Consolidate Turf appoint Nick Hyndman

Consolidate Turf appoint Nick Hyndman: Consolidate Turf (a Growing Solutions Ltd Company) is pleased to announce the expansion of the product specialist team with the appointment of Nick Hyndman as Technical Manager.

Nick brings an outstanding depth of industry knowledge to the role. He began his education at Myerscough College, gaining a Foundation Degree in Sports Turf Science and Management, a National Diploma in Sports Turf (level 3) and an NVQ 2 in landscaping and horticulture.

Consolidate Turf appoint Nick Hyndman

Consolidate Turf appoint Nick Hyndman

After six years working in landscaping, Nick transitioned into sports turf in 2008 before joining Fleetwood Town FC in 2010. He was part of the team that won Grounds Team of the Year on two occasions and were once rated as highly commended. In 2017 he became Head Groundsman at Fleetwood, overseeing the stadium pitch and 12 pitches at the club’s new ten million pound Poolfoot Training facility with his team of five.

Nick has recently worked at Leyland Golf Course, where he has rounded off his turf knowledge with valuable greenkeeping experience, giving him a fantastic grounding to work with Consolidate users across numerous sports.

Speaking on the appointment, Managing Director of Growing Solutions Ltd, Paul Benson, said: “Nick is exactly the kind of person we wanted to expand our team with because of the experience he has. Obviously, his time in football with Fleetwood stands out because of the work he and his team did there, and it is exciting for us to be able to offer that knowledge and experience to our customers.”

Nick will be working alongside Consolidate Turf’s current technical team Rob Welford and Anthony Asquith covering the UK and Ireland and is available at nick@consolidateturf.com or on 07714 015991.

For more information on the Consolidate Turf range, visit www.consolidateturf.com

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Ariens launches new website

Ariens launches new website: Ariens is excited to announce the launch of its brand-new website which will provide its UK and European customers with a wealth of information, support and customised regional resources.

The website, which has been designed with Ariens’ commercial heritage at its core, will feature   product details, specifications, testimonials, reviews, case studies and much more on its industry leading zero-turn mowers and snow blowers.

Ariens launches new website

Ariens launches new website

Soon to be translated into French, German and Italian, the website will also deliver professional landscapers, local authorities and gardeners from across the continent with tailored, local-language materials to help them get the most from their Ariens products.

The website’s launch underpins Ariens’ continued investment in Europe and builds on its decision to manufacture its petrol powered zero-turn mowers for the European market in its Oxfordshire factory – all proudly adorning the Made in Britain mark.

Discussing the website’s launch, Brad Stiles, Sales and Marketing Director, EMEAA said, “Every one of our customers is incredibly important to us and that’s why we’re delighted to offer a website that gives them the very best information and advice, all designed specifically to their needs. It marks yet another successful milestone in our long-term European growth strategy.”

To tour the website visit: ariens.eu.

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Fentons becomes Becx distributor

Fentons becomes Becx distributor: Fentons of Bourne Ltd, the family-owned estate and garden equipment supplier, has been appointed the sole UK distributor for Becx Machines, the Netherlands-based manufacturer of high-end mechanical weed control and hedge cutting equipment for tool carriers and excavators.

Established in 2008, Becx Machines is located in Moergestel, North Brabant, which provides excellent links across Europe and to the UK. Their first hedge trimmer was launched in 2009 using a patented cutting principle and the success of this machine launched a succession of commercial models.

Fentons becomes Becx distributor

Fentons becomes Becx distributor

13 years on, they now manufacture seven different hedge trimming attachments with a working width between 75 cm and 240 cm. They also manufacture weed brushes, weed brush/edge cutters and various attachments for mounting hedge trimmers onto excavators.

Glen Bellamy, a director at Fentons, commenting on the agreement said,

“We have a track record of being sole importers; for over 25 years we have represented Homburg Draincleaners, another Netherlands-based company that manufactures specialist field drainage maintenance equipment for the agricultural sector.

“It’s a cliché, but we are genuinely delighted with the signing of this latest sole importer agreement. The quality of the Becx equipment is exceptional and the growth in their business in just over a decade is testament to the machinery they produce.

“In keeping with the trend for electrification, they have recently introduced their first electric hedge trimmer. With a working width of 75 cm, it’s two hydromotors have been replaced by 48-volt electric motors and can be mounted on almost any electrically driven tool carrier.

