Hori Hori Trowel wins big at Glee

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Hori Hori Trowel wins big at Glee: Wilkinson Sword is delighted to announce that its innovative Hori Hori Trowel has been awarded the New Product Award 2025 in the Tools & Machinery category at Glee 2025. The prestigious awards recognise the very best in gardening innovation, celebrating products that combine thoughtful design, functionality and exceptional durability. 

The Hori Hori Trowel stands out as a masterfully designed garden companion, seamlessly blending the functions of a trowel and a knife into a single, versatile tool. Lightweight and compact, it is easy to manoeuvre while remaining robust enough to handle a wide range of gardening tasks. Its dual-sided stainless steel blade, with one side serrated and the other sharpened, allows gardeners to dig, cut, prune and harvest with precision. An easy-to-read depth gauge ensures accurate planting, while the comfortably contoured wooden handle provides a secure grip for extended use.

Hori Hori Trowel wins big at Glee

Hori Hori Trowel wins big at Glee

Built for durability and resilience, the Hori Hori Trowel features a rust-resistant, weatherproof stainless steel blade and comes with a protective pouch with a secure hook-and-eye closure for safe storage. This combination of quality materials and thoughtful design make it an indispensable tool for gardeners seeking efficiency and versatility in one compact package.

Mark Hewett, Sales Manager for Garden Tools & Accessories for Wilkinson Sword commented: “We are thrilled that our Hori Hori Trowel has been recognised at the Glee New Product Awards. This accolade underscores our commitment to creating tools that are not only functional and durable but also makes gardening more enjoyable and accessible for enthusiasts of all levels.”

The Hori Hori Trowel is part of Wilkinson Sword’s Stainless Steel range. For more information and to explore the full range, visit: www.wilkinsonsword-tools.co.uk.

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Laura Darlow a winner of 30 under 30 – The Next Generation

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Laura Darlow a winner of 30 under 30 – The Next Generation: Green-tech is delighted to announce that Laura Darlow, Logistics Team Leader, has been named as one of Pro Landscaper’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation winners for 2025.

28-year-old Laura was chosen for her contribution and rapid career progression within the landscape industry. Now in its tenth year, the 30 Under 30: The Next Generation initiative celebrates 30 rising stars across the arboriculture, garden design, horticulture, and landscaping sectors, aiming to showcase the diverse career opportunities available to young professionals.

Laura Darlow a winner of 30 under 30 – The Next Generation

Laura Darlow a winner of 30 under 30 – The Next Generation

Laura joined Green-tech in 2015 after completing a Diploma in Horticulture at Askham Bryan College. She began her career as a Despatch Assistant before moving into logistics, where she has thrived in a fast-paced and evolving environment. Within just a few years, she progressed to Logistics Team Leader, a role that sees her coordinate the daily movement of customer orders across both UK and international markets. Laura plays a pivotal role in ensuring Green-tech delivers on its promises to customers. She has been instrumental in process improvements that have reduced stock holding, cut freight costs, and ensured compliance with all export orders.

Her achievements were further recognised in 2025 when she completed Green-tech’s Management Development Programme, earning the title of ‘Outstanding Contributor’ from the course trainer.

Speaking about this award, Laura comments, “I’m thrilled to have been recognised as one of this year’s Pro Landscaper 30 Under 30 winners. Working in logistics is fast-paced and varied, and I take great pride in ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. To see my hard work acknowledged in this way is hugely rewarding, and I’m excited to continue developing my career in this fantastic industry.”

Green-tech’s Managing Director, Kris Nellist, added, “Laura is an outstanding member of the Green-tech team, and we are incredibly proud to see her recognised with this award. Her commitment, attention to detail and proactive approach make her a key part of our operations, and she embodies the high standards and ambition that Green-tech stands for.”

Laura will officially receive her award at the Pro Landscaper 30 Under 30 ceremony on Wednesday, 8 October at FutureScape, ExCeL London.

