Tag Archive for: Tree

Green-tech Specifier launch Urban Tree Planting Cell System

/in , /by

Green-tech Specifier launch Urban Tree Planting Cell System: At 10am this morning (Tuesday 7th March) Green-tech Specifier launched their new urban tree planting cell system – TreeParker®, at the FutureBuild 2023 exhibition.

TreeParker® is a versatile urban tree planting cell system from TreeBuilders, a manufacturer of innovative tree planting systems, and will be distributed in the UK exclusively by Green-tech.

Green-tech Specifier launch Urban Tree Planting Cell System

Green-tech Specifier launch Urban Tree Planting Cell System

Speaking on behalf of Green-tech, Business Development Director Mark Wood comments, “I am delighted to announce that we have expanded our urban tree planting offering with the addition of TreeParker® – a modular structural soil cell system for planting trees in city centres and other urban environments. Our corporate vision and values are aligned with TreeBuilders and our collaborative approach to this joint venture is exciting for the industry.  The TreeParker® cellular system offers superior functionality and is a smart combination of Green, Grey and Blue. The system has already proven itself in numerous projects throughout Europe and the Middle East, so I am thrilled that its addition completes the urban tree portfolio for Green-tech Specifier, making this a unique offering to the UK market with a full product offering to satisfy any urban tree planting need.”

TreeParker® has been developed from extensive trials, projects and feedback from landscape architects, clients, contractors, and nurseries to provide the most cost-effective, fit-for-purpose solution for growing large trees in urban environments.

The system provides optimum rooting space below pavements subjected to heavy traffic loads. It maximises the space available for the growing media and is in contact with surrounding soil to ensure a natural growth environment.

Through a simple and smart design, the TreeParker® system can be installed into any tree planting space. It is easy to customise a tree pit design to meet individual needs, working just like a LEGO system. Each independent unit has sufficient load-bearing capacity, so units do not need to be linked. The load is transferred from the pavement to underlying foundations via the system and avoids soil compaction to ensure optimum root growth.

The TreeParker® system can accommodate variable heights between 400mm and 1500mm. Its top 10 benefits include:

  1. Support heavy traffic loads (up to 550 kPa and an axle load of up to 15 tonnes) whilst maintaining pavement integrity.
  2. Providing unhindered root growth for large species of trees.
  3. Quick and cost-effective installation and is easy to fill with soil.
  4. Made from 100% recyclable, long-lasting and inert plastics.
  5. Modular system for design flexibility.
  6. It can be installed in curves down to a 5m radius without additional products.
  7. Utility friendly – the open structure is easily adjusted on site to accommodate new and existing utilities and provides easy access for utility maintenance and repair.
  8. Combines stormwater management and root growth, up to 25% of the volume is available for water infiltration.
  9. Up to 95% volume available for soil infill.
  10. Withstands vertical and lateral loads.

Elco van Uden, Managing Director from manufacturer TreeBuilders, adds, “I am delighted to be working with Green-tech to bring TreeParker® to the UK market. Our two companies share a similar philosophy and are closely aligned in the way we do business and our passion for innovation and offering customers a robust and flexible solution to urban tree planting challenges.”

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Green-tech’s urban tree system

/in , /by

Green-tech’s urban tree system: The Battery Retail Park at Selley Oak is located on the former site of the Birmingham Battery and Metal Company steel factory, first established in 1798. The term battery, referring to the method of forming metal, not the manufacture of batteries as commonly thought.

Located approximately three miles from Birmingham city centre, the site has undergone a recent refurbishment, including the development of a new retail park, Sainsburys Superstore, and student accommodation, all sited around the main customer carpark.

Green-tech’s urban tree system

Green-tech’s urban tree system

A major part of the project for the contractors was the reclamation of the ground and cleaning up a very toxic site, before any development could commence.

Green-tech’s involvement:

The project comprised of nearly forty tree pits over two phases between 2018 and 2020. The first phase was contracted to Bernhards Landscapes of Warwickshire, and the second to McPhillips (Wellington) of Shropshire; both of which Green-tech has worked with for around fifteen years.

The tree pits were set into soft central reservations around the main car parking area, although to get the required rooting volume to ensure healthy establishment and future growth, the tree pits extended out under the parking bays to some extent.

