Discover The Future Of Grounds Management

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Discover The Future Of Grounds Management: Kicking off on Tuesday 13 May at the iconic Ashton Gate Stadium, GMA Connect Bristol brings a day of live demos and direct access to the latest in grounds maintenance.

These brand-new regional events offer a valuable opportunity to discover the latest practical solutions and see a wide range of machinery and tools in action – all in one day.

Discover The Future Of Grounds Management

Discover The Future Of Grounds Management

Designed as a one-stop hub for knowledge-sharing, the Grounds Management Association’s (GMA) new regional Connect series has been created to make industry support more accessible across the country. Alongside talks and demos, attendees will benefit from direct access to industry-leading brands showcasing the latest in professional turf management.

The exhibitor and demo line-up at GMA Connect Bristol offers plenty to explore:

  • Cramer will be showcasing a fully battery-powered range, including robot mowers, a zero-turn model and all-terrain pedestrian mowers.
  • For the best in precision line marking, both Fleet and The Pitchmark Group will be demonstrating cutting-edge precision line marking technologies.
  • GKB and ISEKI will join forces to bring a 25hp tractor fitted with GKB’s Combi Tool, alongside a larger 40/50hp unit equipped with a deep aerator, perfect for tackling soil compaction and improving root development.
  • Campey Turf Care will be on hand, featuring compact machines including the Vredo Turf Buddy, Electric Sarel Roller and Seed Shot, as well as their UniRake – designed for and used by leading groundspeople.
  • Abundigro will spotlight the benefits of biostimulants in sports turf, introducing OxyTurf as a slow-release aeration solution that supports long-term soil health.
  • Aquatrols adds to the agronomic insight with a look at its trusted water management range and a first look at the new VerdeLNX nutritional products.
  • Redexim will be highlighting a toolkit of maintenance essentials that no grounds team should be without.
  • Trimax rounds things off with its ProCut S5 and Striker mowers, built for clean, consistent results across a range of grass surfaces.

Sarah Hunter, Head of Events at the GMA, said: “We’re really excited to have so many respected, industry-leading brands joining us at GMA Connect Bristol. It’s not often you get the chance to see this much equipment demonstrated in one place in a way that’s so hands-on and accessible. Whether you’re looking for new machinery or just want to stay up to date with what’s out there, GMA Connect gives you that opportunity to see kit in action.”

Entry is free for GMA members, £15 for non-members. Non-members who join the GMA within 14 days of GMA Connect Bristol will have their ticket value deducted from the membership fee.

As a GMA member, you’ll gain access to expert advice, industry insights, training opportunities and a network of professionals who share your passion for quality spaces.

Click here to register.

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Paxster delivers for Sandwell Council

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Paxster delivers for Sandwell Council: Sandwell is a metropolitan borough in the West Midlands comprising six Black Country towns. When Sandwell Council wanted to upgrade their spraying fleet, they were looking for something more modern to replace the traditional combustion ATVs they were using.

They made the decision to look for suitable environmentally friendly electric vehicles. Precisely fitting the bill, they have taken delivery of two Paxster eCompact Utility Vehicles. These are part of a range of electric vehicles built with sustainable manufacturing in Norway.

Paxster delivers for Sandwell Council

Paxster delivers for Sandwell Council

Fully road homologated and featuring an ultra-small turning radius, the Paxsters are easy to drive with intuitive controls and a semi-open cabin to shield the driver from the elements. This offers greater comfort while allowing maximum visibility to complete the task safely. At the core of the eCompact is a large 10kWh 50v LiFePo4 electric battery, powering sustained performance and reliability. There is also enough power to charge rechargeable battery tools in the field, providing up to 3kW of additional charging power. Thanks to the narrow-body design, the Paxster eCompact is highly manoeuvrable and ideal for navigating tight spaces and hard-to-reach areas. With its ample cargo space, robust chassis and a 240kg payload capacity, it is suited to an exceptionally wide range of applications.

Sandwell Council Paxsters came fitted with low volume, high efficiency sprayers from Nomix Enviro. The Nomix VMU is a vehicle-mounted Total Droplet Control (TDC) herbicide application system, which can be fitted to virtually any type of vehicle. The (TDC) systems deliver highly targeted herbicide application, with pre-mixed herbicides that are safe and easy to use, offering a wealth of benefits to local authorities.

