Printer Friendly Version

EDITOR'S BLOG

A GROWING BUSINESS
DLF opens its doors
by TurfPro Editor, Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR

A visit to the company's Inkberrow site showcased investment in seed production - including a range of natural grass sports surfaces and wildflower areas, designed to let customers see performance first-hand.

It has been a busy few days for industry trade press visits. As I reported in my blog last week, first there was a trip to see the new facility at the Howardson Group’s headquarters in Derby.

This was followed by some of the same trade press members coming together to view the latest investment by DLF, the Danish seed company, at its UK seed plant and trials site in Inkberrow, near Evesham, Worcestershire.

Sporting colours

A key investment here includes a £4.5 million Titan mixer plant, which increases capacity and reduces manual handling. Other developments have been the design and build of new showcase trail sites, including the construction of showcase natural grass sports playing surfaces where customers can come and see for themselves the quality and the performance of the many different DLF grass varieties that are now used in a variety of sports.

L-R: Tim and Derek

The event was held over two days with a warm welcome to the Inkberrow farm site that houses the seed cleaning, mixing, bagging and storage areas. We assembled in their brand-new training and meeting space. Derek Marriot- Smith was on hand to explain the activities we would be undertaking over the two days and introduced us to the company’s UK managing director, Tim Kerridge, who gave us an overview of the company’s history and the latest company strategies to ensure they can meet their customer’s everchanging needs.

Colour boost

He stated that the company’s core values are centred on the fact they work with nature and science to bring resilient seed solutions for land, life and people. These global values are the fundamental principles and beliefs that guide their actions and decisions, he said, and thereby creating the company’s culture.

He was keen to say that the growth of the business really took off with the acquisition of several other seed companies from the 1990s onwards, seeing the annual revenue growth in Euros grow substantially from 81m in 1990 to over 1000 m in 2024. This growth, he said, enables the company to invest and continue to fund its research programmes to further improve its products and services.

The DLF product range includes Johnson Sports Seed, MM, and Masterline brands, alongside seed and advanced seed coatings like Pro Nitro and Head Start Gold.

Derek Marriot-Smith putting on the golf green

The UK operation produces 14,500 tons of grass seed annually, with, according to Derek, a focus on sustainability and innovation. DLF's seed quality enhancements, including biostimulants like Grow Max, Head Start, and Pro Nitro, continue to enhance and improve seed performance under the many new climatic conditions ground practitioners and farmers now face arising from the current global rise in temperatures and ongoing changing weather patterns.

Disease pressures

Tim Kerridge was also keen to elaborate on the pressures of countries looking to reduce the reliance on pesticide products to maintain turf and crop health, which itself instigates the need to constantly continue to bring new products to market, in the form of disease resistant, drought tolerant and hard-wearing grasses.

Golf tee

It is with this in mind that DLF are looking at finding sustainable solutions that focus on reducing chemical use and improving nitrogen efficiency. The new "Disease Watch" initiative aims to survey and address rapidly evolving diseases like brown patch, Gray leaf spot, and dollar spot - which are becoming major threats to turf quality. DLF's screening programs identify varieties with natural disease resistance, particularly tetraploids, to provide sustainable solutions. The company emphasises the importance of selecting varieties with higher natural disease tolerance to reduce chemical use and costs.

Derek flying the DLF flag

Derek then give us an update on the current sales staff covering the UK and Ireland and talk about the quality of the products they now produce and where some of them are being used.

Derek was also keen to mention the fact that DLF as part of the Disease Watch programme, will be asking practitioners and farmers to record and send in relevant data about the condition of their crops, and playing surfaces, so that data can be analysed to build up a map of trends / patterns of these disease outbreaks. Overtime may help them to have a better understanding of when and where these outbreaks are happening up and down the country.

Derek also talked about some major diseases that are becoming a serious problem in the UK. These being Brown Patch, Grey leaf spot, fusarium and dollar spot. The aim of the company is to get a better understanding of these diseases via their Disease Watch programme and over time come up with some new grass varieties that better resist the outbreaks of these prolific turf diseases.

He then introduced Paul Hadley, wildflower coordinator. Paul, like Derek, is a long serving member of the company and has a wealth of experience of the products the company produce. Paul’s role is to oversee the wildflower seed production, trials and develop new bespoke mixes for customers. He gave us an insight into the range of wildflower products that DLF produce and sell. The next day we got to view these as we were taken for a tour around the farm site, beginning with the seed cleaning, mixing and storage areas.

