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GroundsFest visitor registration opens

June 14, 2023/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

GroundsFest visitor registration opens: Visitor registration for GroundsFest 2023 is now officially open at groundsfest.com Taking place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on 20 and 21 September, GroundsFest is set to be the annual FREE must-attend event for grounds staff, greenkeepers, landscapers, local authorities, estate managers and contractors. The two-day event will feature hundreds of brands […]

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

June 13, 2023/in News, Press Release/by Louise Challiss

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again: When it comes to a cricket pitch, there’s not much that Richie Woodmason, owner of Willow Turf Care, doesn’t know about them – whether it’s playing on them or maintaining them! One thing he is certain of, is that when he needs a grass seed that is going […]

GroundsFest visitor registration opens

June 14, 2023/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

June 13, 2023/in News, Press Release/by Louise Challiss

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

GroundsFest visitor registration opens

June 14, 2023/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

GroundsFest visitor registration opens: Visitor registration for GroundsFest 2023 is now officially open at groundsfest.com

Taking place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on 20 and 21 September, GroundsFest is set to be the annual FREE must-attend event for grounds staff, greenkeepers, landscapers, local authorities, estate managers and contractors.

GroundsFest visitor registration opens

The two-day event will feature hundreds of brands including some of the biggest names in groundscare. From apprentice to management, GroundsFest will offer visitors a unique opportunity to experience the very latest industry trends and innovations, see a wide range of products in action, enhance their education, and participate in hands-on, Lantra approved training sessions.

Attendees can expect features such as:

Outdoor demonstrations – visitors will get to see machinery in action on large outdoor areas.

Indoor zones – a variety of exhibitor stands, catering outlets and seminar theatres.

Retail Area – a wide range of products, tools, clothing, and accessories at a discounted rate. The largest ever seen at a groundscare event.

Practical training sessions – Lantra approved hands-on training on a wide range of equipment from qualified instructors.

Education programme – educational seminars delivered by top speakers and industry experts.

The Landscaping Zone – an entire hall dedicated to those involved in the planning, design, and construction of outdoor environments in the landscaping sector.

The Play Zone – an outdoor area for all those involved in the selection, purchase, upkeep, and replacement of children’s play provision.

Festival – after an action-packed day, unwind and continue networking with live music and delicious street food.

In addition to the limitless opportunities and event features, Stoneleigh Park has FREE on-site parking and FREE shuttle buses will be available after the festival to take attendees back to their accommodation in Kenilworth, Leamington Spa and Coventry.

There will also be a dedicated area for camping, which should be pre-booked in advance prior to arrival. More information on staying in the camping area is available on the GroundsFest website.

Registration is accessible through the GroundsFest website and visitors can simply bring their email confirmation (on a phone or a printed copy to the registration desk) which will be located at the show entrance.

For more information, please visit www.groundsfest.com

You can also follow GroundsFest on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @GroundsFest for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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.

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

June 13, 2023/in News, Press Release/by Louise Challiss

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again: When it comes to a cricket pitch, there’s not much that Richie Woodmason, owner of Willow Turf Care, doesn’t know about them – whether it’s playing on them or maintaining them!

One thing he is certain of, is that when he needs a grass seed that is going to germinate quickly and deliver hard-wearing results capable of withstanding the demands of the modern season, he turns to Johnsons Sports Seed. Following his own extensive research, it’s Johnsons J Premier Wicket that ticks all the boxes for Richie, seeing it employed on 41 of the 42 renovations he completed last season.

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

After moving to Australia to play cricket, Richie became involved in the grounds maintenance at the Perth club, swiftly taking on the role of Head Groundsman. On his return to the UK, he then adopted a similar role at his home club before a return trip to Oz saw him gain further experience of management in warmer climes. Back again, and positions at Gloucestershire Country Cricket Club and Trent Bridge were held, alongside the establishment of Willow Turf Care – conducting end of season renovations for facilities in and around the Gloucestershire area.

It was during his time at Trent Bridge that Richie took it upon himself to conduct some trials to establish the germination of various mixtures and assess the performance of various cultivars. He explains, “When we were conducting repairs, I’d line up four or five different mixtures and then look at things like the speed of germination, coverage and plant strength, and found that in our attempts to get a wicket back in six or eight weeks, that J Premier Wicket repeatedly outperformed the others.”

This knowledge has served Richie well, since he went full time with Willow Turf Care in March 2021. “I was armed with my go-to grass seed and found that, as new clients came on board, they were happy to take my recommendation. I’m now Head Groundsman at seven clubs and use J Premier Wicket at all of these, along with the numerous other sites at which I’m contracted. It continues to offer brilliant wear tolerance, disease resistance and coped well with the challenges of the hot and dry weather last summer.”

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

J Premier Wicket is formulated from four top-rated perennial rye cultivars that deliver proven, reliable performance and outstanding camera appeal. “We used it on all of our 42 square renovations except one last year, with the other one also using seed from another DLF brand, and couldn’t fault the results.” He adds, “Time is becoming the most important commodity due to the expectations on county club grounds staff. This means that finding something that works well, and works quickly, is crucial. For me, the J Premier Wicket mix backed up with fantastic technical support from DLF’s Ian Barnett and priced as it is, makes it unrivalled.”

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.

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

GroundsFest visitor registration opens

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

GroundsFest visitor registration opens

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

GroundsFest visitor registration opens

GroundsFest visitor registration opens: Visitor registration for GroundsFest 2023 is now officially open at groundsfest.com

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again: When it comes to a cricket pitch, there’s not much that Richie Woodmason, owner of Willow Turf Care, doesn’t know about them – whether it’s playing on them or maintaining them!

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