There has been some worrying news recently regarding the use of Artifcial Grass Pitches (AGPs) in terms of the extent of injuries and possible MRSA infections being associated with their use.

This link allows you to read the article published by the Independent newspaper relating to an outbreak of MRSA with Tynedale RFC having to suspended all senior rugby activity until further notice after several players contracted MRSA and needed treatment for infected leg wounds after playing on Stourbridge’s Artificial Grass Pitch.

Having read the article there is no doubt many players will now be questioning the safety of these artificial surfaces.

I personally have never been a great fan of AGPs. As a past rugby player and coach I have never found them to be forgiving, and the natural bounce of the ball is exaggerated, often bouncing too high and fast.

I am maybe a tad biased having played most, if not all, my rugby on natural grass pitches. Having worked in the industry for many years I have personally seen the advancement of these artificial pitches. They have no doubt changed dramatically since their early introduction in the late 1970s when most of them where straight carpets with little or no shock pads or filled with sand. They have come a long way since then with the modern generation of 4G surfaces offering a wide range of carpet pile length and infills to make them more naturalistic and specific for the sport to be played on.

However, they do come at a price. Most full size AGPs are in excess of £800,000 to install and if not looked after properly will only have a shelf life of six plus years compared to the manufacturers’ claims of some ten years.

Many were also sold on the back of a maintenance free selling point and the fact they can be played on in all weathers. Not strictly true. Like natural grass pitches, they are not playable in frosty and snowy conditions.

Not included in these figures is the cost of getting rid of the spent 'carpet' at the end of its life. Artificial carpets and infill materials are often an unwelcome visitor at landfill sites - so what do you do with 7-9,000 square metres of woven polypropylene? It could cost you in the region of £20,000+ to tip it - with a replacement top costing in access of another £150,000 to supply and fit.

If you take the total costs of installing, maintaining and replacing a top on one single AGP, you are looking at the region of a £1,000,000. If you were to invest this money in maintaining grass pitches, you could effectively maintain 100 pitches spending £10,000 per pitch.

There is also an environmental argument, which may not appeal to some club officials. Natural grass pitches are one of the largest producers of oxygen and an important fixer of carbon dioxide in the soil. One grass pitch provides more oxygen than two acres of forest.

However, for me, the biggest worry is the long-term health issues of these artificial carpets, in respect to the sanitation / cleaning of the surfaces. Manufacturers do advocate a regular cleaning and maintenance regime for these facilities, however, very rarely is this carried out, This recent report regarding the Tynedale players may be the tip of an iceberg, who knows what other bacteria may be lingering in your artificial pitch.

A natural grass pitch harbours beneficial bacteria and organisms that naturally break down and remove bodily fluids such as blood, sweat and saliva. These bodily fluids on an inert, irregularly disinfected surface will help to spread diseases, particularly into grazes and cuts caused from sliding tackles.

We have also learnt about the longer-term health concerns about these AGPs. Various recent articles have discussed the fact that unusual numbers of players who have played on these surfaces have been diagnosed with cancer. This article from Men's Health entitled Did Artificial Turf Give More Than 200 Soccer Players Cancer? considered the subject.

There is no doubt that artificial pitches are becoming more sophisticated and offer near to naturalistic playing characteristics. However, I am still not convinced that they offer value for money, tick the sustainability boxes or are deemed health-risk free based on the recent evidence seen in the press and on national TV.

A recent television programme Plastic In The Ocean also recently brought home the true problems we face globally by the ongoing use of plastic 

Green Flag Award has announced the winners of the 2018 People’s Choice vote for the UK.

One of the winners - Strathaven Park, South Lanarkshire Council

With more than 1,800 sites to choose from - all of which meet the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award, the international quality mark for parks and green spaces - the public have chosen their top ten favourites.

The ten winners of the 2018 People’s Choice Award are:

• Cassiobury Park, Watford Borough Council
• Clifton Park, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
• Elsecar Park and Local Reservoir Nature Reserve, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
• Saltwell Park, Gateshead Council
• Strathaven Park, South Lanarkshire Council
• Telford Town Park, Telford and Wrekin Council
• University of Essex Wivenhoe Park, University of Essex
• Victoria Park (Tower Hamlets), London Borough of Tower Hamlets
• Victoria Park (Widnes), Halton Borough Council
• Warley Woods (Sandwell), Warley Woods Community Trust

Included in this year’s list of winners are a university campus, a town park, a woodland and a nature reserve.

Paul Todd, Green Flag Award manager, said, “We know that parks matter to people and that those tasked with looking after them have faced and are facing some significant challenges with shrinking resources.The number of people that took the time to vote for their favourite park is testament to how much they are valued and we would like to congratulate all the winners.”

