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Origin Amenity Solutions return to SALTEX

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Origin Amenity Solutions return to SALTEX: Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS) will be returning to SALTEX, demonstrating how the knowledge, innovation and wealth of products from across its four brands – Headland Amenity, Rigby Taylor, Symbio and Turfkeeper – has established them as a leading force in amenity and grounds management.

Members of the technical team will be available on stand G060 to discuss how, working in partnership, they can offer a solutions-led turf management approach to meet the objectives of both grounds managers and greenkeepers alike.

Origin Amenity Solutions return to SALTEX

Origin Amenity Solutions return to SALTEX

As autumn conditions prevail, so does the risk of turf disease, meaning that Headland’s pioneering 20-20-30 enhanced plant health tank-mix is back under the spotlight. Independently tested at the STRI and at the OAS Turf Technology Centre, the combination of Liquid Turf Hardener, Turfite® Elite and Seamac® Proturf Fe has proven to minimise disease occurrence by boosting turf health and the strength of the plant’s natural defences. Refinements and improvements to the programme saw the recent addition of Mantle® for enhanced efficacy.

From fertilisers to seeds and Euroflor wildflowers, the Rigby Taylor team will again be looking at solutions for the colder months with a focus on tetraploid seed mixtures – delivering enhanced root growth and germination in temperatures as low as 4oc. R140 tetraploid and diploid blend delivers a robust, hard-wearing and stress tolerant sward suited to a range of sports turf applications. Complementing this, Rigby Taylor will also be demonstrating their line marking portfolio, the latest addition to which is the Tiny Pro X robotic line marker from the leading GPS Tiny Mobile Robots range.

An innovative biological thatch degrader from Symbio will be another stand highlight. DegrAID contains beneficial bacteria and fungi that can break down lignin and cellulose in thatch, converting it to humus and making other nutrients such as phosphorus and potassium available for plant uptake. Alongside DegrAID will be the popular range of Symbio Compost Teas.

Completing the line-up, a live demonstration of the newest feature on the digital Turfkeeper platform can also be viewed on stand G060. The Beacon application offers push-notifications direct to a mobile device, helping the operator to keep up to date with their team and the task list while away from the desk.

All of the brand’s products and services are backed by industry-leading support and research, taking place at the £1m OAS Turf Science and Research Centre. More information about past and present trials can be discovered by attending seminars hosted by Research & Development Director Geoff Fenn and Angus Finlayson, OAS Turf Trials Research Manager, across the two days.

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Stressbuster is key to nutrition

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Stressbuster is key to nutrition: The Head Greenkeeper at Knole Park Golf Club, in Sevenoaks, Kent, has explained how his entire nutritional programme revolves around ICL’s Vitalnova Stressbuster. 

Knole Park Golf Club is a course steeped in history and is regularly named as one of the top 100 courses in England. With one of the UK’s finest National Trust sites located at one end, the golf course is set across a beautiful, rolling deer park at the other.

Stressbuster is key to nutrition

Stressbuster is key to nutrition

Kris Durrant is the Head Greenkeeper who works tirelessly to maintain the course and claims that his main aim, when the time comes, is to hand the course over in a better condition than it was than when he took it on.

It all starts with the performance of the greens. “As Head Greenkeepers we are judged on how well the greens play,” he said. “In my opinion we have to have the greens playing to a good standard first, then start expanding out to other playing areas.”

Therefore, when Kris began working at the club three years ago, he started looking for products that would help improve the greens. Vitalnova Stressbuster was suggested to him by Andrew Pledger, ICL Technical Area Sales Manager, after Kris outlined exactly what he was hoping to achieve.

“I trialled Stressbuster and was very impressed – the performance of the product was the best I’ve ever seen, and I’ve used many products in my time,” he said.

Vitalnova Stressbuster is a unique liquid formulation designed to pre-condition turf against stress and also aid recovery from stress. The product can be used all year round which is something that impressed Kris.

