Tag Archive for: Agrovista

All signs point to Agrovista Amenity

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All signs point to Agrovista Amenity: From fertilisers to furniture, advice to analysis – Truro Golf Club claims that Agrovista Amenity is one of its most trusted suppliers.

Located in the Cornish countryside, this 18-hole, par 67 parkland course stretches a total of 5,372 yards. It is a tight course with surprising slopes which presents a challenging test for low handicap players and enjoyable golf for all.

All signs point to Agrovista Amenity

All signs point to Agrovista Amenity

Head Greenkeeper Dominic Gibbard, who oversees the greenkeeping team, is proud of Truro’s thriving membership and claims that two-way relationships with reputable suppliers, such as Agrovista Amenity, are essential.

“David Bevan, (Amenity Specialist for Agrovista Amenity) is one of my most trusted reps because I know he has been there and done it,” he said. “He’s worked on some very good golf courses around the UK and in Europe, and whenever I have a question or have any ideas, he is usually the first guy I talk to. He always gives me impartial advice and I respect this approach.”

Therefore, when Dominic thought that the time had come to upgrade Truro’s course signs, he enlisted the help of David.

“Course furniture is so important, because they offer nice, finishing touches around the course,” said Dominic. “Golfers notice things like signs and benches, so we have taken our time to really find the right product.”

Immediately David got in touch with British Manufacturing Solutions (BMS), which is a family run business specialising in professional golf course products, signage, flags and more. David arranged for some samples to be sent down to Truro Golf Club and Dominic opted for signs from BMS’ Noroko range

Unlike real wood, Noroko from BMS, never needs treatment or painting. Made from recycled plastic it is UV resistant so the authentic alternative wood-like look will remain for many years. Furthermore, Noroko is able to withstand any weather or temperature change.

“We’ve got a sign on each tee, and we’ve also got the matching tee markers,” said Dominic. “They are durable and really set the course off. We have had lots of great comments from the members.

“It is another integral product David has recommended.”

Dominic singled out four of these integral products for praise: E² PRO phosrite – a liquid fertiliser, Bullet Recharge – a sustainably sourced, zinc, manganese, copper and sulphur fertiliser recovered from recycled alkaline batteries; Humimax – a liquid humate product derived from a naturally occurring source and Biomass Sugar – a product which stimulates growth of both leaf and root.

“I normally use E² PRO phosrite and Bullett Recharge after my autumn maintenance and these would be applied monthly until the end of February. These two products have helped to harden the plant through winter and have significantly supressed disease which we have always been susceptible to. I like the fact that the Bullett Recharge is made from recycled batteries, which is environmentally friendly and is something we are trying to do more at Truro Golf Club.

“Our soil analysis results have shown a rise in some of the trace elements that these products have helped to introduce. These are making the plant stronger and healthier, and there is a very decent colour too.

“In the summer, we really like the Humimax and Biomass Sugar because they support my use of compost teas and biology,” continued Dominic. “These two products, which we apply from April through to September, are good building blocks that give the plant energy.

“From the Biomass Sugar and the Humimax we’ve seen better root development; better root mass and the plant is more resilient to drought. I see a real noticeable boost to the plant as soon as I start using these in the spring.

“The results prove these products are working on our site. It really is the full package we get from David and Agrovista Amenity.”

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

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

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Two new Agrovista Amenity Apprentices

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Two new Agrovista Amenity Apprentices: Agrovista Amenity has announced the appointment of two new apprentices – Sophie Allen and William Gray.

Sophie joins the company as a Trainee Business Support Administrator and will be working towards an NVQ Level 3 in Business Administration. As a keen cricketer and a volunteer groundsperson at her local cricket club, Sophie was already aware of Agrovista before applying for the position.

Two new Agrovista Amenity Apprentices

Two new Agrovista Amenity Apprentices

“Whether it is rolling, marking, spiking or renovating, I really enjoy preparing the cricket pitches and maintaining them so that they are ready for our teams to play on,” she said. “This work has provided me with a lot of knowledge about the company because we get all our products from Agrovista Amenity.

“This is a fantastic opportunity and I’m really looking forward to starting a brand-new career which will hopefully be long-lasting.”

When Sophie is not at her cricket club, she likes to keep active and go on long walks with her ‘crazy’ puppy.

William is the newest addition to the sales team and is three weeks into his apprenticeship. He joins the company with a great knowledge in IT and communications, which he gained through education and various work experience. In his spare time William is a keen swimmer and a fan of history, who enjoys visiting ruins and museums.

Commenting on his new role, William said: “I get the impression that Agrovista is very up to date and progressive with the market it operates in and covers a wide range of products where I could gain new and interesting knowledge. I am also thrilled to learn about commercial exporting as I find it very interesting in how goods are transported in and out of the UK.

