Tag Archive for: supports

Kubota supports continued growth for Southern Ground Care

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Kubota supports continued growth for Southern Ground Care: As demand grows, and implements get bigger and better, as does the fleet of Kubota tractors for sports turf maintenance company Southern Ground Care.

Established in 2012 by Keith Petley, later joined by his son Lewis Petley, the reliability and ease of operation has seen the company loyal to the brand from the outset – now with an L2-602, two L2-622’s and most recently an M6-131 joining the pack to provide the power to operations at schools, football and cricket clubs along the south coast.

Kubota supports continued growth for Southern Ground Care

Kubota supports continued growth for Southern Ground Care

After working in transport for nearly 40 years, Keith made the break to something new in 2012, helping with the maintenance at a local cricket club in a volunteer capacity. It was here he purchased his first compact tractor from Kubota’s B-Series and the rest, as they say, was history! “Over the years we’ve had a B3030, then progressed to two STV40’s and an ST401 with a cab. Kubota has been the backbone for everything we offer and as we’ve branched into new sports and new operations, our Kubota fleet has grown accordingly” Keith says.

“We currently have three tractors from Kubota’s L-Series which give us the ideal power to weight ratio for the vast majority of implements we use from general maintenance to end-of-season renovations on football and cricket pitches. These have given us outstanding reliability and are intuitive and comfortable to operate.”

The latest delivery made by local dealer Rod Gaskin in July 2024, was a M6-131 equipped with turf tyres. Lewis explains, “We found ourselves hiring an M5 when we needed to utilise the heavier kit which was inconvenient compared to having our own higher HP tractor that we could use as and when required. The turf tyres on our M6 spread the weight really well, avoiding unnecessary compaction and we find the tread is not too aggressive even when working on slightly softer ground.”

With workload ramping up, the team have also invested in GPS systems for all four tractors to optimise efficiency. “We thought it would be good for spraying but we’ve reaped the benefits of it with nearly everything we do! It speeds up the operations, improves the accuracy for operations like seeding, aeration and even mowing, and means that less experienced members of the team can go into every task with confidence.”

“We’re also assisted by the fantastic team at Rod Gaskin who are quick to offer us help and support, together with taking care of our routine servicing to avoid any costly downtime. The back-up with Kubota is second to none” he adds.

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Premier Wicket supports premier cricket

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Premier Wicket supports premier cricket: While the cricket season at Hertfordshire’s Aldenham School may not be long in duration it is intense, with students and community clubs using the facilities for training and fixtures between Easter and early July.

The concentrated play demands fast recovery and outstanding wear tolerance from the surfaces and specifically the grass seed – both of which Grounds and Gardens Supervisor Danny Wells says they achieve with Johnsons J Premier Wicket.

Premier Wicket supports premier cricket

Premier Wicket supports premier cricket

Danny is no stranger to the Johnsons Sports Seed range, having used a variety of formulations in his previous role at Arsenal Football Club. On joining Aldenham in the spring of 2024, he was delighted to discover Johnsons had once again been chosen for renovation of the school’s four cricket squares. “It’s always been a brand I’ve known you can rely on to perform so it was reassuring to come to this new role with one less thing to be worried about!”

“The work from the last renovation had clearly paid dividends as, come the end of the season in July, we were still seeing good coverage on the squares and we knew this was only going to improve further with another overseed of J Premier Wicket. We applied the seed at a rate of 60g/m2 and, assisted by mother nature, we were doing the first cut in just two and a half weeks!”

J Premier Wicket blends four top-rated perennial ryegrass cultivars to deliver class-leading wear tolerance, rapid establishment and visual merit. High disease resistance can also be expected as standard – something which Danny compliments. “Despite disease pressure being high this year with the combination of warm and overcast weather, we’ve seen very little in the way of any disease.”

He continues, “Another thing that’s important for us as a multi-sport site is that, when cricket season is over, the squares ideally need to look after themselves. While our focus with the maintenance may be elsewhere, we know come the spring that with this grass seed they’ll be ready for play.”

Danny was also fortunate enough to pay a recent visit to one of DLF’s breeding centres in Holland, as part of a trip organised by distributors Agrovista. “While I know the grass seed, it was fantastic to get an insight into the science and years of research and development that go into ensuring the right varieties make it into the bag. This has only reaffirmed my confidence in the Johnsons range, knowing that as a company they’re working hard to find seed solutions that will help us turf managers overcome the challenges of the future.”

