Last week I visited Batsford Arboretum, home to a unique collection of some of the world’s most beautiful and rare trees, shrubs and bamboos, spread across 60 acres.

The Arboretum is nestled in the Cotswolds Hills and was bursting with a splash of Autumn colour. There was plenty to see and some lovely woodland trails to walk amongst a fine collection of mature and newly planted trees.

It is at this time of the year, mid to late October, that we start to see the seasonal change in deciduous trees' behaviour. Essentially, the leaves changing colour and falling to the ground.

The main reasons why leaves fall in autumn are tied to changes in temperature, daylight, and the tree's preparation for winter survival.

As autumn approaches, the days get shorter, and temperatures begin to drop. Trees sense these environmental changes, triggering the process of shedding leaves. This is because leaves play a critical role in photosynthesis, where they use sunlight to produce energy for the tree. With less sunlight in autumn and winter, photosynthesis slows down, making it inefficient for the tree to maintain its leaves.

At the base of each leaf stem, there’s a specialised layer of cells known as the abscission layer. In autumn, trees start producing a hormone called abscisic acid, which triggers the formation of this layer. The abscission layer gradually cuts off the flow of nutrients and water between the leaf and the rest of the tree. As the abscission layer thickens, it weakens the attachment of the leaf to the branch, eventually causing the leaf to fall.

Shedding leaves helps trees conserve water and energy during the harsh winter months. Leaves are prone to drying out, and since water is scarce in winter (due to freezing), trees would lose a lot of water through evaporation from their leaves. Dropping the leaves allows trees to conserve both water and energy during the cold season, when growth halts.

As the tree cuts off nutrient flow to the leaves, chlorophyll - the green pigment responsible for photosynthesis - breaks down, revealing other pigments like carotenoids (yellow and orange) and anthocyanins (red and purple). This is why leaves change colour before falling.

Different species produce varying levels of pigments, resulting in different colour ranges. For instance, maples often turn bright red, oaks may turn brown, and birches often turn yellow.

Warm, sunny days followed by cool nights enhance anthocyanin production, resulting in more vibrant reds and purples. Cloudy, rainy weather tends to reduce the intensity of colours.

Soil pH and nutrient levels can also affect pigment production. For example, more acidic soils can deepen red hues in certain species.

In essence, the beautiful array of autumn leaf colours is a result of the breakdown of chlorophyll and the visibility of other pigments like carotenoids, anthocyanins, and tannins, influenced by environmental and species-specific factors.

Leaves create a large surface area that could catch snow and heavy winds, increasing the risk of damage to the branches. By shedding their leaves, trees reduce this surface area, minimizing the risk of limbs snapping under the weight of snow or the force of strong winds.

In summary, leaves fall in autumn due to the tree's response to reduced sunlight and cooler temperatures, the development of the abscission layer, and the tree’s need to conserve energy and water, and protect itself from winter damage.

Why clear fallen leaves?

It has always been the norm for turf professionals to clear leaves from natural grass amenity and playing surfaces for several important reasons:

To maintain grass health:-Leaves can block sunlight from reaching the grass, which is crucial for photosynthesis. Without sufficient sunlight, the grass can become weak, lose its colour, and potentially die.

Trapped moisture:- A thick layer of leaves can trap moisture, creating an environment that encourages fungal growth and disease. This can harm the grass and lead to unsightly patches.

Drainage issues:- A buildup of leaves can block drainage systems, especially in areas with heavy rainfall, leading to waterlogged conditions. Poor drainage on playing surfaces can make them unusable and potentially hazardous due to slippery conditions.

Playability and safety:- For playing surfaces like sports fields (e.g., football, rugby, or cricket), accumulated leaves can make the surface uneven, slippery, and difficult to see. This increases the risk of injuries to players.

Leaves can obscure the lines and markings on the field, making it difficult for players and officials to see boundaries, goals, or other important markings.

Aesthetic and usability:- From an aesthetic standpoint, a surface covered in leaves can look untidy, making it less inviting for public use.

