GKB SPM400 powers productivity for Premier Turfing Ltd

GKB SPM400 powers productivity for Premier Turfing Ltd

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GKB SPM400 powers productivity for Premier Turfing Ltd

For contractors working in demanding environments and, often, to tight schedules, machinery needs to be robust and reliable to deliver day-in, day-out. That’s why many, like Lincolnshire’s Premier Turfing Ltd, rely on GKB Machines. Owner Ian Mawer has recently added to his fleet with the purchase of an SPM400 topdresser, joining a GKB Sandfiller, Combinator and DrainMaster already delivering dependability for a demanding workload.

GKB SPM400 powers productivity for Premier Turfing Ltd

GKB SPM400 powers productivity for Premier Turfing Ltd

Founded over 15 years ago, Premier Turfing Ltd has established a reputation as a leading sports turf contractor – delivering construction, renovation and maintenance services on winter sports pitches, cricket outfields, racecourses and golf courses throughout the UK and Europe. Supporting a 16-strong team that works across Premier Turfing Ltd and the recently launched sister company, Premier Golf Ltd (formerly John Greasley Golf), owns & operates a vast and varied fleet of equipment.

“The GKB build quality is something that really stands out to us as contractors, and that reliability and efficiency is something we’ve become accustomed to” explains Ian. “When we were looking for a high productivity and large capacity dresser for big projects and those in our peak busy period, I knew straight away where to look.”

Ian stopped by the GKB Machines stand at SALTEX 2025, where he discussed the options available with longstanding contact Tom Shinkins. “There’s no nonsense with Tom, he knew exactly what we were after and his recommendation of the SPM400 has, so far, ticked every box.”

At 4m3 (level hopper load), the SPM400 offers not only GKB’s largest hopper capacities, but one of the largest available in the market. Part of the Sandspreader range, the SPM features an additional material handler for the convenient filling of bunkers and drainage machine hoppers. “For a relatively small additional investment, we’ve infinitely increased the versatility of this machine. Not only will it be used to spread sand on end of season football or rugby renovations, we’ll also use it for drainage projects and in conjunction with the GKB DrainMaster where we can now quickly and easily top up the hopper.”

In a few short weeks since its delivery, the SPM has made a solid first impression. “The team said it was great – super easy to set up, with a really good spread pattern. They loved it!” With a busy renovation season just around the corner, Ian firmly believes the machine is set to become a key weapon in their armoury. “We’re looking forward to exploring the full potential of it and reaping the rewards of its larger size helping us to get jobs done both more effectively and more efficiently.”

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Golf It! and Toro make golf more accessible

Golf It! and Toro make golf more accessible

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Golf It! and Toro make golf more accessible

Community-focused golf facility Golf It! in Scotland has reinforced its long-standing relationship with The Toro Company following a recent investment in two Vista passenger vehicles and further enhancing its commitment to accessibility and inclusion.

Golf It! and Toro make golf more accessible

Golf It! and Toro make golf more accessible

The newly acquired Vista vehicles will play a key role in the facility’s Golfers with a Disability Programme, enabling groups of disabled, blind and partially sighted golfers to navigate the course comfortably alongside a coach.

“These vehicles play a vital role in allowing us to open up accessibility,” says Alyson McKechin, Head of Golf It!. “They are easy to access, comfortable and allow us to deliver a more inclusive experience. Our aim is to open up opportunities for fresh air, exercise and improvements in both physical and mental wellbeing, while also building confidence among participants.”

The greenkeeping team at Golf It! in Glasgow has relied on Toro machinery to maintain the nine-hole course to a high standard since it opened in August 2023. The decision to invest further in Toro equipment was a natural progression, particularly considering the company’s ongoing support of a successful apprenticeship greenkeeper programme at the venue.

The partnership with Toro has supported the development of future talent through apprenticeships. Four individuals have successfully completed the programme, including Lucy Millar, who has since secured a full-time role at St Andrews Links Trust.

“Toro’s support goes beyond machinery,” Alyson confirms. “Its investment in people through apprenticeships has made a real difference. Continuing this relationship was an easy decision for us.”

In the last three years Golf It! has exceeded expectations welcoming more than 200,000 visitors through its doors. The facility has successfully connected with the local community, particularly families and children.

“At Golf It!, inclusivity is at the heart of everything we do,” Alyson continues. “We’ve worked hard to remove barriers to entry — there’s no membership requirement, and visitors can simply pay to play or load credit onto an account to access all the facilities.”

This accessible approach has contributed to 43 percent of users being beginners, highlighting the venue’s success in introducing new audiences to the sport. Its schools’ programme has delivered golf experiences to over 20,000 pupils, while recent research estimates its social value at £20.8 million in 2025, underlining its impact on community wellbeing and engagement.

