GroundsFest Academy Scores Success with Synthetic Surface Event

GroundsFest Academy Scores Success with Synthetic Surface Event

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GroundsFest Academy Scores Success with Synthetic Surface Event

GroundsFest Academy recently hosted another successful free educational event with its Synthetic Surface – Maintenance Best Practice day, delivered in collaboration with Replay Maintenance, Redexim UK, Labosport and Fleet Line Markers.

GroundsFest Academy Scores Success with Synthetic Surface Event

GroundsFest Academy Scores Success with Synthetic Surface Event

The CPD-accredited event was designed to help groundcare professionals enhance their understanding of synthetic sports surfaces, improve maintenance standards, and maximise surface longevity.

Held at the headquarters of Wiltshire FA, the event combined informative seminar sessions with practical demonstrations, ensuring attendees gained both technical knowledge and hands-on experience.

Nick Harris, Managing Director of Replay Maintenance, opened the morning seminar programme by discussing how synthetic surfaces are constructed and the importance of ongoing maintenance.

“Maintenance is really important on synthetic surfaces,” he said. “I think it’s often overlooked, but the reality is that to achieve longevity and performance, it’s essential they are maintained properly. It keeps them looking good, maximises the return on investment and ultimately keeps players coming back and using them.”

Kathryn Severn, Managing Director at Labosport, followed with an insightful session focusing on the key principles behind effective synthetic surface care.

“Maintenance is key,” she said. “Like anything, if you don’t look after it, it won’t last its expected lifespan. End users are often responsible for maintaining these surfaces, but they’re not always given the right information on how to do that correctly. Events like this help provide that knowledge and understanding.”

Following the morning seminars, attendees went outdoors for a series of practical workshops. Representatives from Redexim UK, Replay Maintenance, Fleet Line Markers and Labosport delivered live demonstrations on a range of equipment and maintenance techniques used to improve the performance and lifespan of synthetic surfaces.

Among the attendees was George Legg, Groundsman at Stanley Park, who explained how valuable the day had been.

“Learning about things like the ball roll test is something we can now do in-house, especially when you’re trying to look after the pitch for as long as possible,” he said. “Making sure everything is performing correctly and monitoring it properly is key to achieving that longevity.”

George also praised the inclusive nature of the event and the networking opportunities it provided.

“I think it’s brilliant to meet everybody and network – it’s really beneficial for someone like me and everyone else here. As a young person coming into the industry, it’s massive to be able to speak to people who are further along in their careers, and especially with the day being free as well.”

GroundsFest Academy Scores Success with Synthetic Surface Event

GroundsFest Academy Scores Success with Synthetic Surface Event

Like previous GroundsFest Academy events, the day attracted attendees from across all areas of the industry, ranging from local sports clubs and local authorities through to elite-level venues. Many described the event as both insightful and highly relevant to their day-to-day responsibilities.

Ian Lucas, Head of Grounds at AFC Bournemouth, was among those to praise the event and expressed interest in attending future sessions.

“Hopefully there’ll be more of these and we’ll send other members of the team along as well,” he said. “It’s brilliant. It’s easy to get to and hopefully we can bring a few more people in the future.”

The day concluded with smaller group rotations for additional hands-on learning, before attendees received their CPD certificates of completion.

Bradley Tennant, Director of Education at GroundsFest Academy, highlighted the diversity of attendees and the wider importance of the event.

“We’ve had a fantastic mix of attendees today, from high-profile sports clubs through to local authorities and community sports clubs,” he said. “That’s really important because it allows us to deliver education right across the industry.

“We’ve also had clubs here that don’t yet have synthetic surfaces but are looking at installing them in the future. That’s brilliant because it gives them the opportunity to learn and prepare before they make that investment.”

With another strong turnout and overwhelmingly positive feedback, GroundsFest Academy’s combination of expert-led education and practical, hands-on learning continues to prove a winning formula for the industry.

The free sustainability assessment tool is now available at 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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Bag in a box biostimulants save 63% plastic

Bag in a box biostimulants save 63% plastic

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Bag in a box biostimulants save 63% plastic

Single use plastics should be reduced to make managing crops more sustainable. This according to agronomist Mike Stoker, from biostimulants specialist Orion Future Technologies, is possible using a new bag in a box solution.

Bag in a box biostimulants save 63% plastic

Bag in a box biostimulants save 63% plastic

“The price of plastic has risen by more than 40 percent since the Iran/Israel conflict broke out in February. As a UK manufacturer of biostimulants, Orion has seen this as an opportunity to manage our cost of production and protect our customers by reducing the plastic needed to package our biostimulant products,” he says.

“The bag in a box reduces plastic use by 63 percent, which will help us to keep prices down and has knock-on benefits including reduced storage and transport costs which further brings down the carbon footprint of our products,” he adds.

