Tag Archive for: Increase

Increase in Number of Tree Shelters Collected and Recycled

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Increase in Number of Tree Shelters Collected and Recycled: Tubex®, a Magnera brand, has announced a significant growth in the use of its Tree Shelter Collection & Recycling Programme. The first of its kind scheme saw a 39 percent increase in the number of shelters returned and recycled in 2025 compared to previous year, with the Programme now close to a milestone of two million shelters collected and recycled.

At the end of the 2025, 1,982 dumpy sacks of collected tree guards had been returned to Tubex®, up from 1,421 in 2024.

Increase in Number of Tree Shelters Collected and Recycled

Increase in Number of Tree Shelters Collected and Recycled

Once collected, the tree shelters are sorted, washed and reprocessed back into raw material, at an impressive yield of 95.6 percent – meaning that 95.6 percent of the collected shelter material can be used to manufacture new product.

For Pete Stevens, Business Development Manager at Tubex®, the 2025 figures reinforce the long-term success of the Programme and its national hub network.

“Last year, we announced that since the start of the Collection & Recycling Programme in 2022, we had recycled more than 1 million tree shelters.  With these figures, we are now approaching the 2 million milestone – a testament to the collective endeavour of the forestry sector to collect used shelters at end of life.”

Polypropylene (PP) shelters containing recycled material that are recycled at end of use are still the lowest environmental impact option (Independent LCA study here: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10130156/) and represent a circular use of materials which is a key pillar of sustainability.

With a growing network of 24 recycling hubs nationwide, Tubex® has collaborated with its distributors and various forestry organisations to create accessible and convenient free drop-off points for legacy tree shelters.

Hub partners include Yorkshire Dales Millenium Trust, Forest Working Plastics Group, Tilhill, Maydencroft, British Hardwood Tree Nursery, Ashlea Landscaping and Green-Tech among others.

For more information visit – https://tubex.com/sustainability/tree-shelter-collection-recycling-programme/

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Green-tech aids increase in biodiversity

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Green-tech aids increase in biodiversity: As Scotland’s eighth newest city (2022), Dunfermline was the birthplace of King Charles 1 and once served as the ancient capital of Scotland. Over recent years the city has become more popular with house prices increasing and investment in new residential developments.

As part of the Dunfermline Eastern Expansion, Taylor Wimpey have built around a hundred homes, a mix of 3, 4, and 5-bedroom houses, as well as affordable housing units, situated around Macpherson and MacCallum Avenues.

Green-tech aids increase in biodiversity

Green-tech aids increase in biodiversity

Although Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is not mandatory in Scotland just yet, the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), focuses on ‘significant biodiversity enhancements’ for major developments. And any urban greening, particularly street trees, plays a vital role.

Although new developments have modern storm drains and sewers, unlike the old, woefully inadequate Victorian-era systems in the city centres, it is still important to attenuate rainwater, and subsequent runoff, diverting it from gushing straight down the drains. Trees are highly efficient at doing this, both through their root network, and leaf canopy. Add to this their ability to store carbon, capture airborne particulates, and provide habitat for birds and insects, and the value of trees to our neighbourhoods cannot be denied.

Green-tech Involvement

Advance Construction (Scotland) have been offering groundworks and civil engineering expertise throughout Scotland for over twenty-five years. They have worked with Green-tech for over ten of those years across various projects.

ACS approached Green-tech to price up twenty-one tree pits throughout the new Taylor-Wimpey development, using the TreeParker® tree pit support system.

Having been used in mainland Europe for the past twelve years or more, on high-profile projects such as the pavements around the Eiffel Tower, and Rotterdam’s main boulevard, Coolsingle, TreeParker® works by supporting the paving above a tree pit, whether used for pedestrian or vehicular traffic. In doing this, it protects the soil within the tree pit from becoming compacted. This enables the landscaper to use a soft, friable, organic topsoil for the tree to grow in, rather than having to make do with a less organic, structural tree sand.

Unlike similar systems, it has several distinct advantages. The heavy-duty, reinforced legs are available in six height options from the factory: 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, and 1500mm. This gives a previously unheard-of adaptability with depth options. From a contractor’s point of view, it means there is never any need to stack two units to achieve a depth over 600mm, saving installation time and money.

The other major advantage is that there are no side walls to get in the way of utilities, new or existing. By having smooth, rounded legs rather than side walls, the units can easily straddle or work around service pipes and lines.

There was a mix of tree pits across the site, mostly single trees, but also three double tree pits in the central section of MacCallum Avenue. To finish off the installations, Green-tech supplied cast-iron Newdale tree grilles, along with Wharfdale tree guards, to protect the trees from any vehicular contact. Grilles are an ideal way to give a smart, long-lasting finish to a tree pit, whilst allowing air and water access into the rooting area.

