It’s TinyLineMarkers® at the double for PGSD!

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It’s TinyLineMarkers® at the double for PGSD!: Recent rapid expansions have seen major investments for Hounslow-based contractors PGSD – the most recent of which is a second TinyLineMarker® from Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS).

So impressed with the accuracy and labour savings brought about by their original TinyLineMarker® Pro, a Pro X has joined the fleet to deliver efficient marking to schools and sports turf customers across the home counties.

It’s TinyLineMarkers® at the double for PGSD!

It’s TinyLineMarkers® at the double for PGSD!

“Due to the growth in business, we were finding that marking surfaces manually was becoming problematic in terms of both time and labour” explains Managing Director Mark Hooley. “Sports facilities and schools tend to work to extremely tight changeover timeframes and so, to meet requirements, we looked to technology to help.” Mark and the team researched the market extensively and found the TLM Pro to be extremely effective during trials. “We wanted something that was straight forward to operate and that would give us the precision we need when installing these lines. The TLM Pro met all of our requirements, and upon delivery in the spring of 2022, proved to be absolutely outstanding!”

The TLM Pro was shared between teams based in London and Hertfordshire before being joined by a new TinyLineMarker® Pro X in April 2023, giving the two PGSD schools’ teams their own marker for an even more efficient service. “Our operatives were blown away by the intuitiveness of the Pro but the Pro X is next level!” exclaims Mark. “The tablet has been upgraded and there are even more settings and stored markings – all easier to find and use. There is also a wealth of new features, simple things like the ability to manually flush out the system after marking which is a great addition.”

Robust and versatile, the TLM Pro X is the new fast and effective solution to marking – offering a 10L paint capacity and high traction, pro wheels making it suited to even the most demanding field painting jobs.

“Our two TLM’s have been out most days as we prepare sports grounds for the summer season. With the software, we can programme and mark out a 400m running track in 90 minutes compared to two operators spending a full day using string and tape measures… and getting even better accuracy! Once summer marking is complete, we’ll then have another busy season come August when we start putting down markings for football and rugby.”

“We’re delivering a superior product to our clients with these markers and, when combined with the simplicity of use and labour savings, makes the investment essentially cost-neutral.” Mark adds, “There is also plenty of support from Simon Hughes at OAS who has helped us at every stage of the process, including delivering all the initial training, and though we’ve not needed to call on him we know help is available at the end of the phone if we need it.”

Free demonstrations are being offered across the UK.  To book or enquire visit https://tinymobilerobots.com/tinymobilerobots-uk/

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Defibrillators added to STAR buggies

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Defibrillators added to STAR buggies: Royal Dornoch Golf Club is thought to be the first golf club in the world to fit defibrillators to all its buggies. The buggies chosen to carry this potentially life-saving device are STAR EV’s Capellas from Reesink Scotland.

Royal Dornoch in Scotland already had defibrillators in the clubhouse and halfway house, but this concept goes one step further to ensure they can be accessed while out on the course and provide treatment more quickly.

Defibrillators added to STAR buggies

Defibrillators added to STAR buggies

The initiative and decision to put the devices on STAR buggies came about by coincidence, as Royal Dornoch general manager, Neil Hampton explains: “The arrival of the buggies coincided with David Sullivan, a Surrey businessman and ex-military trainer, visiting the course on his ten-week challenge putting a golf ball from John O’Groats to Land’s End, stopping along the way to teach 30,000 people CPR.

“We got talking about how we could support David’s mission to promote widespread access to the lifesaving devices and it seemed logical to install them on the buggies that are hired out to golfers with medical conditions. In fact, it almost seemed unbelievable that it hadn’t been done before.”

So, why was STAR EV chosen for this pioneering project? Neil says: “It was time to replace our fleet of buggies and while I don’t find the architecture of golf buggies to change much from brand to brand, STAR EV came top for price and support in our research – we’ve worked with Reesink Scotland for years for our Toro turfcare machinery and know how good they are when it comes to providing support.”

