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Tubex Shelters in The Carbon Community Project

March 16, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Tubex Shelters in The Carbon Community Project: One of the UK’s most significant long-term forestry research projects has used Tubex tree shelters to protect thousands of young saplings while allowing scientists easy access to measure growth. The Carbon Community’s Glandwr Forest Carbon Study examines how trees and soil store carbon. The project, now in its […]

Honda’s new Miimo robot mowers about to hit the market

March 13, 2026/in Turf Spotlight/by Admin

Honda’s new Miimo robot mowers about to hit the market: Susan Lindsay reports on Honda’s latest robot mower launch from its facility in Germany. I’m off to Germany again and this time my destination is the Honda academy in Frankfurt. Having landed at the airport I am whisked along the autobahn. The German autobahn is […]

Tubex Shelters in The Carbon Community Project

March 16, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Honda’s new Miimo robot mowers about to hit the market

March 13, 2026/in Turf Spotlight/by Admin

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Tubex Shelters in The Carbon Community Project

March 16, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Tubex Shelters in The Carbon Community Project: One of the UK’s most significant long-term forestry research projects has used Tubex tree shelters to protect thousands of young saplings while allowing scientists easy access to measure growth.

The Carbon Community’s Glandwr Forest Carbon Study examines how trees and soil store carbon. The project, now in its fifth year, aims to build a stronger evidence base for nature-based solutions that can increase carbon capture and improve woodland resilience.

Tubex Shelters in The Carbon Community Project

Established in 2020, the 11.5-hectare study brings together scientists, forestry partners and volunteers to investigate how different tree species and soil treatments influence long-term carbon storage. More than 25,600 trees have been planted across 72 test cells, including oak, birch, cherry, alder and Sitka spruce, allowing researchers to compare growth and soil behaviours under controlled conditions.

The project focuses on approaches such as enhanced rock weathering, where crushed basalt releases nutrients and supports carbon capture, and soil microbiome inoculation, which introduces beneficial fungi from nearby healthy woodland to help young trees access nutrients more effectively. These methods together provide a growing dataset that will help clarify the role of soils and species selection in carbon sequestration.

Before the trial “we planted a few oaks grown from seed collected on site and they were eaten by rabbits within weeks,” said Heather Allen, Trustee at The Carbon Community. “When the trial was established, our forestry partner, Tilhill Forestry, strongly advised using shelters – and we agreed they were essential.”

Tubex Easywrap shelters were selected as a practical way to protect vulnerable saplings while still allowing researchers and volunteers to access each tree for measurement and monitoring. All the broadleaf trees planted use the shelters, helping maintain consistent establishment across the test cells and supporting long-term data collection.

As an environmental charity, The Carbon Community also considered the long-term implications of introducing material onto the site. The ability to collect and return the shelters for recycling once they were no longer needed was an important factor, ensuring the project could minimise waste. Each spring, volunteers remove shelters from trees that have outgrown them and collect any that have loosened during winter weather. These are returned through the Tubex recycling network, supporting a circular approach to material use. “We made a commitment to collect every single shelter when the trees were big enough,” Heather said. “We’ve been running volunteer removal days for the past couple of years – and those shelters have already made their way back for recycling.”

Community involvement has remained central throughout the project, with volunteers supporting planting, maintenance and data gathering to help researchers monitor conditions consistently across the site. “This is a long-term project,” Heather said. “We’re looking at how ecosystems can help solve the climate crisis. Good early protection has supported the research and helped us manage the site sustainably.”

Now in its fifth year, the study is beginning to analyse above-ground and below-ground data on how the treatments affect carbon capture. Strong early establishment across the site has created a stable foundation for long-term scientific assessment, with findings expected to support future woodland creation.

For Tubex, involvement in the project has centred on supplying shelters that meet the specific needs of the study. The Easywrap design has supported repeated access for measurements, helped maintain consistent establishment conditions and ensured that all used shelters could be collected and returned for recycling once no longer required. This combination of protection, practicality and material recovery has allowed the research team to manage the site effectively while maintaining the project’s sustainability commitments.

