At the recent UK Lawncare Network conference an address was given by Professor John Moverley, Independent Chairman of the Amenity Forum.

He told the assembled delegates, "For too long the excellent work in our sector maintaining amenity surfaces has been under recognised. What is done every day keeps Britain moving, through weed control of our road and rail networks, our sports surfaces, our gardens and lawns and more.

"In many ways, Britain sets the standard and it is important that we shout about this a little more."

His message of taking pride in one's work, of course applies across all turf professional sectors, not just the amenity market. Work undertaken by readers of this Weekly Briefing contributes to the quality of life, as well as to the and heath and wellbeing, of communities all across the UK - not to mention the vital role played in professional sports.

So this concept of taking pride in one's work should be one which the turf professional fully embraces.

What does it mean though to take pride in your work? Maison Piedfort of project management company, Workzone, describes the concept as "a subtle mixture of humility and self-confidence: a delicate balance that says, 'I must prove myself again and again through my work, - yet at the same time, says, 'I’m confident that I can prove myself again and again with my work.'"

It's the idea of wanting to do a great job, even when no-one's looking. Of course the fruits of a turf professional's labour by their nature will always be on public display in one form or another - but the motivation for doing great work comes not from thinking how your boss or the public will judge you, more from the standards to which you hold yourself.

Inevitably though there will be times where we all feel a little beleaguered and undervalued in our roles - which can have an adverse effect on the pride we feel in our work.

Employment company Wisestep offer some tips for those who may be struggling currently to feel a real sense pride in their work. These include:

Build a good reputation:
Try to build a good reputation by having a constant record of stellar performance. Try to always produce the best results as much as possible.

Always try to improve:
As a working individual, always try to know about things that you don’t know of. Then, try to learn from that and slowly improve by yourself. Someone who constantly improves is more likely to take claim of their own work.

Know what you know:
Try to improve the quality of the knowledge that you already have. This can either be in the form of experience or acquired knowledge.

Gaining trust:
Try to build and develop a sense of trust among your colleagues and fellow peers. Gaining a considerate amount of trust means that you will feel more confident about your work and will feel more determined to get the work done so as not to disappoint others.

Feeling self-respect in your job:
Consider your skills, knowledge, and power and try to think whether you have applied these factors to your work properly. Try to think whether you have met the expectations and the needs of your employer. If not, then you have a self-defeating attitude.

Make good use of your time:
As an employee you have the responsibility to do well in that specific job. This is necessary because you are responsible for your own actions. So you owe yourself to become more productive and be an asset to your employer.

How you apply yourself at work:
When you are someone who takes pride in your work, regardless of the job, you find the job to be really important and give the most priority to the task that you are working on. Thus, this will also affect the results that you produce.

Turf Professionals have so much to be proud of. The work performed year round, often in challenging conditions, means so much to so many different groups of people. Experts will tell you, if one particular task is getting you down effecting your overall feelings of pride, it's worth stopping for a moment to consider the importance of the task to the greater whole. 

It's a valuable exercise to appreciate just how vital a role you are performing.

Members of the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) Young Board of Directors recently joined members of Liverpool FC’s grounds team in encouraging youngsters to ‘Get into Grounds’ at Anfield Stadium.

The IOG’s ‘Schools into Stadia’ initiative introduces schoolchildren to the art of groundsmanship through a series of one-day workshops, showcasing the profession as an ideal opportunity to work in an outdoor environment within sport.

The pupils covered all aspects of a grounds person’s role, including maintenance and use of equipment, as well as pitch construction, maintenance and match-day procedure during their visit to Anfield

Pupils from three local high schools - North Liverpool Academy, Alsop High School and Notre Dame Catholic College - were invited to Anfield through the club’s Red Neighbours scheme. The children covered all aspects of a grounds person’s role, including maintenance and use of equipment, as well as pitch construction, maintenance and match-day procedure.

Liverpool FC grounds staff and the IOG group, alongside a representative from Myerscough College, also provided practical advice on how to pursue a career in the industry and explained the link between groundsmanship and academic subjects such as biology, maths, geography and technology.

David Roberts, the club’s grounds manager, said: “We’re really pleased to be able to showcase our profession to the students and give them a real insight into what it means to be part of a grounds team.”

Geoff Webb, IOG CEO, added: “Liverpool FC is an iconic club and the standard of sports turf at both the stadium and training grounds is world class.

“The IOG is helping local students, aged 14 to 15, to better understand the many facets of grounds management and encouraging young people to consider a rewarding career in groundsmanship.

“Schools into Stadia is aimed at GSCE-level students by taking the principles of sports turf management and linking it to the school curriculum. It’s a great initiative and we thank Liverpool FC for hosting this event and helping to showcase careers in groundsmanship.”

The European Turfgrass Society (ETS) has released details of its 6th research conference which will take place at the Renaissance Manchester City Hotel, 2-4 July.

Entitled 'Different Shades Of Green', the ETS organises its scientific turfgrass conference every two years. Italy (2008), France (2010), Norway (2012), Germany (2014) and Portugal (2016) were the previous hosts of the event.