“Already we have had interest from local authorities for their cut and collect equipment. With the trend for more environmental working practices, this ticks several boxes as the clippings can be collected in a single pass, saving labour, and then composted for internal use or for sale as an income generator.

“We’ll be exhibiting at LAMMA in January 2022, which will be the first opportunity for prospective customers to see the equipment.

“This agreement is an exciting development for all of us here at Fentons and we look forward to a long association with the Becx team.”

Erwin Hommen, owner and managing director of Becx Machines added,

“Glen and the team at Fentons are a great fit with us as we share the same values, putting customers uppermost in the running of our businesses. Today’s end-user demands high-quality equipment and it has been their input into the development of our products that has contributed to the growth of our business. We are really looking forward to working with Fentons and I’m confident that they will help us, increasing our penetration in the important UK market sector.”

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Prevention is better than cure

Prevention is better than cure: At a recent meeting of the Amenity Forum, Chris Faulkner of Kersten (UK) Limited spoke about the need for all involved in weed management in the sector to further increase the focus on weed prevention.

He said ‘’A common theme of the conversations we have with customers centre around removing, killing or controlling a weed that already exists. Prevention requires us to think about the causes of weeds on a particular surface and how we can make the environment as inhospitable for weeds as possible’’

Prevention is better than cure

Prevention is better than cure

In a recent presentation at a conference in Wales, the Independent Forum Chairman John Moverley, said ‘’prevention certainly on hard surfaces begins with the design of our environment. For example, designing the corner of a kerb with a nice wide radius, rather than a sharp corner allows a sweeper to easily follow the edge of the kerb and collect any detritus trapped there’’

Also at the conference, a representative from Newport Council commented about their success with improved preventative maintenance work. He said ‘’we have been using mechanical weed removal to minimise the soil build-up over winter and the team has seen a big reduction in the amount of weeds coming up in the spring. This has resulted in the diminished use of plant protection products around Newport’’

The amenity sector has been at the fore front of the development of integrated weed management and produces comprehensive guidance notes for the sector. It is important to recognise that integrated means choosing the right approach and choice of methods for weed management including plant protection products. The increased emphasis on moving to carbon zero also will significant impact on future approaches.

A new guidance note on weed prevention will shortly be available on the Amenity Forum website www.amenityforum.co.uk  and it will be just one of the topics to be addressed in Updating events across the UK organised by the Forum in early 2022. For more information contact admin@amenityforum.net

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Campey launch sumo designed TDS2

Campey launch sumo designed TDS2: Campey Turf Care Systems has combined with British manufacturer, Sumo, to produce the Campey TDS2 sub surface sports turf decompactor specifically for the turf care industry.

The heavy-duty twin-leg machine is designed to operate behind a 40hp tractor on turf tyres and can be easily adjusted to relieve compaction and aid drainage at depths between 9.5cm and 37.5cm.

Campey launch sumo designed TDS2

Campey launch sumo designed TDS2

Weighing less than 700kg and fitted with Cat I and Cat II hitch, the Campey TDS2 is designed to deliver a sub-surface shattering effect quickly and effectively with minimum surface disturbance. This creates fissures for grass roots to grow into, allows excess water to drain and links up existing drainage, all without the need for external hydraulics or PTO.

It is suitable for use on all areas where subsurface compaction is a problem, including football pitches, rugby pitches and semi-rough on golf courses. This innovative new machine joins Campey’s already impressive line-up of aeration equipment and directly responds to customers needs and requests, as Campey Director, Lee Morgado, explains.

“We’re always listening to feedback from customers about the challenges they are facing, ways their maintenance practices are changing and what they need from machines, and that’s what led us to the Campey TDS2.

“We have been working on the concept for some time, so it is fantastic to finally have it out on show at Saltex for our customers to see. The response from those we’ve spoken to already has been very positive, and we’re looking forward to demoing the machine out on sites to show what it can do in the coming weeks and months.

“For us as a company, it’s been a fantastic experience to work with Sumo to bring this concept to life. They are a renowned British manufacturer with vast amounts of experience and skill, and they’ve used both of those things to produce this machine.”

Designed and manufactured in the UK by their highly skilled production team, Sumo has a worldwide reputation for the highest quality, durable cultivation equipment. This, combined with Campey’s renowned reputation for innovation in the turf care industry, has brought two market leaders together to deliver a simple but highly effective subsurface decompactor.

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