Green-tech has been manufacturing its range of Green-tree soil for nearly twenty years, and over 400 tonnes of clean, manufactured ArborRaft topsoil, and subsoil was supplied for the tree pits. In order to use a nice friable, organic topsoil underneath the paving, the contractors opted for Green-tech’s ArborRaft tree pit support system, rather than a traditional, plastic-heavy, deep-pit system.

The ArborRaft acts as a sub-base replacement, supporting the paving above, pedestrian, or vehicular, whilst protecting the soft soil below from risk of compaction. It has three big advantages over traditional deep-pit crate systems. Firstly – it sits over the top of the tree pit, taking its structural support from a 500mm wide ledge cut into the surrounding formation ground, meaning there is no plastic whatsoever in the actual rooting area of the tree pit. Secondly – its shallow profile, just 150mm deep means that there is rarely any conflict with underground services, it isn’t deep enough. And third – ArborRaft uses less than a third of the plastic of traditional crate-style tree pit systems, so it’s better for the budget and the environment.

Each tree pit also contains a strap anchor to keep the trees stable during the all-important establishment phase, along with a mona irrigation rings. In this instance, to provide even more protection from the risk of vehicular damage, the trees were also stabilised with double-staking, cross-bar, and soft rubber ties.

Alasdair Innes – Green-tech Specification Advisor comments, “We were delighted to contribute to such a high-profile scheme. We recently visited the site nearly four years after the first trees were planted, and although it was autumn, the trees still look happy and healthy. It is nice to see Silver Birch being used, as the white bark helps to lift the muted colours of the ground planting.”

For any further product information or to request a CPD in person or remotely on any of our urban or rural modules please contact Green-tech on 01423 332100

green-tech.co.uk

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Expanded GreenMech fleet for Woodworks Tree Surgery

/in , /by

Expanded GreenMech fleet for Woodworks Tree Surgery: For Nick Hosking it’s Woodworks by name and woodworks by nature as he tackles all manner of tree surgery tasks – with the trusted assistance of two GreenMech woodchippers!

The most recent addition to his fleet is an EVO 205D SAFE-Trak, which was purchased on the GreenMech stand at APF in September, and sits alongside the QuadTrak 160 for complete versatility on both domestic and commercial jobs.

Expanded GreenMech fleet for Woodworks Tree Surgery

Expanded GreenMech fleet for Woodworks Tree Surgery

Nick established the company 20 years ago and works with, and as, a subcontractor for a number of clients in and around Flintshire, North Wales and NW England including large-scale construction contracts for Hanson UK and the Breedon Group. “I’ve used chippers from GreenMech for the last seven years now, starting with a turntable QuadTrak 160 and trailer which caught my eye at APF many years ago and gives me enhanced manoeuvrability and flexibility for tasks on the kerbside” explains Nick. “Impressed with the performance of this machine, I then invested in a SAFE-Trak 19-28 as a bigger, more versatile workhorse.”

It was again at APF that Nick sealed the deal on his latest purchase, a 205D SAFE-Trak from GreenMech’s EVO series, purchased through dealers GA Groundcare. “Going from the 19-28 model to the 205D SAFE-Trak was a natural progression – this machine is newer, bigger, more reliable and more powerful.” At its heart is a Stage-V Compliant 50hp Kubota diesel engine, delivering powerful chipping performance for bulky brash and timber of up to 8”. Underneath the robust, steel chassis is GreenMech’s patented SAFE-Trak system which incorporates two independently adjustable track legs providing ground clearance of up to 530mm and allows the safe traversing of slopes up to 35o.

“With GreenMech you know you’re going to get machines that do exactly what they say on the tin. Having said that, there’s a few new features on the EVO 205D I really like namely the more powerful throw and the Smart Sense controller which automatically reduces engine revs and then ramps them up again when you start feeding material in. It’s also much quicker and easier to service. Since taking delivery in October 2022 it’s been on jobs of all shapes and sizes, most recently a roadside clearance project for Hanson, and it’s taken everything in its stride.”

He continues, “Together with the performance, the thing that keeps me coming back to GreenMech is the people. I know if I come across an issue, there are three or four people I can phone who are all very knowledgeable and will go out of their way to resolve it for you. Back up support and service like that goes a long way in this industry.”

