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The Benefits of Solar Aeration

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The Benefits of Solar Aeration: Solar-powered aeration systems have a wide range of benefits. If you own a lake, pond or reservoir you probably would have come up against the need for an aeration system in order to keep your waterbody healthy.

Sometimes the lack of power available means a specialist aeration system is required and with the rising energy costs, there is no better option than a solar-powered subsurface aeration system to help keep monthly energy costs down. Heathland Group’s research and development team have engineered the most efficient solar aeration system available on today’s global market.

The Benefits of Solar Aeration

The Benefits of Solar Aeration

Features and benefits of using a solar aerator

  • Environmentally friendly, self-contained power source
  • Entire water column circulation
  • Stabilisation of thermal stratification
  • Increased dissolved oxygen levels
  • Eliminates oxygen-related fish kills
  • Reduces mosquito and midge infestations in your lake
  • Reduces risks of the likelihood of algae bloom in your lake
  • Diminishes foul odours from gases
  • Reduces build-up of organic sediment in lakes
  • Improves and preserves a healthy aquatic ecosystem in your lake

Custom diffused aeration equipment

Our team will always ensure that you are recommended the most efficient diffused aeration system for your requirements. We like to ensure that every system we supply and install is the most effective system to not only help combat any existing issues but also to help prevent any further issues.

When recommending a system, a wide variety of parameters are taken into account including:

  • length
  • width
  • depth
  • any obstructions
  • bank side air obstructions (such as trees)
  • fish density
  • shape of the water body
  • access

Solar aeration systems to combat thermal stratification

During the summer, water bodies can suffer from thermal stratification, which is when water becomes divided into layers as shown below. The bottom layer of the reservoir will contain cool, oxygen-depleted water whilst the surface layer of the water will contain warmer oxygen-rich water. These two layers are separated by the thermocline which prevents the two from mixing because of differences in the water density.

A diffused aerator pumps air through the diffuser membranes, which then travels to the surface in the form of millions of tiny bubbles. When these bubbles travel up through the thermal layers they entrain the colder water and this is then carried to the surface layer, where it becomes naturally oxygenated. This colder water circulates and is replaced by warmer water providing complete circulation and balanced temperature.

Circulating and aerating from the base upwards also releases toxic gases that normally become trapped underneath the thermocline layer. This provides a balanced habitat for aquatic life. This aeration process creates aerobic conditions near the water bed and then the microbial process can naturally break down nutrients that might otherwise be used in the production of noxious aquatic weeds and algae.

Solar-powered aeration system placement

When placing a solar-powered aeration system it is important to consider the placement of the solar panels. It is important that they are placed in an open area, free of shade and any other obstructions that may cause limited light levels. Solar panels should always be south facing in order to have the longest period of exposure to the sunlight during the course of the day. You should always remember that during the winter months the sun will be lower in the sky which may result in shadowing not seen during the summer months.

Heathland Groups Solar Aeration Systems 

Heathland Group is one of the most trusted water aeration installers in Norfolk and offers all its services throughout the UK and Europe. We are here to help you with any requirements from start to finish. We offer a full servicing package with all of our products meaning you will continue to receive continued support from us for the life of your product. For more information on our custom aeration systems or our solar-powered aeration systems please contact us on 0800 3891990 or email us at info@heathandgroup.co.uk.

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Attraxor astounds at the birthplace of Rugby

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Attraxor astounds at the birthplace of Rugby: The sports pitches at Rugby School in Warwickshire are benefitting from a stronger sward after Attraxor plant growth regulator was recommended and supplied by Agrovista Amenity.

In 1823, student William Webb Ellis, took a football in his arms and ran with it, originating the game of rugby. Today, innumerable tourists visit the ‘home of the game’ and rugby teams from all over the world can be seen training at Rugby School. It certainly makes Grounds Manager, James Mead a busy man.

Attraxor astounds at the birthplace of Rugby

Attraxor astounds at the birthplace of Rugby

“There can’t be any sort of downtime for the team, and I can be taken aside at any time,” he said. “There could be a TV crew, very important persons or tourists that have made a rugby pilgrimage and want to stand on the turf where the game began. We can never afford to have an off-day here.”

James admits that he is fortunate to have a close-knit team around him; one that has been together for an astonishing amount of time.

“We have a smashing team that has always been together – in fact no one has left in 18 years,” he said. “It helps enormously because we are a very focussed group. Everyone gets a say – decisions and discussions are a collective. This way the whole team gets on-board with ideas, and everyone understands why we are doing something.”

Three years ago, the team decided to incorporate Attraxor plant growth regulator into their maintenance programme. It was a decision which has proved to be considerably successful.

