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FSI B21 a great fit for JB Tree Services

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FSI B21 a great fit for JB Tree Services: An FSI B21 stump grinder is proving that compact certainly does not mean a compromise in efficiency and performance for Joe Baker of JB Tree Services.

With the majority of jobs coming from residential customers in and around Trowbridge, his recently  purchased FSI B21 gives him the manoeuvrability to tackle stumps in tight and restricted spaces as well as providing full control over his work schedule compared to the trepidation of relying on hire machines.

FSI B21 a great fit for JB Tree Services

FSI B21 a great fit for JB Tree Services

After working as a tree surgeon for Bath Council for six years, Joe started working for himself full-time in 2021. Commercial and council work for Trowbridge Town Council remains a key part of his offering, but he explains that the majority of demand for him and his team of two comes from residential customers. “These sorts of customers are looking for a ‘one stop shop’ – if they’re having a tree removed, they also want the stump dealt with on the same day.”

“I started off hiring a stump grinder as and when I needed one, but found they’d turn up used and abused, nearly always blunt. The time was definitely right to invest in our own machine that would be well maintained and available whenever we needed it.” While no stranger to stump grinders, Joe had no prior experience of an FSI, but admits it took little convincing that the brand was the perfect solution! “We had the slightly bigger FSI B31 on demonstration from GA Groundcare Ltd and the first thing we noticed was the outstanding build quality. The whole team had the opportunity to use it and all agreed that of all the various makes and models they’d used, in operation, this was by far the best.”

Peace of mind

Decision made, the pedestrian FSI B21 stump grinder joined the machinery fleet in August 2024. “There’s a lot to like about this machine, with a lot of features bringing newfound efficiency to stump removal.” He explains, “Firstly, the 14hp engine delivers impressive power. The turntable feature is brilliant in terms of operator comfort, the safety bar allows us to disengage the cutter wheel for safe and unhindered movement around the stump. The hill-hold system which is unique to FSI is another gamechanger – blocking any forward wheel motion and allowing us to pull the machine backwards to easily navigate ramps, steps and uneven terrain.”

“The peace of mind of being able to fell a tree in the morning and having the FSI B21 to hand to grind the stump in the afternoon is brilliant, seeing the machine in high demand since we’ve had it. The back-up from GA Groundcare has also been excellent. We can’t fault the machine or the service we’ve had from start to finish.”

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Putting a spring in your aeration step

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Putting a spring in your aeration step: Always keen to support its customers, Reesink is not only maintaining 2024 parts prices in 2025 but offering customers a further 10 percent off genuine Toro tines this spring. The promotion is for all tines, including Titan, on orders placed up until 31 March.

A key part of spring maintenance, aerating is a practice that cannot be overlooked, and tines are the key ingredient to successful results.

Putting a spring in your aeration step

Putting a spring in your aeration step

Michael Hampton, Purchasing and Sales Process Manager at Reesink, says: “As the grass begins to wake up after winter, there are multiple things that can be done to ensure a good start to the growing season and desired standards are achieved. Arguably the most important is decompaction through aeration.

“There are however many different aeration practices and tines available depending on what the customer is looking to achieve.”

Deep tining is the preferred for this time of year as it decompacts the profile after the cold, often wet months of winter and helps promote drainage. In addition, there’s hollow tining to control organic matter and as an effective way of soil exchange when used alongside topdressing.

Solid tining, both shallow and deep, provides enhanced gas movement between the root zone and the atmosphere. Shallow (less than 150mm) is useful for aerating the upper level of the root zone and particularly good for sandy soil that doesn’t need much turf compaction relief.

With over 150 Toro tines to choose from, customers can be assured there is something in the range for all seasons, surfaces, purposes, and soil conditions. And with Toro genuine parts guaranteeing the best form, fit, and function on the market – and all included in the 10 percent off deal – now is the time to stock up ready for the all-important spring maintenance weeks.

All Toro tines are designed for performance, durability, and longevity, leaving pure holes for the best aeration techniques, but Toro Titan tines take things a step further and last four times longer than standard non-Toro tines meaning less replacements and change-outs for greater productivity.

Michael concludes: “The phrase we often apply to Toro parts is buy smarter and get much more for your money. With Reesink maintaining 2024 prices and offering promotions on genuine Toro parts not just now but throughout the year, the value is the best it’s been.”

Reesink is reminding customers that all Toro parts can be purchased through their local dealer or service centre, where they will receive help and advice getting the right part with the exact engineering specifications for their equipment at the best possible price.

To find your nearest Toro dealer, visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk or call 01480 226800.

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Turntable GreenMech’s hailed a ‘gamechanger’

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Turntable GreenMech’s hailed a ‘gamechanger’: A pair of QuadChip160D woodchippers from GreenMech have been hailed a ‘gamechanger’ by Community Housing, bringing newfound convenience and safety to domestic tree works.

Purchased in the autumn of 2024, the arborist team of three were impressed by more than just the 360o turntable, with the outstanding manoeuvrability and performance of the QuadChip allowing the operators to simply ‘turn up, turn it and crack on!’

Turntable GreenMech’s hailed a ‘gamechanger’

Turntable GreenMech’s hailed a ‘gamechanger’

Community Housing look after more than 6000 properties in the Wyre Forest, with Arb Team Supervisor Ed Acutt, together with colleagues Adam and Ryan, in charge of all residential tree maintenance across an area spanning Kidderminster, Bewdley and Stourport on Severn. As a housing association, the fleet of equipment is periodically renewed. Ed explains how, after a look at all the alternatives, the GreenMech machines emerged head and shoulders above the competition.

