Last week I was fortunate to be invited along to the Amenity Forum’s Annual Conference, held again at the impressive Pirelli Stadium home to Burton Albion FC.

The Amenity Forum is a voluntary initiative which promotes best practice within the amenity sector. It is funded by member organisations drawn from all sub sectors of amenity who, through this, demonstrate their commitment to the Forum’s objectives and ensure the highest professional standards are maintained. Those who look after and manage amenity spaces undertake an essential role which impacts upon every UK citizen every day, whether it be in terms of clean streets and pavements, quality parks and sports surfaces fit for purpose, operational transport infrastructure, sporting venues or more. To undertake the management of weeds, pests and diseases operators use a wide range of approaches in an integrated approach. This includes mechanical, biological, cultural and chemical methods.

The aim of the conference was to inform and update the 170 plus delegates attending the way the industry is embracing new technologies and realising that collaboration between parties can make a difference to the outcome of weed, pest and disease control in the amenity sector.

Professor John Moverley opened the conference with his usual enthusiastic manner and stated that, “There continue to be many challenges facing the amenity sector in terms of its approach to weed, pest and disease management. The impact of legislation linked to such things as the Sustainable Use and Water Framework Directives is significant as are the cost pressures and other technical challenges. The emphasis is very firmly on adopting integrated approaches and making the most effective use of pesticides. Amenity is in the spotlight. It is important that the sector itself shows it can rise to the challenge and get fully behind best practice and driving up standards. It is important that the sector does this itself and it is not imposed by others and it is important that we stand together in our endeavours. It is also vital that we demonstrate the important and essential nature of weed, pest and disease management in amenity areas.

“Today’s conference will seek to address the hot issues, investigate the implications, the approaches available and hopefully find ways in which the challenge can become an opportunity.

“We believe that we have once again assembled an excellent range of speakers and an exhibition area to interest everyone who is involved in managing amenity and sports turf facilities”.

With over fourteen guest speakers it was always going to be a full-on and busy day for both attendees and exhibitors.

This year there were over 20 sponsors/ supporters exhibiting at the conference including BASIS, Bayer, City & Guilds, Complete Weed Control, Greentech, Headland Amenity , Hozelock ICL, JSD Rail, LanGuard VM, Lantra, NSTS, Nomix Enviro, ProGreen, Rigby Taylor, Vale, Weedfree, Harper Adams University, Syngenta, and Kersten.

The conference’s first speaker was Grant Stark representing HSE Chemical Regulations Division who has worked closely with the Amenity Forum for many years. He was keen to point out the ongoing challenges facing our industry in the ongoing policy change to the use of Pesticides.

Grant’s key points to the audience was that they need to be focussed on the following issues and challenges that our industry may face in the coming years when considering the use of pesticides.

• Hazard V Risk
• Securing engagement
• Greater recourse to regulatory solutions
• Science and Public opinion
• Continuing squeeze on Pesticide Availability
• New technologies (robotics, Biotechnologies)
• Priorities, IPM, Monitoring and transparency and protecting water.

With the protection of water becoming high on the agenda, he also stated that DEFRA will be working more closely with our industry in the future.

Next up was Professor Michael Eddleston, Professor of Clinical Toxicology in the Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics Unit of the University of Edinburgh, and Consultant Physician at the National Poisons Information Service, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. He trained in medicine at Cambridge and Oxford, with an intercalated PhD at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla. His primary research aims to reduce deaths from pesticide and plant self-poisoning in rural Asia, a cause of as many as 200,000 premature deaths each year and the number two global means of suicide.

He recently established the Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention at the University of Edinburgh to drive research into and implementation of pesticide regulation. He leads the NPIS pesticide surveillance program which collects and analyses data on pesticide exposures presenting to health services in the UK on behalf of HSE.

