Blog Elements - Turf Matters

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Nomination window for the LBEL Awards extended

June 27, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Nomination window for the LBEL Awards extended: Earlier this spring, celebrity garden designer, Danny Clarke, along with Lantra and Landex, announced that the nomination window for the 2024 Land-Based and Environment Learner (LBEL) Awards were open. So far, the Awards organisers are on course to receive a record number of inspirational nominations from tutors, lecturers, […]

Greenkeeping inspiration for school kids

June 26, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Greenkeeping inspiration for school kids: Primary school pupils in St Andrews have been learning about what it takes to be a greenkeeper at the Home of Golf after St Andrews Links became the first venue in Scotland to host an innovative First Green field trip. Aimed at inspiring the next generation of greenkeepers by showcasing […]

Nomination window for the LBEL Awards extended

June 27, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Greenkeeping inspiration for school kids

June 26, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Nomination window for the LBEL Awards extended

June 27, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Nomination window for the LBEL Awards extended: Earlier this spring, celebrity garden designer, Danny Clarke, along with Lantra and Landex, announced that the nomination window for the 2024 Land-Based and Environment Learner (LBEL) Awards were open.

So far, the Awards organisers are on course to receive a record number of inspirational nominations from tutors, lecturers, assessors, and employers. All whilst delivering high quality education at a peak time for the Land Based Education Sector.

Nomination window for the LBEL Awards extended

Due to popular demand and to factor in these challenges Lantra and Landex are extending the nomination deadline to 11:59pm on Sunday 30^th June 2024

Therefore, they are urging employers, colleges, private training providers and universities to nominate outstanding candidates for a prestigious award before the end of the month.

Danny Clarke, who trained as a garden designer at Hadlow College said: “The quality of the nominations we have had so far is truly amazing. We know there’s been a lot happening in education in the last few months, so I am really pleased to see the deadline has been extended. I am really looking forward to a great evening, celebrating some incredible learners – so make sure you nominate your learners today!”

The Awards ceremony will be hosted by Danny Clarke on Thursday 21^st November at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham. The evening is set to be an exciting celebration of talent in the land-based and environment sector.

To recap, the annual awards are open to individuals on a full-time or part-time Land-Based and Environment course or Apprenticeship in England between September 2022 and September 2024. The award categories include Agriculture; Aquaculture and Fisheries, Arboriculture; Forestry and Woodland Management; Equine and Farriery; Floristry; Landscape and Horticulture; Land-Based Engineering; Animal Care and Management; Veterinary Nursing; Environmental Conservation, Game and Wildlife; and Sports Turf and Greenkeeping.

Prizes for the above categories apply across Private Training providers, Further Education (FE), Apprenticeships Awards (Level 2-3), Higher Education (HE) and Higher Apprenticeship Awards (Level 4-7). This year we will be introducing a new category: Research Student of the Year, where supervisors are encouraged to nominate a student studying a post-graduate level either for a master’s degree or a Doctoral Degree.

There are overall prizes for: Research Student of the Year; Apprentice of the Year; Overall Winner; and Runners Up. Online entries are being encouraged, as the quicker and more sustainable option. However, paper copies of the nomination form are available on request, by emailing lbels@lantra.co.uk.

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.

Greenkeeping inspiration for school kids

June 26, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Greenkeeping inspiration for school kids: Primary school pupils in St Andrews have been learning about what it takes to be a greenkeeper at the Home of Golf after St Andrews Links became the first venue in Scotland to host an innovative First Green field trip.

Aimed at inspiring the next generation of greenkeepers by showcasing the range of skills required in greenkeeping across science, technology, engineering and maths, the First Green event gave pupils an interactive experience of the life of a greenkeeper at the world’s most famous golf complex.

Greenkeeping inspiration for school kids

Held at the St Andrews Links Golf Academy adjacent to the renowned Old Course, the event saw 23 primary five pupils from local St Andrews school, Canongate, visit the Home of Golf for a day of interactive activities and practical learning. Students participated in three hands-on, outdoor learning stations that showcased a variety of skills that are utilised by professional greenkeepers each day.

