The jewel in the crown – ECHO’s DCS-3500T

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The jewel in the crown – ECHO’s DCS-3500T: ECHO have recently launched the DCS-3500T, a 56V battery top handle chainsaw. It joins the much praised DCS-2500T in the extensive 56V professional line-up.

The DCS-3500T is capable of taking on bigger jobs than its smaller sibling, as a result of a longer 35cm (14”) bar and, by swapping to the 252Wh battery, more power. But it is still lightweight and compact in design, making it highly manoeuvrable. Switching to the larger battery also means longer runtimes – very useful when climbing.

The jewel in the crown – ECHO’s DCS-3500T

The jewel in the crown – ECHO’s DCS-3500T

With safety in mind, ECHO have introduced a 2-step, single-finger throttle lockout safety system which prevents accidental activation. Additional safety and comfort comes in the form of the patented QuickDraw hook enabling hooking and unhooking with just one hand, while the reduced gap between the roller chain catcher and the sprocket guard prevents accidental climbing rope damage.

Other useful features include an air inlet filter that prevents dirt and dust from entering the cooling passage, electronics and motor compartment, providing less maintenance and longer lifetime. A drop prevention nut and side chain access tensioner come as standard for quick chain adjustment.

The ECHO DCS-3500T is available now from ECHO dealers nationwide and is priced at £499 (inc-VAT) without battery and charger.

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GroundsFest Academy Shines a Light on Irrigation

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GroundsFest Academy Shines a Light on Irrigation: The latest free GroundsFest Academy event once again proved a huge success, this time focusing on Irrigation Maintenance in partnership with Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS).

Held at the impressive Throws Farm Research and Technology Centre in Great Dunmow, Essex – the heart of OAS’s research and development activity – attendees were treated to a day packed with hands-on learning, expert demonstrations, and practical advice. The facility, which boasts trial areas, greenhouses, and advanced turf analysis equipment, provided the perfect backdrop for a day dedicated to improving irrigation knowledge and techniques across the turf and amenity sectors.

GroundsFest Academy Shines a Light on Irrigation

GroundsFest Academy Shines a Light on Irrigation

The CPD-accredited event guided participants through the fundamentals of irrigation systems, installation best practices, troubleshooting, and the latest innovations in irrigation technology. Sessions were designed to be practical and interactive, allowing attendees to get hands-on experience and take away knowledge that could be directly applied at their own sites.

Peter Robin from Origin Amenity Solutions, who led several sessions, said: “My purpose today was to help people understand how to make their irrigation systems better. A lot of sites have old systems that aren’t performing as they should, leading to issues like dry patch and poor turf uniformity. With a better understanding of hydraulics, people can make small tweaks that make a big difference.”

The event attracted a wide range of attendees from across the UK — from schools and sports clubs to golf courses and local authorities — all eager to build their knowledge and share experiences.

Christian Bath, Grounds and Gardens Supervisor at Haileybury School, attended to build confidence in maintaining both new and ageing irrigation systems: “We’ve recently had a new system put in alongside an old one that’s not working so well. Today really helped me understand the troubleshooting side — how to identify problems at the source and resolve them without unnecessary disruption. These events are so valuable because they encourage networking and show that others are facing the same challenges.”

For Joshua Weir, Greenkeeper at Llantrisant & Pontyclun Golf Club, the accessibility of the

GroundsFest Academy stood out: “Being free opens it up to a much wider audience because not every club or individual can afford to travel or pay for events. I’ve got a book full of notes and once I explain how well the day went, I’m sure my boss will send me to more Academy events.”

The sentiment was echoed by Esteve Sanchez, Groundsperson at Fulham Football Club:

“Right now, at Fulham FC we have are having a massive extension of irrigation, and so it is good to enhance our irrigation knowledge. I think this is a brilliant initiative from GroundsFest – these Academy events help bring the industry together and build knowledge on several different topics.”

John Hall from Hertfordshire Bowls agreed: “Today was a fantastic learning curve. We’ve gained a much better understanding of the systems we use and how to eliminate problems. Networking with others has been educational in itself – it can even help you save money by understanding how to do things better.”

Reflecting on another successful event, Bradley Tennant, Director of Education at the GroundsFest Academy, said: “We’ve had a really good mix of people attend today, from football and golf clubs to bowls clubs and landscaping companies. It’s fantastic to see the diversity in the industry and the enthusiasm to keep learning. It’s been another brilliant day for the GroundsFest Academy – and we’ve got an exciting 12 months ahead, so watch this space!”

With each event continuing to attract strong numbers and positive feedback, the GroundsFest Academy is firmly establishing itself as one of the most valuable free learning resources in the grounds care and landscaping sectors — giving professionals and volunteers at every level the chance to expand their skills, share knowledge, and strengthen the future of the industry.

For more information, please visit www.groundsfestacademy.com

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

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Trimax Unveils OptiAdjust at Saltex 2025

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Trimax Unveils OptiAdjust at Saltex 2025: Trimax will launch its latest innovation, OptiAdjust, at Saltex 2025. This groundbreaking system allows operators to change mowing heights without leaving the cab, improving productivity, safety, and cut quality.

Visitors can see OptiAdjust in action on the Trimax stand. Integrated with the Trimax Connect app, OptiAdjust enables operators to adjust cutting heights between 10–80 mm instantly from inside the tractor — reducing downtime, improving workflow, and ensuring greater precision across every pass.

Trimax Unveils OptiAdjust at Saltex 2025

Trimax Unveils OptiAdjust at Saltex 2025

“OptiAdjust is all about giving operators smarter, safer control and increased productivity,” said Rikki Bown, Business Development Manager at Trimax. “It’s a major step forward in mower efficiency and ease of use.”

