First up today, I’d like to draw your attention to an important new regular feature, that we’re launching in TurfPro this week.

Sponsored by Envu and entitled Sustainability Focus, once a month Professor John Moverley (previously chairman of the Amenity Forum) will be taking us through many aspects of this complex, yet vital subject. 

Subsequent articles will focus on areas such as sustainability in machinery and equipment use; in weed, pest and disease management; and in the amenity supply sector. For today though, John’s starting at the beginning with an introduction to the notion of sustainability.

We thank John for his contribution this year and also thank Envu for their valuable sponsorship. I look forward to following the feature’s progress throughout 2023.

Also new for this year, next week will be the start of TurfPro's Guest Editor slot - where I take a backseat from this blog for a week, and hand over the reins to a well-know industry figure, to let them offer their thoughts on our sector. We're kicking it off with a highly respected professional at the top of their game - so do look out for that exciting launch next Monday.

Wet start

Moving on and considering that old perennial the weather, so far January looks to be on the wet side with more warm wet weather forecast. I read with interest Mark Hunt’s weather blog which offers an informative take on the weather predicted for the remainder of the month.

This warm wet weather will no doubt exacerbate some outbreaks of turf diseases on our playing surfaces. The key to reducing the risk of disease is to have a robust IPM maintenance regime in place to try and keep the grass surfaces dry, with plenty of air flow around the base of the plant. This is generally achieved by regular dew brushing to remove excess water from the leaf of the grass plant and brushing to stand the grass up which will in turn circulate some air around the base of the grass plant.

Encouraging and maintaining a healthy sward requires a lot of mechanical and physical activities as well as applying several enhancing products such as plant feed supplements, wetting agents and top dressings throughout the year.

Cold temperatures, heavy rain, snowfall, and more all create the perfect conditions for turf diseases to flourish. Luckily there are ways to avoid common winter turf diseases such as Fusarium patch (microdochium nivale) also called snow mould, and red thread (Laetisaria fuciformis) commonly seen on fine turf playing surfaces / lawns.

By carrying out coordinated IPM strategy, combining the use of several cultural methods to keep the turf healthy, along with a preventative fungicide programme, will effectively keep these turf diseases at bay.

With all this rain about we are likely to see a lot of saturated winter games pitches. A saturated / waterlogged sports pitch is one that has become oversaturated with water, typically because of heavy rainfall. 

A waterlogged sports pitch is one that has become saturated with water to the point that it is no longer possible for the water to drain away. This can make the surface of the pitch soft and spongy and it can be difficult for players to move around on it. Waterlogged pitches are not suitable for playing sports on because they can be unsafe and can also lead to damage to the playing surface. 

To prevent a pitch from becoming waterlogged, it is important to have a good drainage system in place to remove excess water from the surface. In addition, the use of covers, such as tarpaulins, can help to protect the pitch from heavy rain. If a pitch does become waterlogged, it may be necessary to close it until the surface has dried out sufficiently to be safe for use again.

Promoting recruitment

Moving on from the weather, I am really looking forward to the BTME show in Harrogate next week, from the 24th-26th January. I will be there with my fellow editor Steve Gibbs and our colleagues from TAP, representing both TurfPro and Service Dealer magazines.

In my view it has always been a must attend event, with the opportunity to see what is happening across the industry regarding new products and services we can expect to see in 2023.

No doubt we will see even more battery powered products coming on line, however for me, I will be more interested in discovering what our industry is going to do about future recruitment of young people into the industry. 

I have said on numerous occasions that we need a national campaign where both leading turf organisations BIGGA and GMA, along with other key drivers, should come together to promote this wonderful industry and have a programme where we go into schools and colleges to promote the opportunities that are available within this diverse industry.

I would also like to see a National UK Apprenticeship scheme set up whereby we can generate over 1000 apprentices coming into the scheme on an annual basis, so that within five years we would have over 5,000 new people coming into the industry.

I can only see this happening when many of the large industry players support a scheme such as this. I accept we already have a lot of individual apprenticeship schemes running - but for me this is not enough.

I would like to see a collective of large organisations and private businesses come together to support and run a larger national scheme, where we inflate the opportunities for young people to come and work in this industry.

When I keep hearing about many businesses and top flight sports clubs having trouble recruiting, it must tell us something? 

Our pay and conditions have never been the best, but we need to change our attitudes and find ways of enticing the next generation of turf professionals to come into this fascinating and challenging industry. 

Staff from BIGGA joined the greenkeepers and members at Harrogate Golf Club recently to plant a ‘community woodland’, comprising more than 200 trees donated by exhibitors at the upcoming BTME.
 
BTME is due to take place at the Harrogate Convention Centre next week, from 24 to 26 January and expects to have more than 5,000 golf greenkeepers and turf professionals in attendance.
 
