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STIGA Robots empower groundskeepers to be heroes

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STIGA Robots empower groundskeepers to be heroes: Groundsweek, held from March 17th to 23rd, is a nationwide celebration of the dedicated professionals who keep sports fields and green spaces in top condition.

Now, these experts have a game-changing tool in their arsenal—STIGA’s cutting-edge autonomous robot mowers—helping them achieve flawless results with less effort!

STIGA Robots empower groundskeepers to be heroes

STIGA Robots empower groundskeepers to be heroes

With precise, systematic cutting patterns, these innovative robotic mowers optimise battery life, reduce mowing time, and enhance the beauty of any lawn. At first, some professionals were sceptical—could a robot truly match the performance of a walk-behind mower? Would it replace their jobs? But the results speak for themselves. Groundskeepers and gardeners who’ve adopted these robots wouldn’t go back! These machines free up valuable time for other tasks, all while delivering a superior cut. In fact, many users have grown so fond of their robotic assistants that they’ve even given them names—say hello to Simon!

Smart Lawn Care, Tailored To You

STIGA’s intelligent AGS technology ensures each session is carefully planned, adjusting to satellite signal strength for consistent, even coverage. GPS-RTK technology guarantees pinpoint accuracy, keeping mowing paths precise and efficient.

Through the STIGA.GO App, users can customize their mowing experience with:

  • Cutting patterns: Parallel, chequerboard, or grid.
  • Zone settings: Define unique cutting heights, patterns, and mowing priorities for different areas.
  • Real-time connectivity: 4G-enabled communication between the mower, satellites, and antenna ensures uninterrupted performance.

2025: The Future of Effortless Smart Gardening

STIGA’s latest innovations take convenience to the next level:

  • Dark Mode for better app visibility.
  • Signal Checker to find the optimal GPS antenna spot.
  • Over-the-Air Updates for automatic software enhancements.
  • Lightning-Fast Setup: One-minute pairing, self-calibrating reference station, and easy controls.
  • Remote Garden Sketching (Coming March 2025!): Define mowing boundaries online—no need to step outside!

Stay in Control, Anytime, Anywhere

  • Live Mowing Progress & Notifications keep you updated.
  • In-App Support offers step-by-step guidance.
  • Intelligent Navigation detects obstacles and manages zones efficiently.

Choose the Perfect STIGA Robot For Your Lawn

Model Coverage Area Price

With STIGA’s advanced automation and smart planning, the future of lawn care is here!

Find out more and buy your robot from STIGA retailers and on the official STIGA website: www.stiga.com/uk.

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Howardson Group Bids Farewell to Roger Moore

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Howardson Group Bids Farewell to Roger Moore: After 17 years of outstanding service, Roger Moore has announced his retirement from the Howardson Group.

Roger has been a familiar and respected figure within the company. Having joined as a Customer Manager, his role evolved to encompass sales, marketing, and customer support, making him an integral part of the business. Over the years, he has built strong relationships with key industry organisations, including the GMA, BIGGA, SAPCA, EBA, SBA, WBA, CGBA, and numerous representatives from cricket, football, rugby, tennis, and croquet, as well as the press.

Howardson Group Bids Farewell to Roger Moore

Howardson Group Bids Farewell to Roger Moore

Alongside his colleagues, particularly Alison Pickering, Roger has played a leading role in organising and developing events in the UK and abroad, dealer days, press days, export dealer events, and the company’s brochures, websites, and overall marketing strategy.

The highly regarded seminar programmes for bowls, cricket, croquet, football, and rugby have been running for over 20 years, and Roger and his team have continuously refined and enhanced them. These programmes provide valuable insights from industry experts, supporting everyone from volunteers to professional turf managers.

When SISIS was acquired in early 2011, Roger was instrumental in developing a detailed 90-day integration plan to successfully merge Dennis and SISIS—a significant challenge that had never been undertaken before. The senior team fully backed his plan, and its success helped shape the company’s future.

