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EDITOR'S BLOG

TREE PLANTING INNOVATIONS
New schemes trialed
by TurfPro Editor, Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR

This week I am pleased to report on a series of interesting tree planting projects that I came across during my recent Green Flag judging.

This week I am pleased to report on a series of interesting tree planting projects that I came across during my recent Green Flag judging. The site in question was Barr Beacon a local nature reserve located 3 miles east of Walsall’s town centre.

Barr Beacon is one of the highest points in the West Midlands, 227 metres above sea level and is part of the plateau of Breccia sandstone which extends to Streetly in the east.

At the top of the slopes of the site there are two large car parks and a war memorial dedicated to all the fallen soldiers of Staffordshire and Warwickshire in the First World War.

The whole site is a dedicated war memorial, and is also a Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark, designated as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation, and a local Dark Skies “Orion” status site.

Barr Beacon is a large J shaped site measuring 25 hectares and is surrounded by open farmland. The site is a valuable link in a chain of local sites that connects Great Barr with Aldridge.

This site has extensive areas of unimproved acidic grassland and plant species rare in the Black Country including harebells and some uncommon grasses. These areas are interspersed with scrub and areas of heathland restoration. Butterflies and moths are well recorded in Barr Beacon, with over 300 species.

During my visit, along with fellow Green Flag judge Andy Ansell, we were shown around by three council officers who were on hand to explain the management and maintenance of the site.

It is always interesting to see the different management and maintenance practices being put into place, as well as the outcome of their inputs.

Barr Beacon is a popular area of public open space and is used by people for recreational activities including walking, picnics and informal play, as well as attendance at education or community events run from the site.

The council were carrying out a number of restoration works on the site that included some heather regeneration work, clearing of some trees and trailing a relative new tree planting scheme that has been sponsored by Seven Trent.

This scheme is part of their partnership with The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Gamen. Severn Trent say they have launched a programme to fully fund and manage tree planting for farmers and landowners across the midlands, offering an annual premium payment of £200 per hectare for the first 10 years, for sites over 8 hectares.

This Tiny Forest (number 28) planted at Barr Beacon is one of 72 being planted as part of the Birmingham Commonwealth games legacy.

Miyawaki Method

What was interesting about this particular planting scheme was that it is very different from typical tree planting schemes, where they plant whips with protectors.

Essentially the concept is all about giving young seedling plants a great kick start. The process involves cultivating down to a depth of around 800mm, applying a lot of mulch and planting at close centres.

Known as the Miyawaki Method, it is named after its creator, Akira Miyawaki, a Japanese botanist and plant ecologist who has a particular interest in phytosociology, i.e. how plant species interact with each other within communities.

When Miyawaki combined these concepts, he developed a new way of planting forests. This was based on the native vegetation that he postulated should be growing in that area, as deduced from PNV studies, and his understanding of how these species would interact and grow to produce a dynamic forest ecosystem. His early field trials showed great promise that this method could dramatically accelerate forest growth and result in a stable and diverse forest ecosystem. Since then Miyawaki forests have been successfully planted on more than 3000 sites globally.

You can learn more about the method here.

Walsall Council has planted several of these Miyawaki plantations in and around its borough and all seem to be well received by the public - and more importantly are growing at a rapid rate compared to other traditional tree planting schemes.

Both Andy and I were impressed with the growth seen on the Barr Beacon plantation. The trees looked healthy and vigorous considering they had only been planted last year.

Walsall Council have also introduced an app that allows visitors to find interesting information about the site.

As part of the app for example, you can search for dinosaurs that may have roamed on the site and once you find one you can have your picture taken with it to prove you found the location via the app. I am sure this must prove a great attraction for children – and visitors like myself!

All in all, another interesting day spent meeting with fellow professionals who are dedicated to managing and maintaining our wonderful, diverse, urban public open spaces.

NEWS

A CRISIS IN GOLF GREENKEEPING?
BIGGA poses the question

In our first WEB ONLY story, the Association has launched an industry-wide survey that aims to quantify information relating to a perceived ‘crisis’ within the greenkeeping and wider golfing sector.

EFL NAME GROUNDS TEAMS OF THE SEASON
In each division

EFL Grounds Teams of the Season have been revealed

In our next WEB ONLY story, pitch marks are provided by the referee and away team manager for all EFL League matches.

TURFPRO SUPPORTS PROJECT LINUS
Ukrainian Initiative donation

Following April's fundraising, TurfPro has contributed a portion of the £4,000 raised to the volunteer organisation that provide a sense of security and comfort to sick and traumatised babies, children and teenagers.

Following April's Ukrainian Initiative fundraising, TurfPro has contributed a portion of the collected monies to Project Linus.

The volunteer organisation provides a sense of security and comfort to sick and traumatised babies, children and teenagers through the provision of new, homemade patchwork quilts and knitted blankets.

The organisation's Ani Catt said, "Many thanks for your lovely donation to Project Linus UK Oxfordshire - greatly appreciated! We provide free patchwork quilts to children 0-19yrs old who are going through a difficult time and need and extra hug or two.

"We are proud to support the Ukrainian families arriving in UK, with quilts for the children and also Welcome Bags for mums, granmas, aunties and single women being hosted in Oxfordshire. Your contribution enables us to continue supporting families throughout Oxfordshire so again - thank you very much!"

