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Jayne Leyland inducted into Hall of Fame

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Jayne Leyland inducted into Hall of Fame: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) is proud to announce that Jayne Leyland, Portfolio Director at Origin Amenity Solutions, has been inducted into the prestigious GMA Hall of Fame. 

As part of the GMA’s 90th anniversary celebrations, this honor recognises Jayne’s outstanding contributions and long-standing dedication to advancing the turfcare industry.

Jayne Leyland inducted into Hall of Fame

Jayne Leyland inducted into Hall of Fame

With over three decades in the sector, Jayne Leyland is widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable and influential grass seed specialists in the field. She has become a trusted resource for countless groundskeepers and turf professionals, who have come to rely on her expertise. Her work has helped shape turf management practices across the UK and beyond.

Born in Cheshire, Jayne began her journey at Reaseheath College, where she earned a Higher National Diploma in Horticulture (Golf Course Management). She first stepped into greenkeeping in 1993 at East Sussex National Golf Club and later held a role as assistant course manager at Chart Hills in Kent.

She transitioned into advisory roles by joining Barenbrug as an area manager, where she provided expert technical support and helped launch several landmark grass seed products, including RTF, SOS, and RPR.

Currently with Origin Amenity Solutions, Jayne continues to make significant contributions to turf management education, working closely with clients such as St Andrews Links Trust and Manchester City. She remains an active member of the BSPB Amenity Crop Group, overseeing turfgrass seed trials at STRI in Bingley and serving multiple times as chair.

Geoff Webb, Grounds Management Association Chief Executive Officer said: “Jayne’s dedication to advancing turf management through her research and product development has had a profound and lasting impact on our industry. Her work has not only enhanced the quality of our green spaces but also inspired those around her to strive for the same high standards. Jayne’s award exemplifies the expertise that the GMA Hall of Fame celebrates, and we are genuinely honoured to recognise her achievements and contributions as part of our 90th anniversary celebrations. We look forward to seeing her continue to shape the future of turfcare for years to come.”

Jayne Leyland, Hall of Fame Inductee, said: “I’m truly overwhelmed and deeply honoured to receive this recognition. I never set out for awards – I’m just doing a job! A job I love in an industry that’s meant everything to me. It feels strange to be celebrated for something that has always been a passion and a privilege. I hope this inspires others to find joy and purpose in what they do, just as I have over the years. I’m grateful to be part of this community and share in something so special.”

To find out more about the Grounds Management Association Hall of Fame, please visit: www.thegma.org.uk/who/hall-of-fame

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COMPO puts life back into the greens

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COMPO puts life back into the greens: Two products from COMPO EXPERT have helped to put some much-needed life back into the greens at Kilsyth Golf Club, according to Head Greenkeeper Brian Hill.

Brian has been at Kilsyth Golf Club in central Scotland for just over 30 years. Throughout that time, he has always worked with Agrovista Amenity, the exclusive national distributor of COMPO EXPERT’S turf products in the UK.

COMPO puts life back into the greens

COMPO puts life back into the greens

Brian’s first point of contact at Agrovista Amenity is Ramsay MacGregor and it was Ramsay who recommended the COMPO EXPERT range of products to him.

“I trust Ramsay 100% because I know he is going to give me something that works, and it is not going to bust the bank,” said Brian. “I’m going to get a great product every time from him and that is why I took on-board his suggestion about COMPO EXPERT.”

COMPO EXPERT believes in sustainable, integrated turf management by focusing on modern fertilisation concepts, consistent regeneration of growth and optimal support of the plant’s own physiological processes. All of which promote vitalisation, stress tolerance and root development while providing optimum turf quality.

The innovative product range includes specialty mineral and stabilized fertilisers, slow and controlled release fertilisers, water soluble and liquid fertilisers as well as biostimulants, trace elements and soil conditioners.

Brian first applied Ferro Top® microgranular fertiliser to his greens late last year and the success of that product resulted in him applying Floranid® Twin Eagle NK, a slow-release fertiliser, this year.

“We first applied Ferro Top® in autumn and the results I got coming out of winter were brilliant,” he said. “It has a nice bit of iron in it and makes the sward nice and dense.”

“I then went on to using the Floranid® Twin Eagle NK – which I applied at the end of June and the results have been phenomenal. We haven’t got an irrigation system here, and I’ve only got a bowser, so my timing of products is key. As soon as some rain was forecast, we applied the Floranid® Twin Eagle NK. Honestly, I put it on and couldn’t believe it – the greens have been unbelievable. I’ll look at going again with it in September and then I’ll apply Ferro Top® to prepare for winter.

“The greens are so green, so lush, and the COMPO products have put so much life back into them.

“A lot of fertilisers claim to do amazing things, but COMPO products actually do what they say they will. We don’t have a big budget and therefore every product I put down needs to work. With the COMPO products I know that I’m going to get results every time.”

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

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Andy Jackson inducted into GMA Hall of Fame

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Andy Jackson inducted into GMA Hall of Fame: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) is proud to announce the induction of Andy Jackson, Grounds Manager at Stoke City Football Club, into the prestigious GMA Hall of Fame as part of its 90th anniversary celebrations.

This honour recognises Andy’s outstanding contributions to both professional and grassroots football over the past three decades.

