MM Seed Delivers Proven Performance

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MM Seed Delivers Proven Performance: Managing one of the busiest multi-sport facilities on the south coast is no small task – especially in a region increasingly defined by prolonged dry spells and intense seasonal wear. At Bournemouth University, Grounds Manager Alex McCombie relies on proven seed performance and trusted technical support to keep standards high across a hugely demanding site.

Alex has been in the post for four years, overseeing an extensive sports complex that includes eight football pitches, three rugby pitches, cricket squares and outfields, hockey pitches, a 3G surface and extensive surrounding landscapes. While the facilities serve students, around 75% of usage comes from the wider community, with Bournemouth Rugby Club, Bournemouth Sports Football Club and Bournemouth Cricket Club all calling the site home.

MM Seed Delivers Proven Performance

MM Seed Delivers Proven Performance

“We’re a university, but we’re also a massive community campus,” Alex explains. “We’ve got fixtures midweek and weekends, and on some days, we’ll have multiple matches on the same pitch. We’re talking around 5,000 users every week, so wear tolerance and recovery are absolutely critical.”

Situated on an extremely free-draining site, Bournemouth University benefits from excellent winter playability – but summer conditions are increasingly challenging.

“From Easter through to October we hardly had any rain at all,” says Alex. “That’s great in winter, but in summer it puts huge stress on the grass. We need something with genuine drought tolerance that can also stand up to relentless wear.”

That need led Alex to MM Tetra Sport, a specialist overseeding mixture consisting of tetraploid ryegrasses, designed specifically for high-quality sports turf.

“Tetra Sport has been a bit of a no-brainer for us,” he says. “It establishes quickly, it wears well, and it stood up incredibly well during a brutal summer. I was genuinely impressed.”

The mixture delivers fast germination, rapid sward establishment, and excellent winter and summer colour, while offering high disease resistance and strong wear tolerance. The inclusion of new, highly rated cultivars, exclusive to the MM range, has been particularly important at Bournemouth University, where pitches see continuous use.

Alex even took the unusual step of overseeding a rugby pitch in December.

“Soil temperatures here stay fairly good, and we usually have a short break after the last fixture before Christmas,” he explains. “We drilled Tetra Sport in just before that break, and it came through really nicely. The results exceeded my expectations.”

For cricket renovations and repairs, Alex turns to MM50, widely regarded as the leading mixture for end-of-season renovation work and mid-season repairs.

“We’ve used MM50 on our cricket squares for a couple of years now and had superb results,” he says. “The density we get is excellent, and it recovers really quickly from play.”

MM50 contains a blend of fine-leaved ryegrasses, producing an extremely hard-wearing, dense surface, and is treated with Headstart® GOLD to support faster establishment and stronger early growth.

“We don’t tend to spray for disease at all,” Alex adds. “We’re lucky, but disease pressure is minimal. The square we renovated with MM50 played probably the best it ever has last season, and the feedback from the cricket club has been very positive.”

Beyond product performance, Alex highlights the importance of strong relationships and reliable technical support – something he has found consistently with MM Seed.

“I’ve used MM Seed for years and had a long-standing relationship with Matt Gresty,” he says. “Matt’s absolutely superb – always on hand with advice, and he’s even helped put together specialist mixes specifically for our site.”

That bespoke approach proved invaluable following the university’s large annual rugby festival, where tailored mixtures were required to accelerate recovery across heavily worn areas.

“David Bevan from Agrovista Amenity, who I get the seed from, is brilliant as well,” Alex continues. “Between David and Matt, the service is excellent. They’re knowledgeable, approachable, and genuinely supportive. You feel like they understand what you’re trying to achieve.”

For a site facing intense usage, extreme dryness and year-round pressure, Bournemouth University’s experience shows how the right seed – combined with the right support – can make all the difference.

Visit the new and improved MM Seed website at www.mm-seeds.co.uk

You can also follow the company on X: @MM_Seed.

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Kubota Powers Guards Polo Club with Reliable Fleet

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Kubota Powers Guards Polo Club with Reliable Fleet: One of the world’s most prestigious polo venues has revealed how it relies on a versatile fleet of M4, M5 and M6 tractors, alongside four RTV-X1110 utility vehicles from Kubota.

Based in Windsor Great Park, Guards Polo Club hosted more than 750 games in its 2025 season which was only possible thanks to a monumental team effort and the Kubota equipment which is at the heart of every element of polo field preparation.

Kubota Powers Guards Polo Club with Reliable Fleet

Kubota Powers Guards Polo Club with Reliable Fleet

Guards Polo is comprised of three sites and ten full-size polo fields, playing host to some of the highest levels of polo including frequent high goal tournaments. Regularly welcoming distinguished and royal players, the packed calendar from mid-April to mid-September places immense pressure on both the equipment and team of ten. Leading that team since March, is Grounds Manager Paul Brown.

