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Berner strengthens its position in the Nordic market

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Berner strengthens its position in the Nordic market: Berner Ltd and Indigrow Ltd have agreed that the business operations of Indigrow AB (Sweden) and Indigrow AS (Norway) will be transferred to the Berner Group as of 24 April 2025. This is a business transfer, and the legal entities Indigrow AB and Indigrow AS will remain unchanged.

Berner and Indigrow have had a long-standing collaboration, especially in the distribution of Indigrow products in Finland. In recent years, the partnership has extended to the Baltic countries. With this transfer, Berner will take over the distribution of Indigrow products also in Sweden and Norway, further strengthening its position in the Nordic golf course management market.

Berner strengthens its position in the Nordic market

Berner strengthens its position in the Nordic market

As part of the transition, Berner will establish a new Nordic business unit, Berner Turf, focusing on turf and green area products and services. The unit will be led by Saila Innanen, who brings extensive experience and expertise in the care of sports turf.

“This business transfer is a natural continuation of our long-term cooperation with Indigrow. It enables us to serve our Nordic customers even better and strengthens our position as a specialist in sports turf,” says Kalle Erkkola, Business Unit Director at Berner Ltd.

“We are pleased to deepen our partnership with Berner. Their strong local presence and expertise support the availability of our products and enhance customer service across the Nordic region,” says Carl Crome, CEO of Indigrow Ltd.

The business transfer will not affect existing customer relationships or order and delivery processes. All orders and deliveries will continue as normal during the transition period.

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Introducing the EcoTech Lynx, Panther and Hornet

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Introducing the EcoTech Lynx, Panther and Hornet: PSD Groundscare is proud to announce the UK launch of three, high-performance, tracked remote-controlled machines from EcoTech: the Lynx & Panther Rotary Mowers, and the Hornet Flail Mower.

Designed to tackle the most challenging terrains with power, precision, and safety, these advanced mowers are redefining steep slope management for professionals across forestry, municipal maintenance, and environmental conservation.

Introducing the EcoTech Lynx, Panther and Hornet

Introducing the EcoTech Lynx, Panther and Hornet

Unrivalled & Versatile Performance

Built with cutting-edge technology and a commitment to sustainability, the EcoTech Lynx, Panther, and Hornet offer unmatched manoeuvrability, power, and control. Whether clearing dense undergrowth, high grass or maintaining steep inclines, these machines provide a fast and cost-effective solution.

Key Features & Benefits:

✅ Remote-Control Operation – Enhances operator safety by allowing users to operate from a distance, reducing exposure to hazards such as steep slopes, rocky terrain, dense vegetation or exposure to Hand Arm or Whole Body Vibration.

✅ Steep Slope Maintenance – Each machine is designed for working on slopes up to 55 degrees.

✅ High-Torque Tracked System – Ensures maximum traction and stability, making the Lynx, Panther, and Hornet ideal for steep slopes and undulating areas.

✅ No Track Loss – Features a patented system preventing the loss of tracks.

✅ High Output – The Lynx & Panther cut in reverse direction as well as forwards, making mowing incredibly quick & efficient.

✅ Superb Versatility – The Lynx & Panther, with different cutting widths and the Hornet with adjustable tracks, offer suitable cutting widths for various applications enhancing their versatility.

✅ Powerful Cutting Performance – Engineered with robust cutting decks and high-performance blades to efficiently clear thick brush, self-seeded trees, and overgrown areas.

✅ Eco-Friendly Efficiency – Equipped with low-emission engines and fuel-efficient technology to reduce its environmental impact whilst delivering maximum power.

✅ Specialized Designs for Every Need:

  • Lynx: 85cm cutting width – Ideal for compact, confined areas requiring precision cutting and transporting in vehicles.
  • Panther: 100cm cutting width – Built for larger area, heavy-duty operations.
  • Hornet: 100cm wide front flail mower, with a hydraulic opening front flap and adjustable tracks, designed for tackling extreme slopes with ease.

The EcoTech Hornet: Innovation at Its Finest

The EcoTech Hornet, a state-of-the-art remote-controlled tracked flail mower built for the toughest mowing conditions, featuring a patented hydraulic track adjustment, ensures maximum grip and stability on steep and uneven terrain. Powered by a Honda iGXV 800 twin-cylinder electronic fuel-injected Stage V engine, it delivers 26 HP of reliable performance, making it the ultimate solution for professionals who demand durability and power.

These remote-controlled machines are now available in the UK exclusively through PSD Groundscare and their dealer network, a trusted distributor of premium professional landscaping and groundscare equipment.

