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Stratford Oaks Golf Club enjoys growth with Suståne

Stratford Oaks Golf Club enjoys growth with Suståne

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Stratford Oaks Golf Club enjoys growth with Suståne: Like most, the objective for James Cleaver – Course Manager at Stratford Oaks Golf Club – is to achieve year-round consistency when it comes to plant health and play quality.

A steady, reliable nutrition programme has become a key part of that effort and, over the last 18 months, Suståne’s 5-2-4+Fe slow-release naturel base fertiliser has played an increasingly important role.

Stratford Oaks Golf Club enjoys growth with Suståne

Stratford Oaks Golf Club enjoys growth with Suståne

Rounds are high at the private members club located on the outskirts of Stratford-Upon-Avon, with James and a team of six working hard to retain high performing greens despite high levels of wear and often challenging climatic conditions. To source an organic ‘base feed’ which would keep the greens healthy year-round and, in particular, provide a boost over the winter months, James spoke to Nathan Scarff at GBR Amenity.

“When it’s wet in the winter and difficult to get a sprayer round, switching to a natural-based granular product meant fewer trips around the course and less reliance on spraying during those periods” says James. “After trialling Suståne’s 5-2-4+Fe in autumn 2024, we emerged in the spring in a healthier place which then encouraged us to up the applications to four or five times a year – focusing on the high disease pressure windows.”

Noting the success of their Suståne applications, James highlights one particular result which came following last year’s severe drought. “We had one green which really struggled without irrigation. I spoke to Suståne’s Russell Riley who suggested putting down some extra 5-2-4+Fe to help with the recovery and, interestingly, we’ve noticed that this is the only green which has emerged into 2026 disease-free. Obviously we can’t say for certain that Suståne is the sole reason but it’s the only thing that was done differently and something we’re looking to explore further.”

“Another great thing with this product is it doesn’t trigger a massive flush of growth like you get with some other fertiliser products. Application is also easy – the small prill quickly gets into the sward so, when applied in conjunction with predicted rainfall it doesn’t disrupt our mowing programme.” James continues, “I also appreciate the honest help and advice we get from both Nathan and Russell who actively encourage you not to over-apply products. It’s a refreshing change from the ‘more the merrier’ approach you get from some sales reps!”

5-2-4+Fe is the original Suståne formula, developed in 1988. Its all-purpose nature makes it ideal for a range of sports turf and landscape applications, providing a quick green up followed by long lasting slow-release organic nitrogen. For more information on this, and other products in the professional range, visit www.sustane.com

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Robotic lawnmowers surge in popularity with arrival of Spring

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Robotic lawnmowers surge in popularity with arrival of Spring: The global robot lawnmower market is experiencing rapid growth, projected to increase from roughly £2.3 billion in 2025 to about £2.7 billion in 2026. According to George Ren, CEO at Segway Navimow, the growth of the market is driven by a demand for affordable, timesaving, quiet, and eco-friendly autonomous yard maintenance.

Increasingly popular with UK gardeners tackling their gardens in time for summer, robotic lawn mowers offer a hands-free alternative to traditional manually operated petrol and electric mowers. The current market features a wide range of brands and models operating with the highest levels of efficiency and precision. The most advanced mowers now present use smart features like GPS tracking and obstacle navigation to tackle the challenges offered by lawns of all shapes and sizes.

Robotic lawnmowers surge in popularity with arrival of Spring

Robotic lawnmowers surge in popularity with arrival of Spring

“AI powered technology is firmly leaving our screens and entering our homes,” explains Ren. “The 2026 consumer electronics show in Las Vegas was awash with household robotics of all kinds, assisting with all kinds of daily tasks and there was no shortage of robotic lawnmowers. More broadly, the household robotics market is expected to reach approximately £18.53 billion by 2031, up from £9.27 billion in 2026.

“Rather than simply piling on features for the sake of more functionality, the best household robots truly meet consumer needs and do so with true autonomy. Technology should serve people, enabling them to live, create, and do what they truly want to do more freely.

