Tag Archive for: Impact

GroundsFest Wins Prestigious Industry Impact Award

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GroundsFest Wins Prestigious Industry Impact Award: GroundsFest has been recognised for its exceptional contribution to the groundscare and landscaping industry, having won the Industry Impact Award at the EN Indy Awards.

The Industry Impact Award celebrates an exhibition or trade show that has demonstrably changed, influenced, or significantly contributed to the growth and advancement of the industry it serves – and in just three years, GroundsFest has done exactly that.

GroundsFest Wins Prestigious Industry Impact Award

GroundsFest Wins Prestigious Industry Impact Award

Since its launch, GroundsFest has grown into the UK’s largest industry event, uniting professionals and volunteers from every corner of the groundscare and landscaping sectors. From live machinery demonstrations and hands-on experiences to its unique combination of business, education, and entertainment, the event has created something truly special for the industry.

The judges praised GroundsFest for its genuine connection to its audience and the positive change it continues to deliver. Feedback included:

“The event really has its ‘roots’ in its target audience and is making a significant impact on the industry.”

“Support for their audience extends beyond the focus of business needs. The GroundsFest Academy is a great initiative, which shows a forward-thinking strategy of impacting the next generation.”

“This event clearly demonstrates support for its community. Measurable impact delivered and fantastic feedback received.”

Judges were particularly impressed by the fact that profits from the show are reinvested back into the industry.

That commitment is brought to life through the GroundsFest Academy, an educational initiative designed to give back to the industry by providing free training and development opportunities for professionals and volunteers alike. The Academy offers hands-on workshops, expert-led seminars, and interactive demonstrations.

“It’s great to see we’re making a difference,” said Christopher Bassett, Event Director of GroundsFest. “When we launched the show, we wanted to create something that genuinely supported the industry – not just for today, but for the future. GroundsFest, and the Academy, are about helping to put the industry on the map, providing opportunities for learning, and inspiring the next generation of professionals to come through.”

This latest recognition cements GroundsFest’s reputation as an event that not only celebrates the industry but actively helps it grow. With a firm focus on community, education, and long-term progress, GroundsFest continues to make a lasting impact.

For more information, please visit www.groundsfestacademy.com

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

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Hunter Irrigation Makes an Instant Impact

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Hunter Irrigation Makes an Instant Impact: Keith Porter, Grounds Manager at Leigh Sports Village in Greater Manchester, is celebrating his 18th year at the helm of one of the UK’s fastest-developing sporting venues – and with the installation of a new Hunter irrigation system supplied and supported by KAR UK, he’s now seeing the benefits of precision technology across every blade of grass.

The new system has delivered a game-changing level of control and consistency for Keith and his dedicated six-person grounds team. Installed by Irrigation Control as part of a major hybrid pitch redevelopment in June last year, the Hunter system includes GT-885 and I-80-ON sprinklers designed to deliver performance, reliability, total top serviceability, and full even coverage of the pitch. It is combined with the ACC2 controller and Centralus software.

Hunter Irrigation Makes an Instant Impact

Hunter Irrigation Makes an Instant Impact

“We’d seen the technology at the BTME event in Harrogate and knew it was a step up,” says Keith. “You can access the heads without digging up the pitch – which is massive on a hybrid surface – and the throw from the heads is brilliant. With the I-80s, even the central sprinklers reach right out to the touchline. We’ve now got 100% coverage, and that makes a huge difference.”

Previously, uneven watering created inconsistency in turf condition, with areas occasionally drying out and underperforming. The new system has eradicated that issue.

“With the old irrigation system, it was hit and miss – now it’s perfectly even. No dry patches, no burning off. It’s not just about aesthetics, it’s about performance and safety too. Even in windy conditions, the whole playing surface is getting what it needs. It’s transformed our matchday prep.”

Leigh Sports Village – home to rugby league club Leigh Leopards and Manchester United’s Women’s and Development teams – has experienced a steady rise in profile and popularity, with regular games, training sessions, and even film shoots becoming part of the busy schedule.

