Kubota proves a partnership that’s built to last at The Glasgow Academy

Kubota proves a partnership that’s built to last at The Glasgow Academy

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Kubota proves a partnership that’s built to last at The Glasgow Academy

Since Robert Cheape joined The Glasgow Academy in 1985, the school and accompanying sports grounds have expanded significantly! His tenure as Head Groundsman has been underpinned by a long-standing partnership with dealers Hamilton Ross Group, and much of the success he has attributed to the reliability and versatility delivered by Kubota tractors in use at the grounds for over 30 years.

Kubota proves a partnership that’s built to last at The Glasgow Academy

Kubota proves a partnership that’s built to last at The Glasgow Academy

Founded in 1845, The Glasgow Academy is the oldest continuously fully independent school in Glasgow, now providing a private coeducational day school for 1700 pupils. The school is renowned for its sporting prowess – with rugby and hockey played by both the students and Glasgow Accies Sports club in the winter months, then switching to primarily cricket, tennis and athletics during the summer. Working alongside Robert on the maintenance of the natural turf and artificial surfaces is a busy team of six, with three of the staff having over 120 years of service between them.

“With sport played daily, we rely heavily on having the right, reliable equipment to produce pitches that can withstand the pressure of constant wear” Robert says. For more than three decades, powering that maintenance operation has been Kubota. “In the shed we have a Kubota B1550 from the early 1990’s which still runs and is used for lighter jobs around the sites, a B2650 and, more recently, we added an L2622 to the fleet.”

“While we can see the improvements and things like the controls and operator-friendliness has moved on they’re still, fundamentally, well-built, comfortable, reliable workhorses. For that reason, I’ll never use anything else” he adds.

The L2622 delivered in August 2025 brings increased power and productivity, featuring a 61hp stage-V diesel engine and the highest rear lift capacity in its class. “With time of the essence, we found we were relying on larger, more power-hungry implements and the L2622 has proven the perfect partner for implements such as our Verti-Drain – which we’re increasingly relying on with the more regular periods of prolonged and heavy rainfall.”

“We also run a Kubota RTV-X1110 which is another reliable runaround, towing smaller equipment and getting people and tools around the sites quickly and safely.”

Reliability for Robert extends beyond the machines themselves, with Kubota he also has the added peace of mind of first-class dealer support from the team at Hamilton Ross Group. “I’ve dealt with Paul Denholm since 1990 and the school’s relationship with Hamilton’s began even before that! We just know that if we need anything, from a simple advice call or a service visit, that they’ll be there to look after us. That sort of service goes a long way.”

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Green-Tech supports CLECO with woodland creation scheme

Green-Tech supports CLECO with woodland creation scheme

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Green-Tech supports CLECO with woodland creation scheme

Green-tech has supplied planting protection products for a 34-hectare woodland creation scheme in Cheshire, which was delivered by CLECO on behalf of a Local Authority. The project involves establishing 37,124 native trees across a diverse mix of broadleaf and coniferous species, creating a resilient new woodland landscape designed to deliver long-term environmental and ecological benefits.

Green-Tech supports CLECO with woodland creation scheme

Green-Tech supports CLECO with woodland creation scheme

CLECO is a family-run environmental contractor specialising in woodland creation, ecological restoration, and long-term landscape establishment.

A key feature of this project is the inclusion of 42 rare genetic clones of the endangered Black Poplar, bred by Chester Zoo. These were established within parkland-style planting using tree crates as part of an agroforestry wood pasture system designed to support future livestock grazing. This represents a significant contribution to the reintroduction of an endangered native species within the Cheshire landscape.

The scheme is driven by core objectives focused on carbon capture, climate resilience, and biodiversity enhancement. A diverse mix of flowering and fruiting species has been incorporated, particularly within the shrub layer, to maximise ecological value and support long-term habitat creation.

GREEN-TECH INVOLVEMENT AND PRODUCTS SUPPLIED

Green-tech supplied a range of tree protection and establishment products to support successful woodland establishment across the 34-hectare site.