“Robotic lawnmowers are not a new invention but continue to be adapted and refined to deliver true ‘senseless intelligence’ – that is, whether the robot can be like an invisible gardener. Today’s iterations handle and adapt perfectly to complex environments without any user intervention or worry.”

“Whether for commercial or household use, the essence is always ‘liberating time’, that is enabling the professional gardener or landscaper to tackle greater areas at scale and on the other hand, allowing household users to relax while their household tasks are taken care of.”

The core challenge Navimow faces is not a single technological breakthrough, but rather how to deeply integrate hardcore robotics technology with real user life scenarios.

“The most significant technological upgrades in the 2026 range are the ELFS™ LiDAR+ and Xero-Turn™ Zero-Turn Technology which will bring substantial improvements to the user experience,” Ren explains. “These upgrades are backed by massive algorithmic engineering with one sole objective: ensuring that users, over long-term use, hardly ever need to think about ‘localisation’.”

In March, save up to £200 on the Segway Navimow AWD and LiDAR Series. Prices start from £699 for the AWD series and from £999 for the LiDAR Series.[AH1]

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Elevating Grounds Care with Battery

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Elevating Grounds Care with Battery: Authorised Hayter® dealer MP Machinery has supplied three new Hayter Harrier® 56 Pro 60V battery-powered lawnmowers to RHS® Garden Harlow Carr, helping the site take a significant step forward in its sustainability strategy.

RHS® Harlow Carr has been a long-standing user of the petrol Harrier® 56 Pro, and the decision to transition to the 60V battery platform reflects both confidence in the Harrier® range and the trusted relationship the garden has built with MP Machinery over many years. The dealer worked directly with the RHS® team to specify and supply the machines, ensuring they met the garden’s professional performance requirements.

Elevating Grounds Care with Battery

Elevating Grounds Care with Battery

Toro U.K. Limited’s Territory Manager Ben Kirkby supported the installation on-site, where the new machines were introduced to the horticultural team. Images captured during the handover show the Harrier® 56 Pro 60V models in position across the grounds, demonstrating how seamlessly battery technology can be integrated into professional operations.

Craig Hoare, UK Sales & Marketing Manager for Toro U.K. Limited, commented: “MP Machinery has been instrumental in supporting RHS® Harlow Carr’s transition to battery power. Their product expertise and long-standing relationship with the garden team ensured the Harrier® 56 Pro 60V was the right choice for their sustainability goals. We’re proud to work with dealers who champion the move toward cleaner, quieter and more efficient grounds-care solutions.”

The adoption of the 60V platform highlights the combined commitment of Hayter® and its dealer network to delivering future-ready, high-performance equipment for professional users across the UK.

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Replay Strengthens Strategy with Origin Partnership

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Replay Strengthens Strategy with Origin Partnership: Replay Maintenance is stepping up its game in the natural turf sector with a new three-year supply agreement with Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS), reinforcing its commitment to delivering high-performance sports surfaces across an expanding portfolio of sites.

The agreement is a key part of Replay’s wider strategy to grow its Natural Turf Division.

Replay Strengthens Strategy with Origin Partnership

Replay Strengthens Strategy with Origin Partnership

Following a structured selection process, the partnership provides both stability and flexibility, giving Replay the confidence to plan for growth while maintaining consistent standards on every pitch. In its first year, the company expects to service over 100 natural turf surfaces, with ambitious expansion anticipated in the years ahead.

Under the deal, Replay secures a reliable supply of core OAS products, including perennial ryegrass seed mixtures, controlled-release fertilisers, herbicides, and specialist inputs designed specifically for professional sports turf. But the agreement goes beyond the basics.

Embedded technical and agronomic support means Replay teams have access to soil analysis, laboratory testing, application planning tools, seasonal guidance, and ongoing technical advice, ensuring every decision is backed by data and best-practice insight.

