New Gator is the most comfortable ever

New Gator is the most comfortable ever.

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New Gator is the most comfortable ever: John Deere’s new premium XUV 865R Gator is the most comfortable model ever produced in the company’s popular cross-over utility vehicle range.

This 23hp diesel-powered model combines the established high performance of the XUV 865M with a wide range of additional operator friendly features, including a luxurious cab environment.

New Gator is the most comfortable ever

New Gator is the most comfortable ever

Standard specification includes a continuously variable transmission with on-demand four-wheel drive, power steering, fully independent suspension and an attachment-ready electrical system. The quiet, fully equipped cab provides comfortable car-style seating for up to three people when driving off-road, as well as easy-opening door handles, a fully opening windscreen and a proven, extremely efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.

In addition, the cab features an attractive tan-coloured interior that has been ergonomically redesigned, with the easy-to-use automotive-style controls now conveniently located in the centre of the dash. The streamlined roof moves water to the outside edges, and both the high-level front and rear lights are set below the roof line for better protection.

The R trim specification also provides the fully enclosed cab with a wide range of extra standard features, including an adjustable 40/60 bench seat, tiltable steering wheel, sun visors, a windshield wiper and washer plus electrical wiring for attachments, as well as high- and low-beam LED headlights.

The XUV 865R Gator is powered by an 854cc three-cylinder, liquid-cooled OHV diesel engine producing 23hp at 3600rpm, with a top speed of 31mph (50kph) in high range. The true 4WD system has an auto-locking front differential and dash-mounted electronic rocker switch for easy operation.

New Gator is the most comfortable ever

New Gator is the most comfortable ever

To complement the robust frame, the vehicle is equipped with four-wheel independent suspension. This has been designed to provide a smooth ride and optimum load carrying ability over challenging terrain, without compromising ride quality or vehicle stability.

The versatile deluxe cargo box is made of a durable composite material that eliminates rust and dents and reduces noise. There is an automotive style tailgate handle and the rear lights are available with optional protectors. The cargo box can be easily converted to a flat-bed and has a load capacity of 454kg, while towing capacity is 900kg and total payload is 680kg.

For extra versatility the new John Deere XUV 865R Gator utility vehicle can be fitted with a wide range of attachments from snow blades to winches, and features a large 42-litre fuel tank for longer running between fill-ups.

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New Turf Rewards for 2020.

New Turf Rewards for 2020

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New Turf Rewards for 2020: ICL and Syngenta are pleased to announce some exciting updates to the Turf Rewards loyalty scheme for 2020.

Turf Rewards provides the opportunity for customers to earn points from purchases that can then be exchanged against a fantastic selection of agronomic or turf related items and learning opportunities.

New Turf Rewards for 2020.

New Turf Rewards for 2020.

With an extensive range of items already on offer, new rewards for 2020 include:

  • £350 F R Jones voucher- F R Jones specialise in horticultural and arboricultural equipment, supplies and service. They are stockists of leading landscaping and forestry brands including Stihl and Husqvarna.
  • £150 Sports Metals voucher – Sports Metals are home of the extracut-brush, and provide a bespoke range of products specifically designed to help your turf management.
  • Turfgrass Management book – Written by A J Turgeon and J E Kaminski, this book has been designed as a basic text for beginning students of turfgrass science and management.

New qualifying products for 2020 includes the Sportsmaster fertilizer range and new pack sizes of Ryder turf pigment (5 litre) and Primo Maxx II growth regulator (20 litre). Making it even easier to build your points balance.

Customers simply log their purchases of qualifying ICL and Syngenta products from any authorised distributor on the Turf Rewards website and points are automatically added to their account.

Turf Rewards continues to grow year-on-year and an increasing number of greenkeepers and turf managers are signing up to the loyalty scheme.

Greig Easton, Head Greenkeeper at Hayling Golf Club in Hampshire, recently praised the initiative after claiming a Davis Weather Station, a TDR 350 Moisture Meter, £900 in Machine Mart Vouchers, a Prism Gauge and Macroscope, a DJI Mavic Air Drone and a SS-2 Drop Spreader.

“The Turf Rewards scheme has been greatly beneficial to the team and myself at Hayling,” he said. “It has allowed us to purchase a range of tools which make our work more efficient and professional. The Weather Station and Moisture Meter have made recording data and improving our irrigation efficiency far easier. Hand and power tools purchased with the Machine Mart Vouchers have allowed us to gain all the necessary equipment we needed for machinery maintenance and fabrication. The drone has proved a great addition for planning and recording course improvement projects and for producing professional looking presentations for our membership.”

Trevor Wilkin, Grounds Manager at Blackburn Rovers FC, has recently claimed an SR-2000 Spreader and the Team Scout Sprayer, and claims that the loyalty scheme has helped his budget go that much further.