The Paxsters were supplied by Midlands based ACE ATV Ltd. who took Sandwell Council from their initial requirement brief to on-site vehicle installation. Paxster units can be ordered with a host of options and have up to ten years’ manufacturer’s warranty. They are distributed to UK dealers by Staffordshire based BOSS ORV who specialise in off-road and utility vehicles in all fuel types ranging from heavy-duty diesel machines and electric ATVs up to 6-seater UTVs. For more information you can call 01785 561046

E-mail: sales@bossorv.co.uk Web: www.bossorv.co.uk

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Origin launches Appli-Tec 2000 Rotary Spreader

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Origin launches Appli-Tec 2000 Rotary Spreader: Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS) is proud to unveil the latest addition to its precision turf care range, the Appli-Tec 2000 Rotary Spreader, which has a 25kg hopper capacity.

Designed for accuracy, consistency, and even distribution of granules, this market-leading spreader sets a new standard for greenkeepers, grounds managers, and sports pitch professionals.

Origin launches Appli-Tec 2000 Rotary Spreader

Origin launches Appli-Tec 2000 Rotary Spreader

The Appli-Tec 2000 rotary spreader uses a patented helical cone system to provide turf managers with an accurate, consistent, and even distribution of granules across all turf areas.

Robustly constructed with an improved build and stainless-steel frame, the Appli-Tec 2000 combines durability with enhanced functionality and is regarded as a reliable and trusted choice for professional fertiliser application.

Whether used on golf courses, football pitches or public amenity grounds, users can expect exceptional results that support healthy, high-performing turf.

As one of the UK’s leading providers of turf management solutions, OAS brings together a portfolio of industry-recognised brands and technical expertise to support the management of natural turf and landscape environments. With a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, and customer support, OAS delivers tailored solutions to the UK’s amenity, sports, and landscape sectors.

For more information on the benefits of the Appli-Tec 2000 or to place an order, call 0800 138 7222 or email sales@originamenity.com.

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Bionema Leads £961,000 Biofilm Biofertiliser Project

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Bionema Leads £961,000 Biofilm Biofertiliser Project: As the world faces mounting pressure to reduce synthetic fertiliser use amid climate and soil degradation crises, a groundbreaking £961,000 project led by Bionema Group, a UK-based biocontrol technology developer, is paving the way for a sustainable transformation in nutrient management.

This project is funded by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) through the Farming Innovation Programme, under the Nutrient Management Competition. The programme is delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.

Bionema Leads £961,000 Biofilm Biofertiliser Project

Bionema Leads £961,000 Biofilm Biofertiliser Project

Funded by Innovate UK, the Biofilm Biofertiliser project brings together a consortium of scientific and industry leaders to develop a first-of-its-kind, biofilm-based biofertiliser, offering a scalable, low-cost, and environmentally responsible alternative to chemical fertilisers. This UK-developed innovation is poised to have global relevance as agriculture seeks regenerative, high-impact solutions to feed a growing population without destroying natural ecosystems.

“The global fertiliser crisis is not just about rising prices—it’s about the survival of our soils,” said Dr Minshad Ansari, CEO and Founder of Bionema Group. “This unique biofilm technology enables farmers to drastically cut synthetic inputs while restoring soil health and increasing crop productivity.”

A Unique Microbial Solution for a Global Challenge

By leveraging a novel consortium of UK-native, biofilm-forming plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), the biofertiliser is designed to reduce synthetic fertiliser usage by 40–50%, while improving nutrient uptake, soil structure, and crop yields by 20–30%.

Formulated as water-dispersible granules (WDG) and encapsulated products, the solution will be easy to apply and have a minimum shelf life of up to 24 months, meeting the operational needs of both large-scale and smallholder farms globally.

Three-year field trials will assess product performance on wheat, potatoes, strawberries, and ornamentals across multiple UK farms. The results are expected to provide a blueprint for international adoption across diverse soil and crop types.

“This project offers a revolutionary approach to improving soil health and reducing nitrogen dependency,” said Richard Glass, Innovation Lead at the UK Agri-Tech Centre. “The environmental and economic benefits could be transformative for farmers in the UK and globally.”

