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GroundsFest 2025 Raises the Bar Again

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GroundsFest 2025 Raises the Bar Again: GroundsFest 2025 cemented its place as the UK’s largest industry trade show after just three years, with an incredible 9,037 visitors over two days. The event’s rapid growth was clear for all to see: more exhibitors, more visitors, and more innovation than ever before.

The show offered hundreds of brands, cutting-edge product launches, and a community spirit that made GroundsFest stand out. The atmosphere was electric – relaxed yet vibrant – with interactive games on stands, smiling faces throughout, and a genuine sense of excitement as professionals and volunteers from every corner of the industry came together.

GroundsFest 2025 Raises the Bar Again

GroundsFest 2025 Raises the Bar Again

Innovation at the Heart of the Show

Innovation was everywhere. From world-first product launches to interactive demonstrations, GroundsFest once again proved itself as the home of forward-thinking solutions. Visitors were among the first to experience never-before-seen equipment and technology that is shaping the future of the sector.

The first-ever GroundsFest Innovation Awards, in association with Hort Week and sponsored by Cramer and Bosch, drew over 100 entries, showcasing the best of new product design alongside proven favourites that have stood the test of time.

Winners:

  • Maintenance and workshop equipment – New product – Foley Company for the 642 Quick Spin Reel Grinder
  • Stood the test of time – Clearwater Recycling Systems
  • Services – New product – Origin Amenity Solutions for Machine keeper
  • Transport – New product – LCVT for Side Tipping Beavertail
  • Tractors and implement carriers – New product – AEBI, Schmidt UK for Aebi TT 282
  • Tree care – New product – CMC Lift UK for CMC S20
  • Landscape consumables – New product – Wildflower Turf Ltd for Enhanced Wildflower Biodiversity Range
  • Stood the test of time – DLF Seeds for The Pro-Flora range of mixtures
  • Landscape equipment – New product – Westermann UK for WR870 EGO Battery Moss Brush
  • Stood the test of time – The Professional Sprayer People for Mankar ULV Sprayers
  • Turf maintenance consumables – New product – Fargro for the DCM Vital Green
  • Turf maintenance equipment – New product – Redexim UK for Redexim Scarivator
  • Stood the test of time – Redexim UK for Verti Drain
  • Grass cutting equipment – New product – STIGA for Nexus
  • Stood the test of time – Trimax for Pegasus

Over 30 Hours of Free Education and Inspiration

Over 30 hours of free education were delivered across five seminar theatres, with top speakers providing invaluable insights and CPD points for attendees. The Landscape Zone, in partnership with BALI, was significantly busier than in 2024, with packed-out education sessions on design, planning, and outdoor construction. Many seminars became talking points throughout the halls, sparking fresh conversations and new collaborations.

Crowd-Favourite Features

Feature areas continued to thrive and expand. Machinery Nation LIVE wowed audiences with its “Chainsaws – Past, Present and Future” showcase, featuring brands like STIHL, EGO, Milwaukee, and Dewalt alongside rare vintage models. Visitors also enjoyed the Stand-On Mowers head-to-head challenge and an adrenaline-fuelled machinery relay.

Lawn Mower Racing, in partnership with Kramp UK and the West Midland Lawn Mower Association, made its debut and proved to be a huge crowd-pleaser.

Visitors also had the chance to win prizes ranging from robotic mowers to premium hand tools, adding extra excitement to the show.

GroundsFest 2025 Raises the Bar Again

GroundsFest 2025 Raises the Bar Again

Festival Vibes

GroundsFest’s unique blend of trade show and festival atmosphere set it apart once again. The live music festival returned bigger and better, with great food, drink, free bumper cars, and the world’s best Oasis tribute band delivering a set that struck a chord with attendees.

Christopher Bassett, Event Director of GroundsFest, said:

“This show wouldn’t be possible without the support of our incredible exhibitors, visitors, and partners. We’re truly humbled and we’ll continue to reinvest profits from GroundsFest back into the industry through the GroundsFest Academy. The key is to always keep listening and evolving – to give the industry a show they can be proud of.”

With its unbeatable mix of innovation, education, community, and festival energy, GroundsFest has firmly established itself as the go-to event for the industry. If 2025 is anything to go by, the show’s future is brighter than ever.

GroundsFest 2026 will return to Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on 16th and 17th September.

