OVER the years, the joke was “If you want to book a holiday, go during the first full week of September. That was because SALTEX always seemed to turn out fine and sunny. So I would imagine that hordes of industry folk might be de-camping to Cornwall or the Norfolk Broads next week instead of standing around talking about lawnmowers on a Berkshire racecourse - or not.

It’s all a bit strange for us long-time attendees, but I was in West Wales yesterday chewing the cud with a number of dealers and the consensus was that it had been a pretty good season, August was disappointing (as usual), but that they were rolling up their sleeves for a good back-end. Which always was an issue for dealers, for groundsmen, for contractors – all working with lean staffing levels to get away during a month where the grass grows vigorously and the nights are drawing in.

For that reason alone, the shift in timing by the IOG to November looks sense.

Now, fathers up and down the land are starting to get in their excuses why they will have to opt out of the bonfire and fireworks party because they are talking lawnmowers in Birmingham!

ANOTHER damn silly survey which the media like to pick up on. This time, a survey by a manufacturer of patio furniture claims that a quarter of British lawns no longer have any real grass in the garden – and that one in ten gardens now have artificial grass. Pull the other one!

‘Quelle surprise’.  We all know that developers of new-builds are allowing less and less space for a lawns, and the rise and rise of car ownership means that the traditional front lawn is more likely to accommodate a vehicle than a finely manicured patch of grass.

And yes, artificial grass has come on in strides in recent years. But the good stuff, when installed properly is expensive, still needs care – and is no substitute for the environmental benefits of natural grass.

Survey after survey puts either the pleasure of walking across grass in bare-feet or the smell of cut grass after rain as some of the most sensual experiences.  Why else would a major cruise line use the installation of a real grass areas on deck as a major selling point?


SAD NEWS abut the death of Richard Smith. He worked for a number of farm and turfcare companies, and in some cases that might indicate insecurity. But not with Richard. He had an enquiring mind, was determined to make his mark, was never satisfied with the latest model - and in many ways it was a pity that his time in developing the Beaver range should be cut short by the intervention of Hutchins on the acquisition trail.  Throughout his career, Richard was consistently polite and a pleasure to be around.  Our thoughts are with his wife Liz and children Rosie and Douglas