Tag Archive for: hosts

Lord’s hosts exclusive tour

/in , /by

Lord’s hosts exclusive tour: Lord’s the ‘home of cricket’ in London is hosting a unique opportunity to meet its head groundsman and walk on its hallowed turf.

On 5 July, visitors will go behind the scenes with Lord’s highly respected Head Groundsman Karl McDermott to learn the science and secrets of groundskeeping and behold its collection of cricket related art and memorabilia. The exclusive event showcases the grounds and impeccable work of grounds and turf specialists, in support of Perennial, the charity helping people in horticulture.

Lord’s hosts exclusive tour

Lord’s hosts exclusive tour

Karl McDermott is known for producing top quality international and domestic pitches at World Cup level. He says: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see all the iconic parts of the grounds and experience some of the most inspiring views in sports. Visitors will walk the pitch and discover the secrets behind keeping the hallowed turf in such pristine condition. This is an extraordinary experience that gives back to the horticultural community.”

Gardens, parks and sporting grounds bring joy to so many, but working in horticulture can be tough. Sadly, many people who work with plants, trees, flowers or grass, and their families, are struggling. To help, the charity Perennial provides free information, advice and support through its website, helpdesk and UK wide team.

Perennial helped Craig, 31, who had worked in grounds maintenance for 10 years. He put his back out during a shift at work and was signed off. Perennial arranged an initial physiotherapy assessment and then referred Craig for face-to-face physio treatment based on his diagnosis. Craig’s back pain improved after physio treatment and he is much happier now as a result. Craig says: “Not being able to do my job was hard to accept and triggered a lot of anxiety and depression. I’m so grateful for the physio sessions for my back pain, they’ve really helped me.”

Perennial’s work with worldclass sporting venues like Lord’s offers unforgettable experiences that many sports fans dream of. The charity is calling for more sporting venues to celebrate grounds people by hosting an exclusive tour.

Perennial Events Manager, Chris Crooker says: “Sporting venues have the opportunity to recognise their grounds people and give back to all those who look after green spaces by hosting a unique and memorable experience that will both delight and educate fans and garden lovers.”

To host an exclusive sports tour for Perennial contact events@perennial.org.uk

Or, to book the Lord’s tour visit perennial.org.uk/lords-cricket-ground

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.

PSH hosts visit from Canycom

/in , /by

PSH hosts visit from Canycom: While most of the nation recovered from this weekend’s Coronation celebrations on Monday, PSD Groundscare were also celebrating a very special event – a visit from world-class Japanese manufacturer Canycom to their premises in Lancashire.  

Canycom President Mr Kaneyuki and Director of International Sales Mr Mori were met by PSD Managing Director Chris Gibson, Director Hilary Gibson, Sales Director Stuart Mercer and many of the team, in their first visit to the UK since launching a partnership with PSD last October.

PSH hosts visit from Canycom

PSH hosts visit from Canycom

After an official UK launch at Saltex, the extensive range of ride on brushcutters has been promoted at dealer events across the UK and to customers with national advertising, with the range showcasing again at this year’s event. Since the initial launch both companies have been focused on working closely together to ensure they have machines and after-sales back-up to support the UK dealer network and are both pleased with the progress made so far.

Despite it being a public holiday in the UK, when approached by Canycom about the trip, Managing Director Chris Gibson took the necessary steps to make it happen, saying,

“It was an absolute privilege to welcome both Mr Kaneyuki and Mr Mori to our offices. When we visited them in Japan last October their whole team made us feel incredibly welcome and we were delighted to be able to provide them with the same courtesy.

The visit was a real success as it allowed us the opportunity to update CANYCOM on the UK business and our further plans for a long-term partnership. We were also delighted to receive confirmation of an additional shipment of machines for the 2023 season that will allow us to both support the existing dealers and continue to grow our dealer network”.

Canycom President Mr Kaneyuki commented,

“We would like to thank Chris and his team for making our trip possible and such a warm welcome. We made our visit to gain a better understanding of the UK market and we return to Japan confident that with PSD we can work together as one team to ensure a successful long-term partnership.  We are two nations but we believe we can be a good family”.

PSD has a long-standing track record of expertise in brush cutting solutions and the Canycom range of ride-on brushcutters are perfectly set up for working in UK conditions and both companies are looking forward to what the future holds.

Founded in 1955, Canycom is renowned for the quality and excellence associated with Japanese manufacture. The company has progressed from a specialist in farm tools into a wide range of product categories̶, from agriculture and forestry to brush mowing and construction̶, supplying machinery to many different countries across the world.

PSD Groundscare is the exclusive UK distributor of niche specialist landscaping equipment, with an extensive range of products from market-leading names and innovative manufacturers including Eliet, Grin, Koppl and Stella.

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.

Origin hosts Amenity Forum Updating Event

/in , /by

Origin hosts Amenity Forum Updating Event: The Amenity Forum England first Updating Event of 2023 is being hosted by Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS) on Wednesday 17th May 2023 at their Turf Science & Technology Centre in Dunmow, Essex.

The amenity forum is the UKs voluntary initiative promoting best practice in all aspects of weed, pest, and disease management. This year’s Updating Events have been delayed in order to include the outcomes and recommendation of the National Action Plan (NAP).