High on the agenda each year, say BIGGA, is sustainability and the increasing importance of environmentally friendly practices on golf courses, particularly with the annual Golf Environment Awards taking place in Harrogate concurrent to the trade show.
 
Overall, British golf courses cover an area roughly equivalent to the whole of Greater Manchester and provide wide-ranging habitats including wetlands, wildflower areas and woodland. Countless forward-thinking golf clubs around the UK are now undertaking activities that boost their environmental credentials and the team at BIGGA say they wanted to do their bit.
 
When booking their spot at the 2023 exhibition, supporting companies were invited to ‘Plant a Tree for BTME’ and it is hoped that over the years sufficient trees will be planted to create a network of ‘BTME community woodlands’ around the UK, with Harrogate Golf Club the first to participate in the scheme.
 
BIGGA  say they are extremely grateful to those exhibitors who have participated in the scheme, with Reesink UK purchasing 100 trees, Aquatrols purchasing 50 and The FairWays Foundation purchasing 20. Other contributors included: Advance Grass Solutions; Bernhard and Company; Campey Turf Care Systems; COMPO Expert; East Riding Turfcare; EVEN Products; GreenBest/Velvit; LFP Civil & Environmental Engineering; Redlynch Leisure; Shelton Sportsturf Drainage; and The Double A Trading Company.
 
James Hutchinson is membership services manager - ecology & sustainability at BIGGA and is considered one of the UK’s leading authorities on golf course ecology. James said, “Plant a Tree for BTME is a wonderful scheme and I’m delighted that so many exhibitors purchased saplings, which we have planted at Harrogate Golf Club. This is such a brilliant idea because trees sequestrate carbon in the soil, meaning we are able to offset some of the carbon that is generated at BTME.
 
“Not only that, but trees create wonderful habitats for the great British wildlife. Golf clubs are often overlooked by the general public, but they provide priceless habitats for countless species, often forming safe zones for wildlife to thrive in urban areas. Harrogate Golf Club is a fantastic example and the addition of these silver birch, downy birch, rowan and cherry trees will create outstanding habitats for years to come.”
 
Lauren Frazer, head of business development at BIGGA, added, “We’re committed to making Plant a Tree for BTME a fixture on the BTME calendar and I’m hopeful that next year we’ll be planting even more trees at another brilliant golf club and once again highlighting the vital work golf greenkeepers do to support the wider environment."

As part of their research and sustainable seed programme, DLF are inviting turf professionals around the country to participate in a short survey to identify the variety and prevalence of fungal turf disease activity.

The company says input is required from all areas of fine and sports turf management, with the results helping to shape future developments of more tolerant seed varieties. 

With the altering climate and changes to maintenance practices, DLF say there is a fear that new fungal diseases could appear or that known ones could become a more serious threat to turf quality. Therefore, to fully understand the current situation and provide solutions to the new challenges on the horizon, the company would like to hear from professionals on their experience of recent disease activity. Feedback is sought from golf courses, winter sports facilities, schools/community surfaces, racecourses, polo grounds, amenity spaces and turf producers.

Link to the survey here.

DLF say that findings from ther previous trials are already proving pivotal in the field, including the identification of 4turf and diploid perennial ryegrass varieties with enhanced tolerance to Brown Patch.  

Wembley Stadium is 100 years old this year.

Since it first opened its doors on April 28, 1923, the venue has been home to some of the most historic and memorable moments of the last century. From the famous white horse of the 1923 FA Cup Final to Bobby Moore lifting the World Cup in 1966, Freddie Mercury at Live Aid in 1985, through to Chloe Kelly’s extra time winner in 2022 - Wembley has been at the centre of it all.

Now, as England’s national stadium prepares to celebrate its 100th birthday, the nation is being encouraged to share in the anniversary celebrations by submitting their most memorable moments of the iconic venue.

Stadium director Liam Boylan said, “Wembley holds a space in people’s hearts for many different reasons. It is the place where heroes perform and idols are worshipped. The place where big things happen, and history is made.

“It is also about those special, personal moments too. Seeing your side win or lose, a child’s first game or witnessing a favourite band or artist perform. We want people to share those moments with us and let us know why Wembley is so unique to them.”

Although synonymous with football, Wembley has hosted a variety of sports throughout its history. Everything from the Olympics (1948 and 2012) to world title boxing fights, NFL clashes, speedway, show-jumping, Gaelic football, hurling, motorsport and greyhound racing. It has also held rugby matches of both codes and was a venue for the 2015 Rugby (Union) World Cup finals’ tournament.