Titan bagging plant

The company’s investment in their bespoke Titan, 48 bin mixer, automated packing line and pneumatic closed self-cleaning system has increased productivity to 600 bags per hour, we were told, enabling the company to process, mix and bag seed much more efficiently with only three members of staff required to carry out these operations. Also helping is improved racking and storage areas and a fleet of electric fork lift trucks.

These improvements contribute to the fact that DLF UK can produce around 15,000 tonnes of seed annually, producing well over 1500 product lines, serving well over 2,500 customers.

Paul Hadley took the opportunity to introduce us to several of his staff who maintain and manage the production of wildflower seed. We viewed the small trial plots, the harvesting techniques (mostly done by hand) and the larger acreage plots that had been sown with knapweed. This crop is due to be harvested in August using their mini combine harvester.

Combine harvester

Finally, we had the chance to see their new unique showcase area, that provides the opportunity for customers to see at first hand the seed products used in the amenity and sports sectors. Sports turf contractor, Fine Turf were tasked with constructing several sports natural grass playing surfaces that included a golf tee, (sown with J Tee); Fairway (sown with MM22); and golf green (sown with J green / J all bent).

Cricket pitch

Also on site are a cricket pitch (sown with MM50); rugby and football pitch (sown with J premier 4Turf); a horse racing gallop (sown with MM tetrasport); tennis court (sown with MM50); and two ornamental lawns, one a hard wearing lawn (sown with PM50) and the other a fine lawn (J Fescue) turf.

Tennis court

Running either side of the gallop was several wildflower display, providing the opportunity to see the different colour mixes and pollinator and country seed mixes.

Horse gallop area with wildflowers either side

There is also a well-planted garden area that includes the ornamental lawns and seating area. Overall, I much say this was an impressive showcase area. All the sports areas are maintained by Matt Lewis, ex greenkeeper, whose job is to maintain the different playing surfaces, applying the relevant maintenance regimes to promote a healthy sward.

Matt Lewis mowing the fairway

I’d say he is certainly doing a good job considering they were only sown down in March. I was lucky enough to get some photographs of him mowing the football/ rugby pitch and golf surfaces using a Dennis FT cassette pedestrian mower and a Jacobsen ride-on triple mower.

Matt mowing with a triple mower

Matt is looking forward to seeing the site mature and become an important showcase for the DLF seed products.

Rugby / football pitch

Our tour of the DLF production site was an enlightening experience and I’m sure their new showcase area will be a popular attraction for visiting customers.

Editor Loz

I’d like to thank DLF for inviting me along to see the latest developments and investment that they are making to improve their seed production. As many of you may know, it usually takes several years of trials and testing procedures to bring new seed varieties to market. I am sure, as the years go by, this farm site and new showcase facility will allow future customers to see at first hand the production, performance and durability of their latest developments.

NEWS

ROYAL PORTRUSH CONFIRMS LONG-TERM AGREEMENT
With machinery supplier

Graeme Beatt, course manager, Royal Portrush

In our first WEB ONLY story machinery brand also confirmed for use on course at the 153rd Open.

COURSE SWITCHES TO BATTERY
In a sustainability push

In our next WEB ONLY story Morley Hayes Golf Club has taken further steps in its environmental strategy by replacing petrol-powered grounds equipment with battery-powered alternatives.

IRISH TRADE SHOW SET TO RETURN
With an expanded outdoor area

Organisers say this year's event is "poised to be the most dynamic edition yet."

GLAS 2025, Ireland’s trade show for the garden, landscape, amenity, and sportsturf sectors returns July 17, free for all trade visitors - with organisers claiming this year's is "poised to be the most dynamic edition yet."

This year’s show features over 100 industry suppliers showcasing the latest innovations and solutions across the sector.

Highlights for 2025 include:

Bord Bia Thinking House & Learning Theatre - Expert-led sessions on key industry themes, from market trends and peat alternatives to talent retention in a competitive labour market.

New Product & New Plant Awards + Supplier of the Year - Innovation takes centre stage as GLAS recognises standout products, breakthrough plant varieties, and top-performing suppliers.

Expanded outdoor area - The outdoor zone gets a significant boost this year, with a larger Machinery Park, live demonstrations, Grower’s Paddock, and more space for hands-on experiences and networking in an open-air environment.

Trade attendees can pre-register online to receive a badge in advance, ensuring fast-track entry on the day, as attendance is free for all trade visitors.

ISEKI APPOINT
New dealership

Dealership says their clients know they can come to them whatever the nature of their business or groundcare requirement.

