The next few weeks are going to be a busy time for myself as I will be trialling some Eliet pedestrian machinery, kindly supplied by PSD Groundscare. 
PSD was launched at the BTME exhibition in 2004 when directors Chris Gibson and Stuart Mercer started looking for a service lift for the workshops of their dealership business GGM Groundscare. 

Since then the business has grown into a thriving machinery dealership supplying a large range of groundscare equipment. It was after a chat with Chris Gibson last year that I had the opportunity to trial their popular pedestrian Eliet E450ZR scarifier and the Eliet DZC450 disc seeder.

Michael Groves instructing on the safe use of these machines 

Both machines were delivered last Monday evening by PSD’s business development manager Michael Groves, who gave instruction how to use both machines. My plan will be to test these two machines out on a variety of both domestic and amenity turf situations. I will be ably assisted by John Breeze, local greenkeeper and ex England bowls player who is keen to test them on some of the bowling greens he looks after.

I am also hoping we will be able to put them through their paces at Harper Adams University where their estates manager Mark Hall will be seeing how they cope. 

The timing could not be better as we are now entering into the spring period when temperatures are rising into double figures and stimulating some much-needed grass growth.

It is at this time of the year after a long, cold and difficult winter, that lawns and playing surfaces need a plethora of spring renovations to help kick start nature’s grass growing season. 

The following activities are generally implemented during a Spring lawn renovation programme and usually carried out in the following order:

1. Mowing the sward, preparing surfaces for renovation.
2. Weed & moss treatment.
3. Scarification, removal of unwanted debris.
4. Aeration, decompaction of soil, improving air and gas exchange in soil.
5. Top dressing to restore levels and improve surface drainage.
6. Overseeding to restore grass populations.
7. Fertilising to provide nutrients for grass growth.
8. Brushing to incorporate dressings and to help the grass stand back up.
9. Watering / irrigation if required. 

With this programme in mind, the opportunity to use the loaned equipment will form a major part of these spring renovations. I will endeavour to discover how these two machines perform over the coming weeks. 

Spring renovations

A decent spring renovation should be an essential part of your annual maintenance programme. Taking the opportunity to repopulate areas with new seed will be a key activity to help ensure we have plenty of new vigorous grass cover for the coming growing season. Grass seed, like most materials, has gone up significantly in price so it is important we get good seed soil contact to ensure the seed germinates. It will be interesting to see the results of using this the disc seeder. 

Not only should we be considering our spring renovations, but come end of April / early May, rugby and football clubs will be undertaking their end of season renovations. It is now imperative to start planning the work you need doing on your pitches. You will need to allow enough time to order materials or, more importantly, the contractor who may be required to carry out the work.

End of season renovations are essential for maintaining the quality and health of a playing surfaces for a number of reasons, including - 

Improved playing surface: End of season renovations help to maintain a high-quality playing surface. This is achieved by repairing any damage to the surface caused by wear and tear, disease, or weather conditions. A well-maintained surface enhances the quality of play and reduces the risk of injury to players.

Increased durability: End of season renovations also increase the durability of the playing surface. By repairing any damage, the surface is better able to withstand wear and tear, which extends its lifespan.

Disease prevention: End of season renovations can help to prevent the spread of diseases on the playing surface. By removing any diseased or infected plant material, the risk of disease spreading is greatly reduced.

Improved drainage: End of season renovations often involve improving the drainage of the playing surface. This is important for maintaining a safe and playable surface, as standing water can increase the risk of injury to players.

Cost-effective: End of season renovations can be cost-effective in the long run. By maintaining a high-quality playing surface, the need for costly repairs or replacements is reduced.

End of season renovations are important for maintaining the health, safety, and quality of a playing surface. They help to prolong the lifespan of the surface and provide a better playing experience for players.

Budgets will dictate what can be achieved, however, it is important to carry out this basic renovation work. 

To summarise, cleaning out the sward (scarification), decompacting the soil profile (aeration), introducing new grasses (reseeding), while finally feeding (fertilising ) the sward will enhance growth. 

If budgets allow you could also top dress with rootzone or sand dressing. This requires between 60- 100 tonnes to be applied per pitch depending on needs. 

St Stephen Parish Council recently experienced a waterlogging problem with their playing field at Bricket Wood, upon which they say normal aeration had little or no effect.

