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Schools Into Stadia Heads to Home Of Cricket

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Schools Into Stadia Heads to Home Of Cricket: The Grounds Management Association’s (GMA) NextGen group is taking its inspiring Schools Into Stadia initiative to new turf, literally for the first time, as it heads to the legendary Lord’s Cricket Ground on Friday 27 June for its first ever cricket edition.

Designed to inspire a younger generation of groundspeople, Schools Into Stadia opens the doors to iconic sporting venues, offering local students a rare behind-the-scenes look at the world of grounds management, showing off the wide range of career opportunities in a sector that supports sport, recreation and community spaces across the UK.

Schools Into Stadia Heads to Home Of Cricket

Schools Into Stadia Heads to Home Of Cricket

From pitch prep to turf science, students will get hands-on with the skills and technology that keep the game running smoothly.

Created by the GMA’s passionate NextGen group – rising stars in the industry – Schools Into Stadia is all about sparking curiosity and showcasing the exciting career paths in grounds management. With support from Reesink UK, the initiative is building a future-ready workforce by championing the vital role of grounds teams in sport, recreation and community life.

Having already inspired students at venues like Wimbledon’s All-England Club, Anfield Stadium, Goodison Park and the King Power Stadium, the programme now steps up to the crease at Lord’s – cricket’s most hallowed ground.

The event will see local students experience the day-to-day responsibilities of a groundsperson including pitch preparation and understanding the science behind turf care. They’ll also hear first-hand from professionals about the pathways into the industry and how their work impacts everything from elite sport to grassroots facilities.

With workforce development a growing priority across the sector, initiatives like Schools Into Stadia are a vital part of the GMA’s strategy to engage the next generation and build a sustainable pipeline of talent.

Meg Lay, GMA NextGen Co-Chair and Groundsperson at Lord’s, said: “We’re excited to bring Schools Into Stadia to Lord’s and shine a light on the work that grounds staff do in cricket. Events like this give young people a real glimpse into the industry and help us show that this is a rewarding, hands-on career. If we want a thriving industry in the future, it starts with inspiring the next generation today.”

Lord’s Head Groundsman, Karl McDermott, said: “We’re proud to support the GMA and the NextGen group in delivering this event at Lord’s. Grounds staff play a vital role in making sport possible at every level, and we’re pleased to give students a chance to see that in action at the Home of Cricket. We hope it opens eyes and perhaps even sparks some future careers in the industry.”

To find out more about the GMA NextGen group and how they’re shaping the future of the industry, visit www.thegma.org.uk/nextgen.

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From shears to smart technology

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From shears to smart technology: The forestry team at Bathurst Estate and Cirencester Park have credited STIHL’s battery-powered tools and cleaning solutions in helping them to maintain the world’s tallest yew hedge, which is believed to have been planted on the estate back in 1720. 

The hedge, which is a species of Yew (Taxus Baccata), is listed in the Guinness Book of Records for its towering height, reaching 14m. The hedge, which measures 120m in length, was planted by the 1st Earl more than 300 years ago when he redesigned the mansion that overlooks it. Back then, it was cut back by hand with shears by a team of up to four people using ladders.

From shears to smart technology

From shears to smart technology

Given the feature’s historical and cultural importance, the hedge is carefully maintained annually. In a bid to preserve it, Bathurst’s four-strong forestry team, which includes Forest Manager, Iain Garret, and Lead Forester, Oliver Murray, monitor both the inside and outside of the growth regularly to check for any issues that could result in degeneration.

The most common issues that occur are browning due to needle blights and insects, and a specific type of fungus named Laetiporus Sulphureus, which can cause cuticle root inside the stem. When these problems do occur, the affected areas and surrounding growth are cut to prevent the spread.

The Yew hedge is trimmed once per year, not only is this required to maintain its classification as a hedge, but it also provides an opportunity to look for defects and disease.

The task is no small feat. At 3000 square metres, it takes a team of two a fortnight to complete the maintenance, which sees the professionals trim around 300 square metres from the hedge each day.

Before work gets started, the Bathurst forestry team make sure that its equipment, a selection of STIHL hedge trimmer blades are sharp and clean, thoroughly disinfecting the machines using methylated spirits.

