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MM Seed – Fit for a King

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MM Seed – Fit for a King: The market leading MM grass seed is working wonders for the King’s Bruton Foundation according to Director of Grounds, Graham Kitley.

The King’s Bruton Foundation, in Somerset, comprises three schools – King’s Bruton, Hazlegrove Preparatory and Bruton School for Girls. The three boarding schools are united by a common set of values and principles and bound by a shared history that stretches back five hundred years to the foundation of King’s in 1519.

MM Seed - Fit for a King

MM Seed – Fit for a King

Standards are everything to the Foundation and that also applies to the extensive twenty-two acres of grounds which are managed by Graham Kitley. With twenty years’ experience of working in independent schools, it is safe to say that the grounds and sports facilities are in good hands.

Before being promoted to the position of Director of Grounds in July 2021, Graham spent just over four years working solely on the Hazlegrove site. He now oversees the King’s Bruton and Hazlegrove sites the two separate grounds teams.

“How the schools are presented is incredibly important,” said Graham. “We take pride in the grounds because it is the first thing you see when you arrive, and first impressions are everything. Furthermore, both of the Headmasters are very sport minded people, and it is important that the pupils are out playing as much sport as they can on the very best facilities.

“As a grounds team we are backed by the School and the Bursar in terms of budget for products and machinery.”

Graham admits to being in a fortunate position and insists on using only the finest products. This was certainly the case when it came to choosing a grass seed.

“I speak to many people in the industry about products and it became apparent that a lot were using MM seed. Because everyone was raving about the benefits of MM, I thought I’d try it. It did exactly what everybody said it would do and it has been phenomenal ever since.”

MM is one of the most respected brands in the UK amenity industry, with over 40 years of experience and knowledge. The extensive product portfolio is second to none with performance proven mixtures that are used at many leading venues in the UK and Europe.

All the varieties have an excellent breeding pedigree and have been selected and bred for their ability to deliver a range of quality turf characteristics.

Graham uses MM50 – a hard-wearing ryegrass mix and MM7 – a mix of fine leaved ryegrass, fescue and bent which is suitable for fine turf.

“Across both schools, we use MM50 on all our cricket pitches and all our formal lawns, and then we use MM7 on our golf greens.

“We have such a short turnaround period between terms, and I need to have faith in the products,” he continued. “MM seed has excellent germination and is up and growing strong within days. This is particularly beneficial because it allows us to get on with other jobs while having confidence in the seed to be working away.

MM Seed - Fit for a King

MM Seed – Fit for a King

“It also responds well over the winter, and we have very little disease. The recovery is good, the colour is good, and it has never let me down.

Graham purchases MM seed from David Bevan of Agrovista Amenity and was quick to praise the support he receives.

“David and Matt Gresty (MM and Designer Sales and Brand Manager for DLF UK) are both brilliant in looking after me in terms of what I need. They are both very knowledgeable and are always available to talk to, and I’ve never had any problems with MM seed. Quite simply, I order what I need, it arrives on time, and it always works.”

For further information, please contact MM Sports Seed on 01386 791102 or visit the company’s website www.mm-seeds.co.uk. You can also follow the company on Twitter: @MM_Seed

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Dennis PRO 34R a time saver for The Swans

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Dennis PRO 34R a time saver for The Swans: A fleet of ten Dennis PRO 34R rotary mowers has saved the Swansea City FC groundstaff a huge amount of time and made their working day more manageable according to Head Groundsman, Evan Davies. 

After working at the club for nearly a decade, Evan was appointed as the Head Groundsman in April 2021. He claims that his journey to this point has fully prepared him for the challenge ahead.

“The first 3 or 4 years were tough, especially when Swansea were in the Premier League,” said Evan. “The club has always demanded excellence from everyone, and I like to think this has brought the best out in me.”

Dennis PRO 34R a time saver for The Swans

Dennis PRO 34R a time saver for The Swans

Evan now oversees the maintenance of all three club sites – the Swansea.com Stadium, the first team Fairwood Training Ground and the Swans Academy which is situated at Landore. With a vast number of games and training sessions across all three sites, the grounds staff work around the clock to maintain the pitches.