Tubex Standard Shelters were installed across the majority of planting areas to provide protection against browsing wildlife and wind exposure, while helping to create a stable microclimate that supports the early establishment of young trees.

Shrub Guards were specified for the mixed native shrub layer, where biodiversity-led planting required additional protection for smaller whips and shrubs. These areas were designed to enhance ecological value through flowering and fruiting species, and the guards supported consistent establishment in more sensitive zones.

900mm hardwood stakes were used to provide durable structural support across the site, ensuring stability for newly planted trees in a range of ground conditions, including exposed locations.

Together, these products supported reliable establishment across both standard woodland planting and more complex ecological areas, including the Black Poplar parkland plots and agroforestry zones.

Working closely with CLECO, Green-tech provided a flexible and responsive supply service throughout the programme, ensuring materials were delivered in line with phased planting schedules and evolving site requirements.

IMPACT AND OUTCOME

The project represents a significant achievement for CLECO, demonstrating its capability as a direct delivery partner on large-scale Local Authority schemes, managing all aspects of logistics, financial oversight, planting operations and the transition into a five-year maintenance programme.

Supply chain collaboration played a key role in the success of this project. Green-tech worked closely with CLECO to provide the flexibility, trust, and responsiveness needed to coordinate large, time-sensitive material orders for a project of this scale. The relationship served as a seamless extension of their project team, helping them to navigate challenges efficiently.

Green-tech ensured consistent material quality throughout and will support long-term accountability by working with CLECO over the 5-year maintenance period, strengthening ownership of both the establishment and long-term site success.

A key strength of the scheme was the end-to-end delivery approach, from early planning and tender stage through to planting and establishment works. This reinforced CLECO’s position as a credible, delivery-led alternative to larger national contractors, with clear on-site accountability.

The woodland creation and Black Poplar restoration will deliver long-term benefits for carbon sequestration, climate resilience, and biodiversity enhancement, creating a lasting environmental legacy across the Cheshire landscape

Ross Butterworth, Managing Director, CLECO, comments, “Green-tech provided a flexible and responsive service throughout the project. Working closely with our sales advisor, Tom Davison, made a real difference; the communication was second to none, and the friendly, easy-to-work-with manner made the whole process straightforward. Once we outlined what we needed, Green-tech took ownership and made it happen. It genuinely felt like having an extra member of the team. The quality of materials supplied was consistently high and supported smooth delivery on site.”

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OAS strengthens data and software portfolio

OAS strengthens data and software portfolio

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OAS strengthens data and software portfolio

Origin Amenity solutions (OAS) has brought further strength to its industry-leading portfolio of products and services for turf managers through a new distribution partnership with Spectrum Technologies Inc. This tie-up gives OAS customers access to a comprehensive range of measurement devices and software solutions to make the storage, viewing and intepreting of turf data even more simple and straightforward.

OAS strengthens data and software portfolio

OAS strengthens data and software portfolio

Proudly working alongside growers, researchers and turf managers, Spectrum Technologies have developed a broad range of precision monitoring and digital agronomy tools used by professionals in more than 80 countries. The range of products include monitoring solutions for weather, soil moisture and light alongside plant health meters and specialised mobile apps, software and services to view and interpret data quickly and accurately.

Of particular note is the FieldScout TDR 350 soil moisture meter – equipped with integrated Bluetooth and GPS to allow the operator to view real-time data on volumetric water content (VWC), electrical conductivity (EC/salts) and surface temperature. The TDR 350 also integrates directly with the Rain Bird CirrusPRO central control system, enabling data collection and heat map visualisation through the irrigation controller.

Together with its improved functionality, the TDR 350 also represents a cost-effective alternative to other moisture sensors on the market, making data capture accessible to customers operating within tighter budgets.

On the news, OAS Irrigation & Digital Solutions Lead Angus Finlayson said, “We are very pleased to be partnering with Spectrum Technologies to bring cutting-edge turf monitoring solutions to our customers. This collaboration strengthens our technical capabilities and reinforces our commitment to providing trusted products for the turf professional and facilities we support.”