Following a site visit, work began by specialists Terrain Aeration, on the 8,726 square metre area. The ground was found to be too boggy for the company to use their usual Super Scamper Terralift machine, so they used their Tracker Terralift. This was able to move around the site without slipping and sliding on the wet ground.

The machine works on the same principle with a JCB hammer driving a probe to a depth of one metre. Compressed air is injected which fractures the soil, creating fissures to allow the water to drain and air to get to the grass roots. The process is repeated at two metre intervals on a grid system so the fissures interlink. As the probe withdraws, dried seaweed is injected which expands and contracts and helps keep the ground ‘open’.

“Several members of staff came along to observe,” says St Stephen’s genior groundsman Matthew Huddleston. “It’s a fascinating process. When the air is released, you can visibly see the ground move. What we didn’t know, until the metre-deep probe discovered one, is there are drainage pipes under the field. Water started to come up to the surface, so we needed to investigate further.” 

Matthew used an excavator and found clogged drains which were unblocked. Water was then gushing down the drainage pipes. Terrain Aeration carried on aerating the whole site and the field showed immediate signs of improvement. 

“We are all very pleased with the results, especially now the drains are running,” says Matthew. “We’re now considering having Terrain Aeration deep aerate some of our other sports pitches.” 

Kubota (UK) Ltd has approved use of the paraffinic fuels HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) and GTL (Gas To Liquid) in all its diesel engines, which they say will contribute to a lower carbon footprint for Kubota internal combustion engines.

Approval follows the company's internal evaluation of these alternative fuels. It has confirmed that any paraffinic fuel that complies with the European standard EN15940, is suitable for use in all its diesel engines. 

“This is a tremendous benefit for operators who are required to meet environmental conditions where CO2 emissions are monitored and measured,” explained Tim Yates, Kubota (UK)’s agricultural and ground care sales manager. “For those working in urban locations for example, or with county councils and environmental projects, achieving a lower carbon footprint is now possible with Kubota powered equipment.”

The manufacturer says they recognise that HVO, which is synthesised from vegetable oil and fat, and GTL which is synthesised from natural gas, are becoming increasingly popular as alternative fuels due to their environmental benefits that offer reduced emissions.

Tim continued, “This is another example of Kubota’s engineering excellence, to enable a change in approved fuel without any modification. It provides owners and operators with yet another fuel choice, to suit their operating environment.”

When using these fuels, operators should comply with any appropriate local regulations in the areas being used say Kubota. There is no requirement to flush fuel tanks or change filters, as HVO and GTL are safe to mix with diesel. Nor are there changes to existing maintenance intervals or warranty conditions when using these fuels. Operators may notice a slight degradation in engine performance from using the lower density paraffinic fuels, compared to diesel.

Boss ORV, the sole UK distributor of Corvus Off-Road Vehicles, has moved into new headquarters.

L-R: Phil Everett, md; Vanessa Robinson, operations manager; James Crawford, technical support and warehouse manager; and Matt Richardson, after sales manager

The company says the move is another major landmark for themselves, who started trading in 2019 importing the Corvus Terrain 4x4 side-by-side utility vehicles.

“We have had three years of extraordinary growth,” says Phil Everett, the Boss ORV managing director. “We have managed to outgrow our existing facilities in half the time we expected. The opening of new offices in Staffordshire puts us right at the heart of the UK and central to all the major road networks.

"All our dealer support functions will be based here, including a brand-new stores facility which allows us to stock a much larger quantity and diversity of spare parts and accessories.”

Phil attributes the expansion of the business to the rapid acceptance of the Corvus Terrain vehicles by both dealers and users as a major contender across a wide range of markets. 

“The Corvus dealer network has grown substantially to meet the needs of users in groundscare agriculture, construction, amenities and private estates to name but a few,” says Phil.

Polaris UK have welcomed a new dealer, Halls of Bromyard, to their network.

Based in Bromyard, Herefordshire the family-owned business specialises garden and estate machinery and in motor vehicle repairs.

On top of offering the full Polaris utility and Youth line-up, Halls of Bromyard also offer servicing on site, collection and delivery of vehicles that need to be serviced, and service packages on new and used units. Additionally, they stock a range of Polaris accessories and parts. 

Rob Hall, owner of Halls of Bromyard, said, “After months of research and an increasing interest from our long-standing customers, we knew Polaris was the off-road vehicle brand we wanted to be a part of.”

