maintenance windows and this is where Suståne® has been fantastic. The extended slow-release nitrogen within the 6-2-4 product gives us an instant boost followed by a month or two of consistent recovery.” Lee continues, “We also have a couple of greens particularly susceptible to Anthracnose. If this starts to appear we simply put down a half rate of the 5-2-10 which provides enough goodness back into the soil to effectively control any outbreaks.”

A noticeable consistency to overall plant health has meant that Lee doesn’t feel the need to try anything else. “We know our programme, we know it works for us and we know that advice is always available from Russell or Neil to tweak things if required. Not only that, but it’s also reassuring to know that we’re running the course in a way that is sympathetic to the environment we’re in to protect what we have here now and into the future.”

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SISIS Quadraplay is the helper at Belper

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SISIS Quadraplay is the helper at Belper: Chris Jordan, Head Groundsman at Belper Town Football Club in Derbyshire, believes that the SISIS Quadraplay helps him to maintain the pitch after high usage on at the Raygar Stadium.

Chris has been working for Belper Town FC for just over a year and he says that he jumped at the chance of helping his local club. In addition to his role at Belper Town FC he also carries out a lot of other grounds maintenance work for the local council including four other football pitches. However, the pitch at the Raygar Stadium is by far the most used pitch he tends to.

SISIS Quadraplay is the helper at Belper

SISIS Quadraplay is the helper at Belper

“We had over 70 games on the pitch last season, and you never know what you are going to turn up to after a game,” said Chris. “The ground was very bumpy when I first arrived and so the playing surface was the first thing I wanted to focus on.”

With the tool shed containing just a drag mat and a compact tractor, it is fair to say that it was somewhat empty on his first day. As a result, the club quickly applied for and received an FA grant, and Chris was left to choose which equipment he wanted. The SISIS Quadraplay was top of his list:

“I researched the Quadraplay and I’ve seen them in the press a lot,” said Chris. “There was nothing but good reports about them so I thought it would be ideal for us.”

The SISIS Quadraplay multiple-purpose, single-pass maintenance incorporates a mounted frame for up to four implements such as grooming rakes, spikers, slitters, rollers, and brushes. The implements can be fitted to the mainframe in any order and can be independently adjusted to achieve the desired effect. Compact, robust, versatile and with the ability to carry out up to four operations simultaneously the Quadraplay makes life a lot easier for many groundspersons.

“Time isn’t always on my side, and the Quadraplay allows me to carry out essential maintenance tasks quickly,” said Chris. “More importantly it enables me to put right all the damage which has been done following high usage.

“After a game I will often see how bad the pitch is. Sometimes it just needs a light roll and a brush, or sometimes we wind the roller right down to put the divots back. Other times it will need a good rake.

“The Quadraplay allows you to alter settings easily to suit the task at hand,” continued Chris. “You can put all four implements to play, or you could just use one of them – the versatility of it is incredible.”

“It’s also so strong, robust, and simple to use. I can get volunteers to drive it as well, which does help me a lot. Once it is setup, anybody can use it.”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact SISIS on 01332 824 777 or visit www.sisis.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow SISIS on Twitter or Instagram @SISISMachinery and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/SISISMachinery. You can also view the latest SISIS videos by visiting www.youtube.com/SISISMachinery

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Dennis ES-860 is the King of King’s

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Dennis ES-860 is the King of King’s: Roger Neale, Head of Grounds and Gardens at King’s Hall School in Somerset, has claimed that his new Dennis ES-860 battery-powered mower has been “unbelievable.”

Roger was a greenkeeper for 22 years before landing the position of Head of Grounds and Gardens at Kings Hall School – an independent school for boys and girls aged from 2 to 13.

Dennis ES-860 is the King of King’s

Dennis ES-860 is the King of King’s

He is currently working towards a ten-year replacement machinery plan, and explained how a new mower for the cricket square was of the utmost importance.

“The previous mower we were using was old, so the time had come to replace it. We had conversations with the Operations Manager as the school are very keen on enhancing its green credentials. We are doing all we can to be environmentally friendly, so we decided to explore the possibility of battery-powered mowers.

“There were a few different brands we looked at; some were good while others had issues but the Dennis ES-860 stood out. Dennis is a British company with lots of great history and quite frankly their mowers are everywhere.”

The Dennis ES-860 is a 34” battery powered turf management system which delivers maximum versatility and has a range of 13 interchangeable cassette options to provide a solution for many day-to-day maintenance tasks such as cutting, scarifying, brushing and verticutting.

The aim with the Dennis E-Series is to help professionals meet sustainability and environmental initiatives, reduce carbon footprint emissions, running costs and noise without any range anxiety.

After working with petrol machinery throughout his entire career, Roger was somewhat sceptical about the performance of a battery-powered mower but admitted that the Dennis ES-860 quickly changed his opinion.

“It is unbelievable,” said Roger. “I need not have worried about the battery running out too quickly. In fact, we can double cut our squares and the percentage of the battery afterwards will be 98%. Plus, with it being a smart charger, you can top the battery up in no time at all if we ever need to.

“Another huge benefit of the mower is just how quiet it is. I can hear the birds singing while I’m mowing now. We no longer must be mindful of disrupting classes, exams, or assemblies and no one comes to ask us to stop what we are doing. For a small team this is great because we are no longer limited to specific mowing times.”

The Dennis ES-860 was designed following the concept of the Dennis G860 petrol-based cylinder mower and many customers like the fact that traditional G860 cassettes will fit the ES-860. Roger is no exception.

“We have very close links with King’s College, Taunton, which is on a separate site about three miles away, and the grounds team there have a Dennis G860,” he said.  “This is really helpful because we often borrow cassettes from them. I’ve used the brush and the verticutter. In the case of verticutting, I like how you can increase the cassette speed but slow the walking speed down which helps to take out more material.

“I’ve not got one bad word to say about the Dennis ES-860.”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

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

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