We have discussed in TurfPro before the crisis of funding which turf professionals will recognise only too well in our parks and green spaces. It's a most depressing situation which is impossible to deny.

In these times of austerity, those in charge of the purse strings at both national and local levels are seeing the maintenance of the UK's parks as a soft target where devastating cuts can be made.

However, amidst this grim situation, there thankfully appears to be an increasingly significant movement of groups and associations who are speaking up and bringing the issue of the plight of parks into the mainstream discourse.

This past week for example, a Charter For Parks was launched by a coalition of 12 national organisations, which called on the prime minister Theresa May and first ministers Nicola Sturgeon, Carwyn Jones and Arlene Foster, to take action to safeguard our parks.

The Charter calls on the political leaders to:

• Endorse a legal duty for all public green space to be managed to a good standard.
• Ensure adequate long-term resources for maintenance, management and improvements.
• Recognise the right of every citizen to have access within walking distance to a good-quality public green space.
• Celebrate the central role well-run parks play in our neighbourhoods for all sections of our communities.
• Embed effective protection from inappropriate development or use, or loss of any part of our parks.
• Encourage and enable community involvement and empowerment of local people and park users.

Groups and organisations throughout the UK are being urged to sign up to the new Charter - which you can do here.

Dave Morris, Chair of the National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces, said: “Time is running out for local parks across the UK. Continuous budget cuts to staffing and maintenance are leaving them vulnerable to neglect and deterioration, or even sell offs. Many people think local councils are legally responsible for maintaining local parks and open spaces but unfortunately, unlike waste collection, that’s not the case yet.

“Our Parks Charter calls on the leaders of all four home nations to take action to ensure these essential and highly-popular public resources are properly funded, managed, maintained, and protected for current and future generations."

Dave Morris went on to acknowledge the role which local volunteers play in looking after community open spaces saying, "“As the voice of the movement of more than 6,000 local Friends of Parks Groups throughout the UK we recognise the immense contribution that these community volunteers are playing. Now it’s time for government to show an equal commitment to act."

This is such an important point. It's fantastic that engaged members of the public feel invested enough in their local green space that they want to do their bit to help. These people should be applauded and encouraged to join in as much as they can. But they must only be ever there as an additional assistance to specialist turf professionals.

There was a superb editorial in The Guardian last week which reiterated this point. Headlined, "Making councils cut the grass is the only way" the newspaper emphasised that when it comes to parks "volunteers can’t do it all". The Guardian warned that without help from the state even these volunteer groups are at risk of "withering away".

Hopefully movements such as the Charter For Parks will gain some serious momentum with support from organisations such as Fields In Trust, Keep Britain Tidy, Greenspace Scotland and The Gardens Trust. If professionals and the public alike get behind such campaigns, eventually the politicians will have no choice but to listen and to act on demands.

Following the news last week regarding the break-in at Nantwich Town FC, which saw the non-league club suffer the theft of thousands of pounds of groundscare machinery, local STIGA dealers Total Tools, have come to the club's rescue and lent them a ride-on and a lawnmower.

The Dabbers took delivery last week of the equipment at short notice which allows the club to continue its pitch maintenance programme ahead of the new season.

L-R: Pitctured at Nantwich Town FC on Wednesday last week: Paul Jones, General Manager, Total Tools (Nantwich) Ltd; Tony Davidson, Chairman, Nantwich Town FC; Dan Mellor, Managing Director, Total Tools (Nantwich) Ltd; Dave Cooke, 1st Team Manager, Nantwich Town FC; Pete Temmen, Head Groundsman, Nantwich Town FC

Following the arrival of the equipment, Chairman Tony Davison was quick to thank the dealers for their support.

He said, ”It has been a difficult week for the club, following the break in so I was delighted to receive the call from Dan Mellor at Total Tools with the offer of some equipment.

“Dan has worked with manufacturer STIGA to set up the loan and we are delighted that together they have come to our rescue. At Nantwich Town we greatly appreciate the support of all the local businesses we deal with and this is yet another magnificent example of the support we get across the town.

“We have today also launched our appeal ‘Secure your club’ to raise funds towards permanent replacement but this is a tremendous gesture to see us through in the short term and very much appreciated by the club.”

Herbicide resistance is a real threat to the ability to effectively control weeds in amenity situations and groundsmen need to take steps to avoid it, warns Monsanto.