“We tried various makes and models, but as soon as we demonstrated the turntable QuadChip’s we were sold! We have all-but eliminated issues to do with restricted access, no longer having to compromise operator safety by loading in the road or having to ask the tenant to move their vehicles. With these chippers we can quickly and easily spin the unit to get the infeed at the ideal angle, reducing the time spent transporting material from back gardens to the chipper and completing every job more efficiently.”

Ed continues, “Not only that, but the power from the 25hp diesel engine, large infeed and impressive pull-through means it can handle the wide variety of materials we come across in this job with no issue.” The specification of the QuadChip 160D also features GreenMech’s renowned disc-blade chipping system, which allows for rotation of the cutting edge and extends the time between sharpening.

“We alternate between the machines to manage wear, though we were fortunate enough to have a tour of the GreenMech factory prior to our purchase so we have no concerns over build quality whatsoever” he adds. “GreenMech, in particular Neal Hussey, went above and beyond to ensure we had all the information to hand to make an informed decision. Not only that, but it’s great to be supporting British manufacturing and working with a company just a stone’s throw away from our headquarters, meaning support will always be there should we need it.”

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Ventrac – more than a mower

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Ventrac – more than a mower: Price Turfcare, the UK and Ireland distributor of the Ventrac multi-implement, all-terrain compact tractor, returns to BTME with the Ventrac 4520 compact tractor unit and a selection of attachments.

Since its launch in 2017, this combination of highly manoeuvrable compact tractor and multiple attachments has quickly established a recognised place in UK turfcare industry. There are now 450 tractor units and in excess of 1,200 attachments being used across the UK turf sector.

Ventrac - more than a mower

Ventrac – more than a mower

With the capability to work on 30-degree slopes combined with incredibly low ground pressure and over 30 attachments, it’s the most versatile equipment combination for the busy course manager. This is a machine that can mow in multiple formats, blow leaves, move snow, reinvigorate pathways, aerate, cut turf, dig trenches, grind stumps and prepare seedbeds … everything a golf course of any size, can utilise all-year round.

Allan Patterson, the Director of Golf Courses and Estates at Trump Turnberry says,

“Our Ventracs have alleviated a lot of issues associated with working on steep banks. It can climb 30-degree slopes safely and with ease, cutting the number of hours the team previously spent strimming and frees them up for other tasks. I like the fact that it’s a multi-tool, which means it can undertake several tasks and can be out on the courses or around the estate, virtually every day. It’s an extremely versatile piece of equipment.”

To understand why Allan and the rest of the industry have embraced the Ventrac product, come along and visit stand 122 in Hall 1.

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A decade of grassroots pitch improvement

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A decade of grassroots pitch improvement: Over the last ten years, the GMA’s skilled team of regional pitch advisors has been working with grassroots sports clubs to raise the standards of sports surfaces and train volunteers.

In that time, almost 50,000 pitches have been improved across grassroots football, cricket, rugby league and union.

A decade of grassroots pitch improvement

A decade of grassroots pitch improvement

The programme has worked with more than 12,500 clubs and 14,500 volunteers.

The Pitch Advisory Service, formerly the Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme, was launched in 2014 and is funded by Sport England and the Football Foundation, working in association with the FA, ECB, RFL and RFU.

Jason Booth leads the Pitch Advisory Service, he says: “This is a brilliant example of sporting bodies working together to raise the standards of sports surfaces and the understanding of sports turf management practices among grassroots sports clubs across England.

“There has never been more pressure on pitches. Whether that’s the effect of more extreme weather caused by climate change, or more demand as a greater and more diverse range of people want to play sport.

“We all want more people playing – it brings so many health and wellbeing benefits. To enable that, we need to make sure our grassroots pitches are properly maintained – grounds are literally the foundation of sport. We need to recognise that, value grounds teams, and invest in them.”

One of the clubs that have benefitted from the Pitch Advisory Service is the Ashton Bears Rugby Club in Wigan.

The rugby league outfit, which hosts a total of 25 men’s, women’s, and children’s teams, had been hampered by an unstable pitch that frequently became waterlogged throughout the season.

“Before support from the Pitch Advisory Service, our pitches would regularly have to close for player safety. One surface was only playable for three months of the year” says Club Secretary, Mark Webster.

The Pitch Advisory Service team carried out an assessment and made a number of recommendations, including reducing the height of the cut to 40mm from 70mm and to increase the cutting frequency to weekly. Decompaction, sand topdressing, weed killing, and overseeding were also recommended. Funding was secured to install a drainage solution for the pitches.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the support we received. It’s truly transformed our facilities at Bear Park. We now have some of the most resilient pitches in the area – staying open when others have had to close” Mark continues.

“Our girls’ teams can play concurrently and both men’s open-age teams can play at home. We host up to eight games on a Sunday. We’ve also been able to expand to create new women’s teams, something which previously was impossible due to the lack of capacity on the old pitches.”

Building on the success so far, the Pitch Advisory Service continues to offer support to grassroots clubs.

Any club in England looking for support can contact the Pitch Advisory Service to find out more: www.thegma.org.uk/services/pitch-advisory-service

There are also a host of free resources available with the Grounds Management Toolkit, essential grounds maintenance resources for volunteers from the GMA: https://resources.thegma.org.uk

The Grounds Management Framework is a good place to start to consider the surface quality a club is aiming for, and the investment and skills needed to get there: https://thegma.org.uk/GMF

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