Blog Elements - Turf Matters

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Protecting parks key to Levelling-Up ambitions

May 19, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Richard McKeever

Protecting parks key to Levelling-Up ambitions: If progress is to be made on the Government’s flagship “levelling-up” agenda the nation’s parks must be protected from further loss, according to green space charity Fields in Trust. Their annual ‘Green Space Index’ report suggests Britain’s local parks and green spaces have a significant role to play in […]

Slaley Hall turns to Otterbine

May 19, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Sofia Martins

Slaley Hall turns to Otterbine: Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort in the Northumberland countryside became a first-time Otterbine customer ready for the Matchroom Tour Championship last October, with one of the brand’s most popular products on full display. The club invested in a 1HP Sunburst aerating fountain to fix the weed and algae […]

Protecting parks key to Levelling-Up ambitions

May 19, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Richard McKeever

Slaley Hall turns to Otterbine

May 19, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Sofia Martins

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Protecting parks key to Levelling-Up ambitions

May 19, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Richard McKeever

Protecting parks key to Levelling-Up ambitions: If progress is to be made on the Government’s flagship “levelling-up” agenda the nation’s parks must be protected from further loss, according to green space charity Fields in Trust. Their annual ‘Green Space Index’ report suggests Britain’s local parks and green spaces have a significant role to play in restoring a sense of community and local pride as well as contributing to health, wellbeing and climate change resilience.

Local authorities in the Government’s priority levelling-up areas have, on average, 10% less green space provision when benchmarked against the amount communities need to thrive. The amount of green space per person in these priority levelling-up areas is set to decline by 2040 as population grows. The unequal distribution and access to local parks is stark and felt the most in those left behind neighbourhoods which are already missing out on the physical health, mental wellbeing and environmental impacts of local green space. Earlier research from Fields in Trust valued the health and wellbeing benefits for park users at more than £34 billion each year. Regular users of parks have fewer visits to their GP resulting in an annual saving to the NHS of £111 million.

Protecting parks key to Levelling-Up ambitions

Fields in Trust’s Green Space Index analysis demonstrates the disparities between nations and regions that the Levelling-Up programme is attempting to rectify. Fields in Trust found that Yorkshire and the Humber and the north west region fall well below a minimum standard for green space. Scotland, at 41 square metres per person, has more green space provision than both England and Wales. As a region, London’s green space is very accessible, but the region has the least green space per person, at just 19 sqm.

Speaking at the Westminster launch of the charity’s new analysis, Clive Betts MP, Chair of the DLUHC Parliamentary select committee and a Trustee of the Fields in Trust charity said “The role of green infrastructure in planning and healthy place-making should be central to government ambitions to rebalance geographic inequalities. Yet 2.8 million people already live more than a ten-minute walk from a public park, with levelling-up target areas having around 10% less green space than the average across Britain”.

Alongside their value for community health and wellbeing, local parks have a vital role to play in supporting our environment. These spaces improve air quality, capture harmful carbon and boost biodiversity.

Levelling-up requires a focused, long-term plan of action if it is to act upon the drivers of spatial disparity. Ensuring all neighbourhoods have accessible provision of parks and green spaces can help address a complex set of targets set by Government – which include improving pride of place, developing climate resilience, and improving local community infrastructure.

Fields in Trust’s analysis suggests that, unless local parks and green spaces are protected in the long-term, any levelling-up interventions will be transitory.

Liverpool West Derby MP, Ian Byrne, said: “Liverpool City Council’s landmark partnership to protect all of their parks with Fields in Trust demonstrates a solution that will benefit both people and place – not just for current residents but also into the future as Liverpool’s population is set to rise. The bold vision will ensure everyone in Liverpool lives within a ten-minute walk of a park or green space which will be protected, forever.

During Covid, we have seen the huge importance of green spaces for all within our communities and this collaboration between Fields in Trust and Liverpool City Council will hopefully be a catalyst for many other local authorities to do exactly the same and enshrine their green spaces with Fields in Trust to protect them for future generations.”

Fields in Trust have received similar commitments to protect access to local parks from the City of Edinburgh Council who want to ensure residents have local green space protected forever. Wrexham County Borough Council is adding to their protected portfolio of green space as part of a drive to net zero.