Andy Jackson inducted into GMA Hall of Fame

Andy Jackson inducted into GMA Hall of Fame

Andy has been a cornerstone of the grounds management industry, dedicating almost 30 years to ensuring the pitches at Stoke City’s bet365 Stadium and Clayton Wood Training Ground are among the best in the country. His commitment to the industry has earned him a reputation beyond Stoke City, including the recruitment by FIFA to manage pitches for high-profile international events such as the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Andy’s impact extends far beyond the professional arena – for more than 12 years, he has been a driving force in improving grassroots football pitches across Staffordshire, providing invaluable support and mentorship to local clubs and volunteers. His involvement in grassroots football began with the early incarnation of the FA Pitch Improvement Programme (PIP) in 2012 and has since continued with the Pitch Advisory Service (PAS), formerly the Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme (GaNTIP).

During this time, Andy has made incredible contributions to the football community in Staffordshire, assisting in the improvement of around 65 grassroots football sites, equating to more than 150 pitches. His work has not only involved hands-on pitch care but also the preparation of detailed reports offering clubs actionable advice and access to his network within the turf maintenance industry.

Geoff Webb, Grounds Management Association Chief Executive Officer said: “Andy’s induction into the GMA Hall of Fame is a testament to his dedication to the grounds management industry.

His passion, not only at Stoke City but also in grassroots football, has left a lasting legacy that clubs will benefit from in years to come. His contributions go beyond the technical aspects of the job; he has been a mentor and an advocate for raising the standards of pitches across Staffordshire and surrounding areas for over a decade. We are incredibly proud to honour him as part of our 90th anniversary celebrations and look forward to seeing his continued influence on the next generation of groundskeepers.”

Andy has been instrumental in supporting Staffordshire FA through initiatives such as CPD evenings at Stoke City’s facilities and by assisting with the delivery of pitch improvement workshops for volunteer groundskeepers. His willingness to voluntarily give up his time to share his expertise has made a lasting impact on the quality of grassroots football in the county.

Kevin Staples, Head of Delivery at the Staffordshire FA said: “Andy has been an integral part in Staffordshire FA’s Pitch Improvement programme since 2012. His knowledge, expertise and commitment to the programme has enabled numerous clubs, leagues and individuals to improve their grass pitches and the overall experience for participants in the game. The impact he has had on volunteers across the county has been immeasurable, with the time he has taken to educate and advise something we cannot thank him enough for. On behalf of the Staffordshire FA and Grassroots Football we are proud to see Andy being inducted into the GMA Hall of Fame.”

Andy Jackson, Stoke City Grounds Manager and GMA Hall of Fame Inductee said: “I’m incredibly honoured to be inducted into the GMA Hall of Fame, especially during the Association’s 90th anniversary. It is a privilege to come to work here at Stoke City every day, where we take great pride in the work we do within the grassroots football community. To see the impact we’ve made together, improving pitches and the game for players at all levels, is really rewarding.”

Kevin Duffill, former GMA Regional Pitch Adviser said: “This award is fantastic recognition of Andy’s dedication to the profession and his achievements over the last 29 years. Beyond his exceptional work on the stadium pitch, he has played a pivotal role in the development of Clayton Wood, especially as the number of teams has grown, including female football. I also recall the many Staffordshire FA workshops hosted there under Andy’s guidance. One standout memory is when a club with a 12-acre site attended a session and asked how to best spend their £500 budget. That same club went on to win both County FA and GMA awards.”

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The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service expands into Europe

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The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service expands into Europe: The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service has agreed a strategic partnership with SURTEC – a multi-disciplinary agronomy team offering consultancy across the maintenance and development of golf courses – to expand its operations in Europe, with Spain and Portugal regions now benefiting from its expertise.

The new partnership will offer knowledge and experience to facilities in the continental European market, providing support in relation to sustainable agronomic practices to golf clubs.

The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service expands into Europe

The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service expands into Europe

“The development of The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service and Sustainable Championship Agronomy is supported by our Research and Education initiatives, which are the foundations of our work” said Daniel Lightfoot, Director – Sustainability at The R&A.

“The partnership with SURTEC allows us to expand our operation into Europe alongside a team which has a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the market, our goals and golf course agronomy. We look forward to bringing our collective expertise and guidance to European golf clubs and resorts together with local insight to help educate, support, and encourage their commitment to a more sustainable future for the game of golf.”

SURTEC, based in Seville, consists of a team with over 15 years of independent experience within the industry in Spain, Portugal and further afield. Its team provides golf course agronomy consultancy to over 30 clubs, offering a broad range of services for golf courses covering consultancy, project engineering, irrigation, and project management.

Pablo Munoz, co-founder of SURTEC, commented, “Collaborating with The R&A undoubtedly represents our most significant step forward since the foundation of SURTEC. We believe that with the knowledge and support of The R&A’s qualified and experienced agronomists and with the help of the latest technology, we can reach more clubs and people within the industry, share our know-how, broadcast our message for sustainable agronomy widely, and truly fulfil our commitment to the golf industry in our region. This commitment is based on responsible use of resources and the conservation and enhancement of the environment.

“Our mission alongside The R&A, is to achieve the best playing surfaces with minimal labour and sustainable use of material and water resources.”

Whilst this partnership first sees the offering expand into Spanish and Portuguese territories, it marks the start of the continental European operation for The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service.

To find out more about the Sustainable Agronomy Service, please contact sustainableagronomy@randa.org or head to https://www.randa.org/en/sustainability/agronomy

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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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