Tag Archive for: GroundsFest

PSD Groundscare report successful Groundsfest

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PSD Groundscare report successful Groundsfest: PSD Groundscare are celebrating after a highly successful Groundsfest, which was held at Stoneleigh Park in September.

This year’s Groundsfest came on the back of an extremely exciting 12 months for PSD, which has seen the successful launch of new products, including a range of Rotary Collection Mowers from the German Manufacturer Sabo. Visitors also had the opportunity to view innovative, quality products from Eliet, Canycom, Grin, Ecotech & Koeppl.

PSD Groundscare report successful Groundsfest

PSD Groundscare report successful Groundsfest

PSD Groundscare are the exclusive UK distributor of niche specialist machinery, with an extensive portfolio from global wide manufacturers. Their products offer maintenance solutions for Green Waste Shredding, Steep Slopes, High Grass, Fine Turf, Landscaping, Cleaning and General Maintenance.

At the exhibition SABO re-entered the UK market, introduced by PSD, after their search for the most suitable UK Partner. SABO are one of the leading brands for high-quality battery and petrol walk behind collection mowers (“WBMs”) for both the Residential & Commercial markets.

PSD Sales Director Stuart Mercer said:

“This is our second year at Groundsfest and we are huge advocates of the show. Being an outside based industry, it makes sense for us to attend an outdoor exhibition, allowing us the opportunity to demonstrate our products – something that we heavily rely on to provide a hands-on experience for potential, and existing customers.”

Overall, attendance was considerably up at this year’s event, a reported 30% on last year, with noticeably more suppliers in attendance.

Stuart continued:

“Showcasing new products and meeting customers is extremely important to PSD and Groundsfest was the perfect platform to do this. We had lots of requests for demonstrations and had significant dealer interest.”

“In addition, the organisers had clearly listened to exhibitor feedback from last year’s event, resulting in a larger show with an improved layout for a better flow around the stands. The event has clearly gained momentum and we are already, eagerly, looking ahead to next year”.

Across the board, both visitors and exhibitors concluded that the event was a great opportunity to build contacts, carry out demonstrations and strengthen relationships.

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GroundsFest 2024: More Exhibitors, More Visitors, More Excitement

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GroundsFest 2024: More Exhibitors, More Visitors, More Excitement: The second edition of GroundsFest, held on 10 and 11 September at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, has firmly established itself as the UK’s largest grounds management and landscaping event. Following a strong debut in 2023, this year’s show exceeded all expectations, marking a significant milestone in its young history.

With 8,014 visitors across two days—4,738 on day one and 3,276 on day two—GroundsFest 2024 saw an impressive increase in attendance, a remarkable feat for an event that only launched last year. The expanded event layout immediately immersed visitors in the action, creating an engaging and dynamic atmosphere from the moment they arrived.

One of the standout features of this year’s GroundsFest was the introduction of Machinery Nation LIVE, which captivated large crowds with thrilling machinery face-offs. Visitors watched top brands go head-to-head in a series of entertaining and rigorous trials, comparing performance across categories such as petrol vs. battery, agility, power, and more. Machinery Nation LIVE also provided interactive equipment challenges where attendees could compete for prizes, adding to the excitement and engagement throughout the show.

And speaking of prizes, GroundsFest 2024 was a treasure trove for lucky visitors. Attendees had the chance to win a wide range of impressive prizes, including a Toro ProStripe 560, a CyberTank portable power station and up to £20,000 worth of Kress tools, an award-winning battery pruner SC 100e and a SWIFT 372e battery garden ride-on mower from STIGA, an EGO Pro X battery-powered pedestrian mower, a Union Jack Turf Tank robot, and much more.

Innovation took centre stage at GroundsFest 2024 as over 60 new products were launched, providing visitors with a firsthand look at the latest in grounds management and landscaping technology. The mix of indoor and outdoor areas also struck a perfect balance. Indoors, a vibrant show floor offered a diverse range of exhibitors showcasing products and services, while the seminar theatres hosted a wealth of educational sessions, all free to attend.

The Landscape Zone, an entire hall dedicated to professionals in the design, planning, and construction of outdoor spaces in the landscaping sector proved to be popular, adding another dimension to the show’s offering.

Grounds Training practical sessions were another highlight, attracting large crowds eager to learn from experienced instructors on the use and maintenance of pedestrian mowers, ride-on mowers, handheld machinery, and sprayers.

Hands-on experience is one of GroundsFest’s key strengths, and attendees once again relished the opportunity to test out equipment before making purchasing decisions. The Avant National Pro Challenge was also a hit, with participants showcasing their skills in an exciting competition that involved slaloms, material handling, and tool changes in an Avant Loader.

Beyond the business of grounds management and landscaping, the festival atmosphere of GroundsFest offered a fun way for exhibitors and visitors alike to unwind. The popular happy hour, live bands, and free bumper cars added to the entertainment, ensuring that GroundsFest was not just about work but also about building relationships and enjoying the industry’s camaraderie.

