FairWays Foundation to accept grant applications

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FairWays Foundation to accept grant applications: Last year, The FairWays Foundation awarded over $160,000 / £140,000 worth of funds to a varied cross-section of environmental projects in both the USA and Europe.

Successful grant projects ranged from pond restoration to the establishment of native wetlands, and more. To view more information about all of the projects that have been supported by The Fairways Foundation, click here.

FairWays Foundation to accept grant applications

FairWays Foundation to accept grant applications

The Fairways Foundation will begin accepting applications for grants on February 1, 2022. The submission window will remain open until April 30, 2022 and final grant recipients will be notified in October 2022.

The conservation-focused non-profit encourages all businesses or individuals to apply who are looking for funding assistance for projects pertaining to our environment and natural resources.

Find out how to apply here

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3% pay rise recommended by GMA

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3% pay rise recommended by GMA: Following research commissioned by the Grounds Management Association (GMA), conducted by Myriad Research*, a recommendation of a 3% increase in national minimum salary bands for all levels of grounds staff is being recommended this year by the not-for-profit membership organisation.

In addition, the GMA suggests that the ‘bonus’ amounts paid in recognition of those with GMA qualifications should increase to £675 per band – a rise of 3.8% – extending from £675 for Level 1 accreditation up to £4,050 for Level 6.

3% pay rise recommended by GMA

3% pay rise recommended by GMA

The increases outlined in the GMA’s 2022 National Salary Framework report are made against a backdrop of forecast growth in the economy (of 6.5% in 2021 and 6% in 2022), as well as projected increases in both CPI (Consumer Price Inflation) and RPI (Retail Price Index) inflation.

The GMA’s recommended national basic salary bands, with effect from 1 January 2022, relate to the minimum basic salary and are not ‘salary ranges’. There is no maximum salary specified for grounds staff as experienced staff in some sectors (notably professional sports) would be expected to earn well above the average in other sectors. If this is the case, these recommendations can be used purely as a recommendation for annual uplift. Bonuses, overtime, and subsistence payments have not been included and are therefore additional. Regional pay variations have been considered, with higher cost areas of the country expected to make salary awards at the upper levels of the appropriate band.

To accompany the recommended salary bands, the GMA publishes sample job descriptions that reflect the typical job responsibilities and experience required for each level within the industry career hierarchy. The GMA recommends that competent and effective job performers whose job content relates closely to the ‘standard’ position description should be paid at the mid-point and upper pay levels of the bands.

Following the GMA’s research, the recommended salary bands for 2022 are:

Job Level National Basic Salary Bands Per Annum (lower end) National Basic Salary Bands Per Annum (upper end)
Grounds Manager £38,230 £59,224
Head Groundsperson £32,605 £44,750
Deputy Head Groundsperson / Sole Charge £26,675 £34,045
Groundsperson (Skilled) £24,946 £31,823
Groundsperson £19,986 £25,496
Junior Groundsperson (aged 17) £16,993 N/A
Junior Groundsperson (aged 16) £14,112 N/A

 In addition to the updated salary bands, it is recommended that all grounds staff receive financial recognition within the salary scale for successful completion of a relevant professional qualification, such as those offered through GMA learning. The total amount received should be directly linked to the highest level of qualification attained, with the highest amount, awarded for those who hold a GMA Level 6 qualification, being an additional £4,050 to the individual’s existing salary.

Geoff Webb, CEO of the GMA says:

“The GMA is working to elevate the sector and its perception so that, in turn, grounds staff get increased recognition and reward – such as salaries that meet the level of skill or demand.

“With a stagnant economy riding the pressures of COVID-19, many industries are facing economic challenges, but our National Salary Framework is imperative to shaping the future of grounds management.

“But we can’t do this alone. We must all work together to educate those outside of our sector to help understand it’s value. You can visit our website to find out more about the practical ways this salary framework can support your role or recruitment.”

