Tag Archive for: Successful

GroundsFest Academy Launches with Successful First Event

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GroundsFest Academy Launches with Successful First Event: The first ever GroundsFest Academy event has been hailed a huge success, as delegates from across the industry gathered for a free day of hands-on education at DLF UK’s state-of-the-art facility. With a packed schedule of insightful sessions and interactive learning, the event marked the beginning of a new era in accessible, high-quality training for the grounds care and landscaping sectors.

The day kicked off with a welcome reception and a full introduction to DLF and the hosts for the day, followed by a series of educational activities including seed and grass plant identification, germination tests, and a pre-germination session. After a tour of the DLF site, the afternoon was dedicated to sowing, aftercare and maintenance techniques, rounded off with a recap and open Q&A.

GroundsFest Academy Launches with Successful First Event

GroundsFest Academy Launches with Successful First Event

Each session was designed to give attendees practical skills and a deeper understanding of seed science – knowledge they could take away and apply immediately in their work. From seasoned professionals to volunteers and educators, the event offered something for everyone.

David Newell, Deputy Head Groundsman at Reading FC, praised the event’s unique approach:

“You never know what to expect from a new event but it has been really educational. It’s different to anything you get anywhere else – learning all about the different varieties of seed, what they do and why they do it, has been fantastic. The wildflower seeding talk was very educational too. Our football club wants to start doing that, so hopefully I can take that back and give something back to Reading FC.”

For Jo Shepherd, Horticulture Apprenticeship Skills Coach at Windsor College, the day was a valuable upskilling opportunity:

“I teach horticulture apprentices – many of them love turf – and my background is more in garden design and maintenance, so I wanted to upskill myself to better support them.

Identifying grasses was a great experience; it’s much harder than plant ID. Seeing the site and understanding the production side was really helpful too.”

The event also attracted professionals from outside of traditional turf roles. Rich Young, Product Director at Mowd, highlighted the networking and CPD value:

“DLF are one of our seed suppliers, so seeing their operation and the science behind it was eye-opening. It’s reassuring to know our customers are getting the best. But for me, the value came from networking and learning – that’s going to benefit me and the business throughout the year.”

Mike Green, a volunteer groundsman at Winterborne Cricket Club, represented the grassroots level of the industry and found the day equally rewarding:

“Free educational days like this are a massive help for volunteers like me. I picked up loads of useful info, spoke to people working in sports turf, and just found the day incredibly beneficial. It’s been a really successful day for me.”

The GroundsFest Academy is the latest initiative from the team behind GroundsFest, made possible through reinvestment of profits from the show directly back into the industry.

Bradley Tennant, Director of Education for GroundsFest Academy, said:

“There’s a big skills gap in the industry, and the GroundsFest Academy has been created to help address that. Whether someone is new to the sector or has decades of experience, these events are designed to support ongoing development. Seeing everyone smiling, learning and sharing knowledge today has been incredible – and it’s just the beginning.”

Matt Gresty, MM and Designer Sales and Brand Manager at DLF UK, added:

“We felt honoured to be asked to host the first event. It’s great to show what we do, but even better to contribute to education and understanding in the industry. It is good to give something back to the industry. From wildflower seeds to sports turf, we want to help people improve their work through better knowledge.”

This is just the first of many free educational events from the GroundsFest Academy, with future events already planned.

Keep an eye out for announcements on upcoming GroundsFest Academy events – and take your place at the forefront of industry education.

Registration to GroundsFest 2025 is now open. Please visit www.groundsfest.com

You can also follow GroundsFest on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @GroundsFest for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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Etesia UK Hosts Successful Dealer Day

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Etesia UK Hosts Successful Dealer Day: Etesia UK recently welcomed dealers from across the UK and Ireland to an insightful and engaging dealer day at Primrose Hill Farm in Oxfordshire. Attendees gathered to explore Etesia’s latest product innovations, gain industry insights, and connect with key figures in the sector.

A major highlight of the day was the official UK launch of the Pellenc Essential range, which generated significant interest among dealers looking to expand their battery-powered offerings. In addition, four new models were unveiled in the ET Lander range, further strengthening Etesia’s commitment to delivering high-performance, eco-friendly solutions.

Etesia UK Hosts Successful Dealer Day

Etesia UK Hosts Successful Dealer Day

Attendees were also treated to an exclusive preview of new battery and flail products, which are set to be officially launched at GroundsFest this September. These innovations signal Etesia’s continued investment in battery technology, reflecting the growing shift within the industry towards sustainable equipment.

The dealer day featured an impressive line-up of speakers, offering valuable insights across a range of topics:

  • Thomas Meyher, President of Etesia SAS – Highlighted the company’s global vision and ongoing commitment to innovation.
  • Leo Copping, Kramp – Discussed Etesia’s partnership with Kramp and the importance of efficient parts stocking.
  • Matt Fasham, AEA – Delivered an informative session on the safe handling and storage of batteries.
  • Nick Darking, BAGMA – Outlined the benefits of BAGMA membership and its relevance to dealers.
  • Andy Stafferton – Spoke about working capital finance and stocking plans, helping dealers navigate financial considerations.

