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Visit Mansfield Sand at SALTEX 2026

September 28, 2026/in Events, News, Press Release/by Admin

Visit Mansfield Sand at SALTEX 2026 Visitors to the Mansfield Sand stand (E010) at SALTEX 2026, taking place on 11 and 12 November at the NEC, Birmingham, will have the opportunity to explore a comprehensive range of sand-based products designed to enhance the health and performance of sports pitches. With over 180 years of expertise, […]

STIHL ALLPRO battery system in use at the University of Oxford

September 28, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

STIHL ALLPRO battery system in use at the University of Oxford Designed to making working with battery tools even more convenient and cost-effective, STIHL’s ALLPRO battery system offers fully charged tools within minutes, as well as increased capacity and multiple efficiency benefits. Here, the gardeners at Worcester College, University of Oxford, put the new battery system […]

Visit Mansfield Sand at SALTEX 2026

September 28, 2026/in Events, News, Press Release/by Admin

STIHL ALLPRO battery system in use at the University of Oxford

September 28, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

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Visit Mansfield Sand at SALTEX 2026

September 28, 2026/in Events, News, Press Release/by Admin

Visit Mansfield Sand at SALTEX 2026

Visitors to the Mansfield Sand stand (E010) at SALTEX 2026, taking place on 11 and 12 November at the NEC, Birmingham, will have the opportunity to explore a comprehensive range of sand-based products designed to enhance the health and performance of sports pitches.

Visit Mansfield Sand at SALTEX 2026

With over 180 years of expertise, Mansfield Sand has been at the forefront of developing premium silica sand-based products. The company offers a wide array of innovative solutions for sports, landscaping, and equestrian applications, including stadium and training ground facilities, championship golf courses, and world-class show jumping arenas.

At SALTEX, Mansfield Sand’s industry experts will be available to discuss how their products can transform your sports turf projects. Key products on display will include:

Reinforced Rootzone

Mansfield Sand’s Reinforced Rootzones are engineered to maximize the use of natural turf surfaces while meeting the high standards required by today’s sports industry. The reinforcement technology used in these products provides enhanced stability and durability, ensuring that sand-dominated rootzones remain free-draining and consistent across the entire surface.

The range includes:

Fibre Reinforced Rootzone – reinforced with polypropylene fibres for added strength.

Fibrelastic Rootzone – combines polypropylene fibres with flexible Elastane fibres to enhance surface resilience.

Fibresand – ideal for maintaining surface integrity when grass cover is reduced due to heavy usage or winter wear.

Sand Soil Rootzones

Mansfield Sand is dedicated to helping turf managers achieve the ideal surface condition week after week. Their Sand Soil Rootzones are crafted from high-quality materials, ensuring exceptional results whether used for renovation or construction. The Mansil 40 Silica Sand blended with screened topsoil creates an optimal rootzone foundation.

Sand Compost Rootzones

For projects requiring a rootzone rich in organic content, Mansfield Sand offers a range of premium sand compost blends. These products are designed to retain nutrients and enhance drought resistance, promoting healthier, more resilient turf.

Top Dressing

Tailored for the fine turf market, Mansfield Sand’s Soil Top Dressing combines their superior silica sands with top-quality soils. The mixture is sterilised and screened to create a smooth, stone-free dressing that is easy to apply. Custom dressing blends and soil amendments are also available to meet specific turf management needs.

Mansil Silica Sand Sports Range

Mansfield Sand’s Mansil range of silica sands, sourced from their Two Oaks Quarry in Mansfield, is essential for constructing and maintaining a variety of sports surfaces, from winter sports pitches and golf courses to bowling greens and other amenity turf areas.

For more information, visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk, follow them on Twitter at @MansfieldSand, or connect on Facebook at Mansfield Sand Sport Surfaces.

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

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STIHL ALLPRO battery system in use at the University of Oxford

September 28, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

STIHL ALLPRO battery system in use at the University of Oxford

Designed to making working with battery tools even more convenient and cost-effective, STIHL’s ALLPRO battery system offers fully charged tools within minutes, as well as increased capacity and multiple efficiency benefits. Here, the gardeners at Worcester College, University of Oxford, put the new battery system to the test.

STIHL ALLPRO battery system in use at the University of Oxford

The approximately 11-hectare grounds of Worcester College include picturesque medieval cottages as well as extensive green spaces, some of which are open to the public. Maintaining the diverse grounds, ranging from sports pitches and manicured lawns to intricate topiary sculptures, is the responsibility of a nine-person gardening team led by Simon Bagnall, Head of the Gardens and Grounds Department.

On such a vast site, it is particularly important to spend as little time as possible recharging batteries and transporting them to the work site. With that, ahead of the system’s official market launch, the Worcester College grounds team tested batteries from STIHL’s new ALLPRO Performance Series.

STIHL ALLPRO battery technology for professionals

STIHL ALLPRO batteries are setting new standards in energy management for gardening, forestry, and municipal professionals. Designed for use in the toughest conditions, ALLPRO batteries can be recharged to 80 percent in less than ten minutes, using the AL 1802 MO High-Speed Charger. This represents a time saving of around 40% compared to the AP 300 S from the previous generation STIHL AP battery system. This means that the grounds team in Oxford can recharge their batteries during a short tea break.

