EDITOR'S BLOG
THE PLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE
What can we do to help?
by TurfPro Editor, Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR
 
Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR

In our turf professional roles we all can influence and increase the bio-diversity of the land we manage to improve the welfare of the insects, birds and mammals who populate our wonderful countryside and urban landscapes.

 


It seems from a recent report seen on the BBC that the number of bumblebees across several countries have declined by a third since the 1970’s.


The article said that "Climate chaos" has caused widespread losses of bumblebees across continents, according to scientists. Climbing temperatures will increasingly cause declines, which are already more severe than previously thought, said researchers.


Bumblebees are key pollinators of many fruits, vegetables and wild plants. Without them, some crops could fail, reducing food for humans and countless other species.

Photo courtesy of Pat Callaby


The BBC report quotes researcher Peter Soroye of the University of Ottawa in Canada, who says bumblebee declines are already more severe than previously thought. "We've linked this to climate change - and more specifically to the extreme temperatures and the climate chaos that climate change is producing," he says in the piece.


Bumblebees are among the most important plant pollinators. Declines in range and abundance have been documented from a range of causes, including pesticides, disease and habitat loss.


In the new study, researchers are said to have looked at more than half a million records of 66 bumblebee species from 1901 to 1974 and from 2000 to 2014.


They found bumblebee populations declined rapidly between 2000-2014: the likelihood of a site being occupied by bumblebees dropped by an average of over 30% compared with 1901-1974.


The BBC quotes Jonathan Bridle and Alexandra van Rensburg of the University of Bristol as describing the findings as "alarming". Commenting in the journal Science, they said, "The new study adds to a growing body of evidence for alarming, widespread losses of biodiversity and for rates of global change that now exceed the critical limits of ecosystem resilience."


There are around 250 species of bumblebee in the world. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), declines have been documented in Europe, North America, South America, and Asia, caused by a variety of threats that range from habitat loss and degradation to diseases and pesticide use.


So what can we do about it?


As we all know, we do not have control of the weather, however we all can certainly influence and increase the bio-diversity of the land we manage to improve the welfare of the insects, birds and mammals who populate our wonderful countryside and urban landscapes.

 

 

Over the years we have seen many initiatives from Syngenta, Bayer, Monsanto, BIGGA, R&A, STRI and numerous national countryside and wildlife governing bodies, coupled with the good work done by estates managers, greenkeepers and groundsmen across the country to preserve and promote successful ways of managing habitats for wildlife.


In the scheme of things though, the actual amount achieved to date is nowhere near enough to help change the demise of these precious insects, birds and mammals. We need to do more.

 

 

I am sure all of us who work in the sports turf and amenity sector, who are in fact the curators and managers of these priceless land assets, really need to encourage more investment into the management and maintenance of diversity of these irreplaceable land assets.

 

 

Whatever type of facility you manage there is always an opportunity to enhance and improve the diversity of your site. In recent years we have seen a number of local authorities who, due to budgetary cuts, have had to reduce their number of grass cutting operations. Long grass management regimes have been implemented, along with introducing wildflower meadows within their road islands, verges and in public parks. We are also seeing schools and many other sports facilities, including golf courses, taking on the mantle of introducing and maintaining wild flower areas.


In reality, it is about changing our mindset towards bio-diversity and the way we manage our land spaces. More importantly, we need to have a better understanding of the values and intricacies of the power of nature and its variety of needs in terms of supporting wildlife. We often forget or take for granted the knowledge we can learn from managing such a diverse landscape that includes the looking after playing surfaces, woodlands, SSSI Sites, trees, hedges, ponds, lakes, canals, rivers, marshland, coastline, sand dunes and rocky outcrops.


With so much talk about climate change, it is now time to stop the talking and get on with grasping the nettle and delivering a more inclusive landscape. The starting point is to really have a better understanding of what wildlife you have on your own doorstep and how you can increase the diversity of the land you manage. This should be done by conducting surveys of what birds, insects and mammals are living and visiting your site. Once we have this data, we can then action a plan to facilitate and manage their needs and requirements.

 


I visit many different sporting facilities, parks and public open spaces in my roles as editor, Green Flag judge and pitch advisor and see that there are many opportunities to implement and increase the bio-diversity of these sites.


This can be achieved by changing grass mowing regimes, creating both annual and perennial meadow areas, planting more trees and scrub, introducing beehives, bird boxes, log piles and creating some water features.