Roger’s meticulous attention to detail has been a defining trait throughout his career. His commitment to quality in every aspect of marketing—whether exhibition stands, advertisements, brochures, or digital content—has left a lasting impact. A prime example of his expertise was the 2022 Dennis Centenary Year celebration, which he and Alison planned with precision, ensuring the event ran seamlessly.

As a senior team member, Roger’s wisdom and experience have played a crucial role in the company’s growth, contributing to an almost ninefold increase in sales during his tenure.

Beyond his professional contributions, Roger, a lifelong Liverpool FC supporter, has also been the company quizmaster, known for his encyclopedic knowledge of sport—especially football.

Managing Director Megan Oliver, Chairman Ian Howard, and everyone at Howardson Group extend their sincere gratitude to Roger for his dedication and contributions over the years and wish him all the best in his retirement.

For further information visit www.howardsongroup.com

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Terrain Aeration’s deep penetration to relieve waterlogging

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Terrain Aeration’s deep penetration to relieve waterlogging: Over many years, major house-building companies have called on Terrain Aeration to decompact back gardens and community areas of new-build developments.

During the building, the unavoidable combination of diggers, dumper trucks, bulldozers, concrete mixer lorries and parked vehicles take their toll on the soil, flattening the air out of it. Eventually, the areas that become the gardens and shared grass areas can become overly compacted. They may already have a sub-soil layer of rubble, old bricks and general landfill waste contributing to the problem. The result is waterlogging and panning requiring very deep aeration as a cure.

Terrain Aeration’s deep penetration to relieve waterlogging

Terrain Aeration’s deep penetration to relieve waterlogging

Terrain Aeration’s Terralift system reaches a depth of one metre using a JCB hammer and probe to break through the compaction. At this depth, compressed air is released, creating multiple fissures in the soil. This fracturing is done working to a grid system with two-metre spacing between each injection of air. As can be seen in the picture, there can be a massive amount of water trapped beneath the surface, causing the waterlogging in the garden. The spouts of water give a clear indication of the need to penetrate far deeper than normal turf aeration. As the probe exits, dried seaweed is injected which expands and contracts, keeping the interlinking fissures open and ensuring maximum drainage to the area.

Terrain Aeration has provided the solution to this for some of the UK’s biggest builders, including Taylor-Wimpey, Barratt, and Persimmon. The Terralift machine has proven itself over the last 30 years in aerating and decompacting soils. It is the ideal way of getting oxygen back into the soil structure, is non-invasive and leaves no mess. Once a garden has been aerated using Terrain Aeration’s machinery, nature will be able to help with the rejuvenation of the soil structure – so this treatment would not be required again. Different types of machine have been built to enable access to the gardens through single gates and garages.

Terrain Aeration works nationwide, providing deep aeration relief for waterlogging and flooding for house builders, sports grounds, amenity areas, golf courses and public spaces.

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York Racecourse looks to the future with GroundTech

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York Racecourse looks to the future with GroundTech: The award-winning grounds team at York Racecourse have gained two new recruits, in the form of an Echo TM-1050 and Echo TM-2050 robotic mower from GroundTech.

In the few shorts weeks since their delivery, the pair have been well received by Head Groundsman Adrian Kay as well as visitors to site who have commented that the enclosures and other perimeter areas have never presented better at this time of year.

York Racecourse looks to the future with GroundTech

York Racecourse looks to the future with GroundTech

With a busy race season from May to October, and a calendar compromising of weddings and corporate functions, the maintenance is a year-round operation for Adrian and his team of seven. Like many in the sector, York Racecourse have found recruitment to be a challenge, particularly since the pandemic. They’ve decided to turn to technology to provide a helping hand. “We recognise that people don’t want to be working 60-70 hours per week, or at unsociable hours, much of which was attributable to the time it takes to mow our expanses of lawn. By investing in this pair of robotic mowers, I can redeploy my skilled team to other maintenance tasks, ensuring we can maintain presentation levels” Adrian explains.