It was interesting to hear that one of the most common poisoning problems is with children eating rat bate, and the fact that many domestic chemicals are also the cause of poisoning in the UK with very little or no significant numbers of problems associated with professional turf related chemical products. However, we still need to be mindful of the protocols and H&S associated with the use of chemicals and where possible look at IPM strategies that will help control weeds pests and diseases.

This was followed by a talk on 21st Century Innovation in crop protection by Dr David Hughes from Syngenta the use of new biological control methods such has changing the DNA of the plant to resist disease and the improved technologies to deliver these strategies using automatic and drone devices.

We then enjoyed a much needed tea break where delegates were able to catch up with the many exhibitors promoting their services at the conference.

After tea break, there followed a quick fire presentation by five guest speakers on the merits of Integrated Pesticide Management Techniques currently being used in the industry. First up was Micheal Fance from Aquatrols who gave a talk on the importance of good soil management.

This was followed by Stephen Jelley, from Rootwave who gave a talk on non-chemical approaches that focussed on the work his company was doing using electric weed control systems. RootWave Pro is an award-winning professional hand weeder designed for growers, gardeners and groundskeepers to spot weed and treat invasive species.
The device generates a high voltage between 2,000- -5,000 volts to kill a wide range of vegetative plant material.

We then heard from Chris Faulkner (Kersten) UK LTD, who spoke about sweeping techniques and the machinery now on offer to keep our hardstanding areas free of weeds. By eliminating the build-up of surface detritus we can reduce and control the amount of weed on hard surfaces.

Next up was Chris Humphrey, technical manager from Colliers Turf who gave a talk on importance of establishment and management of amenity grass as part of IPM strategies. Relating to four key areas of management of turf understanding; the environment, cultural practices, nutrition and fungicides. It was then left for Lewis Blois from Bayer to talk about current chemical products that are now in use that can work in conjunction with IPM strategies.

It was then time for the Amenity Forum to announce the winners of this year’s 2019 Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year, whose main sponsors are ICL and Syngenta. BASIS registration also offer free training vouchers for the winners.

Each category winner received a trophy and framed certificate. The overall winner will now be decided upon and be announced at BTME in Harrogate in January. The overall winner is awarded the Amenity Forum Shield and earns him or herself a choice of amazing prizes.

Professor John Moverley, Independent Chairman of the Forum, said “The Amenity Forum is the voluntary initiative for this important and essential sector. We promote best practice and these awards are a demonstration of the high professional standards in our sector.”

The category winners were:

LANDSCAPE AND INDUSTRIAL USING HAND HELD & TRACTOR MOUNTED EQUIPMENT

• Winner: Ian Millward, Millward Forestry
• Runner up: Daniel Lewis, Manchester City

SPORTS TURF USING TRACTOR MOUNTED & HAND HELD EQUIPMENT

• Winner:Paul Gater, Caldy Golf Club
• Runner up: Jason Garlick, JMG Amenity

The afternoon session soon got under way with an interactive session run by Ian Graham from Complete Weed Control who gave out 50 responders for the audience to answer some interesting questions relating to the use of Glysophate. Ian was also concerned about the negative press there has been on Glysophate in recent years and how we should as an industry try to promote the benefits of the use of this product and emphasise the benefits it brings in controlling weeds in amenity situations.

The forum’s penultimate speaker was a good friend of mine, Mike Hinton, from Birmingham City Council. We in fact started our careers together back in the 1970s undertaking a five year apprenticeship scheme. Mike is now responsible for managing several parks in Birmingham and spoke about the challenges he faces keeping them open, clean and appealing to the public.

Tom Young from the STRI then gave an engaging talk on the development of football stadiums from the 1970s to the present day. He talked about new construction techniques and development of new products, namely the fibre reinforced pitches that came about in the 1980s / 90s. He moved on to speak of the rapid stadium design that now incorporates many sustainable features, particularly when dealing with water resources. With many new stadiums having water storage / recycling attributes to safeguard this precious resource. There are even stadiums being built now with green roofs to help urban cooling.

