Tag Archive for: First

SALTEX announces first round of speakers

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SALTEX announces first round of speakers: SALTEX is renowned for its exceptional range of professional development opportunities, showcased through its industry-leading Learning LIVE programme. 

This year, over 20 industry pioneers, technical specialists, and experts will speak across three stages, including the brand-new Community Sports Stage, over two days – making it the largest free live learning event in the sector. Many visitors cite Learning LIVE, which also offers the opportunity to gain CPD points, as a key reason for attending the show.

SALTEX announces first round of speakers

SALTEX announces first round of speakers

The Main Stage will feature discussions on the latest hot topics and issues, engaging visitors in the big conversations of the moment. Day one highlights include Lee Guerriero, UEFA Stadium Operations and Pitch Expert, presenting the ‘UEFA EURO 2024 Pitch Quality Review’.

He said: “I’m excited to share the UEFA 2024 Pitch Quality Support Program with the visitors at SALTEX. My session will cover the program’s strategy, findings, and learnings, offering insights from the main stadia to the training pitches used throughout this year’s tournament.”

Also on day one, Robert Sullivan, CEO of The Football Foundation, will discuss ‘Funding The Future of Sport’.

Day two on the Main Stage will feature Professor David James, Group CEO at LABOSPORT Group, delivering the ‘FIFA Football Turf Quality Programme’.

He said: “I’m thrilled to be sharing my insights at SALTEX once again. Working closely with FIFA, I help shape new standards and test methods for football infrastructure. This talk will offer an exciting overview of FIFA’s innovative approach to enhancing the quality of football turf surfaces.”

Additionally, Mark Ferguson, Agronomist at All England Lawn Tennis Club,  will present on ‘Raising Tennis Surfaces Standards – From Grassroots to Major International Championships’. His session will cover the expanding grass court season, grass court characteristics, grassroots venues, preparation for Wimbledon, and the growth of grass court tennis.

SALTEX will also see the return of the Spotlight Stage, featuring crowd-pullers in an ask-the-experts-style forum. On day one, Paul Bannister, with 28 years of experience in commercial horticulture, landscaping, and sports turf industries, will deliver ‘How to Provide a Safe Working Environment – Are You Compliant?’.

Day two will see Professor John Moverley OBE, former executive chairman of the UK Amenity Forum, present ‘Principles & Practices of Sustainable Amenity Management’. This session will review policy drivers, key elements of sustainable management, and integrated approaches to management and operational practice.

Geoff Fenn, Research & Development Director at Origin Amenity Solutions, will also present ‘Independent Turfgrass Research – Latest Results’, sharing insights from his extensive experience in turf management.

Sarah Cunningham, Director of Commercial and Events at the Grounds Management Association, said: “We’re incredibly excited about this year’s SALTEX, especially the Learning LIVE schedule. It’s always great to see so many industry-leading professionals come together to share their knowledge. Our aim is to create sessions where everyone feels welcome and can take something extra away with them, we believe this year’s lineup  of speakers and sessions will do just that. There’s something here for everyone.”

For more information on SALTEX 2024 and to register for the event, please visit https://www.saltex.org.uk/.

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Green-tech helps create first purpose-built biophilic primary

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Green-tech helps create first purpose-built biophilic primary: St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby suffered a devastating fire in October 2020, demolishing the site. A new multi-million-pound school has now risen from the ashes to become the UK’s greenest school.

St Mary’s is the country’s first biophilic school and has been built as part of a pilot project for the Department for Education (DfE).

Green-tech helps create first purpose-built biophilic primary

Green-tech helps create first purpose-built biophilic primary

Biophilic design focuses on connecting those inside, with nature, to promote physical and mental health. The goal for St Mary’s is to be net zero carbon in operation where the amount of carbon emissions added is no more than the amount taken away, making it the UK’s greenest school.

Horizon Landscapes are Landscape and Grounds Maintenance Contractors based In Nottingham. They were awarded the tree planting and soft landscaping contract for this pilot project.

As part of the landscape strategy, 100 new trees were planted, many of which were semi-mature to help the school become quickly embedded in the Biophilic landscape. Additional landscape features include rain gardens, season bulb planting, green roof, and wildflower meadows to maximise biodiversity and local ecology.

