Green - Turf Matters

Vandals Leave Golf Green ‘Completely Shredded’

September 30, 2019/in Industry News, News, Press Release/by External Source

Vandals Leave Golf Green ‘Completely Shredded’: This was the scene of devastation left at a golf course after an off-road buggy was seen performing ‘doughnuts’ on the greens.

A section of the course at Prestwich Golf Club has been ruined after the act of vandalism, which took place at 4.40pm last Friday.

It is believed someone managed to gain access to the golf club via a path from nearby Kersal Moor before driving across a green, fairway and teeing complex.

The course has been left badly damaged, with evidence of tyre marks and mounds of turf having been torn up.

Furious golf club bosses estimate it will cost them tens of thousands of pounds to repair the damage.

Police are investigating. No arrests have been made.

Golf course manager, Chris Harding, said: “The damage is horrendous, it has been completely shredded.

“It is going to cost a hell of a lot of money to repair.”

A major course remodelling, costing just shy of £1m is currently taking place at the club.

The work has been funded by a payment from a developer as part of an agreement to build 17 luxury homes on part of the old course.

Half the course has been closed since last September while contractors carry out work on the scheme, which will see 11 holes altered.

Mr Harding said the damaged section of course had only been laid down for three months and is yet to be played on.

It had been hoped that the course would be ready to play on by June, but the latest act of vandalism has proved a major setback to that schedule and has left members ‘gutted’.

“The club doesn’t deserve this,” said Mr Harding.

“There has been a good buzz about the place, but everyone is just feeling flat now.

“It’s heartbreaking after all the work and dedication that has gone into it.

“A lot of time and money has gone into building the course and making sure it is ready to play on.”

“It is going to take a lot of time and effort to get us back on schedule.”

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police confirmed the force had received a report of the incident, adding: “The damage is believed to have been caused by an off-road four wheel drive vehicle that has been driven on the green.

“No arrests have been made at this stage and anyone with information should contact police on 101.”

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Sprayer Unveils Green Credentials

May 8, 2019/in Machinery, News, Press Release/by Keith Nicholson

Sprayer Unveils Green Credentials: As part of a drive towards developing environmentally friendly and sustainable products Cambridgeshire based manufacturer Techneat Engineering offer the Acuspray, a pedestrian sprayer, aimed at the professional grounds-person and keen gardener.

“It’s a major step forward in design technology and one we are justifiably proud of “says Techneat’s Technical Support Manager James English.

“There’s no battery or engine so the application rate is controlled by a unique wheel driven pump that remains consistent throughout the day and produces zero carbon emissions. The machine’s plastic construction makes it lightweight, durable and completely recyclable.

For operator comfort the Acuspray is an extremely quiet machine with very low decibel noise emissions. Its lightweight construction means it is also very easy to push. Output varies according to forward speed ensuring the correct application rate is always achieved. The Acusprays’ 25l tank enables it to cover up to 625M2 before refilling is required.

For turf care professionals who require precision equipment, and who are also working towards a greener future, it’s the perfect sprayer” he confirms.

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Wildflower Provide ‘Living Green Roof’ To Leeds Skelton Lake Services

February 25, 2019/in Parks and Gardens, Press Release/by Michelle Beck

Wildflower Provide ‘Living Green Roof’ To Leeds Skelton Lake Services: The UK’s most prominent wildflower experts, Wildflower Turf Ltd, will be helping to enhance the biodiversity of the £60M Leeds Skelton Lake Services when the ‘new concept’ Motorway Service Area (MSA) opens on the M1 later this year.

Leeds Skelton Lake Services will include a 100-bedroom Hotel and a Food Court Building providing a wide range of Food & Beverage and ancillary retail outlets, a Wildlife Centre and a dedicated Business Centre.

With the new MSA occupying a lakeside environment, the integration of the Hotel and Food Court Building in a way that is sympathetic to its surroundings has been of the utmost importance. Wildflower Turf Ltd are working closely with the Landscape Architect, Smeeden Foreman, and Wetherby-based Brambledown Landscapes Ltd to deliver an enhanced landscape that fits seamlessly into the local environment.

The innovative design of the main building showcases a unique and eye-catching undulating roof that will utilise wildflowers, supplied by the team at Wildflower Turf Ltd and installed by ABG Ltd.

The ‘Living Roof’ will be soil-less and consist of up to 41 native UK wildflower species that will provide a haven for bees and other invertebrates while delivering significant aesthetic appeal and ensuring that the building blends into its lakeside location.

Managing Director of Wildflower Turf Ltd, James Hewetson-Brown, said, “We are delighted that one of our wildflower roofs will be showcased at Leeds Skelton Lake Services. As awareness of the importance of biodiverse habitats increase, this new concept in MSA shows that the built environment can exist harmoniously with, and indeed give back to, the natural landscape.”