ROBOTIC POTENTIAL

CHANGEOVER TIME

WE MUST DEVELOP OUR OWN STAFF

by guest editor, Karl McDermott

DOUBLE CENTURY CELEBRATED

OUR PARKS IN CRISIS

AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS

OPTIMISM RETURNING
By Guest Editor, Roy Rigby

WATERLOGGING ISSUES

NEW YEAR, NEW FEATURES

View all of 2022's blogs here

View all of 2021's blogs here

View all of 2020's blogs here

View all of 2019's blogs here

View all of 2018's blogs here

ANOTHER NAIL IN THE COFFIN OF GRASSROOTS RUGBY
Clubs are struggling

SUSTAINABILITY IN PRACTICE
Seeking transparent and robust supply chains is essential

TIME FOR ACTION
To reverse recruitment crisis

CONTROLLING COSTS
Planning is crucial

THE SEARCH FOR SUSTAINABILITY
What exactly does the term mean?

CARING FOR THE GRASSROOTS
From volunteers to contractors

DEFRA IS LETTING DOWN THE COUNTRY
Complete failure to address the plastic grass debate

WE CAN ALL DO MORE
To aid biodiversity

MY LIFE IN GREENKEEPING
With Bruce Cruickshank

LEVELLING UP, GETTING SMARTER & GETTING AHEAD
Parks require so much more funding

SWITCHED ON FOR HARD WORK
Putting trimmers through their paces

MACHINERY HIGHLIGHTS
At this year's show

MY SALTEX
Daniel Lewis​, Manchester City Football Club

AWASH WITH LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Two months till showtime

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD
Priorities for the amenity sector

THE DECLINE OF ‘PARKITECTURE’
A symptom of the state of parks in 2022

DEVELOPERS SHIRKING GREEN SPACE RESPONSIBILITIES
Lack of financial commitment

TIME TO COME TOGETHER
For the good of the industry

THE DEATH OF GRASS ROOTS CRICKET
Gathering apace?

ROUTES INTO THE INDUSTRY MUST BE ENSURED
Q&A with David Fisher, Lantra’s head of industry partnerships

STRONG VIEWS ON CRICKET PITCH PERFORMANCE MARKING
A bone of contention

A PREMIUM PRODUCT
Delivered at Naas Golf Club

THE GREEN REVOLUTION
And Esker Hills

MAKING A CHANGE
Laytown and Bettystown Golf Links

A DAY AT THE RACES
Naas Race Course

WORKING TOGETHER AS ONE VOICE
How the industry needs to proceed

OVER 175 YEARS OF EDUCATION
Wesley College

ELECTRIC EXCITEMENT
Dennis's Ian Howard talks electrification

THE HOME OF CORK GAA
Páirc Uí Chaoimh

LONG POLE BATTERY HEDGE TRIMMERS TESTED
STIHL HLA 66 and HLA 86

OVER 800 YEARS OF HISTORY
Johnstown Castle and Gardens

A CLUB GONE WILD
Kilkenny Golf Club

A GOLF COURSE IN THE GARDEN OF IRELAND
Woodenbridge GC

80 YEARS YOUNG
Charleville Golf Club

AN UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE
Bunclody Golf & Fishing Club

GETTING BACK TOGETHER
Albeit gradually . .

GO WEST
Inishturk GAA pitch – one of the most westerly sportspitches in Europe

WORKING ON A TIGHT BUDGET
Nenagh Golf Club

ON A MISSION
Wrekin Golf Club aiming to enrich wildlife and fauna

WILD AND WONDERFUL
Design By Nature

LEARNING HOW TO SURVIVE
Abbey Par 3

TACKLING OBESITY
Vital that schools can provide sport

A LIFETIME OF LEARNING
Vital for turf professionals

CELEBRATING 125 YEARS
Tullamore Golf Club

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGES
At Trinity College Dublin

BLENDING THE OLD WITH THE NEW
Bray Golf Club

A WELL POLISHED COURSE!
Ierne Social And Sports Club

IDENTIFYING THE TRUE VALUES
Of grounds maintenance

THE INDUSTRY WILL CHANGE & ADAPT
But it will survive

WIRRAL GOLF COURSES SAVED
Renewed hope and optimism for the future

GREEN SPACE CONTRIBUTION TO WELLBEING IS UNDERVALUED
Parks invisible on national agenda

