Tag Archive for: Protection

Tree Hugger®: A Sustainable Solution for Tree Protection

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Tree Hugger®: A Sustainable Solution for Tree Protection: As we enter National Tree Week, there’s no better time to highlight the importance of sustainable tree care. Trees are vital to our environment, but their early years require protection from animals, harsh weather, and competing vegetation. While traditional plastic guards have long been the go-to solution, they come with significant environmental and logistical downsides.

Enter Tree Hugger®, exclusively available from Agrovista Amenity, the eco-friendly, biodegradable alternative that’s set to revolutionise how we safeguard young trees.

Tree Hugger®: A Sustainable Solution for Tree Protection

Tree Hugger®: A Sustainable Solution for Tree Protection

Why Not Plastic?

Plastic tree guards, typically made from non-biodegradable petrochemicals, pose numerous problems such as:

  • Environmental Impact: Traditional guards break down into microplastics, contributing to pollution and bioaccumulation in ecosystems.
  • Animal Safety: Broken plastic fragments can harm small animals.
  • Aesthetic Issues: As trees outgrow their shelters, abandoned plastic guards create unsightly litter.
  • Removal Burden: Retrieving plastic guards is costly and labour-intensive, with recycling options often limited and expensive.
  • Tree Health: Plastic guards can sometimes trap excessive heat and promote weed growth, both of which can hinder healthy tree development.

The True Cost of Plastic

Beyond environmental concerns, plastic guards come with hidden costs. Recycling programmes, while helpful, often have stringent requirements and fees. Labour and transportation costs for removal can range from £1 to £1.50 per guard—excluding VAT—and escalate further for guards located in challenging areas such as roadsides or railway embankments.

Tree Hugger®: The natural choice

Available exclusively through Agrovista Amenity, Tree Hugger® guards provide a much-needed solution. These innovative products are made from biodegradable materials, including loomstate organic cotton and pine rosin from FSC-certified Scandinavian forests. Designed to last a minimum of five years, they protect young trees without the need for collection or recycling.

Key Benefits of Tree Hugger® Products:

  • Plastic-e: Completely biodegradable, eliminating microplastic pollution.
  • Encourages Growth: The unique visible light spectrum within the guards promotes tree development.
  • Durable: A lifespan of at least five years ensures long-term protection.
  • Animal Protection: Guards are strong enough to resist prying animals, including voles.
  • Ease of Use: No removal or recycling logistics, saving time and costs.
  • Sustainable Design: Made from organic and recycled materials, meeting international sustainability standards (ISCC PLUS certification).

Product Range

Tree Guards: Available in various sizes (0.6m–1.8m heights and 70–110mm diameters), these guards protect trees during their critical establishment period.

Vole Guards: With diameters of 45–50mm, these guards shield young trees from vole damage by forming a barrier at the soil level.

Shrub Shelters: Designed for shrubs and trees with larger diameters, these shelters improve survival rates and are secured with stakes.

Hedge Wraps: Quick-to-install wraps that protect hedges, vines, and trees during early growth, supported by bamboo canes.

A Greener Future with Tree Hugger®

For every 8,000 trees planted with Tree Hugger® guards, approximately 700kg of plastic is avoided—equivalent to saving 35,000 single-use 330ml plastic bottles. By choosing biodegradable solutions, farmers, landowners, and local authorities can significantly reduce their environmental footprint while ensuring robust tree protection.

By offering Tree Hugger® guards, Agrovista Amenity reinforces its dedication to reducing environmental impact while delivering practical, high-performance products.

This National Tree Week, make the sustainable choice. With Agrovista Amenity and Tree Hugger®, you’re not just protecting trees—you’re protecting the planet.

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

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Revolutionising turf protection with Maxtima®

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Revolutionising turf protection with Maxtima®: Global pioneers in the world of turf care research and development, BASF is the expert brand in product innovation and turf management solutions, and its latest fungicide is a must-have in all greenkeepers tool kit.

Following the anticipated launch at BTME 2024, BASF’s new cutting-edge demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicide, Maxtima® is already making its mark in the world of turf care. The innovative product is a cost-effective solution against the toughest of diseases such as dollar spot and microdochium that can be applied throughout the year for long-term protection. Here, we look at the regulations that contributed to its development, how the product was created, and, specifically, its active substance, Mefentrifluconazole.

