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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 […]

Bespoke DLF Wildflower mix brightens the landscape

September 18, 2020/in News, Press Release/by Louise Challiss

Bespoke DLF Wildflower mix brightens the landscape: A wildflower meadow at the heart of a brand-new retirement village in Alcester has been praised for its outstanding, long-lasting visual impact. For the contractors, HFN Landscapes, the project was fraught with challenges – difficult ground conditions and high magnesium soil required a bespoke mixture, created by DLF […]

Henderson Grass Machinery helps Charleton rise from the ashes

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

Bespoke DLF Wildflower mix brightens the landscape

September 18, 2020/in News, Press Release/by Louise Challiss

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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.

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Bespoke DLF Wildflower mix brightens the landscape

September 18, 2020/in News, Press Release/by Louise Challiss

Bespoke DLF Wildflower mix brightens the landscape: A wildflower meadow at the heart of a brand-new retirement village in Alcester has been praised for its outstanding, long-lasting visual impact.

For the contractors, HFN Landscapes, the project was fraught with challenges – difficult ground conditions and high magnesium soil required a bespoke mixture, created by DLF Seeds.

Bespoke DLF Wildflower mix brightens the landscape

When Contracts Manager David Smith commenced work on the Great Alne Park project in February, he was greeted by what could only be described as a 20,000 square metre mud bath! “Phase one, the construction of the homes was complete, when we then came in to carry out the soft landscaping – this included allotments, a croquet lawn, the individual apartment gardens as well as a large wildflower area which was the centrepiece of the whole complex” explains David, who has been in charge of HFN’s soft-landscaping projects for two years.

“We used ProMaster 25 in a lot of the transition areas on the site, then when it came to the Wildflower meadow, we provided the architects’ specification alongside the soil analysis to Paul Hadley at DLF”. DLF produce a range of native wild flower mixtures to suit different soil types, however high magnesium was identified, which can contribute to deterioration of clay soil structures, reducing infiltration rates and causing an environment not conducive for effective germination. With this in mind, Paul formulated a bespoke wildflower mixture including species that can tolerate a mixture of environmental conditions such as Knapweeds and Buttercups, together with a number of indicator species including Wild Marjoram, more akin to alkali soils. To deliver an initial boost of colour in the meadow’s nursery year, a selection of Cornfield Annuals were also incorporated.

Bespoke DLF Wildflower mix brightens the landscape

“There is no doubt that Paul’s knowledge gave us a mixture that not only met the architects vision, but exceeded what we hoped to achieve in its impact and longevity; especially given the fluctuating hot and wet weather conditions and the added complications that COVID restrictions have had on our work.”

The outstanding floral display has since attracted much attention, including on Central News where residents complimented the space as a haven during the lockdown period. “Six months since we seeded the area and it’s still a sea of colour, which couldn’t be further away from where we started!”. David concludes, “As a business, HFN are very proud of what we have achieved, but that wouldn’t have been possible without Paul’s advice and the quality wildflower mixture DLF delivered. As we increasingly get asked about recreating wildflower and meadow style areas, we know we have the support and product to deliver.”

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

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Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Henderson Grass Machinery helps Charleton rise from the ashes

Bespoke DLF Wildflower mix brightens the landscape

Henderson Grass Machinery helps Charleton rise from the ashes

Bespoke DLF Wildflower mix brightens the landscape

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Henderson Grass Machinery helps Charleton rise from the ashes

Bespoke DLF Wildflower mix brightens the landscape

Bespoke DLF Wildflower mix brightens the landscape: A wildflower meadow at the heart of a brand-new retirement village in Alcester has been praised for its outstanding, long-lasting visual impact.

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