Tag Archive for: GroundsFest

GroundsFest 2024 – Save the Date

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GroundsFest 2024 – Save the Date: After the resounding success of the inaugural GroundsFest, the organising team is gearing up to make next year’s event even more spectacular. Scheduled to take place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on September 10 and 11, GroundsFest 2024 promises to be an experience like no other.

Building on the feedback received from the first edition, the organising team is working behind the scenes to implement improvements that will elevate the event to new heights. One of the significant changes is the introduction of a more free-flowing layout, enhancing the overall event experience. The addition of a new entrance is set to reduce the walk to the event, ensuring attendees can immerse themselves in the festivities more quickly.

GroundsFest 2024 – Save the Date

GroundsFest 2024 – Save the Date

The camping zone is set to see new facilities and the festival area is also in for a makeover, with plans underway to introduce brand new attractions. This strategic move aims to keep the excitement levels high and provide both exhibitors and visitors with novel and engaging experiences. The goal is clear: GroundsFest 2024 will not just meet expectations but exceed them.

The success of GroundsFest 2023 speaks volumes about the event’s unique approach. With over a 90% rebooking rate from exhibitors, it is evident that the industry has embraced the innovative event concept with open arms. According to the post-show exhibitor survey, a staggering 93% of exhibitors generated new sales leads, showcasing the event’s tangible impact on business growth.

Robbie Hayter from Net World Sports commended GroundsFest, stating, “GroundsFest is doing things differently for the industry, and I think it is refreshing. A lot of the visitors are really excited to see the outdoor demos and the festival is a great idea because you loosen up a little bit and there are more conversations and networking opportunities.”

Megan Oliver from the Howardson Group echoed similar sentiments, emphasising the appeal of seeing products in an outdoor environment. “People are loving GroundsFest and the footfall has been really good. We’ve seen people from all over the country and we’ve taken a lot of enquiries. It’s got a nice festival feel and it makes it an enjoyable place to be.”

GroundsFest visitors were equally upbeat. Christopher Mortimer from Mortimer Contracts Limited said. “It was a fantastic show – the best in years. I bought new kit and saw lots to benefit my company for the future. I also made some great contacts and I’m already looking forward to next year.”

Finn Greer from Trackstars attributed GroundsFest’s success to the diversity of the event. “I think GroundsFest, being indoors and outdoors, and having such a wide variety of demos are the reasons why it has drawn such a large number of people.”

“The buzz is all about GroundsFest now,” shared Tom Duchesne from Top Garden Services, emphasising the event’s growing reputation and influence.

Marketing Director Chris Bennett highlighted the importance of industry feedback in shaping the evolution of GroundsFest. “The only way to evolve GroundsFest is by listening to the industry. This commitment to responsiveness and adaptability ensures that each edition of GroundsFest is a reflection of the evolving needs and desires of the landscaping and grounds management community.”

As anticipation builds for GroundsFest 2024, the industry can expect an event that not only celebrates the latest innovations but also sets new standards for collaboration, networking, and business growth.

GroundsFest 2024 is poised to be an unmissable highlight on the calendar for all sectors of the grounds management industry.

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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GroundsFest Announces Education Fund

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GroundsFest Announces Education Fund: Organisers of GroundsFest have announced that event profits are being reinvested back into the industry to form The GroundsFest Education Fund.

The GroundsFest Education Fund has been designed to provide support to help students at land-based colleges overcome specific barriers to participation so they can remain in education. The aim of the Fund is to not only support and enhance a student’s education experience but to encourage more people into the industry by making education more accessible.

GroundsFest Announces Education Fund

GroundsFest Announces Education Fund

Through profits generated from GroundsFest, students will be able to reach their full potential by obtaining funding for a wide range of items such as course literature, stationary, tools, laptops, computers and other electrical goods, driving lessons, and accredited training courses on subjects including machinery, weed management, sports turf maintenance, lawn care, arboriculture and many more.

Commenting on The GroundsFest Education Fund, Event Director Christopher Bassett said: “Unfortunately, the number of young people embarking on a career in grounds management is in decline and collectively, we should be doing all we can to change this. Education is the first step into the industry but the numbers coming through and qualifying are worryingly low.

