DLF helps Bristol Golf Club create the right first impression

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DLF helps Bristol Golf Club create the right first impression: Despite a year of challenging weather, Bristol Golf Club has seen a remarkable improvement in its playing surfaces and overall visitor experience thanks to innovative seed solutions from DLF.

The team, led by Course Manager Dave Taylor, introduced Johnsons J 4Turf 50 across all 27 tees in early 2025 which has gone on to demonstrate outstanding resilience and strong performance, coping with the pressures of a busy championship course.

DLF helps Bristol Golf Club create the right first impression

DLF helps Bristol Golf Club create the right first impression

With far reaching views across the Severn Estuary into Wales, Bristol Golf Club boasts an 18-hole Championship Course, a 9-hole Par 3 and 18-bay driving range alongside a whole host of other practice facilities and corporate grounds. Seeking to deliver lasting improvements on and off the course for the last eight years is Dave Taylor who turned to DLF Regional Technical Manager Ian Barnett to tackle some particularly problematic areas prone to wear, disease and drought.

“We’re an incredibly busy site, with high levels of foot traffic on the tees which also don’t all have the benefit of full irrigation” Dave explains. “Because of this I spoke with Ian about a harder-wearing mix, that would germinate quickly and tolerate the challenges of footfall and less than ideal weather conditions.” The solution came in the form of J 4Turf 50 from the Johnsons Sports Seed range. The 50/50 blend of diploid perennial and tetraploid perennial ryegrass ensures rapid establishment even under low soil temperatures and creates a deep-rooting, disease-resistant sward.

DLF helps Bristol Golf Club create the right first impression

DLF helps Bristol Golf Club create the right first impression

“Even in the extreme weather, the results we’ve seen have been outstanding” Dave says. “It germinated quickly and, what small amount of dormant seed we had, kicked straight into action as soon as the rain returned in early September. The recovery, density and wear tolerance on all of our tees has been exceptional.” He adds, “Not only have we not had to do any additional autumn overseeding on the tees, we’ve also not seen any Dollar Spot this year which means we’ve saved time and money by not having to apply any fungicides.”

Beyond course playability, Dave has also worked with DLF to create a strong first impression for members and visitors with the introduction of a new wildflower area at the club entrance. Created with Carnival from DLF’s Colour Boost collection, the vibrant display of bright and bold annuals in the spring became quite the talking point. “Because we host weddings and corporate events alongside the golf, these visual touches make a big difference.”

The return of the rain has meant new waves of colour are now emerging, with plans in place to expand the trial to new planting areas across the course in 2026. “The flowers don’t just deliver visual impact, they help us to enhance biodiversity – creating environments to encourage and support all types of insects and wildlife.”

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Dennis Mowers to Showcase Expanded Range at SALTEX

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Dennis Mowers to Showcase Expanded Range at SALTEX: Dennis Mowers, part of the Howardson Group, will return to SALTEX on 12–13th November 2025 at the NEC in Birmingham (Stand E110). Visitors will be able to explore a comprehensive line-up of professional turfcare machinery designed to deliver reliability, versatility and a first-class finish.

Shaped by feedback from turf professionals and engineered with over a century of expertise, Dennis machines deliver the performance and durability expected by grounds teams worldwide. Trusted across sports from grassroots to elite level, Dennis Mowers combine exceptional cut quality with outstanding build quality.

Dennis Mowers to Showcase Expanded Range at SALTEX

Dennis Mowers to Showcase Expanded Range at SALTEX

Product Highlights

ES-34SL

The ES-34SL is a new lightweight stadium finishing mower designed to deliver flawless presentation with greater agility. It fills a gap in the Dennis range for a lightweight mower and includes features such as a new intermediate grooming brush, a click height-of-cut adjuster in 0.1mm increments and easy bottom blade to cylinder adjustment. Sharing common components with other Dennis models, the ES-34SL is practical to maintain and capable of cutting up to four pitches on a single charge, with a recharge time of just two hours.

FT510 with Interchangeable Cassettes

With a 51cm working width and a choice of cassettes, the FT510 allows multiple turf maintenance tasks, from mowing to scarifying and brushing, with a single machine.

Razor Ultra & Simplex 610

For golf and fine turf applications, the Razor Ultra provides a superb finish, while the Simplex 610 delivers precision and efficiency for tees and surrounds.

