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Wildwood Machinery continues run of success

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Wildwood Machinery continues run of success: Following a year of consistent expansion in 2024, Winchester-based groundcare business Wildwood Machinery has maintained its run of success at the start of 2025.

“Firstly, we have extended our product range with the addition of an important dealership contract with Wessex International,” says managing director James Bastian. “Secondly, we have secured a significant contract with a local authority client that we will be announcing shortly.”

Wildwood Machinery continues run of success

Wildwood Machinery continues run of success

“The recent appointment of Sales Manager Rob Hogarth, who brings 40 years of experience in the groundcare sector, is an indication of our intention to continue growing Wildwood Machinery this year,” says James Bastian. “He has brought a wealth of contacts and expertise to the business, and we are already seeing the benefits of that.”

Wildwood – which launched in 2022 – has scaled up rapidly, winning clients across professional and community sports clubs, Local Authorities, schools, National Trust properties.

“A vital component in our success has been our ability to source, supply and maintain the very best equipment available to the UK market. We are already the sole dealer across much of southern England for INFINICUT. Now, as the main local dealer for Wessex International – who manufacture a durable, versatile and reliable range of mowers – we are in a position to meet an even wider range of clients and projects,” comments James Bastian.

Sheldon Diplock of Wessex International, says: “Our mowers deliver superior presentation and professional striping, in dry or wet conditions. This is made possible by our ‘tip speed’ that is approximately 20 per cent faster than other rotary mowers on the market. Investing in Wessex Roller mowers brings a host of other benefits such as savings on mowing time and maintenance costs, whilst getting more value out of the tractors already on your fleet. The Wessex CRX320, a key player in the Golf and Sports Turf market, comes in at around the third of the price of traditional rough mower units.”

James Bastian adds, “At Wildwood Machinery our focus is on providing the absolute highest quality services to the groundcare profession, from our base in Winchester. It’s proving to be a potent combination, and appeals to clients from schools through to clients including Premiership football clubs, Local Authorities, the National Trust and many of southern England’s leading golf clubs.”

Wildwood – which has its main headquarters at East Horton Golf Club in Fair Oak – made regular hires throughout 2024 across engineering, maintenance, customer service and sales, and has bucked the trend across the economy as a whole with rapid growth.

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His Majesty The King gets glimpse of the future

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His Majesty The King gets glimpse of the future: His Majesty The King was today given a glimpse into the future of JCB hydrogen power as he toured  the company’s World Headquarters as part of its 80th birthday celebrations.

As JCB prepares to mark the historic milestone, the company is developing an internal combustion engine which is powered by hydrogen, a zero-carbon fuel of the future.

His Majesty The King gets glimpse of the future

His Majesty The King gets glimpse of the future

Today His Majesty was given an insight into JCB’s hydrogen technology by Chairman Anthony Bamford during a tour of the company’s Innovation Centre at Rocester, where he was shown one of the first JCB diggers to be powered by hydrogen – and how the machine can be refuelled simply and efficiently in a matter of minutes.

The visit also helped to mark another milestone for JCB – the production of the one millionth JCB backhoe loader digger, an invention which replaced men with shovels, pickaxes and hods and mechanised the labour-intensive process of digging holes and earthmoving around the world.

Lord Bamford said: “It is a real honour for us all that that The King has visited JCB to help us celebrate 80 years in business. It was also a great pleasure to show The King the progress we are making with hydrogen powered machines. Today was an occasion that will live long in the memories of everyone who was present.”

The King was welcomed on arrival by Lord and Lady Bamford, George Bamford and JCB CEO Graeme Macdonald before going on a tour of the backhoe loader production line where he helped fit a wheel to a JCB digger.

On a tour of the production line, His Majesty met apprentices Matthew Walker-Stack, 19, of Rugeley, Freddie McCool, 19, of Lichfield, and Eleanor Pitt, of Derby, who is only the second ever female welding apprentice to join the company.

The King spoke to Richard Williams, of Stramshall, near Uttoxeter, General Manager of the Backhoe Loader Business Unit, who has worked at JCB for 38 years. He followed in his father Brian’s footsteps, who completed 33 years’ service as a JCB Production Foreman. Also introduced to The King were Richard’s wife Sarah, who has worked for JCB for almost 35 years and his son Josh, a paint plant operative and his daughter Kaitlan, who works in Production Support.