In addition to OptiAdjust, Trimax will also showcase its proven range of commercial rotary and flail mowers:

  • Striker – Ideal for use on compact tractors, the Striker is a multi-spindled rotary mower offering superb presentation, easy operation, and extremely low maintenance — perfect for sports clubs and private estates.
  • ProCut S5 – Built for full-time commercial use, the ProCut S5 roller mower delivers a high-quality cut and excellent clipping distribution, while eliminating daily maintenance requirements.
  • Force – Trimax’s toughest and most robust flail mower to date. Engineered for extreme conditions, the Force can mulch prunings up to 90 mm and is equipped with a Safety Dispersion Guard meeting ISO17101 standards.

See the future of smarter mowing at the Trimax stand H082 at Saltex 2025.

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Two new best-in-class leaf blowers

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Two new best-in-class leaf blowers: EGO Power+ has expanded its offering of battery-powered outdoor power equipment by adding two powerful new leaf blowers to its domestic range. Best-in-class, the LB6700E and LB6150E boast exceptional power and control, making them ideal for homeowners looking for quick and efficient clearing.

With superior leaf-blowing performance and improved ergonomics, these blowers have the force to clear the most stubborn debris, while the variable speed trigger enables the user to maintain effortless control. Both blowers also come with flat and round nozzles, increasing their adaptability to tackle any task.

Two new best-in-class leaf blowers

Two new best-in-class leaf blowers

The larger of the two models, the LB6700E has an impressive 1138m3/h output in the boost mode as well as a 21N air force, enabling users to complete challenging tasks with ease. Helping to maintain gardens without difficulty, this high-performance blower ensures gardens stay immaculate, no matter the task at hand.

Neil McGuinness, Product Manager at EGO, said: “We are delighted to be adding two new blowers to our domestic range this year. Prioritising power and functionality, the blowers are designed to cut down time on gardening tasks without compromising on power, so using these tools with an EGO 56V ARC Lithium™ battery ensures that there is enough run time and power to aid with any gardening job.”

The LB6150E blower can clear large areas due to its 1045 m3/h output in boost mode with 18.5N of air force, while the large-diameter blower tube ensures maximum airflow.

“With the LB6150E blower, our users benefit from a high-performing, high-quality tool. Due to its suitability for larger areas, this blower is compatible with our EGO Power+ Backpack to provide users with extra support,” added Neil.

EGO is a true pioneer in battery-powered outdoor power equipment. Its batteries are interchangeable across the entire range and are proven to provide more power and performance than the competition.

The blowers come with a five-year tool warranty for domestic users or a two-year warranty for professional users.

The LB6700E retails at £209 and the LB6150E for £169.

To learn more about EGO’s leaf blower range, visit: https://egopowerplus.co.uk/products/blowers

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Team GB travel to Milan for STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® World Championship

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Team GB travel to Milan for STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® World Championship: For the first time ever, the British TIMBERSPORTS® team will feature a female competitor when they travel to Milan for the biggest event of the logger sports season, the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® World Championship later this month. Taking place in Milan, Italy, the 20th World Championship promises to have audiences on the edge of their seats at the Allianz Cloud Arena on 24th and 25th October. 

Following the British TIMBERSPORTS® Championship in June, a selection process took place to decide which athletes should represent Great Britain in the Team event. Glen Penlington secured his place early after winning his fourth British Championship in a row, with personal best times in two of the four team disciplines. But a surprise option for selection was Women’s Champion, Rachel Ferrington from Hay-on-Wye, after she delivered a blistering, new Women’s World Record in the Stock Saw discipline.  It took her just 8.82 seconds to cut two discs, or ‘cookies’, with a STIHL MS 661 chainsaw, which ended up being the fastest time of the whole Championship weekend, and secured her a deserved place on Team GB.

Team GB travel to Milan for STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® World Championship

Team GB travel to Milan for STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® World Championship

Each nation can take five athletes, plus a rookie competitor, as part of their team, so with Penlington and Ferrington confirmed, four other spaces were available. Alongside 2025 Rookie Champion Rowan Luxton, the final names added to the team sheet were Team GB regulars Rob Chatley from Hanley Broadheath in Worcestershire, Graham Turner from Penicuik, Scotland and Tom Redmond from Bere Regis, Dorset.

In the Team event, the athletes complete four TIMBERSPORTS® disciplines in a relay; the Stock Saw, the Underhand Chop, the Single Buck and the Standing Block Chop. Each team competes in head-to-head heats against other national teams, with the slowest team knocked out and the fastest team moving on to the next round. All six competitors have been training hard in a series of training camps in the months prior to the Championship, in the hopes of improving on their 13th placed finish last year.

“Bringing Rachel into the team adds a fresh face and a new dynamic at the training camps. She is relatively new to the sport, but has trained really hard and has also competed in two other international TIMBERSPORTS® competitions already this year, which has given her valuable experience.” said Vicky Tween, STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Team Manager.

Female athletes have competed in the Team World Championship before, but this will be the first time that a woman has been part of the British team. Ferrington is in good company though; three other national teams feature female competitors this year, and she’ll be hoping to make her mark on the world stage in Milan. Rookie athlete, Rowan Luxton, from Llandrindod Wells in Powys, will also be excited to join the British Team for the first time after his impressive win in the British Rookie Championship.

Penlington, Chatley, Turner and Redmond have all represented Great Britain at the World Championship before, but they know that there is always room for improvement, which is why the training camps are so useful for working on everything from the changeovers between disciplines to the team morale. Whilst they are all fierce rivals when competing against each other in the British Championship, they will need to come together in Milan if they want to deliver their best result.

If you want to see where Team GB place in the 2025 TIMBERSPORTS® World Championship, you can watch the full competition live on the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® YouTube channel from 7pm on Friday 24th October.

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