Reliable G860’s are excellent for Hartpury

/in , /by

Reliable G860’s are excellent for Hartpury: Matthew Newman, Grounds and Sports Turf Manager at Hartpury University and Hartpury College in Gloucester, claims that his fleet of Dennis G860 mowers are reliable, robust, and ergonomically excellent.

Matthew was once a student at Hartpury University and College completing a National Diploma in Horticulture before being offered a position on the grounds team in 2002. He now oversees three divisions which consists of a grounds team, a sports turf team, and a construction team.

Reliable G860’s are excellent for Hartpury

Reliable G860’s are excellent for Hartpury

The eight sports pitches, which are split equally between rugby and football, require a lot of attention as Matthew explained.

“They are arguably the most demanding surfaces because of the amount they are used,” he said. “During the week we find ourselves preparing the pitches for university and college teams, which still must be high spec because they are in the top divisions, but then it gets to the weekend, and we have premiership fixtures for the women’s teams or championship rugby games for men. In these situations, we are very much aware that we are preparing pitches for the paying public and that the games will be streamed online around the world for all to see. It is a lot of work, and we need reliable machinery.”

It is for this reason that Matthew decided to upgrade his previous cylinder mowers to four Dennis G860’s.

Relied upon at world class stadia and major tournaments, the Dennis G860 is one of the most renowned cylinder mowers in the grounds management industry. Lightweight at just 166kg it is incredibly easy to manoeuvre and comfortable to operate. The handlebar console houses the controls for the throttle, parking brake, roller drive and cutting cylinder drive.

The mower features a large diameter front roller with an adjustable scraper which has been designed for a precise height of cut control, giving an excellent finish on every occasion. The Dennis G860 also features an interchangeable cassette system to assist with a wide range of tasks such as including scarifying, verticutting, brushing, spiking, and slitting.

“Once we trialled the Dennis G860’s, we just had to have them,” continued Matthew. “They are lot more robust, more sturdy, easier to use and more manageable. For me the usability is one of its best features – they are ergonomically excellent, and everything is in the right place in terms of controls. It does a brilliant job every time and it isn’t complicated. I think there are quite a few machines out there that are perhaps over engineered. Dennis keeps it simple and straight to the point.

“The G860’s present the pitch brilliantly and they provide a more defined stripe than other mowers we have used.”

Matthew and his team use the Dennis G860’s on both the rugby and football pitches approximately three times a week. With such a busy schedule, time is of the essence and Matthew has noticed that the Dennis G860’s have helped in this respect.

“We seem to cover the same area more quickly with the Dennis G860’s. Previously we were only able to single cut and would never have enough time in the day to double cut, whereas we can do that now.

“We’ve had the Dennis G860’s for a couple of years now and nothing ever goes wrong with them. They are incredibly reliable.”

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

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.

Versatile square pattern nozzles

/in , /by

Versatile square pattern nozzles: The Rain Bird range of SQ Series Square Pattern Nozzles has been extended with the addition of the ¾ Square Pattern version.

These highly efficient and precise low-volume spray nozzles are ideal for irrigating difficult corners and small areas such as narrow planting beds, shrub islands within residential, commercial or public landscapes and around pedestrian walkways. The new ¾ Square Pattern is particularly suitable for surface watering the perimeter of trees and shrubs whilst avoiding the trunk.

Versatile square pattern nozzles

Versatile square pattern nozzles

The 1.4–3.5 bar SQ Series is pressure compensated and the square spray pattern offers efficient and virtually mist free controlled irrigation. This means optimum coverage for non-turf watering applications and reduced risk of overspray and potential damage to adjacent areas. The patented nozzle design gives the irrigation system designer or installer the option of 0.8 or 1.2 metre throws from one SQ nozzle and flow rates from 22.7 to 90.8 l/hour.

From an installation design and layout viewpoint, the edge-to-edge pattern capability of the SQ Series ensures full coverage of an area and reduces the need for overlap. The number of nozzles required is therefore reduced, not only simplifying designs and decreasing material costs, but also significantly reducing installation times.

In additon to the new ¾ Square Pattern nozzle, the SQ Series is available for quarter, half and full irrigating patterns.These can be used individually or combined in multiple ways to provide the exact coverage and flow rates required for an installation, whilst accommodating any future expansion of the area to be irrigated. The nozzles can be fitted directly on to a variety of spray heads or risers with adapters and accessories available too.

With fewer nozzles needed and the high levels of efficiency and control that they provide, the versatile SQ Series can typically provide up to 65% water savings when compared with using alternative nozzle designs. For more information, contact Peter Longman, Rain Bird Europe, plongman@rainbird.eu  www.rainbird.eu

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.