The small team manage far more than just the stadium pitch – the entire site includes additional grass and synthetic pitches, a leisure centre, hotel, supermarket, and even a college campus. Despite the workload, Keith credits the investment in technology and ongoing support as vital to keeping up with demand.

“We’re left to manage things ourselves, and we’ve always had the backing when we’ve made a case for investment,” he explains. “The irrigation system was another example of the council trusting us to choose the right tools for the job.”

Control and ease of use have also proven key benefits. With Hunter’s Centralus control system, the team can operate the irrigation from anywhere – even at home – via smartphone, handheld remote, or laptop.

“It’s really simple. Any of the lads can pick it up and use it,” Keith adds. “You can run individual heads or sections for spot treatments or liquid feeding. You’re not restricted to a one-size-fits-all cycle – it’s totally flexible. That saves water, time, and effort.”

Hunter Irrigation Makes an Instant Impact

Hunter Irrigation Makes an Instant Impact

KAR UK, the UK’s leading supplier of Hunter irrigation equipment, played a key role throughout the project. Their technical support and advice proved instrumental in the system’s successful integration.

“Lee Williams from KAR UK has been great,” says Keith. “He was involved right from the start and has always been on the end of the phone. Any advice we needed, he was there. It’s been a smooth process.”

With the stadium pitch now fully covered and performing better than ever, Keith is already looking at future upgrades. “Our external pitches are older systems, but as heads start to go, we’ll be replacing them with Hunter – it’s the way forward.”

As Leigh Sports Village continues its impressive rise, Keith’s team – and their irrigation – are keeping pace.

“With the Hunter system in place, we’ve got confidence in the coverage. It’s made a big difference,” Keith concludes.

For more information, please visit www.karuk.com

You can also follow KAR UK on X and Instagram @KARUK_LTD for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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Origin Amenity Solutions Launches Improved IMPACT Paint Range

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Origin Amenity Solutions Launches Improved IMPACT Paint Range: Maintaining world-class sports pitches requires innovation and efficiency. Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS) delivers an industry-leading line-marking solution with its new and improved Impact paint range for football and Rugby groundskeepers and sports turf professionals. You can line your pitch with as Little as 1.1 litres of Impact Paint.

Manufactured in the UK within the Origin group and sold exclusively by OAS, Impact is an award-winning range of ready-to-use paints designed with cost-savings, convenience and conservation in mind. Whether using a pedestrian line marking machine, such as the iGO, or advanced GPS-guided robotics, like the TinyLineMarker robot, Impact paints ensure crisp, vibrant, and environmentally responsible pitch markings.

Origin Amenity Solutions Launches Improved IMPACT Paint Range

Origin Amenity Solutions Launches Improved IMPACT Paint Range

The Game-Changing Paint System

Over two decades ago, Impact ready-to-use paint system began a revolution in line marking paint and spray machinery technology. Designed for convenience and conservation, Impact combines superior performance with significant cost and time savings, making it a preferred choice for professionals. This advanced system enables up to nine standard-sized football pitches to be marked from a single 10-litre drum—without the need to add water.

For those looking to optimise their line-marking processes further, combining Impact paints with the TinyLineMarker robots provides unparalleled precision and efficiency. The advanced robotic line markers integrate seamlessly with the Impact paint system, automating the application process while ensuring consistently sharp and vibrant lines.

Impact Cone Nozzle Technology

Using Impact cone nozzle technology with Impact paints ensures that the paint goes further.  The paints are formulated with superior flowability to assist the right droplet atomisation through these unique, specially engineered nozzles. Excellent leaf coverage and consistent line width can be easily achieved.

This innovation ensures consistent atomisation of paint droplets, allowing precise and efficient application. With just 1.1 to 1.5 litres of Impact paint, a full-sized football pitch can be over-marked, significantly reducing paint consumption, labour, and transport requirements. By cutting down on frequent trips for multi-site markings, users can lower CO2 emissions and particulate diesel pollution—a win for both budgets and the environment.