The final speaker of the day was Jim McKenzie, MBE, Director of Estates and Golf Courses, Celtic Manor who also spoke about the challenges of managing a large golfing resort and keeping the customers happy and contented with the quality of the course. Over the years he has developed many new maintenance regimes to keep the course in tip top condition throughout the year. Neary all major renovation works are completed in late October / November when usage is at its lowest peak. Jim certainly gave an interesting insight to the work and pressures involved when maintaining a high expectation golfing resort.

It was then left to John Moverley to close the conference, not before announcing a brand new Amenity Standard that will be formally launched in January 2020. This Standard is akin to the Red Tractor in food and agriculture. Those operating to the Standard and displaying its logo will demonstrate their adherence to recognised assured standards in all tasks undertaken.

There is much greater public and political interest related to weed, pest and disease management, especially linked to chemical use. The reasons why chemicals need to be used, as part of a fully integrated approach, in seeking to provide safe, healthy amenity spaces and sports surfaces, is not always clear to the public and stakeholders.

The wider public users of amenity spaces need to have clear assurances that all those involved in creating and maintaining safe, healthy sports grounds and other amenity spaces, operate at the highest professional standards; and whether using chemical or non-chemical methods, such operations are undertaken by competent, trained personnel following well designed and managed plans.

The Amenity Standard is a bespoke quality management standard that has been developed, as a partnership, by all sides of the amenity sector. Those operating to the Standard will be committed to an integrated approach to amenity management and to the highest professional standards. They will be members of an approved assurance scheme recognised by the Standard. The cost of operating the Standard is covered by fees from providers of these recognised assurance schemes and there will be no extra cost to individual organisations.

The Amenity Standard is designed to:

• Provide an industry benchmark
• Provide a basis for continuous improvement
• Focus on quality as an objective
• Provide assurances about the quality of the approved organisation and maintenance of the amenity space
• Ensure that quality assurance scheme operators recognised under this Standard use auditors with technical knowledge and experience of the sector concerned
• Promote confidence in organisations operating and providing resources in the amenity sector by provision of a robust and transparent standard

The Amenity Standard will be operated by the Amenity Forum who will maintain, review and regularly update matters as required. They will audit each scheme operator to quality assure that they are operating to agreed standards. In turn, the scheme operators audit their members and approved organisations to assure that they are meeting the requirements of the Amenity Standard. At its launch, three Assurance Schemes are to be recognised by the Standard – the Property Care Association Scheme for Invasive Weed Management and two schemes offered by BASIS Registration, Lawn Assured and Amenity Assured. The aim is for more schemes to be recognised as the Standard develops so that all sectors of amenity are covered.

The need to move quickly on this is recognised by the sector. Clearly embedding the Amenity Standard will need time; it is not a quick fix. Its introduction will need to be accompanied by a communication strategy both externally and internally. However, if this step is not taken, the great progress made to date in increasing the recognition of the professionalism within the amenity sector may be threatened. It will not always be easy, but it is the right step, at the right time.

Hopefully the logo will soon appear on amenity areas across the UK and be held with pride by operators. For more information contact admin@amenityforum.net

Launched at their recent Living City conference in Gothenburg, Husqvarna have announced plans for what they are calling Husqvarna Autonomous Operation for professionals.

The solution, which the company says increases productivity and safety while maintaining large green spaces, consists of multiple self-operated Husqvarna robotic mowers powered by their EPOS technology.

Three pilots are being set up in 2019 to refine the system before an official launch in 2021.

The sorts of places which the manufacturer envisages these machines being used are potentially hazardous sites which can be unsafe or challanging to mow, such as 

airports and solar parks.

“Built on our 25-year legacy in robotic lawnmowing - Husqvarna Autonomous Operation emphasises our determination to consistently lead through innovation," said Sascha Menges, President, Husqvarna Division. "Robotics and autonomous solutions will play a major role in the future of green space management and Husqvarna Autonomous Operation is just one example of how innovations can improve professional lawn care."