Revolutionising turf protection with Maxtima®

Revolutionising turf protection with Maxtima®

Matthew Martin, Strategic Key Account Manager at BASF said: “The need for fast-acting and long-term turf disease management has been key in the development of Maxtima®, and the revolutionary DMI fungicide has delivered just that! Its efficacy on tough and recurring pathogens means that long-term protection and prevention is achievable for all green keepers. What’s more is Maxtima® boasts a low application rate, minimising chemical usage on greens, and saving turf professionals time, labour, and money.”

The unique active substance of Maxtima®, Mefentrifluconazole, is absorbed rapidly into the leaf, where it is protected from degradation from rain and UV. It then settles as a pool, which provides slow release of the active for long term protection – up to 28 days.  Unlike older DMIs in the market, Maxtima® fungicide is an isopropanol-azoles, a unique chemistry that ensures excellent binding capacity and adaptability through its molecule flexibility. This offers control even on plant pathogen strains that are insensitive to DMIs – something many other DMIs cannot offer or compete with.

They say necessity is the mother of innovation and you could argue it’s never been more necessary to bring new fungicide chemistry to growers. But perhaps the true innovation behind Mefentrifluconazole, the first new azole to reach the UK market for 15 years, has been the approach BASF has taken in the face of the tough EU regulatory regime.

On the development of, and need for, a unique DMI, Rob Gladwin, head of technical management for UK said: “The quest for new chemistry in turf disease control started many years ago. The efficacy of current chemistry was shifting and there was great uncertainty over its future with more stringent EU regulations being enforced. For azoles, like Mefentrifluconazole, there is the backdrop of concerns over endocrine disruption, as the target enzymes in fungal pathogens are closely related to those found in mammals. We addressed this head on. Our research teams looked not just to target enzymes in the fungal pathogens, but also specifically for chemistry that does not harm wildlife”.

The discovery came with the development by the biochemistry team of new enzyme assays.

“The assays test the efficacy with which the DMI chemistry, which includes azoles, inhibit the fungal target site, CYP51 –– blocking this enzyme prevents a fungal cell from producing ergosterol causing it to die.

“We also found that Mefentrifluconazole is flexible –– it not only fits perfectly into the CYP51 binding site, but it also has the flexibility to adapt if this site changes, unlike other azoles. We think that helps with the control of septoria isolates that have evolved mutations. DMIs have a mode of action which is inherently interesting. But the approach we took has taken our work in a new direction and has become the standard way we start the process of new active ingredient development.

“The team screened hundreds of compounds and received very quick feedback, not just on how effective they were, but also how safe. Together, the team discovered a unique property of an entirely new family of triazoles –– this molecule has a ‘hook’. It’s an isopropanol linker. This moiety is a small part of the larger molecule and it’s unique for a DMI. We synthesised it and noticed very strong fungicidal effects.

“We do everything we can to put forward the right molecules into our development pipeline, so we don’t have problems later, but we see so many that fail. It makes it even more rewarding when you find one that succeeds, like we have seen with the active in Maxtima®.

Maxtima® was launched in collaboration with Agrovista Amenity, the industry’s leading supplier of professional products and specialist advice. Turf professionals will be able to speak to their local Agrovista representative to order the product and for more detail on its usage and compatibility.

For more information, please visit https://www.agricentre.basf.co.uk/en/Products/Product-Search/Fungicides/Maxtima.html#section-details

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New regulations for plant protection product suppliers

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New regulations for plant protection product suppliers: The Official Controls (Plant Protection Products) Regulations 2020 (the 2020 Regulations) have recently been issued with a policy statement.

These apply to the whole of Great Britain and supplement existing regulations that govern the sale and use of plant protection products or PPPs. The Northern Ireland Executive has put in place its own legislation implementing and enforcing official controls for PPPs.