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Agrovista Amenity launches biodegradable tree guards

/in , /by

Agrovista Amenity launches biodegradable tree guards: Agrovista Amenity has announced the launch of Tree Hugger™ Biodegradable Shelters – a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to plastic tree shelters or guards.

Made from organic cotton encapsulated in renewable pine tree rosin, the Tree Hugger™ Biodegradable Shelters have a minimum 5-year lifespan giving the tree valuable protection during its critical establishment period. They will completely biodegrade at the end of their lifespan meaning that the removal of single use plastic shelters is no longer required, saving time and money, and ultimately reducing the amount of plastic waste that is left in the environment.

Agrovista Amenity launches biodegradable tree guards

Agrovista Amenity launches biodegradable tree guards

The woven material structure provides strong protection against damage from grazing animals but is gentle on the plant offering little friction which could cause damage to the newly planted whip.

Agrovista Amenity has partnered with BMP Europe, the inventor and manufacturer of the Tree Hugger™, and will be exclusively distributing the product.

Commenting on the partnership and the product, Ed Smith, Landscape Team Manager for Agrovista Amenity, said:

“BMP Europe has a rich history in processing polymers and textile materials and has manufactured a product of the highest quality which meets all the criteria of a biodegradable guard. Our visions align – we have established a great partnership and we are looking forward to where we can take it.

“Plastic guards are further adding to a growing problem which is plastic pollution in the environment and there is a big movement towards sustainable planting.”

Agrovista Amenity launches biodegradable tree guards

Agrovista Amenity launches biodegradable tree guards

Tree Hugger™ Biodegradable Shelters are available in two different heights: 0.6m which protect against small browsing animals such as rabbits and 1.2m which protect against larger grazing animals such as deer. There is a choice of two ties – a releasable tie, which is nylon and can be recycled and reused, and a metal tie which will biodegrade. Furthermore, unique laser etching is available for company / customer logos.

Agrovista Amenity also distributes WhiptecBio tree and hedge guards which offer a smaller alternative to the Tree Hugger™ Biodegradable Shelters. The WhiptecBio guards are made from recycled material, are 100% sustainable, have an estimated lifespan of 2-4 growing seasons and do not require clips or ties.

A video introducing Tree Hugger™ Biodegradable Shelters can be viewed here.

More information on WhiptecBio tree and hedge guards can be viewed here.

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Terrain Aeration launches Tree Division

/in , /by

Terrain Aeration launches Tree Division: David Churchyard has joined Terrain Aeration Services to head up the new Terrain Aeration Tree Division. The company has been treating trees for over thirty years and sees this as an opportunity to expand their specialist service. David brings an extensive wealth of knowledge regarding pests, diseases and fungal growths to trees as well as turf.

He was employed as a head forester for twenty-one years on a 6000 acre estate where he was involved in working on and looking after all aspects of the estate’s extensive woodlands. This covered planting heritage oaks, caring for the veteran 900-year-old trees and drawing up management plans for current and future works. To increase his knowledge over the years, David has taken part in many lectures and courses on veteran trees in various locations, including Windsor Castle estate. He also took part in a film on AOD (Acute Oak Decline), the relatively new disease that began affecting many British oak trees since the last quarter of the 20th century. Climate changes are strongly affecting our trees and helping keep them alive is now a priority and one which David relishes in having a key role in.

Terrain Aeration launches Tree Division

Terrain Aeration launches Tree Division

Terrain Aeration’s Terralift machine is recognised by Tree Officers as a solution to deep aeration and relief of compaction panning around tree roots. The Terralift is the only machine which can aerate around the root zone and put oxygen back into the soil. It breaks up compaction and panning, providing relief from waterlogging and the danger of the waterborne disease Phytophthora. Terrain Aeration’s Tree Division can inspect and advise on suitable treatment without exposing entire areas of tree roots, which may cause undue stress to the trees. One metre deep penetration aeration treatment is used around trees and to treat compacted turf and grass areas. David has joined Terrain to head and expand the division and to get the critical message out there that “it’s the roots that are the root of the problem!” Many trees of all ages are struggling with compaction. This means that essential nutrients are not getting down to the life-giving area of the tree. The message is simple, take care of the bottom-the roots-and the top of the tree will look after itself.

Terrain Aeration 01449 673783 www.terrainaeration.com

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.