Tag Archive for: Amenity

Germinal Amenity announces 2026 grass seed mixtures

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Germinal Amenity announces 2026 grass seed mixtures: Germinal Amenity – the market leader in the development and supply of specialist seed products for the amenity sector – is delighted to announce its 2026 A Range of grass seed mixtures specially formulated for golf and sports turf applications. 

For 2026, Germinal Amenity has sought to improve the already impressive A Range mixtures such as Tour Leader, ForeFront Greens and A20 Premier Ryesport by sourcing new, highly rated grass varieties that complement the top-performing varieties bred by its research and development partners, Germinal Horizon, including AberRoyal and AberRegal.

Germinal Amenity announces 2026 grass seed mixtures

Germinal Amenity announces 2026 grass seed mixtures

New Varieties Added

This year, Germinal Amenity is introducing the new creeping bentgrass varieties, ‘Piper’ and ‘777’ to its A Range blends for golf greens. It is also adding the new perennial ryegrass variety, ‘AberWin’, to its top specification A20 Premier Ryesport mixture for winter sports.

With its exceptionally high shoot density – the foundation of good wear tolerance and recovery – and very attractive mid-green colour, the Germinal Horizon-bred ‘AberWin’ scores highly for live ground cover and visual merit all year round, even during the most testing of ground conditions.

‘777’ is the sister grass variety to the market-leading 007 DSB and tops the BSPB Turfgrass Seed List with a shoot density score of 6.8 and visual merit of 7.0. ‘Piper’ is a brand-new variety that will reach the full BSPB list in 2027 and scores even higher with shoot density of 7.2, visual merit of 8.1 and an impressive 7.2 for fineness of leaf.

Shoot density is a key trait that allows these grasses to out compete Poa Annua in golf courses.

Germinal Amenity is adding both ‘777’ and ‘Piper’ to Tour Leader, its landmark creeping bentgrass mixture that provides unrivalled performance, seasonal adaptability, high disease resistance, and vivid colour retention.

‘Piper’ is also being added to its ForeFront Greens which combines the proven performance of the AberMajesty browntop bentgrass blend with the best creeping bents available to ensure the highest levels of disease and stress resistance.

Commenting, Richard Brown, Amenity Director at Germinal, said:

“The availability of both Piper and 777 has been highly anticipated. We are delighted to be able to incorporate them into the A Range mixtures for 2026 where they will support even greater performance on low inputs for greenkeepers.

They will also significantly enhance the genetic diversity of our leading seed blends. Diversity underpins a lot of the performance of grass mixtures; when conditions get tough, the best variety in the blend will step up to do the job, whether this is coping with shade, drought or disease. Diversity reduces risk for greenkeepers and has long been the standard sought in sports turf management, and which we are making available to greenkeepers across the A Range and in our new mixtures for 2026.

Groundskeepers can have even more confidence in our top-spec blend for winter sports, A20 Premium Ryesports, with the inclusion of AberWin which will be the first time this breakthrough, high shoot density perennial ryegrass variety will be available to the amenity sector.” 

The A Range includes the full range of Germinal’s trusted and proven varieties for all landscape, golf and sports turf applications including ForeFront Greens, AberMajesty Blend, A5 Golf Tees and Tour Leader.

The A Range also offers Germinal’s pollinator-friendly wildflower products, including True Meadow. These mixtures have been formulated for a wide range of developed areas and natural habitats. They also include Regional Environmental (RE) mixtures which meet the requirements of government-sponsored biodiversity schemes in the UK.

The 2026 brochures from Germinal offer guides to unique ranges of grass, clover and wildflora amenity mixtures and are available now at germinalamenity.com or from Germinal Amenity’s Technical Sales and Amenity Turf Advisers.

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Amenity sector launch for Techneat Hire at BTME

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Amenity sector launch for Techneat Hire at BTME: A new hire scheme direct from Techneat Engineering will give greenkeepers, groundsmen and amenity managers convenient and low-cost access to the company’s range of innovative precision application equipment.

To be launched at BTME in January 2026 (Stand 106), Techneat Hire manager, Rui Santos, highlights the opportunity to try-before-you-buy some of Techneat’s pioneering developments – such as the high performance Pro-ESpray battery-powered pedestrian sprayer.

Amenity sector launch for Techneat Hire at BTME

Amenity sector launch for Techneat Hire at BTME

“Hiring equipment direct from Techneat brings all the convenience and flexibility of owning a machine for a required part of the season, without the capital cost or upkeep when it’s not required, and no commitment if future plans or requirements should change,” explained Rui.

“For time sensitive turf applications hiring a precision sprayer enables treatment when it’s convenient and in the optimum conditions. Grounds managers may only want access to a de-icing applicator for a period each year, for example, which can be available through the hire scheme.

