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GGM to be carbon neutral by 2030

September 18, 2020/in News, Press Release/by Alison Mulrooney

GGM to be carbon neutral by 2030: Award Winning GGM Groundscare has taken its dedication to being an eco-friendly organisation to the next level and commit to a drive to improve its green credentials even further. The Colne -based organisation already boasts an impressive record for environmental awareness and over the lockdown period the business […]

Henderson Grass Machinery helps Charleton rise from the ashes

September 18, 2020/in Machinery, News, Press Release/by External Source

Henderson Grass Machinery helps Charleton rise from the ashes: When fire destroyed the clubhouse of Charleton Golf Club, near Leven, in January, the club must have thought they’d used up all their bad luck for the year in one fell swoop …. then came Covid 19, and the work, and plans, to get back on […]

GGM to be carbon neutral by 2030

September 18, 2020/in News, Press Release/by Alison Mulrooney

Henderson Grass Machinery helps Charleton rise from the ashes

September 18, 2020/in Machinery, News, Press Release/by External Source

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GGM to be carbon neutral by 2030

September 18, 2020/in News, Press Release/by Alison Mulrooney

GGM to be carbon neutral by 2030: Award Winning GGM Groundscare has taken its dedication to being an eco-friendly organisation to the next level and commit to a drive to improve its green credentials even further.

The Colne -based organisation already boasts an impressive record for environmental awareness and over the lockdown period the business has taken stock and investigated ways to enhance this, undertaking several new measures including investing in renewable energy, reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions and helping improve air quality locally.

GGM to be carbon neutral by 2030

The move came after the company completed a full energy and environmental audit and joined the Chamber of Trade’s Green Rose programme, and are currently working towards the ISO14001 environmental standard.

Chris Gibson, Managing Director explains:

“GGM Groundscare recognise that, as with every organisation, our business activities impact upon our environment in terms of both our routine operations and our development. As a responsible and environmentally aware organisation, we acknowledge that we have a commitment to help protect the environment in every way we can.

“To this end, we’ve undertaken a range of measures to improve our already excellent green credentials. We are committed to ensuring our operations take into account the impact on the environment by reducing the consumption of fossil fuels and to incorporate long-term strategies for efficiency into our Environmental and Sustainability policy planning and development, with the goal of achieving ISO14001 Certification on the pathway ultimately to carbon neutrality.”

The new drive includes the addition of two new electric vans to the GGM fleet and will replace the existing vehicle fleet where relevant and suitable with electric vehicles which will be used for supporting service and hire customers across the region, calculated to save 30 tonnes of carbon in the first year, reducing the carbon footprint as well as improving air quality in the local community. In addition, the business has installed electric vehicle charging units which are offered to customers and suppliers free of charge.

The business has invested in Solar Photovoltaics Technology (Solar PV Panels) with the support of the Chamber’s Low Carbon grant programme which will improve energy and environmental efficiencies. Clean, sustainable and renewable, investing in solar energy allows the company to dramatically reduce its CO2 emissions whilst also reducing costs and assisting them in meeting environmental and sustainability targets. In addition, GGM decided that the company would benefit from upgrading the current lighting system, which would lower energy consumption and additionally install lighting controls to further reduce excess energy consumption by using motion / light sensors and timing controls, along with LED lighting.

The business has also undertaken several additional green initiatives which will have a positive impact on employee’s health and wellbeing, as well as the environment. At Colne, showers and a secure bike rack are being installed with the support of Lancashire County Council’s Connecting East Lancashire initiative this will encourage take up of the company cycle to work scheme, and at Haydock a wild flower oasis has been created to encourage biodiversity and provide an area for the team to take a break and help maintain good mental health.

Chris Gibson concluded:

“GGM are proactively investing in Greener initiatives to minimise our Carbon Footprint and demonstrate to our customers, suppliers, employees and the local community that we care about the local environment”.

“We’re proud of the progress that we have made so far and we will constantly strive to improve in every way we can”.

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Henderson Grass Machinery helps Charleton rise from the ashes

September 18, 2020/in Machinery, News, Press Release/by External Source

Henderson Grass Machinery helps Charleton rise from the ashes: When fire destroyed the clubhouse of Charleton Golf Club, near Leven, in January, the club must have thought they’d used up all their bad luck for the year in one fell swoop …. then came Covid 19, and the work, and plans, to get back on their feet were stopped in their tracks

Now, however, in a scene straight from the Phoenix from the Ashes play book, the club is fighting back. A new clubhouse is rising from the foundations of the original and, thanks to local machinery dealer, Henderson Grass Machinery, Head Greenkeeper Brian Heggie has the tools to get on with the job of maintaining the course.

Henderson Grass Machinery helps Charleton rise from the ashes

“After the fire, and when lockdown made it possible I sat down with Scott McNeil, of Hendersons, we looked at the older machinery in our sheds and established how much of money it would raise for a deposit on some good quality second hand machinery,” explained Brian, as he sat aboard a Toro 45100, one of the results of the negotiations.

“We had a limited budget, so if what we have bought takes us through the next three years we might then be in the market to buy slightly newer machines. Had we committed ourselves to a fleet of brand new machines the lockdown and pandemic would have meant that we would have struggled to pay for it,” explained Brian, who having maintained the course singled-handed during lockdown, has recently appointed a Deputy and taken on two apprentices.

In the end, the club purchased a new 60hp Kubota tractor with a Vertidrain; the Toro 4500 rough mower; a Toro 3100 tees mower; a Toro 3400 greens mower; a SISIS scarifier, with more pieces of kit due to arrive over the next few months.

“We tried to take the used machinery from some of the bigger golf clubs and resorts because they had the full maintenance packages so the machines were well maintained and within their hours – and with it being Toro kit, you knew it was going to last.”

Henderson Grass Machinery has had a longstanding relationship with the Charleton Estate and Brian is delighted to have the company on his side.

“I can’t fault them. If I ever need a machine, like a seeder for example, they will lend it to me while Scott (McNeil) being an ex Head Greenkeeper himself knows what it is like to run a golf course on a limited budget and tries to help as much as he can,” said Brian.

Charleton Golf Club is just the type of golf club that Hendersons are keen to support and their pre-owned machines are perfect for a golf club with tight budgets.

“The clubhouse fire was a huge blow to the golf club and we immediately felt that we should help as much as we could to get them back on their feet,” explained Scott, who was Head Greenkeeper at Brechin Golf Club in Angus, and another Fife club in St Michaels Golf Club, near St Andrews, before joining the sales team at Hendersons.

“My aim is always to try and find exactly the right machinery to fit the needs of the golf club, rather than try to give them something that is perhaps close to what is required but not exactly right,” he explained.

“Brian and I both knew what was needed to bring the course on to the next level and we worked closely together initially to generate the funds for the deposit and then secure the machines that were needed.

“We want to continue to work with Charleton to help them overcome both the fire and the consequences of Covid 19 and then kick on to the next level,” said Scott.

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.

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Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

GGM to be carbon neutral by 2030

Henderson Grass Machinery helps Charleton rise from the ashes

GGM to be carbon neutral by 2030

Henderson Grass Machinery helps Charleton rise from the ashes

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

GGM to be carbon neutral by 2030

GGM to be carbon neutral by 2030: Award Winning GGM Groundscare has taken its dedication to being an eco-friendly organisation to the next level and commit to a drive to improve its green credentials even further.

Henderson Grass Machinery helps Charleton rise from the ashes

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