Printer Friendly Version

EDITOR'S BLOG

OUR PARKS IN CRISIS
Decline of public green spaces
by TurfPro Editor, Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR

Following years of austerity we are now seeing parks maintained on skeleton budgets, with the minimum of maintenance regimes undertaken.

Last week I visited several public parks in the Midlands in my role of a mystery shopper to gauge their current condition and see if they are meeting the Green Flag awards standards.

Most of them did, with the exception of one or two who will need some further inputs to maintain their status.

However, having said that, we have over the years come to notice that many of our parks and public open spaces have been devoid of the relevant maintenance funds they perhaps had in the past. Following years of austerity, we are now seeing parks maintained on skeleton budgets, with the minimum of maintenance regimes undertaken. Gone are the days when parks were mown weekly, with several staff permanently employed in the parks.

We are now seeing plenty of parks shifting to these new rewilding concepts, where large tracts of grass areas are being left to rewild. The aim is to reduce costs and at the same time provide some new habitats for wildlife, increasing the populations of insects, mammals and birds.

Unfortunately, the decline of parks budgets go back to the 1980s when the Compulsory Competitive Tendering (CCT) Act was introduced in 1980.
CCT) is a process in which local authorities must put certain services, including park management, out to tender.

The aim of the act was to ensure councils were accountable for the money they were spending. For many councils going out to tender and using contractors was seen as a way of saving money and reducing costs.

Overall, the impact of CCT on parks and public open spaces is a matter of debate, with both potential benefits and drawbacks to the process. However, for many, the constant demand to make savings led to many park services being amalgamated with other council services, mainly highways and waste disposal, which often led to these services taking precedent. Over time this has led to reduced monies being spent on park provision.

Apart from some capital improvements using lottery money and the pittance of 106 funding, parks have seen a vast decrease to their budgets over a period of 40 plus years.

I personally witnessed this process when employed as a parks manager back in the 1990s.

There are 398 principal (unitary, upper and second tier) councils in the UK – 24 county councils, 181 district councils, 36 metropolitan councils, and 124 unitary councils. There are around 11,000 local councils in the UK, from town councils to parish councils.

These councils, along with several trusts, charities and other organisations, manage between them 27,000 public parks across the country and employ a significant number of professionals to manage and maintain them within such service areas including streetcare, waste services, leisure services, community services, neighbourhood services and cultural services.

It is now a rarity to find an authority that retains its distinct ‘parks service’ as it has most likely been absorbed into a wider departmental structure. Yet public perception is very different, and many still perceive that ‘parks departments’ still exist.

As a current member of the Parks Management Association our aim is to represent parks managers and hopefully find ways to increase the awareness and importance of these valuable public open paces and what they bring to the community.

The Association has partly been established to lobby for the need for good-quality public parks. This case has been made incessantly over the last twenty-five years and continues to be made. It has however, been set up to give a voice to parks professionals - those who know more about these places than anyone.

Over the last 20+ years, there has been a significant reduction in the number of professionals dedicated to the management of parks and green spaces - with headlines such as ‘last of a dying breed’ and media coverage not only in the trade press but also in mainstream media (The Guardian and the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, BBC Radio). Like many public services, austerity has hit us hard and soft services such as parks have and continue to be hit severely with parks and green spaces management professionals often becoming marginalised and in many authorities, redundancies have occurred with significant posts lost.

I outlined these problems in a recent Veiwpoint article, Time for Action. The article discussed the issues around recruitment into our industry. Without the committed of driven professionals, the skills sets required for maintaining our public open spaces will be lost.

It is time the government listened to the wealth of evidence about the importance of green space and began a proper investment programme into these wonderful assets. I cannot imagine what it would be like living in a country, with no natural managed green space on our doorstep.

You can read in TurfPro today the government’s newly announced roadmap to improving nature across the UK.

Let all hope that this delivers what it promises and hopefully will eventually give local authorities the appropriate money to manage and maintain our 27,000 public parks and green open spaces.

NEWS

GREENKEEPING TEAMS HONOURED
Performance and Project prizes

Championship Greenkeeping Performance winners

In our first WEB ONLY story the Welcoming Celebration of the recent BTME show saw two teams of greenkeepers take home prestigious honours.

TRADE SHOW TEAMS WITH PLAY INDUSTRY
Partners for this year's event

Trade show teams up with the play sector

In our next WEB ONLY story, this year's show will promote the play industry and provide an opportunity for companies to showcase their offerings.

