Blog Elements - Turf Matters

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Makita adds XGT hedge trimmers

November 11, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Makita adds XGT hedge trimmers: Makita has added two powerful cordless hedge trimmers to its range of 40VMax XGT grounds maintenance tools. The 500 mm bladed UH020G and 600 mm UH021G both deliver highly efficient and effective cutting and have been designed for ease of use. The UH020G and UH021G deliver an impressive 4,200 cutting […]

Agrovista Amenity Supports Eco-Friendly Roadside Restoration

November 11, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Agrovista Amenity Supports Eco-Friendly Roadside Restoration: Agrovista Amenity has played a pivotal role in one of the UK’s most sustainable highway planting projects, by supplying biodegradable alternatives for a large-scale landscaping effort led by Leicester City Council. The project, commissioned by Leicestershire County Council Highways, involved planting over 8,000 trees along a newly widened road, […]

Makita adds XGT hedge trimmers

November 11, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Agrovista Amenity Supports Eco-Friendly Roadside Restoration

November 11, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Makita adds XGT hedge trimmers

November 11, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Makita adds XGT hedge trimmers: Makita has added two powerful cordless hedge trimmers to its range of 40VMax XGT grounds maintenance tools. The 500 mm bladed UH020G and 600 mm UH021G both deliver highly efficient and effective cutting and have been designed for ease of use.

The UH020G and UH021G deliver an impressive 4,200 cutting strokes per minute and have a maximum blade opening of 20mm and will cut branches up to 10 mm in diameter. The new hedge trimmers feature single-sided blades with obliquely angled, triple-ground teeth for effortless cutting. The design of the blade also ensures excellent branch capture to provide smooth and complete trimming without branches escaping. It also features a reverse function to quickly and easily clear the blade in the event of a branch jam.

Makita adds XGT hedge trimmers

As part of Makita’s powerful XGT 40VMax platform, the new hedge trimmers deliver both high performance and excellent run times. Using a 4.0Ah battery, the UH020G and UH021G will achieve run times of approximately 110 and 105 minutes respectively before needing to swap the battery. The fast recharge times achieved by Makita’s XGT batteries means the 4.0Ah battery will be ready to use again in just 45 minutes.

In addition, the UH020G and UH021G have been engineered for user comfort and ease of operation. Both have a lightweight design with the blade guide bar manufactured from aluminium to improve the balance and reduce user fatigue. The two machines also feature a redesigned switch lever on the handle that is easier to press in any orientation for simpler control. For safety, the UH020G and UH021G have an electric brake, anti-restart function and a double layered housing to minimise vibration.

Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita UK said: “Developed from similar products in our 18V LXT range, these lightweight but powerful XGT hedge trimmers help to streamline the task by providing users with the performance and cutting efficiency required. These are just the latest addition to our continually expanding range of 40VMax XGT forestry and grounds maintenance tools, which includes chainsaws, lawn mowers, blowers, brush cutters, linetrimmers and sweepers.”

To find out more about Makita’s XGT range visit www.makitauk.com.

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.

Agrovista Amenity Supports Eco-Friendly Roadside Restoration

November 11, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Agrovista Amenity Supports Eco-Friendly Roadside Restoration: Agrovista Amenity has played a pivotal role in one of the UK’s most sustainable highway planting projects, by supplying biodegradable alternatives for a large-scale landscaping effort led by Leicester City Council. The project, commissioned by Leicestershire County Council Highways, involved planting over 8,000 trees along a newly widened road, with a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability and plastic-free solutions.

The project, led by Tony Mason, Trees and Woodlands Officer at Leicester City Council, ran from January to March this year. It focused on restoring and stabilising the roadside with native plants while reducing the environmental impact of such large-scale work.

Sustainable Solutions with Agrovista Amenity’s Expertise

Agrovista Amenity provided a comprehensive package of sustainable products, including Tree Hugger guards, jute mulch mats, bamboo pegs, and locally sourced whips. These materials were carefully chosen to align with the project’s environmental goals, particularly the commitment to avoiding plastic.

Ed Smith, Landscape and IVM Manager at Agrovista Amenity, explained the motivation behind using biodegradable alternatives: “When Tony approached me about the project and we discussed using biodegradable options, it just made sense. It’s counterproductive to make a positive environmental impact by planting trees and shrubs, only to spoil it with plastic shelters that eventually become unsightly and a disposal burden. Tree Hugger guards, for instance, offer a long-term, cost-effective solution without the need for removal, and they blend seamlessly into the natural landscape.”

The Tree Hugger guards, made from organic cotton substrate coated in FSC-certified pine rosin, are fully biodegradable and designed to last a minimum of five years. Manufactured in Accrington by BMP Tree Hugger, a company with over a century of experience in cotton processing, these guards not only protect young trees from browsing animals but also promote healthy growth. “The cotton material is breathable, reducing the ‘greenhouse effect’ associated with plastic, which can stress the plant,” Ed added.

In addition to the guards, biodegradable jute mulch mats were used for weed suppression, anchored with bamboo pegs. This approach eliminated the need for chemical weed control, further reducing the environmental impact. “We talk about environmental sustainability, and this project is a perfect example of what that looks like in practice. By preventing future problems, such as the costly removal of plastic guards, we’re ensuring that this is likely the most sustainable highway planting job conducted in the UK,” Ed said.

A Significant Environmental Impact

The decision to go plastic-free has had a considerable positive effect on the environment. By opting for biodegradable materials, the project has prevented approximately 700kg of plastic from being introduced into the environment—the equivalent of around 35,000 plastic bottles (330ml). This achievement underlines the importance of sustainable practices in large-scale landscaping projects.

Challenges and Successes

Tony Mason, reflecting on the project, said, “The roadwork alterations were completed two years ago, but the landscape scheme wasn’t finished. When we took on the project, we needed a reliable supplier who could provide everything we required, and Agrovista Amenity was able to meet all our needs. Their products arrived on time and in excellent condition, allowing us to start the planting work in mid-January. Given the scale of the project, working on 60-70 mph roads was a new challenge for our team, but with the right training, we completed the work by early March, and the client was really pleased with the results.”

Despite the scale and complexity of the project, the Leicester City Council team managed to keep the environmental impact low by minimising travel and conducting all planting work manually using wheelbarrows.

This project sets a benchmark for sustainable practices in highway landscaping, demonstrating that with the right approach and materials, significant environmental benefits can be achieved without compromising on quality or effectiveness.

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity

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)

Makita adds XGT hedge trimmers

Agrovista Amenity Supports Eco-Friendly Roadside Restoration

Makita adds XGT hedge trimmers

Agrovista Amenity Supports Eco-Friendly Roadside Restoration

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Makita adds XGT hedge trimmers

Makita adds XGT hedge trimmers: Makita has added two powerful cordless hedge trimmers to its range of 40VMax XGT grounds maintenance tools. The 500 mm bladed UH020G and 600 mm UH021G both deliver highly efficient and effective cutting and have been designed for ease of use.

Agrovista Amenity Supports Eco-Friendly Roadside Restoration

RESOURCES

CONTACT

CONNECT