A SHINING LIGHT IN IRELAND'S SUNNY SOUTHEAST
Wexford Golf Club

GREEN SPACES DO NOT LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES!
Keith Kent says we must invest in people

WE SHOULD TELL THE WORLD ABOUT THE UK INDUSTRY
Right time for all sides to come together

SOIL LIFE IS PRECIOUS
Good-quality soil can help save the planet

MORE THAN JUST CUTTING GRASS
Encouraging the next generation

A BUZZ FROM DOING THE JOB
Wide experience of the turf grass industry

PAYING THEIR WAY
Low wages is the bane of the industry

AMENITY MANAGEMENT IMPACTS US ALL
Professor John Moverley

CARING FOR PARKS OF ALL TYPES
Mary Worrall

TOP FIVE FRUSTRATIONS FOR CRICKET GROUNDSMEN
What causes you the most frustration in your role?

PROFESSIONALS AT THE CUTTING EDGE
Vic Demain and Phil Sharples

BOWLS CLUBS IN PERIL
A sad decline

A VERY SPECIAL INDUSTRY
Loz looks back

SNEAK PEAK AT A ROBOTIC "GAME CHANGER"
Commercial model capable of covering 50,000 m2 teased

HALESOWEN PICK A BIG ROBOT UP FRONT
Invest in mowers

COMPRESSED AERATION
The new way

PARKS MATTER MORE THAN EVER
Recent sector developments

ON TEST
STIHL blowers

THREE CORE VALUES TO SHAPE OUR INDUSTRY
Real concerns for the future

ENGLAND'S GREEN SPACE GAP
A split along racial lines

ON TEST
EGO STX3800 strimmer with RTX2300 Rotocut head

A SECTOR FACING IMPORTANT TIMES
Review of the National Action Plan

PARKS MATTER
The role of public parks in the recovery: a discussion paper

A UNIQUE SPORTING VENUE
Wormsley private estate

A BTME OUTDOORS?
A good bet for the industry

PARKS NEED APPROPRIATE POLITICAL REPRESENTATION
Q&A with Philippa Reece, Parks and Foreshore Manager at Adur and Worthing Council

CRICKET LOAM
What does it mean?

A HERCULEAN EFFORT TO GET PARKS BACK TO NORMAL
Q&A with Chris Worman, Rugby Borough Council’s parks and ground manager

ON TEST
STIHL battery products

TURFGRASS STRESS MANAGEMENT
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and antioxidants during biotic and abiotic stress in turfgrass plants

AUTUMN DISEASE MANAGEMENT
The coming months are going to prove very difficult

THE ABUSE OF PARKS . .
Is the abuse of society

WHY PARKS MATTER?
A statement from the Parks Management Forum to the Prime Minister

THE 21st CENTURY PARKS MANAGER
Innovative, creative and entrepreneurial

EAT, SLEEP, CUT, REPEAT!
Cricket under covid

TIME FOR A SINGLE SHOW?
Debate brought back into focus

A CHALLENGING TWO MONTHS
Running golf design projects from home

PRESSURE SITUATION
Cementing the reputation

A CLUB TO BE PROUD OF
10 years at the helm of Olton GC

GAME CHANGERS IN TURFCARE
The day the Lord's outfield reconstruction proved its worth

THE ESSENCE OF ESSENTIAL
Finding a sensible way forward on defining "essential maintenance"

THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS
2001

HOW TO LOOK AFTER A GOLF COURSE WITH NO GOLFERS
Fundamental to the survival of almost all courses, if not of the game itself

RAIN STOPPED PLAY WOULD BE WELCOME
. . along with ‘lunch is being taken early’

PHYSICAL CONTROL OF TURFGRASS PESTS
An urgent problem

A DIVERSE & ENTERTAINING WEEK
Successful BTME 2020

INTEGRATED PEST CONTROL
Opportunity to embrace new methods

ENVILLE ON THE UP
Major investments taking place

GREEN FLAG AWARDS 2019
A great success

U.S PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT SHOW EXCELS
Buoyant GIE+EXPO

LEGACY OF THE SOLHEIM CUP
At Gleneagles

A DAY OUT WITH THE LADIES
Behind the scenes at the Solheim Cup

COVENTRY UNIVERSITY'S EDIBLE GARDEN SUCCESS
2006 - present

HAIL THE GRASS MASTERS!
Boorish media comments about pitch quality are wide of the mark

CONTRACTOR SEES MULTI-DISCIPLINE SUCCESS
360 Ground Care serving professional facilities

BUSY TIMES
Judging the Green Flag Awards

TAKING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH
What does it all mean in managing turf surfaces?