The system uses the new EPOS technology, a high-precision satellite navigation system that provides enhanced real time positioning accuracy, delivering location accuracy of 2-3 centimeters. The technology enables the machine to navigate, within and between work areas, using virtual boundaries. 

In its first implementation Husqvarna Autonomous Operation is using the company's new hybrid Rider lawnmowers. In Sweden, Husqvarna Autonomous Operation is currently being tested at Jönköping Airport and Örnsköldsvik Airport, and this fall Husqvarna will expand to include Swedavia Vehicle at Bromma Airport.

To further explore and develop autonomous solutions for airports, the manufacturer has recently invested in Norwegian Yeti Snow Technology, a supplier of self-operated snow removal machines designed specifically for airports. The company believes this opens up the possibility for combined field operation offerings to airports around the world.

The system offers object analysis, and collision avoidance based on information from several independent sensors, utilising cameras, radars and ultrasonic technology. As an additional safety measure, an operator can manoeuvre and override the system, with a hands-on remote control.

“Satellite technology opens up new possibilities for our industry and gives us the opportunity to offer our customers new solutions," said Adam Tengblad, Director of Autonomous Systems at Husqvarna. "This end-to-end solution will further benefit our professional customers by increasing productivity and enabling safe and more efficient green space management in large, hard to reach, areas. Also, the hybrid propulsion used in the pilots can contribute to a decrease in the overall environmental impact for green space management."

The Husqvarna Autonomous Operation system will be operating in further pilot applications during 2020 and be fully available as an end-to-end solution for selected markets by 2021.

A team of Swansea University scientists have discovered a rare Japanese knotweed hybrid in south Wales.

Although this could mean further proliferation of knotweed, the Swansea scientists involved believe the discovery could help them develop new ways of managing the spread of this destructive and notoriously difficult to combat plant.

The hybrid knotweed, known as Conolly’s knotweed was discovered during a study led by Sophie Hocking, a PhD student funded through the Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS) scheme at Swansea University. Sophie’s study formed part of intensive research which Swansea University College of Science researchers have conducted over eight years, including the world’s largest Japanese knotweed field trial. The research has been undertaken in close partnership with Complete Weed Control and Advanced Invasives, a company that has grown from the research.

Sophie said, “We discovered evidence of Conolly’s knotweed during the study, which took place near Cardiff. Conolly’s knotweed is a hybrid of Japanese knotweed and the common garden plant, Russian Vine. While Conolly’s knotweed is rare in the UK, records of it are increasing across continental Europe.”

Sophie said she and the team were surprised to find evidence of the Japanese knotweed hybrid: “Conolly’s knotweed is a bit of a paradox because although it is rare in the wild, it’s the most frequently produced seed found on Japanese knotweed plants in the UK. We didn’t expect to find Japanese knotweed in the seed bank, because plants in the UK come from a single female clone and cannot reproduce successfully without male plants, unless hybridisation with another member of the knotweed family takes place. We actually didn’t expect to find any type of viable invasive knotweed seeds, because it’s extremely unlikely for any to survive wet UK winters.

"The fact we did find evidence of Conolly’s knotweed means that hybridisation took place - this could be an important aspect of the Japanese knotweed invasion that we are overlooking.

"Japanese knotweed is capable of producing copious amounts of seed when hybridisation occurs. If future climatic conditions become favourable for these seeds to germinate successfully, our Japanese knotweed problem might get worse. A seed bank full of hybrid knotweed could mean a second wave of invasion following treatment of the initial problem.

"Finding Conolly’s knotweed in the soil seedbank means that invasive knotweeds may now find an additional means of dispersal.

"We are currently looking at the ecology of our Japanese knotweed site to determine whether native plants will regrow after the knotweed has been tackled or whether we need to add new species to restore the habitat. This will help inform a complete best practice for managing invasive plants such as Japanese knotweed, allowing us to move beyond a reactionary approach that has characterised invasive plant management and restoration to date.”

The full article is published in Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland News.

