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Etesia Hydro 100 Proves the Perfect Fit

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Etesia Hydro 100 Proves the Perfect Fit: With 12 acres of immaculately kept gardens, Grade I listed grounds, and renowned memorial spaces, Golders Green Crematorium in North London is one of the most historic and revered sites of its kind in the world. Keeping the grounds to a consistently high standard falls to a small but dedicated team—and their latest secret is the Etesia Hydro 100 ride-on mower.

For Head Gardener Ian Harman, investing in the right machinery was a top priority from the start.

Etesia Hydro 100 Proves the Perfect Fit

Etesia Hydro 100 Proves the Perfect Fit

“We’re a small team of just four, and we’re constantly busy with everything from maintaining rose beds to managing formal lawns and the large scatter lawn,” said Ian. “Machinery plays a key role in helping us work efficiently, especially with the tight spaces and tree cover we deal with here.”

Ian had previously heard positive things about Etesia mowers and decided to turn to the brand after becoming frustrated following issues using a different manufacturer. “The last mower we had just kept clogging,” he explained. “It slowed us down massively. When I came into the role, I went on a demo day and was really impressed with the Hydro 100—so we decided to go with Etesia.”

Since making the switch, the results speak for themselves.

“We’ve put about 60 hours on the Hydro 100 and had absolutely no clogging. It leaves a clean cut, picks up leaves and grass efficiently—even in wet conditions—and saves us lots of time. It also mulches the leaves as it goes, which helps with our composting.”

For a site like Golders Green, where space is at a premium and storage is limited, the compact design of the Hydro 100 has also been a huge bonus.

“We couldn’t store a large tractor-style machine, and we don’t need one,” Ian added. “This mower is the perfect size. You get the benefits of a large collection box with the manoeuvrability needed for tighter areas. It’s like having a garden vacuum—clean, simple, and effective.”

Ease of maintenance and usability were also deciding factors.

“It’s a very straightforward machine,” Ian said. “Fuel efficient, easy to service, and intuitive to operate. You’ve got a hydrostatic drive, simple controls, and changing the height of cut is quick—ideal if you hit a patch that’s slightly overgrown.”

Adam Nicholls, a gardener at the crematorium for over 11 years, agrees. “We’ve got a lot of trees here, and the Etesia is the best machine we’ve found for picking up leaves. The open chute design just swallows them—wet or dry—and shoots them straight into the back. No blockages, no messing about.”

Adam also praised its versatility across the crematorium’s varied terrain. “It handles tight corners just as well as big open areas. Even in damp conditions, the finish is clean and professional. It’s the easiest mower I’ve ever used.”

The Hydro 100 is powered by an 18HP Kawasaki engine and features a 500-litre grass collector with hydraulic tipping, which can be emptied from the seat. With a modern hydrostatic transmission and differential lock, it’s designed for durability, comfort, and productivity—especially in demanding, high-collection environments.

For Ian and Adam, the support from Etesia dealer RT Machinery was another big plus. “I’ve known Scott Reynolds from RT Machinery for years,” said Ian. “They really helped us choose the right model for our needs—no upselling, just honest advice. Their service is second to none.”

Compact, reliable, and efficient, the Etesia Hydro 100 has proved the ideal solution for Golders Green Crematorium’s unique needs. As Ian sums it up: “If you’ve got restricted space, need a clean finish, and want a machine you can rely on—this is the mower for you.”

To watch a video of the customer in action click 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 X @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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Fun in the sun events raise vital funds for Perennial

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Fun in the sun events raise vital funds for Perennial: June was a great month for fundraising in support of Perennial, with nearly £10,000 raised by footballers and golfers showing off their skills at two inaugural events.

Eight teams took on the ‘Kick for a Cause’ five-a-side football tournament at Fulham FC Training Ground and 60 golfers teed off at Pyrford Lakes Golf Club, all battling all battling to be the winners in aid of the charity which supports everyone in horticulture.

Fun in the sun events raise vital funds for Perennial

Fun in the sun events raise vital funds for Perennial

Kick for a Cause

The grounds maintenance teams from Fulham and Reading FCs were joined by teams from supporting event partners Wildwood Machinery and ICL, along with Perennial Partner teams from Kingston Landscape Group, Wood Environmental Services, Neville Stein Horticultural Business Consultancy and Grange Travel Coach Hire, each entering teams of up to 12 players.

There were some close matches throughout the day, with each team giving it their all in the sweltering heat. The action-packed semi-finals saw Mow Money, Mow Problems (Fulham FC Grounds Maintenance Team) take on ICL and Royally Turf’d taking on KLG FC (Kingston Landscape Group).

The eventual winners were KLG FC with just a 1-0 win over host team.

Having shown off their skills on the pitch, the footballers enjoyed pizza and refreshments to celebrate their efforts, whilst continuing to raise further funds for Perennial through raffle ticket sales.