UNDER PRESSURE
Dry weather conditions continue to keep turf managers focused on moisture management

EDDIE SEAWARD
Death of Wimbledon’s influential grounds manager

MAJOR NEW IRRIGATION PROJECT
At Top 100 classic Berkhamsted Golf Club

NEW HORIZONS FOR THE HATTERS
Investment paying off at Kenilworth Road

ELIZABETHAN RESTORATION
At Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens

WHAT IS BIOPHILIA?
The vital impact of parks and green spaces on health and well-being

WORM CONTROL
Without carbendazim

THE TRUE COST OF PETROL
Battery-powered outdoor power tools are now turning the heads of professionals

SANDS OF TIME
Sand-based pitches are now the norm in professional sports

WHY DO WE DO THE RIGHT THING?
We must maintain industry standards

CHASING GRASS PERFECTION?
11 things you need to know . . .

MAINTAINING STANDARDS
Q&A with BASIS ceo, Stephen Jacobs

STRI RESEARCH DAY 2018
Hosted at research trial grounds in Bingley

THE MECHANIC
Leicester City FC invest in new role

LORD'S 'GRASS-GUVNOR' TO RETIRE
Mick Hunt bows out after 49 years

HOLLOW CORING & DEEP SCARIFICATION
Is it really necessary?

In the first of this series of articles, we sought to get a clearer definition of what sustainability is and what it means to an organisation, especially in the amenity horticulture sector. Sustainability comprises three pillars or components namely economic viability, environmental protection and social equity. The definition of these is important when any organisation seeks to become more sustainable, or indeed seeks to deliver more sustainable products and services to its customers. The remaining articles on this subject will now look more closely at various sub sectors of, and activities in amenity, and those providing services to them which hopefully will help all readers in their own search for sustainability. Last time we considered Sustainability In Practice.

This month we focus on some of those very much at the sharp end in amenity management, the green keeper and the parks manager/ supervisor. How can they put sustainability into practice?

Gleneagles GC 

These are challenging economic times with spiraling input prices, pressures on individual’s spending and more. The chill wind is reaching everyone and the pressures on those who manage and operate golf courses, related sports facilities and our parks and urban amenity spaces are high. However, despite all of this, those directly involved are still expected to produce high quality areas which are fit for purpose even though budgets are squeezed. So how can he or she focus on sustainability and how will that help? 

Sustainability on the Golf Course

Firstly, a look at golf. From the outset, it is important to remember those three components of sustainability. The first key task in any situation is to be economically viable – in other words deliver to a budget. The cost of purchasing inputs such as machinery and fertilisers, as well as the overhead costs including labour, must be met by income generated, and so, can actions to improve sustainability contribute to reducing costs? The answer is yes. Sustainable practice is in my mind best defined as good practice. It is about adopting that integrated approach, developing a preventative culture in terms of weed, pests and diseases rather than a problem solving one and creating the very best conditions for grass growth and health which will inevitably lead to lower costs of its maintenance. 

Just one example of such action is tree planting. Trees are fantastic means of carbon capture, provide landscaping and add to the player challenge. However planting in the right place is essential. A tree planted today is going to grow and this must be assessed at the outset. Many cases are reported now of trees planted 50 or so years ago looming over a fine turf playing surface. Grass, as we know, is a full sun loving plant and often will not perform very well in shade. Removal of these trees may be difficult but, in the overall picture of creating a more sustainable course with less turf disease, it may be absolutely the right thing to do. With less pesticides now available, the removal of trees (now in the wrong place) will assist directly in managing a fine turf playing surface, with less intervention for disease, as natural sunlight and improved airflow will assist greatly. It is sustainable practice in action, especially if new trees are also planted in the right place.

