Updated standard for greenkeeping apprentices

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Updated standard for greenkeeping apprentices: The Greenkeepers Training Committee (GTC) has released information about a new qualification that will provide golf greenkeepers and other sports turf apprentices with advanced knowledge as they work to produce exceptional playing surfaces from grassroots through to professional levels.

The Level 3 Advanced Sports Turf Technician apprenticeship has been approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) and is now available for delivery.

Updated standard for greenkeeping apprentices

Updated standard for greenkeeping apprentices

Sponsored by the Department of Education, IfATE is an employer-led organisation that supports employer groups in the development of world-leading apprenticeships and technical education systems. During 2020, IfATE undertook a review of apprenticeship standards within associated industries. The Advanced Golf Greenkeeper Apprenticeship had been approved for delivery in January 2020 but as a result of the review, the Greenkeeper Trailblazer and Sports Turf Trailblazer groups were approached by IfATE to develop a Level 3 Standard and End-point Assessment Plan (EPA) that could sit across both disciplines.

Trailblazer groups are responsible for developing a new apprenticeship for an occupation and then revise the apprenticeship as needed. Both groups understood it would be challenging to develop an apprenticeship that aligns comfortably across greenkeeping and the various other sports turf disciplines, but after many months of discussions between employers, training providers and IfATE, the Level 3 Advanced Sports Turf Technician apprenticeship has been produced and approved.

Improvements to the apprenticeship include more comprehensive assessment of knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs), which are undertaken through a written test, the creation of a project that must then be presented and a professional discussion and facility walk.

The Standard and End-point Assessment Plan can be accessed on the IfATE website.

Les Howkins MG is chairperson of the Golf Greenkeeping Trailblazer Group. He said: “It is great that we have been able to come together and work with the Sports Turf Trailblazer Group to develop a comprehensive Level 3 apprenticeship that we feel works across all disciplines within the sports turf sector and provides a career progression from the well-established Level 2. Following a lot of hard work alongside the Sports Turf group, we believe the Advanced Sports Turf Technician apprenticeship delivers what employers and apprentices in our sector need.”

Delivery director at IfATE, Robert Nitsch, said: “We are pleased to announce that the Advanced Sports Turf Technician Level 3 apprenticeship has been approved for delivery. The Sports Turf and Golf Greenkeeping Trailblazer groups have worked together to develop a standard suitable for sports turf technicians across a wide range of settings. This apprenticeship will form part of a suite of sports turf and golf greenkeeping apprenticeships and will provide a progression route for those previously achieving Level 2 qualifications. The apprenticeship will become the recognised standard for all advanced sports turf technicians.”

The Advanced Golf Greenkeeper apprenticeship will continue to be offered until it is decommissioned in 2023. The latest start date for apprentices will be 31 August 2023. There is no impact on those already registered on that standard.

The following employers all contributed to the creation of the new standard, along with support from training providers and End-point Assessment Organisations: British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA), Crosfields School, Edgbaston Stadium, England Golf, Frilford Heath Golf Club, the GTC, Gaudet Luce Golf Club, Grounds Management Association, Highfield Sports Ground, Leicester City FC Sports Turf Academy, Leyland Golf Club, Portmore Golf Centre, The Richmond Golf Club, Trentham Golf Club, Myerscough College, Kings School, Nottingham University, Oaklands College, Whitgift School.

For more information on the Advanced Sports Turf Apprenticeship, contact The GTC’s Fiona Lyttle on (01347) 838 640 or fiona@the-gtc.co.uk

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Terrain Aeration for England’s largest Sequoias

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Terrain Aeration for England’s largest Sequoias: Darlington’s South Park is home to two of what are believed to be the largest giant Redwood trees or multi-stemmed Sequoiadendron giganteum in England. Planted in March 1863 to commemorate the marriage of the future King Edward VII to Princess Alexandra of Denmark, the trees are placed in the top ten in Britain.

The only other multi-stemmed Wellingtonia is at Stratfield House, the former home of the Duke of Wellington. It was planted by the 2nd Duchess of Wellington in 1857 in memory of the Duke and the Battle of Waterloo, hence the alternative naming of the tree as Wellingtonia. This caused outrage among US botanists when the Sequoia was rediscovered in 1852 in Sierra Nevada and a sample taken to England to become named after the recently dead duke. The tree council believes the trees in South Park are most likely from the same seed as the Stratfield trees.

Terrain Aeration for England’s largest Sequoias

Terrain Aeration for England’s largest Sequoias

Recent times have seen one of the Darlington trees suffering from the effects of compaction. The top roots are, in fact, visible and travel a long way from the tree on one side, with a steep hill down to a river on the other. The tree over-compensates to get all its energy.

Darlington Council took action by calling on the services of Terrain Aeration’s Tree Division to provide specialist deep aeration of the area using their Terralift machines. The key to successful treatment is usually to work along the dripline, one metre inside and one metre outside, where the rainwater drips from the canopy. Working either side of the dripline reaches beyond the growing roots, increases the percentage of oxygen intake and allows maximum drainage. Rainwater can penetrate deeper, resulting in a stronger root growth and a healthier canopy spread with an aerated soil structure and relief of compaction panning. Once the trees receive significant rainfall, they pick up as they receive more water and nutrients.

With the South Park trees, all the lawn was aerated as well with mycorrhizal funghi. These attach themselves to the tips of the roots and help them break through hard soil, leaving the tree more energy to grow leaves and in size. The soil was very hard and dry around the base, so some fractures were done near to the tree. Water storing polymer was injected into the area to help retain available water from rainfall for the tree roots. Unlike normal aeration, the Terralift is designed to penetrate as deep as one metre using a probe, which releases compressed air at a maximum of 20Bar (280psi). The effect this creates is to fracture the soil, resulting in fissures that interlink as the Terralift repeats the process on a grid system of two-metre spacings. The network of fissures allows maximum penetration of air and water.