Technical Development Manager Barrie Hunt explains: “There are currently no known cases of glyphosate resistance in the UK, however, globally, resistance has evolved as a result of repeated use and over-reliance on this active ingredient.”

In Europe, resistance has been confirmed in two plant families and six species. They are the Fleabane (Horseweed) species Conyza bonariensis, Conyza canadensis and Conyza sumatrensis, and Ryegrass species Lolium rigidum, Lolium perenne and Lolium perenne var. multiflorum.

Barrie comments, “Fleabane, or Conyza, resistance has developed in amenity situations, including railways and roadsides, as well as in perennial crops. Ryegrass resistance has occurred predominantly in perennial crops and also in arable farming.

“Ryegrass resistance has not been found in specific amenity situations, however many perennial crop situations directly mimic practice in amenity.”

Development of resistance in Europe is mainly due to repetitive or inappropriate practices, he explains: “These practices include over-reliance on of the same herbicide i.e. glyphosate, not following label recommendations and a lack of, or limited, Integrated Weed Management strategies.”

Minimising the risk of resistance, Monsanto say, is based on Good Plant Protection Practice and an Integrated Weed Management Strategy, which all groundcare professionals should be carrying out as a matter of routine, but a Resistance Management Strategy should also be put in place.

“Whenever possible, use mixtures of herbicides, and consider integrating non-chemical control measures,” explains Mr Hunt.

“Monitor and assess herbicide performance after spraying to detect any loss in control, - good record-keeping is key to the early detection of resistance.”

Planning applications carefully to ensure that the active ingredient is at its most effective helps to prevent survivors, he emphasises, as repeat applications to surviving plants present the greatest risk of resistance developing.

“If resistance is suspected, contact your supplier and/or the product manufacturer, and act quickly to prevent spread - use a strategy involving alternative herbicides and non-chemical techniques. Then collect seed samples for testing to confirm resistance,” Mr Hunt advises.

“However, by being vigilant, we can hopefully avoid resistance, and help these valuable chemicals to continue to maintain the quality of sporting and leisure facilities.”

Gleneagles, the iconic Scottish hotel and sporting estate, has announced the appointment of Craig Haldane as its new Golf Courses Manager.

South African Craig, a well-known figure in the global golf industry, joins Gleneagles from Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, where he held the position of Director - Golf Course Maintenance, and had led golf course operations at the iconic Middle East venue for the past 11 years.

Craig Haldane

Previous to this, Haldane's international experience included senior roles at Nad Al Sheba Golf Club, Dubai; Riffa Golf Club, Bahrain; Ria Bintan Golf Club, Indonesia; and Fancourt Hotel, South Africa.

Haldane arrives at Gleneagles as it prepares for the staging of two significant tournaments over the next 18 months - the inaugural European Golf Team Championships on The PGA Centenary Course this August and The Solheim Cup 12 months later - as well as the centenary of The King’s Course next year.

The James Braid-designed King's Course will also welcome the 100th playing of the Scottish Stroke Play Championship this year, while The Queen's Course will see the second PING Scottish Mixed Championship.

Commenting on this important announcement, Gary Silcock, Director of Golf at Gleneagles, said: “I'm incredibly excited by Craig's appointment and his global experience and expertise will be a huge asset as we continue to invest in our golf business and customer experience.

"His industry knowledge and tournament preparation skills - The Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club stages the European Tour sanctioned Omega Dubai Desert Classic each year - will be invaluable. Bringing together Craig's experience with Scott Fenwick, our Director of Agronomy & Estates, who has 38 years of tournament expertise here at Gleneagles, is helping us create one of the strongest tournament teams in golf.

"We are now blending a growing international team with home-grown talent and Craig's appointment will allow us to further develop our succession planning goals within our Greens Team Apprentice programme, which started two years ago."

Craig Haldane, said, "Gleneagles is one of the world's great golf estates and the opportunity to work with Gary and the team to deliver the next chapter in its illustrious golfing history is something I am hugely looking forward to.

"The King's, The Queen's and The PGA Centenary Course are already recognised the world-over as exceptional golf experiences and I am confident that in my new role, and with the support of the incredible golf team at Gleneagles, we will be able to take the management, conditioning and preparation of all courses to the next level."