Attendees were split into three groups and rotated between three stations, allowing them to experience a variety of interactive sessions. This approach ensured that dealers had ample opportunity to engage with the new products and deepen their understanding of Etesia’s latest offerings.

The event left a lasting impression on attendees, with many praising the opportunity to see new equipment up close, as well as the balance between practical demonstrations and informative presentations.

Nathan Lewis, Lewis Gardening Services, appreciated the opportunity to learn about new battery technology:

“It has been a great day; good to come and see kit that I know and have used, but it has also been nice to see the new and upcoming kit from Etesia. The speakers have enlightened me on some battery equipment that I wasn’t aware of regarding safety, so it has been a good and insightful event.”

Etesia UK Hosts Successful Dealer Day

Etesia UK Hosts Successful Dealer Day

Scott Reynolds, RT Machinery, emphasised the value of staying informed about evolving technologies:

“The new products that we’ve seen today have been an eye-opener. A huge amount of our customers are talking about battery products every single day and are introducing them into their businesses. It has been a really good event – a great balance between indoor presentations and hands-on demonstrations.”

With the growing emphasis on battery technology and the unveiling of exciting new products, Etesia UK continues to strengthen its position as a leader in providing sustainable, high-performance equipment for the landscaping and groundscare sectors.

A video overview of the day can be found by clicking here.

For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit www.etesia.co.uk.

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Etesia UK on Twitter @EtesiaUK and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/EtesiaUK. You can also view the latest Etesia videos by visiting www.youtube.com/EtesiaUK

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PSD Groundscare report successful Groundsfest

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PSD Groundscare report successful Groundsfest: PSD Groundscare are celebrating after a highly successful Groundsfest, which was held at Stoneleigh Park in September.

This year’s Groundsfest came on the back of an extremely exciting 12 months for PSD, which has seen the successful launch of new products, including a range of Rotary Collection Mowers from the German Manufacturer Sabo. Visitors also had the opportunity to view innovative, quality products from Eliet, Canycom, Grin, Ecotech & Koeppl.

PSD Groundscare report successful Groundsfest

PSD Groundscare report successful Groundsfest

PSD Groundscare are the exclusive UK distributor of niche specialist machinery, with an extensive portfolio from global wide manufacturers. Their products offer maintenance solutions for Green Waste Shredding, Steep Slopes, High Grass, Fine Turf, Landscaping, Cleaning and General Maintenance.

At the exhibition SABO re-entered the UK market, introduced by PSD, after their search for the most suitable UK Partner. SABO are one of the leading brands for high-quality battery and petrol walk behind collection mowers (“WBMs”) for both the Residential & Commercial markets.

PSD Sales Director Stuart Mercer said:

“This is our second year at Groundsfest and we are huge advocates of the show. Being an outside based industry, it makes sense for us to attend an outdoor exhibition, allowing us the opportunity to demonstrate our products – something that we heavily rely on to provide a hands-on experience for potential, and existing customers.”

Overall, attendance was considerably up at this year’s event, a reported 30% on last year, with noticeably more suppliers in attendance.

Stuart continued:

“Showcasing new products and meeting customers is extremely important to PSD and Groundsfest was the perfect platform to do this. We had lots of requests for demonstrations and had significant dealer interest.”

“In addition, the organisers had clearly listened to exhibitor feedback from last year’s event, resulting in a larger show with an improved layout for a better flow around the stands. The event has clearly gained momentum and we are already, eagerly, looking ahead to next year”.

Across the board, both visitors and exhibitors concluded that the event was a great opportunity to build contacts, carry out demonstrations and strengthen relationships.

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Successful dealer days at Carden Park

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Successful dealer days at Carden Park: Managers from some of the largest groundscare contractors in the UK and over 50 representatives from Ventrac’s UK dealer network attended demonstration days at the Carden Park Resort in Cheshire recently.

Hosted by the UK importer, Price Turfcare, the event was split into two days; the first day exclusively for contractors and the following day for the dealer staff.

Successful dealer days at Carden Park

Successful dealer days at Carden Park

This was the largest gathering of Ventrac equipment ever assembled in the UK and provided the Price Turfcare team with the opportunity to demonstrate to both groups that Ventrac is so much more than just a mower.

Both days followed a similar format with a mid-morning ‘meet & greet’ over coffee followed by a presentation on the Price Turfcare company and the Ventrac product offering from Managing Director Rupert Price. Following a light lunch, the afternoon sessions were dedicated to demonstrations of the numerous attachments in the Ventrac range and the opportunity for delegates to operate some of the equipment.