G860 with Interchangeable Cassettes

Favoured in football and rugby, the G860’s cassette system provides flexibility for cutting, verticutting and brushing, ensuring presentation and playability standards are consistently met.

S500 Plus

A dual-purpose fine-turf machine with a 510mm working width featuring interchangeable spiker and slotter reels. The spiker relieves the surface pan to aid air, water and fertiliser movement; the slotter creates seed-germination pockets, and an optional seed box enables efficient overseeding. Ideal for bowls, cricket, golf and other fine turf.

Gang Mower

The Dennis gang mower offers strength, reliability and ease of use for wide-area mowing; perfect for cricket outfields, sports fields and amenity spaces.

E-Series Highlights: ES-510, ES-22U, ES-760, ES-36, and ES-34R

The Dennis E-Series represents the next generation of professional turfcare equipment, combining proven mechanical engineering with advanced lithium-ion battery technology. Compared with traditional petrol mowers, E-Series machines deliver a quieter, low-vibration operation that enhances operator comfort and allows use in noise-sensitive environments such as schools and stadiums. They also reduce running costs, eliminate fuel handling and contribute to lower emissions, all while maintaining the same trusted performance and exceptional finish for which Dennis is known.

  • ES-510: Versatile battery mower with interchangeable cassettes.
  • ES-22U: Designed for flawless cricket wickets and fine turf.
  • ES-760: Built for cricket squares and outfields, football and rugby, delivering power, precision and versatility.
  • ES-36: A high-performance battery-powered cylinder mower with a 910mm cutting width, designed to produce superior stripes and a firm, even, playing surface.
  • ES-34R: A robust rotary mower delivering consistent results at stadia and training facilities.

E-Series Charging Solutions
Dennis will also showcase its charging options, designed to give grounds teams confidence and flexibility when managing multiple battery-powered machines.

Visitors to Stand E110 will be able to see the Dennis range up close and meet the team for expert guidance on solutions tailored to their turfcare needs.

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Lantra’s campaign to address trend in chainsaw accidents

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Lantra’s campaign to address trend in chainsaw accidents: PPE or A&E: the choice that is faced by people when they purchase a chainsaw.

Lantra, the leading organisation for careers, skills, and qualifications in the land-based and environment sector is today launching a new campaign highlighting the critical importance of chainsaw safety. The campaign will educate the public and professionals, that chainsaws are not just another piece of garden equipment but are potentially lethal power tools that demand proper training and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Lantra's campaign to address trend in chainsaw accidents

Lantra’s campaign to address trend in chainsaw accidents

As chainsaws become more accessible through low-cost supermarkets, being middle aisle specials, available to purchase online and being able to be bought at DIY stores, there has been a worryingly increasing trend of accidents relating to improper use. A freedom of information request to NHS hospitals in England, Wales, and Scotland shows that 3144 have attended accident and emergency departments due to a chainsaw related injury in the last 10 years, with the trend increasing since 2020.

Respect the chainsaw, the new campaign from Lantra, sets out to dispel myths, raise awareness, and promote essential safety measures.

Speaking about the new campaign, Clegg Bamber MBE, Head of Communications at Lantra, said: “We know that chainsaws can cause life-changing injuries within a split second. Sadly, sometimes these injuries become fatal. Our message to all people who operate a chainsaw today, or in the future, is chainsaws are dangerous machines, training on how to use them is essential, and PPE is non-negotiable.”

Also commenting on the new campaign, Mandy Maynard, Head of Industry Partnerships for Forestry and Arboriculture at Lantra said: “Training and protective equipment are important when handling a chainsaw. PPE can mean the difference between a close call and a catastrophic injury. It’s not an add-on but a necessity.”

As part of the campaign, Lantra have released a new film – highlighting the importance of training, knowledge of how to use a saw safely, and the requirement of wearing protective clothing. The new film, led by James Bingham, a qualified arborist summarises the dangers of the chainsaw, and emphasises how understanding how a chainsaw works, how to use the saw properly, including the risk of kickback, and exploring how protective clothing comes into effect should it connect with a chainsaw.

Whether pruning a tree in the garden, clearing a fallen tree from the driveway or working in a professional environment, the campaign underlines that safety must come first.

