Firstly before I begin my blog today I'd just lke to take a moment to offer my thoughts on HM Queen Elizabeth II.

We are all reeling from the sudden death of Her Majesty who for me has been an inspiration in her dedication and service to this country for an amazing 70 years.

The shear scale of this momentous occasion we are witnessing with her passing and the ascending of a new monarch in King Charles III, will no doubt stay with us and be one of this era's defining moments. I was 11 when we had the last state funeral of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965 and I still remember that day so vividly.

It is not until you hear the tributes and see achievements that our Queen was involved in, do you get a sense of the importance and the vital role that monarchy plays in the safe and securing running of our great country.

We should all take stock, making the most of these next few days, appreciating this momentous occasion and being proud to be British.

God save the King.

Green Flag judging

Last week I spent a couple of days undertaking some ‘mystery shopper’ visits on behalf of the Green Flag Awards programme. 

The sites I visited were a mixed variety of parks and public open spaces, that included Victoria Park Stafford, Markeaton Park walled garden near Derby, Montgomery Canal in Shropshire and Stanmore Country Park, Bridgenorth.

Victoria Park, Stafford 

Every new site is assessed by experienced judges, who make an appointment to inspect the site and meet staff and volunteers. In subsequent years, judging alternates between a full assessment as described below and an unannounced "Mystery Shop" assessment.

Montgomery Canal, Shropshire 

The full assessment has two parts and judges score each section of the Green Flag Award Score Sheet. 

Stage One: Desk Assessment: Judges assess the site-specific management plan and associated documentation, and any response to the judges’ feedback from the previous year (if this isn’t a first application). 

Public bowling green at Victoria Park, Stafford 

This section is worth 30 out of 100 points. The average score is calculated and multiplied by 3 to give a score out of 30.  At least 15 points are required to achieve the accreditation.

Stage Two: Site Assessment: Judges assess whether the management plan is in practice on the site, and how well the Green Flag Award criteria have been met. This is determined by observation and by questioning staff, volunteers and visitors.  

Mystery Shop visit: one judge will visit the site unannounced and mark it against the Green Flag Awards criteria. 

A record number of parks and green spaces across the UK reached the high standards required for a coveted Green Flag Award in 2022. The scheme is celebrating as 2208 parks – the largest number since the scheme began 26 years ago – are proudly preparing to raise their flags.

The Green Flag Award, the international quality mark for parks and green spaces, has seen successful submissions from local authorities and other land managers across the country for a range of sites, from world-famous city parks to unique green spaces.

In my opinion these national awards are an essential recognition of the skilled work and management being carried by parks professionals and the many volunteer groups that continue to support and help run these valuable assets.

Never has the value of free to access parks and green spaces been more important, with parks continuing to provide a sanctuary for communities to engage with nature, improve their physical and mental health, play and come together.

That’s why it’s important that parks are managed to the Green Flag Award standard, which recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces.

A recent YouGov survey for Keep Britain Tidy revealed:- 84% of dog walkers in Great Britain said going to the park made them more relaxed, while 86% said it made them happier.

• 88% of parents of children aged four to 11 said going to the park makes their child happier, and 65% said it made their child calmer.
• 22% of parents said a park that feels safe was the main thing they looked for when choosing where to visit
• 61% of parents said the reason they took their child or children to the park is because it is free.

Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE recently said, “Parks are an essential part of our green infrastructure, playing a key role in our environmental sustainability.

“They are often the beating heart of a community, providing countless benefits to people and wildlife. Importantly, they provide a green haven for everybody to enjoy, regardless of their age, social status or ability to pay for access. It’s clear from our research that for quality green spaces to meaningfully contribute to our health and wellbeing, they must be universally accessible and fit for purpose.”

There are estimated to be around 27,000 parks and public open spaces being managed by Local Authorities, Town and Parrish councils.  Parks are more than just the green oases beautifying our towns and cities and providing a home for nature. Parks are one of our most used publicly-funded services. They form the heart of local community life, providing space for people to exercise to improve their physical health and mental wellbeing, to play, chat, eat, gather, protest and relax. 

Parks are essential pieces of community infrastructure. The huge importance of our urban parks has never been more appreciated and understood than it is today. Covid-19 has meant that increasing numbers of people have discovered, used and relied upon their local parks and green spaces to help them to cope with lockdown restrictions, although this has also placed more pressure than ever on these vital green assets.

