Tag Archive for: grounds

Trilo M10 delivers cleaner, greener grounds

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Trilo M10 delivers cleaner, greener grounds: Glendale Services, one of the UK’s leading national grounds maintenance contractors, has strenghtened a longstanding relationship with Trilo by investing in a new Trilo M10 vacuum collector – supporting large-scale grass, leaf and debris collection operations across London and the South of England.

A vast and varied fleet of equipment facilitates Glendale’s work on contracts around the country, with around 1500 staff spanning their grounds maintenance, corporate and arboricultural divisions. The company has relied on Trilo equipment for much of their three decades in business, using a wide range of models including the M10, M12 and numerous SU40’s to meet the demands of its large-scale operations.

Trilo M10 delivers cleaner, greener grounds

Trilo M10 delivers cleaner, greener grounds

“We’ve used Trilo machines for basically as long as they’ve been available in the UK” said Neal Harper, Group Machinery Manager at Glendale Services. “Some of our units have given us more than 20 years of reliable service, so when it came to investing in something reliable, efficient and built to last to support a new, long-term contract, the M10 was the natural choice.”

The 10m3 capacity Trilo Multipurpose replaces a long-serving predecessor and was specifically selected for its combination of high productivity and compact dimensions, suiting the access requirements of key urban and parkland sites. “We looked at larger models, but our work often involves navigating tight paths or gateway so the M10 was the perfect fit – literally!”

Among its many applications, the M10 is equipped with a flail shaft for meadow cut and collect, and easily swapped to the brush attachment for grass and leaf collection and major event clear-ups, including post-race operations for the London Marathon. Equipped with an electronically controlled Wonder Hose, the new model enables single-person operation, improving efficiency and reducing staffing requirements on certain jobs. “This feature makes a huge difference on big clearance jobs, meaning one person can work quickly and safely” he adds.

Neal went on to praise the consistent customer support from Trilo’s Jeremy Vincent. “Jeremy knows the machines inside out and always finds an answer to our questions – even arranging for us to have a demonstration of the M10 with another customer when the demo unit was out of the country.”

For the delivery of the M10 Jeremy was supported by established Trilo dealer, and trusted partner for Glendale’s operations across the South, Lister Wilder. Neal concludes, “We couldn’t be happier with the service and performance of the M10. Our Trilo machines of all sizes and configurations continue to give us exactly what we need and deliver outstanding results for our clients on every job.”

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All-Female Grounds Team Debuts at Twickenham

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All-Female Grounds Team Debuts at Twickenham: As the final whistle blows on an unforgettable Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, Allianz Stadium celebrates a landmark moment – the debut of its first all-female grounds team.

Brought together by the GMA from sporting institutions across the UK, this trailblazing group of professionals have not only upheld the highest standards of pitch care but also championed greater visibility for women in turf management.

All-Female Grounds Team Debuts at Twickenham

All-Female Grounds Team Debuts at Twickenham

From early morning preparations to post-match recovery, their expertise and teamwork have been truly inspiring. Their presence on the pitch marks a powerful step forward in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

The GMA is proud to support and spotlight the women who are helping shape the future of grounds management – one blade of grass at a time. This wrap-up video captures their journey, their impact and the legacy they’re building for generations to come.

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All-female grounds team make history

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All-female grounds team make history: For the second time in as many years, history will be made on the pitch, but by the team preparing it.

On Saturday 27 September, an all-female team of 15 grounds professionals will take charge of the pitch at Allianz Stadium ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final and bronze medal match. It marks the first time in rugby history that a women-only grounds team has prepared the surface for a showpiece global final.

All-female grounds team make history

All-female grounds team make history

Brought together by the Grounds Management Association (GMA), along with England Rugby and Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, the 15 behind the 15 will feature pioneering pitch professionals and volunteers from some of sport’s most iconic venues, from Wimbledon and Wembley to Lord’s, Leicester Tigers, UK Ryder Cup Venue, The Belfry and Ipswich Town FC – as well as leading schools and colleges.