Rishi Sunak MP, Parks and Green Spaces Minister, said, “Millions of people of all ages escape to our parks and green spaces every year to spend time with their loved ones, learn about nature and play sport. It’s inspiring to see people from all over the country get behind their favourite parks for this year’s Green Flag People’s Choice Awards. Rightfully so, these awards recognise the hard work and dedication of those individuals who are behind Britain’s best parks and green spaces. Thank you, and congratulations to you all.”

A spokesperson for Gateshead Council said, “We are delighted that Saltwell Park has been voted as one of the top ten parks in the country for the second year running. It shows that the public truly value this wonderful open space.

“We are very proud of Saltwell Park and how important it is to the local community.”

Gleneagles, the iconic Scottish hotel and sporting estate, has added to its growing roster of important accolades after being named 'European Golf Resort of the Year 2019' at the annual IAGTO Awards.

This most recent of awards - determined by member votes from the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) - was announced at a glittering ceremony in Ljubljana, Slovenia, attended by tour operators, golf and travel industry executives and international media.

It proudly sits alongside Gleneagles' 'No.1 Golf Resort in Britain & Ireland' status, from UK magazine, Golf World, and underlines the ongoing progress made under new owner, Ennismore - including a significant investment programme over the last two years which has transformed the hotel's spaces through fresh designs and seen the launch of three new bars, two restaurants, and a new events wing.

Conor O'Leary, General Manager of Gleneagles, commented, "Gleneagles is an authentically Scottish experience; a destination for fun and adventure in one of the most luxurious and beautiful settings imaginable. There are few places in the world that offer the same breadth of opportunities and activities we have here at The Glen.

"To receive this accolade from votes cast by the golf travel industry reflects the significant progress we continue to make in re-affirming our place in luxury hospitality."

The award also coincides with Gleneagles' preparations for two major golfing milestones in 2019: the centenary of the James Braid-designed King's and Queen's Courses and the hosting of The Solheim Cup on The PGA Centenary Course, which also welcomed The 2014 Ryder Cup.

Over the last 18 months, major renovation projects have been completed on all three championship golf courses – specifically bringing both The King’s and The Queen's back to the original vision of Braid.

Local authorities, town councils and parish council landowners are featured in a UK-wide, World War One commemoration programme during this anniversary year.

Landowners are honouring the memories of those soldiers who fought and died in conflict by designating parks and green spaces as Centenary Fields, part of the UK-wide commemoration programme led by Fields in Trust. This designation ensures that land will remain available as a recreational space for the community in perpetuity.

Over 100 councils have participated in the Centenary Fields programme to date. Examples of councils featured in the campaign include North Somerset Council who protected two sites which contributed to the war effort - including Weston Woods that supplied timber to shore-up trenches on the Western Front. Belper Town Council has showcased the contemporary resonance of the Great War by commissioning a new installation for their Memorial Gardens called "Sacrifice", representing a soldier from the town who was killed during the War. Didcot Town Council unveiled a new plaque at the Smallbone Recreation Ground War memorial and local school children placed 28 remembrance crosses, each bearing the name of one of the Didcot men who fell during World War I. Llantwit Major Town Council dedicated Seaview Park as a Centenary Field. At the end of World War II, many residents of Llantwit Major gave a shilling toward the refurbishment of the town’s War Memorial Cross as there were additional funds remaining a set of memorial gates were commissioned. In 2014 Llantwit Major Town Council refurbished the memorial gates.

Protected sites are also featured in the Centenary Fields Legacy Programme online story map, to remember those who served and lost their lives during the conflict and to say “Thank You” to the World War I Generation. Fields in Trust are revealing the story of one Centenary Field each day at 11am.

The Centenary Fields Legacy Programme which will run until the anniversary of Armistice Day on 11th November is in delivered in partnership with the Royal British Legion’s “Thank You” project highlighting the nation’s gratitude to the generation who served in WWI. Protecting parks and green spaces in perpetuity is an innovative way to honour the memory of the World War I servicemen and also those, military and civilian, who played their part on the home-front to build a better life for the benefit of generations to come.

Speaking at the launch of the Centenary Fields programme in 2014 Fields in Trust President, HRH The Duke of Cambridge, said, “The Centenary Fields programme aims to save in perpetuity scores of memorial spaces around the country. Each moment of play or leisure that takes place on a Memorial Field is, in a way, an act of remembrance. I am delighted that Fields in Trust have identified these Centenary Fields as a vital part of our national heritage and well-being, which we cannot take for granted. I encourage local authorities to support this cause and to safeguard these living spaces of remembrance for generations to come.”

Centenary Fields protected as part of the programme include war memorials, parks and recreation grounds, memorial gardens, playing fields or other green spaces with a significant World War I link. Stories featured will highlight the contribution of individual combatants, those who returned - and many who did not.