Allett Mowers have announced that Erik Czako from Hungary has won their 2019 Creative Stripes competition.

The competition is run online on Allett’s social media channels and the final judge was last year’s winner, Keith Smith. Allett say there were entries from ten different countries with the top six coming from Hungary, Sweden, England, Wales and the USA. The prize is an Allett Liberty 43 with all its cartridges and two cartridge stands.

Winner Erik said, “I wanted to mix circles and squares in such a way as to show through both of them. It’s simple in one sense but hard to make it accurate because of the contact point. It takes three hours.”

Erik works for a delivery food company and plays football league four. “When I was a child, I watched a premier football match and I dreamt of playing on an amazing pitch like that. Because in Hungary pitches don’t have such quality, I decided to make a lawn like this one. Gardeners in Hungary told me it isn’t possible because of the climate. I got advice from English groundsmen and my dream came true. Nowadays I kick the ball on my pitch with my friends. It is a little bit smaller than a football pitch, but it isn’t a problem.”

Marketing manager of local dealer Agrolanc, Krisztina Juhász congratulates winner Erik Czako, with his friend, Cserép Gábor

Erik used an Allett Kensington 14” to create his winning design.

Runner up was Swedish garden service company owner and former groundsman, Niklaus Andersson, who used an Allett Kensington 20K to create his design.

In third place was England’s Andrew Wain, Head Gardener at Euridge Manor in Wiltshire, where they host weddings and corporate events, with the lawn seeing an average of 150 people on it every week.

To find the winner of the competition the team at Allett voted on their top six first and the results were sent to Keith Smith, the 2018 winner.

“I was absolutely delighted and honoured to be asked by Allett to judge this year’s competition,” says Keith, “then when I saw the amazingly high standard of entries, I realised what a difficult task this was going to be. I have been so impressed with the standard of entries. Not only the creativity, but the technical difficulties that need to be overcome.”

All the entrants will be invited to an Allett Mowers factory tour at the end of the busy season and Allett eagerly look forward to seeing next year’s entries.

Honda has announced that they are set to enter the cordless lawn mower market for the first time for the 2020 season, with the launch of two premium models, which they say build on their IZY platform.

The manufacturer says that carrying over the same qualities, build standards and traditional styling as IZY, the HRG416XB and HRG466XB ‘IZY-ON’ models will perform even in demanding conditions, offering 4.5Nm and 6Nm of torque respectively. Both will feature a new brushless motor design, for optimum efficiency and contributing to noise ratings of 91dB(A). The larger HRG466 model will also offer integrated on-off selective mulching - which Honda claim is a first in the cordless lawn mower market.

Providing the power for the new cordless models will be a choice of three batteries - 4Ah, 6Ah and 9Ah - which make up the ‘Universal Battery System’ for Honda cordless products. Featuring ‘Thermo-Smart’ control technology to keep the battery cool, the company says these units offer high performance and long life, with the professional-grade 9Ah version capable of delivering up to 45A of current for heavy garden work, and fully weatherproof to the IP56 standard.

Steve Morris, Head of Power Products at Honda (UK) said, “Lawn mowers are absolutely core to the Honda Lawn & Garden business. With customers increasingly moving towards cordless products and battery technology now so advanced that it offers no compromise compared to petrol-power, it’s a natural fit for us to introduce premium cordless models alongside our petrol and robotic machines."

Continuing on a similar theme, the 2020 season will also see Honda introduce a new range of cordless handhelds consisting of a hedgetrimmer, brushcutter and leaf blower. Using the same choice of three batteries available in Honda’s forthcoming cordless lawn mower range, the new handhelds will extend the application of the universal battery system.

2020 will also see two new additions to Honda’s robotic mower line-up, Miimo, with the introduction of the HRM40 and HRM40 Live. Designed for smaller gardens of up to 400 square metres, the ‘Live’ version offers full smartphone connectivity through an app, voice control via Alexa and adapts automatically to weather conditions.