For me and many other ex and current parks manages, it is now time our government recognise the importance of these national assets and began a programme of regular investment to help sustain their future and provide the necessary funds for their ongoing regular maintenance.

I firmly believe they are the green lungs of our cities and towns and will in the future be an important cog in the fight against climate change, helping to pave a way to reducing our carbon footprints.  

The Grounds Management Association (GMA) has revealed their seminar lineup as part of the SALTEX 2022 Learning LIVE Programme designed to help grounds people to create the best playing surfaces across a range of sports and settings. 

The association says there’s something for most sports surfaces from some of the best in the business. For rugby, Catherine Hall (Premiership Rugby), Dr David James (Labosport) and Dan Prest (GMA) talk about raising Premiership Rugby pitch standards.

For cricket, Gary Barwell (Edgbaston Stadium), Karl McDermott (Lord's) and Steve Birks (Nottinghamshire CCC) discuss how new cricket formats impact on the modern-day grounds manager.

Tennis is covered off by Neil Stubley (Wimbledon) who presents the All England Tennis and Croquet Club’s court expansion project.

But all top level surfaces start somewhere say the GMA - at grassroots level - and Rob Sullivan presents the Football Foundation's strategic ambitions to improve grass pitch quality and Chris Smith tackles the funding process to improve pitches. Perhaps there’s a role for hybrid pitches in the community – Dr Richard Earl (TGMS) reveals data findings from the Sport England hybrid pitch pilot for community use in London’s Regents Park.

Those in the education sector can hear how Whitgift School’s recent hybrid pitch installation was the first in the independent school sector and panelists Daniel Ratling (Whitgift School), Dr Richard Earl (TGMS) and D James Welsh (Whitehorse Contractors) session look at the rationale, the design/planning process, the construction, the project outcomes and the ongoing maintenance and renovation of the project. 

Geoff Webb, CEO of the GMA, says, “So many visitors to SALTEX work in grounds maintenance and this series of seminars provides relevant, invaluable information whatever the playing surface they work on from speakers and panelists with a wealth of experience and solutions to real-time projects. Anybody wanting to stay ahead of the game in the grounds care industry will benefit from the learning and connections they can make whilst at SALTEX. We are grateful to all those industry experts and leaders that are taking time out to speak at Learning LIVE and support those working hard across the industry to make sport possible across the UK.”

The SALTEX 2022 Learning LIVE schedule this year has been extended to over 30 sessions, they are free to attend across the two days of the show on 2-3 November and contribute to CPD-accreditation. 

PSD Groundscare have announced a new partnership with Grin, the Italian manufacturer of long grass mowing solutions.

New to the UK market, PSD say the range of mowers can offer solutions for local authorities, landscapers, groundskeeping, contractors and private users.

Founded in 2005, Grin explains that their mowers benefit from a mulching system that operates without a grass bag. However the company claim theirs' isn't conventional mulching.They say with their system it is possible to maintain the same mowing height and mowing frequency as with a grass bag type mower. Grass is pulverised into very fine fragments, which are deposited on the soil and absorbed as fertiliser. They also claim with their machines it's possible to mow wet grass better than with a grass bag type mower.

PSD say the new range is set to be launched to dealers at an exclusive event early in October, before being unveiled to the industry at SALTEX on the 2nd & 3rd November.

Managing director Chris Gibson said, “We’re extremely excited to add GRIN to our portfolio and to be at the forefront in the UK distribution of this fantastic product line and we look forward to being able to launch them to our dealer network in October and the UK market at Saltex”.

Grin CEO Franco Ghezzi, commented on the new UK venture, “Having developed the continental European market for over 15 years, I am very happy for the start of this new partnership with PSD Groundscare.

"Their professionalism, technical and commercial competence and the deep-rooted presence on the lawn maintenance market represent key features for the development of this collaboration and to support our company and our products on the important UK market."

Franco continued saying of PSD, "One of the most important services they will offer to every dealer and end-user will be the possibility to test the machines.

"All this together with the good feeling that was immediately created between our two teams and a very similar mindset, are the key factors which make me very satisfied with the agreement found between our two companies.”

The Amenity Forum have confirmed details of their Conference for this year.

Entitled Change, Challenge & Opportunity, the Conference takes place on 13 October 2022 at Kettering Conference Centre.