The Organising Committee, with Dr Stewart Brown, as convener, say the ETS Conferences are an excellent forum for scientists, consultants, companies and practitioners to discuss technical issues related with the study of turfgrass. They say their ambition this year is to "provide a forum to spread innovative applications for the benefit of the turfgrass industry promoting the exchange of information among turfgrass specialists from universities, official organisations and private companies."

The main sessions spread across the three days will be:

Session 1: Sustainable Turfgrass Management
Keynote Speaker: Steve Isaac – Director Sustainability – The R&A

Session 2: Turfgrass Nutrition and Irrigation
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Micah Woods – Asian Turfgrass Center

Session 3: Turfgrass Pests, Diseases & Weeds
Keynote Speaker – Dr. Ruth Mann – Head of Research – STRI

Session 4: Turfgrass Breeding

Session 5: Turfgrass Technology

Keynote Speaker – Dr. Mike Richardson – University of Arkansas

Session 6: Amenity & Landscape
Keynote Speaker – Dr. Tom Young – Research Manager STRI

Technical Tour
Comprising visits to Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI), Manchester City Football Club & Campey Turfcare Systems.

For more information visit the conference website.

Worcestershire CCC's Supporters’ Association have donated £15,000 to head groundsman Tim Packwood to enable him to upgrade equipment needed to maintain the condition of Blackfinch New Road.

The club's website says a new tractor and two rotary mowers were on Tim’s wish list for 2018.

Now because of the financial aid from the Supporters’ Association, he will be able to go ahead and purchase them in readiness for the new campaign.

The Association had also donated a similar amount 12 months ago which was used to buy sheeting to cover the main square, new side sheets to hook onto the wheeled covers, new cover tops for those wheeled covers plus an electric mower.

Tim Packwood told the club's website, “Every year I come up with a wish list of items that are required or need replacing.

“The tractor we had was approaching the end of its working days after many years and we very much needed a new one.

“Again we are delighted that the Supporters’s Association are able to finance a new one in addition to the two rotary mowers.

“Their help in such matters is always appreciated and they do a fantastic job in giving their support to many areas of the club.”

Supporters’ Association chairman Andrew Jenkins was quoted, saying, “We are delighted to help Tim again purchase some of the things on his wish list for 2018.

“We feel it is vital to help the ground-staff wherever possible. Good outfields and playing conditions are paramount at any cricket club.

“The ground-staff often have to work under challenging conditions after, for example, a flood of the ground.

“We are only to glad to help them with new equipment in anyway we can.”

Worcestershire CCC chairman Stephen Taylor said, “The Supporters’ Association has always had a significant and major role to play with the County and that continues to be the case.

“Their latest help with Tim and his requirements for this summer is much appreciated.”

Scamblers, based in Bourn, Cambridgeshire, believe they now have a complete portfolio of groundscare machinery after they were confirmed as Etesia UK’s newest dealer.

First established in 1974, the family owned business specialise in supplying compact tractors, bank tractors, mowers, utility vehicles and groundscare machinery for every aspect of turf and grounds maintenance. However, Ed Scambler, company director, admitted that he was keen to strengthen the portfolio of products and this led him to Etesia.

“Etesia is a brand that I have been wanting to sell for around twenty years now,” he says. “However, due to prior agreements we had in place we were not really able to do that. I had been looking to complete a whole portfolio of good quality commercial and domestic equipment and I think that with the addition of Etesia, we have finally completed that portfolio.”

With immediate effect, Scamblers will now supply the full range of Etesia grounds care equipment.

“Until very recently, previous agreements have dictated what we sell but now we are in a position to sell what we think is best for the customer. We have been able to go out and hand pick the products that we want and I am confident that with Etesia on-board, it now means we have the most comprehensive range of equipment.”

Head Groundsman Mike Herring, of Berkhamsted School, and his team have their work cut out maintaining over 40 acres of grounds and sports facilities over six schools, on five different sites, across Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. 

Trilo at Berkhamsted School

“We offer facilities for a range of both winter and summer sports - rugby, football, cricket, athletics and lacrosse play a big part in the curricular and extra-curricular life of our students” explains Mike who has worked at Berkhamsted School for 38 years.

“Across the sites, the number of mature trees pose us problems at certain times of the year, so we looked at various options to make the job of leaf collection easier and more efficient.” Having read up about the Trilo range of blowers and collectors, as well as seeing them at trade shows, Mike had a demonstration of a BL960 and S4 in the summer of 2017.

“I was instantly impressed with the build quality of the machines, they’re well engineered and straight forward to operate and both perform very well. Having taken delivery of the units in September, they were straight out into the field for a busy autumn. One of our sites is completely surrounded by trees so we got out with the BL960 to blow the leaves to the perimeter of the pitches before using the S4 to collect them in one or two passes. This saves us driving a heavier unit across a surface multiple times thereby causing issues with compaction and drainage.”