STIHL’s SUPERCLEAN, is also used to spray the equipment’s blades. This prevents resin build-up and keeps blades lubricated to support productivity and preserve hedge health. Daily checking of equipment is also required to guarantee that tools remain in the best condition for cutting.

With such an important and arduous task at hand, Oliver Murray and his colleagues require the best quality tools available on the market. The criteria? Hedge trimmers that are easy-to-use, lightweight, robust, and reliable.

The mammoth assignment is achieved by starting at the bottom using a STIHL battery-powered hedge trimmer, the HSA 130 T. Starting at the bottom and working upwards in the cherry picker, before making a switch to the STIHL HLA 86 Cordless Long-reach Hedge Trimmer, which is used for the top. Its adjustable head allows the team to follow the natural shape of the hedge over the top and achieve the right angle as they reach across the hedge’s width.

The HSA 130 T cordless hedge trimmer offers a high-performance and robust experience for professional users, with a high blade speed for precise, neat and powerful cutting. Its rotatable multi-function handle enables comfortable work, depending on whether trimming the tops or sides of hedges.

The HLA 86 is a telescopic long-reach hedge trimmer, designed for professionals working on tall hedges where extra length is required to master cutting, trimming, and maintenance work. The perfect choice for the largest Yew hedge in world.

The hedge trimmer, which is powered by a 36V lithium-ion battery, is light and easy to handle, whilst the extendable length makes it hugely versatile. Given that it is powered by battery, the machine is quiet too, ideal for noise-sensitive areas, such as those around the Bathurst Estate.

Both machines are compatible with STIHL Connected, a smart fleet management system that allows teams to digitally manage machine fleets and workflow, with the STIHL Connected Portal providing a detailed overview of the status of the fleet, as well as information such as the duration of use.

Here, Oliver comments on the further advantages of STIHL’s battery-operated tools:

“We are using STIHL battery-powered hedge trimmers as they are quieter and don’t produce any emissions, and in order to get a full day’s work done, we just need to charge them once on our lunch break. This avoids the need for us to get in and out of our cherry picker. 

“The quiet operation of the tool is also important to us as we are based in the centre of town and don’t want to upset the neighbours, or residents of the Bathurst Estate.” 

The Bathurst Estate is located at the heart of the Grade I listed Cirencester Park. It is a destination rich with heritage, open to visitors every day of the year for a host of leisure activities.

Sir Benjamin Bathurst purchased the Cirencester Estate, which lies in the Cotswolds, in 1695. It still belongs to the Bathurst Family today, 330 years later, and is home to the 9th Earl and Countess Bathurst.

To watch how the team tackle the annual trim, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s32U3fmfIWE

For more information on STIHL’s wide range of professional power tools, please visit www.stihl.co.uk

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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Gary Neville’s mission to improve pitches

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Gary Neville’s mission to improve pitches: Former England and Manchester United defender Gary Neville has launched a Best Worst Pitch Initiative to breathe new life into underfunded grassroots football pitches.

The Best Worst Pitch initiative will provide line painting and pitch maintenance equipment, as well as maintenance training to 50 UK grassroots clubs.

Gary Neville's mission to improve pitches

Gary Neville’s mission to improve pitches

Read the full story here

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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Nothing compares to Toro for Auchterarder

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Nothing compares to Toro for Auchterarder: Auchterarder Golf Club in the heart of Penrithshire, Scotland, has chosen Toro again for straight replacements of two of its pivotal mowers.

The club needed to update its frontline cutting equipment and decided there was no comparison on the market for the Greensmaster TriFlex 3420 hybrid for the greens and Toro’s Groundsmaster 3500-D for the tee banks at its parkland course.

Nothing compares to Toro for Auchterarder

Nothing compares to Toro for Auchterarder

Shaun McNaugton, Head Greenkeeper, says: “We’ve tried other brands over the years but always come back to Toro.”

The reasons for this are quite straightforward, he says: “The club has used Toro since before my time and I’ve worked here for 21 years. Every piece of equipment we buy must earn its keep and deliver a return on our investment. I expect longevity, value, performance, and reliability.”

Shaun moved away from his usual diesel greens mower last year, opting instead for the Greensmaster TriFlex 3420 hybrid model and he’s been so impressed with the savings in fuel with no compromise on performance that he ordered another.

