Green set on fire by vandals

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Green set on fire by vandals: A golf club has been left in dismay after being the victim of “pure vandalism” in the midst of the coronavirus lockdown.

Thousands of pounds of damage was caused to various elements of the course at Knighton Heath Golf Club in Bournemouth.

The spate of damage across the 90-acre site, which sits beside Canford Heath, included areas on two greens being set alight.

Various tee signs, 150-yard markers, ball washers and trees were also destroyed, broken, uprooted or stolen by vandals.

Reunert Bauser, Knighton Heath Golf Club general manager, told the Daily Echo: “We have a couple of groups of members who patrol our course.

“They left on the Friday evening at 8pm and all the signs were fine. When we arrived the next morning six of the signs had been damaged beyond repair.

“It was just pure vandalism that happened and it is depressing.

“We also had two of the greens targeted by someone who poured a flammable substance over them and set them alight.

“The signs had been up for around five years and nothing had ever happened to them before. It took us a long time and a big cost to put them up in the first place. They cost around £600 each.”

During the coronavirus lockdown, the club has had to manage its resources carefully. As of yesterday the site had reopened following the slight easing of lockdown restrictions imposed by the government.

Mr Bauser said the vandalism had created an additional financial burden and an unexpected cost to address.

“The greenkeeper was not happy,” he added. “Greens cost a lot of money to put in and manage.

“You have people trying to set the greens alight and you are left with no idea why they are doing this.

“It is disheartening for the greenkeeper as he puts a lot of work into the course. It is taking shape and it is one of the better courses around at the moment.

“To fix the greens will mostly take time.”

The golf club has reported the damage to Dorset Police and officers are investigating.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “We received a report at 6.05pm on Saturday 2 May 2020 of criminal damage at the Knighton Heath Golf Club.

“It was reported that the damage had been caused sometime between 3pm on Friday, May 1, and 11am on Saturday. May 2, with posts and yard markers ripped out of the ground. Enquiries have been carried out into the incident but no arrests have been made.”

Anyone with information relating to the vandalism, should contact police on 101 quoting reference number 55200062020.

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New irrigation controller from Rain Bird

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New irrigation controller from Rain Bird: Rain Bird has introduced the new smart ESP- LXIVM two wire irrigation controller with a smart solenoid Integrated Valve Module (IVM).

This innovation represents a major step forward in landscape and sports turf irrigation control through real-time communication and providing the user with immediate feedback and diagnostics as well as highly reliabile, closely controlled irrigation.

New irrigation controller from Rain Bird

New irrigation controller from Rain Bird

Installers and their customers can take advantage of ESP-LXIVM’s powerful features including the fact that the controller and the irrigation valve speak the same language. It can be used for a spectrum of irrigation control application from landscaped housing developments, schools and sports training grounds to public parks and larger industrial or commercial sites.The Standard version has a 60 station capability whilst the Pro offers 240 stations which can be split across 10 flow zones.16 stations can be run simultaneously and up to 40 irrigation programs can be set.

With the integrated IVM-SOL control station the need for a decoder is eliminated and 50% fewer connectors are required in the field. This means simplified installation, saving time and money, as well as lowering future maintenance requirements and potential field repairs.

The ESP- LXIVM can communicate wirelessly and be used in conjunction with the Rain Bird’s IQ Platform, including the new IQ4 100% browser based irrigation management system. This gives users convenient remote internet control from a smartphone, tablet or desktop PC. The controller’s display panel has a simple user interface with a large backlit screen, an easy to operate programming dial and additional buttons for extra functions. In conjunction with the real-time diagnostics feature, users can access historical electrical data and other operational information through the screen and react quickly to any potential problems in the field.

The controller’s IVM-SEN interface allows real-time flow management tools such as Rain Bird’s FloWatch and FlowManager to be employed and guard against high or low flow conditions. Water can also be conserved and total watering times reduced by interfacing with weather sensors.

