Tag Archive for: Green

It’s Baroness from tee to green at Ilkley GC

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It’s Baroness from tee to green at Ilkley GC: What started as just one hand mower purchased close to 30 years ago has blossomed into a full fleet of mowing equipment from Baroness for the team at Ilkley Golf Club.

Today, the 18-hole parkland course is mown from tee to green with 11 machines from the Baroness precision fine turf range, bringing not just cut quality but outstanding reliability to operations at the third oldest club in Yorkshire.

It’s Baroness from tee to green at Ilkley GC

It’s Baroness from tee to green at Ilkley GC

It isn’t only the Baroness brand that has been a stalwart to proceedings, Head Greenkeeper Duncan Campbell has chalked up over 43 years of loyal service – today supported by a team of six. “Our approach has always favoured hand mowing the greens most mornings which was why we purchased our first Baroness (formally Saxon) back in the mid 1990’s” explains Duncan. “From the off, the build quality of these machines was evident and the team enjoyed using them so one quickly became two, before becoming five which is what we continue to run today on a turnover programme.”

Alongside the five Baroness LM56 pedestrian greens mowers are an LM66 hand mower for tees, an LM315 greens mower, an LM331 for surrounds and approaches, an LM2700 and LM551B for the fairways and a GM2810A semi-rough mower – the latest purchases delivered by local dealers GGM in early April.

“There’s a lot to like about the Baroness machines starting with the build quality and simplicity of operation.” He emphasises, “We have a highly skilled team that don’t need to rely on fancy gadgets or a computer to do an incredibly good job. Then there’s the cut quality which is consistent throughout the range, both rotary and cylinder. With fewer chemical controls we get a lot of worms and wormcasts here at Ilkley which is, unfortunately, another thing to bear in mind with mowing equipment. The Baroness cylinders deal with this incredibly well, retaining sharpness for a quality cut.”

Duncan goes on to further note the support from GGM and Baroness’ own Andrew Darley. “While we’ve barely had any issues over the years, the back up support and advice we’ve had from Andy and the team at GGM has been brilliant. It helps to make Baroness the ‘complete package’.”

The recent delivery of the GM2810 five-deck rotary mower, together with Duncan’s LM551B are also equipped with the optional Baroness weather cabs. Providing a cost-effective alternative to a full cab, the windscreen and wiper utilise the existing roof, while the soft back and sides provide protection from the elements when needed or can be simply rolled up to optimise airflow in the warmer weather.

For more information on the Baroness range, or to find your local dealer, visit www.baronessuk.com

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Green-tech Help Transform Basildon’s Green Spaces

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Green-tech Help Transform Basildon’s Green Spaces: Basildon Borough Council has undertaken an impressive initiative to establish vibrant, impactful wildflower meadows across the borough. This ambitious project started in 2023 and remains ongoing.

The council wanted to improve public spaces by enhancing their visual appeal, creating new local habitats, and increasing biodiversity. These areas needed to support a wide range of species, particularly pollinators such as bees and butterflies. The council also wanted to improve soil health and reduce reliance on chemical treatments.

Green-tech Help Transform Basildon’s Green Spaces

Green-tech Help Transform Basildon’s Green Spaces

The council wants to create wildflower meadows in their country parks, urban parks, and new local nature reserves. It also wanted to enhance the area’s visual appeal with stunning floral displays in flower beds and roundabouts, enabling residents to appreciate its beauty and encouraging community engagement.

They wanted to replace traditional annual planting schemes with sustainable wildflower areas to reduce maintenance costs. Wildflower areas are cost-effective, requiring only annual mowing and eliminating the need for annual replanting, which was a priority for the budget-conscious council, enabling their resources to be utilised elsewhere.

The Project

Green-tech advised and supplied their market-leading John Chambers Wildflower Seeds. Known for high-quality seed mixes tailored to diverse landscapes, the John Chambers range supports large-scale biodiversity projects with seeds that contribute to long-term habitat creation and ecological enhancement.

Recognising the importance of sustainable urban greening, Basildon Borough Council integrated these wildflower meadows into parks, roundabouts, and other green spaces across the region, ensuring they deliver environmental and community benefits.

The initiative covers multiple locations, including:

  • Creation of a native wildflower meadow at Beauchamps Meadow Local Nature Reserve.
  • Planting 100% native wildflowers on roundabouts across the borough, replacing the annual seed mix the team used to sow.
  • Using the John Chambers Impact seed mix, a mix of native and non-native species in Bee Sand planters in formal parks.
  • Wildflower meadow creation in town parks using a 100% wildflower seed mix.
  • Creating wildflower meadows in amenity parks to establish small nature zones for wildlife.
  • New 1-hectare meadows created at Northlands Town Park, Victoria Town Park, and Wick Country Park.

For their meadow creation, Basildon Borough Council’s Parks and Countryside team sow wildflower seeds in the autumn, typically around September or October, allowing them to germinate in the spring, with flowers beginning to bloom from June onwards. They also sow 100% flower species mixes in the spring for flowers to appear by June. To achieve this, the team prepares the sites by lightly cultivating the top inch of soil to create a suitable seedbed, avoiding chemical treatments to eliminate existing vegetation. Seeds are then sown directly into the ground by hand or using a seed drill, a method that has proven successful once the meadow has established itself. An annual cut and collect process ensures that the wildflowers outcompete the original rank grasses.