There are plenty of good examples of work that many are doing in the professional sectors particularly with golf courses, local authorities and private school sites. However, I believe there is a great opportunity for many other community and grassroots sports facilities, parish councils, state schools and large private housing developers to commit to this valuable cause.

NEWS
JOHN DEERE ANNOUNCE EXPANSION PLANS FOR DEALERS TO FILL TERRITORY
Ben Burgess & Farol to increase coverage
 
Farol, Milton Common

This week's WEB ONLY story is John Deere dealers Ben Burgess and Farol are set to expand their businesses into the East Midlands during 2020 - covering the area which would be left when Sharmans Agricultural no longer hold the franchise at the end of October.

 


FIRST GREEN FLAG AWARD IN USA PRESENTED
To The Presidio in San Francisco
 
The Presidio

The Presidio becomes the first park in the United States to achieve the international Green Flag Award, recognising the highest standards of management, maintenance and development.

 


The Presidio of San Francisco has become the first park in the United States - and America’s first national park site - to achieve the international Green Flag Award, which recognises the highest standards of management, maintenance and development in the public parks and green spaces sector around the world.

 


The Presidio joins more than 2,000 parks and green spaces in 15 countries that proudly fly the Green Flag Award,including sites in Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Turkey, Finland, Belgium, Spain and the United Arab Emirates.


Founded in 1996 in England, the aim of the Green Flag Award, which is managed globally by Keep Britain Tidy, is to ensure that everyone, regardless of where the live, has access to a quality park or green space.


The Presidio of San Francisco is at the centre of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the most visited national park in America. The park welcomes more than 7.5 million visitors each year and is managed by the Presidio Trust in partnership with the US National Park Service and with the support of Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.


The park ranked within the highest overall scoring bracket for the award following an assessment by the judges under eight key criteria: A Welcoming Place; Healthy, Safe and Secure; Well Maintained and Clean; Environmental Management; Biodiversity, Landscape and Heritage; Community Involvement; Marketing and Communication; and Management.


The evaluation report concluded, “In a relatively short space of time the San Francisco Presidio has been transformed from a former military outpost designed to ‘keep people out’, into one of the most welcoming and well-facilitated public resources the judges have ever visited. The management team is focused and committed to preserving and further enhancing the park.”

 

Jean Fraser, CEO of The Presidio Trust said, “We are so proud to be the first park to fly the Green Flag Award in the United States. The Presidio is a national park site where people, plants and animals all thrive due to the commitment to excellence by our board, staff, partners and volunteers.”

Carl McClean, international development manager for the Green Flag Award said, “The Presidio Trust deserves huge congratulations for achieving what is now the internationally recognised standard for parks and green spaces. We are delighted that such an iconic and innovative park has set the benchmark for others in the United States to follow.”

FOREST GREEN ROVERS PRAISE PITCH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Data collection tool described as vital
 
Forest Green Rovers

Forest Green Rovers' head groundsman, Adam Witchell, says the GrasPro Pitch Management System has helped him save time recording data and generating reports.

 


Forest Green Rovers head groundsman, Adam Witchell has said the GrasPro Pitch Management System has become a vital data collection tool for the club.

Adam is into his fourth season with the League Two side, and says he has used GrasPro throughout that time to record data from the club’s stadium pitch and training pitch. He says the system has helped him save time recording data and generating reports, allowing him to concentrate on doing the work that is needed.

 



“I think it’s wonderful, it’s one of my main tools as a head groundsman, and I use it to manage a different site as well. I find it one of the most beneficial things I have,” Adam said. “When I first went to Forest Green Rovers, it was one of the first things that I got because I needed a data management plan.

“I use it for all of my monthly reviews and daily and weekly plans. And I can look back on things that worked and didn’t work by doing PQS’s on the pitch. For me, it’s massively helpful to be able to do that. I think I’m the only person in the world working with an organic vegan pitch and it’s very a difficult pitch. It’s a very heavy clay pitch, it has its problems, but with the weather that’s added to it, you can look at when disease might be in and then you can look at how the pitch performs with some of the products you’ve used and how it’s performed in the games in that month.

“And then at other times when it might not be performing as well you can look back and think ‘ah, I didn’t do that when I’ve done that before.’ Also, when we’ve had disease, I can record the humidity, the temperature and things like that to so I can see if disease is coming. With the weather we’ve had, I can think I need to start using this product or feeding it a certain way because disease will be rife soon.

“Another part of it was getting to speak to Einar Brynjarsson at GrasPro. We were looking at how we could improve the system for the future, and how it would best work with the systems I use already, which was very good and very detailed.