More information on Spectrum Technologies and the range of products available is available by speaking to your local OAS Technical Manager.

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Bobcat Safety Footwear Urges Smarter Safety Shoe Choices

Bobcat Safety Footwear Urges Smarter Safety Shoe Choices

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Bobcat Safety Footwear Urges Smarter Safety Shoe Choices

Amid record-high temperatures and what promises to be another scorching hot summer, Overland Shoes, the company behind Bobcat Safety Footwear, has emphasised the importance of workers choosing the right safety boots or shoes to help them cope with the heat.

Bobcat Safety Footwear Urges Smarter Safety Shoe Choices

Bobcat Safety Footwear Urges Smarter Safety Shoe Choices

For busy installers, contractors, and other tradespeople working 10-12-hour days, often outdoors, it is especially important to prioritise wearability during the summer months, particularly as the UK recently recorded its hottest day in May on record. With this, Overland Shoes has asserted the critical role that the right pair of safety boots or shoes can play in reducing heat, improving comfort and making long hot days feel more manageable.

Peter Lawson, Brand Manager at Overland Shoes, comments: “With the heat, feet tend to swell. That’s why for summer, it’s essential to wear extra comfortable and spacious shoes. Yet too often, workers stick with the same safety boots year-round, leading to foot fatigue, blisters, overheating and general discomfort – all of which make working in hot conditions even tougher.

“But there is a better approach to summer footwear. With our award-winning Bobcat Safety Footwear range, workers can take advantage of  a range of proper summer boots and shoes which balance workplace safety standards with lightweight design, breathable materials and unmatched comfort,  ensuring outdoor workers remain agile and protected during long, gruelling shifts.”

Ideal for workers seeking to beat the heat and in style, the all-new Bobcat Safety Footwear incorporates Redbacks® Leaf Spring Technology to absorb shock, reduce fatigue and provide all-day support for feet, knees, and back.

Among the extensive range, key summer solutions include the Knox, an athletic-inspired work trainer made from lightweight, breathable nylon and  featuring a FITLOCK speed-lacing system for a secure, easy, and comfortable fit throughout the day. Equally, the Rockford, shown in cool grey, is a durable, lightweight trainer-style shoe designed with a reinforced woven nylon upper and rubber toe guards to deliver all-day comfort and protection shift after shift.

Peter adds: “For too long, the safety footwear category has been driven by a one-size-fits-all approach, leaving many workers to rely on boots that can be poorly fitting, uncomfortable and, in some cases, detrimental to foot health – less than ideal, especially during the record heatwaves we continue to see.

“With the arrival of Bobcat Safety Footwear, there’s now an opportunity for workers to rethink their summer footwear choices and opt for solutions that better support comfort, protection and performance in hotter conditions amid what promises to be another summer scorcher.”

For more information please visit www.bobcat-footwear.com

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STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® season kicks off for British Champions

STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® season kicks off for British Champions

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STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® season kicks off for British Champions

The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® season will kick off in style on 5 and 6 June, when four British athletes make their way to Budapest for a weekend of original extreme sport action in the World Trophy, and Women’s and Rookie World Championships, followed by the return of the British TIMBERSPORTS Championship from 12 – 14 June.

STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® season kicks off for British Champions

STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® season kicks off for British Champions

For the first time since 2019, GB will have not one, but two British athletes competing in the World Trophy on 6 June with reigning British Champion Glen Penlington and GB team member Graham Turner taking part. The Trophy format is the ultimate test of endurance, where athletes have to compete in four of the TIMBERSPORTS® disciplines back to back; Stock Saw, Underhand Chop, Single Buck, and finally Standing Block Chop. They will be competing against the best athletes in the world including Jack Jordan from New Zealand, the 2024 World Trophy winner, who set a new World Record of 52.53 seconds in the same competition.