Andrew Long, CEO of Extra MSA said: “Throughout the detailed planning phase of Leeds Skelton Lake Services, we were acutely aware of our responsibility to the site’s natural surroundings. This new MSA will be a truly revolutionary design in the UK, providing critical safety infrastructure for this part of the motorway network, in a sustainable and visually appealing way.”

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Trime UK Champion The Green X-Splash

November 19, 2018/in Industry News, Press Release/by Paul Hay

Trime UK Champion The Green X-Splash: Trime UK, the Cambridgeshire based supplier of sustainable equipment for the horticultural, agricultural, construction and rental markets have had their X-Splash wash bay honoured by the prestigious environmental campaigners, the Green Organisation. They competed against more than 800 other nominations in the Green Apple Awards for Environmental Best Practice.

Trime’s Ray Caulfield (CEO) and Paul Hay (MD) were requested by representatives of the Green Organisation to attend a glittering presentation ceremony held at the Houses of Parliament on 12^th November to receive their Champions Award, which is the top accolade.

Paul Hay confirmed, “Our aim was to produce a cleaning method that conserves water usage through a recycling process and a collection procedure that gathers in all harmful contaminates so they are not discharged into the sewage system.”

“The X-Splash has rapidly become a popular product and to have its environmental qualities formally recognised is indeed an honour. We hope that this award will give confidence to current users and prospective purchasers that the X-Splash is an environmentally accredited product,” added Paul.

The judges commented: “Localised ground and watercourse pollution from construction operations is a frequent occurrence. Trime set out to reduce this by developing an enclosed wash-bay for construction plant and equipment that contains filters and reuses its water, consuming less and protecting the environment.”

The Trime X-Splash wash bay is an ecological, flexible cleaning system for most types of plant and machinery. It prevents soil pollution and contamination of drains, from oil, grease, and similar chemical contaminants.

The Trime X-Splash is also listed on the Water Technology List (WTL) which promotes products that encourage sustainable water use. The WTL rewards businesses for investing in listed products through the ECA scheme. The ECA allows a business to offset the cost of purchasing eligible plant and machinery against its taxable profits.

The awards are organised by The Green Organisation, an international, independent, non-political, non-profit environment group dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice around the world. The Green Apple Awards are supported by the Environment Agency, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, and The Chartered Institution for Wastes Management, REHIS alongside other independent bodies.

The Green Apple Awards began in 1994 and have become established as the country’s major recognition for environmental endeavour among companies, councils, communities and countries.

Trime has significant experience in supplying sustainable equipment to the horticultural, agricultural, construction and rental markets. The Trime manufacturing plant is based in Cassinetta di Lugagnano, near Milan and the Trime UK is situated in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

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Master Green Keeper Helps Oxford GC

October 19, 2018/in Press Release, Sport/by Greig Box Turnbull

Master Green Keeper Helps Oxford GC: Renowned Agronomist Greg Evans has taken the lead a two-year turf maintenance programme that has transformed the historic Oxford Golf Club.

Oxford Golf Club recruited Mr Evans on a consultancy basis to help create and implement a detailed green keeping improvement and maintenance strategy at the 18-hole course. The programme of focused activity has enhanced the greens, tees and approach areas. Mr Evans help devise the bespoke strategy and worked in partnership with Head Green Keeper Doug MacGregor. The Green Keeping team all welcomed the new philosophy and worked together to transform the course.

Mr Evans said: “Oxford Golf Club is a fantastic course and has always been well regarded. Following the implementation of a targeted agronomy plan it now has perfect greens and the rest of the course is of a very high standard.

“The club was really supportive and allowed us to close the competition greens for a tight maintenance window to enable us to really focus on a big agronomy programme. The greens have a good sand profile and so we carried out deep aeration activity and then followed a strict maintenance plan. This included targeted hard watering and tight cutting to produce faster, smoother greens. Within nine months the greens were performing very well, and they are the jewel in the crown of the course.”

The green-keeping team also focused on tees and approaches as part of the wider agronomy plan. Mr Evans added: “As with a lot of older clubs the Oxford Golf Club was built before irrigation systems were introduced and so the course tends to hold water. We hired in a verti-drainer to fully drain the course and changed the fertility programme to add small amounts of nutrients every ten days.”

Head Green Keeper Doug MacGregor said: “The introduced and continuation of the intense agronomy plan has been fantastic for the course, members and staff. It has been an excellent experience for the green keeping team and we can all take great pride in the enhancements we have made to the course.”

Stephen Nicholson, General Manager at Oxford Golf Club, said: “As a club we are committed to continually improving the course and the agronomy plan has formed a key part of our strategy. The club has really reaped the rewards of this intensive activity and our members and visitors alike have commented on the quality of our greens and tees. The Green Keeping team have all embraced the change in philosophy and done a fantastic job.”

Oxford Golf Club is the oldest course in Oxfordshire and features a Harry Colt designed 18-hole course, putting green, practice area and coaching school. It is located on Hilltop Road, Oxford. The club’s head professional is Joe Pepperell, brother of European Tour player Eddie.