ROADMAP TO GREENSPACE IMPROVEMENT
Announced by Government

The Government has launched a tool to help local authorities and organisations to take a proactive and strategic approach to environmental management.

The Government has announced its roadmap to improving nature across the UK, with new commitments introduced to upgrade wastewater treatment works, restore wildlife and promote “nature-friendly” farming practices.

This long awaited Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) is intended to build on key legislative frameworks such as the 25-Year Environment Plan, the Environment Act, Agriculture Act and the Fisheries Act to create a “comprehensive delivery plan” to halt and reverse the decline of nature in the UK.

The Government says an EIP is an important tool for local authorities and organisations to take a proactive and strategic approach to environmental management, and to ensure that environmental considerations are integrated into decision-making processes. It is also a valuable document for stakeholders and the public, as it provides transparency and accountability in environmental management efforts.

The Government has committed to creating and restoring at least 500,000 hectares of new wildlife habitats, including 70 new projects and 25 new or expanded National Nature Reserves. The Government will also fund the delivery of an additional 19 Nature Recovery Projects in the UK.

The EIP sets out steps to tackle sewage spills through upgrades to 160 wastewater treatment works by 2027. A plan will be created later this year to tackle and reduce water pollution from new housing developments and infrastructure and improve water efficiency.

Around 70% of the UK countryside will be impacted by the EIP, with new management schemes to be introduced to incentive farmers to adopt nature-friendly approaches. Earlier this month, Defra confirmed plans to pay each farm up to £1,000 in additional subsidies for soil health annually.

Specifically, the EIP introduces a target for 65-80% of landowners and farmers to adopt nature-friendly farming practices on 10-15% of their land by 2030.

Other targets set to be introduced through the EIP include challenging councils to improve air quality, boosting green growth and job creation in the agri-sectors and restoring 400 miles of river through Landscape Recovery funding rounds.

New interim targets, set for 2028, will also be introduced to reduce waste streams including plastic, glass, metal, paper, and food.

The Government has also created an ambition to ensure that every home is within a 15-minute walk from a green space or water such as woodlands, wetlands, parks and rivers.

BARONESS AWARD HIGH PERFORMING DEALERS
Prizes presented at BTME

Manufacturer says the honours reflect the "world leading backup" provided by their dealers.

Baroness UK presented their dealer awards at the recent BTME exhibition.

Winning Highest Overall UK Sales was George Browns Ltd. Tim Mason, group sales manager (groundcare), collected the award from Stuart Gray of Baroness. Tim said, “We’d like to thank all our customers for trusting in us and we hope we can continue into 2023 for another positive year.”

Lister Wilder picked up the Sales & Service award, with David Gray collecting the prize on behalf of the team from Baroness’s Luke Collins. Phill Hughes, Lister’s sales director commented, “It’s always an honour to receive awards. It shows the huge efforts put in by our sales, parts and service departments to ensure that we deliver great customer service across our core franchises.”

Presented with the Rising Star Award by Baroness’s Andy Darley were Gibsons Garden Machinery (GGM). Chris Gibson of GGM said, “The Rising star Award is presented to the fastest growing dealer for sales performance, and we're very pleased that the continued hard effort put in by the team is being recognised and awarded by a manufacturer as prestigious as Baroness.”

Adam Butler, director Baroness UK added, “The Baroness Dealer Awards provide a superb stage on which we can showcase the hard work and dedication our multi branch dealers continue to produce year on year. We are extremely proud of all our dealers and especially the 2022 winners. We produce world leading machinery in which we require world leading backup. That’s what we have and that’s what we will continue to do. A big thank you from Team Baroness goes out to all our dealers and customers alike for their continued support.”.

PRICE PRESENTED WITH INTERNATIONAL PRIZE
Awarded at BTME

L-R: Tyler Dickie, Ventrac’s international sales manager, Rupert Price md of Price Turfcare and Henrik Lund, Ventrac’s European sales manager

Success down to the "incredible drive and determination from the top downwards".

Price Turfcare, the UK and Ireland distributor of the Ventrac compact tractor, have been named European Distributor of the Year and were presented with Ventrac’s Platinum Award for Sales Achievement at the recent BTME show.

