Back to basics

/in , /by

Back to basics: This was the clear message emerging from a panel discussion on amenity management, held at SALTEX recently, and chaired by John Moverley from the Amenity Forum.

Whilst plant protection products continue to have a clear and vital role in managing pests, weeds and diseases, the need to take an integrated approach to the management of amenity spaces is equally important. The emphasis must be on preventative actions, ensuring all aspects of soil management, seed selections, cultivations and appropriate on-going management routines are in place to minimise impact and ensure plant protection products, when applied, are targeted and have maximum impact.

Back to basics

The Amenity Forum has produced a guidance document to assist in producing integrated weed management plans (IWMs) across all areas of amenity, together with a template to help in their construction. A supporter, Parks for London, is also working with the Forum producing a document to help in constructing policy statements on IWM, especially useful for local authorities. The Forum, subject to funding, is additionally hoping in the next year to produce similar guidance for integrated disease management approaches.

The Forum has also worked closely with the sector to develop the Amenity Standard. This will be fully launched at the start of 2020 and is seen as a game changer for the sector. Those operating in amenity management at the Standard will demonstrate their professionalism and re-assure all involved that practices undertaken on that amenity space follow an integrated approach and meet all requirements on safety and good practice. The Amenity Standard is a bespoke quality management standard very much like the Red Tractor standard in food and agriculture. Those operating to the Standard will be members of an approved and audited assurance scheme recognised by the Standard.

The Amenity Standard is designed to:

• Provide an industry benchmark
• Provide a basis for continuous improvement
• Focus on quality as an objective
• Provide assurances about the quality of the approved organisation and maintenance of the amenity space
• Ensure that quality assurance scheme operators recognised under this Standard use auditors with technical knowledge and experience of the sector concerned
• Promote confidence in organisations operating and providing resources in the amenity sector by provision of a robust and transparent standard

John Moverley, Amenity Forum Chairman, said ‘’the management of our amenity areas is essential and important and impacts on every UK citizen every day. The Amenity Forum promotes best practice and organisations who support this are committed to the highest professional standards seeking to produce safe, healthy spaces fit for purpose. Taking integrated approaches to amenity management should be the norm and, for those concerned with or employing operators for amenity management, I would urge you seek those signed up to the Amenity Forum aims and objectives and following our code. The introduction of the Amenity Standard will further assist in this process and we seek to roll it out across all aspects of the sector going forward’’

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Big turn out for Ariens at SALTEX

/in , , /by

Big turn out for Ariens at SALTEX: AriensCo returned to Saltex this year with several professional zero-turn models from their range, including the new ZENITH 60 mower.

The company says the show was exceptional for its number of visitors to their stand and the quality of the leads taken, which will be passed on to the dealer network. The Ariens zero-turns also drew a great deal of attention from prospective dealers interested in selling both the professional and domestic machines.

Big turn out for Ariens at SALTEX

“We had a large number of dealers come to the stand to talk about the market for zero-turns,” says Ariens Area Sales Manager, Richard Williams, “and end-users and contractors wanting to know about the potential benefits of using the machines. It was the first time we have shown the new Zenith, which is one of the zero-turn mowers we are manufacturing in the UK.” Ariens is the only zero-turn manufacturer in Europe and made the decision to produce a number of models in Britain based on the fast-growing demand experienced over recent years.

“Users are drawn to our zero-turns for their comfort, durability and above all, cost-effectiveness,” says Richard, “their speed and large deck sizes make a very big saving in time and that in-turn contributes substantially to the cost of the machine.” These features and benefits very much apply to the all-new Ariens ZENITH 60 which is designed for the professional who wants everyday use from their mower. It offers commercial-grade features and outstanding performance with its large 152cm (60”) cutter deck and faster ground speed. AriensCo points out that this commercial quality, the durable industry-leading steel frames and high performance apply across the entire Ariens range of zero-turn mowers.