All entries and nominations for the Amenity Forum 2018 Sprayer Operator of the Year Awards need to be submitted by 30th June.

The awards seek to recognise the high levels of professionalism and standards in the sector and were established to further promote high standards of operation standards by sharing and disseminating the best practice employed by these individuals.

Sponsored by Sponsored by ICL and Syngenta, and supported by BASIS, the awards invite entries in three categories:

• Sports turf - Using a knapsack/boom sprayer
• Landscape and Industrial - Using a vehicle sprayer
• Landscape and Industrial - Using a knapsack sprayer

The three category finalists will be invited to the Amenity Forum Conference in October, where the three category winners will be announced. Each category winner will receive a framed certificate and a trophy from the sponsors, and due to support from BASIS Registration, they will also be offered a place on the BASIS Foundation Award in Amenity Horticulture, along with the examination fee.

The overall winner will be announced at the BIGGA BTME event next January and will have the choice of three prizes, including a trip to a world-leading US turf or amenity show, or £2000 worth of products.

To enter or nominate, download the application form or enter online via the Amenity Forum website

Entries and nominations need to be made by 30 June 2018. After submitting an application form, successful entrants will be invited to answer a short questionnaire. Selected category finalists are judged on best practice and innovative ideas to improve and enhance spraying operations

Woburn Abbey is the location for the 2018 Parks & Gardens Live event organised by Horticulture Week, being held on Wednesday 27th June.

Walker Mowers UK will be attending demonstrating their zero turn machines.

A spokesman for Walker Mowers UK said, "We look forward to demonstrating the many unique features of the Walker Mower at the Parks & Garden Live event. In addition to demonstrating on the day we will be offering a free demonstration on visitors own parks and gardens to show how using the Walker Mower can save time and money."

Barenbrug UK, has dominated the BSPB Turfgrass bentgrass trials this year, with a top rating for its new cultivar, Charles - which the company boasts makes ALL BENT the No.1 100% browntop bentgrass grass seed mixture on the market.

Barenbrug's Charles cultivar

Designed specifically for overseeding and species exchange in golf and bowling greens, the company says the aggressive nature of this cultivar heralds new standards for course managers looking at long term sustainability using fewer chemicals.

Barenbrug say for the majority of golf courses, particularly those on traditional “soil push-up greens”, replacing annual meadowgrass with browntop bentgrass could have significant benefits in year-round smoothness and trueness, as well as providing substantial savings in fungicide, fertiliser and water costs.

David Greenshields, Barenbrug Product Manager said, ”ALL BENT is a vital new tool in the armoury of a course manager looking to provide consistent and reliable colour and performance for players—but in a more sustainable way.”

Barenbrug say the STRI trials show that Charles breaks new ground for visual merit and shoot density, and they believe it promises to play a key role in outcompeting Poa annua in a close-mown green.

Bobcat has announced details of the 2018 Bobcat Customer Roadshow programme in the UK due to take place at various locations in England and Scotland in the first half of July 2018.

New E26 mini-excavator

The company says the events are an opportunity for existing and prospective customers to experience first-hand in their area the latest products in the Bobcat range of compact loaders, compact excavators, telehandlers and attachments.

One of the main themes of the Roadshow events is a focus on the range of compact tracked loaders and the landscaping / groundcare market using a wide variety of Bobcat attachments on these machines.

Bobcat say this will be illustrated by the T450 compact track loader and MT55 mini track loader working with a number of attachments for these applications. The Roadshow will also offer many visitors their first look at the new E26 mini-excavator, one of five models in the new R-Series 2-4 tonne excavator range.

The T450, MT55 and E26 will be complemented at the events with a wide range of other Bobcat machines and attachments provided by the company and the local dealer.

Visitors can see all of the products being put through their paces by skilled demonstrators, before they can try the products out for themselves in true working conditions. The range of machines and attachments available will allow visitors to carry out digging, landscaping, loading, carrying, levelling, cleaning up and many other applications.

The Roadshow events will run from 10 am to 4 pm each day - anyone interested in attending should contact the dealer organising the event in their area.