Kris applies Vitalnova Stressbuster twice a month to his greens and collars at a rate of 20 L/ha.

“The colour it helps produce is the stand-out feature for me,” he said. “It isn’t an in-your-face, artificial green colour. Instead, it provides a nice, subtle green – the way greens should look. It stays this nice consistent colour for the duration I require, and you don’t get any flush of growth from it.

“When I first started working here, we suffered from a lot of dry patch on our greens, and Stressbuster has helped due to the surfactant within it. We just don’t get dry patch any longer.”

Kris sees best results from utilising Vitalnova Stressbuster in a tank-mix which consists of Qualibra, Vitalnova SMX, Greenmaster Liquid Spring & Summer and Primo Maxx II growth regulator.

“How we apply this depends on the weather and the condition of the turf,” continued Kris. “We might need to add extra nutrition from time to time or we may take something out. For example, we will adjust the amount of Primo Maxx II or perhaps we’ll add some iron if there is any disease lurking about to save using a fungicide. We might also up the nutrition rates during periods of high Anthracnose pressure.

“Ultimately, everything revolves around Stressbuster – it is the main product in our nutrition programme. If I’m being honest – I would be using it everywhere if I had the budget!”

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.co.uk or www.icl-sf.ie if you are in Ireland.

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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STIHL to exhibit at APF

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STIHL to exhibit at APF: STIHL will be showcasing an array of new forestry products at this year’s APF Exhibition, the UK’s largest dedicated forestry and arboriculture event, offering professional users more options than ever before to tackle the toughest jobs.

Taking centre stage will be STIHL’s new MSA 220 T and MSA 220 TC-O, the manufacturers most powerful and durable cordless top handled chainsaws to date, designed for tree care professionals to remove larger branches or perform crown maintenance with ease. When used with the recommended AP 300 S battery, both new chainsaws deliver 2.1 kW of electrical power, providing up to 29 minutes of working time and plenty of power for cutting larger sized branches when doing crown reductions or tree removal tasks.

STIHL to exhibit at APF

STIHL to exhibit at APF

Visitors to the stand will also be able to see up close the new MSA 300, the most powerful cordless chainsaw in STIHL’s AP System. Recommended with a 16” Light 04 guide bar and .325” RS Pro chain for fast cutting, the chainsaw is suitable for felling, cross-cutting, snedding and processing, offering forestry professionals and arborists plenty of power for taking on larger felling and processing tasks.

Other new products launched this year that will be showcased include the Rapid HEXA cutting system for the MS 362 C-M through to the MS 661 C-M.  It consists of a patented hexagonal file and a full chisel chain with a unique V shaped side plate, resulting in a chain that cuts up to 10% faster than standard RS chain, is easier to sharpen, and stays sharper for longer. In addition, STIHL’s new ADVANCE ProCOM headset will also be on stand, which utilises Bluetooth mesh technology to link up to 16 headsets automatically, allowing users to listen and communicate effectively as a team, as well as a high attenuation value of 31 for extremely high noise protection.

STIHL’s extensive professional battery range will also be on display, including the new AP 500 S, the most powerful AP battery in the STIHL range and the first to feature laminate technology helping to double the service life up to 2,400 charge cycles, as well as the new AL 301-4 multi-charger that can charge up to four AP and AP batteries at one time.

For more information, please visit www.stihl.co.uk.

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Gerrards Cross upgrades to ISEKI

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Gerrards Cross upgrades to ISEKI: Pete Allen, Deputy Course Manager at Gerrards Cross Golf Club, claims that his new ISEKI TG6675 compact tractor has been invaluable since the day he purchased it.

Built in 1922, Gerrards Cross Golf Club is considered one of the most attractive courses in Buckinghamshire. With the River Misbourne meandering past the club house, and set in the grounds of an ancient estate, the woodland course measures 6,243 yards and is a testing par 69.