Interspersed between the demonstrations, there was the opportunity for delegates to use some of the extensive sporting facilities at Carden Park, which included axe throwing and archery. A convivial dinner completed each day.

Commenting at the conclusion of the second day, Rupert Price said,

“I was absolutely delighted with the success of the meeting. The first day was the ideal opportunity to demonstrate to the contractors present, some of them existing customers, that Ventrac is much more than a mower. It’s a multi-tool with a wide range of attachments that can add definitely add value to their business. We had eight tractor units and over 20 attachments and it was the biggest gathering of equipment we’ve ever had at one location.

“The second day was the first time, since we launched the business back in 2017, that we were able get our UK dealers together. We have had unprecedented success with this product, in fact there are now well over 400 machines operating in the UK today. Many of the dealer staff present have sold multiple machines and I wanted to remind some of the others that this a unique piece of equipment and once demonstrated, there’s a high percentage of a sale. It was also an opportunity for some fun, with axe throwing and archery proving particularly popular. Thankfully we had no casualties!

“Carden Park was the ideal venue and Peter Pattenden, the Golf Courses and Estate Manager, and his team were very accommodating in allowing us to use their facilities. They could not have been more helpful and they allowed us to use the trencher, stump grinder and power rake; pieces of equipment that are quite aggressive, enabling some of the delegates to see them in action for the first time.

“All in all, a very successful couple of days.”

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Successful Synthetics Seminar at Loughborough University

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Successful Synthetics Seminar at Loughborough University: Loughborough University recently played host to the Synthetic Surfaces Seminar, organised by Syn-Pro by SISIS, part of the Howardson Group.

The event brought together over 60 delegates eager to enhance their understanding of synthetic sports surfaces, covering a comprehensive agenda from environmental impacts to maintenance practices.

Successful Synthetics Seminar at Loughborough University

Successful Synthetics Seminar at Loughborough University

The day kicked off with registration and networking, followed by a warm welcome from Jason Briggs of the Howardson Group. Jason set the stage for a day packed with insightful presentations and practical demonstrations.

The first speaker, Professor David James, Group CEO of Labosport and Technical Chair of SAPCA, highlighted the Benefits of Synthetic Turf Sports Surfaces, emphasising their durability, reduced maintenance costs, and all-weather playability.

Following this, Alastair Cox from the European Synthetic Turf Council presented on Managing the Environmental Impact of Synthetic Pitches, including EU regulations, field design, and maintenance strategies. This session was particularly well-received, with attendees appreciating the focus on sustainability and compliance.

Hayley Wilson from SIS Grass then discussed Considerations When Installing a Synthetic Surface, providing valuable tips on choosing the right materials and ensuring long-term performance.

Derek Field of Musco Lighting wrapped up the morning sessions with a talk on Changing Over to LED Lighting, highlighting the cost benefits and eco-friendly aspects of modern lighting solutions for sports facilities.

After a complimentary BBQ lunch and networking session with industry trade representatives, the delegates split into outdoor groups for hands-on demonstrations. Topics covered included Line Marking with Fleet Line Markers, Goal Post Safety & Maintenance by Harrod Sports, and the Performance Differences in Maintaining 3G Pitches by SISIS and Labosport.

The seminar continued with a presentation from Alastair Cox on The Future of Hockey Pitches, before a discussion on the future of 3G and Hybrid pitches, where the experts shared their insights on upcoming trends and innovations in synthetic surfaces.

Professor Paul Fleming from Loughborough University concluded the formal presentations with a session on Good Maintenance Practices During Various Weather Conditions, offering practical advice on keeping synthetic surfaces in top condition all year-round.

The day ended with a lively Q&A session, allowing delegates to pose their questions directly to the panel of experts. Reflecting on the event, Jason Briggs said, “We’ve had over 60 delegates today that have all been very keen on learning more about synthetic surfaces.

These days are all about people wanting information – such as the latest legislation for synthetic surfaces and the maintenance of machinery and surfaces. It’s all about learning as much as you can and being one step ahead in the industry, and establishing where synthetic is going.”

Delegates expressed their appreciation for the seminar. Bradley Tennant from International Greenkeepers for Hire said, “These events are really important to help give back to the industry. There is a lot of misinformation out there, especially around synthetic pitches and maintenance, so it is nice to see experts delivering the correct knowledge to the end user.”

Sean Clixby, Chair of Trustees for Broughton Community & Sports Association, added, “We are in the final stages of building our own 3G facility, so the seminar was perfect timing. I thought it would be a good opportunity to come and get the advice and talk to people who are experts in the field, take the advice back and put it into practice. I would definitely recommend this seminar to other people.”

A video round-up of the day can be viewed by visiting https://youtu.be/DTtPSQdg74k

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Syn-Pro by SISIS on 01332 824 777 or visit www.synprobysisis.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Syn-Pro on Twitter or Instagram @synprobysisis and like the company’s Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/SynPro-by-SISIS.

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