Blog Elements - Turf Matters

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

GroundsFest Academy Goes Behind the Scenes at Lord’s

May 11, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

GroundsFest Academy Goes Behind the Scenes at Lord’s Selected attendees from GroundsFest Academy events were recently given the opportunity to experience a truly unforgettable day at Lord’s Cricket Ground, widely regarded as the Home of Cricket. The exclusive experience day offered delegates a behind-the-scenes look at elite-level turf management within one of the world’s most […]

GGM Group and Kubota Celebrate 50 Year Partnership

May 8, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

GGM Group and Kubota Celebrate 50 Year Partnership GGM Group is proud to announce the celebration of a remarkable milestone: 50 years of partnership with Kubota. This enduring collaboration reflects a shared commitment to quality, innovation, and customer service that has spanned generations and helped shape the landscape of groundcare and machinery solutions across the […]

GroundsFest Academy Goes Behind the Scenes at Lord’s

May 11, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

GGM Group and Kubota Celebrate 50 Year Partnership

May 8, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

GroundsFest Academy Goes Behind the Scenes at Lord’s

May 11, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

GroundsFest Academy Goes Behind the Scenes at Lord’s

Selected attendees from GroundsFest Academy events were recently given the opportunity to experience a truly unforgettable day at Lord’s Cricket Ground, widely regarded as the Home of Cricket.

GroundsFest Academy Goes Behind the Scenes at Lord’s

The exclusive experience day offered delegates a behind-the-scenes look at elite-level turf management within one of the world’s most iconic sporting venues. Hosted by Lord’s Head Groundsman Karl McDermott, the day combined practical learning, networking, and insight into the precision and planning required to maintain world-class cricket surfaces.

Throughout the morning, attendees explored every aspect of stadium turf management, including access and zoning logistics, matchday preparation, wicket and outfield construction, drainage and irrigation systems, grass species selection, and managing weather impacts. Delegates were also given access to machinery, equipment, and operational areas rarely seen by the public, alongside a personal tour of the famous square and outfield.

For Peter Dawson from Berkshire College of Agriculture, the visit was both inspiring and educational.

“Obviously, Lord’s is iconic – the home of cricket. It’s been fantastic. Karl took us around the ground, showed us the pitches and explained the techniques behind preparation and renovation. I really enjoyed learning about how he works with his staff and apprentices, particularly the responsibility they’re given. Each member of staff prepares their own pitch for matches, which I thought was a brilliant way to help people learn and develop confidence.

It’s definitely something I can take back into my apprenticeship role at BCA.”

Mark Morgan from Belper Meadows Cricket Club described the experience as a “bucket list” moment.

“When you hear the word Lord’s, you immediately think of the best-looking ground in the world and the home of cricket. To actually walk onto the square and see how everything operates behind the scenes was incredible. We learnt so much about renovations, pitch planning, wetting agents, and the processes they use throughout the season. Karl was brilliant and really open with sharing his knowledge. It’s also fantastic what GroundsFest is doing because there aren’t many opportunities like this available to everyday groundspeople.”

For Greenkeeper Garry Letheren, the experience highlighted how knowledge can transfer across different sectors of the industry.

“You see Lord’s on television all the time, but to come here and understand what goes into maintaining it is something completely different. Even though I work in golf, there are still so many practices and ideas you can take away and adapt. Karl showed us everything from pitch preparation stages to machinery and long-term planning across the year. It was incredibly insightful and a fantastic opportunity to actually walk on the outfield and see things up close.”

GroundsFest Academy Director of Education Bradley Tennant said the experience days were created to give something extra back to the industry.

“The whole reason behind these days was to create new opportunities and give more back to the industry. We already provide free educational events, but these experience days allow selected attendees to step inside environments they may never normally get to see. Venues like Lord’s are iconic, and for many people this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It’s not just about seeing the venue; it’s about learning from experienced professionals, sharing stories, networking, and taking ideas back into the workplace. The feedback we’ve had has been incredibly positive and we’ll definitely be doing more experience days in the future.”

The GroundsFest Academy experience at Lord’s once again demonstrated the value of hands-on learning, industry collaboration, and creating opportunities for professionals to gain insight from some of the very best in the business.