For amenities like parks, picnic areas, and walking paths, leaves can create slippery surfaces and become a tripping hazard.

Prevention of thatch build-up:-Leaves that aren't removed will eventually break down and contribute to thatch, a dense layer of organic matter that can choke the grass and reduce the penetration of water, nutrients, and air into the soil.

Pest control:- Decaying leaves can attract pests, including insects and rodents, which may further damage the grass and surrounding areas.

To maintain healthy, safe, and usable grass surfaces, regular clearing of leaves is necessary, particularly during the winter months October through to January when leaf drop is heaviest.

Gone are the days when we spent hours manually raking leaves. We now have a plethora of leaf blowers on the market that are both pedestrian and machinery driven, such as large leaf blowers attached to gators and tractors. We also have large mechanical vehicles that are solely designed to pick up leaves by means of brushes and vacuums.  

We are also into the realms of battery powered blowers that have become popular over petrol driven one in recent years. All these leaf blowers, brushes and vacuums have certainly made the job of clearing up leaves so much more efficient and cleaner.

TurfPro's sister title for the specialist outdoor powered machinery dealer sector, Service Dealer, each year runs a series of awards, designed to highlight the incredible work carried out across the industry.

The organisers of 2024's Dealer Of The Year Awards now want to hear from the readers of TurfPro, to let us know the dealerships that you use, who go above and beyond to meet your new machinery and servicing needs.

Owner of TurfPro and Service Dealer, Duncan Murray-Clarke said, "When it comes to professional groundcare we are looking for a dealership who is a cut above the rest. We want to hear all about the dealership who’s firing on all cylinders for their customers and a worthy nominee for the Professional Turfcare Dealer of the Year."

Below you will find the link for you to tell us which dealership deserves the title of Professional Turfcare Machinery Dealer of the Year.

You may also feel you'd like to vote for a company which may be more accurately described as a Garden Machinery, a Forestry Machinery, an ATV / Utility Vehicle, or a Farm Machinery dealership, if those are the businesses you use locally.

A judging panel will review all the nominations prior to the Awards Ceremony on the 28th November. All entries for the categories below will be considered by the judging panel for the prestigious Overall Dealer of the Year award (sponsored by Kress).

Below are the categories which we'd like to hear our TurfPro readers' thoughts on. Nominations close this Friday, October 25th.

Professional Turfcare Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Toro UK

NOMINATE PROFESSIONAL TURFCARE DEALER OF THE YEAR

Garden Machinery Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Husqvarna

NOMINATE GARDEN MACHINERY DEALER OF THE YEAR

Farm Machinery Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Ibcos

NOMINATE FARM MACHINERY DEALER OF THE YEAR

Forestry Equipment Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Societe Generale Equipment Finance

NOMINATE FORESTRY EQUIPMENT DEALER OF THE YEAR

ATV/Quad Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Yamaha

NOMINATE ATV/QUAD DEALER OF THE YEAR

The Awards will be presented at the Gala Dinner following the Service Dealer Conference that takes place on Thursday 28th November 2024 at the Crowne Plaza, Stratford upon Avon. The theme for this year's event is Driving Success.

Last week TurfPro owner, Duncan Murray-Clarke, accompanied by professional dealer, Jo Balmer of Balmers GM, traveled to Louisville, Kentucky, USA to visit the world's largest trade show for the outdoor powered machinery industry, Equip.

Below you can watch a highlights reel of their visit, ahead of a full Digital Special Report to be published soon - which will be packed with interviews and insight from the show.

Watch below.

The Grounds Management Association’s (GMA) Pitch Advisory Service is celebrating a decade of grassroots pitch improvement. 

Over the last ten years, the GMA say their team of regional pitch advisors has been working with grassroots sports clubs to raise the standards of sports surfaces and train volunteers. In that time, almost 50,000 pitches have been improved across grassroots football, cricket, rugby league and union.  

The programme has worked with more than 12,500 clubs and 14,500 volunteers.  