Also on show at Saltex were two new Ariens concept machines. These were very well received, enjoying a great deal of positive feedback from visitors to the Ariens stand. These machines are currently being considered for the European market. Ariens zero-turns are manufactured in their UK plant. The complete range of products, including walk-behind mowers and snow throwers, is sold through approved dealers.

For more information visit ariens-uk.com or call 01844 278800.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Bobcat presents new telescopic loaders

/in , , , /by

Bobcat presents new telescopic loaders: The top-of-the-range TL43.80HF Agri telescopic loader will be shown for the first time on the Doosan Bobcat Stand No 17.310 in Hall 17 at the LAMMA agricultural machinery show in Birmingham in the UK from 7-8 January 2020.

Bobcat will also show the TL30.60 model, which with the TL43.80HF is part of the newly expanded Bobcat range of seven telescopic loaders for the farming market covering maximum lifting capacities between 2.6 and 4.3 tonne with lifting heights from 6 to 8 m.

Bobcat presents new telescopic loaders

Another feature of the Bobcat LAMMA stand will be tracked loaders from Bobcat, emphasising some of the advantages they offer over wheeled machines in terms of traction, stability and lift capacity. These will include the first appearance in the UK of the Bobcat S70 quad-tracked concept machine, featuring quad-tracks that are bolted on to the frame of the loader. Alongside, Bobcat will also be showing the company’s smallest compact track loader – the T450.

Best Loading Productivity for Agriculture

The TL43.80HF Agri*** provides a real solution for the heavy-duty, high-productivity segment of the agricultural market, combining several new features to take lift capacity, lifting height and breakout force to unprecedented levels. Thanks to a maximum lift capacity of 4.3 tonne and a maximum lift height of almost 8 m, combined with the fastest boom movement available in this market and the high 190 l/min hydraulic flow, farmers are now able to lift more, faster and to use higher capacity buckets for the highest loading productivity available.

In addition, unlike any other manufacturer on the market, all Bobcat telescopic loaders including the TL43.80HF and TL30.60 are covered by a three year/3000-hour warranty as standard. There is also the option of extending the warranty to five years/5000 hours.

Adapting For Any Terrain With Tracks

The T450 presents what is already available in the market-leading compact track loader range from Bobcat. This is due to their unique characteristics as tool carriers and the wide array of attachments that they can work with, from trenchers, augers, graders, soil conditioners, scarifiers and dozer blades to more specialist attachments such as flail cutters and wood chippers. As tool carriers, compact track loaders can provide increased productivity in many conditions with a lifting capacity approximately 25% more than the equivalently sized wheeled loaders.

Low Ground Pressure

Approximately three times less than wheeled machines, the low ground disturbance of compact track loaders allows them to work on delicate surfaces, such as established lawns or asphalt roads for surface repair and utility work, minimizing damage and reducing the need for tidying up after the job is complete. While wheeled machines may outperform tracked machines for sheer manoeuvrability on hard surfaces, the rubber tracked undercarriage on track loaders ensures improved traction and stability on rough terrain; soft, sandy surfaces and in wet, muddy conditions.

For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit the website www.bobcat.com

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Golf greens destroyed with clubs

/in , , /by

Golf greens destroyed with clubs: A golf club is counting the cost of a ‘disheartening and stressful’ vandal attack.

Seven out of the 18 greens at Oldham Golf Club were hacked at with a golf club or clubs.

Golf greens destroyed with clubs

Photographs posted by the club on social media show one green with dozens and dozens of divots in the surface after what they described as ‘sustained and mindless vandalism’.

The club’s greenkeeper spoke of his upset and described some of the damage caused as ‘irreparable’.

Nick Lawrence said: “I could have sat down and cried.”

Founded in 1892, the moorland course on Lees New Road in Oldham is noted for its views of the surrounding area at the foot of the Pennines.

Mr Lawrence said he arrived at the club to discover the damage on Saturday morning.

He said he believed the attack took place on Friday night and a golf club or clubs were used.

The cost to repair the damage is unclear at the moment, Mr Lawrence said.

He described it as ‘mostly just time and labour’, but said some of the damage caused would not be able to be repaired.

