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97% of HSE Pesticide Enforcement Visits in 2025 Required Action

June 18, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

97% of HSE Pesticide Enforcement Visits in 2025 Required Action The Amenity Forum is urging amenity businesses, contractors, local authorities, housing providers and other land managers to review their compliance arrangements following recent Health and Safety Executive (HSE) pesticide enforcement findings which showed that action was required following 97% of official control visits carried out […]

Waterscapes guidance on when smart irrigation upgrades pay for themselves

June 17, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Waterscapes guidance on when smart irrigation upgrades pay for themselves Waterscapes, the UK specialist in commercial irrigation systems and water feature maintenance, has published new guidance for facilities managers, estates teams, and budget holders on judging when smart irrigation technology pays for itself. Written by Managing Director Paul Jeffery, the guidance separates the four technologies […]

97% of HSE Pesticide Enforcement Visits in 2025 Required Action

June 18, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Waterscapes guidance on when smart irrigation upgrades pay for themselves

June 17, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

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97% of HSE Pesticide Enforcement Visits in 2025 Required Action

June 18, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

97% of HSE Pesticide Enforcement Visits in 2025 Required Action

The Amenity Forum is urging amenity businesses, contractors, local authorities, housing providers and other land managers to review their compliance arrangements following recent Health and Safety Executive (HSE) pesticide enforcement findings which showed that action was required following 97% of official control visits carried out during 2025.

97% of HSE Pesticide Enforcement Visits in 2025 Required Action

At the Forum’s Updating Event in May, delegates were presented with an overview of official control activity undertaken across England, Wales and Scotland. The findings highlighted a number of recurring compliance issues affecting organisations across several sectors, including amenity management, horticulture and forestry.

The most common issues identified related to pesticide storage, stock control, record keeping, inspection requirements for pedestrian-operated equipment and registration under the Official Controls Regulations.

The findings reinforce the need for organisations to maintain robust management systems, ensure staff remain competent and up to date, and regularly review compliance arrangements.

Ian Graham, Chair of the Amenity Forum, said:

“The findings highlight that there remains significant scope for improvement in some areas of compliance across the sector. Whilst many of the issues identified can be addressed through improved awareness, training and management controls, the figures demonstrate the importance of maintaining robust systems and regularly reviewing procedures.

Good practice is not simply about meeting legal requirements; it is about protecting people, protecting the environment and maintaining public confidence in the work our sector undertakes every day.

Every organisation should take the opportunity to review its arrangements, strengthen professional standards and ensure compliance remains a priority”

The Amenity Forum is encouraging organisations to take the following five actions:

Review pesticide stores and ensure bunding, fire protection and storage arrangements remain suitable.
Audit pesticide stocks and remove any unauthorised or expired products.
Ensure spray records are complete, compliant and readily available for inspection.
Verify that pedestrian-operated spraying equipment has been inspected where required.
Confirm registration requirements under the Official Controls Regulations have been met.

The Forum believes these findings reinforce the importance of ongoing training, continuing professional development and the adoption of industry best practice. By taking proactive steps now, organisations can reduce risk, improve compliance and demonstrate their commitment to professional standards.

Whilst action was required following the majority of visits, only a relatively small proportion resulted in enforcement notices. The findings suggest that many compliance issues can be addressed through improved awareness, training and management controls before formal enforcement action becomes necessary.

The Amenity Forum continues to work with members, regulators and stakeholders to promote best practice, professionalism and responsible management across the amenity sector.

For further information about the Amenity Forum, visit www.amenityforum.net

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Waterscapes guidance on when smart irrigation upgrades pay for themselves

June 17, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Waterscapes guidance on when smart irrigation upgrades pay for themselves

Waterscapes, the UK specialist in commercial irrigation systems and water feature maintenance, has published new guidance for facilities managers, estates teams, and budget holders on judging when smart irrigation technology pays for itself.

Waterscapes guidance on when smart irrigation upgrades pay for themselves

Written by Managing Director Paul Jeffery, the guidance separates the four technologies usually sold under the smart irrigation label: weather-based controllers, flow monitoring, soil moisture sensors, and remote access. It sets out where each earns its cost on a commercial site, and argues that most sites need some of the technology rather than all of it.

According to the guidance, the largest saving on most sites comes from correcting schedule drift, where programmes set in spring no longer match summer demand. Fault detection follows, with flow monitoring identifying leaks in days rather than the weeks a conventional system can take, converting excavation and replanting jobs into small repairs.

The guidance also addresses the reporting case. With asset managers increasingly asked to evidence water use for sustainability reporting, and UK summers bringing temporary use bans and drought permits, Waterscapes notes that metered, logged irrigation data places sites in a stronger position when restrictions and exemptions are discussed.

“On most commercial sites we survey, the controller is the cheapest component on the system and the one costing the most money,” said Jeffery. “A schedule that has drifted out of season can be putting out 30 or 40 per cent more water than the planting needs. Weather-based control tends to claw that back within the first season.”

The guidance is direct about when upgrading doesn’t pay, advising that small simple systems, sites with failing hydraulics, and systems near the end of their life are usually better served by other routes. “We would rather tell a client their system isn’t worth upgrading than sell them technology that won’t pay back,” Jeffery said.

The full guidance is available on the Waterscapes website at waterscapes.co.uk.

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Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

97% of HSE Pesticide Enforcement Visits in 2025 Required Action

Waterscapes guidance on when smart irrigation upgrades pay for themselves

97% of HSE Pesticide Enforcement Visits in 2025 Required Action

Waterscapes guidance on when smart irrigation upgrades pay for themselves

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

97% of HSE Pesticide Enforcement Visits in 2025 Required Action

97% of HSE Pesticide Enforcement Visits in 2025 Required Action

Waterscapes guidance on when smart irrigation upgrades pay for themselves

Waterscapes guidance on when smart irrigation upgrades pay for themselves

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