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Flete Estate improve environment with switch to Foamstream

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Flete Estate improve environment with switch to Foamstream: Flete Estate, home to Mothecombe Gardens, have eliminated herbicide use and created a more environmentally friendly space for both people and pollinators, by switching to Foamstream from Weedingtech.

Sustainability has always been a focus for the family-run estate situated in a picturesque part of South Devon and now, under the management of John Mildmay-White, the site is another step closer to being completely organic and chemical-free.

Flete Estate improve environment with switch to Foamstream

Flete Estate improve environment with switch to Foamstream

John took over the running of the estate from his father in 2019, which includes Mothecombe House, the public Mothecombe Gardens and a number of holiday cottages, boasting views of the beach and Erme estuary. “My father converted the home farm to organic in 1990 and my mother has been creating a haven for pollinators in the garden which is the legacy I am looking to build on” he explains. “One of the issues I was keen to tackle was the use of herbicides on areas like our gravel paths and around our holiday lets so I tasked our Head Gardener Martin Haxton with finding a viable alternative.”

Martin explains how, after trialling various alternatives, the team settled on Foamstream. “There are various tools and techniques that all claim to provide an effective non-herbicidal solution. We did some research and tried various options such as burning, which we found was very labour intensive, expensive and at the end of the day, not overly effective.” He adds, “There were lots of positives about Foamstream, firstly that it’s all organic and another is the ability to use it in all weather conditions which means you’re not reliant on the perfect weather conditions to conduct the operation.”

Foamstream is a green solution to weed and moss control, utilising a combination of hot water and a patented foam made from natural plant oils and sugars to retain heat and effectively kill a wide variety of weed species. In trials, Foamstream has demonstrated similar efficacy to glyphosate, outperforming other non-herbicidal alternatives. “It was clear during our research that Foamstream had been thoroughly tried and tested, in a range of situations and would give us the results we wanted” says John.

“We purchased an L12 in August 2022 and it’s been a brilliant investment. The set-up is quick and simple and operators have commented on how easy it is to move around the gardens meaning we can tackle weed growth in all areas thanks to the 20m hose and highly portable lance applicator.” John concludes, “We’re delighted with how well Foamstream works and how this will help in our drive to provide a cleaner environment for everybody, including wildlife, to enjoy.”

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Morpeth Golf Club looks to the future

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Morpeth Golf Club looks to the future: Morpeth Golf Club has a new approach to running its 117-year-old business; utilising every asset to broaden its appeal and be much more than just a great course. 

With new leadership and investment across the site, Morpeth is focused on drawing in customers to the clubhouse, restaurant, pro shop, simulator, events space and personal training facilities, as well as its flourishing 18-hole golf course.

Morpeth Golf Club looks to the future

Morpeth Golf Club looks to the future

A more positive and profitable future is being spearheaded by general manager Chris Liddell and course manager John Scurfield whose new strategy has included a significant investment in new course machinery from John Deere.

“If everything around the course is doing well, we have the budget to ensure our greenkeeping team gets all the tools it needs to keep the place looking great,” Chris said.

He joined the club in January to support its development through the bar and catering aspect of the business. As a former regional director for branded hospitality groups such as Pizza Express and TGI Friday’s, Chris has also been a member at Morpeth for 20 years.

“Where I feel I’ve been able to add a bit of value to the club is bringing in the big company principles such as implementing budgetary processes and more structure in how the club is run,” says Chris. “What will be pivotal in growing the club in the future is not only appealing to our current membership, but also broadening our appeal to the wider community. A part of what we have to do here is appeal to every demographic.”

Morpeth has 650 playing members, with over 20 more joining since the New Year. Chris projects the club could have about 750 members by the end of the year.

One aspect he wants to rejuvenate is the junior golf initiatives by developing an academy membership for young golfers to progress.

“In recent years I’ve seen that golf clubs have taken a hit in the number of junior memberships and that is something that I want to change,” says Chris. “I want to start getting more juniors into golf because I remember having such great days here when I was a junior member myself.”

To maintain the club’s growth, the stunning parkland course must be maintained to the highest standard, which is helped by Morpeth’s long-standing relationship with John Deere dealer Thomas Sheriff & Co.

Course manager John has been working at the club since he left school and has always used John Deere machinery. It’s a course he knows better than most ¬– holding the record with a six-under-par 65.

“We’ve had this partnership with John Deere for about 30 years, and the investment in the machinery has been necessary,” says John. “As the number of golf clubs in the area increases it dilutes the market, so we have to provide the best possible standard of our course to keep our current members and attract future ones.”

Morpeth’s latest investment includes an 8000A E-Cut Hybrid Fairway Mower, a HPX 815E Work Utility Gator, a 2550 E-Cut Riding Greens Mower, a HD 200 Precision Sprayer, and a 2030A Gator. All the machines are on a five-year finance lease with John Deere.

With only a five-person greenkeeping team, a busy playing membership and the course driven to staying open all year round, there are challenges. But John has taken to visiting other clubs to see how other teams manage.

“On volunteering at various clubs including Royal Cinque Ports and Royal Liverpool Golf Club, I went to see what I could bring back to Morpeth, even though we’re worlds apart from those bigger clubs,” says John. “One thing I brought back was that staff morale is so important. Despite these guys starting at 4am and working all day, they never stop laughing and joking around with each other and they keep a real team spirit.

“When handpicking new people to work with us, I’ve learned to base them more on their character than their skillset because team morale is so important.”

John’s team are all now experienced in using the John Deere machinery, and are proud to do so, being particularly impressed by the reliability and efficiency of the mowers that they use.