Following the event Stuart Mackley and Stanley Hayden from the Grounds Team at Fulham FC Training Ground said: “This was a great way to raise the profile of Perennial within the club and amongst the players and also raise funds for our industry charity. Whilst it was hot weather to play in, the teams took on the challenge with great enthusiasm and played their best games. We look forward to hosting the event next year.”

Thanks go to grounds care experts Wildwood Machinery and ICL who we welcomed onboard as supporting partners for this event.

Wildwood Machinery – Hampshire’s leading groundcare business – said “We were delighted to support Perennial for this inaugural event. Our team enjoyed the tournament and supporting people in the horticultural and groundcare profession.”

ICL also said “We were pleased to support Perennial and their Kick for a Cause initiative. It’s been a fantastic opportunity to promote wellbeing through sport and make a positive impact in the process.”

Charity Golf Day

Just two days after the footbal tournament the Perennial charity golf day, in partnership with Renson, took place at the stunning Pyrford Lakes.

Players were treated to a bacon butty and coffee before teeing off for 18 fabulous holes, followed by a BBQ on the clubhouse patio.

Fittingly the team from principal sponsors Renson UK took 1st prize in the team competition, with Renson’s Tina Mott winning the individual Stableford.

Perennial Partnership Manager, Phil Swainston commented, “I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone for taking part and supporting the inaugural Perennial Golf Day.  Everyone’s enthusiasm and generosity made the day a fantastic success and resulted in us raising over £3,500!”

Through ticket sales, sponsorship and fundraising on both days, these fun and informal events provided networking opportunities and most importantly, raised vital funds to support Perennial so we can be there when needed.

Chief Executive of Perennial, Jamie Gault commented “At Perennial, our mission is to ‘Build Better Futures’ for horticulturalists and their families. We cannot continue without funding to support our vital work, so fundraising events like these, that help raise the profile of the support we offer, have an essential role to play. Thank you to those who instigated these events and supported Perennial through taking part, sponsorship and promotion. Don’t forget the charity is here for you, whether you need some guidance, feel a bit stuck or are facing one of life’s big challenges, we’re here for you.”

Visit perennial.org.uk/ways-we-help/ or call our helpline 0800 093 8543

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Inside the life of Wimbledon groundsman

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Inside the life of Wimbledon groundsman: Neil Stubley is the man in charge of getting the All England Lawn Tennis Club’s courts ready for action.

When you are responsible for keeping the Wimbledon courts so lush, green, firm and ready for play there is no rest at all for the man in charge. Neil, 56, is one Wimbledon’s hard-working unsung heroes. His official title is head of courts and horticulture.

Inside the life of Wimbledon groundsman

Inside the life of Wimbledon groundsman

Read the full story here

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The new Ariens Summit Pro series

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The new Ariens Summit Pro series: In a seasonal business such as lawn care, a service provider must be able to rely on its machinery. Breakdowns and poor performance cost money, time and nerves.

Professional service providers around the world rely on the dependability of the Ariens Summit Pro series. Operating times of 500 to 1,000 hours per season are not uncommon. Ariens is now bringing the proven fleet star to Europe.

The new Ariens Summit Pro series

The new Ariens Summit Pro series

Professional users around the world place the same demands on their mowers. They must be robust, deliver a consistently high-quality cutting pattern and have a long service life and low downtimes – ideally complemented by long service intervals and an extended manufacturer’s warranty. The new Ariens Summit Pro series was developed precisely to meet these requirements for tough continuous use in a professional environment.  Maximum durability, a perfect cut and high ride comfort culminate in the new zero-turn mowers.

The new series comprises the Ariens Summit Pro 300 (26 hp) in three cutting widths from
122 cm to 152 centimetres and the Ariens Summit Pro 500 (27 hp) in two cutting widths (152 centimetres or 183 centimetres). With a total of five variants, there is a suitable model for every service provider. Even the compact model, the Summit Pro 348, achieves an area output of up to 17,800 m² per hour at a speed of 14.5 km/h. The largest model, the Ariens Summit Pro 572 with a cutting width of 183 centimetres, is made for extreme area performance and the largest areas. With a speed of 16 km/h, it achieves a maximum area output of 29,500 m² per hour.

The design: Robust and stable

The new Ariens Envy Pro mowing deck ensures optimum grass distribution. It is made from
4.6 mm thick sheet steel, it is extremely robust and can withstand years of intensive use. Its great depth makes it perfect for installing the optional mulching kit. The fully welded, one-piece tubular frame is also extremely solid. The large square tubes can withstand shocks and torsion for years.

The new high-performance blade spindles of the Ariens Summit Pro models are made of cold-forged aluminium. This makes them particularly resistant to vibration and dissipates any heat generated. They are equipped with two double ball bearings. The entire unit is sealed to prevent corrosion caused by the ingress of moisture and dirt and to ensure a long service life and low downtimes.