GMA members can access the full report via their online member portal at: https://thegma.org.uk/user

The GMA’s Training Needs Analysis service is designed to support managers and grounds staff in mapping out a training and education journey. To find out more, visit: https://thegma.org.uk/learning/training-needs-analysis

To improve your knowledge and develop the skills needed to receive a higher salary, see our training options at: https://thegma.org.uk/learning

Gain access to our full report, as well as a wide range of other member-exclusive benefits, by becoming a GMA member. Find out more at: https://thegma.org.uk/membership

*The research was carried out independently by Myriad Research (www.myriadresearch.co.uk) using several data sources for analysis.

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EPH tank-mix helps Essendon Country Club

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EPH tank-mix helps Essendon Country Club: A nutritional programme from Headland Amenity has been praised by the Director of Courses at Essendon Country Club, for helping them get through the autumn and winter of 2021 disease-free.

After his appointment in June, Marc Winnan had soil samples taken which highlighted extremely high levels of organic matter – the reduction of which was the key to the plan constructed in conjunction with Headland’s Regional Technical Manager Peter Blackaby.

EPH tank-mix helps Essendon Country Club

EPH tank-mix helps Essendon Country Club

Marc oversees all elements of greens maintenance across the Hertfordshire estate, which includes two 18-hole golf courses as well as a driving range, practice facilities and the 9-hole Muntjac Academy Course. “Whenever you start a new role, you’ll instantly spot certain problems but it’s also important to identify anything going on deeper in the profile which is why we had both Headland and the STRI take soil samples” explains Marc, who heads up a team of 15. “The high OM levels were a real concern, so we quickly instigated a mechanical and nutritional programme to bring that down, to reduce our susceptibility to disease before the high-pressure period arrived.”

Key to the programme was Headland’s industry-leading 20-20-30+Mantle Enhanced Plant Health (EPH) tank-mix – a combination of Liquid Turf Hardener, Turfite® Elite and Seamac® ProTurf Fe, proven to deliver turf strength and reduce disease activity when applied as part of a preventative plant-health approach. “I’ve used 20-20-30+Mantle previously, but where we would traditionally begin applications at the end of September, we brought this forward to the end of August because of the concerns we had about disease, Fusarium in particular. The 20-20-30+Mantle was complemented with applications of DewCure™ to reduce leaf moisture and this combination, without a doubt, had a massive impact on protecting plant health and saw us get through the whole winter with no disease.”

“In other areas of the course, the goal was to improve the density of the sward via granular feeds. We applied Quickstart® Maxi Plus which gave us great results across the tees, approaches and fairways, and then switched this to Multigreen 15-0-22 temperature-controlled release fertiliser to see us through the winter months.” Together with the improvements in course condition, Marc has been equally pleased with the support received from the Headland Technical Team every step of the way. He adds, “Because of his greenkeeping background, Peter speaks our language and worked together with us to give us more than just the products we need, ensuring we always had all of the additional data and knowledge to make an informed decision.”

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Barenbrug announces top-scoring seed range

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Barenbrug announces top-scoring seed range: Hot on the heels of taking the very top positions in the new *BSPB/STRI Turfgrass Seed 2022 booklet, with its new sport varieties, Barenbrug has announced their inclusion in its upgraded product range for 2022, with the release of its annual catalogue.

Barzico and Barbasten, the number one and two varieties in table S1, released on 25 January, will feature in all three of Barenbrug’s primary sports products. The highly respected BSPB tables are the result of intensive trials in Bingley, West Yorkshire by the STRI.

Barenbrug announces top-scoring seed range

Barenbrug announces top-scoring seed range

“With our revitalised sports range, we now have the best performing products on the market,” says Dr David Greenshields, Barenbrug’s Commercial Amenity Manager. “Our long-term investment in developing good looking, hard wearing, strong recovering grasses is now paying off – for our customers and for us”.

Elite Sport, the leading grass seed mix for winter sport stadiums and pitches, will now contain both chart-topping varieties, offering the highest score in the market of 7.8 from the S1 table. It promises exceptional levels of both winter wear tolerance and early spring growth for rapid recovery, with a recovery score of 7.3*.