The Pitch Advisory Service, formerly the Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme, was launched in 2014 and is funded by Sport England and the Football Foundation, working in association with the ECB, RFL and RFU.  

Jason Booth, GMA’s chief operating officer, leads the Pitch Advisory Service and said, “This is a brilliant example of sporting bodies working together to raise the standards of sports surfaces and the understanding of sports turf management practices among grassroots sports clubs across England.   

“There has never been more pressure on pitches. Whether that’s the effect of more extreme weather caused by climate change, or more demand as a greater and more diverse range of people want to play sport.  

 
“We all want more people playing - it brings so many health and wellbeing benefits. To enable that, we need to make sure our grassroots pitches are properly maintained - grounds are literally the foundation of sport. We need to recognise that, value grounds teams, and invest in them.”  

The Pitch Advisory Service continues to offer support to grassroots clubs. Any club in England looking for support can contact the Pitch Advisory Service to find out more.

There are also a host of free resources available with the Grounds Management Toolkit.

The Grounds Management Framework is also availavle to start to consider the surface quality a club is aiming for, and the investment and skills needed to get there.

The National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC) is asking contractors and farmers why they wouldn’t wear an ATV helmet?

Jill Hewitt, NAAC chief executive

In a follow-up to the #WearItandShareIt campaign when the NAAC invited social media users to photos of themselves wearing a helmet, this new campaign asks why anyone would now not wear a helmet and emphasises there really are #noexcuses.

Shockingly, say the NAAC, since April 2024 there have been five deaths linked to a sit-astride ATV (aka a quad bike). Other serious and life-changing incidents are happening all the time, they say. Yet there is still resistance to wearing a helmet.

The NAAC is raising the question why anyone would choose to ride a sit-astride ATV, or deliberately send a worker or family member out on a job, with no helmet knowing there is a real and proven risk of loss of life, which could be reduced by using a helmet.

Commenting Jill Hewitt, NAAC chief executive said, “We have seen an increase in quad bike deaths this year and it baffles me how our industry still considers this is a risk worth taking. Whether on flat or sloping land, incidents can always happen, and we need to be clear that it is a legal requirement to wear a helmet at work. More important though, if you wear a helmet, you are more likely to survive if you come off.”

HSE has confirmed if there is an incident and someone was not wearing a helmet, this will be a key part of the investigation and could result in enforcement, including prosecution. Enforcement action will also be taken if an inspector sees someone working without a helmet on farm. 

Of course, say the NAAC, simply wearing a helmet will not keep everyone fully protected and it is vitally important to ensure that anyone riding an ATV is competent and trained to handle the machine. Training is crucial because it covers essential active riding techniques necessary for the safe operation of the ATV.

About Bernhard and Company

Bernhard and Company’s considerable knowledge and understanding of turf and its horticultural requirements stems from a long immersed history in the sector. Stephen Bernhard, founder of Bernhard and Company, developed a special interest in the technical issues surrounding the mowing of turf. 

In particular, this included the critical effect that reel grinding techniques had on mower performance, maintenance time and cost and on the quality of turf that resulted from alternative approaches.

Bernhard and Company leads the way in providing turf health solutions to the industry and our partners.

Our best-in-class products, training and support partnerships deliver exceptional performance to sports venues worldwide.

About Maya

Maya Global is at the forefront of transforming land management through innovative technology and deep industry expertise. Harnessing cutting-edge AI and advanced data analytics, the platform provides actionable insights for effective management of land and resources.

The solution integrates real-time soil sensing, weather data, and predictive modeling to support sport ground managers in optimising operations and advancing turf management practices. With a commitment to user-centric design and operational efficiency, Maya Global empowers professionals worldwide to achieve exceptional results and drive sustainable change in their fields.

As a leader in smart land management solutions, Maya Global combines technological excellence with a dedication to advancing the future of agronomy and sustainability.

