Stay waterproof when gardening

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Stay waterproof when gardening: Now that we have come into the wetter and colder months we really need to be protecting ourselves and ensuring that we are comfortable when gardening.

Whether you are a seasoned gardener or just a beginner, it is important to wear the right, protective clothing and accessories for the job. Aquaproof’s quality waterproof accessories will provide warmth, comfort and durability for any gardening you require doing during autumn and winter.

Stay waterproof when gardening

Stay waterproof when gardening

Waterproof gloves: Waterproof gloves are an absolute necessity when it comes to gardening in autumn and winter. Stay comfortable and warm when winter gardening – they are also designed to offer excellent grip which is perfect for handling plants.

Waterproof socks: Socks aren’t something we necessarily think about, but once you have worn these waterproof socks you will know why they are so important when working in the garden. These waterproof socks are intended to be pushed to their limits as they are extremely durable and made to ensure not even a drop of water can get through!

Waterproof hats: If you get cold ears when working in your garden, it’s best to get a waterproof and thermal hat so you can work in your garden for longer. You will be well protected from the wind and rain in Aquaproof’s range of hats and they are extremely durable so you are able to wear them year after year.

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TYM tractor still making magic

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TYM tractor still making magic: Earlier this year Douglas and Alex Chalmers, Countryside’s TYM competition winners, compared the T194 tractor they won for the year to a fairytale: “It’s a bit like Goldilocks. Not too big, not too small, but just right.” And six months on, it’s still making magic.

Learning Fields, a not-for-profit centre of wellbeing based at Nag’s Head Farm in Cumbria, has not been operating this year, but that doesn’t mean the T194 tractor hasn’t been put to good use on the farm!

TYM tractor still making magic

TYM tractor still making magic

“We use the tractor around three times a week, and once it gets started up it doesn’t stay idle for long,” says Douglas, director of the business. “It’s been instrumental in getting jobs done around the farm and we would have really struggled without it.

“We’ve invested in pigs this year, and the T194 has made that possible,” he says. “Outdoor pigs need to be moved routinely so that they’re always on fresh ground, and we’ve been using the T194 to transport them and their hut around the farm. As you’d expect with pigs, it can get very muddy and at first I was unsure how the tractor would cope with that, but it’s had no issues with the tough conditions.

“It’s a massive improvement compared to the quad bikes we were previously using to transport equipment across the farm. All the tractor’s controls fall easily to either hand, and are light and easy to operate. Plus, it allows us to complete tasks that we just couldn’t do before. But the biggest bonus is definitely its size.”

Part of the TYM compact utility range, the T194 combines the practicality of a smaller tractor, weighing in at just 650kg, with enough power to pack a punch – thanks to its 19hp three cylinder Yanmar engine.

“As a smaller tractor, it gets jobs done without damaging or tearing the grass, which is a huge bonus” says Douglas. “But what is very impressive is its handling. We have smaller areas and narrow gates, and tight turning is important. The T194 can turn on half a sixpence, and can do so in wet conditions without damaging the soil. We cut a series of paths through our woodland to assist access for visitors, and I thought the tractor would manage some of these just leave a small area to strim – not at all, it zigged and zagged its way through all the narrow spaces between trees with no problems.”

With their 12 months with the tractor nearly over, it certainly has left an impression. “It saves time, labour and toil,” he says. “There were so many jobs we couldn’t do before, or that would need to be done by hand – but with the T194 I can get everything I want done, in a fraction of the time.”

He concludes: “When I next need to expand my equipment fleet, I wouldn’t hesitate to consider TYM. This past year, the T194 has had no issues and coped in a variety of conditions, which gave us complete confidence and peace of mind any time we started a job.”

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The boots who were made for working

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The boots who were made for working: AS JCB prepares to mark its 75th birthday tomorrow there’s one family with an extra reason to toast the milestone after notching up a staggering 600 years’ service to the company.