“It was just a mess,” he said.

“I’ve spent the past three days fixing it.”

Mr Lawrence and Derek Saunders oversee the management of the club.

“There’s just the two of us that work here,” Mr Lawrence said.

“I arrived on Saturday morning to find the damage and have looked through the CCTV. The course suffered damage to seven of its 18 greens.”

He described the attack as ‘disheartening and stressful’ and added: “There’s always kids playing football on the first green.

“The course isn’t meant for that.

“Kids come along with studded trainers and damage the grass.

“Grass re-growth in the winter months will be the biggest issue in restoring the golf course to its previous condition

“The seeds won’t grow at low temperatures.

“It needs to be around 10 to 12 degrees for them to grow. It won’t be the same again until at least March or April next year.”

Mr Lawrence said the club hasn’t contacted police about the incident.

Instead, the club has taken to social media to raise awareness and appeal to anyone with information to come forward.

“We need your help to find the offenders and bring them to justice,” said a statement on the club’s Facebook page.

“Our greens have been subjected to sustained and mindless vandalism overnight – seven greens severely hacked with golf clubs.

“Extremely upsetting for our greenkeeper, members and visitors.

“Who would do this?

“What is the point of it?

“This is criminal damage. We need your help to find the offenders and bring them to justice.

“Have you heard anyone bragging about it?

Click here to read the original article

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

PSD hail successful SALTEX

/in , , /by

PSD hail successful SALTEX: PSD Groundscare are hailing this year’s Saltex a “huge success”, reporting more visitors to the stand than ever before. Customers, prospects and the media were given the opportunity to view a fantastic range of innovative, time-saving solutions to assist with a host of landscaping requirements from leading industry names.

Taking centre stage at the show was the exciting launch of the new Prof 6 Green Waste Shredder from Belgium manufacturer Eliet. A proto-type was unveiled of the new tracked model which will be available in the spring, and there will also be self-propelled (wheeled) and towed models. This innovative new shredder is the successor to the popular Prof 5 and is a welcomed addition to the Eliet range of green waste shredders which offers a solution for material up to 16cm diameter and make light work of leafy, wet green material where other machines fail.

PSD hail successful SALTEX

In addition there was a range of high-quality machinery to manage the challenge of long grass and banks mowing.  The new AS62 Pedestrian Brushcutter from AS Motor is designed specifically to mow and mulch high grass up to 90 cm high while the AS 1040 Yak ride-on flail mower diminishes the need for path overlap and guarantees high work rates, reaching 6,800 m²/h and, making it a highly efficient alternative to traditional rotary mowing.

There was huge interest in the range of products for efficient lawn and turfcare maintenance from leading manufacturer Eliet, including the Turfaway 600 turf cutter, which is highly effective for major lawn renovation and complete reconstruction and the new Eliet self-propelled C550 scarifier, with a collection feature which gathers discarded material into narrow rows for easy disposal, reducing the cleaning-up process time by 50%.

PSD also offer a comprehensive range of debris clearance machinery including the lightweight and agile AS30 E battery powered weedbrush from AS Motor, a timesaver when it comes removing weeds on uneven surfaces such as cobblestones, along walls and kerb stones and a quiet rechargeable battery.

Representatives from key manufacturers were in attendance, including Torsten Schick – Head of

International Sales at AS Motor, Gracienne Geenens, Sales Director at Eliet and Stéphane Courtois,

Sales & Marketing Director at TS Industries, who were able to give visitors a detailed overview of the products being showcased.

Chris Gibson (Managing Director) of PSD Groundscare said:

“We are absolutely delighted with this year’s Saltex. The stand was busy at all times and we took more enquiries than ever before, with particular interest in our innovative new products that are set to revolutionise groundscare and maintenance.

“Saltex was the perfect place for the unveiling of the exciting new Prof 6 Green Waste Shredder from Eliet, as it is arguably the industry’s show stopper event and the perfect platform to show the innovations that PSD Groundscare have to offer”.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.