The visit concluded in the main reception of JCB’s World HQ where The King was shown the one millionth JCB backhoe loader digger which recently rolled off the company’s Rocester production line.

His Majesty was greeted by warm applause from more than 60 guests in the reception, who included members of two families who have a combined service to JCB approaching 1,000 years. Bill Boot first clocked on at JCB in 1949 and 27 members of his family have gone on to work at the company and nine current Boot family employees, including Bill’s great-grandson Leigh, were there to welcome The King today. Ken Harrison, now aged 100, one of the last surviving members of the 1953 team which produced the first JCB backhoe loaders was also in attendance with family members. Ken and his relatives have amassed more than 350 years’ service to JCB.

Also among the guests in the main reception were long-serving and retired employees and former JCB Academy students, including Rhys Bradbury, 29, of Derby. As a 15-year-old student Rhys had reported on the official opening of the Academy by the then Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall for the school’s newsletter.

Rhys, who is now JCB’s Regional Sales  Manager for Central Europe, Austria and Switzerland, said: “It was fantastic to be involved in today’s visit and a great start to JCB’s 80th anniversary year.”

Also there was JCB-sponsored athlete Adam Burgess sporting his Olympic silver medal, which he secured in Paris last year in the slalom canoe event.

His Majesty unveiled a plaque to mark his visit and as he stepped outside to leave, he was met by the cheers of thousands of flag-waving World HQ JCB employees who lined the route of his departure.

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Experience the Future of Lawn Care with Harrier Pro® Tour

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Experience the Future of Lawn Care with Harrier Pro® Tour: We are thrilled to announce the Harrier Pro® Tour, an exclusive event designed for landscape professionals to experience the next generation of lawn care. This tour is a unique opportunity to see how your valuable feedback has shaped the Harrier Pro® series, and to witness the innovative advancements we’ve made.

Discover the Latest in Harrier Pro® Innovation

Join us to explore the groundbreaking new rear roller design that brings a whole new dimension to lawn striping. This innovation sets a new industry standard and promises to make a significant impact on your landscaping projects.

Experience the Future of Lawn Care with Harrier Pro® Tour

Experience the Future of Lawn Care with Harrier Pro® Tour

Craig Hoare, Sales and Marketing Manager, shares his excitement: “We are incredibly excited to bring the Harrier Pro® Tour to landscape professionals across the country. Your feedback has been instrumental in shaping the new Harrier Pro® series, and we can’t wait to show you how these innovations can make a real difference in your work. This tour is a fantastic opportunity to connect, learn, and grow together.”

Join Us on the Harrier Pro® Tour

The tour will take place across 8 venues from March 3rd to March 14th, 2025. Each event will be informal and relaxed, with light refreshments provided. You will have the chance to meet our engineering and design team, who are eager to discuss how these advancements can help your business thrive.

Make It a Day to Remember

This event is not just about showcasing a product; it’s about giving you the opportunity to get hands-on, ask questions, and connect with the team behind the innovation. We are excited to hear your thoughts and are confident that you will leave with a fresh perspective on how the Harrier Pro® can elevate your work.

Event Details:

Time: 10 am – 3 pm

Venues:

  • March 3rd: Toro UK Limited, Bishops Stortford
  • March 4th: Dale Hill Hotel & Golf Club, Ticehurst
  • March 5th: The Hamworthy Club, Bournemouth
  • March 6th: Fulford Heath Golf Club, Birmingham
  • March 11th: Heyrose Golf Club, Knutsford
  • March 12th: Pavilions of Harrogate, Harrogate
  • March 13th: Newark Showground, Newark

Secure Your Spot Today

We would love to see you there. Visit our website to reserve your place and for full details on each venue. Spaces are limited, so be sure to sign up soon to avoid disappointment.

For more information, please visit www.hayter.co.uk

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ISEKI UK proud to be part of Watcombe’s journey

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ISEKI UK proud to be part of Watcombe’s journey: Seventeen months ago, a new under-14 girls’ football team was started in South Devon for girls’ who were unhappy at their current clubs.