Fields in Trust Chairman of Trustees, Tim Phillips, said, “We congratulate local council landowners for dedicating their parks and green spaces as Centenary Fields. these precious places are now included forever in our national programme to commemorate World War I. Protection of these sites not only recognise the sacrifices of those who gave their lives during the conflict, but also ensures that future generations will have valuable green spaces to enjoy as a living legacy.”

Each year BIGGA's regional conferences bring leading speakers and some of the top names in the golf and turf management industry around the country.

The Association says things are no different this time around and the  arious Membership Services Managers across the regions have been working hard to put together a quality programme of education.

Details of the regional conferences for winter 2018/19 can be found on the events section of the BIGGA website.

Gordon McKie, course manager at the Old Course at St Andrews, will be speaking at the Central England conference on 7 November.

He said, "Attending regional conferences gives you the opportunity to network with colleagues that you may not otherwise come into contact with on a regular basis. They also provide you with the opportunity to gain some quality education closer to home. It means younger members or those who perhaps haven't engaged with BIGGA before can get a taste of what it's all about.

"It's important to hear the different stories from different parts of the country to broaden your knowledge from those areas. It allows you to learn about other ways of doing things that you may not have come across before.

"To maximise your conference experience, take as much as you can from each speaker and network and make contact with people that you may not have come into contact with before. You never know who you might meet and where you may end up!"

As the importance of educating children in scientific subjects and encouraging practical learning rises up the agenda, Bayer is working to help pupils learn about some of the basic scientific principles that underpin many turf management practices.

From 1 to 5 October, over 100 local primary school children and teachers visited the Bayer Environmental Science headquarters in Cambridge, for practical science lessons from using a microscope and testing honey, to the role of bees and their life cycles, delivered by the ‘Baylab’.

Steve Bishop, Bayer group product manager, explains that the ‘Baylab’ provides an enhanced learning facility, that is normally based in Reading. “The roadshow has been a huge success, with students and teachers alike.

“The wider context for the turf management industry is an increasing pressure from the regulatory authorities. Not only have we lost key management products, but greenkeepers are being challenged to maintain quality playing surfaces.

“Therefore, the industry needs a steady stream of new professionals to continue and build on the research and development that’s required to support turf management for years to come,” he says.

“This is why we’re so passionate about awakening an interest in science among young people from all backgrounds at an early age, to boost their confidence, provide inspiration and aid in development.

“It’s all about capturing the imagination of children today, to make them the scientists of tomorrow.”

Steve explains that he hopes the children and teachers went away with a positive attitude, not only towards science, but to the work that goes into maintaining the environments in which they work, rest and play.

Several hundred students attending Merrist Wood College, a multi-award winning, 400 acre estate and ‘outdoor classroom’ in Guildford, Surrey, are benefiting from Makita UK’s 'Be Safe' training modules.

The College specialises in a variety of subjects from animal welfare and arboriculture, to landscaping, garden design, equine management, sport, Public Services and horticulture. For students on the land-based courses Makita UK has started to deliver a series of Be Safe modules in grounds maintenance, landscaping and horticulture.

These 1.5 hour Outdoor Power Equipment (OPE) Correct and Safe Use modules, which carry the LANTRA Awards Approved Training Provider badge of recognition, provide a grounding in machine selection using the right tool for the job, safe use and correct control of Makita machines used for grounds care, horticulture production and amenity horticulture.

“It is important to give these students an easy-to-understand course in basic machinery safety and selection,” says Kevin Brannigan, marketing manager, Makita UK. “The students will receive some practical training during their courses but it is vital that they appreciate the risks and processes related to powerful equipment such as hedge trimmers, brush cutters, line trimmers and many more pieces of equipment in our Outdoor Be Safe seminars which brings a fresh approach to this important training.”

The first Outdoor Be Safe modules have been delivered and several more are scheduled in the months ahead. From January 2019 and onwards the October 2018 apprenticeship intake will also benefit in the course. This training is completely free of charge and certificates of training are awarded by Makita for all participating students.

“After attending the Makita Be Safe workshops our land-based students were given generous hands-on experience testing some of Makita’s cordless machinery including lawnmowers, chainsaws, strimmers. Linking with Makita UK has been really valuable for our students in showcasing safety but also the direction of quieter and more sustainable options for their core equipment needs,” says Richard Dewing, associate principal curriculum and head of campus - Merrist Wood.

Simultaneously, Makita’s Construction Be Safe modules are being delivered at Guildford College of Further Education, Guildford, Surrey (another college alongside Merrist Wood in the Guildford College group). These are being delivered to students attending the plumbing, electrical and construction courses, with day-release apprentices also attending from January 2019 onwards.

