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PRO 34R perfect for the Pilgrims

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PRO 34R perfect for the Pilgrims: The head groundsman at Boston United FC, claims that the Dennis PRO 34R provides a quality of cut that he has never seen before in a rotary pedestrian mower.

For 12 years Jim Portas worked as a volunteer groundsman for his beloved Boston United FC, aka the Pilgrims. In 2020, he was offered the position of head groundsman and it could not have come at a more exciting time.

PRO 34R perfect for the Pilgrims

PRO 34R perfect for the Pilgrims

A new 5,000 capacity stadium has now finished completion and signals new fortunes for the club that will give them a stadium that they can finally call home.

Since being constructed and seeded in the summer of 2020, Jim has been keeping a close eye on the pitch and the Dennis PRO 34R rotary mower has certainly helped him.

“We looked at a lot of rotary mowers and I heard nothing but good reports about the Dennis PRO 34R,” said Jim.

The Dennis PRO 34R is a 34” (860mm) rotary mower which has been designed to help groundsmen achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance and desired playing surface. It is ideal for sports pitches and lawns producing the enviable ‘Dennis Stripes’ while a powerful vacuum flow collects debris quickly and efficiently.

The angle of the cutting deck and twin blades can be easily adjusted using a single ‘click adjuster’ ensuring the mower is suitable for changing conditions and meeting groundsmen’s requirements.

Unique features of the Dennis PRO 34R rotary mower include:

  • 5 forward and 1 reverse selection for speed of operation
  • 90 litre capacity grass box
  • Fully adjustable angle of deck for changing conditions
  • 2 section cast aluminium rear roller
  • Easy to use height of cut gauge
  • Single point height of cut adjustment for ease of operation
  • Optional front wheel or smooth/weile roller options
  • Front brush for standing grasses upright
  • Adjustable handlebars for operator comfort

“The main use for the PRO 34R is to clean the pitch after a game – the brush at the front will help to stand the grass up and it is fantastic at removing all the debris from the pitch.

“I have never seen a rotary mower that can cut like this – that is for sure. Furthermore, the grass box keeps the cuttings really compact which is beneficial.

“Being on my own, I need equipment that is going to be reliable and help me get the job done quickly and efficiently – the PRO 34R ticks all he boxes. I use it at a speed setting of 3-4 which is perfect for me. It is a sturdy well-built machine from a respectable and trustworthy manufacturer.”

The Dennis PRO 34R was purchased by Burdens Group for Boston United as part of a sponsorship agreement with the club at the new stadium.

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 Twitter or 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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Turn up the music

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Turn up the music: Makita UK has expanded its accessories range with two new radios. The DMR301 and MR007G are the perfect job site companions – as well as outstanding output, they have also been designed to withstand tough site conditions. Even better still, the DMR301 can be used to charge Makita’s LXT and CXT batteries for added on site efficiency.

DMR301 Bluetooth DAB/DAB+ Job Site Radio

The new DMR301 DAB/DAB+ Job Site Radio is compatible with both LXT and CXT batteries and is the first job site radio in Makita’s line-up to offer battery charging (when powered by the mains using an AC adaptor).

Turn up the music

Turn up the music

Thanks to its dual power functionality, professionals can use the same LXT or CXT batteries to power their tools and accessories on site, as well as keeping batteries charged across the working day to maximise efficiency.

Furthermore, the DMR301 can also wirelessly connect to mobile devices (within a range of 10m) via Bluetooth and features two USB output ports for charging mobile phones. To ensure that it can withstand tough jobsite conditions, the DMR301 is dust and shower proof (IP64 rated) and includes elastomer bumpers and metal pipes for added durability. The swivel mount, soft bend antenna also minimises breakage and/or loss.

When powered using a 6.0Ah 18V LXT battery, the DMR301 will run for over 24hours for entertainment all day long and for those looking to unwind at the end of the working day, the DMR301 is even equipped with a built-in bottle opener.