Event Director Christopher Bassett summed up the event’s success, saying: “It’s incredible to see how much support GroundsFest has received from every corner of the industry. The growth from last year has been phenomenal, and we’re so grateful to all the exhibitors, visitors, and partners who made this year’s show such a success. As we look to the future, we want to continue growing and evolving the show—and the only way to do that is by listening to the industry. That’s why we encourage everyone to take the time to fill out the surveys we’ve sent out. Your feedback is invaluable.”

GroundsFest 2025 is already on the horizon, set to take place on 9 and 10 September at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. After this year’s monumental success, anticipation is already building for what promises to be an even bigger and better event next year.

For more information, please visit www.groundsfest.com

You can also follow GroundsFest on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @GroundsFest for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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Toro U.K. Limited makes a strong debut at GroundsFest

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Toro U.K. Limited makes a strong debut at GroundsFest: Toro U.K. Limited marked a significant milestone at GroundsFest 2024, held from September 10th to 11th, by hosting its own independent stand (OSA640) for the first time. The event was an outstanding success, offering Toro the opportunity to connect with new and existing customers and dealers from the groundscare industry.

Positive Engagement at Our First Independent Stand

GroundsFest 2024 proved to be a landmark event for Toro U.K. Limited, drawing substantial interest from industry professionals eager to see the latest in grounds maintenance technology. Matthew Coleman, Sales Manager Professional Landscape Contractor & Site Works Equipment for the UK Direct Market, shared his thoughts on the show: “GroundsFest 2024 was an incredible opportunity for Toro to present our latest innovations directly to our audience. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and it was fantastic to engage with so many professionals who are passionate about enhancing their work with the latest technology. We’re thrilled with the connections we made and the conversations that took place, reaffirming Toro’s position as a leader in the groundcare industry.”

Toro U.K. Limited makes a strong debut at GroundsFest

Toro U.K. Limited makes a strong debut at GroundsFest

Successful Partnership with Machinery Nation

A standout feature of Toro’s presence at the event was our successful partnership with Machinery Nation, who showcased the Toro Dingo® compact utility loaders, including the TX1000 Turbo and TX1300. Machinery Nation put these versatile machines to the test with their own obstacle course, demonstrating the Dingo’s powerful performance, agility, and versatility in real-world conditions. Attendees were impressed by the machines’ ability to handle challenging tasks with ease, further highlighting Toro’s commitment to providing innovative solutions for the industry.

Showcasing Innovation and Sustainability

Visitors to the Toro stand were introduced to a range of cutting-edge products, including the Toro ProLine H600 and the Toro eProStripe. The ProLine H600 is known for its compact width and small turning circle, high capacity cutting deck, and huge 700L hopper, making it ideal for professional groundskeepers who need reliable, high-quality results on a range of turf conditions. The Toro eProStripe, with its precision striping capability and quiet, battery-powered operation, is perfect for maintaining sport pitches and training grounds, offering a combination of performance and precise cut and finish.

Revolutionary Machines and Hand Tools

Toro also highlighted its Revolution™ Series range, featuring industry-leading products like the Toro Z Master Revolution zero-turn mower and the Toro GroundStand Revolution stand-on mower. These mowers are built with powerful HyperCell™ battery technology that matches the performance of traditional petrol engines, offering 7+ hours of operation time and no engine exhaust emissions, which cater to environmentally conscious grounds maintenance professionals.

The Revolution Handhelds professional range was also on display, including a battery-powered Leaf Blower, String Trimmer, and Hedge Cutter that provide excellent power, reduced vibration, and low noise levels, ideal for grounds maintenance tasks in noise-sensitive environments.

Connecting with Industry Professionals

GroundsFest 2024 served as a valuable platform for Toro U.K. Limited to engage directly with industry professionals, receive feedback, and build relationships with new dealers and customers. The show reinforced our commitment to supporting the groundcare industry with state-of-the-art solutions that enrich the beauty, productivity, and sustainability of the land.

Stay Connected with Toro

For those who missed GroundsFest, it’s not too late to learn about Toro’s innovative products. Visit our website or reach out to our team to discover how Toro can help elevate your ground maintenance projects.

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STIGA will be trucking into GroundsFest

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STIGA will be trucking into GroundsFest: STIGA will be exhibiting at GroundsFest on 10th and 11th September. They will be showing a cross range of garden machinery from the STIGA, Mountfield and ATCO brands highlighting the new product ranges and upgrades for the 2025 season…10-4 Roger that!

But why do we sound like something from Smokey and the Bandit?  Well, the STIGA touring truck will be on site showcasing the extensive range of battery tools, mowers and the popular autonomous robot mower range – products to suit novice gardeners right up to professional users.

STIGA will be trucking into GroundsFest

STIGA will be trucking into GroundsFest

And not forgetting the large petrol range which includes the iconic petrol-powered Park Pro front mower that offers supreme cutting quality, exceptional performance and unbeatable manoeuvrability – perfect for cutting complex large areas. To the STIGA battery powered Gyro, with a 360° turning circle and unique drive-by-wire joystick controls which can mow grass quickly and efficiently.