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Learning LIVE returns to SALTEX 2025

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Learning LIVE returns to SALTEX 2025: The industry’s largest free education offering, Learning LIVE, is back for SALTEX 2025, delivering its biggest and most tailored programme to date.

Following a record-breaking 2024 that saw more education hours delivered than ever before and over 1,000 attendees engaging with sessions, this year promises even more opportunities to power up your skills and gain accredited CPD points.

Learning LIVE returns to SALTEX 2025

Learning LIVE returns to SALTEX 2025

With pressures mounting on grounds teams to deliver high-quality playing surfaces and green spaces, Learning LIVE provides real-world insights and sector-first knowledge, completely free of charge.

Among the highlights is James Haskell, one of the most recognisable personalities in sport. In his headline session, High Performance Mindset: Lessons from the Pitch to the Boardroom, James will draw on his career as a professional rugby player, media personality and entrepreneur to explore the role of elite playing surfaces in sporting success.

A first for 2025 will be the GMA NextGen’s takeover of Learning LIVE. Made up of talented young professionals dedicated to championing the industry and inspiring the next generation, NextGen will lead two dedicated Spotlight Stage sessions. Covering diversity in the industry and youth engagement, the sessions will see alumni share their own journeys into grounds management, their role as changemakers and ideas for attracting more young people into the sector.

Sarah Hunter, Head of Events at the Grounds Management Association (GMA), said: “Learning LIVE has become a cornerstone of SALTEX and of the wider industry. It’s the largest free education programme of its kind and it continues to grow in scale and impact.

“This year, we’ve worked hard to make the content more tailored than ever before, shaped around the real challenges and opportunities faced by people on the ground. It’s about equipping professionals at every level with knowledge they can take straight back to their venues.”

Key sessions from the Learning LIVE programme include:

  • The preparation and delivery of FIFA 2026 World Cup – Alan Ferguson, Senior Pitch Management Manager, FIFA
  • Public Parks: Gardening for People and Planet – Matthew Pottage, Head of Horticulture & Landscape Strategy, The Royal Parks
  • High Performance Mindset: Lessons from the Pitch to the Boardroom – James Haskell, Rugby legend, broadcaster, DJ and best-selling author
  • Course success at the 2025 Open Championship – Graeme Beatt, Course Manager, Royal Portrush Golf Club
  • UEFA Champions League, Nations League Final & Women’s EURO 2025 pitch preparations – Lee Guerriero, Stadium Operations and Pitch Expert, UEFA
  • Future-proofing turf management: Water resilience in a changing climate – Tony Hanson, Managing Director, Environmental Solutions International, Mark Hunt, Technical Specialist, Prodata Weather Systems, Roger Davey, Managing Director & Founder, Irritech and Dr Tom Young, Blue-Green Infrastructure Specialist, The Environment Partnership
  • Sustainable solutions at multi-sport venues – James Wright, Senior Maintenance Manager, University of Leeds, Andrew Turnbull, BioAgronomist, South West Agronomy, Sam Kingston, Grounds Manager, Wesley College and Andrew Bulter, Head of Grounds & Gardens, Repton School

From community sport funding and machinery security to grass seed innovation, pest and weed management and youth engagement in grounds careers, the full programme offers something for everyone across the sector.

Click here to view the full programme.

With more than 30 sessions across the Main Stage, Spotlight Stage and Community Sport Stage, there’s a wealth of knowledge on offer from some of the most respected names in the grounds management industry.

SALTEX 2025 takes place on 12-13 November at the NEC, Birmingham. Register for FREE at saltex.org.uk and be in with a chance of winning a Cramer Tools Lawn Mower, complete with charger and battery, worth £2,240!

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Agricultural engineering apprentices invited to apply for £500 bursary

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Agricultural engineering apprentices invited to apply for £500 bursary: Young people starting their careers in agricultural engineering are being invited to apply for a £500 Midlands Agricultural Engineering Apprenticeship Award. 

