Toro UK to Launch Dedicated Dealer Hub at GroundsFest

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Toro UK to Launch Dedicated Dealer Hub at GroundsFest: Toro U.K. Limited is set to unveil a brand-new Dealer Hub at GroundsFest 2025, taking place 9th – 10th September at Stoneleigh Park. Purpose-built for its dealer network, the hub will serve as a central meeting point for strategic updates, early product previews, and meaningful conversations about the season ahead.

Positioned within Toro U.K.’s significantly expanded stand, featuring the full breadth of the Toro® and Hayter® ranges, the Dealer Hub underscores the company’s commitment to supporting its nationwide dealer base.

Toro UK to Launch Dedicated Dealer Hub at GroundsFest

Toro UK to Launch Dedicated Dealer Hub at GroundsFest

“GroundsFest is the ideal opportunity to reconnect with our dealers in person,” said Craig Hoare, Sales and Marketing Manager, Toro U.K. Limited. “This year, we’re putting our dealers front and centre. Offering early access to new-season materials and a dedicated space to talk opportunities, challenges, and everything in between. The Dealer Hub is our way of saying: we’re here, and we’re listening.”

In addition to the Dealer Hub, visitors can explore Toro and Hayter’s latest innovations across the residential, landscape contractor, and grounds care sectors, including:

  • Walk-behind and zero-turn mowers.
  • The latest Harrier® Pro and 60V Hayter models.
  • Toro Revolution™ battery-powered tools.

Dealers visiting the hub will benefit from:

  • Early-release product information and campaign previews.
  • Exclusive co-branded sales materials and POS tools.
  • Direct access to Toro and Hayter’s commercial and marketing teams.
  • Light refreshments in a relaxed, business-friendly setting.

Invitations are on their way to existing dealers. To help us plan accordingly, we kindly ask all invitees to RSVP directly to Toro U.K. upon receipt.

GroundsFest is free to attend and combines live demonstrations with an industry-led exhibition, educational sessions, and entertainment. Toro U.K. Limited invites all dealer partners and professional users to visit the stand, discover the latest product developments, and see how Toro continues to support the turf care industry, every step of the way.

To register for GroundsFest, visit: www.groundsfest.com

To explore the full Toro and Hayter range, visit: www.toro.com/en-gb | www.hayter.co.uk

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More cricket? No problem for Durham

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More cricket? No problem for Durham: As the old saying goes ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ – exactly the motto of Durham County Cricket Club’s Head Groundsman Vic Demain when it comes to his usage of Johnsons J Premier Wicket.

Now into his seventh season with the 100% perennial ryegrass mixture, he cites the early season establishment, wear tolerance and visual merit as the reasons he’s never considered changing as the club gets set for one of the longest and most intense seasons of cricket to date!

More cricket? No problem for Durham

More cricket? No problem for Durham

It’s not just the number of years clocking up for Vic at the Bank Homes Riverside Stadium, as are the demands on the playing surface – with the season extending at both ends and fixtures starting earlier every year. “The windows we have to get onto the ground have reduced significantly due to the quantity of games and training sessions meaning we rely heavily on having a well established and strong sward going into the season” he explains. “Theoretically this is not too much of a problem, except that we also have to battle the cold and dry northeastern climate!”

“Typically we won’t see consistent growth until the end of May, by which point we can be halfway through our county championship season. This makes speed of germination crucial for our autumn renovation work, achieving that germination before we lose the temperature to ensure we go into the following season with good coverage.”

Not just renowned for rapid establishment, the four top-rated cultivars in J Premier Wicket ensure outstanding wear tolerance, high disease resistance and fineness of leaf for aesthetic and play quality across squares and outfields. “It’s the only seed we use, both for renovations and in-season repairs if and when needed” Vic adds.

“Besides germination, fineness of leaf is also incredibly important to us for both play and presentation purposes. The team and I take incredible pride in how the ground looks from the stands and with J Premier Wicket we get it looking its best from every angle.” He continues, “This is assisted by the fact that we see very little in the way of disease.”