The dates, venues, dealer hosts and contact numbers for the 2018 Bobcat UK Roadshow are:

• 5th July 2018 – Peach Croft Farm, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 2HP – TVE Plant Sales Ltd - Tel 01235 523070
• 10th July 2018 – Haydock Park Racecourse, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside WA12 0HQ – Norwest Plant Ltd - Tel 01942 629550
• 11th July 2018 – 5 St Helens Way, St Helens, Bishop Auckland, County Durham DL14 9AD - Lloyd Ltd Tel 01388 660300
• 12th July 2018 – SRUC Oatridge Campus, Ecclesmachan, Broxburn, West Lothian EH52 6NH, Scotland - John H McNae Ltd - Tel 01292 541920

Scarborough Borough Council’s recently appointed parks and countryside manager, Tim Allison, has invested in Toro for the first time in the form of five new LT-F3000 triple flail mowers.

Previously cut by cylinder mowers that the council say struggled with long grass and dandelions, the highway verges, small open spaces and mini golfs of Scarborough are now being maintained by the five flail mowers, five days a week.

Five new Toro LT-F3000 triple flail mowers are being used by Scarborough Borough Council

With 28 years’ experience working in various roles within Scarborough’s parks and countryside service, Tim wanted to re-evaluate the council’s grounds strategy to uphold its national reputation for prestigious green flag award-winning parks and open spaces, such as Peasholm and Falsgrave Park.

He explains why he decided to take this new approach of using flail instead of cylinder mowers and Toro, which is distributed in the UK by Reesink Turfcare: “Jon Wright from our local dealer Russells Groundcare was especially helpful during the decision-making process by helping organise a demo of machines across the market.

“We lined up five different cylinder, rotary and flail mowers from different brands and put them to use in a local park. The Toro LT-F3000s were agreed to be by far the best, both in build quality and the standard of cut they produced.

“In fact”, he continues, “the machines are only on their second cuts across the borough and already we’ve received positive feedback from the public, councillors, managers and, most importantly, the operatives about the quality of cut and improvement in after-cut appearance.”

Tim compares the after-cut appearance produced by the machines to a ‘green carpet’: “Thanks to the ability of the LT-F3000 to tackle longer grass, we’ve raised the height of cut and there are many benefits to doing this.

“Firstly,” he says, “there are shorter grass clippings, which are swept into the freshly-cut sward. Because of the space in the flail head, where grass does not build up, clippings are not left in clumps but spread evenly in the machine’s wake and hidden from view – giving the impression of a green carpet.”

Reduced grass growth is another, says Tim: “The higher you cut grass, the less you promote its growth. So while grass isn’t cut as short as when we used cylinders, it remains a neater length for longer. This is ideal because time is of the essence.”

Finally, and most importantly, Tim adds, there is public perception: “Rather than seeing short grass for a moment followed by a long period of rapid growth, the public is now seeing spaces across the borough maintained at a constant rate. The build-up of grass cuttings have gone and they are reassured that we are out looking after the green spaces of Scarborough regularly.”

In heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Knight Stainforth Hall Caravan & Camping Park has been welcoming visitors through its doors since 1927.However to improve the experience of staying at the Park, Knight Stainforth turned to a Profihopper 4WDi, with its unique cut and collection system, to keep the amount of grass cuttings being trailed everywhere down to a minimum. Click here to find out more.

Why buy an ordinary out-front rotary mower when you can buy a Profihopper iDrive  Smartcut?  

The  Profihopper IDrive self propelled mower collector not only picks up anything - wet or dry - but can also mulch, collect or shred leaves, scarify, or as a bonus it finishes the lawn off with a nice stripe from the rear roller; in fact it really is 5 machines in 1. You can get a PH1250 iDrive eco at a special 'take-home' price of £23,950 + VAT (0% finance for business users is available on request).

Click here for more information 

Well after the end of the Civil War, battles still rage on the 16th fairway at Ormskirk G.C  

Since his arrival at the club, head greenkeeper Chris Whittle has been raging war, however, for Chris this has been on the rough, and not on the Government forces, but with equally as dramatic consequences. Chris’s main aim is to take some of the vigorous growth out of the deeper areas by thinning them out with an AMAZONE PH1250 Profihopper SmartCut 4WDi fitted with scarifying knives and in cut and collect mode to take the cut material off site. Other duties will include leaf collect in the autumn.

Click here for more information 

Amazone Ltd. Blythe Road, Harworth, Doncaster, South Yorks, DN11 8NE

Phone: 01302 751200 Fax: 01302 751202

Web: www.amazone.co.uk

E-mail: sales@amazone.co.uk