Enville GC 

One more example of sustainable practice is the encouragement of eco rough around the site. Holistically managed eco rough reduces mowing and therefore reduces fuel costs, man hours, and carbon footprint. This can also have an added effect as more birdlife, flora and fauna is attracted to the course and greater bio-diversity achieved. There are many other things that can be implemented which provide sustainable practice by protecting and enhancing the environment and, in terms of social factors such as net carbon objectives. These can also make sound economic sense. When planning course maintenance and design, small steps which help deliver sustainability can be implemented within the objective of providing quality, fit for purpose playing areas, but always with environmental and ecological considerations in mind. 

Adopting a green mind set

This is not green washing - sadly there are many examples of that - but it is about adopting a green mind set, still ensuring owner and player requirements are met but with decisions always considering sustainability issues. It is about reducing reliance on pesticides for example, albeit needed in many cases, but seeking to manage and encourage nature in a golfing setting that can enhance the player’s experience. The use of slow release fertiliser can promote more efficient action and reduce waste. And there are great strides taking place in grass breeding so choice can be best suited to conditions with increased tolerance to adverse weather and soil conditions. At the heart of it all is the development of a best practice plan which takes into account all the factors involved, including the development of the environment and its ecology, as well as more nitty gritty issues like reducing energy costs and the like. So, in many ways, despite the challenges economically and not least labour pressures, sustainability need not be complex or difficult to achieve, but more of a mind-set issue.
 

Machrihanish GC  

It is also existing practice on many golf courses already. I recently spoke at length with an excellent head greenkeeper who wanted to be more sustainable. When he listed his actions to date, in terms of creating wildlife areas, managing the rough areas and more, it was clear that he was already well down the path of sustainable practice – maintaining an excellent golf course within a budget but, at the same time, maximising environmental benefits and, wherever possible, reducing carbon footprint. This is not an isolated example. Those who manage golf courses are often leaders in sustainable practice and we need to say that loud and proud.

Some years ago the R&A initiated a series of projects all with one objective, to increase the adoption of sustainable golf practices and seek to offer solutions to climate change effects and ensure the very best playing conditions for golfers. The projects undertaken by a range of expert bodies seek to create recommendations and best practice advice based upon firm well researched evidence. This work will be referred to in more detail in a future article but information from the various projects is now being made available and, whilst focussed on golf, has relevance to all involved in turf management. The website link is here.

Sustainability in the Park

Just as for green keeping, managing a park is not easy. The facility has to cater for a wide range of users, all with differing requirements and demands. Managing the surfaces that they walk on, play on and relax upon, means real attention to detail, all within tight budgets, usually significantly diminishing in real terms. The parks also are public assets and communities using then demand more sustainable practices whilst still meeting the requirements for use. In such circumstances it would be easy for the manager to see this as all too big a challenge but, as always, it involves small steps.

A recent discussion with the manager responsible for parks maintenance in a large city emphasise the above. In addressing weed issues in their parks, they have sought to adopt an integrated management approach. This principally focuses on determining, and identifying, acceptable levels of management in specific areas, linked to the intensity and type of use. For example, grass cutting height and frequency used to be very much uniform and standard and undertaken at set times often as part of contract terms. It is now tailored both in frequency and length of cut to the use of a particular area. There has been more voluntary group involvement and increased training and continuous professional development for staff involved.
 

East Park, Wolverhampton  

Greater consideration to planting and types of plant is given and ensuring new areas of grass are sown or turf laid in the very best conditions. Designing hard landscape features to minimise detritus trapping is also a factor with sweeping regimes fully co-ordinated with other methods used. Other priorities include better timing of operations such as forking/hoeing weeds before they flower and drop seed, and increased density of planting and mulching. Each is a small step in its own right but each provides the pathway to sustainable practice. Again in a future article we will look more closely at sustainability in public spaces.

Conclusion

Our golf courses, sports facilities and our parks have a unique relationship with the natural environment and are already contributing greatly to UK sustainability targets. Those directly managing them are very much at the sharp end. That does not mean more cannot be done; adopting best practice, creating optimal conditions for purpose, establishing environmental targets and wherever can be done focusing on carbon cycles, all have a place. However as a well-known successful football manager once said ‘Keep it simple, adopt small steps and above all operate to your best’ Applicable I think to all of us seeking more sustainable practice.

The next article in this series will look at how those who supply essential inputs to the amenity sector such as seed, fertiliser and plant protection products and how they too are developing more sustainable solutions and putting sustainability into practice both in their own organisations and to help their customers.