Boost your surfaces with Mansfield Sand

/in , /by

Boost your surfaces with Mansfield Sand: Visitors to the Mansfield Sand stand (OSA260) at GroundsFest can expect to see a wide range of sand-based products that are vital to the overall health and performance of a sports pitch.

Mansfield Sand has pioneered the development and production of premium silica sand-based products for over 170 years. The company provides a wide range of innovative products for sports, landscaping, and equestrian uses. These include stadium and training ground facilities; championship golf courses and world class show jumping arenas.

Boost your surfaces with Mansfield Sand

Boost your surfaces with Mansfield Sand

The company’s leading experts will be on hand at GroundsFest to explain how some of the following products could make a difference to your sports turf projects.

Mansil Silica Sand Sports Range

Sourced from the company’s Two Oaks Quarry in Mansfield where the Mansil range of Silica Sands is produced. These products are predominantly used in the construction and maintenance of a wide range of sports surfaces – from winter sports pitches, golf courses, bowling greens and all amenity turf areas.

Fibresand

A pure sand and polypropylene fibre reinforcement product that is particularly advantageous when grass cover has been reduced due to heavy usage and wear during the winter period. Incorporated into an upper sand soil rootzone and consolidated to provide a stable divot-free environment.

Fibre Reinforced Rootzone

A range of Fibre Reinforced Rootzones developed to obtain greater use from natural turf surfaces whilst maintaining the high standards demanded by today’s sports industry and meeting the expectations of ground staff at all levels. Mansfield Sand’s fibre reinforcement technology provides stability and durability to all sand dominated Rootzones allowing the pitch to remain free draining and consistent over the whole surface.

Sand Soil Rootzones

Mansfield Sand understands exactly what is needed to achieve the surface that turf managers require week-in-week-out and that is why their rootzones contain only the best quality materials to meet that demand. For renovation or construction, the company’s superior rootzone blend Mansil 40 Silica Sand with a quality screened topsoil, guarantees the perfect start.

Sand Compost Rootzones

A range of premium quality sand organic material blends which are perfect for creating a rootzone where an organic rich material is required within the profile, aiding in the retention of nutrients whilst providing increased drought resistance.

Top Dressing

Produced for the fine turf market, Mansfield Sand’s Soil Top Dressing is a manufactured homogenous product made from their own premium silica sands combined with top quality soils. All passed through a sterilising unit, over a 3mm screen to produce an easy to spread, stone and pebble free dressing.

Mansfield Sand can also produce bespoke dressing blends and combine soil amendments into any product.

For more information visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk

You can also follow the company on Twitter – @MansfieldSand and Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MansfieldSandSportSurfaces/

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.

Education galore at GroundsFest

/in , /by

Education galore at GroundsFest: With five seminar theatres, outdoor practical sessions, and an abundance of land-based education providers in attendance, GroundsFest is set to have the largest display of educational opportunities ever seen at a groundscare event.

GroundsFest’s all-encompassing education programme has been designed for all sectors of the groundscare and landscaping industry and will feature a mix of indoor seminars and outdoor practical sessions.

Education galore at GroundsFest

Education galore at GroundsFest

In addition to the seminars, there will also be an education area featuring many of the UK’s leading land-based colleges. BAGMA (British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association) will be offering advice about its specific industry training courses, and We Are Land-Based Engineering by the AEA have a stand to provide information on a career in land-based engineering.

The free-to-attend, CPD accredited education programme is set to be a major attraction at the event which takes place on 20 and 21 September at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.

The programme will provide grounds and open space practitioners across all disciplines – volunteer as well as professional, with an abundance of knowledge-gathering sessions. The indoor sessions will take place in five purpose-built seminar theatres while practical training sessions will be held in the outdoor areas. There is also a theatre dedicated to bowling green maintenance which is being organised by Bowls England and is sponsored by Dennis and SISIS.

In the indoor seminar theatres Martin Sampson from Grounds Training will be starting procedures by delivering an informative session for grounds managers, bursars, club managers and committee chairs. Martin will be focussing on workplace training, current legislation, and tips on creating a skilled workforce.

Lantra, sponsors of Seminar Theatre 2, will be offering tips on how to embrace technology across the landscaping sector; Bradley Tennant (International Greenkeepers for Hire) and Victoria Fiander (Wiltshire College) will be discussing the advantages of using apprenticeships in a staffing shortage, and how networking and volunteering are two great ways to advance a career in the sports turf industry.