As Golf It! looks ahead, its focus remains on expanding access, fostering inclusivity and continuing to build meaningful partnerships that benefit both the game of golf and the wider community.

It is something Toro and its distributor, Reesink Scotland, consider a great honour to be involved in, says Ross Neil, who arranged delivery of the machines. “It’s hard to put into words the value these vehicles will bring to members of the Golfers with a Disability Programme’s community — they just needed a way to access the sport, and now they have it.”

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GreenBest Launches the SmartLawn ProCast 20 Rotary Spreader

GreenBest Launches the SmartLawn ProCast 20 Rotary Spreader

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GreenBest Launches the SmartLawn ProCast 20 Rotary Spreader

GreenBest has announced the launch of the SmartLawn ProCast 20, the company’s first pedestrian rotary spreader developed specifically for professional lawn care operators.

GreenBest Launches the SmartLawn ProCast 20 Rotary Spreader

GreenBest Launches the SmartLawn ProCast 20 Rotary Spreader

Designed for the accurate and efficient application of granular fertilisers, seed, and other granular products, the ProCast 20 expands the SmartLawn range beyond fertilisers and seed, providing contractors with a professional-grade spreader built for day-to-day commercial use.

The SmartLawn ProCast 20 features a 20 kg hopper capacity, precision flow control system, directional spread control, and a heavy-duty chassis designed to withstand regular transport and operation. The spreader has been developed to help operators improve application consistency, reduce product waste, and increase efficiency on larger jobs.

To support customers from day one, GreenBest has also worked closely with the manufacturer to provide full-rate and half-rate spreader settings for all SmartLawn granular fertilisers. These settings are available on product labels, within the SmartLawn product guide, and online via the SmartLawn Spreader Settings page.

Early feedback from customers has also highlighted the spreader’s ease of use, build quality, and value for money.

“From using the spreader, it offers great value for money. It has numerous adjustments, even a side-only option. The construction seems durable, and it takes a good amount of material. The adjustment allows good spread of grass seed too. The push height is good even for me being 6’2. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a reliable machine which is easy to set up.” — Adam Martin, Adam Martin Gardens

Commenting on the launch, James Whittick, Commercial Manager at GreenBest said:

“The SmartLawn ProCast 20 has been developed with professional lawn care operators in mind. Accuracy and consistency are critical when applying granular products, and this spreader gives users greater control while maintaining efficiency across a range of applications.”

The ProCast 20 requires minimal assembly and includes a full user manual, with replacement parts available through the GreenBest sales office.

The launch follows continued expansion of the SmartLawn range, including the introduction of SmartLawn FreshStart Lawn Seed and a hand-held fertiliser spreader in 2025.

For more information about GreenBest’s international expansion or to discuss partnership opportunities, please contact sales@greenbest.co.uk or visit www.greenbest.co.uk.

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Mansfield Sand at the heart of Teeton’s arena

Mansfield Sand at the heart of Teeton’s arena

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Mansfield Sand at the heart of Teeton’s arena

For International show jumping trainer Dan Delsart, the quality of the surface beneath his horses isn’t just a detail – it’s a foundation.

Mansfield Sand at the heart of Teeton’s arena

Mansfield Sand at the heart of Teeton’s arena

Based in North Northamptonshire, Dan has created a bespoke arena at Teeton Valley Stables using carefully selected materials from Mansfield Sand, helping him deliver a surface that prioritises both performance and horse welfare.

Dan has spent nearly 20 years building his career in the UK after originally coming over from France to train and develop his skills. Today, his arena reflects both his European experience and his commitment to creating a surface as close to natural grass as possible.

“We built the facilities ourselves and we built the arena,” Dan explains. “I wanted to recreate as natural a surface as we could.”

Having competed and trained across France, Belgium, Holland, Spain and the UK, Dan had seen a wide variety of surfaces and knew exactly what he wanted when it came to his own.

“I wanted a good sand which drains, and a sand which can hold a bit of moisture, so it doesn’t dry too quickly and go dusty,” he says. “And with adding up some quality fibres we were able to recreate a bit of a root like grass.”

That approach led him to work with Mansfield Sand, combining their materials with fibres from Combi-Ride to create a hybrid surface designed for performance and durability.

The result is a surface that balances freedom of movement with support, helping reduce the risk of injury while maintaining consistent rideability.

Since the arena was completed in August 2022, Dan has been impressed by how well it performs under daily use.

“We have a lot of horses here; about 15 to 20 a day,” he says. “Some days we might not pass the leveller for two or three days because the arena still looks really good.”

Maintenance still plays a key role, but the surface’s consistency makes day-to-day management straightforward.

