GroundsFest Academy recently teamed up with Kress to host a free educational event showcasing the latest developments in commercial landscaping technology.

Held at Bearwood Park Training Ground, the home of Reading FC's training facilities, the one-day event combined presentations with live demonstrations, covering topics including battery-powered equipment, robotic mowing, commercial battery systems, operator safety and current legislation.

Attendees also saw demonstrations of Kress commercial products, including robotic mowers, blowers, brush cutters, hedge trimmers and the CyberTank Power Station, before taking a behind-the-scenes tour of the training ground to see how the site is maintained.

Jim Kirkwood, director of product management at Kress UK, said the Academy offered a valuable opportunity for professionals to explore emerging technology. "It's a great opportunity to learn on a one-to-one basis, discover new equipment, understand new technology and see how it could improve their business, increase efficiencies and help prepare for the future," he said.

Among those attending was Ewen Kenny, assistant groundsman at Cheltenham College, who said he had attended to gain a better understanding of robotic technology and its role in sports turf management.

The event forms part of the GroundsFest Academy programme, which delivers free CPD-focused educational events throughout the year, supported by industry partners.