The STIGA team have invited their large dealer network to the event and will be unveiling the new upgraded Mountfield tractors for 2025 plus a few other surprises.

During the show STIGA will be holding a competition to win their award-winning battery pruners SC 100e.  Make sure you visit stand OSA 790, chat with the team and simply pop your name into the raffle. The draw will be held at 11.30 and 3.30 daily and 4 lucky people each day will receive this fantastic prize to take away with them.

Plus, every entry will also be included in an end of Show draw, where one lucky winner will win a SWIFT 372e battery garden ride-on.

GroundFest is the largest annual, must-attend event for grounds staff, greenkeepers, landcapers, designers & architects, gardeners, local authorities, estate managers and contractors as well as specialist garden machinery dealerships.

Registration is FREE, it is not too late to register.  www.groundfest.com

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Discover the Free Education Programme at GroundsFest

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Discover the Free Education Programme at GroundsFest: GroundsFest 2024 is set to be an unmissable event for anyone looking to enhance their knowledge and skills in the land-based industries. With a comprehensive education programme spread across four seminar theatres, including practical sessions, there’s something for everyone. The seminars are free to attend, and visitors can earn up to 12 CPD points by attending the sessions.

Seminar Theatre 1, sponsored by Lantra, kicks off on 10th September with a range of sessions designed to tackle the latest challenges and innovations in the amenity sector. Highlights include:

  • OCR Regulations – All You Need to Know by The Amenity Forum.
  • A Year in Edgbaston – Gary Barwell from Warwickshire County Cricket Club.
  • Challenges and Opportunities in the Amenity Sector, featuring experts like Professor John Moverley (Lantra), Jim Croxton (BIGGA) and Alisdair Mason (LanGuard).
  • How Hybrid Grass is Powering More Play in Grassroots and Professional Sports by SIS Grass.
  • Integrated Turf Management for Grassroots by Mark De Ath from Origin Amenity Solutions.
Discover the Free Education Programme at GroundsFest

Discover the Free Education Programme at GroundsFest

On 11th September, Seminar Theatre 1 continues with sessions like Reducing Glyphosate in Amenity Settings and The Benefits of Volunteering to Progress Your Career.

Seminar Theatre 2, sponsored by Dennis and SISIS, will feature equally engaging content on 10th September, such as:

  • Sustainable Seed Solutions for Landscaping and Sports Turf by Stuart Yarwood from DLF.
  • The Future of Amenity Weed Management by Sean Faulkner from Kersten UK Ltd.
  • Boost Your Turf: How Silicon Supercharges Grass Growth by Kate Williams from Orion Future Technology.

On 11th September, don’t miss Water Management for Grassroots Football by Kelly Clack, An Introduction into Playground Standards and Inspections by Jon Dalton from The Play Inspection Company, and Understanding Gravity-Fed Chippers: How To Ensure Your Customer Gets The Right Solution by Andy Wain from HANSA.

Explore The Landscape Zone

The Landscape Zone will host a series of seminars across two days, addressing key issues and trends in landscaping and garden design. On 10th September, look forward to:

  • Birmingham: The City of 1000 Green Spaces by Ryan Suddall from Fira Landscape.
  • Building a Successful Landscaping Business, featuring insights from Herman Pobrati and Ben Parkinson.
  • Prioritising Pollinators—a vital discussion on supporting declining pollinator populations.

On 11th September, seminars like Enhancing Biodiversity: The Role of Landscapers and Garden Designers in Shaping Sustainable Ecosystems by Noel Brock, and How to Incorporate Sustainable Water Management into Everyday Gardens will provide practical tips for creating eco-friendly outdoor spaces.

Practical Training Sessions by Grounds Training

GroundsFest 2024 also features practical training sessions designed to give hands-on experience in key areas:

Tuesday, 10th September 2024

  • Training 101 for Managers: An informative session for grounds managers covering workplace training, current legislation, and planning training for your organization.
  • Calibration Station: Knapsack Sprayers: A practical session demonstrating the calibration process and maintenance of knapsack sprayers, with delegates encouraged to participate.
  • Launch of Lantra Robotic GPS Line Marking Course: Learn more about the new Robotic GPS Line Marking Course.

Wednesday, 11th September 2024

  • Health and Safety Workshop: A talk to raise awareness of Health and Safety legislation within the industry.
  • Introduction to Pedestrian Mowers Cylinder: Introduction to the Lantra competency course, covering legislation, risk assessments, and equipment familiarisation.
  • Introduction to Handheld Machinery: Overview of the Lantra competency courses, including relevant legislation, risk assessments, and equipment handling.

These sessions, along with many others, offer an invaluable opportunity to learn from experts, earn CPD points, and stay at the forefront of industry trends. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the field, GroundsFest 2024’s education programme has something to offer everyone.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the industry’s must-attend event. Register now for free at www.groundsfest.com

You can also follow GroundsFest on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @GroundsFest for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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