For planting in the hard landscaped areas Green-tech supplied 128 TreeParker® units, 40 tonnes of Green-tree Geosoil and 40 tonnes of Green-tree Subsoil. The TreeParker® Cell System is an underground structural soil cell system that provides an ideal environment for trees to thrive beneath the pavement in urban environments. The system provides large volumes of non-compact high-quality soil and maximises the usable space beneath the ground, providing unlimited expansion for unimpeded root growth, while supporting traffic loads at the same time. It is ideal for new trees in areas such as pavements, car parks, and green roofs. In addition to this key function, TreeParker® aids stormwater management within the system, dealing with rainwater runoff at source – the ideal SuDS solution.

Green-tech supplied 85 tree anchor systems for the installation of trees into the soft landscaping scheme. Green-tech has a range of tree anchor systems designed to provide much-needed anchoring and stability for newly planted trees. In most cases, the tree anchor is secured over the root ball, providing greater contact with the surface area of the root ball and in turn improved root support for the newly planted tree.

Amanda Greaves, Executive Headteacher at St Mary’s, comments: “I am so delighted for the children, staff, parents, and wider community as we begin the next chapter in the new St Mary’s, the greenest school in the UK. It has been an absolute privilege to be part of this incredible pathway project. I think the best thing about the new building is being able to see all of the outside areas from all of the buildings and everything is integrated. We have 100 trees, the trim trail, and lots of benches and everything feels calm and relaxed. Everyone is just excited to be here.”

Richard Hale, Managing Director of Horizon Landscapes adds, “This was a stunning project to work on.  It was an honour to be involved in creating the first biophilic school and for the importance of the outside to be truly recognised as comparable with the inside of the building. The project has been a huge success and well-received. We have worked with Green-tech for many years and as ever they supplied what we needed, when we needed it. They are our go-to for all soft landscaping materials”.

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First ever roll-on roll-off quick-spin grinder

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First ever roll-on roll-off quick-spin grinder: It is not often that a completely new product is introduced into the market which will be a complete game-changer, but that is exactly what has happened at the 2024 BTME exhibition in Harrogate and the 2024 GCSAA Conference & Trade Show in Phoenix, AZ

The Foley 642 Quick Spin Reel Grinder brings a whole new meaning to quick spin. The 642 is designed to accommodate the widest of mower cylinders and is a simple roll-on roll-off solution to grinding, with the machine sitting at floor level. The roll-on roll-off solution removes all need for heavy lifting facilities, revolutionising the way the Equipment Managers view touch-up spin grinding. Foley’s professional grinders already offer the best spin and relief methods for sharpening blades and the new Foley 642 Quick Spin Grinder will be complimentary to these methods. It offers a fast, easy operated option for providing a quick touch-up spin, between the regular relief grinding schedules. It is also the perfect solution to sharpening the extra wide, heavy mowers used on sports fields/pitches, which are often cumbersome to load into the standard grinder.

First ever roll-on roll-off quick-spin grinder

First ever roll-on roll-off quick-spin grinder

Last week Paul Rauker, CEO and President of Foley Company had made the trip to Harrogate to support Foley Company’s launch of the world’s first ever professional floor level roll-on, roll-off grinder. ‘This is truly a remarkable occasion,’ said Paul. ‘The 642 Quick Spin Reel Grinder is the first of its kind and I’m delighted to be here to acknowledge the significance of our latest development. It is a machine that will appeal to all grounds professionals who are looking to improve the performance and efficiency of their grinding programs. As the leading manufacturer of grinding equipment Foley is once again leading the way in grinding technology. We have developed and patented simple to use controls to save time without compromising on performance.

The patented clamping system effortlessly secures any cutting unit in all configurations and the roller clamp is adjustable for any variety of rollers and groomers. This machine really will change the way we look at grinding in the future!’

The Foley 642 Quick-Spin features simple to use controls, counter balanced spin drive, patented front and rear clamping system for pedestrian mowers and power rear positioning levers for cylinders. It is spin only, with adjustable traverse speed and adjustable spin speed. It will accept up to 42” reel width and operates on 240v/15a power.