STIHL ALLPRO for a range of professional applications

During the ALLPRO test phase, the gardeners at Worcester College used a range of professional equipment across various applications.

STIHL MSA 260 C-O Battery-Powered Chainsaw

Gardener Mike Skelton used the new MSA 260 C-O Battery Chainsaw with an ALLPRO AP 200 P battery, designed to achieve a high performance with low weight.

Mike says of his experience: “I’m felling a tree with a trunk as thick as a leg, made of very dense wood and you can really feel that the motor has plenty of torque when making crosscuts. At the same time, the chainsaw is wonderfully manoeuvrable when limbing. It’s pleasantly light, as well as simple and comfortable to use.”

STIHL FSA 200 R Battery-Powered Brushcutter

Gardener Taissa Csaky, who once studied at Worcester College herself, worked with the STIHL FSA 200 R Brushcutter and ALLPRO AP 300 P battery. Taissa is tasked with cutting three meadows, including a vast flower meadow, where preserving biodiversity is key.

Taissa describes her experience: “The brushcutter’s power can be controlled very precisely, so I can apply it particularly intensively where it’s needed. I have the batteries where I need them – one in the machine, one on my belt and two more in reserve. With these four batteries and an on-site charging option, I’m able to work through the whole day.”

STIHL BRA 600 Battery-Powered Backpack Blower

Taissa’s colleague, Jacob Fielding-Bishop worked with STIHL’s BRA 600 Backpack Blower as part of the test.

Jacob, comments: “I collect leaves using the BRA 600, which is powered by two units of the top-of-the-range model in the ALLPRO series, the AP 300 P battery. The consistent power it delivers is truly amazing. The system is ideal for clearing large areas and for difficult tasks, such as dislodging wet leaves from the ground.”

Once the batteries were flat, Jacob took a quick tea break to recharge, using the new AL 1802-MO High-Speed Charger. A short while later, he was able to get back to work. He confirms: “They’re already 80 percent charged after less than ten minutes.”

STIHL HSA 140 T Battery-Powered Hedge Trimmer

Finally, team leader Simon Bagnall, picked up the HSA 140 T Hedge Trimmer, along with AP 100 P battery – the lightest battery model in the ALLPRO Performance range. The head gardener used the tool to trim a yew hedge.

Simon comments: “The machine, together with the plug-in battery, is well balanced and extremely manoeuvrable, making it perfect for these hedges where we want to achieve a really precise cut.”

STIHL mobile charging solutions

The gardeners at Worcester College also gained experience with STIHL’s mobile charging solutions. The new STIHL AL 1802 MO High-Speed Charger offers great efficiency, ensuring rapid charging on the go. With a charging power of 1,800 W, the solution can charge an ALLPRO AP 300 P battery to 80 percent in less than ten minutes.

By combining the AL 1802 MO High-Speed Charger with the PS 2000 Portable Power Supply on the loading area of their van, the professional gardeners were able to charge their tools’ batteries quickly and as needed, meaning that they needed to prepare and carry fewer units to keep working throughout the day. Until now, the gardening team has been charging their batteries slowly overnight using the wall-mounted charging station in the workshop.

Simon estimates: “In a team of four, we use about ten batteries in a single working day.” He continues: “With the energy from the power station and the fast charger, we can charge six batteries on the go. This allows us to work more flexibly and efficiently, and we need fewer batteries. Because of their higher energy capacity and the ability to charge on the go, we don’t have to take a carload of charged batteries with us in the morning. All in all, this reduces the total cost of ownership.”

Summing up the STIHL ALLPRO experience

Head Gardener Simon Bagnall sums up the ALLPRO experience: “We’ve worked really well with the test units, got a lot done, and the new batteries have supported us perfectly.”

He adds: “A real bonus is how quickly the batteries charge, so we can get lots of jobs done without long interruptions, swap the battery quickly and get straight back to work. Quick battery swaps and fast charging on the go – that has made a huge difference to our work.”

STIHL at 100

ALLPRO arrives as STIHL celebrates its 100th anniversary. Since 1926, STIHL has defined the global standard for battery and petrol-powered forestry, landscaping, and residential gardening equipment for professional and domestic users.

About Worcester College at the University of Oxford

The historic Worcester College at the University of Oxford offers a wide range of academic research and teaching, which has continued to evolve since its foundation in 1714. Today, the college is one of the most popular among prospective students in Oxford.

For the full case study, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfsQMKD9sQc

For more information on STIHL products, visit www.stihl.co.uk or contact your nearest STIHL Approved Dealer.

Find out more about STIHL’s historic milestone, here: https://100.stihl.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

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Visit Mansfield Sand at SALTEX 2026

STIHL ALLPRO battery system in use at the University of Oxford

Visit Mansfield Sand at SALTEX 2026

STIHL ALLPRO battery system in use at the University of Oxford

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Visit Mansfield Sand at SALTEX 2026

Visit Mansfield Sand at SALTEX 2026

STIHL ALLPRO battery system in use at the University of Oxford

STIHL ALLPRO battery system in use at the University of Oxford

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