“Our Kubota tractors are the heartbeat of our operations” Paul explains. “Whether we’re mowing, verti-draining or moving irrigation from field to field, we depend on these tractors.”

Paul was pleased to see a new suite of tractors, installed and supported by local dealers Lister Wilder on his arrival at Guards – put straight to work on one of the busiest seasons in the club’s history. “The two M4-073’s and two M5-112’s are the perfect blend of power and manoeuvrability, while our M6-142 picks up where the others finish, handling the heavier implements and largest-scale tasks across the farm and polo grounds.”

“They’ve stood up to every test, providing comfort and simplicity of operation for the team which is crucial given the intensity of our schedule” he adds.

With three separate sites and distances of several mile between them, the road-registered RTV-X1110s have also become indispensable – relied upon daily for transport, movement of tools and materials and general ground support. “The safety, speed and versatility of these four RTV’s is invaluable.”

Kubota’s reputation for reliability and durability was central to the club’s decision to renew its fleet earlier this year. Paul says, “Many of the machines these replaced had clocked up more than 15 years and thousands of hours of service. For us, Kubota strikes the perfect balance of dependability, performance and cost-effectiveness.”

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GroundsFest Academy Attendees’ Emirates insight

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GroundsFest Academy Attendees’ Emirates insight: Selected attendees of the 2025 GroundsFest Academy events were recently given a unique opportunity: a behind-the-scenes experience day at the Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal F.C. The day offered a CPD-accredited, practical insight into the operations, challenges, and expertise involved in managing a world-class playing surface and stadium environment.

Led by Paul Ashcroft, Head of Horticulture & Playing Surface Operations for Arsenal F.C, the morning kicked off with an immersive programme designed to give attendees a full picture of what it takes to maintain a top-tier football pitch.

GroundsFest Academy Attendees' Emirates insight

GroundsFest Academy Attendees’ Emirates insight

Participants explored turf management in a stadium setting, internal facilities and groundstaff operations, as well as the tools, machinery, and materials critical to daily work. Matchday preparation and pitch inspections were part of the agenda, alongside deep dives into pitch construction, drainage, irrigation, grass species, microclimates, lighting rigs, and renovations.

The session also addressed integrated weed management and strategies for balancing wear during matches, training, and other events.

Attendees continued to be guided through the day by Paul, with tours of the facilities and a pitch walk giving practical insight into the precision, planning, and teamwork required to maintain a stadium to professional standards.

For attendee Finlay Wiggins, the day offered a rare insight into elite-level pitch preparation:

“It was fascinating to see the specialist equipment up close and understand how each machine plays a vital role in maintaining top-level playing conditions. We also discussed the importance of communication with coaches, balancing their training demands with the need to protect the surface. It really was a fantastic experience.”

Esteve Sanchez was another participant who found the experience beneficial:

“Opportunities like this are not only inspiring but essential for professionals passionate about the craft behind elite-level playing surfaces. Seeing firsthand what it takes to prepare and protect a surface at the highest level truly reinforces the importance of continuous learning and professional development within the grounds industry. Experiences like this allow us to connect theory with practice, exchange ideas, and elevate our technical knowledge.

Hopefully, this is just the beginning of many more opportunities like this in the future.”

And for greenkeeper Steven Connolly, stepping outside his own environment offered fresh perspective:

“It’s always valuable to step outside your own environment and see how another top-tier operation approaches their work. You’re never too experienced to keep learning, and spending time with some of the very best in the turf industry was both insightful and motivating. I came away with ideas and perspectives that I can take back to my own team, which is exactly what these days are all about.”

Bradley Tennant, Director of Education for GroundsFest Academy, reflected on the experience:

“It was a day that won’t be forgotten – spending time behind the scenes with selected attendees of our 2025 events was incredible. Huge thanks to Arsenal F.C and Paul Ashcroft for making this opportunity possible. Keep an eye out for future experience days.”

The GroundsFest Academy Emirates experience offered an unforgettable day of learning, inspiration, and networking, a reminder of the depth, skill, and dedication required to keep stadium pitches at the very highest standard.

For more information, please visit 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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TP Woodchippers kick off major UK expansion

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TP Woodchippers kick off major UK expansion: TP Woodchippers are pleased to announce the appointment of RT Machinery as an authorised full-line dealer in a significant move that marks the beginning of a major UK-wide dealer network expansion.

The signing of RT Machinery for London and the Home Counties is the first in a series of strategic dealer appointments as one of Europe’s leading woodchipper manufacturers accelerate growth and coverage across the UK.