In total, twenty-one TreeParker® tree pits were installed, each having Mona Relief irrigation rings and cast aluminium filler caps, as well as underground anchor systems. With it being vital to the health of any tree or planting scheme, Green-tech delivered a total of 260 tonnes of Green-tree British Standard subsoil and Geocell topsoil to site over a staggered period as required.

Client Feedback

Stuart Mcneill, Managing Quantity Surveyor for Advance Construction (Scotland) comments, “We have always found Green-tech to provide excellent service. They deliver what they say, when they say they will. We found the TreeParker® system to be surprisingly quick and simple to install, and we look forward to working with it again.”

Further Information

For further product information or to request a CPD in person or remotely on any of our urban or rural modules, please email info@gtspecifier.co.uk or call on 01423 369728.

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Sankt JörgenPark reduce disease and increase quality

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Sankt JörgenPark reduce disease and increase quality: Life is all about balance, but for the greens team at Sweden’s Sankt Jörgen Park, achieving the balance of Nitrogen in the greens profile became critical as the club battled extensive annual outbreaks of Snow Mold (Fusarium Patch).

Helping them lower the Nitrogen content without detriment to plant health or play quality is 6-2-4 Turf Revival from Suståne which, after just three years, has significantly reduced the severity of the fungal disease.

Sankt JörgenPark reduce disease and increase quality

Sankt JörgenPark reduce disease and increase quality

Part of a wider resort and business park, the unique Sankt Jörgen course blends testing parkland and classic heathland holes – all under the stewardship of Head Greenkeeper Andreas Flodman, three full time greenkeepers and a team of summer and seasonal helpers. “In recent years we started noticing that the warmer, wetter winters were contributing to issues with Snow Mold which meant that we were not in good condition going into spring” Andreas explains. “I spoke to our distributor Crophealth who identified with soil samples that we had high levels of Nitrogen in the ground over winter which is not ideal when disease pressure is high and plant growth is low.”

Crophealth suggested the club look at the more gradual nutrient release of the Naturel base Suståne range – a product Andreas used previously and was pleased to be re-introduced to. “I think previously the cost of pursuing an organic strategy was too high however, now, it’s on par with synthetic products we’ve used previously and obviously brings with it many benefits from a plant health and sustainability point of view.”

Andreas has been conducting two to four applications of Suståne 6-2-4 Turf Revival per season for the last three seasons, together with supplementary applications of Suståne 5-2-4+Fe all-purpose fertiliser for an additional boost in the early autumn when required.

Suståne Turf Revival® 6-2-4 is designed to replenish the soil with a rich supply of humus and mycorrhizal fungi, to improve the uptake of nutrients and boost overall plant health without causing a spike in growth. “It provides a reliable and consistent source of Nitrogen and other nutrients, without excess growth or creating issues with thatch and organic matter. This means our greens look healthy and play true as we’re not having to cut them as frequently to retain the same quality.” He continues, “Every winter we are seeing less disease and we hope that soon we’ll be able to get through to spring without any disease impact at all.”

The success of Suståne is not limited to it’s work on the golf course – 6-2-4 Turf Revival is also contributing to an naturel base approach at the resorts vineyard! “Crophealth have been great at helping the vineyard manager covert over to organics, this is incredibly important to them.”

For more information on Suståne 6-2-4 Turf Revival or other products from either Sustane’s professional-grade all-organic or naturel base ranges visit www.sustane.com

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Milwaukee Tool to increase OPE market share

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Milwaukee Tool to increase OPE market share: Milwaukee Tool seeks to increase its market share in the outdoor power equipment (OPE) sector in 2024 to offer more battery-powered solutions for gardening, landscaping and horticulture professionals.

As an industry-leading manufacturer of heavy-duty power tools, accessories and hand tools for professional users worldwide, Milwaukee Tool is now set to heighten its position in the market with both new and updated releases of its cordless solutions, placing an increased focus on its battery technology and range of outdoor power equipment.

Milwaukee Tool to increase OPE market share

Milwaukee Tool to increase OPE market share

Since the launch of its cordless OPE range, Milwaukee Toolhas played an important role in offering a battery alternative to solutions for professionals across the industry. Since then, Milwaukee Tool’s in-house research and development team has been working with industry professionals across a variety of trades to gain a better understanding of their daily challenges and has consistently put their findings back into the development of its products to ensure its customers have access to the solutions they truly need.

Rhys Adams, national sales manager OPE at Milwaukee Tool UK, commented: “Our mission in 2024 is to ensure our expansive range for cordless equipment proves its value to professionals in the OPE sector by providing a one-stop-shop for the solutions they need.