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Agrovista Amenity Supports Eco-Friendly Roadside Restoration

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Agrovista Amenity Supports Eco-Friendly Roadside Restoration: Agrovista Amenity has played a pivotal role in one of the UK’s most sustainable highway planting projects, by supplying biodegradable alternatives for a large-scale landscaping effort led by Leicester City Council. The project, commissioned by Leicestershire County Council Highways, involved planting over 8,000 trees along a newly widened road, with a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability and plastic-free solutions.

The project, led by Tony Mason, Trees and Woodlands Officer at Leicester City Council, ran from January to March this year. It focused on restoring and stabilising the roadside with native plants while reducing the environmental impact of such large-scale work.

Sustainable Solutions with Agrovista Amenity’s Expertise

Agrovista Amenity provided a comprehensive package of sustainable products, including Tree Hugger guards, jute mulch mats, bamboo pegs, and locally sourced whips. These materials were carefully chosen to align with the project’s environmental goals, particularly the commitment to avoiding plastic.

Ed Smith, Landscape and IVM Manager at Agrovista Amenity, explained the motivation behind using biodegradable alternatives: “When Tony approached me about the project and we discussed using biodegradable options, it just made sense. It’s counterproductive to make a positive environmental impact by planting trees and shrubs, only to spoil it with plastic shelters that eventually become unsightly and a disposal burden. Tree Hugger guards, for instance, offer a long-term, cost-effective solution without the need for removal, and they blend seamlessly into the natural landscape.”

The Tree Hugger guards, made from organic cotton substrate coated in FSC-certified pine rosin, are fully biodegradable and designed to last a minimum of five years. Manufactured in Accrington by BMP Tree Hugger, a company with over a century of experience in cotton processing, these guards not only protect young trees from browsing animals but also promote healthy growth. “The cotton material is breathable, reducing the ‘greenhouse effect’ associated with plastic, which can stress the plant,” Ed added.

In addition to the guards, biodegradable jute mulch mats were used for weed suppression, anchored with bamboo pegs. This approach eliminated the need for chemical weed control, further reducing the environmental impact. “We talk about environmental sustainability, and this project is a perfect example of what that looks like in practice. By preventing future problems, such as the costly removal of plastic guards, we’re ensuring that this is likely the most sustainable highway planting job conducted in the UK,” Ed said.

A Significant Environmental Impact

The decision to go plastic-free has had a considerable positive effect on the environment. By opting for biodegradable materials, the project has prevented approximately 700kg of plastic from being introduced into the environment—the equivalent of around 35,000 plastic bottles (330ml). This achievement underlines the importance of sustainable practices in large-scale landscaping projects.

Challenges and Successes

Tony Mason, reflecting on the project, said, “The roadwork alterations were completed two years ago, but the landscape scheme wasn’t finished. When we took on the project, we needed a reliable supplier who could provide everything we required, and Agrovista Amenity was able to meet all our needs. Their products arrived on time and in excellent condition, allowing us to start the planting work in mid-January. Given the scale of the project, working on 60-70 mph roads was a new challenge for our team, but with the right training, we completed the work by early March, and the client was really pleased with the results.”

Despite the scale and complexity of the project, the Leicester City Council team managed to keep the environmental impact low by minimising travel and conducting all planting work manually using wheelbarrows.

This project sets a benchmark for sustainable practices in highway landscaping, demonstrating that with the right approach and materials, significant environmental benefits can be achieved without compromising on quality or effectiveness.

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

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Green-tech Supports Tilhill Forestry

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Green-tech Supports Tilhill Forestry: Green-tech, the UK’s leading landscape supplier to the landscaping and forestry sectors, has recently collaborated with Tilhill Forestry to enhance the natural beauty of a Scottish site.

Olivia Fitzgerald, Forest Manager at Tilhill, shared her insights on the project, emphasising the importance of Green-tech’s products in achieving their goals. “Following harvesting, the landowner was keen to create a new area of riparian broadleaves at the entrance to their site. The tree shelters and guards from Green-tech will be essential for protecting the young trees from the local deer population. In years to come, visitors to this forest will be welcomed with cherry blossom in the spring and brilliant yellow leaves of autumnal aspen. Thank you to Green-tech for providing such a responsive and reliable service.”.