The Boot family started its long association with JCB in 1949 when Bill Boot clocked on for the first time at the company’s factory in Rocester, Staffordshire. In the years that followed, nine of ten of Bill and his wife Lucy’s children went on to work at JCB. In total 27 Boot family members – including nine grandsons and three great-grandsons have followed in Bill’s footsteps – registering a staggering 600 years’ combined service to JCB.

The boots who were made for working

The boots who were made for working

The milestone has just been reached as JCB prepares to mark its 75th anniversary on October 23rd – the day in 1945 that the late Joseph Cyril Bamford founded his business in a lock-up garage in the Staffordshire market town of Uttoxeter.

Today the late Bill Boot’s legacy continues as 11 members of his family still work at JCB – including five of his grandsons and three of his great-grandsons.

Bill’s son Bob, aged 81 and living in Cheadle, Staffordshire, started work in at JCB in 1956 on a temporary contract – and stayed for nearly 44 years. He said: “It is a company that has changed so much, but so many things have stayed the same.  It may have factories in all four corners of the world but it is still based on the values that started it up in Staffordshire 75 years ago.”

Bill’s grandson Gary Boot, of Uttoxeter, 58, of who retired in September, said his family were very proud of their JCB links. Gary, who started working for JCB in 1986, said: “I always wanted to join from an early age. My dad, Dereck, would come home and tell us stories of the company and Mr JCB and that sparked my interest. I’ve made so many great friends and have so many memories of the place. It is amazing to think of how many years’ service our family has put in – 600, it’s astonishing.”

Gary’s identical twin brothers Andy and Steven both work at the World HQ in Rocester.  Andy, 53, said: “I think how it is panned out over the generations has been brilliant. I joined in 1983 on a Youth Training Scheme and haven’t looked back from there.”

Steven, of Rocester, added: “Being identical twins makes it difficult for our colleagues, but to be honest, there are so many Boots I find it difficult to keep up myself on some occasions!”

The fourth generation of Boots working at JCB is made up of great-grandsons, brothers Shaun and Daniel Boot and their second cousin Leigh Boot. Shaun, of Denstone, who has worked for JCB for 20 years, said: “There is definitely something in the blood of the Boot family that makes us want to work at JCB.

“Knowing that dad, grandad and great grandad all worked here really does make me sit back and think. I’m really not sure what our family would have done for a living if it wasn’t for JCB. I have a   six-year-old daughter and my brother Daniel has a six-year-old son. So, you never know, I wouldn’t be surprised if they decide to follow in the family tradition.”

Bill Boot and his wife Lucy – who worked in the JCB canteen – had nine sons and a daughter and nine of the children –  Tony, Dereck (correct), Ken, Bob, Bill, Dennis, Les, Ron and Ruby – went on to work at JCB followed by grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

JCB was founded on the same day as JCB’s Chairman Anthony Bamford, now Lord Bamford, was born. The company’s first product was a hydraulic tipping trailer made out of war time scrap. Today the company manufactures more than 300 different machines, including the world’s first electric mini excavator. JCB has 22 factories around the world, 11 in the UK and others in India, the USA, Brazil and China.

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Daneshill School appoints Kestrel Contractors

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Daneshill School appoints Kestrel Contractors: Kestrel Contracts, an accomplished provider of natural and artificial sports pitches, has been appointed by Daneshill School to build a range of new sporting facilities.

These include a large new Multi Use Games Area (MUGA), a new 5-a-side grass football pitch and the renovation of an existing MUGA. In addition, Kestrel will be designing and building a new cricket pitch for use next year and developing the school’s tennis courts.

Daneshill School appoints Kestrel Contractors

Daneshill School appoints Kestrel Contractors

Hampshire-based Daneshill School, which is owned by the Duke of Wellington, awarded the contract to local firm Kestrel after a comprehensive and competitive tender process. Work started with Kestrel surveying the relevant sites in conjunction with the architects to plan and design the pitches’ location and orientation. Once those stages were complete all necessary levelling, stabilisation and excavation were carried out under the close direction of Kestrel’s on-site management.