Throughout the process, support was provided by Jeremy Vincent of Trilo as well as Mark House from local dealer Ernest Doe.

“All the help we’ve had from Jeremy, right through from demonstration to installation, has been excellent - everything was explained fully and the training was thorough. We also have the benefit of back up support from Ernest Doe which for us as a small team is invaluable.”

Charterhouse Turf Machinery have announced the appointment of Mona Tractor Company as their dealer for North Wales.

Richard Lucas of Charterhouse (left) with Gethin Pritchard of Mona Tractor Company

With three depots in the area, in Ruthin, Llanystumdwy and Anglesey, they are well placed to deliver sales and customer support on a wide range of Redexim machinery for natural turf surfaces.

Mona Tractor Company are a family run company, celebrating their 40th year in trade throughout 2018. They pride themselves on providing a professional and personal service through their workshop, parts and sales departments and stock a wide range of tractors and machinery for the agricultural, landscape and sports turf sectors.

Commenting on the appointment, Central UK Territory Manager for Charterhouse Richard Lucas said, “We are extremely pleased to be working with Mona Tractor Company, they have a fantastic reputation for sales and aftercare in the area which is most important to our customers. I’m personally looking forward to working with them to enhance the area, provide the best solutions and support for all of our new and existing customers.”

Gethin Pritchard, Turf Machinery Sales Manager for Mona Tractors added, “We’re delighted to be working together with Charterhouse and adding their vast range of machinery to our portfolio. We have a vast customer base and we’re confident that the versatile and efficient Redexim products will satisfy the demands of today’s ground professionals.”

Moor Hall Golf Club say their latest Toro machinery fleet has been curated to bring the club the latest technological advancements, tackle particular environmental considerations and make specific improvements.

Moor Hall course manager Wayne Ganning, right, with Reesink’s Jon Lewis and the Toro fleet

Course manager Wayne Ganning at the club based in Sutton Coldfield created a wish list and with the help of Reesink Turfcare and dealer Redtech Machinery now says he has a fleet he can rely on to produce results, make savings and implement a more responsible course management programme.

The fleet features two of Toro’s latest UK launches - the brand new GreensPro 1260 and the GeoLink Precision Spray System – and 15 greens, tees and roughs mowers, top dressers, aerators and UTVs vehicles.

Wayne says, “Despite being a 100 percent Toro club, this is actually the first fleet we’ve brought in. Our machinery replacement programme for the last decade has seen us bring in a couple of new machines a year, but this year I presented my colleagues Jon Lewis at Reesink and Graham Hall at Redtech with plan of what I wanted to achieve with the course and they pulled out all of the stops to make sure I got what I needed.”

In opting for the GeoLink, Moor Hall was one of the first clubs in the country to reap the benefits of precision spraying. GPS technology and a single nozzle level control means application is accurate to within 10mm. The system automatically turns individual sprinklers on and off based on the machine’s exact location and the boundaries set, and thus virtually eliminates waste.

Wayne says of this decision: “We are making a concerted effort to be more environmentally friendly in our approach to course management. The GeoLink is a fantastic and effective way to do this. Not only do we make a difference to the amount of chemicals we’re putting on the ground, but there are significant savings to be made when there is far less wastage.”

The unique ‘Florida style’ Bransford Golf Course at Worcester’s Bank House Hotel provides a challenge, not only to players of all abilities, but also to the greens team.

For his nutritional programme, Golf Course Manager Graham Wallace turned to Headland Amenity and Regional Manager Adi Masters to keep it playing to the highest of standards - solving an issue with flushes of growth that had started to become difficult to manage.

Graham Wallace

“I’ve used Headland products for nearly 20 years,” says Graham, “We apply their fertilisers and chemicals all over the course. For a number of years now we’ve used various formulations of Multigreen temperature controlled release fertiliser on the fairways. Though this provided the high quality of grass and coverage we desired, in a warm spring, the initial flush of growth it delivered was increasing the amount of cutting required. We wanted to find a way to drop the growth back a bit whilst retaining the grass quality.”

Graham ran a trial across four of his fairways, comparing various products applied at varying rates to assess efficiency and results. A competitor product with a similar analysis to Multigreen was applied at two different rates on two of the fairways, an alternative Headland product was trialled on the third and Graham’s normal choice, Multigreen 28.3.15, on the final fairway.

“We applied all of the products in April, except for the Multigreen which Adi suggested we put down in March. His reason was that it contains both quick and slow release sources of Nitrogen and applying it in April, when the temperature satisfied the release of both, is what caused the initial flush of growth.”

“Though we achieved reasonable results from all of the products across our trial plots, in my opinion the Multigreen outperformed them in terms of the sward density, colour, health, longevity and overall performance. By simply applying it a month earlier, we avoided the double whammy of nutrient release that was causing the flush of growth.

"Eight months after the initial application, Multigreen was still delivering growth and solid results from its single application. Not only that but we’ve also now managed to cut back on the amount of growth regulator we’re having to apply, saving us around £600 a year.”