“Being able to claim both the Team ScoutSprayer and SR-2000 Spreader through Turf Rewards has been great for us as a club as they have allowed me to apply the products I use perfectly at the same time as saving my budget – meaning it goes further. The sprayer has meant I no longer need to use heavy machinery to apply liquid products which allows me flexibility on timing of applications.”

If you would to find out more about Turf Rewards visit www.turfrewards.com or contact the Turf Rewards team directly by emailing info@turfrewards.com

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.co.uk or www.icl-sf.ie if you are in Ireland.

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Pellenc is ‘top of the game’ for Peter O’Brien.

Pellenc is ‘top of the game’

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Pellenc is ‘top of the game’ for Peter O’Brien: Peter O’Brien Landscaping & Sons, one of Ireland’s leading landscape and sports ground companies, has invested in a large fleet of Pellenc battery powered equipment.

Peter O’Brien Landscaping & Sons, founded in 1963, is a family run business, which has rapidly grown over recent years. The company, which specialises in design, construction and maintenance, has gained widespread plaudits for its quality of work and recently scooped the prestigious Landscape Contractor of the Year and Sports Turf Contractor of the Year awards for 2019.

Pellenc is ‘top of the game’ for Peter O’Brien.

Pellenc is ‘top of the game’ for Peter O’Brien.

With over 100 members of staff and a huge arsenal of green space management equipment at its disposal, Andy Jones, Maintenance Supervisor for Peter O’Brien’s, believes that the company has a responsibility to manage the impact the tools are having on the environment.

“We are always conscious at looking at our carbon footprint,” he says. “It is massive for us – particularly as we look towards the future. There is no point in us creating beautiful wildflower meadows and putting in pollinator plants when we are using petrol and diesel machinery – it just seems to defeat the purpose.”

The company soon embarked on an extensive search to identify a new fleet of battery powered equipment, and as Andy explains, no stone was left unturned in their quest.

“Electric machinery is a huge trend nowadays and we felt it was imperative to purchase the very best we could find on the marketplace. We conducted a huge amount of research over a three-month period. We carefully read product specifications, spoke to end users and attended SALTEX in order to pinpoint the leading manufacturers.

“We soon concluded that the Pellenc products are quite simply at the very top of the game.”

Pellenc products have recently become more accessible in the Republic of Ireland after Camsaw Ltd, a County Laois based business, was announced as the country’s exclusive distributor for Pellenc. Camsaw work with a widespread network of dealers to extend the reach of Pellenc, and it was one of these dealers – Leinster Turf Equipment, that Andy first contacted.

“We spoke to Leinster Turf Equipment about the Pellenc products and they conducted a demonstration at one of our sites in Dublin.  It turned out to be our first purchase with Leinster and it must be said that it is a great company to work with. The staff are very friendly and helpful, and, in my opinion, it gives you faith in the products and service even more when you are dealing with a professional company.”

After being hugely impressed with the demonstration, the decision was made to purchase a large fleet of Pellenc battery powered equipment which included a range of Rasion Basic pushmowers, Excelion 2000 brushcutters, Helion 2 Compact hedge trimmers, Helion Telescopic hedge trimmers, Airion 2 hand blowers and Selion polesaws – all powered by 1500 ultra-lithium batteries.

“We spread the Pellenc products between residential sites and the city centre in Dublin and then we have another fleet on two big commercial sites,” Andy continues.

“Ultimately, the feedback from everyone within the company is that we should have done this sooner. From the weight of the product, the finish of the product, the lack of noise pollution and the most important thing, and this is where Pellenc blew everyone else out of the water, is the battery times. We can easily get a full day’s work out of these products and we don’t have to worry about the hassle of charging them while on a job.

“The Pellenc products have also increased productivity – particularly in the city centre and the residential areas. Before we had these products, it used to be a case of the staff members sitting in the yard until 8am before they could get into these highly populated areas. However, now we can get to the sites at 7am and we are not waking people up or disturbing anyone. This has been a huge benefit.

“The quality of the work is outstanding, and it reflects what we, as a company are about, in offering a service of the highest standard.

“This has been our first taster of green technology, and it has been so good that we are rolling this out even further next year. The conversation has been had with the directors and very soon all of the vans will be kitted out with Pellenc equipment.”

Pellenc products are exclusively distributed in the Republic of Ireland by Camsaw Limited.

For further information, please visit www.pellencuk.com

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Celebrating Electricity North West’s ‘Transforming our Spaces’ project at the Smithfields substation in Egremont, including Angie Thornton, Electricity North West’s Groundworks Delivery Manager (far left) and Top Green’s Euroflor consultant Howard Wood (third left)

Rigby Taylor adds spark

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Rigby Taylor’s Euroflor Urban Meadow flowers add the spark to Electricity North West’s  Substation revamp.

Rigby Taylor’s Euroflor urban meadow flower seed mixes have played a key role in the success of Electricity North West’s ‘Transforming our Spaces’ project by revamping substations throughout the region with spectacular displays of colour from flower mixes that also attract a host of pollinators.