“We had just Koro’d off all of the cricket outfield and were starting fresh,” explained James. “Following this we needed a product that would stick and would help to thicken the sward. Mark Allen from Agrovista Amenity recommended Attraxor and we are pleased he did – it made a huge difference to the strength and playability of the grass.”

Attraxor, a BASF product, is a plant growth regulator containing the active substance, prohexadione and can be used to regulate growth of all managed amenity turf. This active substance inhibits the Giberrelic acid pathway, which results in a reduction of turf height and turf biomass. Root growth is promoted whilst turf colour and quality are maintained.

Based on its initial success, James and the team decided to further utilise Attraxor and it is now an integral product throughout the growing season.

“Attraxor was perfect for the cricket outfield and so we then used it on our two gold standard rugby pitches – which are the ones that all the visitors come to see. Again, it made a big difference.

“We do a lot of liquid spraying and Attraxor goes nicely into our tank mixes,” he continued. “What we mix it with largely depends on the time of the year, but we will start applying Attraxor in March, as soon as the plant is up taking, and we continue to put it down every month throughout the growing season.

“In terms of cutting, we no longer have clippings to contend with and if we have had bad weather and can’t cut, then it is no longer an issue.

“I have been very impressed with Attraxor. Not only has the sward improved, but growth rates across a range of grass species have been regulated equally. I’m especially pleased to see that the strength and vigour of less desirable Poa annua plants has diminished.”

As well as reporting excellent results, James is also of the opinion that his formidable team has gained an extra member.

“Mark Allen is a very hands-on, amenable person to work with – he is a friend as well as a professional colleague. We bounce ideas off one another and it is a good collaboration. He gets on well with all the other members of staff and if anyone has any questions, he is always available to answer them.”

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

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Rugby pitch damaged ahead of charity match

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Rugby pitch damaged ahead of charity match: On the eve of a charity match on the Sportsground, mindless motorists took the opportunity to race around the town’s rugby pitch in the early hours of Friday April 15.

Read the full article from Monmouthshire Beacon here

Rugby pitch damaged ahead of charity match

Rugby pitch damaged ahead of charity match

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Honda’s new version of HRM3000

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Honda’s new version of HRM3000: The HRM3000 Live will now feature 3G and 4G connectivity for remote monitoring and control of all HRM3000 features including GPS tracking for peace of mind. For customers with more than one Miimo will also gain fleet management functionality. Connectivity costs are included for the first six years of use, and users can connect from anywhere with an internet connection through the Mii-monitor app

Monitoring and control

The new Mii-monitor app for the HRM3000 Live is easy to use. The modern intuitive layout indicates operating status by background colour, and the previous and next operating days and times are clearly displayed. A calendar overview makes it easy to check the working schedule. Changes can be made remotely and cutting sessions can be added or cancelled. Settings including the cutting height can also be changed without having to be near the machine. Push-notifications for technical errors, security alerts and maintenance can all be selected and checked. The HRM3000 Live upgrade also allows voice control through Amazon Alexa.

Honda's new version of HRM3000

Honda’s new version of HRM3000

Honda dealers can use the Live connectivity to provide efficient support – from checking and recommending settings to fault diagnosis, potentially saving a customer visit.

My Miimo fleet management

For customers with more than one Miimo HRM3000 Live, the My Miimo dashboard provides convenient monitoring of all the machines simultaneously on one screen. This is especially useful for those using Honda’s unique Multi Miimo system which allows two or more Miimo’s to work together in one continuous area.

GPS tracking

The Live upgrade also adds GPS location information. The mower’s current position can be viewed on the Mii-monitor app, and owners can also create a geo-fenced operating area for increased theft protection. If the HRM3000 Live leaves the location, then the owner receives an immediate warning through a push-notification.

Like the popular HRM3000, the new HRM3000 Live can maintain grass areas up to 4,000m2. Standard features include flexible docking which allows the base to be installed in preferred locations, as well as electric cutting height adjustment between 20–60mm with an optional automatic mode. Bluetooth connection to a smartphone app provides convenient set-up and monitoring, while any HRM3000K1 machine can also be upgraded to include the additional features and benefits of HRM3000 Live models including control through the new Mii-monitor app.

Advantages for all users

Remote monitoring through HRM3000 Live provides reassurance that the mower is in its intended location and performing correctly without needing to travel to the machine, making it a great option for all types of users. With additional options including heavy duty rear wheels and Multi Miimo, it also creates an ideal package for professional use.

Sales advice and service support are available through Honda’s authorised dealer network.