Also new for next season Honda has announced new engines for their lawn tractor models; the IZY range will be powered by the latest four-stroke Honda GCV engines; and they have added a new model with extra power to their 4-stroke brushcutter range, the UMK450.

Sherriff Amenity has announced the appointment of Andrew Norman, who joins the company as an amenity specialist based in the areas of Kent and East Sussex.

Eighteen years' experience of golf greenkeeping make Andrew suited for his new role with the company. He joins from East Sussex National Golf Club where he started as a seasonal greenkeeper before working his way up to deputy course manager. It is this experience which makes Andrew fully appreciate the demanding workload of modern turf professionals and the need for high quality products.

Commenting on his decision to join Sherriff Amenity, Andrew said: “It seems to me that everyone in the industry has heard of them and that the products are of exceptional quality. They have a huge respect in the industry, a wide range of products and great distribution.”

Andrew, who also holds an NVQ Level 3 in Amenity Horticulture Greenkeeping and Sports Turf Management, said that he is relishing the opportunity to learn and assist turf managers.

“I was keen to start learning about all the other things that are going on in the world of turf. In my first few weeks I will try to get around to see a lot of people to find out more about their turf and their sites. I feel like I have learnt so much already across a wide range of sports turf including tennis, cricket and football - it has been enlightening.”

Inverallan Landscapes, a gardening and grounds maintenance contracting business in Stirling, claims that Pellenc battery powered equipment is playing a big part in the company’s decision to be more environmentally friendly.

Inverallan Landscapes using the Cleanion battery-powered brush

In 21 years of business, the family run company has acquired a reputation for its high level of service and attention to detail by its fully qualified staff. The company also boasts ISO 14001-2015 Environmental Management and ISO 9001-2015 Quality Management Systems certifications.

Inverallan Landscapes success can also be attributed to managing director John Maxwell’s forward thinking, who is of the opinion that battery powered equipment is the future of ground care.

“In my opinion, battery equipment is the way forward and we have made a big conscious decision to be greener,” he said.

“We run quite a variety of battery equipment and Pellenc is a big part of that - it’s easy to use, you don’t have any maintenance and there is a huge saving on fuel.

“They are great for the run time and you can use it with the confidence knowing that you are not going to run out in an hour’s time which is thanks to the Pellenc ULiB battery we use.”

John revealed that his most recent Pellenc addition, the Cleanion battery-powered brush, proved to be the town’s saviour when the Beast from the East struck last year.

“Here in Stirling we have the National Wallace Monument and there is a steep road leading up to it in which a mini bus transports tourists so they can walk round and view the monument. When the Beast from the East came, the tourists couldn’t get up there because the road was covered in snow. I therefore needed a machine to clear it and decided that the Cleanion looked ideal.”

The Cleanion battery-powered brush is used for removing debris from natural and artificial grass and other hard surfaces. With the attachment of a snow blade, it also proves to be effective in clearing snow from streets and paths. However, in John’s case, he didn’t have the snow attachment at the time so he proceeded in clearing the snow leading up to the monument with the standard brush.

“It actually worked out very well and cleared the way which enabled the mini-bus to get up the hill. We have since purchased the snow blade attachment but haven’t had a chance to use it yet, so I’m hoping that it snows soon purely so I’ve got an excuse to use it!"

After receiving two grants alongside fundraising efforts from its members, Wick Golf Club in Scotland has purchased a new Toro Greensmaster TriFlex Hybrid 3420 to help improve its course and the environment.

And not only did the GR3420 impress head greenkeeper Dougie Thorburn, but its sustainability credentials were key in securing grants to make the purchase of the machine possible. The club received grants from the Caithness and North Sunderland Fund and Beatrice Caithness Windfarm Fund, both of which support projects that develop or maintain community assets and achieve environmental improvements.

From left: Reesink’s David Raitt, greenkeeper Owen Cormack, course manager Dougie Thorburn, club captain Catherine McLeod and David Shearer and Linda Bremner from Caithness and North Sunderland Fund and Beatrice Caithness Windfarm Fund.

