TV presenter goes Blooming Wild for Euroflor Flower Seed

/in , /by

TV presenter goes Blooming Wild for Euroflor Flower Seed: Lynne Allbutt is a writer, TV presenter, speaker, and an advocate for Euroflor Flower Seed.

In her recent column ‘Green Scene’ written for the Western Mail newspaper, Lynne pays the biggest compliment. “Whenever I use or talk about wildflowers, there is only one company I recommend and that’s Rigby Taylor who are part of Origin Amenity Solutions.  They provided the seed for the memorable wildflower meadows at the Olympic Park back in 2012, and more locally, have provided a lot of seed for Monmouthshire Council, and a few years ago for some of the roundabouts in Blaenau Gwent. If you have seen any of those displays, you won’t have forgotten them.”

TV presenter goes Blooming Wild for Euroflor Flower Seed

TV presenter goes Blooming Wild for Euroflor Flower Seed

Lynne runs a garden design business and is a gardener at heart with a passion for the outdoors and is often described as a Champion for Mother Nature.

She continues, “There are numerous fabulous mixes to choose from, making sure there is something suitable for every site and situation. Euroflor offers a wide range of mixes including horticultural cultivars and/or UK native and naturalised species in varying combinations.  Mixes are available for spring or autumn sowing and there are 11 mixes to choose from in the Euroflor Project Pollin-8 range.  This project is a major initiative at reversing the decline in pollinating insects by including high yielding nectar and pollen flower mixtures.

Or you can choose from the ‘Flora Native’ range, a collection of Native UK provenance wildflower seed mixes. This seed can be sown all year round as long as the moisture and temperature is conducive to germination and growth.  Specific mixes are available for wild birds, and bees and butterflies as well as for different soils and situations, like woodland, wetland, coastal and flowering lawns.”

Lynne’s article is packed with sensible and useful advice. “If you haven’t sown your flower seed yet, get them in the ground as soon as possible.  The weather conditions can change so quickly and there is still time to have a hot, dry summer, so a good start will be helpful for them.

I’ve just sowed a lot of wildflower seed around the edge of my veg patch, on a couple of verges and on an awkward bank.  It’s not too late, and they’ll provide a welcome splash of colour and food for pollinators at the end of the summer.

It is important to remember that good wildflower seed is not ‘free seed’ or even ‘cheap seed’, but it can still be cost effective, covering much bigger areas than shrubs or herbaceous plants and is often more cost effective – and safer – than strimming difficult areas.  Interestingly it is also a cost-effective option for large, grassed areas that would normally be mown regularly.  Mowing paths through swathes of wildflowers has to be one of the most fantastic ways of utilising any green space.  Wildflower banks are particularly striking as the blooms are ‘displayed’ more effectively and using wildflower areas between boundaries and the main sections of a garden is an excellent ‘transitional trick’ – and treat.

I encourage everyone to ‘experiment’ with a patch of ‘properly-done’ wildflowers to see the benefits for yourself.  Attracting pollinators, uplifting the mood, dealing with difficult areas, including poor soil, are just some of the boxes ticked by this under-used flower power.”

Lynne concludes, “Most people who had bad experience using wildflower seeds was simply because they used inferior seed.  I am determined to change this and encourage everyone to have a patch of wildflowers in their garden, whether you go for a handful or a hectare. David Carvey at Origin Amenity Solutions is happy to advice on the best seed for your requirements and conditions and is also generous with practical advice.  You can contact him on 07774 943629.”

To find out more about Lynne or to contact her visit https://www.lynneallbutt.co.uk/

For more information on Euroflor flower seed visit https://www.rigbytaylor.com/flower-seed/

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.

Overseeder pivotal in post-drought programme

/in , /by

Overseeder pivotal in post-drought programme: A Redexim Overseeder 1575 3D proved a timely purchase for the team at Malone Golf Club as, like many venues across the country, overseeding work was high on the autumn agenda to recover the damage from the summer-time drought.

Delivered in August 2022, the new disc-seeder was out and in use immediately across the 27-hole complex and according to Workshop Manager Chris Walsh, the results of the operation have been very impressive.

Overseeder pivotal in post-drought programme

Overseeder pivotal in post-drought programme

A championship parkland course situated on 330 acres of undulating ground close to Belfast city centre, Malone proves a challenge for players and greens staff alike. “Our profile is sandy meaning that in the summer we burn up fast. With the long dry spell of weather we had last year we really struggled with coverage in areas such as fairways and tee boxes which aren’t covered by the irrigation system” explains Chris, who forms part of a ten-strong maintenance team.

“Previously we would call in contractors to carry out overseeding, but you find yourself limited by their availability so we decided to purchase our own machine so that we can overseed precisely when and where we need to.” Redexim Regional Partners Cyril Johnston demonstrated the 1.5m wide disc seeder which, suited to a range of ground conditions and featuring easily adjustable delivery rates, ticked all of the boxes.