Terrain Aeration 01449 673783 www.terrainaeration.com

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Child safety on farms a major priority

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Child safety on farms a major priority: A FREE course, launched by Lantra to help protect the safety of children on farms, has received an encouraging response from Learners.

Since the October school holidays, Lantra has already received more than 70 enrolments on its Child Safety on Farms Course and, of those, around a third have already passed the certificate.

Child safety on farms a major priority

Child safety on farms a major priority

The course covers a wide range of areas including children on the farm and the law, children and tractors, children and ATVs and children and falls.

It also covers child safety around equipment, and harmful substances, and the importance of having a farm safety checklist.

On completion of the free course, participants can download their Lantra Child Safety on Farms Course certificate.

Paula Smyth, Director of Lantra Ireland, said: “Part of the Farm Safety Partnership (FSP) Action Plan Targets involves promoting child safety on farms.

“Lantra, who are an FSP farm safety affiliate, has developed this bespoke training course specifically for people with children who live or work on farms.

“This is a unique and hugely important course which will contribute towards the FSP Action Plan targets which we are proud to support.

“The uptake of this course is very encouraging as it is a tragic fact that there are various dangers on farms that sadly claim lives and cause injuries each year.

“Farming is a wonderful but also hazardous occupation – and it is the only high-risk industry that deals with the presence of children.

“Their health, and indeed everyone’s health, should be of paramount importance and concern and through courses and initiatives, like our free Child Safety on Farms Course, we hope people can better recognise and avoid potential dangers on farmland.”

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Sam Lewis appointed by AriensCo

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Sam Lewis appointed by AriensCo: Sam Lewis has been appointed as AriensCo’s new UK Sales Manager. Sam, who has worked in the sales industry for over a decade, brings with him a decorated career spanning energy, finance and education. His appointment will bolster AriensCo’s continued drive to build new relationships with customers and dealers in the UK as well as across Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa.

The new appointment comes as part of AriensCo’s constant investment into its operations in EMEAA. Since 2019, AriensCo has invested heavily in product development, engineering and manufacturing while also acquiring German high grass, slopes and mulching specialty brand AS-Motor. These decisions have made AriensCo one of the largest and fastest growing outdoor power equipment brands throughout EMEAA.

Sam Lewis appointed by AriensCo

Sam Lewis appointed by AriensCo

Sam’s core responsibilities will include overseeing communication with new and existing dealers, helping dealers grow their business and supporting dealers in every aspect of their corporate lifecycle.

Brad Stiles, Vice President of Sales EMEAA said, “AriensCo continues to experience phenomenal growth throughout Europe, and further afield, thanks to our mission of providing products and services that meet the needs of our customers. Sam’s credentials and wide-ranging experience makes him the perfect person to spearhead our extensive range of Ariens and AS-Motor commercial and domestic outdoor power equipment.”

On his appointment, Sam Lewis said, “I’m very excited to be joining AriensCo and am looking forward to continuing the good work that has come before me. I can’t wait to meet and get to know our dealership network so that together we can develop sales strategies that will enable continued growth and high levels of customer satisfaction.”

Sam will report to Brad Stiles, Vice President of Sales EMEAA.

To contact Sam, email him at slewis@ariensco.com or call 07976 833761.

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GroundsFest gains momentum

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GroundsFest gains momentum: Following the successful launch of GroundsFest just over five weeks ago, an influx of exhibitors have already committed to the event.

Taking place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on 20 – 21 September, and dubbed as the event the industry has been waiting for, GroundsFest will bring together all grounds management sectors to build communities, nurture collaboration, and facilitate relationships that last.

GroundsFest gains momentum

GroundsFest gains momentum

The legacy of GroundsFest is also taking shape with profits going towards encouraging new people into the industry through funding apprenticeship programmes and also mental health first aid training specifically for grounds staff, greenkeepers and landscapers.

The trade’s top brands, suppliers, manufacturers, service providers and distributors will showcase and demonstrate their latest products at the event, which also features live working stations and a free education programme with an accredited training provider.

Commenting on Campey Turf Care Systems’ decision to exhibit at GroundsFest, Chairman Richard Campey said:

“The idea of a groundscare event in the UK which combines indoor and outdoor stand space, is particularly appealing to Campey Turf Care. There is no better way to prove how good your products are than to show them in action. This is what our customers ask for and we are delighted to be able to fill that request.”

Guy Overton, Director of Overton UK, is also upbeat about the event format.

“GroundsFest is a refreshing and exciting concept which will enable us to demonstrate our wide product portfolio in an outdoor setting. It is a great venue, at the right time of year, and we are really looking forward to it.”

Simon Christensen, Head of Marketing for Turf Tank, is looking forward to demonstrating the company’s innovative technology.

“We are excited to join GroundsFest 2023! As an outdoor show, we believe this to be the perfect environment for grounds managers to interact with machinery and see it live. We’re looking forward to meeting everyone in September and showing the Turf Tank robot in action!”

Charles Neale, GroundsFest’s Sales Director, is delighted with how the event is progressing.

“The support we have received for the event has been overwhelming – particularly so early in the show cycle. We are receiving new exhibitor enquiries daily and a large percentage of the floorplan has already been allocated.

“We have researched the market, talking to both exhibitors and visitors, listening, and learning, and feel confident that GroundsFest will deliver the best possible experience across its two days.”

For more information, visit www.groundsfest.com

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

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