Dougie explains, “Wick Golf Club is a traditional links course and the oldest in the highlands with our 150th anniversary next year. It’s a beautiful course, but the machines we’d been using weren’t keeping the course up to the standard we wanted.

“Our last greensmower was suffering from hydraulic leaks. Not only was this causing damage to the turf, but we have a lot of ditches on the course that lead to the ocean, so it’s possible for oil leaked on the course to run off into the sea. We needed something that would be more reliable and stop the damage to the course and runoff into the ocean.”

And it was the Toro machine, with its advanced technology meaning hydraulic leaks are almost eliminated, that was able to provide high-quality turf maintenance and peace of mind for Dougie.

“It’s just a brilliant machine, simply put,” he says. “It’s reliable and provides us with an excellent quality of cut. I’ve got nothing but good things to say about it.

“I asked around at other courses that had been using the machine and was told they’d had zero problems with it, and then I saw it in action at another course and that was it for me, I was sold,” says Dougie. 

And credit where credit is due, says club secretary Catherine McLeod to the grants and fundraising from the members for their support to the club: “Both of these funds should receive credit for the wonderful help they provide the area. And, of course, thanks must go to the tireless fundraising efforts of our members. As a small club with only 200 members, we wouldn’t have been able to make this kind of investment to improve the course without their help.”

With the GR3420 and the service from Toro UK distributor Reesink Turfcare impressing Dougie, another Toro machine is now on the cards. “We have some big plans for the next five years, particularly with our 150th anniversary coming up, and getting the right machinery in place is a big priority,” says Dougie.

A number of key industry experts will be uniting to collaboratively tackle the biggest issues facing the groundscare environment at SALTEX 2019, which takes place at the NEC, Birmingham on October 30 and 31.

Learning LIVE, SALTEX’s all-encompassing and free-to-attend education programme will take place in four dedicated seminar theatres with presentations and panel debates running from 10am through to 3.30pm each day of the show.

Learning LIVE 2019 to tackle industry issues at SALTEX 2019

Featuring over 50 CPD accredited seminars involving more than 100 expert speakers, the programme has been developed by leading industry partners and influencers to provide support, insight and real solutions to key industry issues.

Learning LIVE will kickstart with ‘Creating Champions’ telling the story of grounds staff’s contribution to this summer’s biggest weekend of sporting success. A spectacular line-up, including Neil Stubley (AELTC, Wimbledon) and Karl McDermott (Lord’s), will explain how to deliver exceptional surfaces for the world’s most prestigious sports events.

Findings from the IOG’s recent research document Groundsmanship – Sports’ Vital Profession will be presented by the IOG’s CEO Geoff Webb and consultant research lead, Carol Doran. Meanwhile, football grounds personnel can enjoy a rare opportunity to sit in on the ‘Tottenham Hotspur FC Experience’ seminar. Head groundsman Gary Lee reveals how the state-of-the art 62,000-capacity stadium pitches were built.

From Premiership to grassroots groundsmanship, there’s something for everyone at Learning LIVE. Pitch advisors from the IOG-led Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme (GaNTIP) will be presenting case studies of successful pitch improvements, and also offering advice on how to secure funding.

In the ‘Class Acts’ seminar Ian Avery (Sutton Valence School) explores how independent schools can balance internal and external demands on their pitches. Ian will focus on costings, timings and benefits to the school, plus the problems, and solutions, of quick turnarounds on multi-sport pitches. Giles Roberts (St Peter’s School), Lee Marshallsay (Charterhouse) and Danny Beckley (Harrow School) will also be discussing best practices to help your pitches stand out in a competitive market.

Recent regulations relating to plant protection products (PPP) have had a significant impact on turf management, and Learning LIVE attendees can expect to find answers in a seminar entitled ‘Pesticide 2020 and Beyond’. With a number of widely used insecticides, fungicides and herbicides having been withdrawn in recent times, Dr Colin Mumford (Bayer) will be on hand to explain the current status of PPP, what PPP are being withdrawn or introduced, and how to get optimum results from them.