After several conversations, we were shocked to hear that students are being forced out of education or are being prevented from entering education due to not having the money to purchase necessary items. Our aim was to always give back to the industry through the event and therefore we are extremely proud to be launching The GroundsFest Education Fund.”

The scheme will be trialled for the first year at Wiltshire College & University Centre before being rolled out nationwide. Victoria Fiander, Assessor in Horticulture, and Bradley Tennant, Sports Turf Lecturer, both from Wiltshire College, were instrumental in the development of The GroundsFest Education Fund.

Commenting on the new scheme, Bradley said: “The Education Fund is a fantastic initiative for students to access opportunities they may otherwise not have. Coming from a public school, and a council area background I would have loved to have had an opportunity like this, having personally paid for my own certificates such as spraying, tractor driving, and chainsaw tickets, knowing this is a key area that holds many back from pay rises or even progression within their workplace.

“Working with students, I know they often can’t find work due to travel arrangements. We are located in a very rural area, and having access to The GroundsFest Education Fund has the potential to bring more young people into our industry. Something as simple as driving lessons could pave the way for their future to become an industry leader.

“Land-based colleges are the point of entry for the vast majority of horticulture, from sports turf stadiums to the local garden centre. It’s vital we support our colleges. There are currently only 12 land-based colleges within the UK, which is a worrying number considering you can’t turn your head without seeing something that’s been involved with horticulture in some form.

The industry is struggling from top to bottom and education is the way forward.”

To watch the show highlights please click here

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. 

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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GroundsFest arrives in style

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GroundsFest arrives in style: After months of anticipation, GroundsFest 2023 lived up to the hype and celebrated a very memorable debut event with the groundscare community.

The atmosphere was electric as GroundsFest united every corner of the industry and brought together 6,511 unique visitors (excluding exhibitors) across the two days.

GroundsFest arrives in style

GroundsFest arrives in style

It was apparent among exhibitors and visitors that this new event was exactly what the industry needed.

The mix of indoor halls and outdoor areas certainly seemed to strike a chord with visitors. Inside, the vibrant show floor provided attendees with a great mix of exhibitors showcasing a wide range of products and services, while five seminar theatres offered a feast of free education. The Landscape Zone, an entire hall dedicated to those involved in the planning, design, and construction of outdoor environments in the landscaping sector, also proved to be a welcome addition.

The practical demonstrations from Grounds Training were a big hit with attendees. During the two days large groups gathered round experienced instructors to learn more about pedestrian mowers, ride-on mowers, handheld machinery, and the calibration and use of knapsack sprayers and boom sprayers. Furthermore, the instructors were on hand in a large outdoor area to show visitors how to mark out a running track and speak about the essential elements of line marking sport pitches.

In the outdoor areas hundreds of exhibitors were proudly showing off their products with many new innovations being unveiled for the first ever time ahead of the 2024 season. Not only was there plenty to see on the stands but the outdoor areas provided visitors with the perfect opportunity to see a wide range of machinery and to participate in live demonstrations.

On the evening of the first day, exhibitors and visitors came together to enjoy the festival aspect of the event. With a range of food stalls, and live entertainment headlined by a very popular Queen tribute band, it was the perfect way to conclude a very special first day at GroundsFest.

Commenting on the first ever GroundsFest, Event Director Christopher Bassett, said: “On behalf of all of us at GroundsFest we really want to extend our gratitude to all our exhibitors, partners and visitors that have showed their support for the first event. From the very start we wanted GroundsFest to be an event for everyone and to be able to establish a real sense of community. Over the two days we’ve had sunshine, we’ve had rain showers, but more importantly we’ve had collaboration, built relationships, witnessed innovation at its finest and ultimately come together to celebrate the industry and have a great time with one another.

“The positive feedback has been overwhelming but we’re certainly not resting on our laurels.

We’re already planning how we can improve the event for 2024 by listening to every single piece of feedback and by analysing both the exhibitor and visitor surveys. We’ll certainly be back with GroundsFest chapter two in September 2024 and we cannot wait to welcome you all again.”