MR007GZ02 DAB/DAB+ Job Site Radio

Just in time for Christmas, the MR007G DAB/DAB+ radio is now available in a special edition red finish. The MR007G is compatible with Makita’s LXT, XGT and CXT batteries and can also be mains powered using an AC adaptor jack. This radio is ideal for use on construction sites as it is dust and shower proof (IP65 rated) and includes elastomer bumpers.

The MR007G can be wirelessly linked to mobile devices (within a radius of 10m) via Bluetooth and includes a USB port for charging mobile devices on site.

Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita said: “At Makita, we are dedicated to offering tradespeople a wide range of products that make working on site easier, safer and with these new products – more enjoyable. Customer feedback is at the heart of our product development and the new radios are testament to this – the option to charge batteries using our radios is in high demand and we are delighted to now offer this functionality with the DMR301.

“Spanning power tools, garden machinery products and a huge selection of accessories, the Makita range has something for everyone. What’s more, with our cordless products professionals can change between tools and tasks, and tools and accessories, effortlessly.”

To find out more about Makita and its range of products visit: www.makitauk.com

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The Grove invests in stars of the future

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The Grove invests in stars of the future: The Grove, Hertfordshire’s ultimate country escape, today announces two important promotions within its green-keeping team to continue its long-running heritage of developing the golf industry’s stars of the future.

Since opening in 2003 a host of young talent have crafted their skills at the Top 100-ranked venue, under the leadership of Golf Course and Estate Manager, Phillip Chiverton, who has been at the forefront of The Grove’s green-keeping operation for 20 years.

The Grove invests in stars of the future

The Grove invests in stars of the future

The latest green-keepers to rise through the ranks of the young team are 27-year-olds Sam Reid and Callum Herbst.

Sam is The Grove’s new Head Green-keeper, with immediate effect, and Callum is promoted to Deputy Head Green-keeper. Both joined The Grove in 2012, Herbst as an apprentice, and Reid as a casual worker, while studying at Buckinghamshire University.

Reid’s rise to Head Green-keeper status has seen him help prepare the championship course for The British Masters in 2016, achieve an R&A Greenkeeper Scholarship in 2018, and work with the course’s world-renowned architect, Kyle Phillips, during an extensive bunker redesign and rebuild project in 2020.

Herbst’s journey has included being a Toro Student Green-keeper of the Year finalist, along with work experience during the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in the USA, and at the French Open at Le Golf National.

Commenting on the promotions, Phillip Chiverton, said: “In Sam and Callum we have two certain agronomy leaders of tomorrow. The Grove has always invested in young talent and we have a rich history of coaching green-keepers through the early stages of their careers.”

A consistent development programme with scope for continual internal promotion has seen many of The Grove’s young stars go on to secure senior industry roles at other world-renowned golfing destinations, including Trump International Golf Links in Scotland, Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, San Roque Club in Spain and Abu Dhabi Golf Club, UAE.

“While our day-to-day objectives always remain keeping The Grove in pristine condition all-year-round – something our customers consistently recognise us for – it is also important we offer the next generation of green-keeping stars a platform from which to succeed and prosper. Seeing young talent develop at The Grove and then go on to prosper in all corners of the globe is hugely rewarding.”

The Grove proudly covets its position as a premium open-to-all leisure facility and one of the UK’s Top 100 golf resorts, just 18 miles from central London.

It’s 18-hole parkland golf course, the only venue in the UK to have hosted a World Golf Championship event in 2006, won by Tiger Woods, continues to receive critical acclaim and was recently ranked within Europe’s Top 100 Modern Courses, by Golf World.

The World Golf Awards has also named recognised The Grove as ‘England’s Best Golf Hotel 2021’.

The Grove’s 18th-century Mansion houses 26 rooms, suites and lounges decorated with a 21st-century spin on vintage glamour. There’s also the thoroughly modern West Wing with a further 189 deluxe, superior and family rooms. Many of these rooms have balconies/terraces looking over the immaculate Formal Gardens.