Cricket grounds personnel can find out about ongoing research carried out by First Class Counties and England’s Centre of Excellence, and an elite panel, featuring Andy McKay (Sussex CCC) Gary Barwell (Warwickshire CCC) and Will Relf (Loughborough University), will be explaining how hybrid pitches in cricket are learning lessons from football. Industry legend Chris Wood, the ECB’s international pitches consultant, is set to captivate the audience with his stories as he looks back through his career in ‘A Lifetime in Groundsmanship’.

Elsewhere, climatologist Jim Dale is presenting ‘Managing Climate Change’ to ensure turf professionals stay one step ahead; ICL’s Dr Andy Owen and PhD student at Royal Holloway University, Tamsin Williams, offer an insight into their four-year research project on the effects of seaweed products on turf grass plant parasitic nematodes; industry consultant Peter Corbett discusses ‘Life Without Propiconazole’; and Question Time with the Amenity Forum will no doubt spark a lively debate around the use of pesticides and their alternatives.

This is just a snapshot of sessions available at this year’s show. Go to www.iogsaltex.com where you will soon be able to check out the full programme, register your visit to SALTEX and book into your preferred sessions to avoid the queues.

Registration for Europe’s largest annual groundscare exhibition SALTEX 2019 is now open

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

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?

WHAT'S NEW ON THE PARKS FRONT?
Plenty of developments in this vital sector

STRI RESEARCH DAY 2019
Latest developments on show

BUSY TIMES AHEAD
Show and event season

RECRUITMENT IS KEY
The challenge of finding new staff

EDGBASTON'S BASTION
Gary Barwell gives his insight to groundsmen

CHOOSING THE RIGHT MACHINERY
Turf professionals must be careful when buying new equipment

A GROUNDSMAN'S LOT
Under-appreciated and under-valued

CURRENT STATE OF BOWLS
Clubs facing many challenges

GEARING UP FOR THE RUGBY SEASON
Starts in less than 3 weeks

PREPARING FOR GOLF COURSE WORK
Renovations on tees and greens

PLANNING CRICKET RENOVATIONS
There are some basic aims when renovating a square

A FEAST OF SPORT
With turf professionals playing an integral role

THE CURRENT STATE OF GOLF
Courses must adapt to survive

TEEING OFF WITH JOHN DEERE
Partnership with Wentworth Club launched

WEATHER CONTINUES TO SURPRISE
During one of the busiest times of the year

BERNHARD LAUNCH TRAINING ACADEMY
Educating the next generation

THE NEXT GENERATION
We must inspire and recruit a new generation of turf professionals

OPTIMISATION OF WATER RESOURCES
Better understand the soil / water relationship

HARD WORK & DEDICATION
Ever changing playing surfaces

OBESITY MEASURES
Turf professionals have a vital role

TIMELY ADVICE
Rugby renovations

PLANNING AHEAD
Renovating grass surfaces

FROM WINTER TO SUMMER SPORTS
April is a busy period

THE VALUE OF TREES
Trees bring real benefits to our cities, health and well being

FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Choice of fertiliser products will be influenced by many factors

A WONDERFUL INDUSTRY
But we need to be encouraging the next generation

THE VALUE OF PARKS
Facilities must not be taken for granted

A VERY BUSY MARCH
Plenty of work for turf professionals to be getting on with

SHARING KNOWLEDGE
At the Dennis & Sisis groundcare seminar

INSECT DECLINE
A cause for concern

HELP IS AT HAND
Seek advice from industry bodies

SPRING RENOVATIONS
February is a good time to start planning

BTME 2019 REPORT
Great start to the year

BTME WEEK IS HERE!
Harrogate time again

THE VALUE OF PLANNING
Benefits for pitch sustainability

HAPPY NEW YEAR
Opportunities & challenges in 2019

View all of 2018's blogs here