“Using Techneat Hire to supply a sprayer you will always have the most up to date machine, that has been fully serviced by specialists in the factory and ready for work.”

Rui adds that the on-line hire scheme gives turf and amenity managers  the chance to pre-plan machinery requirements ahead of the season. However, the company also has a stock of machines and fittings to help out in many situations of unforeseen breakdowns or changes in plans and to try out advances in application.

He cites vegetation control specialists could hire a quad-mounted Weed Wizard, for precision optical spot spraying of weeds on pavements and hard surfaces, for example, to evaluate the cost savings and benefits for customers, without the economic tie of ownership.

Techneat Hire scheme is available across the range of Techneat precision application equipment also on show at BTME.

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Agrovista Amenity Welcomes New Amenity Specialist

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Agrovista Amenity Welcomes New Amenity Specialist: Agrovista Amenity has strengthened its team with the appointment of Ben Simpson, who joins as Amenity Specialist supporting the Landscape and IVM division.

Ben brings a varied career background and a refreshed enthusiasm for the amenity sector.

Agrovista Amenity Welcomes New Amenity Specialist

Agrovista Amenity Welcomes New Amenity Specialist

Although a qualified plumber by trade, he previously spent three years with Green-Tech, where he first discovered his passion for the industry. After a period back “on the tools”, he found himself drawn once again to amenity – but this time in a role that better matched his strengths and ambitions.

“I enjoyed it the first-time round, but this role at Agrovista Amenity suited me a lot more,” he says. “I wanted to be out meeting customers face to face. This is a relationship-driven industry and that’s what gives me a buzz.”

Based centrally within his territory, Ben will support customers across a wide northern patch – from Leeds up to just above Newcastle, across to the East Coast, and as far west as the M6. His remit covers the full spectrum of amenity clients, including contractors, councils, landscaping businesses and maintenance teams.

Day to day, Ben will be out on the road meeting current and prospective customers, taking over an established base while also identifying new opportunities in the region. “I’m fortunate to be stepping into a well-looked-after area,” he explains. “But I’m also excited to grow it further. A typical week is a real mix: most days on the road and some from home planning and admin work – everything from cold leads through to ongoing account management.”

The appeal of Agrovista Amenity was immediate. Although the role was initially advertised via a recruiter, the company name quickly stood out once he reached the interview stage.

“I had obviously heard of Agrovista, but when I met Ed Smith – Landscape and IVM Manager, and learned more about the business, everything just seemed to fit. The interview was relaxed, the atmosphere was down to earth, and from day one I have felt part of the team. It feels like I’ve been here seven years, not seven days.”

Ben says the support network has been exceptional. After completing training in Nottingham and Warrington, he was introduced to the wider team and quickly found himself welcomed into a collaborative environment. “Even though you spend a lot of time on your own out on the road, I definitely feel part of a team. Every single person has offered help. It’s been brilliant.”

Looking ahead, Ben is eager to get stuck in and begin building long-term relationships across his territory.

“I’m competitive by nature – I used to play cricket to a decent standard before a shoulder injury stopped me – so I enjoy the challenge. But more than that, this industry is full of genuinely good people. Customers become friends. I’m really looking forward to growing those relationships and contributing to Agrovista’s continued success.”

Reflecting on his appointment, Ben admits the opportunity still feels a little surreal:

“I was over the moon when I got the job. Having been out of the industry for a little while, I honestly couldn’t believe it at first. But it’s been fantastic. I’ve settled in well, everyone has been so supportive, and I can’t wait to move forward with it.”

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

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Agrovista Amenity Innovation at BTME

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Agrovista Amenity Innovation at BTME: Agrovista Amenity will return to BTME 2026 with a line-up that reflects its continued commitment to practical, science-led turf solutions. Visitors to Stand 126 will be able to explore two of the industry’s most talked-about technologies – Attraxor® and Maxtima® – alongside an exciting new addition to Agrovista Amenity’s product portfolio, the Thor robotic mower.

Attraxor® – growth regulation with real-world efficiency

Attraxor® has become a core part of integrated turf management programmes thanks to its proven ability to regulate growth quickly, consistently and across all major amenity grass species. Powered by prohexadione-calcium, the formulation inhibits the gibberellic acid pathway, reducing upward growth and easing mowing demands. Once mixed in the spray tank, the active is immediately activated by water and begins regulating within as little as four hours.

Agrovista Amenity Innovation at BTME

Agrovista Amenity Innovation at BTME

Visitors can speak to Agrovista specialists about how Attraxor® helps reduce clipping yield, increase labour efficiency and produce denser, higher-quality swards. Its strong performance at rates as low as 375 g/ha, its suitability for early-season use, and its compatibility with key fertilisers, colourants, herbicides and fungicides make it an adaptable option for greens, fairways and sports surfaces. Whether the goal is labour savings, improved playability or reducing the dominance of Poa annua, Attraxor® continues to deliver reliable results throughout the growing season.