Evan was keen to stamp his own mark and implement some of his own ideas and he quickly identified that a change in his fleet of rotary mowers could offer a significant benefit.

“It is essential that the cleaning of pitches is completed as quick as possible,” he said. “The only way to achieve this was with a rotary mower with a bigger cutting deck which had the ability to increase the speed. I quickly found that it was only the Dennis PRO 34R that would work in this respect. Therefore, one of my first purchases when I started the role was ten Dennis PRO 34R rotary mowers.”

Designed to help groundsmen achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance and desired playing surface the Dennis PRO 34R is a 34” (860mm) rotary mower ideal for sports pitches and lawns producing the enviable ‘Dennis Stripes’ while a powerful vacuum flow collects debris quickly and efficiently.

The angle of the cutting deck and twin blades can be easily adjusted using a single ‘click adjuster’ ensuring the mower is suitable for changing conditions and meeting groundsmen’s requirements.

“The PRO 34R’s allow us to manage the working day so much better,” said Evan. “At the training ground, for example, three members of staff can clean three pitches in two hours with the Dennis PRO 34R’s. With our previous rotary mowers that would have been a full 8-hour day carried out by 6 members of staff. This has allowed us to focus more on other tasks such as divoting and repairing the pitches, all things which we wouldn’t have had time to do before.

“The presentation it offers is also first-class,” he continued. “Leading up to a matchday we like to give the pitch a rotary cut on the Friday or the Saturday because it helps to make the pattern stand out. The leaf itself seems a bit happier after being cut with a PRO 34. They are so easy to set with just a little pin drop. With other rotary mowers you just can’t get that precise height of cut.

Dennis PRO 34R a time saver for The Swans

Dennis PRO 34R a time saver for The Swans

“For cleaning, you’ve got the brush on it which you can use aggressively or use it lightly on the surface to pick the debris up – it is just a win-win for us. There are not many mowers that give you an outstanding clean, cut and finish.”

Evan is also of the opinion that the Dennis customer service equals the standard of the product.

“The back-up I receive from Jason Briggs at Dennis is quality. He keeps in touch and has been to visit all three sites. He is very comfortable around all the staff, and he provides us with a lot of knowledge on the machines, which is beneficial for the younger members of the team.

“I also like the fact that Dennis is always thinking ahead,” he continued. “Dennis is a company that always listens to customers and then in turn comes up with ideas and technology to make our working lives easier. It certainly takes the pressure off us.”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on Twitter and Instagram @DennisMowers and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK. You can also view the latest Dennis videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers

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GMA announce judges for industry awards

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GMA announce judges for industry awards: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) is delighted to announce the names of this year’s panel of judges who will be recognising talent from across the grounds care industry by selecting the winners of the 2022 GMA Industry Awards.

The thirteen judges represent a variety of sectors operating in the grounds care industry, and together, will collectively select a winner for each of the nineteen award categories.

GMA announce judges for industry awards

GMA announce judges for industry awards

Listed alphabetically, the judging panel includes:

  1. Adrian Kay, Head Groundsman at York Racecourse
  2. Anthony Facey, Area Sales Manager at Tuckwell Group
  3. Cheryl Hill, Groundswoman at Leicester Tigers Rugby Club
  4. David Roberts, Director at Training Unlimited
  5. Derek Walder, Operations Manager at Saltex
  6. Jackie Evans, Head of Grounds at Wellington College
  7. John Wright, Head of Grounds at Southampton Football Club
  8. Lee Marshallsay, Grounds Manager at Eton College
  9. Lee Metcalfe, Senior Grounds Manager at Manchester City Football Club
  10. Nasa Hussain, Head Groundsman and Facilities Manager at Bradford Park Avenue
  11. Neil Stubley, Head of Courts and Horticulture at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club
  12. Stuart Kerrison, Head Groundsman at Essex County Cricket Club

Grounds Management Association CEO, Geoff Webb says:

“The GMA Industry Awards dinner has always recognised all parts of our varied sector by celebrating those who work hard to keep green spaces accessible and make sport possible.