Wembley hosted its first music event in 1969 and since then has gone on to be recognised as a world-renowned concert venue. Madonna, Beyoncé, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, Take That and U2 have all graced the stage at Wembley. In more recent times Adele, The Killers, Foo Fighters, BST, Eminem and Ed Sheeran have also performed there.

Perhaps its most famous musical moment though was the Live Aid concert in 1985, which was broadcast live to more than one billion people across 110 countries. More than 75 artists performed on stage that day with Queen, led by Freddie Mercury, putting on a memorable performance which to this day is still considered the greatest stadium show by a band ever.

The stadium itself has undergone huge change throughout its history. In 2001 the original building, with its famous twin towers, was knocked down to make way for a more modern structure, fit for the future.

The new Wembley took almost six years to build. When it did reopen for the 2007 FA Cup Final the contemporary, 90,000 all-seater stadium, capped with a 315-metre arch, was deemed one of the grandest stadiums in the world. 

Wembley hosted the 2011 and 2013 Champions League finals and in 2024 it will hold a record eighth final. It was also home to the men’s EURO final in 2021 and the Lionesses famous victory at EURO 2022.

Last year more than 2.6 million people visited the stadium for a record-breaking number of events including multiple nights from musicians Ed Sheeran, Coldplay and Harry Styles.

Boylan added: “Wembley is an iconic landmark that defines English culture and history. It holds a position in the national psyche as much as places like Buckingham Palace, Stonehenge and the Houses of Parliament.

“Over the next 12 months we want to celebrate that fact and look forward to another 100 years of fantastic, history making defining moments."

A re-shuffle of their regional partners in North and East Scotland has seen Redexim UK appoint HRN Tractors - suppliers of groundcare, agriculture and plant equipment.

L-R: Ewan Littlejohn, HRN commercial manager and Redexim’s Ian Lauder

Effective from 1st January 2023, HRN are responsible for the full Redexim portfolio of products, offering sales and support to new and existing customers across Tayside, Angus, Grampian and the Highlands and Islands. 

HRN was founded by the Barclay family in 1980 and has gone on to become one of the largest dealerships in Scotland, operating out of eight depots across the country.

Commenting on the appointment, groundcare manager for HRN, Wilson Morrison, said, “A great fit alongside our other franchises, we can now provide customers a one-stop shop for turf maintenance machinery and look forward to growing our market share and reaching new customers across our regional area.”

Ian Lauder, northern regional territory manager for Redexim UK added, “HRN 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.”

Redexim say existing warranties relating to their equipment sold by previous regional partners Gammies Groundcare and MacGregor Forest and Groundcare will continue to be supported

ABA Groundcare based in the South West of England have expanded once again with another new depot opened recently on Woodward Road, Tiverton.

The team, plus Iseki's md David Withers, at the new ABA Groundcare depot in Tiverton

Following the closure of MST's former Devon agricultural dealership in 2022 due to cash flow issues, Jamie Hutchings, the owner of ABA Groundcare says he seized the opportunity to expand his business and opened up a branch in Tiverton.  

Jamie said, “We established the business in 2014 in Dorchester. We built up in that region and then looked to expand. I got to know Scott Struthers from MST and dealt and traded with him regularly. I offered him a job many times, but he always said no. Then we heard what was happening with MST and stepped in and offered five former members of the staff including Scott, a job at our new premises in Tiverton, totalling over 200 years experience.”

He added that employing skilled staff was an issue in every trade, and he was thankful that he could find five skilled new members willing to carry on working together.

“It was an easy decision to make,” he said. “They wanted to stay together working and very quickly decided they were happy to join my company."

The Tiverton branch now offers servicing and parts, supply of garden machinery, agricultural vehicles, and quad bikes from the likes of Stihl, Yamaha, Husqvarna and Stiga, alongside specialist ISEKI ground care kit.

Run1000 is back for a third year and is supporting five fantastic charities!

TurfPro owner Duncan Murray-Clarke has once again taken up the challenge and is running for Team England.

Duncan Murray-Clarke and Tim Henman who he bumped into whilst plogging!

Duncan said, "Despite the wind and rain, hundreds of us have all been out running, walking or cycling for #run1000. I have been running for Team England which is supporting Farming Community Network and have been managing to fit some plogging in also (litter picking whilst running). In fact I was invited onto the Hawkesbee and Jacobs show on Talksport on Wednesday to chat about plogging.

"The very next day I also bumped into Tim Henman whilst out running and he was a real gent. So who knows where a run will get you?

"If you want to sneak in for the last few days and support #run1000 and the amazing charities supporting rural mental heal it’s not too late.  And if you want to feel doubly virtuous then pick up some litter whilst you are at it!"

You can support Duncan and Team England here.

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

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?

The term sustainability is now widely used and certainly in the amenity and turf sector. At SALTEX in November, virtually every stand was seeking to demonstrate how its products or practices were sustainable.