Chair of Fields in Trust, Jo Barnett, said: “We know that parks and green spaces play a vital role in people’s health and wellbeing, yet the Green Space Index demonstrates uneven provision across Great Britain, and our most vulnerable communities are impacted negatively.

Although the scale and interdependency across the levelling-up portfolio is intensely complex, parks and green spaces deliver impacts across the range of social policy agendas yet remain undervalued for the multiple benefits they contribute to our communities. The climate crisis adds a new impetus to protect urban green space and as our work in Liverpool shows local authorities are recognising the important part green space plays in our neighbourhoods, towns and cities and stepping-up to ensure it is future proofed.”

The Green Space Index is an annual report from the charity Fields in Trust which analyses provision of park and green spaces. The report was first produced in 2019, and this year is the Index’s fourth edition. People can find out more about the green space provision by using the interactive web app on the Fields in Trust website.

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.

Slaley Hall turns to Otterbine

May 19, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Sofia Martins

Slaley Hall turns to Otterbine: Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort in the Northumberland countryside became a first-time Otterbine customer ready for the Matchroom Tour Championship last October, with one of the brand’s most popular products on full display.

The club invested in a 1HP Sunburst aerating fountain to fix the weed and algae problem, add a decorative display to the lake at the fifteenth hole and complement the beauty of the famous tree-lined fairways on the Hunting course, one of its two PGA-standard 18-hole courses.

Slaley Hall turns to Otterbine

With a brief to find a product to solve a problem and bring beauty to his waterscape, course manager Neil Smith didn’t hesitate to turn to distributor Reesink Turfcare: “I’d used Reesink in the past and get on well with Pete Newton from the water division, who recommended the product and helped a lot getting the fountain in time for the event and making sure everything was right.

“I knew about the brand and knew they were very good, reliable products,” he continues. “Slaley Hall already had a full fleet of Toro machines and Toro irrigation from Reesink so it seemed like the sensible choice to make, going back to them for this. I told Pete exactly what I was looking for and he recommended this model. It has served us very well.”

The Sunburst is one of Otterbine’s most sought-after fountains, not only for its classical spray pattern that suits most venues, but also for its impressive oxygen transfer rates and pumping power (up to 237 cubic metres per hour in as little as 75cm of water), which are some of the highest in the industry.

“The lake is definitely clear from weeds, which has helped with the visual aspect,” says Neil. “The shape of the fountain is exactly what we wanted and provides a very striking display for golfers, adding to the whole experience. We’ve had very nice comments from guests about the way it looks so it’s a great addition to the course.

“I’d done some research beforehand and it does everything it says on the tin, it’s a good line,” he claims. “The timing system, especially, is very useful – we don’t have it on 24/7, which saves on running costs and water and helps us stay sustainable. We haven’t had any issues with it, it’s all gone very smoothly. And I know from working with Reesink in the past that if needed their back-up is great and they respond quickly, so we’re never worried.”

Now that he has tried Otterbine and experienced the benefits, Neil already has plans for more additions to the club. But for now, he and the team will have their hands full preparing for the season and the 2022 PGA Professional Championship in June.

“I’m interested in adding more Otterbine products to the course in the future as I find it’s an important aspect to consider in the business,” Neil continues. “The pH levels of the water can change quickly so you need that maintenance and extra step to keep everything balanced. The fact that they’re aesthetically pleasing is a big bonus and helps maintain a professional, put-together image. We’ll be progressing that after the tournament.”

To find out more about the Otterbine range of aerators and fountains, contact Reesink on 01480 226800, email info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk or visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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)

Protecting parks key to Levelling-Up ambitions

Slaley Hall turns to Otterbine

Protecting parks key to Levelling-Up ambitions

Slaley Hall turns to Otterbine

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Protecting parks key to Levelling-Up ambitions

Slaley Hall turns to Otterbine

Slaley Hall turns to Otterbine: Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort in the Northumberland countryside became a first-time Otterbine customer ready for the Matchroom Tour Championship last October, with one of the brand’s most popular products on full display.

RESOURCES

CONTACT

CONNECT