“We are grateful to all of our judges for giving their time to help us recognise the achievements of individuals and teams who are making a real difference in communities, clubs and educational settings across the regions. The GMA Awards are uniquely determined by fellow grounds staff and people who have wide and diverse experience, making the GMA Industry Awards a truly authentic and peer-to-peer-led event.

I would also like to thank our sponsors, Origin Amenity Solutions, Kubota UK, Redexim, Infinicut, AMS Robotics and SGL, whose support is what makes events like this possible.

“We’re really looking forward to the GMA Awards making its post-pandemic return after two challenging years and we’re delighted to see the nomination entries continuing to flow in. The evening will provide a great opportunity to socialise and celebrate colleagues and peers and I would encourage all in sports turf and grounds care to save the date.”

Full details of the award categories and how to nominate is listed on the GMA website. Nominations must be submitted before 17.00 on Friday 29 July 2022.

The GMA Industry Awards dinner is taking place at The Vox, NEC Birmingham, on the evening of Wednesday 2 November, the evening of the first day of SALTEX.

Tickets to attend the awards will be released on Friday 1 July. To find out more about the purchase of tickets, please email vnewton@thegma.org.uk. To discuss sponsorship packages, please email scunningham@thegma.org.uk.

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The search for UK’s favourite parks

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The search for UK’s favourite parks: Fields in Trust – the independent charity that has been protecting parks and green spaces for almost 100 years – has announced that its search for the UK’s Favourite Parks is back this summer and is calling upon the nation to get nominating now!

The hugely popular campaign has returned for the first time since 2019 and will shine a light on the green spaces that hold a special place in our hearts.

The search for UK's favourite parks

The search for UK’s favourite parks

Having acted as sanctuary to so many over the past few years, Fields in Trust is bringing back the campaign to find the UK’s Favourite Parks to ensure that they continue to be celebrated in a post-pandemic world.

The charity recently commissioned a study which found that almost half of us have visited local parks more often than we used to as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Coupled with research that has shown that access to nature was one of the main ways people have supported their mental health during lockdowns, Fields in Trust is determined that this year’s campaign celebrates the spaces that we relied on.

This year’s UK’s Favourite Parks campaign is made all-the-more important in light of the Fields in Trust’s recently released annual Green Space Index report. The study – which analyses the provision and distribution of parks and green spaces in the UK – found that 2.8 million people live more than ten minutes’ walk away from a green space. With only 6% of green space legally protected in Great Britain, the charity is concerned  that this will only worsen in coming years if we do not appreciate and advocate for our local parks.

Chief Executive of Fields in Trust, Helen Griffiths, commented on the campaign’s return, saying:

“There is no doubt that the importance of green spaces has been acutely felt recently, with people increasingly turning to their local parks to find a sense of tranquillity, space, and belonging since the pandemic began. When restrictions were at their highest, many sought sanctuary in their daily walk around the park; and when restrictions lifted to allow outdoor gatherings, the same parks became the backdrop for reunions with loved ones and new memories made.

“At a time when things were so hard for so many, these places provided respite; now, through our UK’s Favourite Parks campaign, we want to give people the chance to show their appreciation for the green spaces that were there for them.”

The search for the UK’s Favourite Parks starts today, meaning you can nominate your local green space now. Nominations are open until Tuesday 5 July, before the chosen parks go head-to-head in a public vote.

The UK’s Favourite Parks was first awarded in 2015 and has already handed out the title to three parks from across the UK: inaugural winner, Telford Town Park; Rouken Glen Park in 2016; and Blackpool’s Stanley Park in both 2017 and 2019.

Helen Griffiths continues:

“We are thrilled to be on the search once again for the UK’s Favourite Parks and we have no doubt that we’ll find some absolute gems along the way. We can’t wait to see the places that get put forward. Whether it’s the park you head for when the sun is shining; your favourite place to walk the dog; the place you go to stretch your legs; or your family’s favourite spot to spend quality time together: we want you to nominate your favourite today!”

To nominate your local park, visit www.fieldsintrust.org/favourite-parks.

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Distributor award for KAR UK

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Distributor award for KAR UK: KAR UK has been announced as Kasco’s European Distributor of the year for the second consecutive year.