5-litre Eco-Bags have been introduced for ease of storage and disposal and 70% less plastic waste. They are available within the Impact Range Pro, Premium, and Elite. When loaded onto a pedestrian iGO system spray machine, three 5-litre bags can mark up to 18 pitches without reloading. This will significantly improve efficiency, reducing downtime while minimising handling and waste. It reaffirms the importance of using impact paint as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution.

The Impact Paint Range.

The newly revised and improved Impact paint range includes options for every marking requirement:

  • Impact Pro: Suitable for frequent marking, producing high-quality white lines.
  • Impact Premium: Simple to use, excellent spray-ability producing a vibrant marking.
  • Impact Elite: Next-generation Impact paint with long-lasting, ultra-bright white lines

The Impact paint range offers a host of benefits that set it apart:

  • Ready-to-use: No measuring, no mixing, no mess
  • Time-saving: Quick start, fewer re-fills, faster finish
  • Cost savings per pitch: Less paint, no added water, reduced labour
  • Great visuals: Crisp lines, bright white or vibrant colours
  • Fast drying: Rainfast in as little as 20 minutes
  • Long lasting: Highly rain resistant once dry, no ‘ghosting’
  • Flowability: High atomisation through unique nozzles
  • Flexibility: All surfaces – natural grass, hard and synthetic surfaces*
  • Lighter load: No heavy tank of dilutable to cause compaction
  • Bespoke colours: Colour matching is available

Sustainability in Every Mark

Impact paints’ water-saving formulation and lightweight design provide a sustainable solution that reduces soil compaction and transport emissions. By choosing Impact, sports facilities demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship without compromising quality.

The Future of Line Marking

With its unbeatable combination of practicality, precision, efficiency, and eco-consciousness, the OAS Impact range sets a new standard for line-marking paints. Whether maintaining community pitches or managing professional stadiums, Impact paints deliver reliability and exceptional results every time.

Dedicated Line Marking Team

The OAS team is on hand to support you through every step, from free demonstrations to advice on the correct products and application methods, training and innovations, to servicing and repairs to keep you marking all season long. Visit www.originamenity.com to get in touch with the team,

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Mansfield Sand’s Impact at Kibworth GC

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Mansfield Sand’s Impact at Kibworth GC: Since becoming Course Manager at Kibworth Golf Club in 2019 Martin Anderson has propelled the course to new heights. A crucial component in Martin’s arsenal? The superior quality sand products from Mansfield Sand Company, renowned for their performance and reliability.

For over 170 years, Mansfield Sand Company has led the industry in the development and production of premium silica sand-based products. With a commitment to innovation and quality, Mansfield Sand’s range of offerings has become synonymous with excellence across sports, landscaping, and equestrian sectors. From championship golf courses to world-class show jumping arenas, Mansfield Sand’s products have impressed at some of the most prestigious venues in the UK and Europe.

Mansfield Sand’s Impact at Kibworth GC

Mansfield Sand’s Impact at Kibworth GC

Reflecting on the transition to Mansfield Sand’s products, Martin speaks of the noticeable difference it has made at Kibworth Golf Club in Leicestershire. “We have changed our sand provider recently,” he explains. “The Mansfield Sand product is a cleaner mixture, which is evident in the soil testing results. It has the potential to significantly improve our playing surfaces.”

Martin’s journey at Kibworth Golf Club is not merely that of a Course Manager, but of a dedicated individual whose roots run deep within the club’s history. “This club holds a special place in my heart,” Martin reflects. “It’s where I took my first ever steps, became an apprentice, learned the ropes of greenkeeping, and is the place where I met my wife.” This profound connection fuels Martin’s passion for excellence, driving him to continually enhance the club’s playing surfaces with the help of trusted partners like Mansfield Sand Company.

At Kibworth, the application of Mansfield Sand’s top dressing for greens, tees, and approaches has delivered remarkable results. Martin emphasises the role of top dressing in enhancing speed, trueness, and roll through the greens. “It’s not just about aesthetics,” Martin notes. “The top dressing has massively improved playability and drainage, particularly on our heavy clay soil.”