Commenting on Kestrel’s contract win, Bryony Ellison, bursar at Daneshill, said; “Daneshill provides an intensive programme of sport for all pupils enabling each child to learn new skills while keeping them fit, active, healthy and happy, no matter what their level of sporting ability is. With sports as diverse as football, lacrosse, rugby, hockey, tennis, rounders and gymnastics being taught, the school’s sporting facilities must be flexible, durable and of the highest quality. It is on these facilities that Daneshill’s teams compete at area, county and even national levels”

Lord Mornington of Stratfield Saye, added, “I am delighted with the work undertaken by Kestrel so far. They renovated our old pitch very quickly to provide an all-weather surface ready for the start of the new term. In addition, the school children loved watching all the machinery from the viewing platform that Kestrel erected, and I am looking forward to trying out our wonderful new pitch.”

Chris Hyde, Director of Kestrel Contracts Ltd, commented “Kestrel has been providing top class sports facilities for all outdoor games including football, rugby, tennis, hockey, cricket, bowls and even equestrian events for over a quarter of a century. Over those years the company has adapted to changing market conditions and customer requirements by keeping our expertise, experience, know-how and a wide range of specialist equipment within Kestrel. That is one of the secrets of our success.”

“However, what really sets us apart from other sports facilities providers is that we are passionate about sport.  We understand just how exciting, rewarding and enjoyable sport can be and how it can help to build confidence and teamwork from an early age. We are relishing the opportunity that we have been given by Daneshill School and we look forward to working with the school to provide some of the best sporting facilities in the area”, concluded Chris.

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Built on and thriving on Mansfield Sand

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Built on and thriving on Mansfield Sand: In 2009 the Colt Course at Close House Hotel and Golf Resort in Newcastle Upon Tyne was constructed with a sand soil rootzone from Mansfield Sand. Brian Clark, Golf Course & Estates Manager, has continued to use the company’s sand-based products ever since.

The championship length course, designed by lead architect Scott Macpherson of TurnerMacpherson Golf Design, measures more than 7,000 yards. This prestigious course is also endorsed by renowned golfer Lee Westwood and was a proud venue for the 2017 and 2020 British Masters.

Built on and thriving on Mansfield Sand

Built on and thriving on Mansfield Sand

Work began on the Colt Course in April 2009 and was completed by October.  The extensive contract, carried out by MJ Abbott, included earthworks, shaping of the course, the construction of greens, tees, bunkers and lakes, the renovation of historic lakes, installation of a primary drainage system, the design and installation of a fully-automated irrigation system, cultivation, seeding and landscaping.

An essential component of the construction was a sand soil rootzone from Mansfield Sand. Preparing a surface for the rigours of professional sport requires huge amounts of knowledge and dedication. At Mansfield Sand, the company understands exactly what is needed and it is for this reason that its rootzones contain only the highest quality materials to meet that demand.

The 80/20 rootzone was blended with Mansfield’s MM35 Golf silica sand and a quality screened topsoil. This product was pre-mixed and ready for Brian and the contractors to apply straight directly from delivery.

“It was the first time we had used a product from Mansfield Sand, and I was really impressed,” said Brian. “From the quality of the product to the great customer service – it ticked all the boxes and we’ve continued to purchase from Mansfield Sand since construction works.”

Built on and thriving on Mansfield Sand

Built on and thriving on Mansfield Sand

For the past eleven years Brian has been using Mansfield’s MM35 Golf pure silica sand for top dressing his greens which brings a number of benefits such as improved recovery, firmness, smoothness and an improved rootzone. MM35 Golf also makes for a great bunker sand as it has fantastic playing characteristics as well as being aesthetically attractive.

Sourced directly from the company’s Two Oaks Quarry in Mansfield, the Mansil Silica products are predominantly used in the construction and maintenance of a wide range of sports surfaces – from winter sports pitches, golf courses, bowling greens and all amenity turf areas.

“There is a reason that we have been choosing to use Mansfield Sand for the past eleven years,” continued Brian. “The products play an integral part in the health and playability of the course and this is backed up by a fantastic fast-delivery service.”

For more information visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk

You can also follow the company on Twitter – @MansfieldSand and Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MansfieldSandSportSurfaces/

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