KAR UK – the leading wholesaler of irrigation equipment in the UK, provide a wide range of irrigation products to the horticultural, agricultural, landscape and sports turf markets in the UK and Ireland.

Distributor award for KAR UK

Distributor award for KAR UK

The company works only with the most prominent manufacturers and have built good long-term relationships with each of them. One such manufacturer is Kasco.

For over 50 years, Kasco – a family-owned company, has offered world-leading water quality solutions. Today, the company manufactures high quality products such as fountains, surface aerators, diffused aerators, de-icers, circulators and beneficial bacteria to aquatic industries – all of which are designed to improve water quality.

Over the past couple of years KAR UK has seen an increasing demand for the products and this has been reflected with two Kasco European Distributor of the Year Awards, and a Kasco Top Sales Growth Award which KAR UK was presented with in 2019.

“To win the award for the second-year running is an incredible achievement,” said KAR UK Regional Sales Manager Roger Lupton. “We had another exceptionally good year with the Kasco products, and there is a reason for that. The Kasco brand of products are premium, reliable, and innovative.

“The team at Kasco are fantastic to work with and the strength in our relationship has been key to success. Furthermore, I would like to thank all the other suppliers, installers, operators, and specialist contractors that we work with because they all play an integral role in getting the Kasco products to the end user. It is as much their success as it is ours.”

Commenting on KAR UK’s award, Joe Holz, Kasco’s Director of Sales, said “We are once again happy to recognise KAR UK for their sales and service efforts with Kasco products in the UK.

“The partnership between Kasco and KAR UK continues to grow. KAR UK’s ability to stock product locally as well install and service locally is coupled with their strong knowledge of the product line. This allows KAR UK to continue to be a top distributor and partner with Kasco. We are happy to have a local partner in the UK like KAR.”

For more information, please visit www.karuk.com

You can also follow KAR UK on Twitter @KARUK_LTD for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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Water solutions for all locations

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Water solutions for all locations: Award-winning distributor Reesink UK has rebranded its established Irrigation division to reflect increasing market diversity and provide water solutions for all locations.

Reesink Hydro-Scapes encapsulates the long established and industry-leading Toro irrigation systems, controllers, sprinklers and soil sensors. But better represents the growing Otterbine pond and lake aerator business; SRC wall-mounted controllers; Biral lightning detectors and quick-replace Franklin pump systems too.

Water solutions for all locations

Water solutions for all locations

The move represents the company’s support to its existing brands and growth strategy for the future says Robert Jackson who heads up the division: “In recent years the range and breadth of water solutions we offer our customers has expanded exponentially and there’s a focus to grow that even further.

“Our customers encompass golf courses to insect farms, football stadiums to living walls and urban landscapes to fishing lakes and fruit growers – any venue which would benefit from water control, delivery, management and expertise. We’ve built our team to six to encompass sales and marketing, support and backup, technical training and customer relations – all with a specialism in supplying and installing effective and efficient water-based solutions.”

Reesink Hydro-Scapes joins the Reesink UK portfolio which includes Reesink Turfcare, Reesink Agriculture and Reesink e-Vehicles. Diversification into new markets with new divisions is a strategy that allows Reesink to positively respond to market developments. As in the case of electric power, sustainable water solutions are a hot topic, very much evident in Reesink’s 100 percent increase in Otterbine sales in 2021, witnessing far greater demand than had been expected, for example.

Robert continues: “Water is a fundamental part of the matrix in the business we’re all in – caring for the landscape – and as a commodity, its value and importance cannot be overlooked. We’re well aware of the future challenges in managing this precious resource in a sustainable way and providing options for our customers. That has been as much of a driver in launching this new division as anything else.”

For further information, visit reesinkuk.co.uk

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Have you registered for SAGE yet?

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Have you registered for SAGE yet?: SAGE 2022 takes place on 6-7 July at The Three Counties Showground in Malvern, and it is going to be a very valuable event for professionals in the sports, grounds and landscape industry this summer. The event is completely free to attend and there is a great deal on the agenda this year.