For more information about The Carbon Community and the Glandwr Forest Carbon Study, visit https://thecarboncommunity.org

For information on Tubex tree protection, visit https://tubex.com

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Honda’s new Miimo robot mowers about to hit the market

March 13, 2026/in Turf Spotlight/by Admin

Honda’s new Miimo robot mowers about to hit the market: Susan Lindsay reports on Honda’s latest robot mower launch from its facility in Germany.

I’m off to Germany again and this time my destination is the Honda academy in Frankfurt. Having landed at the airport I am whisked along the autobahn. The German autobahn is a federally controlled highway system with no mandatory speed limit. We reach over 150mph and before you can say “Mercedes”, we are at our destination for the day’s events.

Honda’s new Miimo robot mowers about to hit the market

The Honda academy was built in 2009, amid the global recession. Honda were clear-thinking and freethinking enough to push on with this development when other companies were shrinking in fear of what the future looked like in the light of the financial crisis at that time.

The academy offers product training including new models, systems, maintenance, repairs and diagnosis. Non-technical elements also take place with communication, leadership and management training.

There is a dynamic area of 10,000m2 tarmac of 280m length and a training area for motorcycles and ATVs.

Press gathered from the UK, Italy, France and beyond, all eager to see the new Honda wireless robotic mower, the Miimo range.

The new wireless models Miimo 1500i and Miimo 2200i will eliminate the need for physical boundary wires. The user can map mowing zones and adjust areas to allow for evolving layouts.

The models have antenna-free network RTK systems, combining a high-performance RTK GNSS chip with 4G cloud connectivity.

The app interface is easy to use and allows you to draw a mowing area to fit your cutting needs. Honda’s car parking sensors work to ensure that obstacles are avoided with care, and the model can harmonise with the customers living/ working space.

Honda’s new Miimo robot mowers about to hit the market

With the massive rise in technology improvement and developments, Honda aims to minimise the feeling of overwhelm that the customer might experience and develop models in a timely fashion to stay in line with current needs and wants.

The autonomous and intelligent mower has capacity for high runability on uneven ground and slopes. The team is working on bringing out new additions in 2027 with all-wheel drive to ensure exceptional slope handling performance and outstanding agility on steep lawns.

Honda promise to service all customer categories, minimise burden and eliminate operating hassle. Their prediction that customers are going to want to spend less time cutting, remains to be seen. While smart technology has its advantages, is there really anything that can replace the human ability to achieve a high, fine tuft result?

I once worked at a world class golf course where for one summer, they cut a tartan pattern into the surrounding lawns within the five-star hotel grounds. Now, while this may be a niche market, can a robotic mower achieve the same results? Having worked alongside the greenkeepers maintaining this design, they would say “let them do it!”.

Some of the key features and functions of the Miimo models include multiple mowing patterns, including a chess-board style layout. So, maybe tartan isn’t as far off as I might have first thought. With high waterproof performance, the new models meet IPX5 standards and maintain high cutting performance in wet conditions.

This is a good thing for the Scottish market also!

Since the original Miimo launch in 2012, over 170’000 units have been sold and 99% were sold to the Europe market. The revenue last year was 144 billion Euros and Shin Yasui, General manager of power products says, “Honda’s robotic lawn mower business is a key pillar for future growth”.

Products will be manufactured at Honda’s dedicated facility in France. This facility celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. It is Honda’s largest production site for engine-powered lawn mowers and supplies Europe as well as Global markets.

The Miimo series is a commitment to Honda’s global vision for creating carbon neutrality by 2050 and contributing to a more sustainable future.

The Miimo wireless models will be available in Europe from spring 2026.

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Tubex Shelters in The Carbon Community Project

Honda’s new Miimo robot mowers about to hit the market

Tubex Shelters in The Carbon Community Project

Honda’s new Miimo robot mowers about to hit the market

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Tubex Shelters in The Carbon Community Project

Tubex Shelters in The Carbon Community Project: One of the UK’s most significant long-term forestry research projects has used Tubex tree shelters to protect thousands of young saplings while allowing scientists easy access to measure growth.

Honda’s new Miimo robot mowers about to hit the market

Honda’s new Miimo robot mowers about to hit the market: Susan Lindsay reports on Honda’s latest robot mower launch from its facility in Germany.

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