Peter Corbett (Origin Amenity Solutions) will be presenting about the changing face of chemicals and the effect this will have on the industry, while Geoff Fenn (Origin Amenity Solutions) will discuss Microdochium disease management and winter fertiliser recovery.

Adam Witchell (The Nurture Landscapes Group/Harlequins Rugby) is explaining how data and water testing are key to his operations; Emma Gayler (EGO) will be presenting

Challenge 2025 – a campaign which calls for batteries to become the principal power source for outdoor power equipment by 2025; Dr Amanda Gummer, on behalf of the API (Association of Play Industries), is discussing how playgrounds are at the heart of communities; turf professional Ed Ramsden will be delivering a vitally important seminar which focusses on mental health; DLF will be exploring several environmental solutions for winter pitches and the Amenity Forum and the STRI (Sports Turf Research Institute) will also be having a presence within the education programme.

Carried out by Grounds Training, the outdoor practical timetable will feature free hands-on, training sessions on a range of groundscare topics including line marking, pedestrian mowers, ride-on mowers, handheld machinery, and the calibration and use of knapsack sprayers and boom sprayers. The sessions will be delivered by a fantastic team of Lantra approved instructors which includes Keith Kent, Martin Sampson, Chris Parry, and Steve Potter.

In the Landscape Zone, there will be two theatres. In the Design Theatre speakers include multi-award-winning garden designers and architects such as Paul Hervey-Brookes, Peter Donegan, Laura Ashton-Phillips, Naomi Ferrett-Cohen and Zoe Claymore plus many more.

In the Landscape Theatre Wayne Grills from BALI (British Association of Landscape Industries) will be leading an informative panel debate; Rob Woodhouse (Solent Garden Services Ltd) and Mark Youde (Urban Landscape Design) are exploring the role of company culture in business; Tim O’Hare (Tim O’Hare Associates) is taking to the stage to discuss soil science; Paul Hadley (Paul Hadley Design) is delivering a seminar entitled Wildflowers in Landscaping and the Young People in Horticulture Association are participating in a debate about the possibility of rebranding horticulture.

All sessions are free to attend.

Register for your free ticket at 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.

Host for Land-based & Environment Learner Awards 2023 Announced

/in , /by

Host for Land-based & Environment Learner Awards 2023 Announced: After the launch of England and Northern Ireland’s first ever Land-based & Environment Learner Awards 2023 back in June, we’re now delighted to announce that one of the best-known faces of farming and the environment, Adam Henson, will host the prestigious Awards Ceremony at Reaseheath college on 22nd November.

As well as his TV presenting career, Adam runs the hugely successful Cotswold Park Farm in Gloucestershire, and is also the author of several books about living and working in the countryside. He’s therefore ideally placed to recognise the importance of inspiring and celebrating the next generation of land-based professionals and jumped at the chance to get involved as host at the highly anticipated

Host for Land-based & Environment Learner Awards 2023 Announced

Host for Land-based & Environment Learner Awards 2023 Announced

Awards ceremony later this year.

Adam said: “I am absolutely delighted to be hosting the very first Land-Based and Environment Learner Awards in November. In my various roles, I’m lucky enough to encounter some amazing young people who are passionate about their jobs and are a complete inspiration. Being asked to host the Awards ceremony and join in the celebration of their achievements is a real honour and I just know I’ll come away with plenty of new and exciting ideas to try out in my own business. But now it’s over to the judges to review the range of high-quality nominations. I certainly don’t envy them their task but know their experience will ensure they select some worthy winners”.

Excitement is certainly mounting as, in its inaugural year, the awards programme has generated 120 high quality entries from across the sector.  With everything land based represented be it agriculture or arboriculture, floristry or farriery to name a few, the competition looks set to be fierce.  The judging panel, made up of several eminent experts in their field, will shortly commence the hugely demanding task of objectively reviewing and assessing all the entries to arrive at their shortlist later this week.

Chairman of the judging panel, John Moverley OBE, former Principal of two land-based colleges, is delighted with both the number of entries him and his fellow judges need to consider and, the appointment of Adam as host.

John commented “It’s just so refreshing to see the next generation taking their first steps into what will doubtless be rewarding and long-term careers. My fellow judges and I can’t wait to get down to the difficult task of selecting the ‘shining stars’ from amongst the 120 entries celebrating their success and acknowledging their potential for the future. The Awards Ceremony hosted by Adam Henson, a great ambassador for farming and the wider land-based and environment sector, will be the perfect way to celebrate, reward and thank our young learners for their continued effort and commitment”.

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.