Tag Archive for: Otterbine

Problem pool saved by Otterbine

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Problem pool saved by Otterbine: Otterbine’s Fractional aerating fountain has transformed what was once a problem pool at Derwen Mill Holiday Park in Powys, Wales.

Owner Richard Jones explains how the five-star family-owned park prides itself on creating a peaceful, tranquil escape with its privately-owned holiday homes set on spacious pitches, wrapped around lakes and pools, or overlooking large greens spaces.

Problem pool saved by Otterbine

Problem pool saved by Otterbine

It therefore stands to reason that its pool experiencing problems urgently needed a reliable and effective water solution.

Richard says: “We’ve got four thriving pools but the fifth really struggles due to its location at the lowest point on the park. It suffers with Canadian pond weed and floating algae and it’s difficult to maintain. We often joke about how it just doesn’t like being a pond!”

The park has had an Otterbine fountain in the past and it met expectations, therefore, there was “no reason not to get another” Richard says.

Richard researched the best options and found the Fractional met his criteria. This was an opinion shared by Matt Gilks from MG Turf who Richard contacted to supply the product.

The Fractional is an all-in-one fountain and circulator meaning it introduces oxygen into the water column for the most natural solution to water quality management, effectively controlling algae and aquatic weeds while creating impressive displays.

With decade of experience in all areas of irrigation installation, construction, supply and support, MG Turf was well placed to support the project from all angles. Richard says: “It’s been a great experience working with Matt Gilks from MG Turf. He didn’t just help with recommending and supplying the Otterbine aerator, he helped us with a working management plan too, so I feel confident we have a long-lasting, sustainable solution in place.”

Matt comments: “Richard was keen to see a unit installed in the lake to make it a feature as much as giving it working purpose. Otterbine was a great solution for this. It was a pleasure to deal with Richard – we communicated about getting on site and arranged to install the unit over a bank holiday.”

Now, what was a struggling pool earns its place at the exclusive park: “The results speak for themselves,” confirms Richard.

To learn more about how the Otterbine range of aerators and fountains can tackle water quality issues, contact Reesink on 01480 226800 or visit reesink-hydroscapes.co.uk.

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RHS Wisley calls on Otterbine

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RHS Wisley calls on Otterbine: RHS Garden Wisley has chosen Otterbine to provide its flagship garden with sustainable irrigation.

Otterbine’s 25HP Polaris Giant Fountain was installed at RHS Garden Wisley in Woking as part of the Royal Horticultural Society’s project to create a new rainwater capture lake, providing great quality irrigation to one of the largest plant collections in the world.

RHS Wisley calls on Otterbine

RHS Wisley calls on Otterbine

In today’s climate, water can be a scarcity and harvesting rainwater supports the conservation of this vital resource. The water has to be good enough quality to use though which is where Otterbine’s 25HP Giant Polaris fountain steps in.

Matthew Pottage, curator of RHS Garden Wisley, explains: “The Giant fountain is installed in our new lake which is connected to our garden irrigation system. The lake collects winter rainwater for summer irrigation and the Otterbine aerating fountain makes the water good enough to use.”

Otterbine’s fountains have the highest oxygen transfer rates in the industry and the Polaris is the brand’s largest floating fountain. The geyser-like spray of the Polaris throws water droplets into the air where they attach to oxygen molecules that can then be absorbed into the lakewater.

Matthew, who oversaw the aesthetic of the new landscape and horticulture around the lake, explains there were additional reasons for choosing the Otterbine Giant Fountain: “The Wisley is one of the UK’s most visited and best-loved gardens, attracting around a million visitors each year and we wanted to use the opportunity to create a new atmosphere and beautiful place for visitors to enjoy and relax at Wisley.

“The lake is designed in an ornamental fashion and the fountain’s visual beauty and the fact that it muffles noise disruption from a nearby road helps bring a sense of theatre and peace to the space,” says Matthew.

Another benefit of the Otterbine Polaris Giant fountain is its unique launching system that eliminates the need for cranes during installation in most applications, despite its size. Miles Water Engineering was responsible for the build of the lake and the subsequent fitting of the fountain. “The whole thing was easy and efficient. We are very grateful for that,” Matthew comments.

Installing the new rainwater capture lake is not the only change to the grounds that RHS Wisley is undertaking. Matthew says: “We are planning a massive new landscape of grasses and perennials with Piet Oudolf, a world-renowned planting designer.”