To learn more about chainsaw safety, download guidance, or to find a Lantra training course near you, please visit www.lantra.co.uk/chainsaw-safety

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SALTEX levels up for 2025

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SALTEX levels up for 2025: SALTEX, Europe’s leading sport amenities landscaping and turf exhibition, has announced a 10% year-on-year increase in visitor registrations, confirming its position as the premier destination for the sports turf management and grounds care community. This year’s growth in pre-registration figures indicate strong anticipation for the show across the industry and beyond.

In addition to the rise in visitor registration numbers, the Grounds Management Association (GMA) has partnered with the Football Foundation to provide free car parking for all attendees – an initiative jointly funded by both organisations. This initiative directly responds to feedback from visitor research that highlighted affordability as a key priority. It underscores both organisations’ commitment to accessibility and ensures that the show remains inclusive and practical – the must-attend event for everyone in the industry.

SALTEX levels up for 2025

SALTEX levels up for 2025

Chris Smith, Head of Programmes at the Football Foundation said: “It’s great that attendance this year has grown once again and that together we’ve been able to provide more people with the opportunity to attend SALTEX with the addition of free car parking for all attendees.

“Supporting SALTEX ensures that community clubs and volunteers have the chance to find out about funding opportunities available to them through the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation, and access to the best resources and knowledge in turf pitch management. It’s also a good opportunity for the team at the Football Foundation to connect with industry experts who are working to improve the quality of grassroots facilities across the country.”

Geoff Webb, CEO of the GMA, commented: “We are delighted to see such strong growth in visitor registrations this year. It demonstrates that SALTEX continues to be the place where the industry comes together to share knowledge, discover innovation, and celebrate progress. The introduction of free car parking in partnership with the Football Foundation is another way we’re adding value to the visitor experience.”

With hundreds of exhibitors, a packed seminar programme, and an increasingly international audience, SALTEX continues to shape the future of the industry, supporting the development of knowledge, standards, and innovation across sports turf management and grounds care.

To register now visit: saltex.org.uk

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Don’t make the tough work tougher

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Don’t make the tough work tougher: Getting ready for winter means being prepared for the unexpected. From planned projects to the daily routine and annual winter servicing, ‘tis the season to make sure machines are ready for the tough work by having a stockpile of parts ready to prevent downtime.

Performance, reliability, and durability are all enhanced when parts are engineered specifically for the machine they serve, which is why it’s important to choose genuine.

Don't make the tough work tougher

Don’t make the tough work tougher

Genuine means the high-quality choice. The materials Toro uses for all its parts make them synonymous with maximum performance, while rigorous testing makes sure they can withstand the daily stress that comes with keeping a course or pitch in top condition.

It’s equally important not to underestimate the power of simply being organised when it comes to planning winter servicing. Routine checks and prevention rather than cure are considerably cheaper than ad-hoc repairs and the cost of unexpected downtime.

While prepping is better than fretting, Reesink Turfcare, the official distributor of Toro genuine parts, is aware many are last-minute buyers, and everyone will fall foul of the unexpected, which is why it has two invaluable service options in its offering.

Having the reliability of Reesink as a distributor means customers can get the parts they need within 24 hours to anywhere in the UK. That speed of service reduces the amount of downtime incurred, as well as making life easier.

Michael Hampton, Supply Chain Manager at Reesink Turfcare, says: “The reassurance of having a genuine service doesn’t end there, it comes with a comprehensive stock reserve and local support. But significantly, customers can rely on the fact that they’re getting the genuine Toro part – and that’s a big distinction.”

Not only that but there’s also the option of peace of mind guaranteed with its ReeAssure servicing plans and three types for every budget and requirement level.

Michael expands: “Reesink’s ReeAssure scheme safeguards machinery and secures the club’s investment. Knowing the back up and support of experts in the field for all areas of maintenance and servicing brings great peace of mind. Clubs can spread the costs and plan the monthly fee into the budget to ensure machinery is always optimised no matter the time of year. It saves and frees up time to focus on other tasks and brings the local touch seeing as technicians will be coming from the nearest Reesink branch.”

While English winters can be unpredictable, something you can guarantee won’t be is the quality you get from Toro and the service and support you receive from Reesink. To find a Reesink branch or local Toro dealer, visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk or call 01480 226800.

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