Origin hosts Amenity Forum Updating Event

Origin hosts Amenity Forum Updating Event

The Amenity Forum is seeking to have a clearer view of what their members want from them.  They will be holding a number of facilitated sessions to capture member views. The Updating Events headline sponsor is WeedFree but each Event will have a separate sponsor who will be putting on their own presentation along with a session to look at facilities or cover additional topics.

Origin Amenity Solutions is hosting and sponsoring the first of the England Updating events.  The day will comprise of a Policy Update presented by Amenity Forum and includes a preview of the 2023 National Action Plan.

Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS) comprises four major industry brands: Headland Amenity, Rigby Taylor, Symbio and Turfkeeper.com, and is a UK distributor for Rain Bird, the global manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services.

Peter Corbett, Executive Officer of Amenity Forum will present ‘Responding to Policy Update’.  He will highlight what is required to comply with policy changes and will include a response to the current policy landscape and provide an overview of the work of the Water Catchment Partnerships.

Mike Potts, Principal Enforcement Officer from HSE will present on ‘the Role of Pesticide Enforcement Officers’.  He will explain this new post that has been created to ensure sustainable and safe use of PPP’s with the introduction of OCR.

The day will include a tour of Origin Amenity Research & Development Centre, where the latest trial will be shared.

Further events will be hosted by ICL on 31st May at Radley College, followed on 7th June when the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAEFA) will host at the College of Agriculture Food & Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) in Antrim.

For more information or to register for this free event visit https://bit.ly/3ounfXS

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.

Celtic Manor Resort hosts prestigious awards

/in , /by

Celtic Manor Resort hosts prestigious awards: A greenkeeper from Rudding Park Golf Club was celebrating for the second Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year competition in a row as Matthew Milligan secured the prestigious award at grand finals hosted at the Celtic Manor Resort.

Myerscough College student Matthew, 26, is First Assistant at Rudding Park, the same venue that Jason Norwood was employed at when he won the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award in 2019.

Celtic Manor Resort hosts prestigious awards

Celtic Manor Resort hosts prestigious awards

Joining Matthew in celebrating at the event was Rhian Barton, 22, of The Wisley Golf Club, who became the first woman to win the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Award since its inception in 2016.

This year the finals were hosted for the first time in the championship surroundings of the Celtic Manor Resort, host of the 2010 Ryder Cup. Director of Golf Courses and Estate Management Jim McKenzie MBE welcomed the finalists to the venue with a walk around the Twenty Ten course. Jim then spoke to the finalists about that experience and offered sage advice on how to develop their careers.

With the awards split into two separate categories once again, candidates for the Toro Young Student of the Year Award, who must be aged 21 and under when nominated, undertook an exam and then a hole walk with the awards judges, intended to test the finalists’ knowledge in a real world setting. The finalists in the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year main category also completed an exam but in addition were judged via a grass and seed identification challenge, by answering an essay question and by delivering an individual presentation about their careers so far.

The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards were introduced in 1989, with an additional ‘Young’ category introduced in 2016. The awards did not take place in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the reintroduction in 2021 enabled David Cole to participate one final time ahead of his retirement as managing director of Reesink Turfcare in spring 2022.

David said: “We knew this year’s award was going to be special. Being back after last year’s lockdown absence with a fantastic calibre of finalists in the grand setting of Celtic Manor Resort, plus a course walk around the Twenty Ten Ryder Cup course and after-dinner speech, both by Jim McKenzie MBE, made it one to remember before we’d even conducted the finals.

“All the finalists showed how much promise there is and how much there is to celebrate in the next generation of greenkeepers. So, it is a huge achievement for the winners, Matt for the main award and Rhian for the young award, to have triumphed. I know both will make sure they maximise the opportunities presented by their educational, international prizes.

“However, the event was bittersweet for me as it is my last. I am leaving Reesink this spring, but to see two such worthwhile winners and especially to see Rhian, our first ever female young finalist let alone winner, makes it the perfect one to finish on.”

BIGGA Head of Learning and Development Sami Strutt said: “I’m delighted to be able to present these awards to Matthew and Rhian at the culmination of this year’s Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards. The competition began in March with a record-breaking number of nominations and concluded over the past two days with 12 outstanding finalists who all deserve to be applauded for their knowledge, passion and dedication to the greenkeeping profession.

“The Celtic Manor Resort provided a breathtaking venue for this year’s finals and we continue to be incredibly grateful to Toro and Reesink Turfcare for providing this career-defining opportunity for our most ambitious and talented student members.”

Winners of the main award receive a Toro Scholarship that includes a turf management study course at the University of Massachusetts, a trip to the Golf Industry Show and a visit to the Toro factory. Should coronavirus restrictions prevent this, an alternative prize of equal standing will be organised.

The Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year winner receives a two-week work placement at Vidauban Golf Club in France, plus a trip to Continue to Learn at BTME.

Prizes are also given to the winners’ endorsers and the runners-up in each category, with Craig Woodman of Broadstone Golf Club and Will Pallister of Cleckheaton & District Golf Club coming second in their respective categories. For Craig it was the second time he had finished as runner-up at the awards, having also done so in the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year category in 2017.

The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards will return for 2022, with nominations opening in March next year.

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.