Responsible for:

• Achieving sales targets and growth of business for Soil Scout and Maya
• Developing and submitting territory sales plans
• Identifying and managing new business opportunities
• Developing new business initiatives and strategies to maximise sales opportunities
• Maintaining operating costs with the area budget
• Competitive intelligence 

Duties and responsibilities:

Establish annual business plans, strategies, and in-field activities to achieve agreed sales targets. These can include demos, seminar events, customer training,...etc.

Plan and establish area sales forecast and annual sales goals. 

Assist in the execution of annual sales goals by:

• Sales support activities
• Identify, monitor, and maintain opportunities through company CRM
• Aid at local exhibitions/conventions/association events
• Assist with coordinating support/service activities to correct product issues
• Develop and manage relationships with prospects and current customers
• Scheduling and making regular visits with prospects and current customers
• Assist with negotiating orders with customers
• Coordinating field visits to customer locations and key accounts
• Assisting with introducing new products and services

Assist Bernard and Company and Maya by:

• Attend manufacturer training as required to maintain expertise and skills related to products and sales processes
• Report on competitive activity and new product introduction to the market
• Support / attend trade shows, activities, demos, meetings, field days, etc., as necessary
• Operates remotely with or without administrative support by answering customer calls, maintaining opportunity tracking, scheduling meetings, planning travel, utilizing CRM, and generating reports as needed
• To act in the best interests of the Company
• Represent the Company positively
• Perform other special assignments and duties as may be required 

Compensation plan:

The basic salary will be dependent on experience

In addition to the basic salary an additional range of bonuses will be offered based on targets reached. This will be further discussed with the potential candidate.

Included vacation time is 23 days per annum plus all observed UK bank holidays

Company car

We will reimburse all business expenses legitimately incurred in carrying out your role. You will be provided a company credit card for all travel expenses including hotels, meals, rental cars, flights, customer entertainment, etc. A company provided laptop and cell phone will also be included. 

All salary payments are paid monthly 

The ideal candidate will have several of the following:

• 2 or more years of industry experience
• Self-motivated and able to work independently
• Organised
• Strong communications skills
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications
• Previous sales experience preferred but not required
• Comfortable with presenting in front of a group
• Must live in the designated territory

To apply click here

AUTUMN DISEASE PRESSURES

THE TRUE VALUE OF PARKS

PITCH SATURATION

INVEST TO SURVIVE

A POSITIVE GROUNDSFEST

AUTUMN LAWN RENOVATION TIPS

TIME FOR A SINGLE SHOW?

BATTLE OF THE ROBOTS

HEDGE FUND

CONTROLLING WEEDS

LETTING THE GRASS GROW . . .

ENHANCING THE CAREERS OF TURF PROFESSIONALS

RISE OF THE ROBOTS

WE ALL KNOW IT'S SUMMER . .

DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS

FACILITIES MUST RECOGNISE & REWARD TURF PROFESSIONALS

AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE

A TOTAL DISREGARD FOR OUR PROFESSION

IN-DEPTH WORK REQUIRED

A SAD DECLINE

WHAT MAKES A PERFECT LAWN?

WE MUST NOT BE THE CREATORS OF OUR OWN DOWNFALL

RENOVATIONS ON TOUR

A WORRYING TIME FOR PARKS

CONSEQUENCES OF THE CONDITIONS

STILL DELIVERING QUALITY GREEN SPACES

WATCH OUT!

THE VALUE OF SPRING RENOVATIONS

FULLY LOADED ARMOURY

THE VALUE OF TREES

WE MUST SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE

COUNCIL SERVICES IN DECLINE

INVESTING IN NATURAL GRASS PITCHES

WORRY OF WEATHER CLOSURES

BUSY & BUZZY BTME

A VERY PARTICULAR SET OF SKILLS

COPING WITH CLIMATE CHANGES

View all of 2023's blogs here

View all of 2022's blogs here

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

SUSTAINABLE PARKS
Parks For London case study

WHY GRASSROOTS RUGBY IS IN DECLINE
A steady drop off in participation.