"Working closely with Einar means if there are bits that aren’t in the system, then I can contact him. We’ve spoken about machinery because it didn’t have that before and I said I needed something for it. Now I can record the hours every month, and I can see when the next service is, when it’s due an oil change or maybe it’s time for machines to be ground or start looking at how the batteries are doing.

“There wasn’t anything like that initially, and it was something I felt like I wanted, I discussed it with them, and they’ve come up with an excellent machinery section of the system which takes a lot of headache away. I have a lot of plate spinning in my job, and it’s something that I don’t have to worry about now, I don’t need to keep checking if it’s time for this to be serviced or putting lots of bits of paper down or notes all around my whiteboard.”

REESINK APPOINT TRACTOR SPECIALIST
Accommodating sector growth
 
Jim Maynard

Jim Maynard will be delivering technical support to Reesink’s golf, sports and grounds customers as well as their dealer network across the country.

 


Reesink UK has recruited Jim Maynard as a tractor specialist, a position that has been created due to what they describe as their growing prominence in the sector.

 

Jim Maynard

 

Jim has worked with customers, machinery manufacturers, dealers and distributors in his extensive career. He spent 16 years specialising in John Deere machinery and has strong experience in customer services and a sound technical ability, the company says.

 

Steven Haynes, sales manager at Reesink, said, “Jim has worked in the industry for many years repairing land-based equipment and we’re confident his technical knowledge and customer relations experience will translate well to his new position at Reesink.”

 

Jim said, "It will be great to be specialising in tractors, it’s an area I am really comfortable in and have a wealth of experience and knowledge to hopefully benefit Reesink customers.”

 

Jim will be delivering technical support to Reesink’s dealer network and golf, sports, grounds and farming customers across the country with Steven and the now five-strong team.

 

Steven concludes, “The trajectory of Reesink’s debut into distributing tractors in the UK just seven years ago has surpassed expectation and that’s why we’re expanding the team. Having Jim on board ensures we can continue that into the next decade.”

ROTHSCHILD FOUNDATION INVESTS IN VENTRAC
For National Trust's Waddesdon Manor
 
Gardens manager, Mike Buffin

Gardens manager, Mike Buffin says the Manor is looking to get more versatility from their equipment and is taking a more environmental approach where possible.

 


The Rothschild Foundation has purchased a Ventrac 4500 all-terrain compact tractor and Tough Cut mowing deck from supplying dealer, RT Machinery Ltd, to help maintain the gardens and grounds at Waddesdon Manor near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. The Foundation manages Waddesdon on behalf of the National Trust.

 

Gardens manager, Mike Buffin

 

Mike Buffin is gardens manager at Waddesdon and heads a team of 14 full-time gardeners and four students on one-year assignments. The gardens department manages over 400 acres at Waddesdon.

 

“We have wildflower meadows dotted around the estate, many on challenging slopes,” he said. “I’m attempting a change to the direction of our maintenance regimes, looking to get more versatility from our equipment and taking a more environmental approach, where possible.

 

 

“There’s a broad expanse of lawn at the front of the house, which takes a lot of wear at our annual events, such as the Christmas Fair, Colourscape in May, Summer Fest in July and Chilli Fest each September. The initial demo highlighted the benefits of the Aera-vator in relieving the compaction and the overseeding attachment worked particularly well. However, it was on the wildflower banks where the machine really came into its own. It was a wet day and the Tough Cut deck performed admirably in these challenging areas. We have been using several different mowers to achieve the high level of presentation expected at Waddesdon. The versatility of the Ventrac has simplified this and it is now one of our principal mowers.

 

“RT Machinery have been excellent and the ability to hire-in attachments means we have the opportunity to undertake an extended evaluation to enable us to draw up a shortlist of attachments for future purchase. It’s the ideal machine for us because of its versatility, the ease of changing attachments and its slope mowing capabilities.”

STIGA APPOINT YOUNGEST BRAND AMBASSADOR
Lewys Richards, 17
 
L-R: Lewys Richards and Richard Morgan, owner of dealers D P Mowers

Local Stiga dealer DP Mower Services in Newport  welcomed Lewys as a new brand ambassador this week, presenting him with tools from the new battery range.

 


Stiga say they are proud to support Lewys Richards who they have welcomed on board as their youngest brand ambassador.

