For cricket fans it's the start of the summer this week, with the first Test getting underway at Lord's on Thursday.

An exciting time of the year for fans and a busy period for groundstaff, everyone will be hoping for a sustained period of dry weather to allow the plethora of cricket in all its forms we have to look forward this season, to take place uninterrupted.

But as fans and professionals know only too well, that inevitably will not happen. Rain has of course always played a part in the English summer, effecting cricket arguably more so than any other sport. But in recent years it feels like it has somehow gotten worse. You may remember that two of the seven Tests last year against South Africa and the West Indies were unable to reach a result because of rain disruption. And a statistic released by betting company Betway, says that 27% of England's home ODIs since the year 2000 have been played with reduced overs.

Are these statistics clear evidence of the effects of climate change? A body such as the Climate Coalition, the UK’s largest climate change action group, would certainly say they were.

In February this year they released a report which names cricket as the sport that will be hardest hit by climate change in England, stating that "wetter winters and more intense summer downpours are disrupting the game at every level".

This is a viewpoint agreed with by Glamorgan's Head of Operations Dan Cherry, who in an interview with the Betway website, warned that climate change could "fundamentally change the game".

He is quoted as saying, "The less cricket we play, the fewer people will watch it, the less they will come to the ground and pay to enter, the less chance there is for young people to be inspired."

Which is a truly worrying thought for all of us who love the game and wish to see it flourish.

The insightful piece by Adam Drury on the Betway site, goes on to talk to Steve Birks, head groundsman at Nottinghamshire, who says that one of the problems with climate change in England is that it’s not always straightforward to identify.

"One week it’s 27 degrees," Steve says, "and the next it’s central-heating weather again. You can't rely on it being red hot for a week."

What this does mean for the sport is that groundstaff at English cricket grounds have to be at the top of their game, ready to adapt to rapidly changing conditions. Also the infrastructure needs to be in place to give them the best possible technical assistance.

Steve Birks talks about how the new outfield at Trent Bridge has come into its own in recent seasons. The result of a £600,000 grant from the ECB to Trent Bridge in 2008, the new outfield includes a new turf surface, drainage and sprinklers.

"The drainage at Trent Bridge is now second only to Lord’s,” he says. “It can take up to 25mm per hour in most places on the square.

"Beforehand, it was just a clay-based outfield with land drains in. Now it’s got a rootzone up to 150mm, drains every five metres, and pop-up sprinklers in between drainage. It really takes it away."

Pressure is clearly on cricket groundsmen to deliver the right pitch both from a tactical standpoint in the context of the game being played - but also from a financial one, in terms of the coffers of the club hosting the match. To lose a day's play in a Test, or the entirety of an ODI, will have massive financial consequences.

Groundstaff find themselves on the front line in terms of mitigating the effects of climate change. It will always be a battle, but with their skills and professionalism, combined with the cutting edge technology available at the top level, it’s one which is being stood up to.

As Steve Birks says, “Whatever gets thrown at us, it’s our job to deal with it."

A council groundscare worker is thought to have become the first person in Britain to be charged with using a mobile while operating a lawnmower after being stopped outside a police station.

The Telegraph reported that a 47-year-old faces a fine of £200 and six penalty points if he is found guilty of using his phone at the traffic lights outside of police station in Ely, Cardiff recently.

Cardiff police Tweeted a picture of the mower used

The man was followed by South Wales Police officers who spotted him allegedly using his mobile while driving along Cowbridge Road West.

The Telegraph report said that Cardiff Council confirmed that he was a member of council staff and that he could face disciplinary action at a later date.

It added: “The council will be following up this matter in line with council policy and procedure.”

In a jokey Tweet reporting the incident, SW Police Cardiff said, "Luckily he didn't mow anyone down! After learning of his impending £200 fine and 6 points he turned a shade of green!"

It has been illegal for a motorist to use a mobile phone while driving since 2003. This includes handling the device, sending a text or following a map, even when the car is waiting at a set of traffic lights, as the engine is still running.

John Deere has announced a new official supplier agreement with the Club Managers Association of Europe (CMAE), to further support the association’s vision of being the leading organisation for club management educational programmes.

The CMAE is a non-profit professional association for club manager education.

“We are delighted to partner with the CMAE and so make ourselves available to its membership for advice and support,” says Carlos Aragones, John Deere’s European turf sales & marketing manager. “Continued education is a core pillar of the John Deere philosophy and we look forward to supporting the CMAE in its quest to increase club manager education across Europe.”