For more information visit www.groundsfest.com

You can also follow GroundsFest on X, Facebook and Instagram @GroundsFest for much more news, reviews and insightful views

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ICL is once again exhibiting at GroundsFest

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ICL is once again exhibiting at GroundsFest: ICL is once again exhibiting at GroundsFest, bringing practical solutions and expert advice to turf managers, grounds staff, landscapers, and contractors from across the industry.

As a global leader in turf and landscape solutions, ICL delivers products that professionals trust – whether it’s for high-performance sports surfaces or quality green spaces. This year, we’ll be showcasing a range of innovations designed to support plant health, improve nutrient efficiency, control weeds, and strengthen integrated turf management (ITM) programmes.

ICL is once again exhibiting at GroundsFest

ICL is once again exhibiting at GroundsFest

At the stand, you can explore our proven Sportsmaster and Landscaper Pro fertilisers, developed to deliver reliable, tailored nutrition across sports turf and amenity settings. Weed control will also be a key focus, with guidance on total weed management using Roundup ProVantage and Roundup ProActive, alongside selective solutions like Praxys and Trophy XL – ideal for tackling broad-leaved weeds.

A key feature this year will be our professional spreader range. Designed for precision, durability, and ease of use, these machines help turf professionals maximise application accuracy and product performance.

GroundsFest is also a great opportunity to speak directly with the ICL team. Our technical and commercial experts understand the day-to-day challenges of turf and landscape management and can provide support on product choice, application timing, and long-term turf care strategy.

Visit the ICL stand at GroundsFest 2025 to discover new developments, get advice tailored to your site, and find out how we can help you deliver consistent, high-quality results all year round.

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.co.uk or www.icl-sf.ie  if you are in Ireland.

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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Toro technology does it again

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Toro technology does it again: Toro continues to push the boundaries of innovation in golf course maintenance with the introduction of Intelli360, a cutting-edge fleet management tool designed to bring around the clock efficiency and connectivity to course operations.

“As an all-in-one digital solution, Intelli360 exemplifies Toro’s commitment to advancing turfcare technology,” says Jon Cole, Divisional Business Manager at Reesink Turfcare. “By leveraging the capabilities of connected equipment and intuitive data management, it will redefine golf course maintenance.”

Toro technology does it again

Toro technology does it again

Building on the foundation of Toro’s myTurf Pro, Intelli360 takes things one step further and provides a centralised platform that streamlines fleet management, machine repairs and resource allocation – providing course managers with the real-time insights required for proactive decision-making.

With Intelli360, golf clubs gain complete visibility of their equipment, no matter where it is on the course. An interactive map feature enables users to easily track machine location, operating status and maintenance needs 24/7.

The intuitive dashboard can be accessed through any web-enabled device, allowing course managers to conveniently create work orders, schedule labour and manage parts inventory remotely.

“From labour and operations to weather conditions and irrigation, there’s an application for just about everything, but having all that data at your disposal can be a lot to manage, which is why Toro created Intelli360,” continues Jon. “This provides the solution that connects the systems and equipment golf course professionals depend on every day.”

And with ongoing support and functionality improvements continuously being developed by Toro, users can expect a product that gets better with time and adapts to evolving industry needs.

New features are already on the horizon, including the ability to find and order inventory parts for planned maintenance, get instant notification of equipment faults for faster repairs and the much-welcomed integration to Toro IntelliDash.

The latter, in particular, will be a key component of Intelli360 – bringing essential information about a course’s agronomic conditions, weather and evapotranspiration forecasts, irrigation data and much more.

Toro’s research and development teams are constantly raising the bar of turfcare technology. Intelli360 sets a new standard for connected fleet and course management, combining real-time data, intuitive design and seamless integration of tools to shape the future of golf maintenance.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

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It’s J Premier Wicket time and again: When it comes to a cricket pitch, there’s not much that Richie Woodmason, owner of Willow Turf Care, doesn’t know about them – whether it’s playing on them or maintaining them!

One thing he is certain of, is that when he needs a grass seed that is going to germinate quickly and deliver hard-wearing results capable of withstanding the demands of the modern season, he turns to Johnsons Sports Seed. Following his own extensive research, it’s Johnsons J Premier Wicket that ticks all the boxes for Richie, seeing it employed on 41 of the 42 renovations he completed last season.