To find out more about how the Otterbine range of aerators and fountains can help your lakes and ponds, contact Reesink on 01480 226800, email info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk or visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

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Wyboston Lakes trusts Otterbine

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Wyboston Lakes trusts Otterbine: Hotel, spa and golf resort Wyboston Lakes in Cambridgeshire has once again trusted Otterbine with its prized possession: its lakes.

After twenty years with the same fountain, the venue decided to not only replace it with an updated model but also acquire a second to further enhance the beauty of two of its prominent lakes.

Wyboston Lakes trusts Otterbine

Wyboston Lakes trusts Otterbine

Wyboston Lakes sits at the edge of the historic market town of St Neots in 380 acres of rural countryside and as well as providing leisure facilities, it has two residential business event venues and is home to all kinds of fauna and flora, which the resort goes to great lengths to protect.

Otterbine has played a big part in helping the extensive venue achieve the look it needs for its lakes, as well as providing an environmentally-friendly water aeration solution for almost two decades, says Louisa Watson, who has been at the helm of the resort’s marketing for nine years.

“Wyboston Lakes is one of the largest independent business and leisure venues in Northern Europe and the lakes are a big part of our offering – they’re even in the name!,” says Louisa.

“Otterbine has certainly helped us achieve the aesthetics we want to present to all our guests while being environmentally-friendly meaning we don’t need to use chemicals to keep the water clean.”

Otterbine, exclusively distributed by Reesink Turfcare in the UK, replaced the resort’s old unit with a 15HP Polaris giant fountain, which combines fucntionality with a striking geyser-type water pattern. With the option of adding a High Voltage or LED Fountain Glo Light system, it creates beautiful displays at night too.

Louisa says: “We have a Lakeview Suite, which comprises three event rooms overlooking a lake, and having the Polaris fountain positioned there creates an important aspect for business delegates. It has been a talking point with all our guests as it really adds to the overall ambiance.”

In addition, Wyboston Lakes purchased a 5HP Gemini fountain for the first time to install as a centre piece in the East Lake opposite the Gravel Pit Brasserie. Part of the Otterbine’s Concept 3 range, it offers incredible aeration strength and an attractive display.

With high oxygen transfer rates and pumping ability of up to 242m3/hr, customers can be guaranteed with clear and healthy water when the Concept 3 range is in charge, as Louisa confirms: “The water is crystal clear and the impressive sprays compliment the lakes’ natural beauty so we’ve got the full package now.”

Both the Gemini and the Polaris are energy-efficient, manufactured from corrosion-resistant, durable high grade stainless steel and provide a natural control for algae, aquatic weeds and odours without the use of chemicals.

This was an important consideration, as together with WildLife Trust, Wyboston Lakes maintains a nature reserve that can be enjoyed by all and has an active policy of planting trees to support this ecosystem.

Louisa concludes: “Otterbine complements our ethos and has done for many years so it was only natural to choose them again. We’re very pleased with the results.”

To find out more about the Otterbine range of aerators and fountains, contact Reesink on 01480 226800, email info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk or visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Otterbine problem solving at Hurlingham

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Otterbine problem solving at Hurlingham: As a repeat Otterbine customer The Hurlingham Club in Fulham, London, has turned once again to the pond and lake aeration specialist for three new machines to tackle water quality problems in its two-acre lake.

There were three specific issues to solve: algae, water smells and noise disturbance as Tom Clarke, deputy grounds manager at the club for 11 years who manages a team of 28, explains: “The water quality was gradually deteriorating because the existing aerating units were getting old – some were upwards of 15 years old. We had algae beginning to form, there was sitting water near one of the bridges due to a lack of water circulation causing a smell and one of the units which was near the sunbathing area was beginning to create a noise disturbance.”

Otterbine problem solving at Hurlingham

Otterbine problem solving at Hurlingham

So, what was the solution to these problems? That would be Otterbine, as Simon Powell from Otterbine’s UK distributor Reesink Turfcare explains: “This project was a very thorough installation with a wide range of Otterbine solutions. We specified the 3hp C2 Sub-Triton aspirator to deal with the bad smell at one of the bridges caused by the slit layer gassing off methane; the 5HP Sunburst aerating fountain to provide well-needed aeration to keep the algae at bay and to complete the line-up the Air Flow 3 underwater diffuser to provide a silent solution for keeping the water clean and clear near the sunbathing area. This provided a complete renovation of the water body.”