“I am looking forward to being able to assist my team and increase productivity. My new team is a big factor and have been excellent at making me feel welcome – so a big thank you to them.”

Dan Hughes, Head of Commercial for Agrovista Amenity, revealed his delight at welcoming Sophie and William to the team.

“As an employer, nothing is more rewarding than providing young, talented, and ambitious people an exciting career opportunity.

“With amenity being such a niche sector, both Sophie and William have the opportunity to harness specialist skills and knowledge for a successful career. We are fortunate to have a team and organisational culture that prides itself on helping, knowledge sharing and progressing committed team members and that is vital to our ethos and business success.”

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

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

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Jedbugh praises Agrovista Amenity

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Jedbugh praises Agrovista Amenity: A granular feeding programme devised by Tom Hobbis of Agrovista Amenity has dramatically improved the greens at Jedburgh Golf Club.

Described by those who play the course, Jedburgh Golf Club in Scotland is a hidden gem full of risk and reward. It is a par 69 course with spectacular views over the town of Jedburgh, Dunion and the Cheviot hills. With a thriving membership, the club recognises the importance of keeping the course in the best condition possible. Therefore, when a problematic ninth hole started causing issues the club sought some outside expertise.

Jedbugh praises Agrovista Amenity

Jedbugh praises Agrovista Amenity

“We brought Amenity Specialist Tom Hobbis in from Agrovista Amenity to give us some advice,” said Robert Armstrong, Jedburgh Golf Club’s Green Ranger. “We wanted a new entire feeding programme and so Tom looked at all the greens, not just the one we were having the most problems with. He took several soil samples to see if we had any underlying issues and fortunately there was nothing serious – just a lack of nutrients. He then came up with a plan for all of the greens.”

“It was about taking it back to basics,” said Tom, who joined Agrovista Amenity last year. “We needed to reduce stress on the greens and a simplistic programme was required. After careful consideration I felt that a granular approach would be most suitable.

“I put together a programme using the Compo Expert range because you get 100% nutrition from these products, and they have a very low scorch potential – which would suit the lack of water application. Another reason for choosing the Compo Expert products is that they don’t sit in the surface for long – they break down incredibly well and get into the profile very quickly. The products that I put forward have been tried and tested in all corners of the UK.”

Agrovista Amenity is the exclusive national distributor of Compo Expert’s turf products in the UK for good reason. The unique and innovative controlled and slow-release chemistry provides environmentally-friendly fertilisers at a time when many turf and landscape managers are exploring more sustainable methods.

In concentrating on the problematic ninth hole, Tom firstly identified Ferro Top 6-0-12 as a solution. With a very fine and uniform granular size, Ferro Top ensures perfect sward penetration and is ideal for fine turf surfaces such as greens.

“We used Ferro Top at the start of the season and at the back end of the season,” said Tom. “With its high iron content, it has really firmed the greens up and helps towards sward penetration. The magnesium in it has also massively helped to keep a good colour across the greens for longer periods without a flush of growth.

“After Ferro Top gave the greens the kick-start they needed, we then moved on to Floranid Twin Eagle Master 19-5-10 which is ideal for late spring/early summer and autumn feeds.

We used two applications and it gave great longevity thanks to its two nitrogen compounds, ISODUR and CROTODUR. As a result, the club didn’t have to put as much down over the course of the season, and it therefore saved money.”

Jedbugh praises Agrovista Amenity

Jedbugh praises Agrovista Amenity

As Tom says, the new slow-release fertilisers in the Floranid Twin range are comprised of a unique combination of two highly efficient and well-proven nitrogen compounds, ISODUR (moisture dependent) and CROTODUR (heat dependent). This Double N Technology ensures a long-lasting and reliable supply of nitrogen at the highest possible utilisation rate and guarantees optimal plant growth for the successful implementation of ambitious sports turf management.

Last but certainly not least, Tom claims that one of the most integral products in the programme was Kali Gazon 0-0-27. High potassium with added magnesium and sulphur makes Kali Gazon an effective stress reliever, improving turf tolerance against drought, disease, and cold temperatures.

“All of these products have proved to be a fantastic combination,” concluded Tom. “Jedburgh Golf Club put a lot of faith in me and the products and I’m incredibly happy that they are reaping the benefits of the programme.”

Andrew Chambers, Head Greenkeeper, who plays a vital role in the maintenance of the course at Jedburgh, also praised the successful programme.

“The feeding programme has been very successful, and we are delighted with the progress – the products have worked admirably for us,” he said. “We will be carrying out the same programme this year and I’m looking forward to the greens getting even better.

“We’ve had a significant number of positive comments, everybody at the club is delighted and I’ve not had one bad word said about the greens.”

