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Edgmond Bowling Club Wins Best Kept Green in Shropshire

January 7, 2025/in News, People, Press Release/by Admin

Edgmond Bowling Club Wins Best Kept Green in Shropshire: Edgmond Bowling Club has been awarded the title of Best Kept Green in Shropshire 2024, a competition sponsored by leading turf maintenance brands Dennis and SISIS. The accolade marks a milestone for the club, which is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and highlights the […]

TGA bans use of plastic netting in turfgrass production

January 6, 2025/in News, Press Release/by Admin

TGA bans use of plastic netting in turfgrass production: Following extensive member engagement and feedback, the Turfgrass Growers Association (TGA), the leading body representing the UK turfgrass industry, has announced a bold and progressive step towards environmental sustainability by banning the use of plastic netting in turf production by its members. This decision, supported overwhelmingly […]

Edgmond Bowling Club Wins Best Kept Green in Shropshire

January 7, 2025/in News, People, Press Release/by Admin

TGA bans use of plastic netting in turfgrass production

January 6, 2025/in News, Press Release/by Admin

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Edgmond Bowling Club Wins Best Kept Green in Shropshire

January 7, 2025/in News, People, Press Release/by Admin

Edgmond Bowling Club Wins Best Kept Green in Shropshire: Edgmond Bowling Club has been awarded the title of Best Kept Green in Shropshire 2024, a competition sponsored by leading turf maintenance brands Dennis and SISIS.

The accolade marks a milestone for the club, which is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and highlights the dedication and skill of its greenkeeper, Peter Leath.

Edgmond Bowling Club Wins Best Kept Green in Shropshire

The Best Kept Green competition was launched in 2021, in response to the remarkable efforts of bowling clubs and their greenkeepers during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The initiative, supported by Dennis and SISIS, aims to improve the standard of greens across the county, recognising the hard work of greens teams and providing them with valuable feedback to enhance their maintenance programmes. Each year, the competition grows in popularity, with a record number of clubs entering in 2024—a testament to the ongoing improvements in bowling greens throughout Shropshire.

Peter, a greenkeeper with 47 years of experience, joined Edgmond Bowling Club just before the pandemic and quickly found himself responsible for the care of the green, which was in need of attention. Reflecting on those early days, he recalls, “The green was in quite a bad condition. During Covid, I spent a lot of time managing to feed it and improve its health.”

Drawing on his greenkeeping background, Peter implemented a rigorous maintenance routine, including verticutting and aerating the green, to encourage healthy growth. He also invested in a SISIS Supaturfman, using it up to 16 times a year. His efforts have paid off, with Edgmond’s green now widely praised for its smoothness and playability. “There have been a lot of really positive comments about the green,” Peter said.

Edgmond Bowling Club’s win this year, tied on points with Cleobury Mortimer but edging ahead thanks to a perfect 10/10 score for the roll of the woods, is a fitting tribute to its 50th anniversary.

Peter’s attention to detail is key to the green’s success. He spends around 240 hours a year maintaining it, mowing three times a week in the summer and continuing regular care even through the winter months. His advice to other greenkeepers? “Make sure your mower is adjusted correctly, and cut the grass consistently. It makes all the difference.”

Phil Scott, Chairman of the Shropshire Crown Green Bowling Association, praised Peter’s work and spoke about the growing success of the Best Kept Green competition. “We started these awards to recognise the often-overlooked work of greenkeepers in our county. Since the competition began, the standard of greens in Shropshire has improved dramatically.”

DLF’s Stuart Yarwood, a well-known expert in the industry and a key supporter of the Dennis/SISIS educational seminars, was part of the judging panel. He visited the top ten greens and provided invaluable advice to clubs on how to further improve their playing surfaces.

Looking to the future, the Shropshire Crown Green Bowling Association, in collaboration with Dennis and SISIS, plans to continue supporting greenkeepers with initiatives such as forums, educational days, and factory tours. “We’ve set up new initiatives to keep the momentum going. We’re already planning to take all the greenkeepers who entered this year to the Dennis and SISIS factory for a tour, and we’re looking at adding new categories like ‘Most Improved Green’ or ‘Best Newcomer’ for next year,” Phil explained.

Further information about the range of maintenance products available can be found by visiting www.dennisuk.com / www.sisis.com.

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on X @DennisMowers and SISIS @SISISMachinery. You can like the Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK and www.facebook.com/SISISMachinery. You can also view the latest Dennis and SISIS videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers and www.youtube.com/SISISMachinery.

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

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TGA bans use of plastic netting in turfgrass production

January 6, 2025/in News, Press Release/by Admin

TGA bans use of plastic netting in turfgrass production: Following extensive member engagement and feedback, the Turfgrass Growers Association (TGA), the leading body representing the UK turfgrass industry, has announced a bold and progressive step towards environmental sustainability by banning the use of plastic netting in turf production by its members. This decision, supported overwhelmingly by members in a recent vote, will take effect from 31st October 2026.

The decision to ban plastic netting reflects the TGA’s commitment to sustainable practices. From 31st October 2026, grower members must cease using plastic netting to grow turf, in order to retain their membership of the association during the 2026/27 subscription year and beyond.

TGA bans use of plastic netting in turfgrass production

Richard Owens, Chair of the TGA, commented: “This is a defining moment, and the decision reflects the growing consensus among our members and the wider industry about the urgent need to prioritise sustainability. By committing to eliminate plastic netting, the TGA is leading the way towards a more environmentally responsible future for turf production in the UK.”

Despite industry efforts to develop alternatives, there are currently no proven, cost-effective bio-degradable netting solutions widely available that meet the practical and economic requirements of turf production. While some options, such as degradable or biobased netting, have shown promise, challenges remain regarding durability, affordability, and large-scale adoption. This underscores the importance of continued research and innovation to find viable, sustainable solutions.

The vote saw overwhelming support from TGA members, with 17 voting in favour of the ban and just 1 against. The TGA is committed to supporting its members during the transition period by providing guidance, resources, and collaborative opportunities to explore and implement alternative practices.

This initiative represents a significant milestone for the turfgrass industry, aligning with broader environmental goals across the agricultural and horticultural sectors. The TGA’s decision sets an important precedent for adopting sustainable practices in industries that impact the environment.

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)

Edgmond Bowling Club Wins Best Kept Green in Shropshire

TGA bans use of plastic netting in turfgrass production

Edgmond Bowling Club Wins Best Kept Green in Shropshire

TGA bans use of plastic netting in turfgrass production

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Edgmond Bowling Club Wins Best Kept Green in Shropshire

Edgmond Bowling Club Wins Best Kept Green in Shropshire: Edgmond Bowling Club has been awarded the title of Best Kept Green in Shropshire 2024, a competition sponsored by leading turf maintenance brands Dennis and SISIS.

TGA bans use of plastic netting in turfgrass production

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