Wildwood Machinery who have their main headquarters at East Horton Golf Club in Winchester and who launched three years ago, have now been appointed as an Iseki dealer.

L-R: Wildwood’s James Bastian and John Clifford, sales manager Iseki UK

Alan Prickett, sales director at Iseki UK & Ireland, said, "The Iseki principle is to exceed customer expectation and we expect our dealers to provide the best possible advice, support and maintenance so that they can get the absolute best from their groundcare machinery. We’re delighted to be working with Wildwood Machinery, who share our values and commitment to quality."

Wildwood Machinery managing director James Bastian, added, “This new dealership complements our existing product portfolio perfectly. Our aim is to recommend and supply groundcare equipment that is perfect for the task, whether that is cutting a large lawn or maintaining a Premiership football club pitch."

James continued, “For a world-renowned manufacturer such as Iseki, one of their biggest demands is that dealers must have the capacity to keep equipment properly-maintained at all times, and to respond quickly and efficiently to call-outs. Our mix of mobile and workshop-based servicing has a growing reputation for rapid response and fast turnaround.”

DEALER TEAM RAISES £31,543
For Dementia UK

The dealership's team successfully completed an 11-mile rowing challenge along the River Deben.

On Friday 20th June 2025, a determined team from the Thurlow Nunn Standen (TNS) Melton branch successfully completed an 11-mile rowing challenge along the River Deben, raising £31,543 in aid of Dementia UK.

Originally planned as a three-man rowing challenge, TNS say the event quickly turned into a more memorable and somewhat unpredictable endeavour. Setting off from Felixstowe Ferry, the team’s goal was to row to HMS Vale at Melton Boatyard. However, shortly after departure, it became apparent that the boat was taking on water due to a slow leak. What began as 'Three Men in a Boat' became four, with one team member bailing water for the entire journey to ensure the boat remained afloat.

The team consisted of Ben Hockley, Simon Pink and John Drake on the oars, with Adrian Brown serving as coxswain and keeping the boat afloat.

L-R back row; Simon Pink and Ben Hockley. Front row: James Thurlow, Adrian Brown and John Drake

Speaking after the challenge, Simon Pink, service manager at TNS Melton, commented, "It was a physically demanding but incredibly rewarding experience. Despite the challenges on the day, we stayed focused and completed the row. We are overwhelmed by the generosity of our sponsors and those who supported us and proud to have raised £31,543 for Dementia UK.”

The River Deben challenge forms part of the Thurlow Nunn Group’s wider initiative to raise £150,000 in support of Dementia UK, as the company celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2025. The fundraising campaign is held in memory of the late Chairman, Mr John Thurlow, and his wife, Mrs Peggy Thurlow, both of whom sadly passed away in 2024.

BALLYBUNION GC INVESTS
Upgrades turf maintenance operations

Course manager John Bambury says the investment supports the club’s commitment to precision and consistency across its fleet.

Ballybunion Golf Club in County Kerry, Ireland, has upgraded its turf maintenance operation with new Foley grinding equipment supplied by ProSportUK Ltd.

The club, known for its world-class links and high standards of presentation, has added an Accu-Pro 633 cylinder grinder and Accu-Pro 673 bedknife grinder to its workshop.

Course manager John Bambury said the investment supports the club’s commitment to precision and consistency across its fleet. “Our new Foley grinders allow us to achieve a level of accuracy that matches our standards,” he commented.

ProSportUK managing director Ian Robson said the company was pleased to continue its long-standing relationship with Ballybunion. “We’ve supported the team for many years and are proud to supply this latest technology," he confirmed.

The clubs said ease of use, reliable training, and strong aftercare were key to their decision.

Jobs

DRIVER
Reesink UK Ltd

The job objective is to provide efficient and safe transport of products across the country in a professional and efficient manner

MOBILE SERVICE TECHNICIAN - BURWELL
Reesink UK Ltd

Job objective is to provide practical, field, technical and repair support to end user customers of the brands enhancing their product satisfaction and experience.

WORKSHOP TECHNICIAN
Reesink UK Ltd

Workshop Technician responsible for all machinery regarding routine maintenance, electrical, brakes, engine performance, hydraulic performance.

ADVERTISE YOUR JOBS HERE
Amazing success rates!

Advertise your jobs on TurfPro Weekly Briefing

Advertise your recruitment needs on TurfPro Weekly Briefing and reach our targeted audience of recipients every week.

Contact Nikki Harrison for details - 01491 837117