New GreenMech chipper impresses new Course Manager

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New GreenMech chipper impresses new Course Manager: 2024 saw a number of new additions to the team at Ashridge Golf Club. Together with a new Course Manager in the form of George Little, just two months later was the arrival of a ChipMaster 220 TMP (CM220TMP) woodchipper from GreenMech.

Purchased to keep on top of routine woodland maintenance, it’s delivery in September was incredibly timely as – set among thousands of acres of National Trust-owned woodland – the team braced for the impacts of a wet and blustery winter season.

New GreenMech chipper impresses new Course Manager

New GreenMech chipper impresses new Course Manager

Heading up a team of 10, George joined Ashridge in July following seven years spent at the nearby Dunstable Downs Golf Club. One of the main responsibilities of his new role was to take charge of the heavy woodland, lending itself to the popular tree-lined 18-hole course. “The team would be keeping on top of routine pruning and general removal of old or unsightly branches but, without our own chipper, would stack these up in piles awaiting the availability of a hire machine” George explains. “To stop these backlogs the club decided to invest in our own woodchipper and opted for the CM220TMP from GreenMech.”

Promising maximum chipping output with minimal investment, the CM220TMP is driven by the PTO shaft and uses its own hydraulic oil to power the rollers. It combines a large 9” capacity with a small, light footprint – something that’s incredibly important for George. “We’re always conscious of avoiding traffic on particularly sensitive areas, so rather than loading brash and timber into trailers and transporting it, we can now take the GreenMech to the exact location and chip. Reducing the risk of damage, it also speeds up the process by 300%.”

“We knew the machine would be helpful, but in a few short months we’ve used it a lot more than we thought we would to the point that I’d go as far as to say we now couldn’t live without it!” Alongside routine pruning of the boundaries, which George says it’s been brilliant for, the CM220TMP also came to the rescue of a number of silver birch that fell victim to the winter storms. “Again, we had the ability to hook up the chipper and take it exactly where it was needed, to quickly and easily deal with the damage.”

“It has definitely impressed us and has undoubtedly brought improved productivity to our woodland work.” He adds, “We’ve also had a good experience with dealers Avant South East Limited and GreenMech’s Neal Hussey who delivered a thorough induction and has been on hand to help us with any questions. It’s, overall, been a very positive addition to the fleet.”

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Lantra Announces Appointment of Next CEO

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Lantra Announces Appointment of Next CEO: Lantra is pleased to announce the appointment of Nick Juba as its new CEO. Nick will be joining the business in June.

Nick joins Lantra with a wealth of experience as a Director, Chief Executive and Non-Executive Director.  Starting his career at the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority before progressing to become a consultant to the European Commission. Nick then worked in the Higher Education sector, leading the University of the Arts Awarding Body where he drove a successful growth strategy.

Lantra Announces Appointment of Next CEO

Lantra Announces Appointment of Next CEO

He then held Chief Executive positions in Further Education, before moving to his current post at Capita Group Plc where he has been Director of Learning since 2020 overseeing the delivery of all shore-based education and training for the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines.

Chair of the Lantra Board of Trustees, Dr David Llewellyn, said:

“We are delighted that Nick Juba will be joining Lantra at an exciting time for the organisation.  Nick will bring a wealth of experience in skills development and training, from the world of education and latterly, from a commercial environment, leading the delivery of education and training across the entire Royal Navy and the Royal Marines”.

“Lantra is working hard to support skills development and training in the land-based and environment sector, and to invest in activities that will help policy makers recognise the vital role that these industries play in the national economy.  We are certain that Nick will play an important part in these activities as well as in Lantra’s wider connections with the land-based industries across the UK”.

“We would also like to pay tribute to our current CEO, Marcus Potter, who will be retiring later this year when Nick takes on his new post.  Marcus has made an enormous contribution to Lantra, and our partners, over the last decade and we wish him all the very best in his forthcoming retirement”.

Commenting on his appointment, Nick said: “I have spent the last 25 years working to improve outcomes for learners across further, higher and technical education and I care passionately about the role skills play in supporting individuals, communities and businesses to achieve their goals.

“I am both excited and humbled by the opportunity to join Lantra and to support the land-based and environment sectors to flourish in a time of policy, environmental and technological change.

“I hope to meet as many of you as possible in my first few months in post and to work in partnership to deliver the skills we need for the success of our local, regional and national economies”.