Akin to the packaging used for products like wine, the bag in box also reduces the amount of air that flows back into the contents of the bag, giving the product a longer shelf life compared to when it was packed in hard plastics. It empties quickly, without ‘glugging’, and the design prevents air going back into the pack.

“For growers, the bag in a box is easier and cheaper to recycle and dispose of. It takes up less space and will also appeal to buying groups looking to promote sustainable credentials. The plastic bladder can be extracted, triple rinsed and recycled along with the cardboard outer box,” he says.

The Chartered Institute of Waste Management states that, “Around 135,500 tonnes of agricultural plastic waste is produced each year in the UK,” and Defra suggests that only 20-30 percent is turned into new products.

“As a manufacturer of plant nutrition products, we have targeted more sustainable packaging as part of our overall desire to reduce unsustainable plastic consumption. While the bag in a box still uses plastic, it is a fraction of what has been used in the past and we see it as a big step in the right direction,” concludes Mr Stoker.

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Stuart Wharam Joins Kress UK as Commercial Business Manager

Stuart Wharam Joins Kress UK as Commercial Business Manager

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Stuart Wharam Joins Kress UK as Commercial Business Manager

Kress UK has appointed Stuart Wharam as its new Commercial Business Manager for the North, strengthening the company’s commitment to the golf and sports turf sectors across the region.

Stuart Wharam Joins Kress UK as Commercial Business Manager

Stuart Wharam Joins Kress UK as Commercial Business Manager

With around 15 years of industry experience, Stuart brings extensive knowledge of the professional groundscare and machinery market to the role. He began his career at a machinery dealership in East Yorkshire before spending eight and a half years with STIHL, prior to joining Kress UK.

In his new role, Stuart will focus on supporting golf courses, sports venues and commercial customers throughout a large territory stretching from Lincolnshire across North Wales, throughout the North of England and the entirety of Scotland. Working closely with Kress dealers, he will help introduce customers to the company’s growing range of battery-powered and robotic equipment.

Speaking about his decision to join Kress, Stuart said the brand’s technology and innovation were major factors.

“The robotics and the technology from Kress are ridiculously good,” he said. “They are really pushing the boundaries when it comes to robotic mowing and battery technology. That’s what drew me to Kress.”

Stuart also believes Kress stands out because of its long-term commitment to battery power.

“From day one they’ve been battery-focused,” he explained. “Everything is moving towards battery technology, and Kress is already there.”

As part of his role, Stuart will work closely with both dealers and end users, particularly within the golf and sports sectors.

“My role is all about introducing customers to Kress and helping them understand the benefits of the technology,” he said. “At the same time, I’ll be working alongside the dealer network across the region.”

Having already met many dealers within his territory, Stuart says the response has been extremely positive, with several already familiar with him from previous roles within the industry.

Discussing the growth of battery-powered equipment, Stuart believes performance is helping to change perceptions among professional users.

“With Kress equipment there’s no drop-off in power compared to petrol products,” he said. “If someone moves from a two-stroke machine to one of our battery products, there’s no disadvantage at all. It’s only a bonus.”

He also highlighted the wider operator benefits of battery technology, including reduced noise and the removal of exhaust fumes.

“People are finishing work without ringing in their ears and without breathing in fumes all day,” he said. “It’s better all round.”

Stuart added that fast charging technology is also helping to remove concerns around battery runtime.

“Even on power-hungry machines, our batteries charge so quickly that you can’t run one flat before the next one is ready,” he said. “So you’ve got constant power.”

Reflecting on his career in the industry so far, Stuart said the variety of the role and the people he meets continue to motivate him.

“Every day is different,” he said. “A lot of the work is outdoors, which I enjoy, and I get to meet different people all the time. Plus, working within golf and sports turf means I get to visit some beautiful places.”

For more information, please visit https://www.kress.com/en-gb/

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Open Championship 2026 - Behind the scenes at Royal Birkdale

Open Championship 2026 – Behind the scenes at Royal Birkdale

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Open Championship 2026 – Behind the scenes at Royal Birkdale

In July, the gaze of the golfing world will be riveted on the 154th Open Championship as it unfolds on Royal Birkdale’s famous links. But what the world will not see is the extent of the work that goes into maintaining this iconic course all year round.

Open Championship 2026 - Behind the scenes at Royal Birkdale

Open Championship 2026 – Behind the scenes at Royal Birkdale

When we caught up with Course Manager Sean McLean, it was early October 2025. It was maintenance week, and the course was partially closed to allow for an intensive renovation programme across the championship links.

Having taken over the role only three years earlier, Sean was now facing the task of preparing this legendary venue for the forthcoming Open Championship, then just nine months away. Yet he is quick to stress that the work being carried out goes far beyond Open preparations.