The free sustainability assessment tool is now available at www.groundsfestacademy.com

You can also follow GroundsFest on X, Facebook and Instagram @GroundsFestAcademy for much more news, reviews and insightful views

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

GGM Group and Kubota Celebrate 50 Year Partnership

May 8, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

GGM Group and Kubota Celebrate 50 Year Partnership

GGM Group is proud to announce the celebration of a remarkable milestone: 50 years of partnership with Kubota. This enduring collaboration reflects a shared commitment to quality, innovation, and customer service that has spanned generations and helped shape the landscape of groundcare and machinery solutions across the UK.

GGM Group and Kubota Celebrate 50 Year Partnership

Since the partnership began in 1976, GGM Group and Kubota have worked side by side to deliver industry leading equipment and support to customers nationwide. Built on mutual trust and aligned values, the relationship has grown into one of the most respected and longstanding distributor-manufacturer partnerships in the sector.

A Legacy Built on Shared Values

Henry Bredin, Division Manager Kubota commented:
“Reaching 50 years in partnership with GGM Group is a testament to the strength of our shared vision and the dedication of both businesses over the decades. GGM has consistently represented the Kubota brand with professionalism, expertise, and a deep understanding of customer needs. We are proud of what we’ve achieved together and excited for what lies ahead.”

Chris Gibson, Managing Director GGM Group, reflected on the journey:
“This milestone is not just about longevity, it’s about relationships. My father was always driven by new ideas. When he purchased the Ramsbottom business at Kirkham in 1976, he set out to find a product that would transform the way horticultural growers operated in glasshouses. Following discussions with John Croft, Kubota’s Sales Agent at the time, he became the first dealer to sign up, and that marked the beginning of the compact tractor business in the UK.

As a family, we are incredibly proud of the foresight he showed. It’s remarkable to think that five decades have passed since we sold our first Kubota B6000. I believe his entrepreneurial spirit continues to guide us today, as we constantly look for new opportunities to evolve our product offering and deliver the highest level of service to our customers.”

Welcoming the Next Generation

As GGM Group celebrates its history, it also looks firmly to the future with the introduction of the next generation of leadership: Andrew and Thomas Gibson. Representing the continuation of a family-led business, both bring fresh perspectives, energy, and a commitment to upholding the values that have defined the company for decades.

Andrew Gibson commented:
“Growing up around the business, Kubota has always been part of our story. It’s an honour to step into this next chapter and continue building on such a strong foundation. We’re focused on innovation, sustainability, and ensuring we continue to meet the evolving needs of our customers.”

Thomas Gibson added:
“This partnership has stood the test of time because of its authenticity and shared purpose. As we look ahead, we’re excited to play our part in shaping the future of GGM Group while strengthening our relationship with Kubota and our customers, supported by outstanding customer service and support that stands as a testament to the whole team at GGM.”

Looking Ahead

As GGM Group and Kubota celebrate this golden anniversary, both businesses are reaffirming their commitment to driving innovation, supporting customers, and strengthening their partnership for the decades to come. This commitment has been further demonstrated through continued investment in customer support, including the opening of GGM Group’s Service Centre in Knottingley last year, enhancing support for Kubota customers across Yorkshire.

The milestone will be recognised and celebrated at two dedicated customer events in June, providing an opportunity to thank customers and showcase the strength of the partnership. The 50-year anniversary will also be highlighted throughout the show season, with a strong presence across key industry events.

As part of the celebrations, a customer competition is being launched to find the oldest Kubota machine still in operation today—recognising the longevity and reliability that have defined the brand over the past five decades.

Internally, GGM Group will host a staff summer social event, alongside a series of charity fundraising initiatives centred around the “50” theme, including challenges such as running 50km.

Chris Gibson concluded, “Fifty years is an incredible milestone, but we see it as just the beginning of the next chapter, together with Kubota, our team, and our customers, we look forward to continuing this journey.”

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)

GroundsFest Academy Goes Behind the Scenes at Lord’s

GGM Group and Kubota Celebrate 50 Year Partnership

GroundsFest Academy Goes Behind the Scenes at Lord’s

GGM Group and Kubota Celebrate 50 Year Partnership

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

GroundsFest Academy Goes Behind the Scenes at Lord’s

GroundsFest Academy Goes Behind the Scenes at Lord’s

GGM Group and Kubota Celebrate 50 Year Partnership

GGM Group and Kubota Celebrate 50 Year Partnership

RESOURCES

CONTACT

CONNECT