A spokesperson for the Amenity Forum said, "Changes within the Forum are reflected in changes to the conference too. We are offering the same great speakers to inform delegates about what is happening now, the challenges that we are all encountering and what developments are happening that will give us all opportunities to think about for the future."

More details about the Conference are available here.

Kubota (U.K) have announced they have a new team responsible for the generation and execution of all their public relations activity across their groundcare portfolio.

Pan Publicity Ltd, marketing specialists for the golf, sports turf and arboriculture industries, have been appointed by the manufacturer.

This is not the first time that the two have worked in partnership - with Pan previously responsible for content generation across Kubota’s groundcare sector, and their drive into the agricultural market. A decade on, and with a dedicated focus on the sports turf, local authority, landscaping and amenity markets, Pan say they intend to utilise their relationships built with the trade media over the last 40 years to bolster brand presence and industry position. 

“2022 has been a hugely exciting year for us as we celebrate our 40th anniversary," said client services director, Louise Challiss, "and now to welcome Kubota into the Pan family is the icing on the cake."

Professional knapsack specialists Cooper Pegler are introducing padded straps to its Classic and Series 2000 models to heighten operator comfort and limit body strain during use.

Many of the go-to knapsack models across the popular brand include ergonomically tailored harnesses to channel loading forces in a way that limits stresses on the body.

The latest advance from manufacturer Hozelock-Exel, which follows extensive trialling, further enhances operator safety and protection to include cushioned strapping on Cooper Pegler’s Classic and Series 2000 knapsack models.

"This is a global initiative," says Allan Wainwright, Hozelock-Exel's UK Sales Manager, "which aims to make our knapsack brands fully inclusive for all spray operatives."

The cushioned strapping is introduced at a time when more sports venues and amenity sites are reducing the quantity of treatment liquids they apply in a bid to improve their green credentials.

Golf course greens teams report they are using knapsacks increasingly for spot-spray weed control, a practice that cuts the quantity of liquid applied
significantly.

More knapsack hand spraying raises the importance of operator comfort to new levels, therefore.

"Those who spend a full day knapsack spraying will find the new cushioned straps more comfortable," Allan adds, "reducing the stresses and strains possible on the body during extensive sessions in the field."

The strapping is understood to be available on new knapsacks from March 2023 but models already in use can be retrofitted with the accessory once launched.

Visitors to Saltex 2022 will be able try out knapsacks fitted with the cushioned straps on the Hozelock-Exel stand, F125.

www.cooper-pegler.com 

Twitter:
@CooperPegler
 
Instagram:
@cooperpegleruk
 
Facebook:
@cooperpegler

SALTEX 2022 continues to attract the best in the business - with visitor registrations from over 30 countries already confirmed, a roll call of domestic and international exhibitors signed-up, and an impressive lineup of expert speakers and industry specialists standing ready to provide support, insight, and real solutions to key industry issues. 

SALTEX is Europe’s leading FREE sports turf, amenities and landscaping exhibition

FREE to attend, the show includes the ever-popular Learning LIVE programme, a key element in the SALTEX offering, which has this year been extended to over 30 FREE sessions with influential speakers addressing a range of key issues impacting the industry. High on the agenda are sustainability and environmental issues.

The FREE Learning LIVE sessions will put water usage under the spotlight

Among those bringing their insights and advice to the stage will be Tony Hanson from Environmental Solutions International, Robin Price from Anglian Water and Bob Hillier from the Environment Agency discussing, in a presentation not to be missed their paper on ‘Reducing the impact of future water restrictions on golf and sports turf’ – an extremely timely subject as the sector deals with the results of climate change and the impact that extreme weather is having on sports grounds and green spaces. 

Other seminar highlights include Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA) discussing the options, implications, and cost of recycling synthetic turf in the UK. Speaking on the subject will be Colin Corline from SAPCA, David James from Labosport LTD and Alastair Cox from the European Synthetic Turf Council.

SALTEX attracts the most exhibitors in the industry to one place at any one time. And new exhibitors keep coming on board weekly, with 2022 already set to be the biggest and best show yet.

Over 400 brands will be on display at SALTEX

Overseas visitors’ enthusiasm for the event is at an all-time high with over 30 countries already registered bringing with them insights into how they do things in their countries. 