Products Used

Green-tech supplied:

  • John Chambers 100% Pro Clay Soils and Pro Cornfield Annuals mix – a diverse selection of UK-native wildflowers to support pollinators and enhance biodiversity.
  • John Chambers Impact Wildflower Seed Mix – a vibrant mix of native and non-native species designed for high visual impact and extended flowering periods.
  • John Chambers Impact Pollinators Wildflower Mix – specifically formulated to provide a nectar-rich habitat for pollinators in urban environments.

The Outcome

The wildflower meadows have flourished, delivering a range of ecological and community benefits which include:

  • Enhanced biodiversity – significant increases in pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
  • Sustainable landscaping – reduced reliance on chemical treatments and lower maintenance requirements.
  • Community engagement –local residents have embraced the wildflower areas, with overwhelmingly positive feedback.
  • Aesthetic improvement – vibrant floral displays have transformed urban parks, roundabouts, and green spaces.

The wildflower areas are maintained through an annual cut-and-collect process, which helps maintain the balance between wildflowers and grasses, ensuring long-term sustainability.

The council has already noticed a significant increase in pollinator presence, with bees frequently observed feeding on the flowers. This biodiversity boost highlights these areas’ positive impact on local wildlife. Community feedback has been overwhelmingly positive to all wildflower areas across all settings, with many people appreciating the beauty and ecological benefits they bring to the community.

The council intends to expand this initiative by replacing traditional annual plantings with native wildflower seeds wherever possible. In more formal town parks and public spaces, annual planters will still be used to maintain seasonal visual appeal.

“Working on the wildflower projects has been incredibly rewarding. The positive impact on local biodiversity is clear, with a noticeable increase in pollinators and other wildlife thriving in these areas. Not only do these projects enhance the beauty of our public spaces, but they also offer long-term ecological benefits with minimal maintenance. We’ve had a fantastic experience working with Green-tech – they’ve made the process easy, and their support and knowledge have been invaluable. We are proud to lead an initiative that supports both nature and the local community.” Josh Childs, Parks and Countryside Biodiversity Officer at Basildon Borough Council.

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BIO-CIRCLE Honoured with International Green Apple Environment Awards

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BIO-CIRCLE Honoured with International Green Apple Environment Awards: BIO-CIRCLE has achieved a significant milestone in environmental excellence by winning three International Green Apple Environment Awards, a prestigious recognition in the global campaign to identify and celebrate the greenest companies.

Selected from over 1,200 nominations worldwide, BIO-CIRCLE received this coveted accolade at a glittering awards ceremony held at Kensington Palace, London, on 18 November. The event celebrated organisations committed to sustainability and innovative environmental practices, reinforcing the palace’s historic reputation. The award was presented by Richard Wilkins – General Manager at Sony UK Technology Centre, Wales, winners of this year’s International Green Apple Awards Champion of Champions.

BIO-CIRCLE Honoured with International Green Apple Environment Awards

BIO-CIRCLE Honoured with International Green Apple Environment Awards

As part of this achievement, BIO-CIRCLE has been invited to further their success as a Green World Ambassador. This honour includes the publication of their award-winning environmental projects in The Green Book, an internationally recognised reference on environmental best practices. Through this publication, BIO-CIRCLE will inspire and guide others worldwide to adopt sustainable solutions.

The Green Apple Awards are organised by The Green Organisation, a respected independent, non-profit environmental group established in 1994. Dedicated to recognising, rewarding, and promoting environmental best practices worldwide, the organisation’s efforts have grown to highlight the critical importance of sustainable action in today’s world. The independent judging panel of The Green Apple Awards commented:

“BIO-CIRCLE has led the way in sustainable cleaning solutions for over 40 years, creating the innovative GT Maxi system. This VOC-free solution recycles cleaning fluids for up to 12 weeks, reducing waste by 1,440 litres per machine annually and enhancing workplace health and safety. In addition, BIO-CIRCLE EKO is an innovative washdown system for Groundcare equipment, cutting water use from 40 litres to just 400 millilitres per minute, saving over 123,500 litres annually and promoting sustainability.”

Kensington Palace served as a fitting backdrop, with its royal history and iconic status as a premier venue for hosting globally important events.

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Edgmond Bowling Club Wins Best Kept Green in Shropshire

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Edgmond Bowling Club Wins Best Kept Green in Shropshire: Edgmond Bowling Club has been awarded the title of Best Kept Green in Shropshire 2024, a competition sponsored by leading turf maintenance brands Dennis and SISIS.

The accolade marks a milestone for the club, which is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and highlights the dedication and skill of its greenkeeper, Peter Leath.