Following advice from Echo’s Sam Daybell, they opted for the Echo TM-1050 and TM-2050. “We worked really well together, assessing the size and specification of the prospective areas to find the right fit. The TM-1050 is primarily used on our premium grass car parking areas, and the TM-2050 on the enclosures, parade rings and a number of medium and high spec lawns.”

“We’re already benefiting from all the well-documented advantages that robotics brings – mowing through the night and at weekends, in all manner of weather conditions.” Adrian continues, “It’s also meant that we’ve been able to retain presentation over a difficult, wet winter with the light footprint of the robots. This has not gone unnoticed by visitors to the course.”

“Considering the wider benefits, it means less need to turn to our petrol or diesel mowers which is a big plus from an environmental sustainability standpoint. In 2023 we launched ‘Green Knavesmire 300’ demonstrating our commitment to reaching Net Zero by 2040, with these new editions from GroundTech playing their part in this wider goal.”

Together with the expert support from the team at GroundTech and Echo, Adrian is enjoying exploring the full functionality of the software, allowing him to monitor the robots 24/7. “I’m not sure I should admit this in print, but I find I’m on the app at four in the morning, making sure everything is going according to plan!” he laughs. “But it is very useful, being able to see things like the battery life etc. Every day we’re taking the opportunity to learn more about them and really bed them into our routine before the season kicks off in May.”

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NextGen To Inspire Future Talent At Wimbledon

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NextGen To Inspire Future Talent At Wimbledon: As part of #GroundsWeek 2025, the Grounds Management Association (GMA) NextGen group will host a Schools Into Stadia event on Thursday 20 March at the iconic All England Club.

This initiative aims to inspire the next generation of grounds professionals and showcase the exciting opportunities within the sector.

NextGen To Inspire Future Talent At Wimbledon

NextGen To Inspire Future Talent At Wimbledon

The GMA NextGen group, sponsored by Reesink UK, is comprised of talented young grounds professionals who represent the grounds management industry. Acting as ambassadors for the GMA, their mission is to encourage more young people to consider a career in grounds management.

With workforce development becoming a pressing priority, this event highlights the importance of engaging with younger generations to secure the sector’s future. The proportion of under-35s involved in the industry has risen significantly in recent years, from 19% in 2022 to 31% in 2024. Events like Schools Into Stadia play a crucial role in sustaining this positive trend by informing young people about careers in grounds care.

Jack Langley & Meg Lay, GMA NextGen Co-Chairs, said: “We’re delighted to be able to host another Schools Into Stadia event as part of #GroundsWeek 2025. The success of the previous two events has been incredible, and we’re incredibly grateful to Wimbledon for hosting us this year. This initiative is a great opportunity to showcase the rewarding careers young people can have in the grounds management industry. We’re excited to inspire the next generation of grounds professionals and highlight the role they play in maintaining some of the UK’s most iconic spaces.”

During the event, a group of local secondary school students will experience the day-to-day responsibilities of a grounds person at the world-renowned All England Club. They will also learn about the career paths available in the grounds care sector and the impact these careers have on sports, recreation and community spaces.

Neil Stubley, Head of Courts and Horticulture at The All England Lawn Tennis Club, and GMA Board Member, said: “We are very excited to be welcoming local students to Wimbledon as part of this year’s School Into Stadia event. Initiatives such as Schools Into Stadia ensure that as an industry, we are continuing to promote pathways and careers in grounds management, which is crucial to establishing the next generation of Grounds Managers for years to come. As a year-round team of 18 Groundstaff, we are looking forward to hosting students at SW19 and teaching them how we look after our 18 Championship and 20 practice courts both in and outside of The Championships.”

#GroundsWeek, taking place from Monday 17 to Sunday 23 March 2025, celebrates the vital work of grounds staff across the UK and highlights opportunities to get involved in this rewarding profession. The week is a chance to raise awareness, share stories, and inspire the workforce of the future.

For more information about #GroundsWeek 2025 and how you can support the initiative, visit thegma.org.uk/groundsweek/.

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

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