“This Overseeder 3D is really well built and super simple to set-up and operate” Chris explains. “One thing in particular we noticed was the accuracy of seed delivery which is ever more critical as the cost of seed continues to go up. The strike rate we got from the work we conducted across the site was fantastic and, while we were concerned about the slits opening up in the continued hot conditions, we didn’t get any of that. The rear roller helps to ensure that the seed remains exactly where it needs to be and seals the groove up to bring the course back into play almost immediately.”

The service, from both Cyril Johnston and Redexim’s Ian Lauder also impressed the team. “Everything from the demonstration and advice, through to the delivery and training we received was first-class.” He continues, “Now that we’re not waiting on contractors, we can really push ahead with overseeding, fitting it in and around our packed golf programme to build on course improvements and cope with the challenges that mother nature throws at us. This machine will pay for itself in no time.”

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.

STIHL launches new range of water pumps

/in , /by

STIHL launches new range of water pumps: STIHL has launched its first range of petrol 4-stroke water pumps, specifically designed to meet the demanding needs of agricultural, construction and hire markets.

The new range consists of two models, the WP 300 and WP 600. The WP 600 boasts a robust cast iron impeller, a powerful 4.4 kW engine and 3” hose connections for the delivery of large volumes of water up to 63 m3/h, and comes complete with an integrated suction filter to protect the pump from dirt particles.

STIHL launches new range of water pumps

STIHL launches new range of water pumps

With a similar design, its counterpart the WP 300 includes the same features as the WP 600 except for 2” hose connections and a lower 37 m3/h delivery capacity for smaller jobs.

The WP 300 and WP 600 can be fuelled by STIHL’s Moto4Plus, a high quality alkylate fuel specifically designed for small 4-stroke engines. Compared to forecourt fuel, Moto4Plus has a significantly longer shelf life, less harmful emissions and no tank drainage requirement when in storage.

Both pumps offer intuitive technology including low oil protection, meaning the engine switches off when the engine oil level falls below the safe operation threshold. An anti-vibration system also helps to reduces mechanical stress.

Designed with user comfort in mind, the WP 300 and WP 600 offer a sturdy frame for excellent stability and easy transportation, simple controls and toolless access to the air filter for easy maintenance.

All STIHL tools, including both water pumps, are compatible with the STIHL Connected fleet management system. Installing a STIHL Smart Connector allows the runtime to be recorded and sent to the user’s smartphone via Bluetooth for accurate usage and maintenance records.

For more information on STIHL’s new petrol water pumps, please visit www.stihl.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.

Party for Perennial 2023

/in , /by

Party for Perennial 2023: Perennial were thrilled to welcome many of our industry supporters to Party for Perennial in London last week.

The celebration at Core Bar, near St Paul’s Cathedral. Many guests made pledges to support Perennial further by taking part in the NUTS and Firewalk challenges later in the year, providing auction and raffle prizes for future events and booking a table at the 185th Anniversary dinner in 2024.

Party for Perennial 2023

Party for Perennial 2023

Anita Bates, Perennial’s Director of Marketing and Fundraising, says: “Our community can always be relied upon to pull together to make a difference to people in horticulture, Party for Perennial is a great example of this. Thank you to our generous pledgers for supporting this fabulous fundraising evening; your contribution will help us improve lives.”

The fun networking event for the horticulture trade raises both awareness and support for people in horticulture and their families who come to Perennial for help.

Trudy Martin from New Look Landscapes said: “It was our first time attending Party for Perennial so we were not too sure what to expect. It turned out to be a fantastic night and a great way to meet others in the industry. We left with a couple of amazing raffle prizes and some great contacts. Looking forward to the next one. Thank you Perennial.”

Stuart Ball from John Chambers Wildflower commented: “Great to meet industry colleagues and friends – new and old – at a super venue and all in a good cause. It was nice to catch up with everyone on a relaxed and fun evening! Cheers!!”

As the only charity that helps individuals working in and retired from all sectors of the horticulture industry, Perennial is a lifeline for people that have nowhere else to turn.

This year some of the incredible prizes in Perennial’s raffle included:

  • Garden on a Roll – Wildlife Border
  • Which? Magazine – One Year’s subscription
  • Bulldog Tools – Pedigree Border Fork and Rabbiting Spade
  • Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens – Tickets and Guidebook
  • The Newt – Two 12 month membership for
  • Tom Stuart–Smith – A signed copy of his book Drawn from the Land
  • The Laskett – Two pairs of tickets (including tea/cake)
  • Thatcher’s – A case of cider
  • Brewdog – Bottles of Lone Wolf Gin, Seven Day vodka and 500 Cuts Rum
  • Chris Baines – A copy of RHS Companion to Wildlife Gardening
  • Woodlodge Products – A pair of ecomade plant pots
  • Iford Manor – A garden entry for two

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.

EFL award winners announced

/in , , /by

EFL award winners announced: Burnley, Derby County and Newport County have been named 2022/23 Grounds Teams of the Season in the EFL.

Read the full article from The EFL here

EFL award winners announced

EFL award winners announced

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.