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Laura Darlow a winner of 30 under 30 – The Next Generation

Laura Darlow a winner of 30 under 30 – The Next Generation: Green-tech is delighted to announce that Laura Darlow, Logistics Team Leader, has been named as one of Pro Landscaper’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation winners for 2025.

28-year-old Laura was chosen for her contribution and rapid career progression within the landscape industry. Now in its tenth year, the 30 Under 30: The Next Generation initiative celebrates 30 rising stars across the arboriculture, garden design, horticulture, and landscaping sectors, aiming to showcase the diverse career opportunities available to young professionals.

Laura Darlow a winner of 30 under 30 – The Next Generation

Laura Darlow a winner of 30 under 30 – The Next Generation

Laura joined Green-tech in 2015 after completing a Diploma in Horticulture at Askham Bryan College. She began her career as a Despatch Assistant before moving into logistics, where she has thrived in a fast-paced and evolving environment. Within just a few years, she progressed to Logistics Team Leader, a role that sees her coordinate the daily movement of customer orders across both UK and international markets. Laura plays a pivotal role in ensuring Green-tech delivers on its promises to customers. She has been instrumental in process improvements that have reduced stock holding, cut freight costs, and ensured compliance with all export orders.

Her achievements were further recognised in 2025 when she completed Green-tech’s Management Development Programme, earning the title of ‘Outstanding Contributor’ from the course trainer.

Speaking about this award, Laura comments, “I’m thrilled to have been recognised as one of this year’s Pro Landscaper 30 Under 30 winners. Working in logistics is fast-paced and varied, and I take great pride in ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. To see my hard work acknowledged in this way is hugely rewarding, and I’m excited to continue developing my career in this fantastic industry.”

Green-tech’s Managing Director, Kris Nellist, added, “Laura is an outstanding member of the Green-tech team, and we are incredibly proud to see her recognised with this award. Her commitment, attention to detail and proactive approach make her a key part of our operations, and she embodies the high standards and ambition that Green-tech stands for.”

Laura will officially receive her award at the Pro Landscaper 30 Under 30 ceremony on Wednesday, 8 October at FutureScape, ExCeL London.

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GMA Launches 35 Under 35

GMA Launches 35 Under 35: The Grounds Management Association (GMA), supported by ICL, is proud to launch 35 Under 35 – a brand-new initiative to celebrate the brightest young professionals and volunteers making a real difference in the grounds management industry.

Grounds management is an essential yet often overlooked profession, responsible for maintaining the quality, safety and playability of green spaces for sport, recreation and communities. This new initiative will shine a spotlight on 35 individuals under the age of 35 who have made, and continue to make, an outstanding contribution to the industry.

GMA Launches 35 Under 35

GMA Launches 35 Under 35

GMA 35 Under 35 is proudly backed by ICL – a global leader in turf and landscape solutions. Trusted by many of the UK and Ireland’s top sports venues, ICL brings cutting-edge innovation, technical expertise, and decades of experience to the industry, helping turf professionals raise standards, solve challenges, and push the profession forward. ICL’s support ensures the GMA 35 Under 35 initiative is positioned as a key fixture in the grounds industry calendar for years to come.

The free-to-enter initiative is open to both self-nominations and nominations by peers, offering a valuable opportunity for individuals to showcase their achievements and gain recognition for their impact on the industry. Participants will also have exclusive access to technical and agronomic training modules developed by the GMA and ICL technical team, along with unique network sessions at SALTEX.

Selected by an expert judging panel, the final 35 will be profiled across the GMA’s digital channels and wider industry media – giving them a platform to showcase their achievements and helping to inspire the next generation of grounds professionals.

Geoff Webb, Grounds Management Association CEO, said: “Grounds management is rapidly evolving, competing with every other sector for future talent. Its success hinges on fresh ideas combined with the invaluable experience of today’s grounds teams. That’s why recognising and supporting the next generation is crucial for the industry’s continued growth.

“The GMA 35 Under 35 initiative celebrates future managers and inspiring tomorrow’s talent- by spotlighting these individuals, we aim to celebrate their achievements but also attract new talent to create a vital pipeline to complement the expertise of seasoned managers, ensuring smooth succession planning and addressing the challenge of an aging workforce.”

Simon Barnaby, ICL National Key Account & Business Development Manager UK & Ireland – Stadia, said: “At ICL, we’re committed to supporting the future of turf care, and the GMA 35 Under 35 initiative is a great way to recognise young professionals already making a difference. Just as importantly, it gives them a chance to keep learning – through training, development, and being part of something bigger. We’re proud to support a programme that not only celebrates achievement but helps the next generation build their confidence and grow their careers.”

The inaugural GMA 35 Under 35 will culminate in a celebration across the GMA’s digital platforms and wider industry media, showcasing the achievements of those recognised and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.

Register your interest now: Nominations for the inaugural GMA 35 Under 35 open later this month, you can register your interest now by clicking here.

For more information visit thegma.org.uk.

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EVO expansion under the spotlight

EVO expansion under the spotlight: After a four-year absence, May sees the return of The Arb Show, with GreenMech back and kickstarting their 30th anniversary celebrations with a showcase of their revolutionary EVO series.

The 2019 event was the launch platform for the EVO 165 range which, from introduction, set the benchmark for its category. EVO models are now available in both 6” and 8” capacities and in road-tow and tracked formats, many of which will be on display at Westonbirt Arboretum on stand C09-C10.