A Collaboration to Scale Sustainability

In addition to Bionema Group’s leadership in microbial R&D and product development, the project consortium includes:

  1. CPI, providing process development, scale-up, and manufacturing support.
  2. UK Agri-Tech Centre, leading knowledge exchange, end-user engagement, and impact dissemination.

“We’re excited to help bring this breakthrough to market,” said Kris Wadrop, Managing Director – Materials at CPI. “By combining our formulation expertise with Bionema’s biological innovation, we’re creating a product that can be scaled in the UK and deployed globally.”

Lasting Impact and Global Relevance

This innovative product addresses critical issues in modern agriculture:

  1. Reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and nitrogen runoff
  2. Strengthens resilience against climate and market volatility
  3. Supports compliance with UK and EU fertiliser reduction targets
  4. Aligns with UN SDGs: Zero Hunger, Climate Action, Life on Land, and Responsible Consumption

By producing and scaling the solution in the UK, the project reduces import dependency and positions the UK as a global leader in biocontrol and biofertiliser innovation.

“This is not just a UK story—it’s a global one,” added Dr. Ansari. “With the right partnerships and investment, we can roll out this sustainable technology to farmers worldwide.”

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Join the horticultural community for an afternoon of fun and fundraising

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Join the horticultural community for an afternoon of fun and fundraising: Perennial is once again bringing the horticultural community together to celebrate our supporter’s efforts and to ask you all to dig deep to raise vital funds for your industry charity.

From arborists, foresters and tree surgeons to gardeners, growers, landscapers, garden centre employees and nursery staff to greenkeepers and grounds staff the aim is to raise funds to support you and your family’s future.

Join the horticultural community for an afternoon of fun and fundraising

Join the horticultural community for an afternoon of fun and fundraising

With one million people working in or retired from horticulture across the UK, Perennial’s services are in considerable demand. The shared goal at this event is for everyone to raise essential funds so Perennial’s services can continue to provide a lifeline to those who dedicated their lives to growing and caring for the green spaces that enrich our lives.

Whether you’ve already held your own fundraising activity, or you are planning to this year, we encourage you to celebrate your efforts and network together with other like-minded supporters at Perennial’s fundraising lunch.

Join colleagues, fundraisers and supporters and feel proud of your good deeds on Friday 10 October from midday to 4:30pm (…feel free to cheer yourselves on into the evening!) at The Cumberland, London. The ticket price of £145 per person includes a glass of “cheers to you” fizz on arrival and a celebratory three-course meal with wine, plus a heartfelt “thank you” from Perennial President Alan Titchmarsh CBE VMH.

This year’s event will be hosted by award-winning garden designer and TV gardener Manoj Malde, who will be joined by professional gardener and radio personality, guest speaker, Matthew Biggs. We will once again be celebrating the efforts of those who have gone above and beyond for Perennial with our Silver Shovel Spotlight Awards and of course asking you to dig deep during the envelope raffle and in our live auction led by The Charity Auctioneer, Mark Head. This year’s auction includes some old favourites and exciting new lots such as a day’s consultancy with horticultural business consultant Neville Stein, an Exclusive Hotel Group package, a Wembley Stadium Hospitality package and many more. The Plantman & Co. are supporting the event once again by supplying fabulous floral table centrepieces.

Jamie Gault, Perennial’s Chief Executive comments: “Every year, our supporters dig deep, taking on challenges, hosting events, opening their gardens and much more to raise funds. People should feel so proud of their fundraising efforts which help Perennial deliver our vision to build better futures for people in horticulture and their families. Our fundraising lunch and awards recognise all their wholehearted contributions and commitments and keeps up the momentum by raising even more funds. Let’s come together as a community for this fundraising lunch, which will go towards helping people during the winter period and beyond. Tickets are on sale now, so please put the date (10thOctober) in your diary, dig deep all year and join us!”

Every time Perennial’s supporters dig deep, they make a real difference to the lives of people in horticulture and their families. There are lots of reasons why people turn to the charity, such as bereavement, the impact of an accident, health issues or a family breakdown. As the only UK charity helping everyone working in or retired from horticulture and their families, Perennial relies on support from the industry.

This is the event of the year to get together with friends and colleagues for a lively afternoon of anticipation, bidding banter and networking, all in support of your community.

Book your spot at perennial.org.uk/lunch – book a table of 10 and get the 10th place free!

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