Celebrating Electricity North West’s ‘Transforming our Spaces’ project at the Smithfields substation in Egremont, including Angie Thornton, Electricity North West’s Groundworks Delivery Manager (far left) and Top Green’s Euroflor consultant Howard Wood (third left)

Celebrating Electricity North West’s ‘Transforming our Spaces’ project at the Smithfields substation in Egremont, including Angie Thornton, Electricity North West’s Groundworks Delivery Manager (far left) and Top Green’s Euroflor consultant Howard Wood (third left)

The colourful displays produced by the Euroflor seed mixes (from Top Green, the largest seed producer in Europe) also drew laudatory comments from the local communities as well as council officials and MPs.

For example, commenting on one site, Copeland MP Trudy Harrison said: “Electricity North West has planted what was previously grassland, requiring regular and costly maintenance, into a beautiful and environmentally beneficial wildflower oasis…This is an economic, environmental and social win, win, win project which should be replicated all over the UK.”

Angie Thornton, Electricity North West’s Groundworks Delivery Manager, who is heading up the scheme, said: “We are all absolutely delighted with the results; the sites truly have been transformed from what used to be eyesores into beautifully vibrant areas for the local communities to take pride in and spaces for revitalising insects and wildlife.

“Substations aren’t always aesthetically pleasing but they are a key part of the electricity network. The project has been extremely well received by the communities and residents are keen to get involved and replant flowers in the future.”

Eight substations were initially targeted last year and working closely with Rigby Taylor, an established supplier of amenity supplies to the electricity board (supplying the Icade, Chikara and Gallup Biograde herbicides, for example), various Euroflor urban meadow flower mixes were selected.

These included Rainbow Perennials and Flora Britannica from Euroflor’s Project Pollin-8 range specifically designed to attract pollinators while also delivering high visual impact. The displays lasted through the summer and into October and November.

Howard Wood, Top Green’s Euroflor consultant, presented classroom and on-site workshops to help guide the grounds staff in the preparation and maintenance of the flower beds, which in some cases also utilised the ‘lay down and plant’ FloraFleece biodegradable matting Euroflor option, which eliminates the need for extensive soil preparation. Bird feeders and bug hotels were also installed in some cases.

Electricity North West’s ‘Transforming our Spaces’ project will return this year with the continued support from Rigby Taylor.

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The Dennis and SISIS 2020 groundcare seminar will take place at Durham County Cricket Club on 18th February.

Dennis & SISIS Groundcare Seminar 2020

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Dennis & SISIS Groundcare Seminar 2020: The Dennis and SISIS 2020 Groundcare Seminar will take place at Durham County Cricket Club’s Emirates Riverside on Tuesday 18th February and is yet again set to educate and inspire.

Sports turf is the theme and a wide range of volunteers and professionals representing schools, sports clubs, local authorities and contractors, can expect to explore a multitude of topics.

The Dennis and SISIS 2020 groundcare seminar will take place at Durham County Cricket Club on 18th February.

The Dennis and SISIS 2020 groundcare seminar will take place at Durham County Cricket Club on 18th February.

An insightful morning will see Marcus North (Durham Director of Cricket & Former Australian Test Batsman) present Cricket Pitches on Different Continents; Dr Iain James (TGMS) will be offering some invaluable advice in the Construction and Maintenance of a Cricket Pitch seminar and the Institute of Groundsmanship’s Ian Powell is set to provide a number of helpful tips in Principles of decision making for pre-season preparations.

Rounding off the morning in style, delegates will have a rare opportunity to listen to and question an incredible line-up of some of the industry’s finest groundsmen. Hosted by Vic Demain (Durham CCC), this new feature entitled Groundsmans Corner, will see a panel of experts including Keith Kent (Head Pitch Advisor to Rugby Groundsmen Connected), Karl McDermott (MCC, Lord’s), Sean Williams (Gloucestershire CCC) and Gordon Gill (Bath Cricket Club).

A complimentary lunch will be provided in which attendees can network with one another and gain even more advice from event sponsors – Limagrain UK, Boughton Loam, Thomas Sherriff, Stuart Canvas, Fleet Line Markers, Cricket World, SIS Pitches, Poweroll, Facility and Sports Club Development and Headland Amenity.

Barry Glynn (volunteer groundsman), will kick-start proceedings after lunch and will no doubt have the audience in stitches as he reveals some home truths in his seminar entitled Frustrations of a Groundsman: Part 2.

The legendary Keith Kent will be taking to the stage in the penultimate session and will be drawing on his wealth of experience as a groundsman in Winter Sports Pitches to Cricket Outfields – what do we need to do?

To conclude the day, delegates will get the opportunity to discuss their own projects with the day’s speakers.

To register your interest please contact Roger Moore at Dennis & SISIS on 01332 824777 or email Roger Moore on roger.moore@dennisuk.com.

Further information about the range of maintenance products available can be found by visiting www.dennisuk.com / www.sisis.com.

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