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Poundbury revisited

September 14, 2023/in News, Press Release/by Tony Hawkins

Poundbury revisited: During 2020, they undertook significant work on the green space at Poundbury, Dorchester. Situated on Duchy of Cornwall land, the area saw the planting of over 400 trees and 26,000 shrubs and hedging plants. This was very much a part of Poundbury’s ongoing Great Field development. The project began in 2014 with the […]

A Day of Learning and Networking at Leicester City FC

September 13, 2023/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

A Day of Learning and Networking at Leicester City FC: Leicester City FC Training Ground recently played host to a fantastic gathering of turf professionals. Turf Science Live, an event organised jointly by ICL and Syngenta, offers a platform for greenkeepers and groundsmen to dive deep into the latest in turf management. The incredible surroundings […]

Poundbury revisited

September 14, 2023/in News, Press Release/by Tony Hawkins

A Day of Learning and Networking at Leicester City FC

September 13, 2023/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Poundbury revisited

September 14, 2023/in News, Press Release/by Tony Hawkins

Poundbury revisited: During 2020, they undertook significant work on the green space at Poundbury, Dorchester. Situated on Duchy of Cornwall land, the area saw the planting of over 400 trees and 26,000 shrubs and hedging plants.

This was very much a part of Poundbury’s ongoing Great Field development. The project began in 2014 with the building of sports pitches, an outdoor gym, a multi-use games area and the planting of wildflower meadows. The Duchy worked with the People Need Nature charity and local seed supplier, Heritage Seeds, to sow another wildflower meadow in 2020. However, unusually dry periods and exceptionally wet conditions left the new area with problems of compaction and waterlogging. It meant ground conditions had to be improved before any planting and establishment of shrubs, hedging and trees could be done. The meadow had also got off to a slow start.

Poundbury revisited

Deep aeration specialists Terrain Aeration were called upon to relieve the compaction and panning on the top half of the field. They brought in their Terralift machines, which work on the principle of hammering a hollow probe one metre deep into the soil, using a JCB road breaker gun; the soil is compact at depth and requires the hammer to break through. At one metre depth, a hydraulic blast of compressed air is released at up to 20Bar (280psi). This fractures the soil, creating fissures. The process is repeated at two-metre intervals on a grid pattern with the fissures interlinking to create a system of aeration and drainage. The Terralift is the only machine which uses such high pressure to enable the process to work. On the tail end of the blast, dried seaweed is injected and this sticks to the walls of the fissures, expanding and contracting with the moisture content in the soil. The probe holes are backfilled with aggregate to maintain the aeration process.

In July 2023, Terrain Aeration revisited Poundbury to see how the Great Field meadows were faring. They found a flourishing panorama of colourful meadows, maturing trees and hedges. The wildflower seed was collected from existing meadows in Purbeck with the local sourcing helping to protect local populations of wildflowers. Ladies’ and Hedge bedstraw, common knapweed, Quaking-grass, Bird’s-foot Trefoil and Kidney Vetch are among the many meadow flowers growing along with Viper’s bugloss in the new field.

Terrain Aeration 01449 673783 www.terrainaeration.co.uk

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A Day of Learning and Networking at Leicester City FC

September 13, 2023/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

A Day of Learning and Networking at Leicester City FC: Leicester City FC Training Ground recently played host to a fantastic gathering of turf professionals.

Turf Science Live, an event organised jointly by ICL and Syngenta, offers a platform for greenkeepers and groundsmen to dive deep into the latest in turf management. The incredible surroundings of Leicester City Football Club’s training facilities made for the perfect backdrop. With over 100 attendees from sporting venues all over the UK, the day was ripe for sharing insights and experiences.

A Day of Learning and Networking at Leicester City FC

The day commenced in the impressive press room, setting the tone for the informative sessions that were to follow. Attendees were divided into four groups, ensuring an intimate and comprehensive learning experience. Each group would experience all four designed stations – two in the morning, followed by two post-lunch.

Speaking of lunch, it wasn’t just about satiating hunger. Attendees had the opportunity to showcase their golfing skills, with a “longest drive” and “nearest the pin” putting competition on the site’s golf course, adding a touch of camaraderie and friendly competition to the day.

The seminar’s core, however, was undeniably the four stations:

Station 1: From Research to Results

Dr Andy Owen, International Technical Manager for ICL Growing Solutions, Turf and Landscape Division, and Dr Jonathan Knowles, Head of the Sports Turf Academy at Leicester City Football Club, explained the intricate process of turf research, exploring its nuances and the journey from laboratory findings to real-world applications

Station 2: Environmentally Friendly Outfield Nutrition

In this session, Henry Bechelet, ICL’s Technical Sales Manager for UK and Ireland’s turf and landscape business, discussed the shift towards eco-friendly solutions, highlighting the importance and efficacy of sustainable nutrition for outfield areas.

Station 3: Integrated Turf Pest Management

Glenn Kirby, the Syngenta EAME Technical Services Manager for Turf & Landscape, enlightened attendees on holistic approaches to turf pest control, emphasizing the integration of multiple tactics to achieve optimal results.

Station 4: Biological Tools for Turf Management

Eric Chen, the Syngenta EAME Biologicals Technical Manager for Turf & Ornamentals, presented on the potential of biological tools in turf management.

As the day wrapped up, Ed Carter offered heartfelt gratitude to the team at Leicester City FC for their partnership and for hosting the event. Prizes were awarded to the competition winners and attendees had the opportunity to walk on one of the football pitches.

This marked a memorable end to a day filled with learning and networking. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees is a testament to the event’s success and the relevance of the topics discussed.

As the industry continues to evolve, gatherings like Turf Science Live ensure that professionals stay abreast of the latest developments and best practices in turf management

For more information, please visit www.icl-growingsolutions.uk

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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)

Poundbury revisited

A Day of Learning and Networking at Leicester City FC

Poundbury revisited

A Day of Learning and Networking at Leicester City FC

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Poundbury revisited

Poundbury revisited: During 2020, they undertook significant work on the green space at Poundbury, Dorchester. Situated on Duchy of Cornwall land, the area saw the planting of over 400 trees and 26,000 shrubs and hedging plants.

A Day of Learning and Networking at Leicester City FC

A Day of Learning and Networking at Leicester City FC: Leicester City FC Training Ground recently played host to a fantastic gathering of turf professionals.

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