To watch the show highlights please click here

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.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

BIGGA CPD credits available at GroundsFest

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BIGGA CPD credits available at GroundsFest: It has been confirmed that BIGGA (The British and International Golf Greenkeepers’ Association) CPD credits are now available for attending the education programme at GroundsFest.

The announcement comes due to the high demand of greenkeepers and course managers that are planning on attending GroundsFest which takes place at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire on 20 and 21 September.

BIGGA CPD credits available at GroundsFest

BIGGA CPD credits available at GroundsFest

BIGGA members can claim one education CPD credit for each session they attend and can do so by entering the details on to their CPD account. All members are eligible to join the CPD programme and are automatically signed up to the programme when they join BIGGA.

The BIGGA CPD programme has several benefits including opportunities for career advancement, personal development, proficiency, confidence, engagement with the wider industry, networking, recognition, quality standard, and to adapt outdated skills.

There will be plenty of seminars on offer at GroundsFest including topics such as: the changing face of chemicals and the effect this will have on the industry; Microdochium disease management and winter fertiliser recovery; data and water testing; the advantages of using apprenticeships in a staffing shortage; how networking and volunteering are two great ways to advance a career, plus many more.

The outdoor practical timetable will also be of interest to the golf sector and will feature free hands-on, training sessions on pedestrian mowers, ride-on mowers, handheld machinery, and the calibration and use of knapsack sprayers and boom sprayers.

Commenting on BIGGA CPD credits being available at GroundsFest, Event Director Christopher Bassett said: “We are delighted to see so many greenkeepers and course managers register to attend GroundsFest, and it is for this reason that we wanted to be able to offer BIGGA CPD credits to them. I’d like to say a big thank you to BIGGA for their co-operation in making this possible.”

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.  

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

New Cramer mower at GroundsFest

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New Cramer mower at GroundsFest: Cramer will be launching two new Optimus Z zero-turn battery-powered mowers specifically designed for professionals who demand the ultimate in performance and durability at GroundFest.  The ride-on model boasts a mowing speed of 25.6KM/H – the fastest in the market – and a battery that allows for a full day’s operation, whereas the stand-on model has been designed for use in narrow, awkward spaces. 

Both Optimus Z zero-turn mowers have been designed for durability and longevity, and come with a host of invaluable features.   

New Cramer mower at GroundsFest

New Cramer mower at GroundsFest

The ride on model has individual rear wheel hub motors which integrate transmission for fast drive as well as park brake.  It benefits from a large 18 or 24 kWh battery with a run time up to 8.5 hours per charge. Features include a water-resistant storage unit to cope with our changeable weather together with cup holder and mobile phone charger.  A new high level LED bar in white and amber, with flash function, make for high visibility and therefore improved safety. 

The Optimus Z stand on zero turn mower measures just 92cm in width to enable it to be driven through smaller gates and around tighter obstacles.  It comes with a premium leg pad for driver comfort. 

In addition to the two new mowers, Cramer will be exhibiting a selection of its existing cordless professional outdoor power equipment tools, all of which are powered by an 82V battery system, and benefit from innovative features such as Magnesium components, fleet connectivity, and ultra-high torque motors to rival petrol performance.   

Cramer products on show at GroundFest will include handheld equipment such as chainsaws, blowers, hedge trimmers, grass trimmers, brush cutters, multi-tools, and power cutters. Walk-behind products will also be featured, such as utility carts and lawnmowers up to 61cm (twin blade). 

Cramer battery-powered products have become an increasingly popular alternative to petrol-powered products for ground care and maintenance of large parks and recreational areas in recent years.  Cramer’s 82V battery system delivers the power required from commercial equipment without the negative effects that come with petrol-powered tools.  They generate less heat and are significantly quieter than traditional petrol machinery, as well as safer as the risk of fuel spillage is eliminated.  Ownership and running costs of tools are significantly lowered as the 82V battery system is interchangeable with other 82V products in the Cramer range and maintenance is low.  What’s more, with no direct carbon emissions, they are the more environmentally friendly option for Local Authorities.   

For more information, visit Cramer at GroundFest Stand  OSA100, or go to https://cramertools.com/.  You can also email on Sales@handys.co.uk or call 01793 333220. 

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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