The award is run by the Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society (NNAS), in association with the Midlands Machinery Show, and provides a £500 bursary, paid in two instalments, to apprentices aged 17–25 to help with training and career development.

Agricultural engineering apprentices invited to apply for £500 bursary

Agricultural engineering apprentices invited to apply for £500 bursary

To qualify, applicants must be working for an agricultural engineering business, studying at an academic institution, and employed by a company exhibiting at this year’s Midlands Machinery Show.

William Vines from Chandlers Farm Equipment in Spilsby, Lincolnshire, was one successful applicant who was presented with his award in 2024. He said: “I applied for the award because I felt like it was a really good way to bring in new apprentices to the industry.

“The £500 is massively helpful. It’s expensive to buy tools nowadays, tools that you do need in order to do your job better and more efficiently. It’s definitely worthwhile getting involved and applying for the award.”

Simon Eccleston, Chief Executive of NNAS, said: “We’re very proud of our long-standing initiative which shines a spotlight on young engineers at the very start of their careers.

“Apprentices are vital to the future of agricultural engineering. They bring energy, fresh thinking and new skills into businesses at a time when machinery performance, efficiency and productivity has never been more important to businesses.

“This award not only gives them recognition, but also provides practical financial support to help them invest in tools, training or resources that will set them up for the long term.”

The winners will be announced at the Midlands Machinery Show on Wednesday 19 November 2025, when the event returns in a new one-day format at Newark Showground.

Application forms and full entry criteria are available at www.midlandsmachineryshow.com with the deadline for submissions set for Friday 10 October 2025.

Now in its eleventh year, the Midlands Machinery Show brings together a wide range of exhibitors and features everything from the latest tractors and machinery to agri-tech innovations, business services and live demonstrations.

Highlights of the 2025 show will include the NFU’s Conference, BASIS and NRoSO points, machinery and UTV test drives, plus a packed schedule of events in the demonstration ring and plenty of networking and social opportunities around the showground.

Entry to the show is free for visitors who register in advance at www.midlandsmachineryshow.com.

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Toro UK’s succesful first-ever dealer hub at GroundsFest

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Toro UK’s succesful first-ever dealer hub at GroundsFest: The launch of Toro U.K.’s Dealer Hub at GroundsFest 2025 – the UK’s largest groundscare festival – proved a roaring success. Placing groundscare dealers at the centre of their offering for this year’s edition, Toro’s dealer hub offered the opportunity to liaise with the full Toro team, including Sales, Marketing, Product Development and Engineering.

Over dealers from across the country – as well as other end-users and gardening professionals – were given the chance to discuss new product lines, investment and partnership opportunities across the UK. Visitors to the hub also got a first-ever look at the new range of Toro clothing.

Toro UK's succesful first-ever dealer hub at GroundsFest

Toro UK’s succesful first-ever dealer hub at GroundsFest

Craig Hoare, Sales and Marketing Manager at Toro U.K. Limited, had this to say about the event:

“We are immensely proud of all the hard work completed by our Toro U.K. staff, as well as incredibly grateful for another successful event organised by GroundsFest. This was our largest GroundsFest showcase ever, with over 80 products on display and a whole range of new Toro clothing – which was flying off the shelves from the moment the showground opened.”

Hayter®, holder of the Royal Warrant for Horticultural Equipment and brother brand of Toro U.K., saw similar success at the show – where the British legacy brand shared a stage with Toro®.

The latest iteration of their longstanding Harrier® 56 lawnmower was nominated for the Innovation Award, hosted by Technical Editor at Horticulture Week, Sally Drury, where the machine was awarded runner-up.

They also demonstrated upgrades to their rear rollers, their new 56 and 48 Harrier battery lawnmowers and the long-awaited groomer brush and side skirt attachments for their mowers – an accessory which has been in high demand by gardening professionals.

Hoare commented: “The buzz and atmosphere felt by both end-consumers and dealers was palpable and we can’t wait to march full steam ahead with our dealer partners, who we had the pleasure of speaking to at our first-ever Dealer Hub.”

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