“Before they came here to Morpeth these guys hadn’t really had much experience with John Deere machines at the previous clubs they worked at,” John says. “So when they came here and started using the John Deere mowers, they straight away said that it’s top notch. It’s always a good sign when your team are proud of what they’re working with.”

In developing and maintaining the course for the future, John is interested in looking into John Deere’s GPS technology for future investments, looking at how implementing it could further increase efficiency in maintaining the grounds and also help in keeping costs down.

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Campey to Host Turf Growers Demo Day

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Campey to Host Turf Growers Demo Day: Campey Turf Care Systems is excited to announce its upcoming Turf Growers Demo Day at Talbot Turf, scheduled for Wednesday, 10th May 2023. The event will provide an opportunity for turf growers to learn more about the latest advancements in turf care equipment and how they can improve the quality and efficiency of their operations.

At the Turf Growers Demo Day, attendees will have the opportunity to see some of the most innovative turf care equipment in action, including the Van Vuuren turf harvesters, Campey Turf Brush, Imants Spader and Vredo overseeders. The Van Vuuren turf harvester is a user-friendly piece of machinery that can harvest turf with optimal results in any circumstance.

Campey to Host Turf Growers Demo Day

Campey to Host Turf Growers Demo Day

The Campey turf brush is a versatile piece of equipment that can be used for a variety of turf care applications, from removing debris to breaking up soil. In addition, the Vredo overseeder is an efficient and effective machine that can quickly and easily overseed large areas with unmatched germination results. Finally the Imants Spader offers an alternative one pass cultivation method, that completes the processes of primary and secondary cultivation and seed sowing in one machine.

As well as the equipment demonstrations, attendees will have the opportunity to speak with Campey Turf Care Systems representatives about their specific turf care needs and how Campey’s range of equipment and machinery can help them achieve their goals. The event will also provide an opportunity for turf growers to network with other professionals in the industry and exchange ideas and best practices.

“We are thrilled to host the Turf Growers Demo Day at Talbot Turf and showcase some of the latest advancements in turf care equipment,” said Lee Morgado, Director at Campey Turf Care Systems. “Our goal is to help turf growers maximise their work output in the most effective way, and we believe that our range of equipment and machinery can help them achieve this. We look forward to meeting with turf growers and discussing their daily operational turf challenges.”

The Turf Growers Demo Day will take place at Talbot Turf, Save Penny Lane, off Makeney Road, Milford, Duffield, Derbyshire DE56 0RS. The event is free to attend, but registration is required. Interested parties can register online at Campey Turf Care Systems’ website or by contacting the company directly.

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Don’t miss your chance to be at SAGE

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Don’t miss your chance to be at SAGE: SAGE will be held at Three Counties Showground, Malvern on the 19th and 20th of July 2023. Filled with live outdoor demos of the latest machinery, leading industry exhibitors, expert-led summits, live music, entertainment, food vendors, and a bar, SAGE should be top of your list of expos to visit this summer!

Not only that but the UK Loggers National Championship will be taking place over the two days of the expo – a fierce test of precision and skill determining an overall precision chainsaw champion.

Don’t miss your chance to be at SAGE

Don’t miss your chance to be at SAGE

Those wanting to attend can now pick up a ticket, which can be reserved at sportsandgrounds.events.

Here’s what you can expect:

Try before you buy

Visiting SAGE is more than just another exhibition; it’s a hands-on, interactive experience with zero limitations. Known for having the largest outdoor demonstration space, SAGE offers industry-leading brands unlimited space to demo their equipment, no matter the size! Now you can test-drive the newest ride-on lawn mower or put that woodchipper you’ve had your eye on to the test!

With brands such as Toro, EGO, Trimax, and many more, all confirming their place at SAGE 2023, the latest equipment in the sports and grounds industry will all be in one place, as well as our official sponsors Weibang UK.

Sustainability

This year, SAGE 2023 is bringing sustainability to the forefront and leading the way in making exhibitions greener. In line with green practices outlined by official green partner GRASS, SAGE is making several sustainable changes to the expo. Throughout the event, you’ll notice a huge emphasis on how the event is trying to run sustainably. All packaging used by on-site caterers will be fully compostable. At the sponsored bar, beer barrels will be replacing beer bottles, and hired glasses will be used at the networking event to reduce single-use plastic.

In partnership with its partners Bio-Circle & GRASS, SAGE has built a jam-packed agenda to challenge how sustainable solutions are accessed in the industry. GRASS members will be on hand to advise on tailor-made sustainable practices for businesses alongside leading experts for Green business across other industries as well, collaborating to help the united mission to hit net zero by 2050.

Learning hub

Join SAGE as they re-design the layout of learning at trade shows, providing visitors with immersive workshops and hands-on experiences led by experts.

New to SAGE 2023 is the education hub, where you can attend informative conferences, make new contacts at networking events, and exchange expertise on future-proofing your business.

Something for everyone

Whether you work for the council, within education institutions, in landscaping, construction, or anywhere with a passion for sports or grounds maintenance, SAGE will have something for you.

Come along to discover, demo, and network at SAGE 2023.

For more information on attending SAGE 2023, visit https://sportsandgrounds.events/

You can also stay up to date with the latest news on Instagram @exposage2023

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Tributes paid to Inverness groundsman

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Tributes paid to Inverness groundsman: Inverness Caledonian Thistle has paid tribute to their groundsman Tommy Cumming who has died.

Read the full article from Inverness Courier here

Tributes paid to Inverness groundsman

Tributes paid to Inverness groundsman

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