The CMAE’s director of education Torbjorn Johansson adds: “As the CMAE continues to grow and evolve we are always pleased to welcome industry leading brands such as John Deere. Our stated aim is to continue with our evolution and execution of educational programmes.”

Under the terms of the agreement, both organisations will begin working together on the lead up to the CMAE’s annual conference, which will take place in November this year in Marbella, Spain.

The landscaping industry trade show, Landscape, which unites Garden Designers, Landscape Architects and Contractors under one roof for two days, returns this year.

Dedicated to sourcing the latest innovations and technologies in the landscaping industry the shw takes place at Battersea Park on Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th September 2018.

The organisers say LANDSCAPE 2018 promises to deliver a range of both new and returning exhibitors showcasing everything from Outdoor Furniture, Living Plants and Trees, Planters, Stone and Decking. They say the event is the go-to for any professional designer looking to source new product ranges to use within their projects.

Alongside the main exhibition is a free to attend Seminar Programme hosted across four seminar theatres. Each session is CPD accredited and addresses current topics integral to the industry. The speakers represent each sector of the landscaping world. There is no need to register interest for the seminars in advance, simply turn up on the day. The latest announcements on who will be joining the line-up this September will be announced on landscapeshow.co.uk over the next couple of months.

The show is open from 10am-6pm on Tuesday 18th September and from 10am-5pm on Wednesday 19th September. Both the exhibition and all seminar sessions are free to attend. Register in advance at: www.landscapeshow.co.uk/register

Reesink Turfcare has welcomed Fineturf Machinery as its new appointed dealer for Toro golf and fine turf machinery, Toro grounds machinery, and TYM tractors in Lincolnshire and North Nottinghamshire.

Simon Hutton, managing director of Fineturf Machinery, left, with Nigel Lovatt, regional manager at Reesink

Having been carefully chosen by Reesink, Fineturf Machinery steps into the role of dealer for the area vacated by Chris Sellars Groundcare, as Nigel Lovatt, regional manager at Reesink, explains: “We looked no further than Fineturf Machinery to take on this role. It is a company that is well established with a fantastic reputation and has expanded significantly in recent years. It has the same goals and ambitions as we do for the area and has invested in new staff to ensure these are achieved.”

Simon Hutton, managing director of Fineturf Machinery, says he is delighted to become an official Reesink dealer and service centre for Toro and TYM. “We’re looking forward to our association with Toro golf, groundscare and TYM products and hope our depth of knowledge across the golf, groundscare and sports turf industry will benefit new customers, with existing customers gaining direct access to more premium turfcare brands.”

Chris Sellars Groundcare will continue to work closely with Reesink to provide warranty support throughout the transition period, as Nigel confirms: “We enjoyed a good working relationship with Chris Sellars Groundcare for many years. But 2018 sees a change in direction for them, and us. Chris Sellars Groundcare, Reesink Turfcare and Fineturf Machinery will all work together to ensure a smooth transition period for customers, and we wish the greatest success to Chris Sellars with its future endeavours.”

Sport plays an integral part of the school day to pupils at Hazlegrove Preparatory School in Somerset, with the indoor complex and outdoor grounds capable of hosting most sports imaginable. Working with Head of Grounds Graham Kitley to maintain nearly 200 acres of parkland grounds and facilities is a team of four who between them have completely transformed the site in under 18 months.

Graham Kitley

A complete Headland Amenity nutritional programme was key to Grahams approach, leaving sports surfaces and lawns healthy, strong and looking better than ever.

“When I joined Hazlegrove in January 2017 the site was in need of considerable work, we had a problem with weeds and our cricket squares were four inches long. It was clear I had a challenge on my hands,” explains Graham, who spent almost a year dealing with inherited issues before turning to Alex Hawkes of Headland Amenity to start developing the fine turf areas. “I’ve been working with Alex and Headland products for the last five or six years so we sat down together and, following some soil samples, formulated a plan.”

Hazlegrove School

Alex suggested a programme which included a number of multi-tasking products which could be used across various surfaces at the site, helping to reduce the complexity of the regime as well as the overall cost. In the autumn of 2017 Graham began a programme of Headland’s 20-20-30 enhanced plant health strategy across the six golf greens, four cricket squares, outfields and five rugby pitches.