SEEDS OF SUSTAINABILITY
Focus on a major supplier of grass seed and related products to the amenity sector

ON TEST
STIHL BGA 300 cordless leaf backpack blower

ON TEST
EGO Multi-tool

PUT THEM ON THE TOOLS!
Time for an attitude change

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE TRAINING SECTOR
Grasping the challenge of encouraging more sustainable practice

SUSTAINABILITY IN LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Lessons learnt and experiences

SKILL SETS NEED RECOGNITION
Turf professionals are underappreciated

GREATER RESPECT FOR GROUNDS STAFF MIGHT MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
To the recruitment crisis

A COMPETITIVE SALARY
Why employers should advertise the salary when recruiting new staff

ON TEST
Makita XGT UV001G lawn scarifier

AN EXAMPLE OF SUSTAINABILITY IN MACHINERY SUPPLY
Focus on Kubota

MY PERSONAL GREENKEEPING PHILOSOPHY HAS NEVER CHANGED
I don't follow any set program

SUSTAINABILITY IN LANDSCAPING
A substantial element of amenity activity

IS IT TIME TO SAY NO TO 'NO MOW MAY'?
Any real benefits?

SUSTAINABILITY IN OUR PARKS & PUBLIC GREEN SPACES
Meeting the challenge

THE PATH TO WIMBLEDON
For groundstaff member, Conrad Cavil

ON TEST
EGO LBP8000E backpack blower

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE LAWN CARE SECTOR
A key consideration

BEEKEEPING IN COMMERCIAL ENVIRONMENTS
The current situation

SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE IN THE AMENITY SUPPLY SECTOR
Optimising land use through integrated solutions

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE GOLF SECTOR
Focus on BIGGA

THE SEARCH FOR SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE
Bringing together key points

DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR GOLF
R&A are supporting clubs

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF EVERY POUND OF BUDGET
A course manager's view

A NEWFOUND APPRECIATION FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS
Who look after grassroots pitches

SUSTAINABILITY & THE UK ACTION PLAN
For weed, pest and disease management

CONCERN FOR PARKS FOLLOWING COUNCIL BANKRUPTCIES
What does the future hold?

TAKING A GLOBAL LOOK AT SUSTAINABILITY
Is the rest of the world also driving towards sustainable practice?

RENOVATIONS, PLAY AND THANKS
On my mind this week

SUSTAINABILITY – IMPLICATIONS FOR TRAINING & EDUCATION
Set to play a crucial role going forward

TULIP TREE
Liriodendron tulipifera

LYDIA BROOM
Genista lydia

THE LAWN AND ITS VALUE
Changing attitudes

GIANT HOGWEED
Invasive and potentially harmful

LIFE-CYCLE ANALYSIS & SUSTAINABILITY
Considering every stage of the journey

NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY
The most important nutrient

BERBERIS THUNBERGII
A shrub that has stood the test of time

ENSURING FUTURE PROSPERITY
Advice imparted at road shows

INNOVATION & SUSTAINABILITY
A key focus

PHOTINA RED ROBIN
A sensational flowering shrub

VALUING THE GRASSROOTS
We must not overlook those who maintain these grounds

MANAGING WEEDS SUSTAINABLY
In amenity spaces

DETECTING NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS
In turf plants

SPRING RENOVATIONS UNDERWAY
A crucial period

SUSTAINABILITY IN SUPPLY
A focus on those who supply essential inputs to our sector

CHANGING CLIMATE
Is a borehole the key for clubs?

SUSTAINABILITY AT THE SHARP END
How to put into practice when budgets are tight?

ANOTHER NAIL IN THE COFFIN OF GRASSROOTS RUGBY
Clubs are struggling

SUSTAINABILITY IN PRACTICE
Seeking transparent and robust supply chains is essential

TIME FOR ACTION
To reverse recruitment crisis

CONTROLLING COSTS
Planning is crucial

THE SEARCH FOR SUSTAINABILITY
What exactly does the term mean?

