AriensCo strengthens British dealer network

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AriensCo strengthens British dealer network: AriensCo has entered into a partnership with Henton & Chattell to expand its spare parts supply in the United Kingdom. This will increase the availability of original spare parts for Ariens, AS-Motor, Countax and Westwood nationwide.

Henton & Chattell is now an official UK distributor for spare parts for the four brands. The Nottingham-based company has many years of industry experience, established logistics structures and a strong reputation for specialist dealer support.

AriensCo strengthens British dealer network

AriensCo strengthens British dealer network

Dealers in the United Kingdom will benefit from two supply channels in future: spare parts can still be ordered via the AriensCo Exchange portal or purchased directly from Henton & Chattell. Local warehousing shortens delivery times and increases machine availability during the season.

In the highly service-oriented lawn and turf market, any downtime has a direct impact on sales and service quality. Rapid availability of original parts ensures uptime and strengthens the position of specialist retailers vis-à-vis professional and private customers.

Sam Lewis, General Manager of AriensCo UK, explains: “This partnership strengthens our operational support for our dealers in the United Kingdom. Shorter delivery times and higher parts availability help our partners keep machines in operation without unnecessary downtime.”

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EGO’s new range of upgraded mowers

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EGO’s new range of upgraded mowers: EGO has enhanced its portfolio of cordless lawnmowers for 2026, with exciting new upgrades to four of its existing models. Providing homeowners with the power and performance to make this year’s lawncare a breeze, two of the EGO push mowers; and two of its self-propelled models now offer professional-grade mowing with optimal comfort for gardeners.

The LM1710E push mower and LM1710E-SP self-propelled mower provide a 42cm cutting width, perfect for smaller lawns, while the LM1910E push mower and LM1910E-SP self-propelled models feature a 47cm deck, making them the go-to for medium and larger lawns. Designed to suit lawns of all sizes, these new mowers are essential for those looking to enhance their gardening experience whilst maximising time efficiency.

EGO's new range of upgraded mowers

EGO’s new range of upgraded mowers

All four mowers use EGO’s 56V ARC Lithium™ portable batteries, allowing homeowners to achieve the same power and performance as petrol tools without the fumes, noise and hassle of petrol. These four models represent the next generation of EGO’s residential lawnmower line-up with added functionality and ergonomics.

Joerg Bauerle, Product Manager at EGO, commented, “We understand that cutting the lawn can be a laborious task and not always easy, especially when tackling larger gardens. This new range of mowers is designed to provide ease and high-performance mowing to homeowners with self-propelled mowers taking the risk of physical strain away from customers, they also provide a consistent cut quality, improving the overall health of a lawn. It’s a no-brainer for those wanting to achieve professional-looking results with minimal effort.”

For seamless usability, the mowers feature a redesigned wheel system for smoother movement across all types of terrain, and each boasts an interactive LED dashboard that displays battery life and blade speed, while a fault indicator adds extra peace of mind. Equipped with LED headlights, these mowers also provide improved visibility for shaded areas or evening mowing.

Equipped with a 55-litre grass box, all four models offer a 4-in1 functionality, mulching, bagging, rear discharge and side discharge so gardeners can pick the best method for them depending on the lawn and season. Whether users are looking for a clean, collected finish or wish to return nutrients to the soil, these mowers can be adapted to suit a variety of lawn health needs or preferences.

With their adjustable blade speed, interactive display, superior ergonomics and collection capability, all backed by EGO’s proven battery technology, the upgraded models are more than just lawn mowers. They are a convenient, cleaner and more efficient way to care for your garden. These mowers are built for performance and designed for comfort.

This lawn mower range starts at £529 RRP, for more information visit: https://egopowerplus.co.uk/

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Winners Of The 2026 GMA Industry Awards Announced

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Winners Of The 2026 GMA Industry Awards Announced: The winners of the 2026 GMA Industry Awards were announced last night at a prestigious ceremony at Edgbaston Stadium.

The awards took place alongside the new GMA Conference, which ran throughout the day and brought the industry together for workshops and discussions.

Winners Of The 2026 GMA Industry Awards Announced

Winners Of The 2026 GMA Industry Awards Announced

Hosted by renowned broadcaster Kelly Somers, the awards celebrated the people and teams who show outstanding skill across the grounds management sector.

With #GroundsWeek just around the corner, taking place from 23-29 March, the awards also served as a reminder of the vital role grounds staff play in making sport possible.