 

L-R: Lewys Richards and Richard Morgan, owner of dealers D P Mowers

 

Lewys is 17 years old and has been gardening since he was 9. Stiga say that as soon as Lewys left school he realised that gardening was his passion and proceeded to set up his own business, Lewys' Garden Maintenance, in his hometown of Caerphilly.

 

Starting with a just Facebook page, he began advertising his services and now says he is fully booked all year round.

 

Lewys has received advice from Richard Morgan, owner of D P Mowers, his local Stiga dealership, on what's the right machinery for him to get his business going.

 

This week Stiga and DP Mower Services welcomed Lewys as a new Stiga ambassador and presented him with the Combi 50 SQ DAE and SAB 500 Ae Blower, both from the new 500 battery series.

 

Lewys said, "I can’t wait to get started using the new battery mower and blower. I already own a Stiga garden tractor, brushcutter and hedgetrimmer and this is a great opportunity to promote a brand that I already love using."

TNS TAKE ON GREENMECH
Appointed dealers for East Anglia
 
L to R: Julian Cullis of GreenMech, with TNS sales director Chris Tew and Matt Bailey, Suffolk groundcare sales manager

Thurlow Nunn Standen Ltd (TNS) have been appointed GreenMech distributors for Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

 


Thurlow Nunn Standen Ltd (TNS) have been appointed GreenMech distributors for Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

 

L to R: Julian Cullis of GreenMech, with TNS sales director Chris Tew and Matt Bailey, Suffolk groundcare sales manager

 

Operating out of three depots in Attleborough, Kennett and Melton, TNS will now be handling sales and support for the range of woodchippers.


Chris Tew, sales director at TNS said of the new equipment they are taking on, “We believe the range of quality products they offer will complement our existing portfolio and will suit both professional and domestic users. We look forward to promoting this range to our existing and new customers and working with this market leading British manufacturer”.


GreenMech regional sales manager Julian Cullis added, ““TNS have built a fantastic reputation on providing established products with excellent customer service. With so many years of experience and know-how under their belts, we look forward to working together with them to offer a more localised service across this area.”

KAR UK WIN SALES AWARD
Top growth recognised
 
(L-R) Wes Henshaw from KAR UK collecting their award from Paul Amos of Kasco

The wholesaler of irrigation equipment has won the Kasco Top Sales Growth Award for 2019.

 


KAR UK has won the Kasco Top Sales Growth Award for 2019.

 

(L-R) Wes Henshaw from KAR UK collecting their award from Paul Amos of Kasco

 

The wholesaler of irrigation equipment in the UK, were recognised for providing a wide range of irrigation products to the horticultural, agricultural, landscape and sports turf markets in the UK and Ireland.

 

The company say they have gone from strength to strength over recent years and partly attribute their success to working with prominent manufacturers - one of which is Kasco,the manufacturer of fountains, surface aerators, diffused aerators, de-icers, circulators and beneficial bacteria to aquatic industries.

 

Commenting on KAR UK’s award, Joe Holz, Kasco’s international aales manager, said, “KAR UK earned this award by being one of the fastest growing Kasco distributors in the world.

 

“Combining their knowledge of the product and excellent customer service, KAR UK was able to dramatically grow their Kasco sales in 2019 with excellent prospects for 2020 and beyond. We, at Kasco, would like to thank them for their partnership with us and we look forward to more award recognitions in the future.”

 

In reflecting upon the achievement, KAR UK’s UK sales manager, Mike McDonnell, said, "We are delighted to have won this award for the first time. My thanks go to Kasco, for recognising our contribution, to everyone at KAR for all the hard work, and also to our customers for their continuing support."

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PREVIOUS FEATURES
EDITOR'S BLOG ARCHIVE
Catch up with Laurence Gale's recent blogs
 
TurfPro editor, Laurence Gale

Want to catch up with one of editor Laurence Gale's blogs? Here is the place to do so.

 


SPRING HAS SPRUNG
Essential renovations

 

CELEBRATING 2020
Amenity Forum making plans

 

A DIVERSE & ENTERTAINING WEEK
Successful BTME 2020

 

TIME TO GET FIT
Our industry can help tackle the growing obesity crisis

 

WINTER WORKS AND SHOWS
Plenty to occupy in January

 

LOOKING AHEAD
What might 2020 hold in store?

 

View all of 2019's blogs here

 

View all of 2018's blogs here

TURFPRO FEATURE ARCHIVE
Find our previous features here
 
TurfPro Feature Archive

If you want to catch up with any of TurfPro's previous features, here is the place to do so.


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?

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