Commenting on the partnership, Phil Dewhurst, Regional Sales Director at Origin Amenity Solutions, said:

“Origin Amenity Solutions are proud to have won the contract with Replay Maintenance and are delighted to be working closely with the team. Together we will build a strong partnership to supply and deliver our trusted products to improve the quality and performance on newly renovated natural turf surfaces.”

Service and performance are central to the partnership. The framework incorporates clear delivery commitments, regular performance monitoring, and annual commercial reviews, helping Replay maintain quality, reliability, and operational accountability as the division grows.

The collaboration also opens opportunities for wider industry engagement. Demonstration days, technical seminars, and joint marketing initiatives are all part of the plan, giving Replay the chance to share expertise, showcase innovation, and strengthen its presence in the natural turf sector.

Matt Bartle, Group Head of Commercial Strategy at Replay Maintenance, believes the partnership will play an important role in supporting the company’s ambitions in the natural turf market.

“This partnership with Origin Amenity Solutions marks an important step forward for Replay. At our core, we’re committed to raising standards across all sports pitches, be it synthetic or natural. The opportunity to work alongside a trusted, forward-thinking supplier like Origin strengthens our ability to deliver consistent, high-quality outcomes for our clients.

By combining our national delivery capability and technical expertise with Origin’s innovative amenity solutions and product support, we can offer a more integrated approach to pitch performance, sustainability, and long-term asset care. Ultimately, this collaboration is about adding value for clubs, schools, and facility operators thereby ensuring their natural turf pitches are not only match ready, but built to perform week in, week out.”

For Replay Maintenance, this agreement is more than a supply contract. It’s a strategic move to build a robust Natural Turf Division capable of delivering consistently high standards across an increasing number of sites.

For more information, visit www.replaymaintenance.co.uk

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Kubota Powers Guards Polo Club with Reliable Fleet

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Kubota Powers Guards Polo Club with Reliable Fleet: One of the world’s most prestigious polo venues has revealed how it relies on a versatile fleet of M4, M5 and M6 tractors, alongside four RTV-X1110 utility vehicles from Kubota.

Based in Windsor Great Park, Guards Polo Club hosted more than 750 games in its 2025 season which was only possible thanks to a monumental team effort and the Kubota equipment which is at the heart of every element of polo field preparation.

Kubota Powers Guards Polo Club with Reliable Fleet

Kubota Powers Guards Polo Club with Reliable Fleet

Guards Polo is comprised of three sites and ten full-size polo fields, playing host to some of the highest levels of polo including frequent high goal tournaments. Regularly welcoming distinguished and royal players, the packed calendar from mid-April to mid-September places immense pressure on both the equipment and team of ten. Leading that team since March, is Grounds Manager Paul Brown.

“Our Kubota tractors are the heartbeat of our operations” Paul explains. “Whether we’re mowing, verti-draining or moving irrigation from field to field, we depend on these tractors.”

Paul was pleased to see a new suite of tractors, installed and supported by local dealers Lister Wilder on his arrival at Guards – put straight to work on one of the busiest seasons in the club’s history. “The two M4-073’s and two M5-112’s are the perfect blend of power and manoeuvrability, while our M6-142 picks up where the others finish, handling the heavier implements and largest-scale tasks across the farm and polo grounds.”

“They’ve stood up to every test, providing comfort and simplicity of operation for the team which is crucial given the intensity of our schedule” he adds.

With three separate sites and distances of several mile between them, the road-registered RTV-X1110s have also become indispensable – relied upon daily for transport, movement of tools and materials and general ground support. “The safety, speed and versatility of these four RTV’s is invaluable.”

Kubota’s reputation for reliability and durability was central to the club’s decision to renew its fleet earlier this year. Paul says, “Many of the machines these replaced had clocked up more than 15 years and thousands of hours of service. For us, Kubota strikes the perfect balance of dependability, performance and cost-effectiveness.”

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