It seems the partnership has started a trend and the club has already had enquiries about the project from other clubs as Neil tells us: “There’s been some promising interest. Defibs are so easy to use, training isn’t even needed. They talk you through the process and alert you if treatment isn’t needed. There’s nothing to fear about putting them on your buggy fleet, they can even be insured.”

The award-winning brand STAR EV is much trusted for its battery-powered reliability and its ambulance vehicles are in a range of UK venues including Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.

To see this trust extended to the Capella buggy as home to defibrillators is something Mike Murray, Northern Sales for Reesink Scotland, Scottish retailer of STAR EV, is incredibly proud of: “I’d like to thank Royal Dornoch Golf Club for having faith that the STAR brand and Reesink can support such a worthy project. Our ‘larger than most’ lithium batteries, combined with a reliable vehicle, will hopefully go a long way to helping if ever they are called into action.”

More about the story can be seen on STV news here: https://youtu.be/FsIRzk7AH8c

To find out more about STAR EV call 01480 226800 or go online at reesink-evehicles.co.uk

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Get greens summer-ready with Turf care professionals

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Get greens summer-ready with Turf care professionals: Leading manufacturer of golf, lawn bowling greens and other sports turf maintenance equipment, Wood Bay Turf Technologies, has been creating world-class turf maintenance equipment since 1987, and has a range of products to help with all aspects of summer lawn maintenance.

It’s always recommended to start the season with a roll, as greens can be soft and uneven at this time of year. Rolling will help to smooth uneven spots and firm up the surface. The greensIRON 3900 golf greens roller, has been top-rated by leading golf course managers to raise the standard of greens to incredibly high quality, while smoothing out any surface imperfections and creating a firm playing surface. The greensIRON golf turf roller has a light footprint, even lighter than a person making a putt, so it will not make a mark as it rolls.

Get greens summer-ready with Turf care professionals

Get greens summer-ready with Turf care professionals

The machine has uniquely designed handlebars to allow for ease of steering, while its Hydro-Gear makes the transition from one direction to another very comfortable for even the least experienced operator. The roller’s rubber-tracked drive roller also provides superior climbing ability on the steepest, undulating greens and approaches.

The greensIRON 6200 Lawn Bowling Greens and Tennis Court Roller is based on the same design as the greensIRON 3900, but has wider rollers at 62” instead of 39”. The greensIRON 6200 is ideally used for rolling lawn bowling greens and tennis courts to make them smoother and play faster, improving the turf surface and creating a consistent green speed.

Another key task is turf dethatching and thinning out thatch to clear out old, dead grass and other organic matter that has built up, but not broken down, over the autumn and winter months. Dethatching opens up the lawn surface to allow for improved nutrient and water intake. The Wood Bay fds9200 multipurpose turf dethatchers are lightweight, flexible and responsive, and are engineered to handle a variety of surfaces, from the contours and undulations of a golf course to the flat surfaces associated with sports fields, race tracks and equestrian arenas.

Finally, it’s is an ideal time to make sure that all equipment is in tip-top condition. Along with turf specialist machinery, Wood Bay also manufactures dynaBlade verti-cut blades for all leading brands of turf machinery. Strong by design with tungsten carbide tips, the blades are engineered to save time and money with the most efficient linear aeration.

Wood Bay Turf Techonologies’ products are available exclusively from Henton & Chattell’s dealer network. For more information, please contact Sam Russo, sales specialist turf machinery, email sr@hentonanchattell.co.uk or call 07716 992587.

Further information about Wood Bay and its products can be found at https://www.woodbayturftech.com/

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Lord’s hosts exclusive tour

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Lord’s hosts exclusive tour: Lord’s the ‘home of cricket’ in London is hosting a unique opportunity to meet its head groundsman and walk on its hallowed turf.