For further information: www.thegrove.co.uk

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X-WAY or the highway!

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X-WAY or the highway!: Bucks-based turf, topsoil & aggregates supplier, Springbridge Direct continues to invest in its truck fleet, taking one of the UK’s first new IVECO X-WAYs. Joining the new WAY range of heavy trucks, the IVECO X-WAY embodies the perfect crossing between comfortable on-road driving and off-road robustness for those last mile deliveries away from the tarmac.

A family-run business, Springbridge is one of the leading suppliers of turf in the south of England and currently run 19 heavy trucks, 18 of which are IVECO. Supplied by long-standing IVECO dealer, Northern Commercials in Hildenborough, this new vehicle is the first of its new-generation IVECOs to arrive, but notably, is slightly different to its normal 8×4 tipper-grabs

X-WAY or the highway!

X-WAY or the highway!

The on-road homologated AD350X46Y/PS ON has been decked out by Colliers Truck Bodies with a flat-bed and rear-mounted Palfinger PK.501 SLD5 crane, destined for work on the turf, pallet and bulk bag delivery arm of the business.

Until now, the company has relied on an artic and two 44t IVECO drawbar units for this, however the new truck enables much easier access to a wider variety of locations, both business and private. The 8x2x6 axle configuration, means that the rearmost steering axle can be pneumatically lifted, minimising wear on lighter runs, maximising payload on heavier jobs, yet affording the driver precision manoeuvrability despite its sizeable 6050mm wheelbase.

Powering the truck is IVECO’s 11.1-litre CURSOR 11, in this case supplying 460hp and 2,150Nm through the 12-speed HI-TRONIX automated gearbox. A hydraulic ZF NH/4C Power Take Off pump takes care of the auxiliary body equipment, while IVECO’s patented HI-SCR exhaust system deals with particulates without the need for high-temperature or time-wasting stationary forced filter regenerations.

Adding sophistication to the clean and simple white and black bodywork, the truck is fitted with the Premium Style Pack which brings chassis-mounted air horns, aluminium air tanks, an external sun visor and colour-coding to the IVECO X-WAY’s standard-fit steel-reinforced ‘hybrid’ front bumper. Elsewhere it features servo-assisted cab tilting, LED hazard beacons, rear cab windows, Alcoa Diamant alloy wheels and the well-received 7” touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, smartphone mirroring and TomTom LIVE truck-biased navigation.

As Springbridge Direct operates responsibly, and often within London, a FORS Gold accreditation mandates fitment of a full suite of safety equipment, therefore the new truck is fully complimented by under-run protection bars, illuminated cyclist warning boards, audible turn warnings, a side-scan system and 360-degree cameras.

“What brought us to the IVECO brand was the value for money, buying ex-Clancy Docwra Trakkers about 15 years ago. In 2016, we were after some brand-new trucks, and they introduced us to Andrew Smith at Northern Commercials who I’ve been dealing with since. I haven’t bought any new trucks from anyone else since,” commented Springbridge’s Operations Director, John Keating.
“Our latest IVECO X-WAY looks very smart and has a fantastic payload too, near-on 20-tonnes! Northern give a great level of service and offer very good back-up support.”

The company employs a five-year replacement strategy, with this and two more new IVECO X-WAYs due in March replacing a handful of 300,000km 65-plate Trakkers. Serving London and the home counties, Springbridge doesn’t have to cover a great deal of distance, however this policy maximises resale value, while ensuring that all vehicles meet the latest safety and emissions standards for the capital. Just as importantly though, they remain clean and shiny.

Commenting on the handover, Gareth Lumsdaine, IVECO UK Heavy Business-line Director said, “Taking the best of the new WAY range and adding in extra toughness, IVECO X-WAY makes for a comfortable, reliable and hard-working truck for operator and driver, whether they’re pounding smooth tarmac or mud-plugging across rutted construction sites. Springbridge have sampled its forefathers over many years now and we’re pleased that the lightweight but heavy-duty chassis is paying dividends already.”