On the topic of assistance, Vic also rates the back up technical support from Martin Stephenson of Aitkens and, more recently, DLF’s Ben Morgan. “I have always had nothing but quality advice from Martin and the DLF technical team, many of whom I’ve known for a good number of years. It’s a great product, at a great price, which performs year after year. Why would I consider using anything else?!”

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Seaton Carew Improves Turf Quality Thanks to Hunter

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Seaton Carew Improves Turf Quality Thanks to Hunter: Seaton Carew Golf Club, a historic championship course and the 10th oldest in England, has recently undergone a transformative upgrade with the installation of a state-of-the-art Hunter irrigation system, supplied by KAR UK.

Course Manager Tom Coulson, who took charge of Seaton Carew in 2020, has spent over 20 years in greenkeeping, driven by a passion that started as a junior golfer trying to improve his local course. Recognising Seaton Carew’s potential, Tom knew that with the right plan, the course could be elevated to an even higher standard.

Seaton Carew Improves Turf Quality Thanks to Hunter

Seaton Carew Improves Turf Quality Thanks to Hunter

However, one of the biggest hurdles standing in the way of that vision was an outdated irrigation system.

“It was immediately clear that one thing holding Seaton Carew back was the existing irrigation system, which was not fit for purpose,” Tom explained. “There was a 100% correlation between poor examples of turf and little to no irrigation coverage. For Seaton Carew to progress, it needed a fully functional modern irrigation system, especially now considering how busy golf courses are all the time.”

After a careful evaluation process and with guidance from KAR UK & Hunter, Seaton Carew selected the Hunter GT-885 sprinklers for its fairways, greens, and surrounds. This was installed alongside completely new main pipework and cabling. The club have implemented a phased in-house installation of I-20’s and GT885’s on tee boxes, with a 5-10 year plan to reconfigure, level, and irrigate them.

Additionally, grass pathways were enhanced with Hunter MP rotator sprinklers, allowing the club to gradually move away from the astroturf that previously lined the pathways.

Before any of this could be implemented, a new pump set was installed in 2022. Sized specifically for the new system, this pump set was integrated with the existing setup and laid the foundation for irrigation upgrades.

To ensure a smooth and efficient installation, Seaton Carew partnered with Arden Lea Irrigation, a company with an impressive track record of previous installations.

“Arden Lea was chosen because their previous client list was the ideal reference, but it was their honest communication and ability to phase the work while keeping the course fully functional for members that made them a perfect fit,” Tom noted.

The new Hunter system has already delivered significant improvements.

“The key benefit is having the ability to irrigate and control turf conditions across the course, rather than just in certain parts,” Tom explained. “Water is now applied more accurately, reducing waste and ensuring better turf health. The turf has responded superbly—recovery has been quicker, and the system is now used to prevent damage and aid divot recovery.”

The upgraded pipework has also resulted in a much higher flow capacity, reducing run times and allowing irrigation to take place during optimal conditions, such as the short, low-wind periods at night – a critical factor for a links course.

Additionally, the Hunter GT sprinklers have proven superior in real-world conditions, outperforming other systems by delivering a higher bulk water jet that carries through light winds to hit its target effectively.

KAR UK played a pivotal role in the project’s success, providing expert advice, technical support, and high-quality Hunter products from the outset.

“Our experience working with KAR UK was very positive,” Tom said. “Wesley Henshaw from KAR UK provided support from the very start, demonstrating the quality of the Hunter product even before any official agreement was made. The software training, database creation, and hardware management were all provided seamlessly, which made the entire process very free-flowing.”

“I would definitely recommend KAR UK to other golf clubs looking to improve their courses by upgrading their irrigation facility. The quality of the product, combined with their support throughout the process, makes them an excellent choice.”

With the new Hunter irrigation system fully operational and a phased plan in place for continued improvements, Seaton Carew Golf Club is well-positioned to maintain its status as one of the finest links courses on the east coast.

For more information, please visit www.karuk.com

You can also follow KAR UK on X and Instagram @KARUK_LTD for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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Green-tech to Row 500 Miles for St Leonard’s Hospice

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Green-tech to Row 500 Miles for St Leonard’s Hospice: After raising an incredible £30,000 for five charities in 2024, the Green-tech team is coming together again to make a splash! This time, they are picking up the oars and hoping to row their way to charity success.