The landmark initiative aims to spotlight female talent in grounds management and inspire more women to consider careers in the sector. It follows the landmark moment at the Emirates Stadium in March 2024, when the first-ever all-female grounds team prepared the pitch for Arsenal vs Tottenham in the Women’s Super League.

The move shines a light on both opportunity and challenge in the sector. The latest GMA industry data shows 77.5% of head grounds managers feel recruitment is the biggest challenge facing the industry. Almost half of groundspeople are aged 45–64, and around 1,500 retire every year. Women are key to closing the employment gap but currently make up less than 10% of the professional workforce.

Head of Grounds at Allianz Stadium Jim Buttar, says: “Encouraging more women to consider a career in grounds management is so important and where better to profile the profession than at Allianz Stadium during the Rugby World Cup Final.

“We are really pleased to be working with the Grounds Management Association and Women’s Rugby World Cup to bring in an all-female team for the final. Our team is really looking forward to meeting the 15 highly skilled women involved and supporting them as they prepare the pitch for the teams.”

The all-female grounds team is made up of:

  • Georgia Edge, All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon
  • Liddy Ford, Wembley Stadium
  • Beth Gibbs, Wellington School
  • Cheryl Hill, Leicester Tigers
  • Rachel Hunter-Worrell, Queen Ethelburga’s York
  • Jessica Jackson, Wellington College
  • Meg Lay, Lord’s Cricket Ground
  • Pippa Lewis, Haberdashers Boys School
  • Naquita Lloyd-Edwards, Weymouth and Portland Rugby Club
  • Emma Lynch, Lord’s Cricket Ground
  • Jasmine Nicholls, Yorkshire County Cricket
  • Anna Nilsson, Brabazon Golf Course at The Belfry
  • Zibby Parker, Ipswich Town FC and Essex County Cricket Club
  • Lucy Rogers, Kings Lynn Golf Club
  • Sofia Sousa, South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Jennifer Carter, Director of Communications and Marketing at the GMA , said: “Everyone involved is proud to be part of history and looking forward to creating the perfect pitch for the showpiece matches.

“Last year we put women in grounds management on a national stage. Now, we’re taking this a step further, showcasing their skills and leadership on a global scale with the view to encouraging more people to consider in the industry.

“These females are fantastic role models – not only for their peers in the industry but for the next generation of women aspiring to work in sport and grounds.

“As a female myself having worked in the sports industry for many years, I know first-hand the perceptions and assumptions that are often made in a male dominated industry – we are here to break down barriers.”

Jennifer adds: “Groundspeople make sport possible, from grassroots games to the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final. It’s a fantastic career offering unique opportunities – like working at world-class venues such as Allianz Stadium.”

The event is part of the wider work the GMA is doing to secure the future of the industry. This includes the NextGen team, young ambassadors inspiring the next generation of groundspeople, and a new online hub to help people take their first steps in the sector.

To find out more about careers in grounds management, visit www.thegma.org.uk/what/support-the-sector/get-into-the-industry/

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Jacobsen AR 522 helps Taynuilt keep grounds match-ready

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Jacobsen AR 522 helps Taynuilt keep grounds match-ready: Taynuilt Sports Council in Argyll has bought a Jacobsen AR 522 rotary mower from Fairways GM to maintain the village’s large grass sports pitch.

As a charitable organisation, the Sports Council is committed to providing recreational facilities for the local community and the wider public through Taynuilt Sports Hub. The pitch is in use year-round for shinty, football, cricket, juvenile rugby, and hockey.

Jacobsen AR 522 helps Taynuilt keep grounds match-ready

Jacobsen AR 522 helps Taynuilt keep grounds match-ready

Ross Dunsmore, current Chair of Taynuilt Sports Council, said:

“Our previous machinery had reached the end of its life. We sought advice on the best replacement, then made successful funding applications to three sources: The Carraig Ghael Community Wind Farm Benefit Fund; The National Lottery Community Fund and Taynuilt Community Council. We’re incredibly grateful to all three for making this possible.

