Calls to sign Parks Protector Pledge

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Calls to sign Parks Protector Pledge: Green space charity Fields in Trust has issued a General Election manifesto and is calling on candidates to sign a six-point Parks Protector Pledge, promising to champion and protect local parks and green spaces which are much loved by their constituents.

The manifesto sets out the role that elected representatives can play in delivering the health, wellbeing, environmental and community benefits that parks and green spaces provide; yet not everyone gets an equal share. Fields in Trust’s Green Space Index reveals 2.6 million people across Great Britain live more than a ten-minute walk from a local park or green space.

Calls to sign Parks Protector Pledge

The Green Space Index shows that, although Britain has a total of 216,160 hectares of publicly accessible local parks and green spaces, less than 6% of this space is legally protected with Fields in Trust. With public sector cuts leading to pressure on parks and green spaces, candidates are asked to endorse legal protection of green spaces and help prevent more being sold off or developed.

The charity is highlighting the urgent need to secure and maintain parks and green spaces that we currently have and is calling for all candidates in the General Election to sign a pledge, if they are elected, that they will champion the important public service parks and green spaces provide locally, and advocate for policies that safeguard parks and green spaces across the country. Electors are invited to quiz candidates on their approach to parks and green spaces and encourage them to sign the pledge at www.fieldsintrust.org/pledge

Fields in Trust Chief Executive, Helen Griffiths, said: “There is overwhelming evidence that parks and green spaces contribute health and wellbeing benefits to our communities. We are calling on election candidates to advocate for policies which protect and support parks and endorse local efforts to help maintain and improve the green spaces in their constituencies.
“There is an urgent need to ensure the current level of park and green space provision is maintained and review what more can be done to legally protect vulnerable spaces for future generations to enjoy, because once lost, they are lost forever.”

Fields in Trust’s research demonstrates clear health and wellbeing advantages, including a saving of £111 million each year to the NHS from regular use of parks and green spaces; the charity is concerned that many people who don’t have a park or green space nearby could miss out on these benefits. It is also likely that future loss of parks and green spaces will disproportionately impact the most disadvantaged and underrepresented communities.

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G34D picture perfect at Durham

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G34D picture perfect at Durham CCC: The Dennis G34D cylinder mower is helping to provide a fantastic finish on the pitch at the Emirates Riverside Stadium according to Durham CCC head groundsman Vic Demain.

This year has been particularly testing for Vic and his team especially with the pressures that come with hosting games for the Official ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. However, Vic alongside his team of four, rose to the challenge and received a number of plaudits along the way.

G34D picture perfect at Durham CCC

“We had three World Cup matches, but in addition to that we had approximately twenty days of World Cup practice sessions. At the end of the day we are competing against other international cricket venues such Lords, the Oval, Trent Bridge, Headingley and Old Trafford.

When the World Cup is on TV, viewers might see a game at Lords one day and then the next day they will watch a game here at Durham. That’s a lot to live up to especially with the game being viewed by a global audience.

“The feedback we had about the pitch off the back of the World Cup was absolutely amazing and that was from people all over the world. We have to be realistic in the sense that we don’t have the same kind of budget as most of the other venues, so to be able to achieve what we did with the resources that we have, really meant a lot to me.”

For that all important, presentation Vic relies on the Dennis G34D which has been designed and built following the same concept as the popular Dennis G860 cylinder mower. Available in three different cutting sizes – 26”, 30” and 34” – the mowers incorporate a large-diameter eight bladed cutting cylinder to cater for a wide range of uses to leave a precision cut. The handlebar design makes manoeuvring easy and the wide adjustment makes it comfortable for all cutting heights.

“The G34D is a designated mower for cutting the squares and we probably cut them anywhere between once a week and fifteen times a week – depending on what presentation we need. Obviously, the more cuts the better the definition and the better it looks on television. The G34D offers superior presentation – it’s always a picture-perfect cut.”

“There are other mowers on the market and we did try a variety. However, as a grounds team we talk as a collective unit when it comes to new equipment. It was a unanimous decision to go with the G34D.

“The staff at Dennis are very amenable, have fantastic industry knowledge and the spare parts are easy to get hold of. If I build up a working relationship with someone and that relationship goes well, I will tend to stick with them. I have always put my trust in Dennis.”

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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Reesink adds refresher training for 2020

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Reesink adds refresher training for 2020: Reesink Turfcare has added 12 practical refresher courses to its machinery and equipment training offering for 2020.

These one day operational and service courses are for those who need the latest knowledge or have previously completed the relevant two-day course, but need to refresh their skills to ensure they remain fully up to date, as well as learning about any new developments that are related to the job they do.

Reesink adds refresher training for 2020

There are 12 refresher courses in total. Six are provided by LANTRA, the leading body for land-based and environmental training, and relate to operational aspects of turfcare machinery maintenance, such as equipment installation training, the safe use of ride on mowers, compact tractor driving, the safe use of pesticides and the sprayers and handheld applicators used in administering these chemicals.

Then, there are another six manufacturer-backed training days from Reesink and Toro in relation to Toro diagnostics and info centre training, plus training on the customer’s choice of any greens, fairway, rotary, cylinder or flail mower or utility vehicle.

Neil Adams, head of turfcare training at Reesink, says: “We’ve introduced these refresher courses based on what our customers are telling us they want – a reminder of the key points and skill set update. They are incredibly good value, being done on either a one-to-one basis or as a group if there’s more than one operative requiring the course. All the courses are delivered by nationally quality assured trainers and assessors and include a mixture of practical and theory work.”

These new refresher courses join the 11 already offered by Reesink and bring the full range to a total of 23. It is without question says Neil the biggest selection from a turfcare machinery and equipment distributor in the country.