But what exactly does the term mean, as it seems to be applied in many different ways? 

I always believe in starting with a dictionary definition and my version says ‘Sustainability is a societal goal that broadly aims for humans to safely co-exist on planet earth’. Well this gets us started, but it is clear that we need to get a more complete understanding, certainly if we are to apply correctly in our own lives and businesses.

Let us take for example a typical UK golf club. The first aim of that club is to be an economically viable business with financial margins sufficient for re-investment and future development. Without this, it is not sustainable and so economic viability is an essential element in sustainability. A further aim of the club is to, wherever possible, protect the environment and seek to ensure that operations undertaken have as little as possible impact upon its surroundings. This it can do through such things as re-cycling practices, looking to reduce carbon emissions from machinery used and other activities and, in managing the surrounds to the golf course, considering how it might encourage biodiversity and insect life. So, in addition to economics, a second element in sustainability is the environment and its conservation.
 

John Moverley 

We now have two essential elements of sustainability - but a third remains and that is impact upon society. The golf club needs to deliver a first class product to its visitors and members but also seek to minimise its impact upon those who live close by and ensure its staff are safe, as well of course those who use its facilities. This includes commitment to reducing carbon emissions.

Therefore we can best consider sustainability as having three main parts. These are often referred to as the three pillars - 

• economic viability,
• environmental protection
• and social equity. 

I recognise that I am in danger of getting too complicated and academic, but I do think that, before we can consider sustainability properly and decide how we can contribute to a sustainable agenda, we need to properly understand what it means. The dangers of not doing so are that we look to do something which may seem to be sustainable in one element but be thoroughly detrimental to the others.
 

As example, let us consider practices employed for weed, pest and disease management. Some argue for a world free of pesticides as they say that this would be more sustainable - but is that totally true? Maybe some alternative methods of control considered have greater carbon emissions for example or their greater cost might impact upon financial viability. This is not an argument for pesticides per se, indeed minimising and targeting their use is clearly beneficial, it is just that, in seeking to be fully sustainable, we must judge the various methods of control available against all three pillars of sustainability and make fully considered choices. As with all decisions personal or business, they benefit from proper consideration and appraisal before implementation.

This article is an introduction of a series over coming months that will delve more deeply into sustainability within the turf and amenity sector and actions being taken, and to be considered, in delivering the sustainable agenda. We will look at the machinery suppliers and examples of how they are responding to the changes needed. At SALTEX, there was a clear focus on this in the displays with machines seeking to minimise carbon emissions and provide more effective and efficient solutions. Steps being taken can be large or small – one small manufacturer I spoke to quantified savings made by changing light bulbs to lower electricity usage ones and great re-cycling of materials.

We will also look at how turf and amenity facilities owners, managers and staff are responding to the challenge and doing their bit to the sustainable agenda and of course considering what more could be done. We will look at distributors providing the sector with products and their innovations and changes. We will also consider how sustainability is being considered in research and examine recent findings and their implications. In the area of weed, pest and disease management, there have been recent well researched and implemented trials which may change all our minds on approaches to be implemented.

Robotic Rovi-mo mower being trailed at Manchester City FC

Of course, in any discussion on sustainability we must look at the politics and government policy. As said earlier, I personally do get concerned about some of the pronouncements made by politicians in terms of sustainability and wonder about their understanding of its full meaning but nevertheless we need to understand policy direction on the topic. The UK government in July 2021 produced a revised document headed ‘Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals’. These goals are wide ranging and challenging to say the least. They certainly widen the consideration and definition of sustainability greatly. In a future article we will look in more detail at government policies and their impact upon our sector, however here are the key UK goals set out in the document.

• Achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
• Ensure healthy lives and promote well being
• Ensure quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
• Achieve gender equality
• Ensure availability and sustainable management of water
• Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and full and productive employment
• Build resilient infrastructure and promote innovation

So whilst we might find it relatively easy to say that we seek to be sustainable, it is clear that actually doing it and deciding what to do is far from easy. On a global scale the need to address sustainable issues, strive for zero carbon and to protect our planet and its biodiversity are easy to sign up to but very difficult to attain. Whatever we do as a nation, individual or a business requires sensitive balancing of considerations. Certainly organisations in the turf and amenity sector must keep focus on those three pillars of sustainability – economic, environmental and social. They can play their part in delivering sustainable solutions by their actions small or large. By the conclusion of these series of articles, it is hoped that readers will be able to better plot their way to both contribute to sustainability goals and maintain and grow their organisation’s activities.

One thing for certain is that the agenda of sustainability is not going away and we can all play our part in its delivery. As Sir David Attenborough recently said ‘It is surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a secure home, not just for us but for all life on earth.’