Stuart Mercer, PSD Sales Director, comments:
“EcoTech has developed these cutting-edge machines with the needs of contractors, forestry professionals, municipalities, and landowners in mind. By combining power, safety, and sustainability, the Lynx, Panther, and Hornet are transforming the way we manage overgrown landscapes. Only by seeing these machines in action can you fully appreciate the results they offer”.

We’re proud to offer a growing network of dealers across the UK, making it even easier to access our range of high-performance equipment. Should you require more information, wish to make an enquiry, or would like to request a demonstration, please visit www.psdgroundscare.co.uk or contact PSD Groundscare at:

✉ Email: enquiries@psdgroundscare.com
☎ Tel: 01282 856819

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The only autonomous robot mowers Quiet Mark certified

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The only autonomous robot mowers Quiet Mark certified: STIGA, a leader in intelligent garden care solutions, proudly announces that its range of autonomous robot mowers has been officially certified by Quiet Mark, making STIGA the only autonomous robotic mower brand to receive this prestigious recognition.

Quiet Mark, the global certification programme associated with the UK Noise Abatement Society charitable foundation (est. 1959), rigorously tests and identifies the quietest high-performance appliances. Its certification assures consumers of products that contribute to a more peaceful and healthy environment through reduced noise pollution.

The only autonomous robot mowers Quiet Mark certified

The only autonomous robot mowers Quiet Mark certified

Over 84% of British people surveyed in 2023 said it was important to have quiet time to recharge themselves, something you definitely get with a STIGA autonomous robot mower!

STIGA’s autonomous robot mowers combine cutting-edge innovation with eco-conscious engineering, delivering high performance with minimal noise. As the only robot mowers on the market to receive Quiet Mark certification, they represent the gold standard in silent lawn care — ideal for preserving the tranquillity of gardens and residential areas.

“At STIGA, we are committed to designing smart solutions that care not just for lawns, but for the comfort and well-being of our customers,” says Amanda Kincaid, Marketing Manager at STIGA UK. “Being recognised by Quiet Mark underlines our dedication to creating products that support quieter, healthier outdoor living.”

Why Quiet Mark Matters:

  • Scientific Testing:   Products undergo rigorous acoustic testing to ensure both performance and quiet operation.
  • Consumer Confidence: Only the top 10–20% of low-noise, high-performing appliances receive certification.
  • Health & Well-being:   Lower noise levels contribute to improved mental health and a more peaceful environment.

With the Quiet Mark certification, STIGA robot mowers stand out as the ideal choice for those seeking smart, silent, and sustainable lawn care solutions.

Oooh, so quiet — experience the difference with STIGA.

All Quiet Mark-certified autonomous robot mowers can be found on the STIGA website www.stiga.com/uk/

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The Dennis ES-34R is a Hit at Haileybury

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The Dennis ES-34R is a Hit at Haileybury: Andy Richards, Grounds Manager at Haileybury School, has praised the Dennis ES-34R battery-powered rotary mower for its sustainability, quiet operation, and exceptional performance.

At the prestigious independent school in Hertfordshire, which boasts over 500 acres and 180 acres which are sports facilities, Andy has been using the ES-34R across a variety of playing surfaces and is delighted with its versatility and environmental benefits.

The Dennis ES-34R is a Hit at Haileybury

The Dennis ES-34R is a Hit at Haileybury

“In my sixth year as Grounds Manager here, I oversee a large site with a team of 11,” Andy explained. “Our school is renowned not just for its academic excellence but also for its impressive co-curricular programme, particularly sports. From rugby and football to hockey, ensuring our pitches meet high standards is crucial. The Dennis ES-34R has played an important role in that.”

Sustainability is a key focus at Haileybury, and Andy was drawn to the ES-34R’s eco-friendly credentials. As a battery-powered mower, the Dennis ES-34R significantly reduces emissions and noise pollution – two factors that are especially important in a school environment.

“Quietness is massive for us,” said Andy. “Exams seem to be constant, so the ability to work without disturbing students is invaluable. Sustainability is also hugely important to the school, and the ES-34R ticks both boxes. On top of that, it’s incredibly user-friendly.”

The ES-34R is built for precision and ease of use. Its 34-inch cutting width, contra-rotating twin blades, and low chute design ensure exceptional collection performance in both wet and dry conditions. The mower’s advanced LCD control panel provides operators with real-time feedback, allowing them to adjust settings such as ground speed and blade speed to suit different conditions.

Andy and his team have found the mower versatile enough to use year-round on various surfaces.