Staff from across the Links introduced the pupils to irrigation, bunkering, wildlife conservation, soil management, greenkeeping tools and machinery, including the stimpmeter used by greenkeepers to measure the speed of the greens. Pupils were then able to put their learnings to the test with a putting competition led by Rachel Knight, Golf Academy Operations manager at St Andrews Links Trust.

The First Green initiative, run by the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA), aims to introduce young people to the career opportunities that are available in golf and showcase the skills that are required for these roles.

It is the only science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education and environmental outreach programme that uses golf courses as learning labs. It was first introduced in the United States in 1997 but more recently was adopted by BIGGA, with the UK’s inaugural event taking place at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in 2023. The First Green curriculum helps students apply their classroom knowledge in an outdoor setting using STEM concepts connected to golf course management and conservation. First Green also gives students a first-hand look at the important role greenkeepers play in their local communities.

Gordon McKie, Greenkeeping Operations Manager at St Andrews Links Trust, said,

“We are delighted to have held Scotland’s first ‘First Green’ event here at the Home of Golf.

Greenkeeping is often an overlooked industry with many people lacking an understanding of what goes into looking after a golf course. The First Green initiative allows us to engage with young people at primary school age who may go on to consider greenkeeping as a future career.

Our first event was a great success, and we hope to host similar events annually at St Andrews Links, or even more frequently if we can. We would encourage other schools and golf courses in Scotland to get involved and to start engaging with young people who may go on to become the next generation of greenkeepers.”

A set of 13 lesson plans have been designed by BIGGA to guide greenkeepers on how to run STEM based sessions for young people aged 9 to 14 years of age. The lesson plans highlight the work of greenkeepers and their important role in maintaining a golf course in a good condition for golfers, whilst also helping to protect the environment. Host greenkeeping staff are encouraged to utilise these lesson plans and will typically co-ordinate a 2-to-3-hour showcase of their greenkeeping skills.

Jenny Bledge, Workforce Project Manager at BIGGA, said,

“First Green is a flagship initiative that we are extremely proud of at BIGGA because it helps golf clubs connect with their communities in a really meaningful way. By using STEM principles, participants – like the pupils who attended the event at St Andrews Links – get to have fun while learning practical skills outdoors in a real-world workplace setting. This not only raises awareness about golf courses and their role in the environment but also puts a big emphasis on sustainability while helping to promote greenkeeping as a STEM career.

First Green events are popping up all over the UK, and I was thrilled that St Andrews Links was one of the first to get involved. Seeing First Green in action at the Home of Golf was a real testament to all the hard work we’ve put in to bring it to life. It was fantastic to see Gordon McKie, St Andrews Trust’s Greenkeeping Operations Manager, diving into the activities and getting hands-on!”

Three UK courses have now hosted First Green events thus far, Royal Liverpool, the Bedfordshire and St Andrews Links, with events planned at Clevedon, Dudley, Woburn, and Royal Liverpool once again.

If you are interested in hosting a First Green field trip at your Golf Club, or if you are a school or group interested in attending an event, please visit https://www.bigga.org.uk/careers/first-green/get-involved-first-green-uk.html

Watch an event roundup video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW0p1qLk-Xk

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)

Nomination window for the LBEL Awards extended

Greenkeeping inspiration for school kids

Nomination window for the LBEL Awards extended

Greenkeeping inspiration for school kids

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Nomination window for the LBEL Awards extended

Nomination window for the LBEL Awards extended: Earlier this spring, celebrity garden designer, Danny Clarke, along with Lantra and Landex, announced that the nomination window for the 2024 Land-Based and Environment Learner (LBEL) Awards were open.

Greenkeeping inspiration for school kids

Greenkeeping inspiration for school kids: Primary school pupils in St Andrews have been learning about what it takes to be a greenkeeper at the Home of Golf after St Andrews Links became the first venue in Scotland to host an innovative First Green field trip.

RESOURCES

CONTACT

CONNECT