Barzico, with a table-topping Mean score of 8.1*, is 35% of the Elite Sport blend, closely followed by Barbasten with 7.9* (25%). Stalwarts Barcristalla, with 7.4*, and Europitch, with 7.8*, each take 20% of the new mixture. All four varieties feature in the top 14 of the new S1 table.

Barenbrug’s RPR Sport is also given a new look, with the addition of Barzico. The Regenerating Perennial Ryegrass blend already offers unparalleled capacity for recovery, thanks to Barlibro’s regenerative stoloniferous growth. Barorlando’s unique combination of wear tolerance and dark green genetic colour rounds out the team.

The mixture is ideal for areas of intensive traffic and heavily used pitches that do not get a complete annual renovation, providing both top wear tolerance and good aesthetics. RPR Sport contains 40% Barlibro, 40% Barorlando and 20% Barzico.

Year-round blend Multi Sport also gets a new generation upgrade. This mixture is formulated for flexible, through-the-year performance and sustainability for multi-use sport fields, grounds and pitches such as winter sports pitches used for cricket in the summer. Barbasten will now represent 40% of the Multi Sport blend.

Based on the BSPB S1 table, the mixture gets a strong score of 7.5. Showing its flexibility into the summer months, it also hits 7.3 for shoot density at the lower mowing height of 15mm on the BSPB L1 table.

Multi Sport also contains 30% Baradona, 20% Barorlando and 10% Baromario, all products of Barenbrug’s own breeding programmes in Holland and France, Barenbrug’s new 2022 catalogue contains full details of its sports products, together with a wide range for golf, cricket, tennis, bowling green and equestrian applications. The 52 page volume also contains sowing data, and takes a look at Barenbrug’s breeding systems and unique technologies. It is available via the company’s website – barenbrug.co.uk.

Specialising entirely on developing innovative UK grass seed solutions, Barenbrug UK is now recognised as the leading grass seed breeder and grower in the UK. As part of the wider Barenbrug Group, grass experts since 1904, their worldwide research and plant genetics network includes dedicated UK trials of amenity varieties and mixtures, providing a solid testing ground while drawing on knowledge and expertise from across the globe.

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Fueling the future of garden machinery

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Fueling the future of garden machinery: Leading power tool manufacturer Makita UK is offering end users the chance to get their hands on FREE LXT and XGT products with the purchase of selected cordless garden machines. With a wide selection of freebies on offer, the deal is perfect for professionals looking to start or expand their existing Makita cordless range.

Makita’s latest garden machinery promotion gives end users the chance to claim the highly sought after MR002GZ01 Bluetooth Site Radio (compatible with LXT, XGT and CXT batteries), or 18V LXT DMP180Z Inflator, or 18V LXT DUM604ZX Grass Shear with the purchase and registration of a huge selection of its leading LXT outdoor products – including blowers, grass shears, hedge trimmers, line trimmers, brush cutters, split shafts, lawnmowers, chainsaws and the Twin 18V DDG460T2X7 Brushless Earth Auger.

Fueling the future of garden machinery

Fueling the future of garden machinery

In addition, those who purchase selected XGT 40VMax outdoor equipment (including blowers, hedge trimmers, brush cutters, linetrimmers and more) can redeem a free MR002GZ01 Bluetooth Site Radio, or MP001GZ XGT 40VMax Inflator, or ML003G XGT 40VMax Work Light.

Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita said: “At Makita, we believe that the future of garden machinery is cordless – which is why we are offering end users the chance to introduce new cordless products into their armoury with our latest promotion.

“Our 18V LXT and XGT 40VMax outdoor equipment has been designed to offer professionals the power and performance needed to tackle any task with ease, without compromising on battery run time, user safety or productivity. With over 270 LXT products and 50 XGT models in our wider range, we are helping end users achieve a truly cordless jobsite.”

Makita’s latest redemption offer launches on 1st February and will run until 30th June 2022. Customers who purchase any of the qualifying models in this period will have 28 days to register their purchase and claim their free product.

For more information on the promotion and terms and conditions, visit: www.makitauk.com/redemption

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