Fast forward a season and a half, and Watcombe Wanderers have won promotion in their first season and now have two teams whose kits are proudly sponsored by ISEKI UK and Ireland.

ISEKI UK proud to be part of Watcombe's journey

ISEKI UK proud to be part of Watcombe’s journey

In September 2023, team manager Martin Campbell, a fully licenced coach, was approached to start the team, and during the recruitment process, he received a message from ISEKI Vehicle Sales Manager Phil Catley about his daughter, Maddie.

After starting the season late due to not having enough players, Maddie and the other girls quickly formed a formidable team, eventually finishing second on the last day of the season to claim promotion to Division Two.

With the football side of the team performing beyond expectations, Martin wanted to build the team’s identity with new kits and hoodies before they started their second season. To do this, he sent a message to the parents, and Phil replied.

“They were playing like footballers, so we wanted them to look like footballers,” Martin said. “It can seem like a small thing, but before I joined the ambulance service I was in the service industry for 25 years in sales. Every time you put on a new suit, you feel like someone; you feel like something, and that’s what I wanted for the girls with their own kit.

“Like any grassroots club, we rely on volunteers and parents to drive the club, and when it came to kit sponsorship, we asked the parents, and Phil came forward and said I might be able to help.

“Like anything, people come forward with good intentions, but we all sat here thinking, ‘Why is a big national company going to be interested in a little backstreet girls’ football team on the outskirts of Newton Abbott.’

“But the response from ISEKI was positive, and they sponsored two kits and hoodies for the girls, and I have to say they look outstanding.

Without the sponsorship from ISEKI, the girls wouldn’t be able to play football with a nice kit on their backs and be proud of them. They wear the hoodies when they go to school or when they’re walking down the street with their mum and dad. So, what might seem like a small thing has made a significant difference to our team.

We are currently placed second in the second division and are chasing promotion to the first division, which will be a massive achievement for a new team to go from third division to first division in two years.”

“Women’s football is enjoying massive growth these days, so to be able to support an up-and-coming grassroots team is something to be very proud of especially with the amount of work we do with the GMA’s Pitch Advisory Service in advising on the supply of machinery to local sports clubs” said Alan Prickett Sales Director of ISEKI Uk & Ireland.

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Richard Walne appointed as Managing Director of EMEA

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Richard Walne appointed as Managing Director of EMEA: The Toro Company is pleased to announce that Richard Walne has been named managing director of the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region for its International Business. In his new role, Walne will have leadership responsibility for the company’s equipment and water businesses in the region with a focus on advancing strategic customer priorities, strengthening its market positions and evolving the portfolio of innovative solutions.

Walne’s impressive career at The Toro Company spans 45 years, during which he has held various roles across the International Business. His journey with Toro began as a technical representative in Europe and from there he has had responsibilities around the world. He held senior marketing and product development roles in the United States, demonstrating great versatility and leadership. He then transitioned to the Asia Pacific, Australia and China (APAC) region, ultimately serving as managing director, APAC, a position he had held since 2000. With a deep passion for helping customers and a proven ability to inspire teams, Walne has made significant contributions to Toro’s growth and success throughout his career which he now brings to the EMEA region.

Richard Walne appointed as Managing Director of EMEA

Richard Walne appointed as Managing Director of EMEA

Well-known and respected in the golf and premium sport markets for his extensive product knowledge and expertise, Walne played a key role in founding the Asian Golf Industry Federation and continues to drive education as chairperson of the Certificate in Greenkeeping Committee. A passionate supporter of Variety, The Children’s Charity, Walne has participated in the Annual Variety Bash since 2001, raising significant amounts to help children in South Australia who are sick, disadvantaged, or living with disability.

“Richard’s industry knowledge and impressive career at The Toro Company have been nothing short of exceptional,” said Amy Dahl, vice president, International at The Toro Company. “His contributions have significantly shaped our international business across the globe, and his dedication to our customers and teams is unparalleled. We are thrilled that Richard is moving into this role and are confident that he will help expand our market leadership and accelerate growth in this region moving forward.”

Walne will relocate to the United Kingdom over the next few months, marking a return to where he first began his storied career with The Toro Company.

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