Made for everyday service provider life

The new large zero-turn mowers from Ariens are fitted with premium Kawaski engines, which are made for the demanding conditions of everyday service work. The Kawaski FX engines with 852 cm³ displacement, V-twin, double air filter, high-performance oil cooler, electronic ignition and internally ventilated twin carburettor deliver full power at all times.

Constantly refilling the tank costs time and nerves. That’s why all models in the Ariens Summit Pro series have an extra-large 48 litre tank for a long working day.

The high-quality hydrostats from Parker are known for their smooth response when changing from forwards to reverse. The Summit Pro 300 models are fitted with professional Parker HTJ hydrostats, which are designed for a maximum speed of
17 km/h and operate with a 12 cm³ high-performance pump. The filters are easily accessible from the rear for simple maintenance. Thanks to the fully integrated design with few components, the risk of oil loss is significantly reduced. The Summit Pro 500 models utilise Parker HTG hydrostats, which enable a maximum speed of up to 24 km/h with a 16 cm³ high-performance pump. The particularly efficient gerotor motors in the hydrostats save energy, allowing up to ten per cent more motor power to reach the blades.

The wheels: puncture-proof at the front and powerful at the rear

Large drive wheels are essential for riding comfort and enable high riding speeds. With a diameter of 26 inches (Summit Pro 500) or 24 inches (Summit Pro 300), they can be ridden with low air pressure. This ensures a high level of suspension comfort. Unevenness is levelled out and it is easier to ride over kerbs.

The 15-inch, 360-degree swivelling front wheels are semi-pneumatic. This means that they are completely filled with a rubber foam. This prevents flat tyres and pressure loss.

The air-sprung Ariens Air-Ride seat (Summit Pro 500) can be optimally adjusted to the rider’s wishes at the touch of a switch. Special vibration isolators decouple the entire seat from vertical shocks. The extra high seat backrest, the adjustable armrests, the extra thick padding and the integrated lumbar support offer maximum seating comfort.

Thanks to helpful and useful original accessories, which are optionally available, the models in the new Ariens Summit Pro series can be perfectly customised to suit personal requirements.

Plannable costs

The 5-year manufacturer’s warranty is particularly noteworthy. It makes operating costs easier to plan and supports smooth processes. The Ariens Summit Pro 300 comes with a manufacturer’s warranty of 5 years or 1,250 hours, while the Ariens Summit Pro 500
a warranty of 5 years or 1,500 hours. In the first two years, the guarantee applies without an hour limit. The official guarantee conditions of AriensCo GmbH must be observed.

The Ariens Summit Pro zero-turn mowers will be available from the 2026 mowing season.

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Introducing the New Lightweight Imants RECYCLINGDRESSER®

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Introducing the New Lightweight Imants RECYCLINGDRESSER®: Introducing the latest innovative solution for sports turf maintenance from Campey Turf Care.

Designed with sustainability at the forefront, the new lightweight Imants RECYCLINGDRESSER®(RCD) 1.3 is ideal for use with smaller tractors and engineered to reduce labour and material costs by recycling and redistributing substrate material across the playing surface. This would consist of either the existing soil or sand in the case of sand-based golf courses or where the natural composition of the soil substrate is sand based.

Introducing the New Lightweight Imants RECYCLINGDRESSER®

Introducing the New Lightweight Imants RECYCLINGDRESSER®

This new model, weighing only (approx.) 470 kg (1036lbs), incorporates a specially designed rear flap for improved soil management and enhanced operational efficiency, ensuring minimal disturbance to the surface. It is also suitable for all areas where the native sand/soil is good.

The flap drags in material more efficiently and breaks it up faster, speeding up drying as it goes along. This sustainable maintenance practice aerates the underlying soil both vertically and horizontally, removing soil/sand from the root zone and redistributing it. This process eliminates layering and compaction, increasing biological activity, and extending the efficacy of existing fertilisers in the soil structure.

Another new feature are the new smart folding legs which double as protective side bars, ensuring transport and storage are simple and secure.

Working width is1300 mm (51ins) with a working depth of 175 mm (6.9ins) respectively.

Other specifications include the distance between digging blades of 260 mm (10.2ins),

The new RCD 1.3 only requires a tractor with 30hp and 540 PTO and has an operating speed of 3km/h (1.9 mph).

Finally, the machine width (parked): 1575 mm (62″).

The inclusion of the rear flap on this latest model of Imants RECYCLINGDRESSER® ensures better handling of displaced soil material, reducing waste and maintaining the integrity of the turf. Perfect for environmentally conscious operations. This machine is the ideal choice for sports field managers seeking to balance high performance with ecological responsibility.

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