The team has taken on an ambitious challenge of rowing 500 miles in just 5 days, to raise vital funds for St Leonard’s Hospice, their chosen charity for 2025.

Green-tech to Row 500 Miles for St Leonard’s Hospice

Green-tech to Row 500 Miles for St Leonard’s Hospice

This means, starting Monday 9th June:

  • 5 full days days
  • 8 hours of rowing each day (from 8am–4pm)
  • A gruelling 100 miles to cover daily

This challenge will be a test of teamwork and personal endurance to support a charity that provides outstanding care for people with life-limiting illnesses and their families across Yorkshire.

Green-tech is well known for backing industry events and initiatives and for supporting the local communities it serves. Each year, a member of the team nominates a charity close to their heart. That charity becomes the focus of the fundraising efforts for the year, with staff coming together to support it through a mix of team challenges, fun events, and donation drives.

Last year, their impressive ‘£30k for 30 Years’ campaign brought together the whole Green-tech community from colleagues and customers to suppliers and family, to support five fantastic charities. That same spirit of generosity and energy is powering this year’s rowing challenge.

Marketing Director Kate Humes explains, “We are proud to be a business that gives back to our industry and local communities. Green-tech’s commitment to giving back goes beyond fundraising. The business actively supports the industries we serve through on-site training, backing industry initiatives, and engaging in community support. We firmly believe in getting involved and making a difference.”

St Leonard’s Hospice provides exceptional care for people with life-limiting illnesses and support for their families. Green-tech is proud to support the hospice and help ensure it can continue its vital work. Help them raise some much-needed funds. Donate using this link – https://www.justgiving.com/page/green-tech-stleonardshospiceyork

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Apprenticeship Update – Sports Turf Technical Manager

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Apprenticeship Update – Sports Turf Technical Manager: The Sports Turf apprenticeship trailblazer group are pleased to announce that a new Level 5 apprenticeship, with integrated Foundation Degree (FdSc), has been published subject to funding band approval.

The new Level 5 apprenticeship will be titled Sports Turf Technical Manager with delivery proposed for late 2025 or early 2026. The integration of the Foundation Degree in Sports Turf provides a high-quality vehicle for learning and allows the apprentice to achieve an industry leading degree level qualification as part of their apprenticeship.

Apprenticeship Update – Sports Turf Technical Manager

Apprenticeship Update – Sports Turf Technical Manager

As the professional body for grounds management, the Grounds Management Association (GMA) has recently issued a formal letter of recognition to the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IFATE) confirming that the qualifications are a suggested requirement for professional recognition at a range of levels of membership across our broad industry.

The sports turf trailblazer view this as a potentially game changing educational development for the Sports Turf Industry, offering a funded educational pathway from initial entry into the industry, to degree level.

The apprenticeship also aligns directly with the Grounds Management Framework, which brings together a range of training and education opportunities provided by both the GMA and other providers, including apprenticeship providers, to ensure a clear and coherent career pathway for those working, or wishing to work, in sports turf maintenance and management.

Employers are encouraged to check the funding rules for more information and eligibility, but apprenticeship levy payers will receive funds up to the funding band maximum, whilst non-levy payers contribute just 5% towards the cost of training. The funding of the government backed sports turf apprenticeships removes the primary barriers faced by apprentices and employers which in turn should increase uptake of apprenticeships and drive professionalisation at all levels within the industry.

Level 2 Sports Turf Operative https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/st0210-v1-2 . Level 3 Advanced Sports Turf Technician https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/st1323-v1-1 Level 5 Sports Turf Technical Manager https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/st1410

The sports turf apprenticeship trailblazer group is a voluntary group consisting of leading industry professionals, education providers and industry bodies. Trailblazer chairperson Daniel Ratling and Facilitator Dr Jonathan Knowles would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to the development of apprenticeships over the last eight years.

Expressions of interest for the new L5 Sports Turf Technical Manager are welcome here https://forms.office.com/e/edTeaZfv3E

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