EVO expansion under the spotlight

EVO expansion under the spotlight

Launched in 6” diesel format, the EVO boasts more aggressive torque, more powerful bite and improved throughput. A petrol EVO 165P model quickly followed before the ‘big brother’ arrived in the form of the powerful 8” EVO 205D. GreenMech’s long and illustrious reputation for providing the ultimate tracked offering continues with the EVO Series, with fixed track, SAFE-Trak and SURE-Trak options now available.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to witness the performance first hand on GreenMech’s dedicated demonstration area, located on stand D06.

In addition to showcasing a selection of machines from the EVO Series, The Arb Show will be the first UK outing for the ECO 135 – a new concept 5” capacity entry-level woodchipper, ideally suited to the more price-conscious arborist, landscaper and rental markets.

The entire GreenMech range comes with a 3-year, no-quibble guarantee and the support of their nationwide dealer network. The team will also be on hand across the two days to answer any questions and explain the variety of flexible finance options available via GreenMech Finance.

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Cabrio fine under pressure

Cabrio fine under pressure: For greenkeepers and groundsmen looking for a top-performing perennial ryegrass with the very best fineness of leaf, there is still only one choice.

That is according to Richard Brown of Germinal GB who explains that, for the fourth year running, Cabrio has been announced as the number one variety on the BSPB’s Table L1 for perennial ryegrasses.

Cabrio fine under pressure

Cabrio fine under pressure

First introduced as a new cultivar in 2016, Cabrio Ultra Fine Ryegrass went straight to the top of Table L1 in 2017 with a fineness of leaf score of 8.8.  It subsequently retained this position in 2018 (8.8) and 2019 (8.7) and holds the top spot again in the 2020 list thanks to another score of 8.7: a rating which puts it half a point clear of its nearest rivals at 8.2.

“Ever since its release in 2016, Cabrio has remained the top performing cultivar on the BSPB’s list of perennial ryegrasses mown at 10-15mm,” explains Richard Brown, Germinal Amenity Sales Manager.

“With good all-round scores for shoot density (7.8), visual merit (7.9), slow re-growth habit (7.2) and cleanness of cut (7.1), Cabrio is still the number one choice for groundsmen, greenkeepers and turf growers who want to produce an exceptionally fine-leaved, hard wearing and aesthetically attractive sward that can not only tolerate a close mowing regime, but which will also give good ball roll or bounce.”

Cabrio is recommended for use on golf tees and golf green aprons as well as tennis courts and cricket squares where it is ideal for repairing baselines and wicket ends. As such, it is included in Germinal’s A5 (Cricket, Tennis and Tees), A10 (Golf Tees and Divot Repairs) and A28 (Ultra Fine Ryegolf) seed mixtures where it partners with a selection of other cultivars to provide enhanced sward density, wear tolerance and repair capability.

“For all of these seed mixtures, plagiarism is the best form of flattery,” Mr Brown continues. “We are therefore pleased to see others within the industry responding by bringing their own fine-leaved offerings to the market. However, it is worth remembering that there are only seven ryegrass cultivars on Table L1 with a fineness of leaf score of 8.0 or above, two of which – Cabrio (8.7) and Escapade (8.1) – are exclusive to Germinal. As such, copycat mixtures are unable to match the performance of our Grade A mixtures, which remain the best option where a ryegrass mixture that will blend in with other fine-leaved species is required, such as, for example, with fescues on a links golf course.”

Cabrio also ranks highly on Table G4 (perennial ryegrasses mown at 4-7mm) where its 8.4 score for fineness of leaf is the highest. “At these low cutting heights Cabrio’s fineness of leaf simply can’t be surpassed,” Mr Brown concludes.

Cabrio: cultivar characteristics*

  Table L1

(mown at 10-15mm)

Table G4

(mown at 4-7mm)

Shoot density 7.8 7.3
Fineness of leaf 8.7 8.4
Slow regrowth 7.2
Visual merit 7.9 7.5
Mean 7.9 7.4
Resistance to Red Thread 3.8 4.8
Cleanness of cut 7.1
Winter greenness 5.2 5.4
Summer greenness 6.0 6.0

*Source: BSPB Turfgrass Seed booklet 2020

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Bones Found Under Football Pitch

Bones Found Under Football Pitch: Workmen unearthed unidentified bones as they were preparing a new football pitch.

The remains were found underneath Ossett Albion’s Dimplewells pitch on Tuesday, as work was being carried out in preparation of the club merging with Ossett Town to form Ossett United.

And the discovery caused chaos, with one game being cancelled and police and forensic teams being called out to the scene.

But after initial tests, it was determined that they were fox bones and not human.

Phil Smith, chief executive at Ossett Albion, said: “I was thinking that someone had buried someone under our pitch.”

The bones were found during ground testing which was being carried out as part of plans for a new 3G pitch being laid at the site. The new pitch will become a training ground and will also be used by junior and ladies teams when the United merger goes ahead.

Workmen had taken a sample of grass and mud to see what lay one metre beneath it. But when the turf was lifted, the remains were revealed.

Mr Smith said police were alerted to the discovery and the area was taped off early in the evening on Tuesday. Investigations on Wednesday morning determined the bones were animal remains.

Mr Smith said: “There was uncertainty over what type the bones were. There was a shoe at the end of the longest bone.

“It turned out the remains were from a fox. The pitch is stood on what used to be a Victorian tipping ground. There’s all sorts under it.

“It was just a sheer coincidence that a fox died next to a shoe some 50 years ago.”

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