Edgmond Bowling Club Wins Best Kept Green in Shropshire

Edgmond Bowling Club Wins Best Kept Green in Shropshire

The Best Kept Green competition was launched in 2021, in response to the remarkable efforts of bowling clubs and their greenkeepers during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The initiative, supported by Dennis and SISIS, aims to improve the standard of greens across the county, recognising the hard work of greens teams and providing them with valuable feedback to enhance their maintenance programmes. Each year, the competition grows in popularity, with a record number of clubs entering in 2024—a testament to the ongoing improvements in bowling greens throughout Shropshire.

Peter, a greenkeeper with 47 years of experience, joined Edgmond Bowling Club just before the pandemic and quickly found himself responsible for the care of the green, which was in need of attention. Reflecting on those early days, he recalls, “The green was in quite a bad condition. During Covid, I spent a lot of time managing to feed it and improve its health.”

Drawing on his greenkeeping background, Peter implemented a rigorous maintenance routine, including verticutting and aerating the green, to encourage healthy growth. He also invested in a SISIS Supaturfman, using it up to 16 times a year. His efforts have paid off, with Edgmond’s green now widely praised for its smoothness and playability. “There have been a lot of really positive comments about the green,” Peter said.

Edgmond Bowling Club’s win this year, tied on points with Cleobury Mortimer but edging ahead thanks to a perfect 10/10 score for the roll of the woods, is a fitting tribute to its 50th anniversary.

Peter’s attention to detail is key to the green’s success. He spends around 240 hours a year maintaining it, mowing three times a week in the summer and continuing regular care even through the winter months. His advice to other greenkeepers? “Make sure your mower is adjusted correctly, and cut the grass consistently. It makes all the difference.”

Phil Scott, Chairman of the Shropshire Crown Green Bowling Association, praised Peter’s work and spoke about the growing success of the Best Kept Green competition. “We started these awards to recognise the often-overlooked work of greenkeepers in our county. Since the competition began, the standard of greens in Shropshire has improved dramatically.”

DLF’s Stuart Yarwood, a well-known expert in the industry and a key supporter of the Dennis/SISIS educational seminars, was part of the judging panel. He visited the top ten greens and provided invaluable advice to clubs on how to further improve their playing surfaces.

Looking to the future, the Shropshire Crown Green Bowling Association, in collaboration with Dennis and SISIS, plans to continue supporting greenkeepers with initiatives such as forums, educational days, and factory tours. “We’ve set up new initiatives to keep the momentum going. We’re already planning to take all the greenkeepers who entered this year to the Dennis and SISIS factory for a tour, and we’re looking at adding new categories like ‘Most Improved Green’ or ‘Best Newcomer’ for next year,” Phil explained.

Further information about the range of maintenance products available can be found by visiting www.dennisuk.com / www.sisis.com.

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

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Lantra celebrates Green Careers Week

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Lantra celebrates Green Careers Week: Lantra is excited to announce that it will be celebrating Green Careers Week, alongside many other organisations, this year. Lantra will be highlighting some of the more surprising careers that people can have within the land-based and environment sector, aligning with the campaign theme of unearthing non-stereotypical green careers.

Working in partnership with Chevron Green Services, Lantra have been exploring the careers of some of Chevron’s operatives and supervisors, and hearing about what their day looks like, working on the UK’s road network.

Lantra celebrates Green Careers Week

Lantra celebrates Green Careers Week

When thinking of a person being an operative on the UK’s road network, careers in traffic management and road works, such as pipe and cable works, or pothole repairs, might come to mind. However, there are a lot of diverse careers working on the road network, including arborists, also known as tree surgeons, and landscapers.

Keeping the roads safe for the public to use is paramount for those working in the road network sector. With many of the high-speed roads, and urban roads, having trees and vegetation lining the sides, it’s important that the greenery on the network is managed well, including reducing risks to the public.

Commenting on the surprising careers in highways, Steph Stevens, Careers and Engagement Manager at Lantra, said: “We know that many people use the road network every day; going to work, taking children to school, or going to the supermarket. However, the management of the natural environment surrounding our roads isn’t always seen.

“That’s why for Green Careers Week, Lantra have teamed up with Chevron Green Services to show the surprising careers that exist within the highways industry.”

Commenting on the Green Careers Week Campaign, Dan Taylor, Operations Director at Chevron Green Services, said: “It’s great to be working with Lantra on the Green Careers Week campaign. The natural environment that surrounds our road network is so important, and we at Chevron Green Services play our role in actively managing this ensuring the natural environment is thriving whilst keeping our road network safe for all users.”

Alongside the work of the arborists and landscapers, maintaining the green environment, Chevron Green Services also work with ecologists ensuring that habitats are managed to a high standard, and that any works that do take place have minimal impact on species that live in the environments that surround the road network.

Some wildlife species, such as bats, badgers, and great-crested newts, are protected by law and their habitats must be managed to a very high standard, before any maintenance works take place. Through teamwork and collaboration, arborists and landscapers work with ecologists to support species and protect their habitats and environments, causing minimal impact where possible.

Throughout Green Careers Week, Lantra will be posting engaging and insightful content about the surprising green careers within the highways industry on social media. They will also be sharing more insightful videos as a documentary series on YouTube.

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