Gerrards Cross upgrades to ISEKI

Gerrards Cross upgrades to ISEKI

Pete claims that having a tractor to carry out a wide range of maintenance tasks on the course is essential. Therefore, when his previous tractor “couldn’t cope with some of the jobs” they needed it to do, it was time for an upgrade.

“When deciding on what tractor to purchase we looked across the whole market,” he said. “We liked the ISEKI TG6675 because it was a nice compact size, it had the right lifting capacity and had a big engine so we could use all of the implements and attachments we have. Overall, it was the complete package and the best tractor we came across.”

The ISEKI TG6675 sets the benchmark for compact tractor performance. Designed and manufactured in Japan, it is built to exceptional standards of quality, starting from the front lights through to the back three-point linkage. Every component, including the engine and transmission, features ISEKI’s stamp of approval for quality and excellence that is rarely seen in the mini tractor market.

The new ISEKI TG6675 tractor is available with a ROPS, or a factory fitted, fully air-conditioned category 2 cabin. All instruments and gauges are easy to read and indicate driving information like engine speed, travelling speed, and PTO speed can be viewed at a glance. All levers are ergonomically located around the driving seat and there is ample space for the driver’s comfort.

“A big plus with this tractor was that we were able to get a front linkage and a front PTO set-up installed,” said Pete. “We run a blower on the front of it and can also put a woodchipper on the front. This, for me, is an improvement because I’ve used blowers on the rear of a tractor before but having it on the front means I am not having to look over my shoulder all the time – I can see everything clearly.

“Everything about the tractor is built with the user in mind. There is also a PTO switch on the outside of the tractor, so you don’t have to keep jumping in and out of the cab, which has been great. Plus, with the front loader, we can load all our machinery when required and also maintain our sheds with the pallet forks to keep everything neat and tidy.

“It is a solid yet compact tractor which is perfect for getting to every area of the golf course,” continued Pete. “It covers everything from a maintenance point of view, and it has been invaluable since day one.

“The backup and support have been excellent, and we couldn’t be happier. I would always consider another ISEKI machine to replace anything on our fleet which needed upgrading.”

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Investment to improve quality of grounds

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Investment to improve quality of grounds: Yesterday, the GMA’s CEO, Geoff Webb joined England Manager, Gareth Southgate and stars from cricket, rugby union and rugby league to mark a game-changing multi-sport, multi-million-pound investment announcement.

As part of a £92 million, three-year multi-sport investment commitment, the Football Foundation has extended use of their FREE revolutionary pitch inspection app, PitchPower, to cricket, rugby union and rugby league clubs.

Investment to improve quality of grounds

Investment to improve quality of grounds

Through PitchPower, community clubs and organisations are able to carry out their own grass pitch inspections and receive bespoke advice and recommendations from experts at the Grounds Management Association to improve the quality of their grass pitches.

PitchPower has already been a game-changer in transforming the country’s grass football pitches. In its trial alone, PitchPower helped to inspect almost 5,000 football pitches, leading to £8.6m of Football Foundation investment.

The app is now available to rugby league and is set to go live for rugby union at the season opener on 17/18th September, whilst cricket will follow at the next season.

Beyond inspections, from Spring 2023, a new £15m funding pot will also be made available via the Football Foundation over the next three years enabling cricket, rugby league and rugby union clubs to apply for a grant funded by the Sport England National Lottery fund.

Football Foundation says, “Grass pitches are essential to grassroots sport. Better grass pitches will mean fewer matches will be postponed and more people can play more rugby, cricket, and football. The PitchPower app will help revolutionise the quality of grass pitches across England. We know that more opportunities to play improves not only physical health but also mental wellbeing, the places we live and the local economy too.”

GMA Chief Executive, Geoff Webb says, “The Ground Management Association is proud to have been a key delivery partner in the pilot for the PitchPower app and continues to work closely with the Football Foundation as we extend the service to a wider sporting community enabling cricket and rugby to also start reaping the benefits. If there’s no ground, there’s no game. As simple as that, so we welcome this additional investment to support grounds management.”

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