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

After moving to Australia to play cricket, Richie became involved in the grounds maintenance at the Perth club, swiftly taking on the role of Head Groundsman. On his return to the UK, he then adopted a similar role at his home club before a return trip to Oz saw him gain further experience of management in warmer climes. Back again, and positions at Gloucestershire Country Cricket Club and Trent Bridge were held, alongside the establishment of Willow Turf Care – conducting end of season renovations for facilities in and around the Gloucestershire area.

It was during his time at Trent Bridge that Richie took it upon himself to conduct some trials to establish the germination of various mixtures and assess the performance of various cultivars. He explains, “When we were conducting repairs, I’d line up four or five different mixtures and then look at things like the speed of germination, coverage and plant strength, and found that in our attempts to get a wicket back in six or eight weeks, that J Premier Wicket repeatedly outperformed the others.”

This knowledge has served Richie well, since he went full time with Willow Turf Care in March 2021. “I was armed with my go-to grass seed and found that, as new clients came on board, they were happy to take my recommendation. I’m now Head Groundsman at seven clubs and use J Premier Wicket at all of these, along with the numerous other sites at which I’m contracted. It continues to offer brilliant wear tolerance, disease resistance and coped well with the challenges of the hot and dry weather last summer.”

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

J Premier Wicket is formulated from four top-rated perennial rye cultivars that deliver proven, reliable performance and outstanding camera appeal. “We used it on all of our 42 square renovations except one last year, with the other one also using seed from another DLF brand, and couldn’t fault the results.” He adds, “Time is becoming the most important commodity due to the expectations on county club grounds staff. This means that finding something that works well, and works quickly, is crucial. For me, the J Premier Wicket mix backed up with fantastic technical support from DLF’s Ian Barnett and priced as it is, makes it unrivalled.”

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Success again for SALTEX

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Success again for SALTEX: 76 years of history has repeated itself at SALTEX 2022 as yet again the show delivered exactly what the groundscare industry wanted and has come to expect: the latest technologies, products, innovations and learning opportunities to unite every corner of the industry and shape the landscape of groundscare for 2023.

From all-electric tractors to robotics, sustainability to technology, new innovations to industry favourites, ground-breaking ideas to thought provoking debates, the show inspired those who attended and represented all that is current, relevant, and impactful about the groundscare industry.

Success again for SALTEX

Success again for SALTEX

Hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of visitors met, networked, sealed deals, and built knowledge at Europe’s largest annual groundscare event with Allan Harvey from Ashlandscapes commenting: “We’ve been coming to SALTEX for the last 20 years. We come to see what new products are coming out that could benefit our business, see old friends, and meet new people. SALTEX is a show which delivers what we want it to year after year.”

The show spread over three halls and brought together the manufacturers and suppliers, visitors and speakers, governing bodies and associations who impact the industry, help create and educate the next generation of groundstaff and provide the knowledge and technology to propel the groundscare industry into the future.

Talking about this year’s event and its role in providing the industry with what it wants and needs, GMA CEO Geoff Webb said: “The continued participation be that as a speaker, exhibitor or a visitor creates a buzz unrivalled in our industry. Whether its networking, checking out the latest equipment and products, to catch up with friends or to learn from experts SALTEX has it all under one roof and yet again we have delivered. We look forward to welcoming the industry back in 2023.”

Liam Pintred from Think Tank agrees: “This year’s event has been brilliant for us. SALTEX is the best event for the grounds industry, everyone comes here to meet up.”

The theme for this years’ show, the biggest in Europe, was sustainability and that was evident across the whole event. An increased number of grounds personnel, greenkeepers, landscapers and contractors were looking for products that deliver quality results but also reduce carbon footprints to the environment, and SALTEX delivered with the latest innovations and products, daily demonstrations of cutting-edge sustainable technology and advice on how green technology could benefit current working practices.

Leila Fuerst, sustainability advisor from idverdi, says: “My job is in sustainability so the fact that the theme of the show was sustainability was the draw to attend. It’s an important and current industry topic which SALTEX is addressing. Almost all the Learning LIVE seminars touch on the subject and there are a couple of seminars I’ll be attending to hear different viewpoints.”

There was an all-encompassing Learning LIVE education programme with 35 free-to-attend seminars from expert speakers from the UK and abroad who focussed on the vital issues affecting the industry.

As the only independently audited show of its kind in the UK, the GMA looks forward to presenting its visitor research for the 2022 show as soon as the audit has been completed. But with a record number of exhibitors, brands and Learning LIVE speakers and so many positive visitor comments left for the organisers, its success speaks for itself as the doors closed on the 76th year.

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