Lantra continues to work proactively with the land-based and environment sector to ensure that skills needs are met through the development of high-quality training and qualifications.

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Makita’s latest launch scrubs up well

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Makita’s latest launch scrubs up well: Makita has expanded its range of 40VMax XGT cleaning products with the launch of the high-performance PS001G Scrubber Polisher.

A versatile option, by changing the brush or pad attachment, it can undertake a variety of tasks in a range of interior and exterior applications, including cleaning dirt and removing stains, as well as polishing wax on floors.

Makita's latest launch scrubs up well

Makita’s latest launch scrubs up well

The cordless PS001G Scrubber Polisher is ideal for both inside and outdoors as it is IPX4-rated for splash protection. It can be used for hard floor coverings that require deep cleaning and polishing such as tile, marble or concrete, and across a wide range of settings including schools, hospitals, warehouses, shopping centres, and courtyards.

Users will benefit from its lightweight construction, which makes it easy to manoeuvre. For hard-to-reach areas such as walls or tiled floor joints, the splash guard can be removed for closer access. The handle can also be adjusted up to 354mm and the comfortable grip ensures the PS001G can be used over prolonged periods. A handy built-in job light allows users to see clearly in areas where visibility is restricted, helping to ensure all areas are cleaned.

The scrubber is also designed with reverse rotation, which allows for different brushes and cleaning pads to be fitted and removed without the use of additional tools or the need for the operator to touch the cleaning accessory with their hands. Whether performing a deep clean or a light buff, there are a range of floor pads and brushes available to cater for all cleaning and polishing requirements.

Powered by one Makita 40VMax XGT battery, the PS001G can provide up to 140 minutes of use. A soft start feature brings the machine up to power in a gentle increase and three speed options (low, medium, and high) allow users to match speed to application with constant speed control to ensure stable operation. Finally, it has been designed with a brushless motor, which means less friction, translating into more power, performance, and runtime as well as offering the additional advantage that replacement brushes are not needed.

Andrew Farrell, Key Account Manager – Special Projects at Makita, said: “Cleaning contractors and facilities management teams should find that the PS001G Scrubber Polisher makes an excellent addition to their range of equipment, helping to improve productivity and the quality of cleaning. The machine is powerful, versatile and designed to be comfortable and easy to use, making it an ideal option for a wide range of premises.”

To find out more about Makita and its products visit: www.makitauk.com.

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Germinal launches new Climate Smart ‘A Range’

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Germinal launches new Climate Smart ‘A Range’: Germinal Amenity – a market leader in the development and supply of specialist seed products for the amenity sector – has launched a new range of Climate Smart seed products specially formulated for landscape projects, architecture, golf and sports turf applications. 

This new range – called the ‘A Range’ from Germinal – places sustainability centre stage to meet the full breadth of requirements of landscape architects and turf professionals. The new range combines trusted performance grasses with new, resilient clovers and nature-positive wildflower mixes that support the transition to greater sustainability in landscape projects, amenity grass and sports turf management.

Germinal launches new Climate Smart ‘A Range’

Germinal launches new Climate Smart ‘A Range’

The A Range includes four new Climate Smart seed products that incorporate cutting-edge innovations in plant varietal development from Germinal’s R&D division, Germinal Horizon. These include DoubleRoot, a hybrid clover that produces both stolons and underground rooting stems called rhizomes. DoubleRoot fixes free atmospheric nitrogen for companion grasses, can withstand extremes of temperature and drought, and holds up under mowing. DoubleRoot combines low-maintenance with significant environmental benefits.

The new Climate Smart A Range products are:

ASustain – a low maintenance, self-sustaining grass seed mixture that contains the DoubleRoot hybrid clover providing a sustainable surface for landscape projects, solar farms, domestic lawns, road verges and green roofs.

A18 Road Verge & Embankments – especially developed for road verges and embankments which includes resilient grass varieties and DoubleRoot; this mixture revitalises grassed areas and enhances both wildlife habitats and soil health.

A35 Sandy Soils – a hybrid mixture of grasses, selected herbs and wildflowers formulated for road verges on sandy soils to deliver exceptional environmental performance.

A36 Loamy & Clay Soils – a versatile mixture for more productive loamy and clay soils that combines durable grasses, herbs, and wildflowers to deliver exceptional biodiversity and sustainability for a range of amenity areas.