For more information, contact Peter Longman, Northern Landscape Area Manager, Rain Bird Europe. plongman@rainbird.eu  www.rainbird.eu

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Headland help to level the playing field

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Headland help to level the playing field: The 14 hectares of natural sports surfaces at Dauntsey’s School in Devizes are a tale of two halves. The main playing fields are located on a natural greensand belt, creating an acidic soil profile with a pH level below six.

Meanwhile, the remainder of the site is on a relatively heavy clay loam with pH levels above seven. Trying to level the field is Head Groundsman Dale Gleed who, together with Headland Amenity, has formulated a programme to optimise plant health and unlock the potential for better growth.

Headland help to level the playing field

Headland help to level the playing field

When Dale joined the school in October 2017, it quickly became evident that the sports facilities were formed on two different soil types, but this was further highlighted during the drought of summer 2018. “This illustrated the stark contrast in growing conditions with the greensand side supporting strong, but not sustained, growth and the other areas which were very hard and dry, were virtually dead” he explains. “Adi Masters of Headland Amenity conducted some soil analysis and we constructed a programme around raising pH levels on the greensand areas to better support the establishment and growth of ryegrass.”

Dale has been applying CalciComplex® organic soil amendment twice a year, once in the spring and again in the autumn. Through the inclusion of dolomitic limestone, CalciComplex® can gently raise soil pH and provide additional nutrients in acidic profiles. “We used CalciComplex® on around 4.5 hectares of the turf and with regular testing we have begun to see an incremental increase in the pH level. This, in turn, is unlocking further nutrients in the soil to increase the viability of Ryegrass in the surface which is hugely important to cope with the wear demands of the winter sports they host.”

“On the other areas we’ve been using Multigreen®, either the 15-0-22 or 28-3-15 formulations, again applied in the spring and autumn. The great thing with this is, because it has a ‘temperature-only’ controlled release, we can apply it as early as the February half term and not have to be restricted to tight application windows around school fixtures because that’s when the conditions allow. This has delivered fantastic improvements in the plant strength, sward density and overall appearance of some of the pitches – particularly our cricket outfields.”

Dale concludes, “For other areas of our maintenance programme to work, particularly overseeding, getting the soil profiles right is crucial. It’s unlikely that we’ll ever get the pH levels to balance but with Headland’s support, the right products and regular analysis we know we’re going in the right direction and are beginning to reap the rewards of that.”

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BASIS launches new online learning platform

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BASIS launches new online learning platform: BASIS has launched a new digital learning platform – the BASIS Classroom – that supports members in advancing their professional development from home.

Stephen Jacob, BASIS CEO, explains that the BASIS Classroom is a free ‘members only’ platform that contains a selection of voluntary digital training sessions on an array of subjects surrounding crop production, turf management and environmental protection.

BASIS launches new online learning platform

BASIS launches new online learning platform

“Members can log-in to the platform and will be presented with a choice of topics applicable to their qualification. Once selected, members will be taken through to an online exercise that may include presentations, videos or even a quiz,” he says.

“The software is designed, so that exercises cannot be skipped, which ensures the appropriate amount and quality of training is delivered and CPD points are rewarded accordingly at the end of the session.

“It’s also worth noting that the courses will be available online for a year after first posting, so members can participate at a convenient time,” says Stephen.

The training will be put together by companies that want to share knowledge with members, but no longer have events as a platform to do so. The first two companies to submit a session were Origin Fertilisers and Certis and these are now live online.

Mandy McAulay, Origin Fertilisers marketing manager, explains that the company already has a strong digital focus, so BASIS’ new offering really complements the business.

“Our training session focuses on reducing ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions through appropriate fertiliser choice. It consists of an animated presentation with a voiceover, followed by a series of questions at the end,” she says.

“We’re always looking to broaden our advisory outreach, so the BASIS Classroom gives us the ideal platform to reach out to and educate members. This is especially important during a time when we’re unable to run ‘merchant meetings’ that are normally accredited by BASIS.”