Maxtima® – flexible, turf-safe disease control

Agrovista Amenity will also highlight Maxtima®, featuring mefentrifluconazole – the industry’s first isopropanol-azole and a major step forward in DMI fungicide technology. Its flexible ‘hook-like’ molecular structure allows it to bind powerfully to target enzymes within fungal pathogens, delivering fast knockdown and long-lasting protection even in challenging, cool or variable weather.

With excellent turf safety, low application rates and up to 28 days of activity, Maxtima® provides broad-spectrum control while remaining a strong rotational partner for resistance management. Rapid foliar absorption forms internal leaf reservoirs, protecting the active from UV and wash-off and supporting extended translocation through the plant. The result is dependable performance against many of the toughest turf diseases encountered across golf, sports and amenity settings.

Introducing the Thor robotic mower

Making its BTME debut, the Thor robotic mower brings fully autonomous, all-electric mowing to professional turf management. Equipped with RTK, LiDAR and AI vision, Thor delivers precise navigation across large areas, cutting up to 36,000m² per day with a 730mm deck. Dual-wheel drive, robust all-terrain capability, auto-return charging and cloud-based mapping make the system a powerful option for sports fields, golf courses, public parks and estates seeking consistent finish with minimal operator input.

With real-time monitoring, safety sensors, a flexible cutting height range (10–100mm) and tablet or app-based control, Thor represents a future-ready approach to large-area mowing.

Agrovista Amenity’s technical team will be available throughout BTME to discuss product strategies, site-specific advice and integrated solutions. Visitors are encouraged to stop by Stand 126 to see the full range in action.

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

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Agrovista Amenity welcomes new Amenity Specialist

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Agrovista Amenity welcomes new Amenity Specialist: Agrovista Amenity has announced the appointment of Paul Matthew as its newest Amenity Specialist, bringing with him decades of hands-on experience across golf, sports turf, and stadium management.

Paul’s role will primarily focus on stadia and sports facilities, an area in which he has extensive expertise. “My role is going to be primarily stadia, just due to my background as a groundsman,” he explained. “There are so many stadiums, sports grounds and pitches across the country, and it’s something I’m very familiar with and passionate about.”

Agrovista Amenity welcomes new Amenity Specialist

Agrovista Amenity welcomes new Amenity Specialist

Paul joins Agrovista Amenity following a distinguished career that began in greenkeeping before moving into high-level sports turf management. He started as an apprentice greenkeeper at Windyhill Golf Club in 1990, before progressing to Deputy Course Manager.

After a brief period as Deputy Head Greenkeeper at Hardgate Golf Club, Paul became a Golf Machinery Demonstrator for Scottish Grass Machinery – an experience that helped him gain valuable insight into turf equipment and product support.

He went on to spend over a decade working at some of the UK’s most recognised football clubs, including senior positions at Glasgow Rangers and Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Head Groundsman at Motherwell FC. Paul also has experience in the sales sector, having served as Area Sales Manager at Nairn Brown, a leading machinery dealer, and most recently as Sales Advisor for North Grow Lighting.

Reflecting on his move to Agrovista Amenity, Paul said:

“I received a message from Sam Honeyborne, Agrovista UK’s Senior Amenity Manager, inviting me for a coffee in Edinburgh – and it turned out to be much more than a coffee! I was actually offered a position at Agrovista about four or five years ago, but I wasn’t ready to leave my role at Motherwell then. When the opportunity came around again, I met with Sam and John Marland (Head of Amenity), and after a really relaxed chat, I was delighted to be offered the job. I’m so thankful for that and want to repay the faith they’ve shown in me.”

Paul added that it already feels like a natural fit:

“You can tell straight away this is a company with a great support network – everyone’s been so welcoming. It’s a huge company with so much knowledge to tap into. I want to take all my experience from being a groundsman and combine it with the technical expertise that comes from being on this side of the industry. My goal is to be known as Paul from Agrovista, not just Paul the ex-groundsman – and to help customers get the best out of their surfaces with that blend of practical and technical knowledge.”

Paul will work closely alongside Ramsay MacGregor, Agrovista Amenity’s long-standing Amenity Specialist for Scotland. Speaking about the appointment, Ramsay said:

“We are delighted to have Paul starting with us. He brings a vast amount of industry experience, and his knowledge of stadia and golf is impressive. We’re really looking forward to working with him going forward.”

With his extensive practical background and passion for the turfcare industry, Paul’s appointment further strengthens Agrovista Amenity’s presence in Scotland and its continued commitment to providing expert support across all areas of the sports turf and amenity sector.

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

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