More news of donation allocation next week!

GMA APPOINT NEW DIRECTORS
Senior leadership roles

The GMA say both will play a key role in delivering the association’s strategy.

The Grounds Management Association (GMA) has welcomed two new directors to its senior leadership team as the association embarks on what it desribes as a period of investment for growth.

L-R; Sarah Cunningham and Andrea McMahon

With the support of its chairman and board, the GMA has appointed Sarah Cunningham as director of commercial & events and Andrea McMahon as the new director of communications. Both will play a key role in delivering the association’s strategy.

Sarah has spent over a decade managing large-scale trade events primarily in the media industry and within not-for-profit organisations, previously working for the association in an interim capacity to support the return of SALTEX in 2021. The GMA says Sarah’s experience and leadership will add value to the team delivering SALTEX, as well as helping to extend the GMA’s products and services to those operating in and with the sector.

Andrea brings multi-sector communications experience to the association having held senior communications roles in high-profile public and not-for-profit organisations, including in a membership trade association, central government departments and law enforcement organisations having previously spent over a decade in the private sector. THe GMA says Andrea will help them to reach new audiences and raise the profile of the contribution made by volunteers and professionals who make sport possible at grassroots, amateur and elite level.

GMA CEO, Geoff Webb said, “We’re delighted to have Sarah and Andrea join the GMA family. They both have extensive experience in their fields and will be a great addition to the team.

"With almost all stands already taken and industry colleagues embracing a return to normality post-pandemic, we are seeing signs that SALTEX 2022 will be busier than the 2021 show and provide the perfect opportunity to showcase our sector, network, and celebrate those working in it. With the return of other events, like the GMA Industry Awards, we look forward to building on the success of 2021 and working towards creating a better future for the grounds care sector.”

GREENMECH EXPANDS DEALER NETWORK
Series of changes

GreenMech have made changes to their dealer network

Extension to territories and new appointments made by the professional chipper manufacturer.

GreenMech have announced a series of updates across their UK dealer network.

The changes will see an extension to the existing territories of Vincent Tractors and Burdens Group, together with the appointment of B&B Tractors to provide new cover to the counties of Derbyshire and Staffordshire and Hopkins Machinery, who join the network as a service support dealer for South Wales.

Effective immediately, longstanding GreenMech dealers for Cornwall, Vincent Tractors and Plant, will be taking on additional area to accommodate new and existing customers in Devon. The dealers operate out of three depots across Devon and Cornwall - located in Fraddon, Holsworthy and Smithaleigh.

Also expanding their territory is the Burdens Group who, in addition Lincolnshire, will now be covering the counties of Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

In order to develop the sales and after sales support across Derbyshire and Staffordshire, GreenMech have appointed agricultural machinery suppliers B&B Tractors. The family-run outfit will be supporting the franchise from their branches in Tideswell and Fauld.

Finally, and completing the re-shuffle, is the appointment of Hopkins Machinery, who will be acting as a service support dealer for South Wales based out of their branch in Wentloog, Newport.

Sales sirector Martin Lucas commented, “Service is a critical part of the GreenMech offering, meaning we are always reviewing our distribution partners to ensure the very best support for our customers. We are confident that these changes will enhance our aftersales offering and extend our reach to new clients across these counties.”

TRADE SHOW EXPANDS OUTDOOR DEMO AREA
7 extra acres

Organisers say the expansion will allow more exhibitors to feature working demos of their equipment.

Equip Exposition (formerly GIE+EXPO), the international trade show based in Louisville, Kentucky has expanded its Outdoor Demo Yard - adding more than seven acres for outdoor exhibits at this edition.

“Year after year, attendees tell us that the Outdoor Demo Yard is one of the most valuable parts of the show,” said Kris Kiser, president of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, which owns and manages Equip Exposition.

“Outdoor booths are always at a premium, and adding this highly visible space inside the main gates will allow longtime indoor exhibitors to move outdoors for the first time.”

Registration is now open for this year’s event, which takes place October 18-21.

Sponsored announcements

AMBROGIO L400i CONTINUES TO DELIVER
For large areas up to 20,000m2 per robot

With the introduction of the Infinity System, multiple robots can be worked in a single area sharing their collective GPS mowing data with each other to increase the total area coverage and improve overall efficiency.

The Ambrogio L400i continues to deliver performance robotic mowing, on a tried and tested platform for large areas up to 20,000m2 per robot.

Three solid stainless steel blades, with a combined cut width of 84cm, are mounted on individual floating cutter arms for a contour following finish across the whole mowing area. The full carbon fibre top shell is tough and extremely light to reduce the overall weight and maximise operational mowing times. Fitted with 60Ah of lithium-ion batteries, the L400i Deluxe will work for up to 11 hours at a time on a single charge.

As part of Ambrogio’s commitment to continually improve their product lines, the L400i has undergone hardware and software updates and now features electronic cut height adjustment (through the mower or the smart phone app). Developments also include upgraded flex-grip rubber wheels for superb traction on all surface types and a reduction in surface pressure by distributing weight over a wider footprint.

For more information or to find out if an Ambrogio L400i Deluxe is suitable for your mowing requirements contact your local dealer or Ambrogio UK.
www.ambrogio.co.uk 01522 283 028

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