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

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

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The Agrovista Amenity Academy

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The Agrovista Amenity Academy: The Agrovista Amenity Academy, which is free to sign-up to, is an online learning resource providing in-depth Knowledge courses on subjects such as turf disease, chemicals, product application, turf pests, managing moss, frost, weeds, and thatch as well as courses for all products sold by Agrovista Amenity. 

The Product courses have been designed so that the individual can fully understand and get maximum benefits from the products they purchase. With knowledge and product courses being added on a regular basis, Academy students are guaranteed to have a wide variety to choose from.

The Agrovista Amenity Academy

The Agrovista Amenity Academy

The Academy has already shown significant growth with over 11,000 CPD points awarded so far. Furthermore, many greenkeepers and course managers are benefitting from a CPD partnership with BIGGA, which enables BIGGA’s members to embark on any course they choose without having to go through an employer. BIGGA allocates up to 4 points for all successfully completed courses and can vary depending on content and length.

The Academy website also boasts a highly sophisticated weather system which helps people make better decisions for the week ahead. Understanding the effects of weather when managing sports turf surfaces is a key skill required by all turf managers and CPD points are awarded for studying the weather report and passing a short test.

“It has grown bigger than we ever expected it to,” said Karl Parry, the founder of the education platform. “The amount of CPD points we have awarded really is quite phenomenal.

“I think that the product and knowledge portfolios that we can build is endless. Agrovista has an incredible number of resources combined with highly knowledgeable and experienced professionals. Both sections will continue to expand and will push the amenity standard forward.”

As the Agrovista Academy continues to grow, so too does the number of positive reviews.

“I spent some time to refresh the mind on the subject of thatch in sports turf. Very useful knowledge.” – Michael Williams, Whitgift School.

“Thank you so much for the Agrovista Academy. I have found it to be a great saviour during lockdown times to keep me occupied whilst learning and gaining CPD credits at the same time.” – John Milne, Dufftown Golf Club.

“I am finding them very informative. Having recently got back into the industry they are great for extra education.” – Andy Burrell, Garmouth and Kingston Golf Club.

“Please keep the Academy running – it is a great learning tool.” – Andrew Hatcher, Coed-Y-Mwstwr Golf Club.

You can visit the new Amenity academy here: www.amenityacademy.co.uk

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

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Agrovista Amenity celebrates National Tree Week

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Agrovista Amenity celebrates National Tree Week: After joining The Tree Council as a Jubilee Partner, Agrovista Amenity recently participated in a planting day to celebrate National Tree Week.

The Tree Council is an official delivery partner of The Queen’s Green Canopy, which is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

Agrovista Amenity celebrates National Tree Week

Agrovista Amenity celebrates National Tree Week

By becoming one of the Jubilee Partners, Agrovista Amenity will be playing an integral role in planting trees and hedgerows in honour of Her Majesty’s service to the nation, creating a lasting legacy which will benefit future generations for years to come.

The aim is to achieve the planting of an incredible 35,000 trees and 7 kilometres of hedgerows.

Agrovista Amenity recently celebrated its Jubilee Partner status during National Tree Week by attending a planting day which took place in Bicester in Oxfordshire. The Agrovista Amenity team joined 50 other volunteers who also came from corporate partner organisations.

Together the volunteers planted along a riverbank and a bridleway, creating connectivity for local wildlife as well as helping introduce all the other benefits that trees and hedgerows can bring, such as pollution mitigation and flood prevention. Species included hawthorn, blackthorn, white poplar, holly, oak and more in an incredible 183 metres of hedgerow.

Furthermore, the volunteers planted some rare black poplar trees, of which there are only 10,000 of these left in the UK – so it was encouraging to be boosting their numbers.

Ed Smith, Landscape Team Manager for Agrovista Amenity, was delighted to play a part in the planting day.

Agrovista Amenity celebrates National Tree Week

Agrovista Amenity celebrates National Tree Week

“The positive work that The Tree Council and so many volunteers have undertaken to restore woodland and hedgerows as part of a greener future has been amazing,” he said.

“Our planet is changing and joining The Tree Council on their planting day was a great opportunity to practice what we preach. Not only are we planting to make positive changes for the future, but we are making these changes in the most sustainable way possible.”

Cat Gransden, Development Manager for The Tree Council, said: “We’re so grateful to Agrovista for attending our planting day and for being part of our Jubilee Partner programme. Together, we’re creating an environmental and cultural legacy in honour of Her Majesty’s historic 70 years of service and growing a greener future for all of us. It is thanks to our incredible corporate partners, like Agrovista, that we’re able to plant, protect and promote so many trees and hedgerows. Working together for the love of trees allows us to achieve great things, and green-hearted corporate heroes help us to create a healthy, tree-filled future for our planet. Thank you.”

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

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

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