The 2026 winners are:

  • Young Groundsperson of the Year (Sponsored by Origin Amenity Solutions)
    • Flynn Good
  • Newcomer of the Year (Sponsored by ICL)
    • George Legg
  • Volunteer Groundsperson/Team of the Year (Sponsored by Chappell Enterprises UK)
    • Trubshaw Cross
  • Community Groundsperson/Team of the Year (Sponsored by National Governing Bodies of Sport)
    • Stoneham Lane Football Complex
  • Best Managed Artificial Surface of the Year
    • University of Warwick
  • Environmental & Sustainability Impact Award
    • Liverpool F.C
  • Bowls & Croquet Groundsperson/Team of the Year
    • Dean Gibbons
  • Professional Cricket Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by Barenbrug)
    • Marylebone Cricket Club
  • Professional Tennis Courts Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by Advanced Turf Technology LTD)
    • The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
  • Professional Horse Racing Grounds Team of the Year
    • Warwick Racecourse
  • Professional Rugby League Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by Agronomic Services Ltd)
    • Castleford Tigers
  • Professional Rugby Union Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by MJ Abbott/Premier Pitches)
    • Bristol Bears
  • Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by Reesink)
    • Lincoln City F.C
  • Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year (Elite) (Sponsored by SGL)
    • Manchester City F.C
  • University & College Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by Kubota)
    • University of Warwick
  • Independent School Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by ISEKI)
    • Whitgift School
  • GMA Grounds Manager of the Year (Sponsored by DLF Seeds Ltd)
    • Karl McDermott

Geoff Webb, GMA CEO said: “The GMA Industry Awards are always a key highlight in our calendar. They give us the chance to celebrate the hard work that drives our industry forward. We received a record number of entries this year which shows real strength and pride across grounds management. I want to congratulate all our winners and thank them for the great work they do every day.”

The GMA would like to extend a special thank you to our platinum sponsor ISEKI UK & Ireland as well as conference & award sponsors Origin Amenity Solutions, ICL, Chappell Enterprises UK, National Governing Bodies of Sport, Barenbrug, Agronomic Services Ltd, MJ Abbott/Premier Pitches, Reesink, SGL, Kubota, DLF Seeds Ltd and Advanced Turf Technology LTD, whose support made this event possible.

This year’s charity partner, MND Association, was at the heart of the evening, with guests generously donating to support its vital work in improving access to care, research and campaigning for people affected by motor neurone disease. Thank you to everyone who contributed, your generosity will make a genuine difference.

As we celebrate this year’s award winners, we also encourage the industry to continue raising awareness of the profession by getting involved in #GroundsWeek from 23-29 March. Our annual awareness campaign is all about championing the hard work of grounds staff, inspiring future talent and highlighting the crucial role they play in making sport possible.

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Attraxor helps refine greens and tame seed heads

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Attraxor helps refine greens and tame seed heads: At Crowborough Beacon Golf Club, Course Manager Luke Jenkins has been achieving exceptional results using BASF’s Attraxor®, a plant growth regulator supplied by Agrovista Amenity.

Containing the active ingredient prohexadione-calcium, Attraxor has become a key part of Luke’s turf management programme, helping him achieve smoother, more consistent greens and a better balance of grass species across the site.

Attraxor helps refine greens and tame seed heads

Attraxor helps refine greens and tame seed heads

Luke, who has been Course Manager at Crowborough Beacon for four and a half years, first came across Attraxor through conversations with Andrew Norman from Agrovista Amenity.

Intrigued by the dual promise of growth regulation and seed-head suppression – and the fact it blended well with the biologicals Luke already uses – he trialled it on the greens and was impressed almost immediately.

“Andrew kept mentioning Attraxor for both growth control and seed-head suppression, and it really ticked a lot of boxes. I started using it and instantly started seeing a difference,” Luke explains.

Seed-head suppression that improves consistency

One of the most obvious benefits for Luke has been the dramatic reduction in seed-head size and frequency – a critical improvement for green speed and consistency.

“You don’t get the big, juicy seed heads you used to get – they’re much smaller,” he says. “We don’t get the white, bobbly greens in the spring that affect roll and speed. Even in a tough seed-head year we had minimal issues compared with other courses nearby.”

Attraxor inhibits a key growth hormone, gibberellic acid, leading to consistent reductions in both shoot growth and flowering. This helps deliver a more consistent surface for golfers and reduces the variability that can make putting unpredictable.

Fast, flexible growth regulation

Attraxor activates on contact with water in the spray tank and begins to regulate growth in as little as four hours – a speed of action Luke values.

“It’s a two-in-one for me: growth regulation including seed-head suppression. I apply it every 21 days and try to get the first treatment on early – because the earlier you start, the better the results,” he says.