Solving these issues and improving the water quality of the lake has had a wider impact on the club’s grounds, as Tom explains: “We want to create the best quality water we can for the grounds and the lake is the source of our irrigation water. We’ve got over 286 sprinklers and approximately two kilometres of dripline going round, so the improvements made to the water quality doesn’t just benefit those in the immediate vicinity of the lake but the whole 42 acres of the estate.”

And Tom confirms it’s not just the club’s members who are pleased with the new Otterbine aerators: “We have a lot of ornamental ducks using the lake. There are natural ones that come in and we also add ducks you wouldn’t see anywhere else. We’ve got a couple of black swans and different fowl and they really appreciate a better environment.”

But it’s not just the problems that Otterbine has solved, the products selected have bought additional benefits too: “We now have a much-appreciated fountain feature provided by the Sunburst which has pleased the estate’s members and committee,” says Tom.

The club has been an Otterbine customer for the past 15 years, so when the time came to renovate the lake, Otterbine was the obvious choice, Tom explains: “Our irrigation guy Andre Holt suggested Otterbine and from there it was a fairly complex job made very easy by Reesink. The machines got delivered straight away and there was great communication. Simon provided everything we needed in terms of the actual weighted tubing, the electric cable and everything else. I told him what we had power wise onsite, and he worked out everything we’d need for a contractor to just come in and install it.”

Looking to the club’s future, Tom says: “we’re taking up a masterplan plan now. The club is putting a vote out to members to see how it can reinvest to make its services better. The grounds department is well supported by the Hurlingham club. The grounds are the icon of the club, so we do whatever we can to improve standards and keep things looking as good as they can. I’d like to add a second fountain in the lake, maybe even a third. It would look great and just set off the whole lake.”

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Slaley Hall turns to Otterbine

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Slaley Hall turns to Otterbine: Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort in the Northumberland countryside became a first-time Otterbine customer ready for the Matchroom Tour Championship last October, with one of the brand’s most popular products on full display.

The club invested in a 1HP Sunburst aerating fountain to fix the weed and algae problem, add a decorative display to the lake at the fifteenth hole and complement the beauty of the famous tree-lined fairways on the Hunting course, one of its two PGA-standard 18-hole courses.

Slaley Hall turns to Otterbine

Slaley Hall turns to Otterbine

With a brief to find a product to solve a problem and bring beauty to his waterscape, course manager Neil Smith didn’t hesitate to turn to distributor Reesink Turfcare: “I’d used Reesink in the past and get on well with Pete Newton from the water division, who recommended the product and helped a lot getting the fountain in time for the event and making sure everything was right.

“I knew about the brand and knew they were very good, reliable products,” he continues. “Slaley Hall already had a full fleet of Toro machines and Toro irrigation from Reesink so it seemed like the sensible choice to make, going back to them for this. I told Pete exactly what I was looking for and he recommended this model. It has served us very well.”

The Sunburst is one of Otterbine’s most sought-after fountains, not only for its classical spray pattern that suits most venues, but also for its impressive oxygen transfer rates and pumping power (up to 237 cubic metres per hour in as little as 75cm of water), which are some of the highest in the industry.

“The lake is definitely clear from weeds, which has helped with the visual aspect,” says Neil. “The shape of the fountain is exactly what we wanted and provides a very striking display for golfers, adding to the whole experience. We’ve had very nice comments from guests about the way it looks so it’s a great addition to the course.

“I’d done some research beforehand and it does everything it says on the tin, it’s a good line,” he claims. “The timing system, especially, is very useful – we don’t have it on 24/7, which saves on running costs and water and helps us stay sustainable. We haven’t had any issues with it, it’s all gone very smoothly. And I know from working with Reesink in the past that if needed their back-up is great and they respond quickly, so we’re never worried.”

Now that he has tried Otterbine and experienced the benefits, Neil already has plans for more additions to the club. But for now, he and the team will have their hands full preparing for the season and the 2022 PGA Professional Championship in June.

“I’m interested in adding more Otterbine products to the course in the future as I find it’s an important aspect to consider in the business,” Neil continues. “The pH levels of the water can change quickly so you need that maintenance and extra step to keep everything balanced. The fact that they’re aesthetically pleasing is a big bonus and helps maintain a professional, put-together image. We’ll be progressing that after the tournament.”

To find out more about the Otterbine range of aerators and fountains, contact Reesink on 01480 226800, email info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk or visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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