Launched in 2021, as a tractor or rigid, IVECO X-WAY will provide the comfort, flexibility and reliability required in time-sensitive construction environments with an enormous range of chassis lengths, axle layouts and powerful CURSOR engines.

For further information about the IVECO X-WAY range, or to find your local dealer, visit www.iveco-dealership.co.uk

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The best machines for scrubland maintenance

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The best machines for scrubland maintenance: Scrublands are an extremely valuable habitat to many species, with the small patches of nettles and brambles, and the more densely packed young trees and gorse bushes, offering food and shelter.

Technically described as a ‘successional habitat’, scrub is temporary and transitions from one type of habitat to another. Despite this transitory nature, though, scrubs do require an element of maintenance to keep the area under control.

The best machines for scrubland maintenance

The best machines for scrubland maintenance

Preparing for scrubland maintenance

Before any scrubland maintenance can be done, preparation is essential for maintaining the area effectively and safely. A site survey should be conducted to ascertain what wildlife is present in the scrubland, allowing those carrying out the work to be mindful of these habitats. It’s also important to keep a variety of old and young scrub, to ensure variety and diversity is provided, making it appealing to a wider range of species.

When managing scrublands, it’s also important to maintain a direct link to surrounding habitats as this allows species to explore the landscape. Invasive species such as Japanese knotweed and rhododendron should also be controlled, as they have very little value for wildlife and will happily take over the site if allowed, causing more problems in the future.

Using a brushcutter on scrubland

There are a range of techniques that can be employed to control scrub when necessary, the most popular, of course, being the use of a brushcutter. These powerful machines are ideal for cutting through overgrown bushes and fields and for clearing through dense scrub. Billy Goat’s range of brushcutters have heavy-duty spindles, strong engines and ergonomic controls which make them easy to use in even the harshest environments, with a different model available for a variety of requirements.

The BC2600HEBB BC Series Pivoting Deck brushcutter has been engineered to glide over uneven terrain, like scrub, as its pivoting brush deck hugs the ground for a closer cut. Its improved traction also keeps the weight of the machine firmly on its extra wide tyres, helping to make user manoeuvrability as easy as possible. The machine also boasts a Tuff Torq™ variable hydrostatic transmission that features a fully automatic Enhanced Tractions Control (ETC), offering a superior traction in wet or uneven conditions and can cut saplings and brush at a rate of an acre per hour.

For those looking for a fixed deck, Billy Goat’s BC2600ICM BC Series Fixed Deck brushcutter is a great option as it provides excellent stability in deep vegetation. Powered by a Honda engine, the mechanical transaxle – which features three speeds forward and one reverse – is ideal for clearing meadows and fields or cutting paths and trails wherever dense brush and weeds present a clean-up challenge. The heavy-duty blade spindle is reinforced on four sides, so it can tackle even the toughest cutting conditions, including thick bushes, grass and weeds over 180cm tall, and saplings up to 5cm diameter.

For larger scrubland areas, the BCR3626BVECE 4WD Outback Rider is the ultimate brushcutter as it has been designed with a low centre of gravity, combined with a four-wheel drive system that enables it to tackle those hard-to-reach places that traditional machines are unable to reach. The spacious platform also provides sufficient space and operator comfort whilst the heavy-duty mower deck is equipped with swing-back cutter blades that swing away when accidental contact is made with solid objects. As well as protecting wildlife, these features also help protect the mower deck and cutter blades from accidental damage.

Whether it’s low level or extensive scrubland maintenance, Billy Goat has a range of brush cutters that make managing scrublands safe and easy.

Billy Goat products are available nationwide through Henton & Chattell’s dealer network. For more information and to see videos demonstrating their performance visit www.billygoat.co.uk.

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