Green-tech Supports Tilhill Forestry

Green-tech Supports Tilhill Forestry

The project saw Green-tech supplying 1300 Tubex tree shelters, each 1.2 meters high, and 1.35-meter softwood stakes. These shelters and stakes are vital for ensuring the young trees can grow safely, free from damage caused by wildlife. The use of these products reflects Green-tech’s commitment to supporting sustainable forestry practices and enhancing the UK’s natural landscapes.

A riparian zone is the area of land along a river or burn.  Planting native broadleaf trees along these zones will help with climate change and biodiversity, creating robust wildlife corridors.

Tom Sollitt, Key Account Manager at Green-tech, added. “We were very pleased to be involved with this project. Olivia and the Tilhill team in South Scotland are always a pleasure to work with; their knowledge, dedication, and professionalism helped to make this a success for the client. We’re proud to have contributed to the enhancement of the natural landscape in a beautiful part of the country.”

Tilhill Forestry is renowned for being the UK’s leading sustainable forest and timber harvesting company. They offer a comprehensive range of services to woodland owners, public bodies, farmers, landowners, and private companies across the UK. Their expertise and commitment to sustainability make them an ideal partner for projects that endeavour to preserve and enhance natural habitats.

The successful relationship between Tilhill Forestry and Green-tech showcases the importance of reliable partnerships and high-quality products in sustainable forestry. As the newly planted riparian broadleaves mature, they provide both a stunning visual experience for visitors and contribute to the ecological health of the area.

Green-tech’s involvement in this project highlights its position as a major supplier to the UK’s landscaping and forestry sectors, dedicated to supporting initiatives that promote environmental sustainability and natural beauty.

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DLF supports top-level sport at Cranleigh School

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DLF supports top-level sport at Cranleigh School: While the challenges of managing the multi-sport surfaces at Cranleigh School may be akin to those faced by most in the education sector, here they’re on a mammoth scale!

With 248 acres of sports pitches, grounds and gardens to keep in quality condition year-round, the priorities when it comes to seed selection is reliability, versatility and tolerance for wear and tear. This, according to Deputy Grounds Manager Andy Burke, they’re achieving with mixtures from across the DLF and Johnsons Sports Seed ranges.

DLF supports top-level sport at Cranleigh School

DLF supports top-level sport at Cranleigh School

Cranleigh is one of Surrey’s leading co-educational independent schools and notes a number of leading public figures and some seriously sporty alumni over its 150+ year history. Its high sporting calibre is perhaps unsurprising given the scope of the surfaces available to pupils which includes 21 winter sports pitches, 8 cricket pitches and a 9-hole golf course. When Andy joined the school 9 and a half years ago, mixtures from the Masterline and Johnsons Sports Seed ranges were already used site-wide, and he goes on to explain why this has continued.

“In our environment, and with the sheer scale of facilities, our scheduling of operations and renovations has to be pretty strict which ultimately means we are often putting seed in the ground when conditions aren’t perhaps optimal. For example, in the Spring of 2022 we carried out extensive overseeding on our cricket outfields and winter sports pitches using Johnsons J4Turf and PM81 from the Masterline seed range. Then, despite seeing very little rain until the start of September, our grounds team were incredibly impressed that after a dormant period we saw strong growth and incredible drought recovery at the first drop of moisture. The result was quality playing surfaces that looked good and performed evenly.”

Johnsons J 4Turf and J Premier Wicket are used on the cricket outfields and squares, which host upwards of 250 games a year. “The turnaround and level of wear is intensive, but we’ve found this combination of mixtures withstands the high level of play, recovering quickly and coping with climatic conditions – be those dry like last summer or wetter as we’ve had throughout 2024.”

The cricket outfields are cut down to 16mm until the last game of the season, then will be left to grow to 32mm where they will then play a critical part in a packed rugby programme. “This is where the seed really gets tested as the demands of rugby will push wear tolerance to the limit! We’ve always found the strong bladed and deep rooting DLF and Johnsons mixtures can handle that, before being taken down to 26mm for football.”

Masterline PM81 is ideally suited to the renovation and repair of winter sports pitches, multi-purpose fields and racecourses. The 100% perennial ryegrass mix delivers outstanding versatility, sward density and year-round colour. Beside this, J 4turf and J Premier Wicket, Andy and the team are also using Johnsons J Rye Green on their golf greens and Masterline PM51 Greenscape as a general, high-performance mixture for landscaping and hard-wearing lawns.

He concludes, “It’s ultimately these mixtures that are the foundation to everything we oversee in our department and that year after year give us the quality and, importantly, the versatility to sustain such a high level of sport.”

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