The stunning location has been selected specifically so that there is plenty of room for live demos from all types of businesses from across the industry. Visitors also have the opportunity to register for free training courses delivered by Sampson Training and hear from the leading experts as they discuss hot topics for the season and the future.

Have you registered for SAGE yet?

Have you registered for SAGE yet?

Sustainability will be a key theme at the event, with the first ever Sustainability Solutions for Grounds Specialists Summit being hosted at the event in partnership with Bio-Circle. SAGE has also been named the home event for GRASS (Ground care Resources and Sustainability Solutions), which is a newly launched forum for ground care specialists who are passionate about driving a more sustainable future for the industry.

With sustainability becoming an increasingly important priority, attending SAGE 2022 will enable visitors to find out how to implement sustainable solutions into their business, and to help ensure they are able to meet future government targets.

What’s on at SAGE 2022?

Wednesday 6th July

9.30 – 10.00 Open Session with Sampson Training director Martin Sampson, Lantra trainer and assessor along with his colleague Geraint Jenkins, (Lantra trainer and assessor).

10.30 – 11.00: Appropriate Selection of Training Courses for your Team

11.15 – 11.45: Adam Sedgewick presents, “Gathering data, for better turfgrass decisions”.

12.00 – 12.45: Calibration of a Handheld Applicator (Knapsack) and Boom sprayer

Scheduled Demos: 13.00 – 14.15

TRIMAX, TH WHITE, REDEXIM, KERSTEN UK, TORO UK, CUB CADET & Many More

14.30 – 15.45: SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR GROUNDS SPECIALISTS SUMMIT in partnership with Bio-Circle. Join the experts as they discuss how to implement sustainability across the industry and wider sphere.

16.00 – 18.00: Networking event in partnership with Sponsors Fleet Line Markers, bar and live music

Thursday 7th July

Scheduled Demos: 9.30 – 11.00

TRIMAX, TH WHITE, REDEXIM, KERSTEN UK, TORO UK & CUB CADET Many More

11.15 – 11.40 Maintaining your marking equipment: Led by sponsors Fleet Line Markers Ltd

12.00 – 13.00 Sustainability Summit Open Workshop in partnership with Bio-Circle, come and meet the experts and discuss how to better your practices.

Scheduled Demos: 14.00 – 16.00

TRIMAX, TH WHITE, REDEXIM, KERSTEN UK, TORO UK & Many More

With several more speaking slots to confirm, there is an action-packed schedule over the two days, with lots of exciting opportunities and experiences on offer. The networking event is a unique chance to meet industry professionals and ask the experts any questions you have, while enjoying a more informal setting.

Fleet Line Markers are sponsoring the networking event, which will have an open bar and live music, so that’s one more reason to make sure you do not miss this event. Fleet are also offering a 10% discount on their products to all visitors, so you can also save money on any line marking equipment you require.

Have you registered for SAGE yet?

Have you registered for SAGE yet?

Registering today will also enter you into our prize draw for your chance to win the Sustainability Starter Kit, put together by our exhibitors from GRASS.

Register for the event today to book your place, www.sportsandgrounds.events, if you wish to exhibit this year there is still time for a last minute stand, limited space remaining, discounts available.

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Free golf membership for greenkeeping help

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Free golf membership for greenkeeping help: The owner of a private, nine-hole golf club in England is letting people play for free providing they pitch in with course maintenance.

Read the full article from Golf Magic here

Free golf membership for greenkeeping help

Free golf membership for greenkeeping help

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Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year open for entries

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Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year open for entries: The search is on to recognise the UK’s most professional sprayer operators in the turf and landscape amenity sector. The Amenity Forum’s Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year (ASOOTY) awards highlight best practice and experience in the challenging role of ensuring accurate application on all amenity surfaces.

Sponsored by Syngenta and ICL, in association with BASIS, the awards seek to share top tips and advice that will raise the standards of spray application across the amenity industry.

Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year open for entries

Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year open for entries

The winner is presented at the prestigious BIGGA Awards ceremony at BTME, along with a prize of a weekend break for two at a luxury hotel of choice. Two runners-up receive £100 Machine Mart vouchers.