“To help increase our share of the OPE market, we’re bringing a variety of new products, as well as enhancements to our existing product ranges, to help ensure users have the right solutions to complete the task at hand with ease and efficiency when compared to more traditional alternatives – something that has always been at the top of our agenda.”

Among the tools hitting the market this year is the DUAL BATTERY SELF PROPELLED LAWN MOWER which features a 46 cm steel deck and blade design, and utilises Milwaukee Tool’s M18 FUEL battery technology to deliver best-in-class quality of cut.

Milwaukee Tool’s M18 FUEL battery technology has been engineered for the most demanding trades in the world to deliver unrivalled performance in a compact structure. Capable of powering a whole range of tools without wavering on power and performance, professionals can fuel an arsenal of outdoor power equipment using a single battery platform.

Rhys continued: “Our battery platform has been tried and tested in some of the world’s harshest and most demanding environments to ensure that no matter how challenging the job might be, or how difficult the terrain, our solutions are up to the task. The same technology, battery platform and power is put into our OPE range to support more and more professionals in the sector, and we’re excited to be able to provide the industry with even more solutions which we’ll be announcing very soon and throughout the remainder of the year.”

Also utilising the M18 FUEL battery platform is Milwaukee Tool’s first DUAL BATTERY BACKPACK BLOWER featuring a high contrast consistent blowing force of 20.5 N across the entire battery discharge. The advanced blower will be available later this year and can hold up to four M18 FUEL batteries for extended run time, as well as a padded back pad and padded adjustable straps for extreme comfort. The blower is one of the many products in the complete OPE range from Milwaukee Tool designed with the end user in mind.

Launched in 2017, Milwaukee Tool’s range of outdoor power equipment has grown to feature over 60+ tools and solutions to help provide the right solutions for outdoor maintenance, gardening, landscaping and land clearance professionals. The range features a selection of lawn mowers, brushcutters, hedge trimmers, blowers, chainsaws and sprayers, as well as an all-in-one multi-tool with 12 optional attachments powered by one single M18 FUEL Power Head.

Be sure to look out for the latest launches from Milwaukee Tool throughout 2024 or to discover its full range of outdoor power equipment and battery technology today, click here or visit https://uk.milwaukeetool.eu/

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Green-tech helps EMR increase Biodiversity

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Green-tech helps EMR increase Biodiversity:  European Metal Recycling (EMR) is a global leader in metal recycling. They operate metal recycling sites across 60 locations throughout the UK where they process waste metal and want to increase biodiversity throughout these sites.

Working with Glendale, a grounds maintenance contractor providing landscape and green space management for private and public sectors, EMR launched its rewilding initiative at its state-of-the-art site in Oldbury.  They intend to tackle the impact of climate change and give local nature a much stronger chance of surviving and thriving for future generations. The aim is to roll out this scheme across all of their UK sites.

Green-tech helps EMR increase Biodiversity

Green-tech helps EMR increase Biodiversity

The EMR environmental project, which covers 3ha of land, will create a biodiversity increase at the Oldbury site of 95%, ensuring greater protection of the environment, and preservation and enhancement of key habitats.

The initiative included the sowing of approximately 1000m2 of John Chambers Heritage Dual purpose and John Chamber Impact Violet Heart mix 100%. The 5kg of seed comprised a mix of native and nectar-rich annuals and perennials. The area of previously rough ground was seeded in May 2023 using a mix devised by EMR Environmental Specialist Aaron Roberts. The Cornfield Annual species came through quickly to give an initial burst of colour, while the slower-growing perennials are all establishing, ready to spring forth from Spring 2024 (Year 2) onwards.

John Chambers Wildflower Seed has a 40-year history of supplying British native wildflower seed and mixes across the UK. A brand of Green-tech, John Chambers Wildflower Seed is one of the leading authorities on native wildflower seed, distributing a comprehensive range of products that protect, enhance, and improve the landscape environment.

In addition, a variety of 100 native saplings and trees and species-rich hedgerows were planted to improve the overall habitat and absorb 35 tonnes of carbon per annum into the new biomass growing on our site. A mixture of grass seeds and different varieties of flowers will be grown, as well as ongoing management of the woodland area to allow other species to flourish.

Deric Newman, Head of Development, Estate Services at Glendale comments, “We used John Chambers as they have a reputation for being the best in the market for wildflower and grass seed. Delivery was very efficient and on time with the annual species making an appearance quickly. Overall, I am very happy and can’t wait to see the perennials come through in the spring.”

Aaron Roberts adds, “It has been a pleasure working on this project creating positive environmental change at our EMR Group Oldbury site. With the new plants and habitat creation at Oldbury, we have increased biodiversity by over 95% and we are helping sequest 35 tonnes of CO2. Hopefully, our project inspires other companies to create positive environmental change at their sites and increase their biodiversity.”

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