TP Woodchippers kick off major UK expansion

TP Woodchippers kick off major UK expansion

For 25 years, RT Machinery have been at the cutting edge of new technologies – building a strong reputation for providing first-class technical knowledge and expertise on a number of leading brands in the groundcare, estates and homeowner markets.

Extending their portfolio in arboriculture, the team will be providing sales, servicing, parts support and product advice across their territory, ensuring new and existing customers receive the premium experience synonymous with the TP brand.

“TP are very excited about this new partnership with RT Machinery” comments Phil Edmondson, UK Sales Manager for TP Woodchippers. “Their excellent reputation for aftersales support along with a dedicated and experienced sales team made them an ideal prospect when looking for new TP dealers. I am certain having RT Machinery as part of our dealer network will compliment and promote the TP chipper range.”

Richard Taylor, Managing Director of RT Machinery added “We’re delighted to be appointed as specialist dealers for TP Chippers around London and the Home Counties.  They are a well-respected brand for robust, reliable and high-efficiency performance chippers which operators also find easy to use and maintain.

We’re also excited to work alongside a company that shares our sustainability goals and journey in producing chippers that are eco-friendly, economical on fuel and simple to maintain. TP’s battery models offer a real alternative for commercial users with amazing power and a level of output that meets the demands of cities, parks and estates, including for those areas that are difficult to access.

Demonstrations will be available so that users can put TP chippers to the test and see the results first hand.”

The expanded dealer network reflects TP’s ambitious growth plans for the UK and will ensure more customers can access the product with local, tailored support. Further dealer appointments are set to be announced over the coming months.

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Monty’s Machinery appointed Etesia dealer for Cornwall

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Monty’s Machinery appointed Etesia dealer for Cornwall: Monty’s Machinery has been appointed as an authorised dealer for Etesia UK, strengthening the brand’s presence across Cornwall and the wider South West.

Founded in January last year by Adam Hicks, Monty’s Machinery may be a relatively new name, but it is built on more than 16 years of industry experience.

Monty’s Machinery appointed Etesia dealer for Cornwall

Monty’s Machinery appointed Etesia dealer for Cornwall

“I’ve been in the groundcare trade since leaving school,” says Adam. “I did my apprenticeship in the industry and worked locally for many years. When my previous employer closed, it gave me the opportunity to set up on my own and continue supporting the customer base in this area.”

Today, the business works with a broad range of customers, from local councils and housing associations to schools, independent contractors and domestic users, providing sales, service and support across Cornwall.

“I’ve always noticed Etesia from afar,” Adam explains. “I already knew how good the product was, so when we were approached about becoming a dealer, it felt like a fantastic opportunity to showcase the machines to our customers. We were looking for a commercial mower that could rival other strong brands in this area, and Etesia ticked the boxes.”

For Adam, one key factor stands out – performance in challenging conditions.

“The big selling point for us is cut and collection in the wet,” he says. “Cornwall gets a huge amount of rain, so we need machines that can cope in all weathers. Etesia is a standout when it comes to cutting and collecting in damp conditions.”

Etesia’s range spans pedestrian and ride-on mowers, including petrol and diesel options, as well as specialist equipment such as the Attila brush cutter range and mechanical weeders. Adam believes this versatility will strike a chord with his varied customer base.

“We’ve got schools cutting sports fields, and the diesel Hydro 124 will be a great fit there. Independent gardeners are often looking for something compact that can fit in the back of a van, so the Hydro 80 is a good option. We also deal with local water authorities working around watercourses, and the Attila could be ideal for that type of application.”

Monty’s Machinery has already begun introducing the range to customers, recently carrying out its first demonstration with a local housing association.

“We demonstrated a range of mowers and also the MBR50 mechanical weeder,” says Adam. “They’re not allowed to use chemical sprays on pathways anymore, so everything has to be removed mechanically. The weeder performed really well and generated a lot of interest.”

Equally important to Adam is the strength of the support behind the product.

“There’s no point supplying a machine if you can’t back it up,” he says. “We’ve visited Etesia’s premises, met the team and seen their parts stock levels. That gives us the reassurance that we can put the product into the market and properly support it.”

Monty’s team has already attended product training, and ongoing backing from Etesia will include assistance with demonstrations, shows and customer events.

Looking ahead, Adam sees the partnership as a key part of the company’s long-term growth strategy.

“We’re trying to grow the business and there’s a massive opportunity here,” he says. “We’ve got a strong customer base and a good area to develop. Over the next 10 years, we’d like to expand further, possibly even open a second depot. Partnering with Etesia gives us the confidence to compete with the bigger brands in the region.”

For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit www.etesia.co.uk.

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Etesia UK on X @EtesiaUK and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/EtesiaUK. You can also view the latest Etesia videos by visiting www.youtube.com/EtesiaUK

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