Announcing the opening of the ASOOTY 2022 awards, Syngenta Technical Manager, Sean Loakes, said: “Sprayer operation is a key factor in the success of every application, including elements of nozzle choice, water volume and fine tuning the sprayer to more effectively hit the intended target.

“However, for the best possible results, today’s professional sprayer operators must also fully understand the wider aspects of why an application is being made, and what other elements they can also employ for better long-term management of potential problems.”

This year the entry process aims to test sprayer operators’ broader knowledge of issues and solutions faced across the amenity sector. Barry Browne, ICL Landscape & Industrial Sales Manager, explained entrants are not expected to know the answers to all the questions, but will help the judging panel to assess an individual’s experience and approach to dealing with challenges.

“The entry process itself will stimulate thought and understanding of the issues around application, including the need to create integrated solutions using a full range of tools and tactics. We’re looking to find operators that can make those important proactive decisions with every application.”

All entrants will be invited to attend an on-line session to review the entry form with judges and to share and learn from the experiences of others.

Professor John Moverley of the Amenity Forum highlighted the ASOOTY awards exemplified the organisation’s objective to promote best practice across the sector.

“It seeks to do this by advocating a fully integrated approach to weed, pest and disease management, tailoring solutions to meet specific situations and making use of the appropriate approved chemical and non-chemical techniques, to produce the most effective and efficient outcome – whilst seeking to create safe and healthy amenity spaces.

“The Amenity Forum has taken the lead in a major step forward in highlighting the importance of amenity management and the need to use professionally approved operators in any public space.”

Enter the ASOOTY 2022 awards here

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‘Green’ lawncare key for environment

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‘Green’ lawncare key for environment: There are more than 20 million domestic garden lawns in the UK and one man is driving a campaign to ensure that British gardeners get the latest and best possible ‘green’ advice on lawncare.

“There is a place for the occasional use of chemicals in lawncare but there is also a rapidly increasing range of totally green options that are just as effective.  I want to ensure that the new breed of specialist lawncare advisors promote this green route,” says Richard Salmon, managing director of ProLawnCareUK.

'Green' lawncare key for environment

‘Green’ lawncare key for environment

He has spent his entire career in lawn and grass care and is one of the UK’s foremost experts.   Part of his work is training people who want to establish businesses as domestic lawncare advisors and his two and four day courses focus strongly on the environmentally friendly approach.    He believes that too many professional lawncare advisors rely on strong chemical treatments and over-feeding grass with manufactured, expensive and not kind to the environment Nitrogen.  They do this to ensure a quick-fix and a bright green lawn, deliberately ignoring the more gentle and natural true green alternatives.

“We all want verdant green lawns but trying to force this to happen by applying excessive Nitrogen is neither beneficial to the lawns or environment nor is it sustainable.    Steady rain, and even snow, does deliver useful amounts of nitrogen for free.  The problem comes from torrential rain that can wash it away again.”

There are three cornerstones of his training courses: ensuring lawns are compaction free, having access to balanced nutrition and some basic lawn management tips that home owners can undertake.

The benefits of a lawn being compaction free are:

  • Allowing roots to grow deep in search of natural nutrients and water.
  • Allowing rain to percolate down to the roots and not waterlogging the lawn.
  • Preventing the grass from suffocating and dying through lack of oxygen.

“A compaction free lawn will have a healthy soil microbial population,” says Richard.  “The soil is a larder full of natural nutrients vital to grass and delivers it in a form that the roots can take up.   This way there is no need for synthetic fertilisers.”

With this combined treatment package lawn owners should mow little and often.  Richard believes that mulching is best as nutrients are retained in the leaf and put pack into the soil.  In excessively dry weather irrigate using harvested rainwater.  This combination will create a thick sward that keeps weeds and moss at bay.

“Our 20 million domestic lawns, collectively, cover an area larger than any UK National Park.  Lawn owners have a responsibility to ensure that their small part of such a large area is treated with the utmost respect and care for the environment.  It is important that when lawn owners seek professional help and advice, they are not offered a chemical package that runs counter to this objective.  Once trained they will find that being able to promote themselves as environmentally responsible lawncare experts will be a major sales boost,” says Richard.

Courses run throughout the year in Cambridge

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