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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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