One of those is Daryl Davidson, head groundsman at Sydney University and of the International Greenkeepers Association, travelling from the other side of the world for “this great opportunity to catch up with a heap of new and old friends from our great industry,” it was he says, “an easy decision to jump on board”.

SALTEX is an event grounds people have always made the time to attend. We know from visitor and exhibitor feedback surveys that the networking opportunities are a massive draw and never more so than in the post-pandemic landscape. 2021 survey data showed that almost half (46%) of visitors attend for networking opportunities; over two-thirds (68%) attend to source new products, services, and suppliers; topped by an extremely high satisfaction rating of 83% voting the show as Good, Very Good or Excellent.

SALTEX does not disappoint and registering for a free FREE ticket to Europe’s largest sports turf, amenities and landscaping trade exhibition has never been easier thanks to the event’s new website - saltex.org.uk.

BOWLS IN DECLINE

BONE-HARD PITCHES!

TIME TO RECRUIT

HOT & BOTHERED

FAKE NEWS

PARKS MUST BE A STATUTORY SERVICE

WORKING PRESSURES INCREASING

CURRENT STATE OF PARKS SERVICES

HOT STUFF

GET CONNECTED

A GROWING NATIONAL REPUTATION

NEW BEGINNINGS

SUMMER SPORTING SEASON STARTS

CALCULATING THE VALUE

IRRIGATION IS VITAL

WEEDS FLOURISHING

TREE PLANTING INNOVATIONS

END OF SEASON RENOVATIONS TIME

PARK AND RIDE

IT'S NOT THE LENGTH THAT MATTERS . . .

NO EXCUSES FOR POOR FACILITY MANAGEMENT

SPRING INTO ACTION

SUN SHINES ON BTME

BRIGHT START

INDUSTRY INITIATIVE LAUNCHED

TESTING TIME

TIME TO PAY UP

DON'T PANIC!

ALL APSE-PECTS DISCUSSED

WINTER WARMING

THE BANE OF BUNKERS

POOR PERFORMANCE? BLAME THE PITCH!

PREPARING FOR 2022's GROWING SEASON

THREE AREAS OF CONTENTION

AREAS OF CONCERN

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

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?

In the run up to this year's SALTEX, editor Laurence Gale, asks turf professionals why they return to the show, what they're hoping to discover this year and their thoughts regarding the event's future.

This issue:

Daniel Lewis​, Landscape Contract Manager, Manchester City Football Club

TurfPro: Are you a regular SALTEX attendee? How many years have you been visiting?

Daniel Lewis: Yes. I've been going now for 15 years.

TP: What keeps you coming back?

DL: I like to discover new innovations and seeing old friends.

TP: How long do you tend to stay for?

DL: Two days usually

TP: Does who is exhibiting influence your decision whether to attend each year?

DL: Not really. Sometimes it’s fear of missing out. 

TP: Do you come along with a team?

DL: Partly.

TP: Is the social side of the show important to you?

DL: Yes. I find that more people then to open up over a meal or a beer.

TP: Were you keen to get back to in-person shows post-Covid?

DL: Yes, the virtual side didn’t work for me. I found it too impersonal and I like to see the whites of the eyes of who I'm talking to.

TP: What are your thoughts on the NEC as a venue? Would you like to see the show moved around?

DL: I think it's great for hosting the event - bit not so great for transport and hotels or for the evening activities. They could possibly move venue or the place for the awards dinner, but I can imagine this not suiting all. 

TP: What product areas are you interested in exploring this year?

DL: Battery and robotic machinery in particularly. Also I like to hear the industry speakers. 

TP: Do you arrange on-site demonstrations whilst at SALTEX?

DL: I have done in the past. Green Machine and Ariens are two that spring to mind.

TP: Do you take advantage of the Learning LIVE seminar sessions? 

DL: Yes, I really enjoy the candid conversations and the question and answer sessions. 

TP: Do you regularly attend other industry events? If so, which ones?

DL: I also visit BTME.

TP: Do you think SALTEX should remain independent or team-up with other industry events?

DL: Independent, I don't think we should dilute what we already have. 

TP: Is there anything you’d like to see changed about the current version of the show? 

DL: As already mentioned, maybe move locations for a few years at a time? I feel the outdoor demo area always feels detached from the indoor showfloor.

TP: Thank you