With customers ranging from Birmingham City FC, Wasps Rugby and Warwick School, no two days are the same for contractors, Lakeside Grounds Maintenance.

To cope with the versatility required to work on multiple sports surfaces and grounds, Director Gareth Fowler-Simons has just invested in his second Verti-Drain 7526 from Charterhouse Turf Machinery, taking his total fleet to four.

Established by Gareth’s father over 30 years ago, and now with a team of 10 guys on the road, Lakeside GM conduct grounds and sports turf maintenance in and around the Midlands.

“Aeration is one of those staple maintenance procedures that goes across the board, no matter the surface you’re working on,” explained Gareth. “We took delivery of our very first Verti-Drain, an ex-demo model, roughly 20 years ago. We looked at alternatives at the time and decided that it was the best built unit, as well as being the most cost-effective. When we advertised that we had one, we picked up a lot of work which saw us quickly adding a second unit to cope with the demand.”

In the last five years Gareth and his team have continued to see growth, enough to justify the investment in two further Verti-Drains, this time opting for the largest model available.

“I spoke to Richard Lucas at Saltex a couple of years ago and on the back of that, he set up a static unit for me to look at. Without even seeing it in action I was happy that if it was going to perform half as well as our smaller units, we’d go for it. Having the two Verti-Drain 7526’s in our fleet now means we can continue to provide a quality job but in a shorter space of time, minimising disruption for the customers and maximising efficiency for my team.

“During autumn and peak renovation times, our Verti-Drains are out on a daily basis and have so far delivered exactly what we’re after from a machine, with no dramas."

The countdown is on to Europe’s largest annual turf management event and here is a reminder of everything you need to know ahead of SALTEX 2018, which takes place at The NEC, Birmingham on 31 October – 01 November.

Firstly…

1. Register for FREE to get your ticket in advance and avoid the queues.
2. Plan your route. Located in the centre of the UK, whether you are travelling from overseas or within the UK, the NEC is easy to get to by car, rail or air.

This year, anyone attending SALTEX, can save 25% on car parking charges. Event organisers have negotiated a freeze on the £12 charge, which the NEC have just increased to £16 for other visitors. Alternatively, the IOG is also providing one free parking voucher for each membership account, be that an Individual or Organisation/Company. Simply bring your membership card to the IOG Hub (stand C180) and collect the FREE car park voucher

When you get to SALTEX 2018…

1. Update yourself on industry trends, techniques and latest innovations at the Innovation Hub on stand K021.
2. Gain CPD points by attending any of the 53 FREE-to-attend educational seminars through the Learning LIVE programme.
3. Bring along your soil sample to the Pathology & Soil Science LIVE clinic, located on the IOG Hub between 11am and 1pm each day.
4. Get face-to-face FREE expert, impartial advice from the IOG’s regional pitch advisors on stand E180.
5. Make sure you sign-up for the Women in Turf (via the IOG Hub) and the Lawn Care Legends (Concourse Suites 22-23) networking events.
6. Ready to make your next career move? Visit careers counsellor Frank Newberry between 9am and 3pm each day at the Job Clinic on the IOG Hub for the best career advice you’ll ever receive.
7. See the latest products in action at the SALTEX Outdoor Demo area, outside Halls 6,7 & 8.
8. Bring your shooting boots and try your luck in the penalty shoot-out competition on stand K189. Hosted by Rigby Taylor on behalf of the Perennial charity the competition is free to enter, but donations are appreciated - and a major prize is up for grabs!
9. Have fun! Walk the three large halls and network with thousands of other like-minded individuals – don’t forget to bring your business cards!

SALTEX 2018 is free to attend. To register your attendance and beat the queues visit www.iogsaltex.com

Follow SALTEX on Twitter @IOG_SALTEX and Facebook – www.facebook.com/IOGSALTEX

CHANGE, CHALLENGE & OPPORTUNITY
At the Amenity Forum Conference

PARKS IN DEEP MIRE
Problem highlighted by national newspaper

RYDER CUP GLORY
Dedicated greenkeepers shine in Paris

DREAMS COME TRUE!
Dedication pays off

REASONS TO BE GLEEFUL
Trade show illustrates diversity of our industry

INTEGRATED USE OF PESTICIDE PRODUCTS
Following good practice

UNDERSTANDING YOUR SOIL
Challenging conditions this year

THE SHOWS MUST GO ON
Our main industry events are a must visit

CRICKET RENOVATIONS
Plan and prepare early

CRISIS FOR GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL PITCHES
And the selling of Wembley Stadium

GREEN NOSE DAY
Highlighting the work of turf professionals

SUMMER CHALLENGES
Difficult time for our whole industry

WORLD CUP MANIA
Every pitch stood up to the demands

RAISING THE FLAG
In praise of the The Green Flag Award® scheme