“I haven’t done any number crunching on the diesel savings but they’re certainly obvious and significant’” he says. “It operates so efficiently in energy savings mode, representing impressive value.”

Another key selling point is the machine’s reduction in hydraulic components, says Shaun: “Reducing the risk of hydraulic leaks on the greens was equally as important as the savings in fuel consumption,” he confirms.

The Groundsmaster 3500-D that Shaun is replacing is 17 years old. He says: “That kind of longevity is important to us, but the technology in this machine is equally as important.

“It’s as if the Groundsmaster with Sidewinder was designed specifically for our course,” he continues. “In a parkland setting with an undulating landscape and sloping tee banks, the technology behind this machine comes into its own. Its easy manoeuvring and shifting cutting units deliver a close cut around the trees, on the bankings, and along hedgerows saving an unbelievable amount of effort and delivering a superb aesthetic.”

Add to that the fact that Toro machines are, according to Shaun, “easy to maintain, incur minimal downtime and a firm favourite with all the full- and part-time staff who use them as well as the local mechanic” and it makes sense that Auchterarder Golf Club is a repeat customer for distributor Reesink Scotland, the Scottish service branch of Reesink Turfcare based in Livingston.

John Rankin, Area Sales for Reesink Scotland, says: “Anyone who has the pleasure of playing or visiting Auchterarder Golf Club will know it is maintained with the utmost pride. Shaun is a loyal customer who trusts Toro implicitly to support him and the team as they endeavour to present the course in the best order possible.”

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GMA Connect heads to Durham

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GMA Connect heads to Durham: Following the successful launch of GMA Connect in Bristol last month, the Grounds Management Association’s new regional event series continues in the North East on Wednesday 18 June at Durham County Cricket Club.

Designed to bring the grounds industry together in key regions across the country, GMA Connect is a hands-on, one-day event offering a unique mix of expert seminars and live demonstrations from leading manufacturers.

GMA Connect heads to Durham

GMA Connect heads to Durham

Some of the industry’s top brands will be on show in Durham, including headline sponsor Cramer, ISEKI UK & Ireland, Campey Turf Care Systems, Fleet Line Markers, GKB Machines, Abundigro, The Aquatrols Company, AriensCo, Redexim, and Dennis & SISIS.

Throughout the day, attendees will have the opportunity to see the latest machinery and solutions from the likes of Cramer, who will present a full battery-powered range, including robot mowers, a zero-turn model and all-terrain pedestrian mowers. ISEKI and GKB Machines will jointly demonstrate a compact tractor fitted with a Combi Tool and Deep Tine Aerator, whilst Campey Turf Care will demonstrate their UniRake and display smaller machines pitch side, including the Vredo Turf Buddy and Electric Sarel Roller.

Line marking solutions will be available from Fleet and, new to Durham, Dennis & SISIS will bring the FT mower and Auto Rotorake Mk5, whilst Ariens will display zero-turn and high-grass mulching mowers.

Redexim, The Aquatrols Company and Abundigro and will all be on hand to share practical advice and showcase turf maintenance essentials.

A packed seminar programme features weather expert Mark Hunt’s ‘Turf Management in the Current Climate’, a popular practical soil session led by Alex Vickers, and guidance on using a Playing Surface Assessment to upgrade your facility from the GMA’s Ian Mather-Brewster and Chris Hunter.

The day will close with a panel discussion on climate change at top sporting venues, featuring Vic Demain (Head Groundsman, Durham CCC), Alex Vickers (Turf Consultant), Aaron Tong (Head Groundsman, Hull City MKM Stadium) and James Wright (Senior Maintenance Manager, University of Leeds).

Sarah Hunter, Head of Events at the GMA, said: “Bristol was a huge success for everyone involved, and we’re now really excited to bring GMA Connect to Durham. This event series has been designed to serve the needs of the industry, giving grounds staff at every level access to expert advice and practical solutions within their region.”

Jordan Watson, Area Sales Manager for Cramer UK, said: “We want to support events like GMA Connect because it’s a great networking opportunity and it’s a great way to show the industry everything that we do and the technology that Cramer UK can offer to help them in the future.”

Tickets are free for GMA members, while non-members can attend for £15. Membership provides additional value, including exclusive resources, discounted training, access to the Member Assistance Programme and more.

For more information or to register, visit thegma.org.uk/events.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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