CARING FOR THE GRASSROOTS
From volunteers to contractors

DEFRA IS LETTING DOWN THE COUNTRY
Complete failure to address the plastic grass debate

WE CAN ALL DO MORE
To aid biodiversity

MY LIFE IN GREENKEEPING
With Bruce Cruickshank

LEVELLING UP, GETTING SMARTER & GETTING AHEAD
Parks require so much more funding

SWITCHED ON FOR HARD WORK
Putting trimmers through their paces

MACHINERY HIGHLIGHTS
At this year's show

MY SALTEX
Daniel Lewis​, Manchester City Football Club

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?

Last week, I attended the Amenity Forum’s annual Conference held at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon, near Coventry. It has been a couple of years since I last attended. It was great to catch up with many colleagues and industry professionals who had made the effort to attend. 

As for delegates, we had around 95 people attending this year’s event. Down significantly to previous years, however, as always, a great programme of speakers to update the attendees about the latest innovations for best practice in the amenity and sports turf sectors.

Addressing and hosting the event was Ian Graham, Amenity Forum chairman and MD of Complete Weed Control. Ian came into the industry buying into the franchise of Complete Weed Control in 1999 and has been a strong advocate of best practices for many years. 

Ian welcomed everybody to the conference and set out the theme of this year’s conference as raising the voice of the Amenity Forum. 

The Amenity Forum is the UK’s industry led voluntary initiative, promoting best practice and the safe and sustainable management of weeds, pests and diseases across this very diverse and important sector.

It is funded by member organisations drawn from all sub sectors of amenity who, through this, demonstrate their commitment to their objectives and ensure the highest professional standards are maintained.

In a changing and rapidly developing world, the importance of amenity spaces and maintaining them correctly has never been greater. The Amenity Forum provides the support, guidance, communication and best practice advice to ensure that those looking after the amenity spaces across the UK are doing so responsibly. 

Everybody at the conference was asked to log onto an app to enable them to answer a few questions that set the tone of the day. The first question was ‘what do you see as the primary purpose of the Amenity Forum?’

The delegates responded with the following :-

• To be the voice of the membership 24.07%
• To protect the interests of the sector 48.15%
• To lobby policy makers 20.37%
• To provide updates to the membership 20.37%

The second question was ‘is Glyphosate an important tool for your organisation?’ - with 100% of the delegates saying it was an essential tool for controlling weeds. 

We then had an update from Mike Potts, acting principal enforcement officer for CRD Chemicals Regulation Division who spoke about he and his team’s role in inspecting reports of poor practice in the use of pesticides. It was then the turn of Dr Jonathan Newman to talk about Glysophate and how safe it is compared to household cleaners.

Other speakers for the morning session included Jane Lakey from DEFRA, Ruth Mann, head of integrated crop technologies Agrii, Dr Neal Evans from the voluntary initiative.

We then had a breakout session where the delegates were asked a number of questions about their thoughts on the role of the Amenity Forum.

  
The Forum said, like all organisations it is important for them to find out what members want from them, and whether they are moving in the right direction, meeting the demands of the members?

After lunch we had further interesting speakers, with Henry Brechelet, ICL, giving a talk about the new definitive invasive weed catalogue produced by ICL.

We then heard from Corrina Urquhart, Lantra, who spoke about the urgent need to bring in a new generation of amenity professionals via a number of new pathway schemes and education programmes being investigated. I have spoken at length with Corrina and we both agree that there is much to be done to entice young people into our industry.

The final speaker of the day was Harry Vollard-Butler, a senior member of the grounds team at Tottenham Hotspur, who gave an insight into the building of the new stadium and work they do on a daily basis to maintain the pitches at both the stadium and training grounds. 

All in all, a productive day and a great opportunity to network with fellow practitioners. I am sure the feedback from the delegates will have been positive and enable the Amenity Forum to move forward and continue to support the sector in the safe provision and use of pesticide products.

And finally, I was hoping to drive home in my favourite, but alas . . .