Martin’s praise extends to Mansfield Sand’s bunker sand, essential for maintaining Kibworth’s 52 bunkers. “Our bunkers are well-placed from a playing point of view,” he explains. “Regular top-ups throughout the year, coupled with meticulous maintenance during the preseason, ensure that our bunkers are always in pristine condition.”

Martin’s successful use of Mansfield Sand products at Kibworth Golf Club is a testament to the power of quality products in course maintenance. As Kibworth continues to thrive under his leadership, it’s clear that the right sand makes all the difference in achieving excellence.

For more information visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk

You can also follow the company on Twitter – @MansfieldSand and Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MansfieldSandSportSurfaces/

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Attraxor’s Impact at Cheltenham College

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Attraxor’s Impact at Cheltenham College: Cheltenham College, a prestigious independent school with a rich history, prides itself on immaculate grounds that reflect its high standards. Central to maintaining these exceptional grounds is Christian Brain, Head of Grounds and his knowledgeable team.

For the past decade, Christian has called upon Agrovista Amenity for expert advice and products, and in recent years, Attraxor has become a crucial tool in his turf management arsenal.

Attraxor's Impact at Cheltenham College

Attraxor’s Impact at Cheltenham College

Cheltenham College, known for its academic excellence and beautiful campus, hosts numerous events and sports activities throughout the year. The main college field, spanning 3 hectares, is a focal point for many of these events, requiring meticulous care and attention to maintain its pristine condition.

Attraxor is a plant growth regulator exclusively available in the UK from Agrovista Amenity. It contains prohexadione calcium, which effectively manages the growth of amenity turf. By inhibiting the gibberellic acid pathway, Attraxor reduces turf height and biomass while promoting root growth and maintaining turf colour and quality. Its innovative formulation allows for fast leaf absorption, delivering almost instant results and offering flexibility in application timing, even during cooler weather.

Christian’s journey with Attraxor began a few years ago, thanks to a recommendation from Ray Hunt from Agrovista Amenity. “I first used Attraxor a few years ago. Ray suggested I give it a try, and I’ve had good results from it ever since,” Christian recalls. His application strategy is both efficient and effective, tailored to fit the busy schedule of an independent school.

Christian typically applies Attraxor in mid-May when the weather has improved, and the growing season is in full swing. He mixes Attraxor with fertiliser in three tanks to cover the 3-hectare main college field. “It helps reduce poa seedheads, which is great, and at that time of the year, the grass is growing a lot, so it helps to get a lot of bulk out of it. With the added bit of nitrogen, it gives it a nice colour,” Christian explains.

The timing of the application is crucial, coinciding with Cheltenham College’s Speech Day at the end of May, a major event which takes place on the field. “Attraxor helps present the field for all the visitors – it really shines it up and makes it ready for the day. It holds it nicely through the summertime as well,” says Christian.

The impact of Attraxor on the college grounds has been significant. Christian notes several key benefits:

Improved Turf Density and Appearance: “I’ve found that it improves density and enhances the appearance of the sward,” he says.

Reduced Clippings and Mowing Frequency: “Reduced clippings and mowing frequency helps in the busy spring/summer period.”

Enhanced Root Formation: “Root formation is also enhanced, which helps the plant’s vigour and colour when rainfall is less frequent.”

Suppressed Poa Annua Seeding: “Poa Annua seeding is suppressed which means less poa seeds germinating and establishing in the sward,” he adds.

Christian believes that the fast-acting nature of Attraxor is essential in a busy environment like Cheltenham College. His limited spraying windows and the constant use of the field requires a product that delivers quick and reliable results.

Christian’s experience with Attraxor at Cheltenham College highlights the product’s efficacy and the importance of expert guidance from Agrovista Amenity. By integrating Attraxor into his turf management routine, Christian continues to maintain the high standards of the college’s grounds.

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity

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