Mansfield Sand at the heart of Teeton’s arena

Mansfield Sand at the heart of Teeton’s arena

“You’ve got to read the arena,” Dan adds. “If a jump starts to feel a bit loose, just pass the tractor over it, give it a bit of water if you need to. It’s just maintenance and looking after your horses in the long term.”

That long-term focus is exactly what makes the surface so important to Dan. For him, it’s about protecting horses and supporting natural biomechanics.

“The arena is so good, the surface is so natural under the horse’s hoof,” he explains. “That’s really important; to not have that impact and blockage of movement when the horses land.”

His confidence in the system has already led to recommendations across his network, from fellow professionals to veterinary practices.

“I’ve recommended it to so many people,” Dan says. “Even vets have come here and said how good the surface is.”

With the combination of Mansfield Sand’s high-quality materials and Combi-Ride’s expertise, Dan believes he’s found the ideal solution; one that supports both performance and welfare.

“If I had to build another 20 arenas, I’d do exactly the same,” he adds.

For more information, visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk, follow them on X at @MansfieldSand, or connect on Facebook and Instagram at Mansfield Sand Sport Surfaces.

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Raising standards at Haileybury with Kress robotic mowers

Raising standards at Haileybury with Kress robotic mowers

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Raising standards at Haileybury with Kress robotic mowers

At Haileybury School in Hertfordshire, Kress robotic mowers are playing a key role in helping the grounds team maintain consistently high standards across a 500-acre estate. For Head of Grounds and Gardens Andy Richards, the technology has become an important part of a wider strategy to manage a busy, high-pressure site more efficiently.

Raising standards at Haileybury with Kress robotic mowers

Raising standards at Haileybury with Kress robotic mowers

Set within a co-educational boarding and day school environment, the grounds are in near constant use.

“We’re a 365-day school,” says Andy. “We’ve got students, lettings, tournaments and events throughout the year, so the pressure on the grounds never really stops.”

With 17 winter sports pitches, cricket facilities and extensive amenity areas, the demands are relentless, particularly on heavy London clay soils.

“It’s probably the most unforgiving soil you could have,” he explains. “It holds water in the winter and then dries and cracks in the summer. The weather just adds to that pressure.”

Haileybury’s journey into robotic mowing was not immediate. Like many in the industry, Andy initially viewed the technology with curiosity rather than intent.

“We were aware of robotics and where the industry was going, but at first we couldn’t really see where it would fit for us.”

That changed when noise became an issue on the main school quad.

“It’s a high-profile area right in the centre of the school, but we had complaints during exam periods because of loud mowing. We needed a solution that could work quietly and out of hours.”

Early trials with other systems fell short.

“We tried a few other brands, but the finish wasn’t good enough and the mowing patterns were too random,” Andy says. “It didn’t give us the quality we were looking for.”

A demonstration from Kress changed everything.

“The Kress demo was a game changer. To see a mower cutting in straight lines and producing a proper striped finish was completely different. Everyone was blown away by it.”

Unlike most robotic systems, Kress machines use satellite-guided navigation combined with their own RTK network, removing the need for on-site antennas. This ensures the aesthetic of historic grounds remains uncompromised, while enabling operation without line of sight and even under tree cover. The result is greater flexibility in the areas that can be maintained, with fewer operational limitations.

That flexibility has proved invaluable across the estate.

Raising standards at Haileybury with Kress robotic mowers

Raising standards at Haileybury with Kress robotic mowers

“We’ve got a range of Kress robots now and they’re an integral part of our toolkit,” Andy explains. “We use them where they fit best and move them around the site depending on demand.”

On the main quad, the robots deliver consistent presentation throughout the week, while on sports surfaces, they have opened up new possibilities during difficult conditions.

“This winter was so wet we couldn’t get machinery onto some of the outfields,” he says. “But the Kress robots kept working. We’ve been able to bring cutting heights down gradually and get surfaces ready for play when we otherwise couldn’t.”

able improvements has been the consistency of cut and overall turf health. Because the machines operate continuously with sharp blades and follow structured mowing patterns, the finish is more uniform and the sward responds well.

“You get a much cleaner cut,” Andy says. “And because it’s cutting all the time, it helps with things like worm casts. It’s massively reduced the impact without any chemical control.”

For Andy and his team, the biggest benefit is not just time saved, but how that time is reinvested into other work.

“It gives us more flexibility,” he explains. “We can spend longer on the key areas like cricket pitches or first team surfaces, while the robots keep everything else in top condition.”

With pupils, staff and visitors on site seven days a week, presentation is a constant priority.

“The place has got to look its best every day,” Andy says.

For him, robotic mowing is now firmly embedded in how the site is managed.

“Without hesitation, I’d recommend Kress,” he adds. “You can walk around any site and see where a Kress robot would make a difference. It’s helped us raise standards everywhere.”

For more information, please visit https://www.kress.com/en-gb/

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