“We had heard good reports about Jacobsen equipment and Fairways GM.  At first, Stuart Cameron, Area Manager,  at Fairways didn’t have an AR 522 in stock. But two weeks later, he contacted us to say a unit was coming in from one of Scotland’s best known clubs, which could be refurbished and delivered with a three-month warranty.

“We took delivery in April, and it has definitely helped us produce a better pitch—we are delighted with the quality. In addition, the AR522 is better suited to the sometimes-wetter conditions we get here for cutting the pitch. The machine also deals with the excess grass on top well, leaving a good playing surface.

“On the service side, Fairways lead service engineer, Stuart Mulholland helped us resolve a small issue early on, and between the two Stuarts we’ve had exemplary support.”

The Jacobsen AR 522 is a five-gang wide-area rotary mower equipped with SureTrac™ four-wheel drive traction, weight transfer control, and TrimTek™ cutting decks, enabling it to manage uneven ground and slopes with ease as well as the flat.”

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Habs grounds team more efficient with Ventrac

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Habs grounds team more efficient with Ventrac: Habs Boys and Habs Girls are two leading independent schools, dating back to 1690, on a fabulous 104 acre, co-educational campus in Hertfordshire.

Mike Kemmett is Head of Grounds & Gardens. He and his team are responsible for maintaining the extensive grounds to a high standard. Football, rugby, lacrosse and cricket, to name a few, all have to have turf playing surfaces maintained.  As with all establishments, however, Mike’s budget needs careful control. In September 2024 Habs was reconsidering its ageing machinery fleet. It was at that time that Mike considered their first Ventrac package from RT Machinery. Versatility and multi-tasking were high on the list of requirements from new machinery and the combination had perform more efficiently than the outgoing fleet. Has the plan worked?

Habs grounds team more efficient with Ventrac

Habs grounds team more efficient with Ventrac

Mike commented that previously Habs had an out-front rider with flail mower for their rough areas, tractors with rear mounted rotaries for quick pitch recovery between games and cylinder mowers for cricket and fine turf maintenance. In fact Mike’s first experience with Ventrac was a demonstration of the 4520 tractor with a Power Rake. “A cricket net area had been let go and needed reclamation. We had concrete rubble, bits of steel and other rubbish, it was a mess” says Mike. “A demo from Ventrac restored it in a few hours to a point where we could replant the area”. Mike also commented that “In addition we saw the stump grinder and trenching attachment, both of which completed tasks that would have taken us much longer to do otherwise. I was impressed”

On the back of these demonstrations Habs purchased a Ventrac 4520, MU720 Finishing Mower, an HQ682 Rough Cut Mower and a KM500 Fore-end Loader, knowing that other accessories could be purchased or hired in future. Mike likes the one power unit, many attachments concept. One immediate advantage being it saves space in his barn. Another advantage is “One operator can swap from one attachment to another in minutes” says Mike. “The Tough Cut mower has cleared woodlands that haven’t been touched in years, we even cut twelve foot bamboo down. It was an old assault course we will now use for something else.”

The Wide Area Mower allows Mike and his team to repair divots and pitch damage even in winter. “We’re predominantly clay. Our pitches take a punishing sometimes” said Mike. “The rear roller stripes the pitches nicely and makes the pitch safer even if the pitches are over used during events like rugby sevens”. With their old fleet of tractors and mowers they would not have got onto the pitches so play would be cancelled or held elsewhere. Mike has found that the compactness, low ground pressure and articulated steering of the Ventrac allows him to turn faster at the end of each run on a pitch without turf damage. “A job that took three and half hours now takes two and half” commented Mike, a 28% improvement in efficiency.

Habs continues to expand its horizons and is introducing new facilities, planning for the future. The versatility of more than thirty two attachments will ensure the Ventracs indispensability in helping to maintain the campus to the high standard that is expected. The plan is working.

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