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UK grass about to get greener

June 10, 2022/in News, Press Release/by External Source

UK grass about to get greener: Each year gardeners up and down the UK throw tonnes of powerful herbicides onto their lawns to try and kill weeds. But David Hedges-Gower, Lawn Association Chairman, explains why this is often a waste of time and money – and dangerous! “Let’s be clear; a herbicide – that ‘harmless’ […]

Bourne to ride ISEKI world record attempt

June 10, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Self

Bourne to ride ISEKI world record attempt: Working on ride-on mowers is part of the job for Colin North, owner of Bourne to Garden, a grounds maintenance business based in Kent, UK. However, it wasn’t until a friend mentioned the current world record attempt for the fastest journey from Lands End to John O’Groats on […]

UK grass about to get greener

June 10, 2022/in News, Press Release/by External Source

Bourne to ride ISEKI world record attempt

June 10, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Self

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

UK grass about to get greener

June 10, 2022/in News, Press Release/by External Source

UK grass about to get greener: Each year gardeners up and down the UK throw tonnes of powerful herbicides onto their lawns to try and kill weeds. But David Hedges-Gower, Lawn Association Chairman, explains why this is often a waste of time and money – and dangerous!

“Let’s be clear; a herbicide – that ‘harmless’ addition to many commercial or retail lawn fertilisers for apparently killing weeds – is a powerful and toxic chemical. Despite this, thanks to a shameful lack of regulation in lawn care and incredibly poor advice, our gardeners have for decades been encouraged to buy and spread these ‘convenience’ products. They are promised the benefits but are not told of the environmental impacts.

UK grass about to get greener

“However, grass isn’t just the most widespread and diverse plant group on the planet – it’s also one of the greenest, being perfectly able to adapt to the most extreme of conditions all by itself.

“So our lawns should be one of the most natural parts of the garden – all that’s needed is to maintain healthy grass the way nature intended. A good native sward, nurtured through basic modern lawn care, simply won’t leave enough room for a serious lawn weed problem.

And using herbicides is not just wasteful – it’s risky too, as David explains:

“In other sectors, all kinds of potentially dangerous chemicals have been removed from general sale. Here at the LA (Lawn Association) we believe it is time to ban the sale of lawn herbicides to the general public. Asking gardeners to use these chemicals responsibly is like asking all motorists to be able to service their own cars safely. Herbicides should be a last resort – and only used by those with professional training and regulation(for the moment)

So, what’s changing?

Until now there simply hasn’t been adequate training – for gardeners or for lawn professionals. Even with proper City and Guilds certification many professionals remain confused about vital precision spraying. Fortunately training lies at the heart of the Lawn Association, which is helping to reduce unnecessary and reckless herbicide use on two fronts

First, through its online lawn care course, gardeners can learn how to create and maintain healthy lawns without resorting to dangerous chemicals. And second, the Association’s new Level 2 Training (coming soon) will help ensure lawn professionals can use herbicides efficiently, when necessary, with confidence, knowledge and skill.

For more information or images please contact Francijn Suermondt at rabbitattackpr@gmail.com or on 07895184395.

Our core mission at the Lawn Association is to make accurate lawn care information readily available via our website and through our Free Membership Scheme for gardening enthusiasts. Go to the @LawnAssociation Facebook page to join the Lawn Enthusiasts Group, and get free association membership via the website, www.lawnassociation.org.uk

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

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Bourne to ride ISEKI world record attempt

June 10, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Self

Bourne to ride ISEKI world record attempt: Working on ride-on mowers is part of the job for Colin North, owner of Bourne to Garden, a grounds maintenance business based in Kent, UK.

However, it wasn’t until a friend mentioned the current world record attempt for the fastest journey from Lands End to John O’Groats on a ride-on mower that he suddenly thought what a great challenge it would be to try and beat this whilst raising money for charity, after all he has plenty of experience driving them all day!

Bourne to ride ISEKI world record attempt

Colin explains further; “We are aiming to beat the current world record of 5 days, 8 hours and 36 minutes, completed by Andy Maxfield on the 30 July 2017. We will be driving an ISEKI SF5 ride-on mower that has been kindly donated and supported by ISEKI UK, aiming for up to 20 hours driving each day. All this, whilst most importantly for us, raising money for three charities that are close to our heart’s; Motor Neurone Disease Association, Kenward Trust who help those struggling with alcohol or drug addiction and The Masonic Charitable Foundation, with the target to raise £30,000 to be split equally between each of the charities.”

Starting off at Lands End on Monday 27^th June they will be avoiding the motorways and traveling through the counties listed below in order to reach their final destination of John O’Groats, whilst hopefully beating the current World Record:

World Record attempt route:

Cornwall
Devon
Somerset
Gloucestershire
Worcestershire
Shropshire
Cheshire
Merseyside
Lancashire
Cumbria
Dumfriesshire
Lanarkshire
West Lothian
Stirlingshire
Perthshire
Inverness-shire
Ross & Cromarty
Sutherland
Caithness

“We can’t wait to get started, there is a lot of preparation involved and we could not have done this without the support of ISEKI UK who will be travelling with us all the way too. We look forward to seeing people out on route, don’t forget to give us a beep and a wave! Between ourselves and ISEKI UK we will be doing regular updates on social media, interviews on TV and local radio coverage throughout the journey so please keep a listen out for us.”

David Withers from ISEKI UK adds; “It is great that a customer of ours has chosen one of our mowers to attempt this world record! We are so excited to support them on this challenge and look forward to supporting them throughout the journey then being with them at John O’Groats at the end of the race to celebrate their achievement!”

As part of the world record attempt stipulations, independent witness signatures and photos are required along the way, so keep a look out on ISEKI’s social media for details of where they will be on route and follow the tracker. Encouragement along the journey and coming out to wave them past will no doubt be appreciated to help keep the morale high on what will be an extremely long, testing and tiring journey.

Details of how to donate can be found at www.bournetogarden.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)

UK grass about to get greener

Bourne to ride ISEKI world record attempt

UK grass about to get greener

Bourne to ride ISEKI world record attempt

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

UK grass about to get greener

UK grass about to get greener: Each year gardeners up and down the UK throw tonnes of powerful herbicides onto their lawns to try and kill weeds. But David Hedges-Gower, Lawn Association Chairman, explains why this is often a waste of time and money – and dangerous!

Bourne to ride ISEKI world record attempt

Bourne to ride ISEKI world record attempt: Working on ride-on mowers is part of the job for Colin North, owner of Bourne to Garden, a grounds maintenance business based in Kent, UK.

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