On 5 July, visitors will go behind the scenes with Lord’s highly respected Head Groundsman Karl McDermott to learn the science and secrets of groundskeeping and behold its collection of cricket related art and memorabilia. The exclusive event showcases the grounds and impeccable work of grounds and turf specialists, in support of Perennial, the charity helping people in horticulture.

Lord’s hosts exclusive tour

Lord’s hosts exclusive tour

Karl McDermott is known for producing top quality international and domestic pitches at World Cup level. He says: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see all the iconic parts of the grounds and experience some of the most inspiring views in sports. Visitors will walk the pitch and discover the secrets behind keeping the hallowed turf in such pristine condition. This is an extraordinary experience that gives back to the horticultural community.”

Gardens, parks and sporting grounds bring joy to so many, but working in horticulture can be tough. Sadly, many people who work with plants, trees, flowers or grass, and their families, are struggling. To help, the charity Perennial provides free information, advice and support through its website, helpdesk and UK wide team.

Perennial helped Craig, 31, who had worked in grounds maintenance for 10 years. He put his back out during a shift at work and was signed off. Perennial arranged an initial physiotherapy assessment and then referred Craig for face-to-face physio treatment based on his diagnosis. Craig’s back pain improved after physio treatment and he is much happier now as a result. Craig says: “Not being able to do my job was hard to accept and triggered a lot of anxiety and depression. I’m so grateful for the physio sessions for my back pain, they’ve really helped me.”

Perennial’s work with worldclass sporting venues like Lord’s offers unforgettable experiences that many sports fans dream of. The charity is calling for more sporting venues to celebrate grounds people by hosting an exclusive tour.

Perennial Events Manager, Chris Crooker says: “Sporting venues have the opportunity to recognise their grounds people and give back to all those who look after green spaces by hosting a unique and memorable experience that will both delight and educate fans and garden lovers.”

To host an exclusive sports tour for Perennial contact events@perennial.org.uk

Or, to book the Lord’s tour visit perennial.org.uk/lords-cricket-ground

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Perennial returns to RHS Chelsea Flower Show

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Perennial returns to RHS Chelsea Flower Show: Following last year’s success with the Perennial Garden ‘With Love’ by Richard Miers winning the RHS People’s Choice Award, Perennial is returning to the 2023 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Over 50 people were directly involved in the creation of the winning garden last year, showcasing a fraction of all those working in horticulture that the charity supports and cares for, who shape, nurture, and protect our beautiful gardens and green spaces across the UK.

Perennial returns to RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Perennial returns to RHS Chelsea Flower Show

However, the Perennial presence will be a little different this year as they will be appearing in the Grand Pavilion, where you can join the team on their exhibit in the Discovery Zone for an Alan Titchmarsh-led audio visual experience, to learn about the charity and how they help those who work with plants, trees, flowers, or grass.

Beautifully created with plants, designed to demonstrate the diversity and interest that can be created in a vertical garden, the stand will include new ‘Plants for Perennial’ varieties; Dianthus Pink Celebration, Nemesia Peaches and Cream, Clematis Prince George, and Salvia Cuello in both white and pink forms. All have been produced in collaboration with four wholesale nurseries to raise funds to support for the work that Perennial does, and it will be the first time that the plants will all be appearing together.

“Perennial has taken a different approach this year.” says Director of Marketing and Fundraising, Anita Bates. “In order to reach as many people as possible so they know we are here for them; we are always adapting. We’re looking forward to telling our story, launching our new ‘Plants for Perennial’ varieties, and showcasing some of the people we are proud to support. If you’re attending Chelsea Flower Show, do drop by exhibit 004 and meet the team.”

Read more about Perennial’s Chelsea presence this year at perennial.org.uk/chelsea

As the UK’s only charity helping all those working in, and retired from horticulture, Perennial is always on hand to offer support, information and advice and there is plenty of opportunity for everyone to get involved. Visit perennial.org.uk

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