For more information on the new 642 Quick Spin Reel Grinder visit: www.foleyco.com/642-quick-spin

Foley Company is targeting production models to be available later this year.

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First GroundsFest Prize Winner Announced

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First GroundsFest Prize Winner Announced: Nathan Lewis from Lewis Garden Machinery is the proud winner of a range of battery-powered Pellenc equipment – a GroundsFest registration prize that added an extra layer of excitement to the spectacular event.

The inaugural GroundsFest proved to be a huge success, captivating visitors with the largest display of outdoor machinery demonstrations in the UK, free educational sessions, live music performances, and the opportunity to engage in hands-on practical training.

First GroundsFest Prize Winner Announced

First GroundsFest Prize Winner Announced

Amidst the countless opportunities at GroundsFest, every participant who registered and attended the event had a chance to win some exceptional prizes. The first prize was a battery-powered Rasion Basic lawnmower and a Selion telescopic polesaw from Pellenc.

Weighing less than 25 kg, the Rasion redefines working conditions for green space professionals. Its ultra-manoeuvrability, easy transport, and unmatched power ensures impeccable cut quality for various mowing tasks. With a reach of up to 14.76 ft, work can be carried out with the Selion polesaw without a carrying harness because of their lightness.

They are ideal for use in noise sensitive areas and powerful enough for forestry work.

The Pellenc prizes were won by Nathan Lewis from Lewis Garden Machinery, a well-established and reputable family business specialising in garden and landscape maintenance since 1987. The company, known for its bespoke maintenance schedules, has built a large portfolio of domestic and commercial clients through continued investment in equipment and improved work practices.

In recent years, Lewis Garden Services has made significant investments in battery equipment, particularly suitable for noise-sensitive areas such as offices, nursing homes, and hospitals. The addition of the Pellenc Rasion and Selion to the company’s machinery fleet aligns seamlessly with their commitment to providing an efficient, sustainable, and affordable service.

Ecstatic about the prize, Nathan admitted that winning was the perfect way to conclude his first memorable GroundsFest experience, emphasising the outdoor demonstrations, the wide variety of exhibitors, and the lively performance by the Queen tribute band as particular highlights.

Anticipation now builds for the announcement of the second registration prize winner, which will be announced soon.

For more information, please visit www.groundsfest.com

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First SALTEX for Boss ORV and Corvus

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First SALTEX for Boss ORV and Corvus: BOSS ORV, the UK distributor of the Corvus range of off-road utility vehicles, is to exhibit at Saltex 2023. It is the first time at the show for BOSS and they will also be showing the new Faunamaster seeder for which they were recently appointed for sole UK distribution.

The Corvus models on display will be two of the Terrain range 4×4 UTVs, the DX4 and EX4. Corvus is Europe’s first manufacturer of off-road UTVs and designed the DX4 from the ground up for heavy-duty work in agriculture, livestock, forestry, turf care and construction. The DX4 is described as powerful and robust, with an efficient Yanmar 24 hp diesel engine and market-leading onboard storage capacity. The Corvus Terrain EX4 is a 100% electric 4×4 utility vehicle, with all the benefits of no emissions. It can tackle the toughest working days thanks to its off-road capabilities and precise power. The EX4 offers high load capacity, lower maintenance cost and high vehicle durability. The Faunamaster seeders come from the Danish company Faunamaster ApS.

First SALTEX for Boss ORV and Corvus

First SALTEX for Boss ORV and Corvus

They are multifunctional, timesaving seed drills designed for use with an ATV, UTV or tractor. Ideal for sowing into existing grass fields, tilled soil, wildflower meadows and paddocks, the Faunamaster sows seeds of virtually any size to a depth of 80mm. The compact size makes it of great benefit working in parks, gardens and any area where normal planter equipment is too large. BOSS ORV welcomes visitors and dealers to their stand at Saltex Hall 1 stand EO45.

For more information about Corvus Off-Road Vehicles and the Faunamaster you can call 01785 561046 E-mail: sales@bossorv.co.uk Web: www.bossorv.co.uk

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