“We are incredibly proud of the extensive range we offer our customers, it makes us stand out from the crowd by being able to offer so much more value. There’s something to suit everybody, at every level, whether you work in the golf and fine turf sector, sports or grounds sectors.

“Our range of training courses demonstrates our belief in continuously improving standards in the industry. We aim to make training convenient with some courses delivered at the trainees’ working premises, too, using familiar equipment in a familiar environment. This set-up means it could not be easier for customers to develop and invest in their employees.”

Further information such as dates and details on how to book, plus all the other courses available which range from air-cooled engines and basic electrics and hydraulics, can be found at reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

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Club Car extend PGA partnership

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Club Car extend PGA partnership: Club Car, a global leader in small-wheel, zero-emissions electric vehicles, today announced a four-year extension to its long-standing partnership with The Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA).

Adding to a partnership that has already been a huge success for over 20 years, Club Car and The PGA will continue to collaborate on a wide range of important initiatives that will deliver significant value to PGA Members and the wider game of golf.

Club Car extend PGA partnership

Marco Natale, Vice President EMEA at Club Car, commented: “We continue to enjoy a richly-rewarding relationship with The PGA, and strongly value our status as a long-standing PGA Partner. Club Car’s objectives follow a similar path to those of The PGA in that we also put the development and enjoyment of the game at the heart of our business.

“Its 8,000 members are a vital component to the success of the golf industry, supporting the games of millions of golfers in 80 countries, and we look forward to playing our part in assisting The PGA’s great work through this exclusive partnership.”

The PGA’s vision for the future is built on the foundations of the past and focuses on the firm belief that the PGA Professional will always be central to the growth and success of the global game of golf.

Robert Maxfield, Chief Executive of The Professional Golfers’ Association, added: “The longevity of our relationship alone is testament to how successfully our two organisations continue to collaborate together. This new agreement will forge even closer ties, and we look forward to working with the whole of the Club Car family, delivering insights, initiative and projects at the heart of the game.”

This partnership extension will also open up the opportunity for Club Car to further develop relationships with other PGA Partners and PGA Branded Properties through annual networking and business events.

For more information about The PGA, visit: https://www.pga.info

For more information about Club Car, visit: https://www.clubcar.com

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First school grounds seminar a success

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First school grounds seminar a success: A recent school grounds seminar held at Charterhouse in Surrey has been hailed a huge success by all who attended.

The event attracted over 50 delegates from all levels as several topical issues were explored and discussed. Supported by prominent suppliers and manufacturers in the industry – ICL, Limagrain UK, Syngenta UK and Charterhouse Turf Machinery – attendees had the opportunity to find out more about key subjects such as fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides, grass seed and aeration.

First school grounds seminar a success

At a time where the industry is witnessing increasing pressure on pesticide usage and when registrations are getting tighter, the presentation by Glenn Kirby, Syngenta’s Technical Manager for the UK Turf & Landscape, was well received. From this seminar, attendees became more knowledgeable on how to get the best out of their products and also gained a greater understanding of fungicide timings, correct calibration and sprayer set-up, and how to choose the correct nozzles.

Sam Horner, Amenity Seed Specialist from Limagrain UK, offered a fantastic insight into the thought process behind the development of a grass seed mixture. From initial breeding through to going to a customer, attendees received first-hand information on characteristics of the plant, growing, harvesting, germination testing, creating a mix, percentages and the trials which go into producing a final product.

Henry Bechelet, ICL Technical Sales Manager UK & Ireland, focussed on new regulations for fertilizers which are set to commence in 2022. There has been a lot of uncertainty over the new forthcoming legislation and Henry was on hand to answer some all-too common questions and clarify the situation.

Stepping into the stunning school grounds, delegates then had the opportunity to see a number of outdoor product demonstrations from Charterhouse Turf Machinery. Attendees found out how to relieve compaction and improve drainage with the OxyShot air-injection unit, the Verti-Quake® and the Verti-Drain®. In particular, representatives from Charterhouse Turf Machinery focussed on the three styles of aeration – deep-tine aeration, linear aeration and high-pressure aeration.

The idea for this unique new event was born following discussions between a group of grounds managers from schools – Charterhouse, Whitgift, St Paul’s, Christ’s Hospital, Cranleigh, Reed’s, The Royal Grammar School (RGS), New Hall and Harrow.

Host for the day Lee Marshallsay from Charterhouse, provided an insight into how the seminar came to fruition: “After going to various events and exhibitions over the years we felt that many of the seminars were mainly aimed at managers or those in a senior position.

Ultimately, we are a group of grounds managers that meet up to talk about the industry because we want to help. We have taken something by the scruff of the neck and tried to drive something which is specifically for our sector.”

Echoing Lee was Daniel Ratling from Whitgift School, who said: “We wanted a training day that was going to be more targeted at every member of staff and give them information that would enthuse them and help them in their every-day work. A big part of that is integrating and mixing with people from other schools and this is not something that you are often able to do.”

Russel King, from The Royal Grammar School, felt that the event was a huge morale boost for his team: “We wanted our team to know that some of the issues they are facing are not just isolated to their specific grounds and that it could be perhaps a common problem for everyone. Today has been great because they have received advice about how other schools are approaching the issues and it has really boosted their morale.”

“Our staff have not been to anything like this before,” claimed James Pope from St Paul’s. “We all agreed that this was at a perfect time being half-term and my staff have been able to speak to professionals that they might not usually get the chance to speak to. I think we have all taken some great ideas away from this event.”

“It’s been a great first event and I’m confident that we can progress it in the future,” added host Lee. “I think this is something that could happen once a year and in order to grow we will debrief and identify what delegates would like to see in the future.”

For more information please visit www.fusion-media.eu

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Fusion Media on Twitter @FusionMediaEU and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/FusionMediaEurope.

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