Keeping in with the theme of environmental consideration, Kate Downes, Certis marketing communications officer, adds that their Classroom session focuses on the importance of using an integrated approach to slug control.

“We’ve prepared multimedia content, including a presentation with voiceover and videos to keep it engaging, informative and interesting. This way we hope we’ll be able to stay connected with our audience, without physically meeting with them,” she says.

“The BASIS Classroom is a great initiative, as it gives members the opportunity to continue to stay up-to-date with their CPD, but also gives us a great outreach platform that’s easily accessible to both providers and members.”

Members that want to participate in the BASIS Classroom training sessions can do so by visiting https://basis.vbms-training.co.uk/ using the login details and password emailed to you by the BASIS team.

For further information or queries, please contact help@basis-reg.co.uk or 01335 343945.

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G860 integral for Notts County FC

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G860 integral for Notts County FC: Matthew Hallam, head groundsman at Notts County FC, claims that the versatile Dennis G860 cylinder mower has been a saving grace after they were unable to carry out end of season renovations.

Matthew, who started life in the industry as a greenkeeper, has been the head groundsman at Notts County FC for just over 18 months. Previously, he spent ten years working at the nearby Nottinghamshire Golf and Country Club before taking the head groundsman position at Ilkeston Town FC. It was here that Matthew quickly impressed showing huge ability as a football groundsman and it wasn’t long before he was offered the top job at Notts County FC.

G860 integral for Notts County FC

G860 integral for Notts County FC

It is safe to say that Matthew had somewhat of a baptism of fire upon starting his new role – the club were on the verge of relegation, and a change of ownership was looming. This, along with other unforeseen circumstances, resulted in no end of season renovations being carried out.

Despite being unable to strip the top off the surface and remove vegetation, Matthew has done a remarkable job in keeping the pitch in a superb condition all season. With the odds stacked against him, regular maintenance has been key and Matthew claims that the Dennis G860 has been integral to the cause.

“With us not being able to carry out the work, the Dennis G860 has really helped us,” he says. “We have the Spring Tine Rake, the Verti-Cutter, the Brush, and the 8 Bladed Cylinder – so it is like a four-in-one maintenance machine. In the summer, we were verticutting as much as we could because we knew we had a thatch issue, and since then we have constantly brushed the pitch and raked the algae off the top of the surface. It has been a brilliant bit of kit for us and if we didn’t have the G860 then these problems would only have intensified.”

As Matthew says, the Dennis G860 features an interchangeable cassette system to assist with a wide range of tasks such as including scarifying, verticutting, brushing, spiking, and slitting. Lightweight at just 166kg; it is easy to manoeuvre and comfortable to operate. The handlebar console houses the controls for – throttle, parking brake, roller drive and cutting cylinder drive.

The mower also features a large diameter front roller with an adjustable scraper which has been designed for a precise height of cut control, giving an excellent finish on every occasion.

“The finish it provides is nothing short of excellent,” he continues. “With the G860 we cut to 25mm in the summer and from October time we will raise it to 26mm-27mm. When winter arrives, we will raise it to 28mm and will stay at that cutting height until April – depending on the weather.

“It’s very easy to use and it takes no time at all to take the cassettes in and out. We have tried other machines and we just feel that the Dennis G860 is the best on the market.”

With a first full season nearly completed at Notts County FC, Matthew is looking forward to finally being able to carry out end of season renovations. While being relatively new to football groundsmanship, it is safe to say that Matthew has already found his calling but admits that every day offers a new experience.

“I have found that you are always learning in this industry,” he says. “There is not one day where you do not learn something new and you are constantly getting new ideas and sharing experiences with other groundsmen.

“So, I will continue to learn and progress, and in the future choose to use Dennis Mowers due to their reliability, versatlility and the quality of cut.”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on Twitter @DennisMowers and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK. You can also view the latest Dennis videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers

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