“We’re doing a lot of procedures ahead of the Open next year,” he explains, “but it’s also just for general play. It’s not solely targeted at the Open. It’s something that we’ll be looking to do annually going forward.”

Sean outlined the scope of the autumn renovation programme:

“Starting off with verticutting and brushing using the GreenTek units, and then following on from that, this week it’s been scarifying to target the top 7mm of the profile.”

Using a plug cutter, he inspects a core from the green and decides to take the Thatch-Away Scarifier Cassettes another millimetre deeper. Four clicks of the Set-by-Feel adjusters later, and the greensmower is back in action — a small adjustment, but one that makes all the difference.

The renovation continues with further processes to reduce organic matter, including deep-tine aeration with solid tines, followed by micro-coring with Dyna-Corer units. Next comes seeding with a fine fescue mix, applied using Dyna-Seeder units.

This is followed by a pass with a pedestrian solid-tine aerator set at a shallow depth to create even more holes for the seed.

“Following on from that, it’s been a heavy topdress, then working all the material into the surface to help dilute that top profile. So yeah,” he concludes, “all these products have been good, and all these inputs have been a great help in carrying that out.”

By then, the first of the R&A cabins had already appeared beside Birkdale’s famous clubhouse, signalling the early stages of Open Championship preparations. Among the greenkeeping team, the talk was of the well-drilled operation that would soon unfold as golf’s oldest major moved into town.

But the man at the centre of it all remained calm and measured. For Sean McLean, this was simply business as usual — ensuring that Royal Birkdale remains at the highest possible standard for its members and guests, while also preparing a worthy challenge for the world’s best players in the months ahead.

Watch the video of our exclusive OPEN 2026 PREP interview with Sean McLean here

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John Deere named on list of UK’s top 15 employers of veterans

John Deere named on list of UK’s top 15 employers of veterans

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John Deere named on list of UK’s top 15 employers of veterans

John Deere has been named as one of the UK’s top 15 employers of armed forces leavers.

John Deere named on list of UK’s top 15 employers of veterans

John Deere named on list of UK’s top 15 employers of veterans

The achievement reflects the success of its Military Hiring Programme, which continues to offer veterans careers as technicians in agriculture and professional turfcare.

The GREAT British Employers of Veterans programme benchmarks organisations to set a national standard for employing former servicemen and women.

John Deere made the top 50 last year but has risen further up the ranks in the 2026 list, released today.  The company’s final placing will be announced in June at the ninth annual British Forces in Business Awards.

“We are passionate about finding a way to give back to those who have served our country,” said Allan Cochran, John Deere Branch Training Manager for the UK and Ireland.

“The skills and the mindset of those leaving the forces are perfectly suited to the roles being offered by our dealerships, and those who have resettled into the John Deere family have cited many similarities in a working environment that’s built around team effort and camaraderie.

“We’re honoured to be recognised in this way and thrilled to be shortlisted in the Top 15. It will further fuel our passion for offering service veterans a next step in their careers across the agricultural and professional turfcare sectors.”

The groundbreaking initiative to attract ex-service personnel into new careers at John Deere was launched in the UK in 2023.

Following the success of a similar scheme in the United States, the Military Hiring Programme matches ex members of the armed forces with technician role vacancies at dealerships across the country.

In addition to John Deere, four dealerships have signed the Armed Forces Covenant in support of service leavers pursuing careers in the agriculture and turf industries.

Hunt Forest Group, Ripon Farm Services, Ben Burgess and Tallis Amos Group have all pledged 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 50 GREAT British Employers of Veterans was created to provide a definitive, data-backed guide to the UK’s most exemplary Forces Friendly employers. It stands as a mark of excellence for organisations whose support is embedded, enduring and effective.

Each year, more than 15,000 individuals leave the British Armed Forces. Highly trained, values-driven and mission-focused, they represent one of the most capable and under-utilised talent pools in the labour market. Yet barriers remain to building a meaningful second career.

Ben Rossi, founder of the global Forces in Business Awards series and 50 GREAT British Employers of Veterans programme, said: “Nine years in, the Forces in Business Awards have grown into a significant platform – not just for showcasing outstanding talent, but actively changing how the business world thinks about where that talent comes from. The quality of this year’s nominations has been remarkable and the stories behind them make the case more powerfully than any statistics ever could.

“Hiring from the Armed Forces community is not an exercise in corporate responsibility or morality. It’s a serious talent strategy which elevates business performance. These finalists are proof of that and we’re proud to celebrate them as high achievers in their own right, but more importantly as powerful role models for the many service leavers who follow them.”

Service members and ex-service members interested in the John Deere Military Hiring Programme can find out more by visiting Deere.com/JDMHP.

They will be put in touch with an ex-services person within the John Deere network to discuss all potential options.

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