New regulations for plant protection product suppliers

New regulations for plant protection product suppliers

The regulations are in place to:

  • allow regulatory authorities to enforce legal requirements that apply to the placing on the market and use of PPPs throughout the supply chain
  • explain the action enforcement authorities can take where non-compliance is identified or suspected

The 2020 Regulations also apply to components of PPPs such as active substances, synergists, co-formulants and to adjuvants.

Under the Regulations, businesses concerned with the placing on the market of PPPs authorised for professional use, and/or the placing on the market of components of PPPs are required to notify competent authorities of their details and business activities by 22 September 2021. This includes businesses that produce, manufacture, process, import, distribute and sell those products. Information will be requested about company details and contact information, product types, storage and capacity.

Similarly, all users of PPPs in a professional capacity will need to follow a similar process by 22 June 2022. Further information is to be provided for these businesses over the coming months. The HSE will operate controls and enforce the 2020 Regulations in Great Britain, taking a proactive, risk-based approach. It is also expected that Local Authorities will have a role. Enforcement of existing PPP regulations will remain unchanged.

Defra, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are finalising the details of the control programme. These will be provided in communications over the coming months and the Amenity Forum has already engaged with all involved in such discussions. As further information comes available, the Forum will issue further releases. These control measures come at a time of significant policy change when the UK Government is already preparing its revised and refreshed National Action Plan in relation to weed, pest and disease management.

A key element of the Amenity Forum conference will be a focus on policy change and how it impacts on the sector. The conference is to be held at the Pirelli Stadium in Burton on Trent on October 21st. Registration for the conference and associated exhibition is now open and further information can be obtained by contacting Kate at admin@amenityforum.net . Given support from the sector, this allows ticket price to be maintained at 2019 levels of £95 with early bird discounts for registrations prior to September 1st.

Professor John Moverley, Chairman of the Amenity Forum, said ‘’this issued policy statement is highly significant for our sector. However all operating to professional standards has nothing to fear and such controls chime well with the introduction of the UK Amenity Standard, providing full assurance to all involved that organisations are meeting requirements seeking to create safe and sustainable amenity and sports spaces fit for purpose.

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Drainage Key For Golf Protection

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Drainage Key For Golf Protection: With the UK’s increasingly erratic weather having a detrimental impact on golf, Aggregates Industries’ has stated that effective drainage is now more important than ever before when it comes to the successful design and management of golf courses.

According to a recent report, golf is facing an increase in unplayable holes, winter course closures and disruption to professional tournaments due to increased rainfall, all of which are a growing concern for the sport.

Drainage Key For Golf Protection

Extreme weather including wetter winters are also causing waterlogging and disease to grass and greens, the report added. As a result, the Greater Glasgow area alone has seen a 20% reduction in playing time on golf courses over the last decade.

Steve Curley, general manager for Lytag at Aggregate Industries, a leading supplier of building materials, comments: “The UK has seen six of the seven wettest years on record since 2000 and record-breaking wet winters in 2014 and 2015 – which is clearly having a damaging impact on golf and a growing concern for golf courses up and down the country.

“For golf clubs looking to – literally – weather the storm, having an effective drainage system in place is now considered paramount for protecting a green and ensuring playability in all weather conditions.”

According to Aggregate Industries, core to a superior drainage system is the use of secondary aggregates such as Sportag®, an innovative lightweight solution made from Lytag featuring a unique rounded shape and material properties that makes it ideal for land drainage applications.

Reducing the risk of flooding, Sportag is able to transmit water up to 10 times faster than gravel, which means it is particularly suited to golf courses, including slit trenches, gravel banding and Shelton Systems as well as fairways where firm dry surfaces are critical. What’s more, the incredibly sustainable solution’s 40% void ratio helps aid longevity, improving aeration and allowing roots to penetrate further.

Proving its credentials during recent works at Woburn Golf Club, Sportag was installed within trenches 25mm wide, spaced 2m apart and at a depth of 300mm. A quick and simple installation process, the course was immediately available for use, damage to the course was minimal, therefore keeping disruption to a minimum.

Steve Curley adds: “Due to its super absorbent properties, Sportag has been proven to aid with effective drainage and high moisture retention as demonstrated in the recent case of Woburn Golf Club. For golf clubs looking to provide first class playing surfaces year round, this revolutionary solutions will not disappoint.”

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