“We also apply, amongst others, Multigreen Granular on our winter sports pitches and cricket outfields as the temperatures rise, and C-Complex on the squares. Our ornamental lawns and gardens which line the entrance to the school are a real showpiece which we work hard on. Here we use a tankmix of Elevate Fe, a clean source of iron, with Clipless NT helping to maintain the presentation without the need to cut every day.”

Whilst well established in the golf environment, the effectiveness of the Headland products in use at Hazlegrove illustrate their ability to also perform in a multi-sport environment. “With the 20-20-30 mix we saw results in less than 2 months and as we went into winter and the temperatures dropped, the areas held up against the cold, moisture and disease. As we came out into spring, surfaces were strong and we had a massive reduction in Red Thread occurrence which had been an issue in previous years. Across the site the results are speaking for themselves and now with regular good practice and a comprehensive nutritional programme, they’ll only continue to improve.”

Major Equipment has announced the appointment of Keith McCormick as their new Scottish and North of England sales representative, replacing Ivor Dobson who is retiring from the company after 14 years.

Keith McCormick

Keith joins Major Equipment from Walter Watson where he was responsible for sales throughout Ireland and the UK. With an eight-year tenure at Walter Watson, Keith is already a familiar face to the Scottish dealer network.

“We’re delighted Keith has joined the Major team,” says Eoin Murphy, Major UK General Manager, “he brings a wealth of technical and industry knowledge and we’re very much looking forward to working with him.”

“The Major product range is impressive with a great reputation for clever design and product reliability,” says Keith. “I’m really excited to be a part of the Major team.”

For a sixth year running North Wales’ main Kubota dealer, Major Owen Ltd., has been awarded Gold for Kubota Dealer Service Excellence.

L-R: Gordon Smith - Regional Service Representative for Kubota, Andy Jones - MD for Major Owen Ltd., Malcolm ‘Barney’ Barnett - Construction Sales Manager for Major Owen Ltd., Tom Lockwood - Regional Service Representative for Kubota, Rob Jones - Workshop Manager

Kubota UK introduced the Dealer Service Excellence programme (DSE) in 2003 to measure each dealer's service capability and to improve the standards nationwide to meet Kubota’s and their customers expectations.

Biannual grading has now been updated to annual grading for dealers and is based on a scoring system. This system covers all aspects of the service department including customer satisfaction surveys, mechanical training and competency, workshop area and facilities, warranty, and administration.

Major Owen Ltd. say they were eager to take part in the DSE programme and joined in 2006, first receiving a Bronze Award in this year for their Groundcare division.

Major Owen Ltd. was established in 1977 by Major Raymond Owen and operated from his Garden Shed in Penrhyndeudraeth. Fast forward 41 years and expansion has continued. Major Owen Ltd.’s site now houses approximately 18,500 sq. feet of covered trading space, incorporating showroom, workshop, parts, warehousing, and administration areas. Currently the company employs 26 people including a team of 14 after sales staff.

Now serving 32 years as a Kubota dealer, Major Owen Ltd. have raised their service level through the years from bronze to gold. This year, they have been awarded the Gold Award in Groundcare and Construction for a sixth consecutive year

Malcolm ‘Barney’ Barnett, Construction Sales Manager at Major Owen Ltd. said, “What a great achievement! I’m very proud of our company. Well done to all the service team and a big thank you to our customers and Kubota UK for helping us to achieve Gold yet again!”

Gordon Smith CE Regional Service Representative for Kubota says "Major Owen achieving Gold in their DSE is good for Kubota and our customers. The award means the after sales at Major Owen are to a high standard and will reassure confidence in our customers that Major Owen technicians are fully trained in Kubota products and equipped with the correct tooling to carry out any after care tasks. Well done to all the staff at Major Owen"

Richard Coleby, Polaris’ district sales manager has presented a Polaris Outlaw 50 Junior quad bike to the winners of the National Gamekeeper Organisation's Summer Prize Draw which was launched at The Game Fair.

Richard Coleby, Polaris’ district sales manager presenting the prize to Jamie Rhodes

The winning ticket, which cost just £1, was drawn at the Countryfile Live Show at Blenheim Palace. To their delight NGO members Louise and Jamie Rhodes were the winners. 

“We’re thrilled”, said Jamie “this has been an extremely welcome surprise to have won this bike. We have had a smaller quad bike for a couple years now for our two children, Arthur and Belle, to use but it is now too small and we were looking at replacing it with a new one. Both Arthur and Belle were so excited to take delivery of the bike.

"Unfortunately they were at school when it was delivered but it was an excellent surprise for them when they arrived home!”