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Updating events to be run online

November 27, 2020/in News, Press Release/by Kate Hopkins

Updating events to be run online: At the start of each year the Amenity Forum run a series of free updating events for all involved or with an interest in amenity management. These normally take place at venues across the UK and have been very well received. Given the current restrictions, opportunity to run these […]

Green light for green weed control

November 27, 2020/in News, Press Release/by Tony Hawkins

Green light for green weed control: Greentown Environmental Ltd and Weedingtech’s Foamstream have been chosen by Dublin City Council for the provision of herbicide weed control across the Dublin City area. It is the first contract of its kind in Ireland, with the council making the bold decision to move away from herbicide-based weed control […]

Updating events to be run online

November 27, 2020/in News, Press Release/by Kate Hopkins

Green light for green weed control

November 27, 2020/in News, Press Release/by Tony Hawkins

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Updating events to be run online

November 27, 2020/in News, Press Release/by Kate Hopkins

Updating events to be run online: At the start of each year the Amenity Forum run a series of free updating events for all involved or with an interest in amenity management.

These normally take place at venues across the UK and have been very well received. Given the current restrictions, opportunity to run these in the traditional way has been lost but the Forum are going ahead with them but online. The same technology will be used as for the Forum’s very successful conference held in October.

Updating events to be run online

The format will be very similar to normal, with the programme starting at 10.15 and concluding by 12.30pm. There will be opportunity for questions and all the current issues will be covered. 2021 sees the UK fully depart from the EEU bringing with its new regulations on plant protection products. The UK is also issuing a new national action plan relating to amenity management in 2021. Just these two items present challenges and opportunities. The events also give opportunity to catch up on new developments and innovations and what is required to meet the Amenity Standard, set to become a requirement in future.

Whilst the content of each event will be broadly the same, each will have a particular nation focus. The dates are given below, and each event is free to attend but pre-registration is required. If you would like to register or receive further information, please contact admin@amenityforum.net Full programmes for each event will be available early in 2021.

February 9^thEngland

February 11^th Wales

February 23^rdEngland

February 25^th Northern Ireland

March 4^th Scotland

Professor John Moverley OBE, Independent Chairman of the Forum, said ‘As I often say, what happens in amenity management impacts upon every UK citizen every day seeking to provide safe and healthy spaces fit for purpose. The importance of this has never been more apparent in the last year. Our Updating events are always popular and relevant, but this year is set to be more than ever. There is much change around and how we address this will be vital’

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Green light for green weed control

November 27, 2020/in News, Press Release/by Tony Hawkins

Green light for green weed control: Greentown Environmental Ltd and Weedingtech’s Foamstream have been chosen by Dublin City Council for the provision of herbicide weed control across the Dublin City area.

It is the first contract of its kind in Ireland, with the council making the bold decision to move away from herbicide-based weed control and seek greener alternatives. Greentown has been carrying out weed control for Dublin City Council since 2010, initially as a subcontractor before securing the principal contractor role in 2014. Greentown is a weed control company, not a chemical company, and in 2017 they started exploring glyphosate alternatives.

Green light for green weed control

In 2018 they trialled several chemical-free methods and Foamstream was the clear winner. With a strong belief in this product, Managing Director John-Ross Armstrong decided to heavily invest in the equipment required to carry out this service to its full potential. “We are responsible weed control providers and we wanted to source a viable alternative, so we have this as an option to offer our clients.” He says. “We are conscious that there has been a shift towards greener methods, and we wanted to ensure we have a solution and that we are the market leader.”

Foamstream is an innovative approach to weed control and has the desired benefit of being completely herbicide free. Its patented low-pressure process combines heat with biodegradable foam, making it safe for use around people, animals, and delicate environments. The foam is created through a mixture of plant oils, wheat proteins, and sugars. It is supplied by Furlong Equipment, the exclusive importer and distributor of the solution to help organisations in Ireland make outdoor areas greener, cleaner and safer. They customise the machines for county councils and public works and, for Greentown, modified the skid unit to load on the truck, and added an extendable boom.

A representative of Dublin City Council was asked why the council made this decision.

“Action 9 of The Dublin City Biodiversity Action Plan 2015-2020 states the Council should: ‘Prepare and implement a pesticide reduction strategy within Dublin City Council. The use of herbicides and pesticides by Dublin City Council will be examined, minimizing, and where possible, eliminating their use. This will require a clear and well-thought-out series of actions, which does not entail an overnight switch to a new regime, but rather a structured step-by-step approach. However, as part of the Dublin City Biodiversity Action Plan 2015-2020, Dublin City Council will develop a transparent strategy for minimizing pesticide use, which will be an exemplar for other organizations and authorities within the City’. As part of this minimisation programme, Dublin City Council sought tenders for alternatives methods for the control of weeds other than the use of glyphosate in line with Dublin City Council Biodiversity Plan.”

The method behind Foamstream is the longer a plant is kept in the kill zone (temperatures above 57˚C) the better. By providing a layer of foam to the water, its acts as an insulator and holds the heat from the water in the kill zone for long enough to penetrate the leaf’s waxy outer layer, and travel down the stem and into the roots. This severely damages the plant, either killing it or causing it to die back. The main benefits to using this kind of treatment are used in all weathers, on any surface, all-year-round. It delivers instantly visible results and is herbicide free.

“Foamstream is a great alternative to traditional methods. It has immediate effects on roadside verge weeds and uses organic means to do so.” Says Dineka Maguire, Greentown’s Dublin Divisional Manager. The weeds overtime then decompose naturally leaving streets weed-free. The public have responded positively to this service and are delighted to see an alternative to herbicide-based methods. Members of the public are at first curious as to how the machine works, however, once we engage with them, they are delighted we are Foamstreaming their streets.”

More information can be obtained by calling Weedingtech on +44(0)2039090050
info@weedingtech.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)

Updating events to be run online

Green light for green weed control

Updating events to be run online

Green light for green weed control

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Updating events to be run online

Updating events to be run online: At the start of each year the Amenity Forum run a series of free updating events for all involved or with an interest in amenity management.

Green light for green weed control

Green light for green weed control: Greentown Environmental Ltd and Weedingtech’s Foamstream have been chosen by Dublin City Council for the provision of herbicide weed control across the Dublin City area.

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