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Garden of the Year award

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Garden of the Year award: The Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award 2022 kicks off this Friday (1 April 2022) with eight extraordinary gardens competing to be named the Garden of the Year in a public vote. The award, launching in 1984, and run in conjunction with Christie’s auction house, has gone from strength to strength since then with over ten thousand votes cast in the 2021 competition.

Shortlisted entries are chosen from among the hundreds of gardens, parks, and grounds that offer free entry to members of Historic Houses, the association that represents and supports the UK’s independent historic homes, castles, and gardens. Details of this year’s eight finalist gardens are detailed below. Voting opens at 10am on Friday 1 April 2022, with the voting page located on the Historic Houses website.

Garden of the Year award

Garden of the Year award

Ben Cowell, Director General of Historic Houses:

“Once again, our Garden of the Year Award celebrates the very best gardens from across the UK – and now, beyond. That’s because for the first time our shortlist features a garden from the Channel Islands too. We are very excited to launch this public vote, at the start of what we hope will be a very successful year for open gardens. The award shines a welcome spotlight on our national passion for horticulture – so we encourage everyone to take a look at the shortlist and cast their vote.”

Ursula Cholmeley, Chair of the Historic Houses Gardens Committee:

“The Garden of the Year Award recognises the beauty and quality of independent historic gardens – often still those of family-owned homes. The contemporary spirit of our great country houses is reflected in gardens in which each generation of inhabitants makes their mark and leaves a legacy for the future. These evolving gardens are amongst the finest in the country and we hope that you will get great pleasure from visiting some of these gardens and voting for your favourite.”

Orlando Rock, Chairman, Christie’s UK:

“If a garden is a reflection of a person’s soul (as The Prince of Wales said) the shortlist for the Historic Houses Garden of the Year sponsored by Christie’s exemplifies some truly wonderful individuals. In addition to being horticultural wonders, the gardens selected from the rich variety across the UK and beyond reveal the changing fashions and tastes which have shaped our outside spaces and lives. I urge you, the public, to vote, and more importantly to get out there, visit and enjoy.”

About the eight competing gardens

The garden at Abbotsford, in Melrose, Roxburghshire, is distinct in character; taken together, the layout forms three outdoor ‘rooms’ designed to offer picturesque settings for the main house. The gardens we see today are still fundamentally Sir Walter Scott’s work, though with certain alterations carried out by his descendants to adapt the space for the changing needs of the family.

The gardens at Bressingham Hall, in Suffolk, range from the colourful island borders encircling the front of the house, laid out by founder Alan Bloom, to Foggy Bottom gardens developed by Alan’s son Adrian. Here you will find wide curving walks and great drifts or ‘rivers’ of perennials and grasses.

At Grimsthorpe Castle Gardens, in Lincolnshire, there is a long history of gardening, which continues to this day with fresh planting ideas that provide something to enjoy whenever you visit. Intricate parterres marked with box hedges lie close to the Castle, and a dramatic herbaceous border frames views across the lake.

Mount Ephraim Gardens, in Kent, are most well-known for their spectacular ten-acre Edwardian gardens featuring a topiary garden, rock and water garden, arboretum and rose garden. They also have a fabulous grass maze, planted with ornamental grasses and herbaceous perennials, and are home to an extensive collection of spring bulbs, trees and shrubs including Rhododendrons, many types of Camelias and Magnolias.

Parcevall Hall Gardens, in North Yorkshire, are a renowned historic plantsman’s garden laid out from 1927 onwards by the late Sir William Milner and set in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Comprising of 24 acres of formal and woodland gardens they rise up a hillside for 200 feet giving wonderful views in every direction.

At Pashley Manor Gardens, in East Sussex, you will discover eleven acres of beautiful borders and vistas – the culmination of a lifetime of passion for gardening and an admiration of the tradition of the English Country Garden. These award-winning gardens are family owned and maintained – visitors often express delight at the attention to detail displayed throughout and the intimate, peaceful atmosphere.

The Wild Subtropical Garden at Sausmarez Manor is an ancient woodland surrounding a couple of small lakes and is inter planted with exotic and subtropical plants, trees, ferns, and shrubs, which, because of Guernsey’s mild, equable climate can survive and flourish. Visitors can enjoy seeing around two hundred varieties of camellia, tree ferns from New Zealand, Australia, and Tasmania, and around forty different bamboos.

At Wentworth Woodhouse’s gardens, in South Yorkshire, you’ll discover a wildflower meadow, ancient trees, shaded woodland copses and 18th Century follies. Roam at your leisure or follow a trail which begins at the Stables and takes in the West Terrace, and don’t miss the sweeping views from the Ha-Ha and South Terrace.

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