L-R: Tyler Dickie, Ventrac’s international sales manager, Rupert Price md of Price Turfcare and Henrik Lund, Ventrac’s European sales manager

Commenting after presenting the award, Tyler Dickie, Ventrac’s international sales manager said, “The effort that Rupert Price and his small team put into generating new business in the UK and Ireland is phenomenal. Since the formation of the business just 6 years ago, they have seen year-on-year increases in sales and they are our flagship European dealer.

"If I could clone their business model I would, but I also know that their success is down to the incredible drive and determination from the top downwards. They thoroughly deserve this recognition.”

Also visiting from Ventrac’s headquarters in Ohio, USA was Isaac Roth, the company’s marketing director. He said, “The Price Turfcare team did a fantastic job of producing an eye-catching stand at BTME and an innovative way of presenting our unique products. They also organised a product review seminar with leading landscape and golf course professionals to help us understand the different environmental conditions and the requirement for specialist equipment here in Europe.

“Price Turfcare is a case study in how to launch a brand. Just six years ago our products were unknown in the UK, but with a defined marketing strategy, dedication and hard work Ventrac is now a recognised, established and respected brand over here. It has been a fantastic visit and I have learned so much in a short timespan.”

WORLDWIDE SUPPLIER TO RYDER CUP STATUS GRANTED
Manufacturer extends relationship

Captains Luke Donald and Zach Johnson with the Ryder Cup

Company has announced they will take on an elevated designation as a Worldwide Supplier to the 2023 contest, which takes place in September in Rome.

Club Car has announced they have become a Worldwide Supplier of the 2023 Ryder Cup, extending its long-term association with the competition.

Luke Donald and Zach Johnson in their Captains’ Cars at the 'Year to Go' event at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club

The manufacturer has supplied team cars and support vehicles for the last 15 Ryder Cups and has been an Official Supplier of Ryder Cup Europe since 1997, when the event was held at Valderrama, Spain.

It will now take on an elevated designation as a Worldwide Supplier to the 2023 edition of the biennial contest, which takes place in September at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Italy.

Furthermore, Club Car have also become the Official Golf Car of the PGA of America, continuing more than 30 years of collaboration in support of the golf industry and the association’s nearly 29,000 PGA professionals.

"The PGA of America is very excited that Club Car, a tremendous friend to the PGA Professional and the game of golf, will continue as presenting sponsor of the PGA Professional Championships and the 41 PGA Section Championships," said PGA of America President John Lindert.

Club Car President Mark Wagner added, “The game of golf doesn’t exist without PGA Professionals, and we are thankful for our long-standing relationship with the PGA of America.

“We have also enjoyed a long, successful association with The Ryder Cup, and we are proud to have been part of its growth into one of the biggest sporting events in the world. Not many brands have Worldwide Supplier status so this is a fantastic honour for Club Car."

This September, Club Car will send nearly 600 cars to Rome, providing transport solutions for many different areas of the event including television, rules officials, catering and the captains and support teams.

ON THE BALL FOR THE OPEN
Equipment supplied

James Bledge, course manager at Royal Liverpool Golf Club

Manufacturer secures a deal with Royal Liverpool Golf Club to supply equipment to prepare for the 151st Open Championship this summer.

GreenTek Solutions Limited has announced they have secured a deal with Royal Liverpool Golf Club to supply equipment to prepare for the 151st Open Championship this summer.

RLGC has chosen a Dyna-Seeder, Dyna-Corer, and Micro-Groomer from the company's product range.

James Bledge, course manager at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, with GreenTek's Dyna-Corer

Ian Ellis, GreenTek managing director, says: “We’re extremely proud to have been chosen by Royal Liverpool Golf Club in this way. It’s a very important year for the club hosting the Open Championship and the fact that they’ve come to us in preparation for this prestigious and high-profile event is a clear endorsement of the quality of our machinery and the trust they can place in us to deliver.”

James Bledge, course manager at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, adds, “I’ve used GreenTek products over the years and have always been extremely impressed with the results. When looking for a supplier who could help create perfect greens in the run up to such an important and prestigious event as the Open Championship, GreenTek was an obvious choice.”

JOBS

ADVERTISE YOUR JOBS HERE
Amazing success rates!

Advertise your jobs on TurfPro Weekly Briefing

Advertise your recruitment needs on TurfPro Weekly Briefing and reach our targeted audience of recipients every week.

Contact Nikki Harrison for details - 01491 837117