But that’s not the only action of the weekend. The Rookie World Championship takes place the day before with British Rookie champion Rowan Luxton competing against eleven other athletes from across the globe for the first time. The previous Rookie World champion, Australian athlete Matt Coffey, will not be defending his title after graduating to the Pro level, so runner-up Kamiel Van Raemdonck from Belgium will be the one to watch in 2026, although Luxton will be keen to deliver on the world stage too after achieving three new personal bests at the recent Rookie Academy.

As if that wasn’t enough, the weekend will deliver another edge of your seat competition, with the first ever Women’s World Championship. With everything to prove and nothing to lose, the world’s best female athletes go head to head for the first time, with Rachel Ferrington from Hay-on-Wye representing Great Britain. Ferrington is no stranger to making history; during last year’s British Women’s Championship, she set a new Women’s World Record in the Stock Saw, which then led to her being selected as the first ever female member of the British team for the 2025 Team World Championship. But she will have a point to prove after she had an issue with her chainsaw during the Team event, and there’s no better place to do it than on the World stage!

With no chance to rest, all four athletes will then head back to the UK to compete in the 2026 British TIMBERSPORTS® Championship which will once again take place at the Royal Three Counties Show in Malvern from 12 – 14 June. Penlington has won the last four British Championships in a row and his experience makes him the one to beat, but after an agonising moment in the final heat of the 2025 Championship when his Hot Saw failed to start in the warm-up, Penlington knows that the title comes down to fine margins.

Turner came sixth in last year’s British Pro Championship, after disqualifications in the Springboard and Hot Saw disciplines saw him drop down the final standings. He will be focussed both on improving his ranking for 2026, as well as keeping his place in the British team for the season finale of the Team World Championship, taking place in Stuttgart in October.

The Pro athletes will need to take on all six TIMBERSPORTS® disciplines, including the Underhand Chop, the Stock Saw, the Standing Block Chop, the Single Buck, the Springboard and the awesome Hot Saw in order to prove they have what it takes to compete with the best British athletes.

A Pro Qualifier will take place on Friday 12 June, where the top six athletes will make it through to the Pro Championship on Saturday 13 June. Viewers can follow all the action on the YouTube livestream, or in person at the Royal Three Counties show to see who takes the top spot this year.

Rob Chatley, who took second place in 2025, has stepped back from the sport this year so the podium is guaranteed to have at least one new face on it. Could that be filled with Jack Morris? Morris secured the top spot in three British Rookie Championships in a row from 2022 to 2024 and then moved up to the Pro league but couldn’t compete in 2025, so could be a dark horse for this year’s competition. Returning athlete Dave Thomas is also a contender. Thomas took a 6 year break from TIMBERSPORTS®, last competing in 2019, but as a former member of the British team, he will want to return with a bang!

The final day of competition sees both the Rookie Championship (for athletes under 25) and the Women’s Championship take place, with Luxton and Ferrington aiming to defend their 2025 titles.

Luxton delivered the fastest time in all five of the Rookie disciplines in the 2025 event, so he will certainly be the one to beat although the lack of preparation time due to the World Championship the weekend before could be a factor in his performance. Two new athletes, Jantzen Bird and Finley Davies, will also be competing for the first time and aiming to make a statement in their TIMBERSPORTS® debut.

Ferrington will also be in the same boat as Luxton, after travelling back from Budapest just days before the 2026 British Women’s Championship. But the dedication she has shown to the sport since taking it up only three years ago means that she has delivered impressive results in a very short time. Ferrington travelled to Tasmania over the winter to take part in the wood-chopping season there and will be keen to show that her World Record time on the Stock Saw wasn’t just a one-off.

Georgia Lewis, Cat Eccles and Libby Arrowsmith will also be looking to claim the top prize though. Finishing in second, third and fourth place respectively, there were only four points between them in 2025, and all three also secured podium places in other competitions across Europe in the 2025 season so will be looking to continue their run of form.

The British Championship takes place from 12- 14 June at the Royal Three Counties Show in Malvern. Tickets are available from the show website. The Pro, Women’s and Rookie Championships will also be livestreamed via the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® YouTube channel. 

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