Commenting, Richard Brown, Germinal Amenity Director UK & Ireland, said:

“The challenges around how we achieve Net Zero and adapt to changing climatic conditions has brought environmental sustainability into sharp focus. It has become a key concern for landscape architects, greenkeepers and the wider turf community.  Designers and grounds keepers are looking at how we use scarce resources such as water, and how we can lower or even eliminate the need for fertilisers and pesticides, and support greater biodiversity in our turf management. The plants we grow also need to be resilient in the face of a changing climate.

“The A Range has been developed with sustainability at its core, but without sacrificing performance. It includes tried and trusted mixes together with our new Climate Smart products in new formulations that incorporate significant innovation.

“We are also backing the breadth and innovation at the heart of the A Range with experienced technical advice and information resources available directly from our Ireland and GB sales teams and online through the Germinal Knowledge Hub.”

The A Range includes the full range of Germinal’s trusted and proven seed products for all landscape, golf and sports turf applications including ForeFront Greens, AberMajesty Blend, A5 Golf Tees and Tour Leader.

The A Range also offers Germinal’s pollinator-friendly wildflower products, including True Meadow. These mixtures have been formulated for a wide range of developed areas and natural habitats. They also include Regional Environmental (RE) mixtures which meet the requirements of government-sponsored biodiversity schemes in the UK.

The new A Range catalogues from Germinal offers a guide to this unique range of grass, clover and wildflora amenity seed products and are available at germinalamenity.com.

Celebrating 200 Years of Innovation

In 2025, Germinal, Germinal Amenity and their parent group, Openfolde, celebrate 200 years of operations as family-owned businesses. Their mission is to support farming and the amenity sector with innovative products that are developed with a passion for science, research, technical advice and the considerable time needed to develop high performing plant varieties that meet their customers’ requirements for performance and sustainability.

Germinal is a market leader in developing and supplying seeds and climate smart seed mixtures in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and New Zealand. Its R&D division – Germinal Horizon – develops plant varieties in collaboration with the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth University and at its field trials centre in Wiltshire.

Germinal is also a lead partner in Project NUE-Leg, the UK government-funded multi-partner and multi-location project that seeks to maximise the nitrogen-fixing potential of legumes to reduce emissions in grassland farming, and reduce the need for bought-in nitrogen fertilisers.

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Green-tech Shortlisted in Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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Green-tech Shortlisted in Pro Landscaper Business Awards: Green-tech, the UK’s leading supplier of landscaping and forestry products, is delighted to announce that it has been shortlisted in the prestigious Pro Landscaper Business Awards 2025.

Green-tech has been recognised in the highly competitive ‘Supplier and Service Provider of the Year’ category, which highlights the company’s continued commitment to excellence within the industry.

Green-tech Shortlisted in Pro Landscaper Business Awards

Green-tech Shortlisted in Pro Landscaper Business Awards

The Pro Landscaper Business Awards have firmly established themselves as the leading industry awards, celebrating the business successes of organisations driving excellence within the UK’s landscaping sector. Now in its eighth year, the awards continue to set the benchmark for industry achievement, attracting a record number of high-calibre entries. Green-tech’s inclusion on this year’s shortlist reflects its outstanding performance and dedication to delivering exceptional products and services.

A judging panel of industry professionals will review Green-tech’s submission alongside the other shortlisted entries, and the winner will be announced at a celebratory awards ceremony on Friday, April 25th, 2025.

Kris Nellist, Green-tech’s Managing Director, declares, “I am incredibly proud to be shortlisted for this award. Green-tech is committed to providing exceptional products and services to the landscaping industry, and this recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team. We look forward to the awards ceremony and celebrating the achievements of all the finalists.”

To achieve this shortlisting, Green-tech demonstrated excellence across key criteria, including financial stability, a commitment to staff training and development, innovation within its product range, outstanding customer satisfaction, and strong sustainability practices. The company’s dedication to environmental responsibility and continued investment in industry-leading solutions reinforce its position as a trusted and influential supplier.

Green-tech’s extensive product range supports professionals across the industry, offering solutions for tree planting, urban landscaping, ground reinforcement, soil and growing media, erosion control, biodiversity and beyond.

Green-tech congratulates all the other shortlisted companies and looks forward to an exciting awards event.

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