“We use the ES-34R on football and rugby pitches during the winter and then switch to cricket squares in the summer. It’s great for cleaning up after matches or tidying wickets—it’s incredibly versatile,” Andy explained.

With ultra-low noise levels, minimal vibration, and rapid charging, the ES-34R offers significant advantages over traditional petrol mowers. For Andy, the cost savings and low maintenance requirements were standout benefits.

“The ES-34R is much more user-friendly than petrol mowers, and the savings on fuel alone make it worth it. Plus, it’s low-maintenance and reliable, which is so important when you’re managing as many pitches as we are.”

Andy has relied on Dennis mowers throughout his career but the ES-34R is the first battery-powered Dennis machine he has used.

“The electric range is a real step forward. The team at Dennis even adjusted it to cut down to 8mm for me so I could use it to cut the cricket squares. I’m quite fussy about my equipment but I’ve used Dennis my whole career. I believe in the brand; I believe in the mowers, and I think they are the best on the market. I can’t ever see myself changing to anything else.”

For Andy, the ES-34R represents the future of sustainable grounds management without compromising performance.

As Haileybury continues to set the bar for excellence both on and off the field, the Dennis ES-34R is helping Andy and his team maintain pitches that match the school’s reputation – all while championing sustainability.

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on X and Instagram @DennisMowers and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK.You can also view the latest Dennis videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers

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New home builders overlooking the value of quality lawns

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New home builders overlooking the value of quality lawns: For many years, home builders haven’t appreciated the value of good quality lawns, not only for the benefits that a lawn brings to the environment & personal well-being, but also the impact that a nice lawn has on the kerb appeal and saleability of a new home.

Most new homes are sold with a newly turfed lawn, but as the demand for affordable housing increases, and development land is at an all-time premium, lawns are shrinking! Analysis in 2023 estimated the average English garden space to be 255m2. New build homes are required to provide a minimum of 30m2 of amenity space, and thankfully, most garden areas are bigger, but the Turfgrass Growers Association estimates that the average size of a new-build lawn is just 55m2.

New home builders overlooking the value of quality lawns

New home builders overlooking the value of quality lawns

In addition to the shrinking size of new lawns, homebuilders are squeezing budgets so much, that landscapers are forced to do minimal preparation on, what are often small, enclosed garden plots, with poor drainage and reduced light from high fences. The low landscaping budget forces landscapers to use the cheapest turf available, often a “contractors’ grade”, rather than a good quality premium turf, from a reputable, accredited supplier.

Using a lower grade of turf, combined with poor ground conditions, and minimal preparation is inevitably going to result in a substandard lawn, and this common practice is putting people off natural grass, and all its benefits!

Regretfully, it is common for Landscape Architects to unwittingly, specify turf containing plastic net and for some landscapers to consciously chose it as a way of cheapening cost. The Turf Grass
Growers Association which represents most of the turf grown in the UK, has actively moved to ban plastic net by October 2026, and in the meantime, any turf containing plastic net will not meet the TGA specification. The industry should remain vigilant against the prospect of gardens being contaminated with unnecessary plastic. Natural turf has good ‘green’ credentials that should be promoted when considering the use of alternatives such as hard landscaping and in particular artificial grass.

Artificial turf is quickly going out of favour as the public become more environmentally aware. However, there are lots of other lawn alternatives being used because homeowners are frustrated with poor quality lawns. If a lawn is created with good quality turf, grown to the TGA standards, laid on a well-prepared bed of free draining topsoil, there are huge benefits to a natural lawn, including carbon sequestration, oxygen production, flood reduction and air cooling as well as the positive impacts on mental health and well-being for homeowners and their pets.

Increasing the lawn budget by £100-£150 for the typical 55m2 lawn could ensure that premium turf can be used, and that landscapers have the budget to complete the ground preparation to a good standard. The average price of a new home in the UK is reportedly £422,000, and even if that figure is skewered by some high-end homes, and premium locations, there should be enough in a developer’s margin to cover the additional cost. Even if the developer won’t pay, at least offer the new homeowner the option of a premium quality job at a fair additional cost.

Developers should also be ensuring groundworkers save the very best soil on site, to be reintroduced into gardens, and that soil is not contaminated with subsoil when excavated. There should be no excuse for bricks, tiles and other building materials to contaminate gardens. What’s the point in thorough site contamination investigations if tradesman contaminate the soil during the building process.

Of course, there will be many new home builders, landscape architects, groundworkers and tradesman that take all the right steps to ensure the best possible lawns, but it’s about time that the value of a good quality lawn was appreciated throughout the industry.

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