Luke typically applies Attraxor around 500 g/ha now and has found it provides consistent regulation across species and cutting heights. That flexibility makes it suitable for the fine turf demands at Crowborough Beacon’s greens, and he notes it keeps growth manageable even when granular feeds are applied.

Attraxor helps refine greens and tame seed heads

Attraxor helps refine greens and tame seed heads

Health, density and integrated use

Beyond seed-head suppression and reduced mowing, Attraxor contributes to improved sward density and healthier roots – outcomes that help turf resist both abiotic stresses and disease pressures.

Crucially for Luke’s programme, Attraxor mixes well with many of the biological products and foliar inputs he uses, allowing it to slot into an integrated strategy that emphasises plant health as well as growth management.

Practical, value-driven performance

For a club with limited resources and no fairway irrigation, reliable, low-rate chemistry that delivers predictable results is essential. Luke highlights Attraxor’s cost effectiveness at such small application rates.

“For the price and the quantity you use, it’s excellent value. I wouldn’t be without it now – 100%. Even if you only want seed-head suppression, it’s worth a trial.”

Luke encourages other course managers to test Attraxor on their sites, particularly where Poa seed heads and variable green speed are issues. For Crowborough Beacon, the product has become a key part of keeping greens consistent and playable while supporting the wider restoration and improvement programme Luke is leading.

“If it works on your site like it does on ours, it’ll earn a permanent place in your shed,” he concludes.

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit https://amenity.agrovista.co.uk/

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John Deere dealers commit to strengthening link

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John Deere dealers commit to strengthening link: More John Deere dealers have signed the Armed Forces Covenant in support of service leavers who can resettle into roles within the agriculture and turf industries. 

At a ceremony held at the National Transition Event at Silverstone Circuit, Hunt Forest Group and Ripon Farm Services added their names to the covenant, which had already been adopted by Ben Burgess and Tallis Amos Group, as well as John Deere itself.

John Deere dealers commit to strengthening link

John Deere dealers commit to strengthening link

Signatories pledge to ensure that those who serve, or have served, in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly and should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services.

The move complements John Deere’s Military Hiring Programme, which offers service leavers new career opportunities to work on some of the world’s most advanced machinery used by farmers and turf professionals.

Members of the armed forces have been identified as ideal candidates to bring their unique skill sets and experience to technician roles within UK and Ireland dealerships.

Those who enrol in the programme are given free, tailored training and are supported to fill vacancies within the dealership network.

“We are passionate about finding a way to give back to those who have served our country,” says Allan Cochran, John Deere Branch Training Manager.

“The armed forces produce people who are highly skilled, motivated and extremely competent, and many already have the engineering skills needed to become qualified technicians.

“It’s the perfect fit for John Deere – we are able to play our part in supporting those resettling following careers in the armed forces while also attracting a different pool of people into the business.”

Interested service members and ex-service members can learn more and fill out a contact card by visiting www.deere.com/JDMHP.

After making contact, they will be put in touch with an individual from the John Deere network who has resettled following a career in the armed forces to discuss all potential options.

Ripon Farm Services 

“We are incredibly proud to support people transitioning from military service into new careers with us,” says Phil Gregg, Director of Ripon Farm Services. “Service leaders bring exceptional skills, dedication, and technical expertise that align perfectly with the needs of our industry, and our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant reflects our belief that they deserve clear, meaningful pathways into civilian employment.

“We look forward to supporting them build successful careers with us and through the John Deere Military Hiring Programme.”

Hunt Forest Group 

“It was a privilege to represent Hunt Forest Group on the John Deere UK stand at the recent military hiring event at Silverstone,” says Nick Hill, Group Service Manager at Hunt Forest Group. “Meeting so many talented service personnel was a highlight and gave us a great opportunity to showcase our business and the career pathways available through the John Deere Military Hiring Programme.

“We were especially encouraged by the strong interest in technician roles from individuals bringing exceptional experience and technical discipline from their military careers.”

Tallis Amos Group

“After signing the Armed Forces Covenant more than a year ago, Tallis Amos Group continues to reap the benefits of offering resettlement pathways to service leavers who are often ready-made for our business,” says Guy Bunting, Recruitment Coordinator at Tallis Amos Group. “We are proud to offer opportunities to service leavers that include training and development further aiding their transition into civilian life.”

Ben Burgess

“Signing the Armed Forces Covenant reflects our core values as a business,” says Ben Turner, Managing Director at Ben Burgess. “We’re proud to support those who serve and have served, and we’re fortunate to have veterans already working across Ben Burgess whose skills and experience make a real difference every day.”

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