WISHES GRANTED? Sourcing funding by TurfPro Editor, Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR
There seems to be a number of club groundsmen frustrated that they cannot find the relevant information about available funding or grants for their clubs.
Let us all hope this extended lockdown period, now set to continue at least into March, will finally put the brakes on this ongoing pandemic. With the ongoing rollout of the vaccination programmes we all look forward to finally beginning to get back to some form of normality.
However, there are no guarantees of timeframes. We just need to stay strong and support one another for a few more months and hope that the vaccines do their job and reduce the number of people needing to go into hospital.
As mentioned in last week’s TurfPro, the next few weeks will be a busy time for practicing grounds professionals, with spring fast approaching.
As for the weather it seems we are still facing some changeable fronts as mentioned in Mark Hunt’s weekly weather forecast. Notably with still some spells of snow and rain forecast.
There have been a lot of flood warnings reported and floods seen across the country. These floods cause a lot of damage to the environment, with landowners, farmers seeing their crops and soils being washed away.
Soil erosion is becoming a growing problem. You can read my thoughts on the subject today here.
Grants
In other news, there seems to be a number of club groundsmen frustrated that they cannot find the relevant information about available funding or grants for their clubs.
As we all know the pressures on clubs during this pandemic has been colossal, with many facing closure. We probably will not find out the full list of casualties until next year.
As for grants and funding opportunities, I have heard many good news stories on the grapevine of clubs receiving capital grants to help them through. Having taken the time to trawl the internet I came across this very helpful website Grantsonline that gives a wealth of information and list of current grants available. Check it out.
The Football Foundation also has the following information on possible funding.
And finally, on the golfing front clubs will now be adhering to the new lockdown measures, with no play allowed. This will at least now enable the greenkeeping staff to focus on getting their courses ready for the relaxation of the lockdown - hopefully if all goes well, sometime around the end of April or early May?
A summary of the lockdown restrictions for Wales, England ,Ireland and Scotland can be found on the BIGGA ‘s site.
In our first WEB ONLY story Syngenta have announced that their first turf biostimulant heralds the potential for a step change in stress management, along with performance enhancement for turf management programmes.
In our next WEB ONLY story a high-quality sand is vital to the overall health and performance of a sports pitch explains Gary Cunningham, football & golf sales representative for Mansfield Sand.
Company say as recently as 26th January machines were collected from Imants in the Netherlands one day and delivered to Campey headquarters the next.
Despite the widely reported disruption at ports due to Brexit, Campey Turf Care Systems have said they have maintained their EU import times.
As recently as 26th January the company says machines were collected from Imants in the Netherlands one day and delivered to their headquarters the next. Campeys say this has primarily been due to the work they have carried out behind the scenes.
Campey director, Lee Morgado, said, "Suffering no disruption to date has been down to preparing for the changes as well as keeping on top of COVID-19 protocols.
“We knew with Brexit there would be rule changes and that could have an impact on imports at customs, so we’ve put a lot of work into making sure there are no delays.
“Obviously the circumstances away from Brexit with the pandemic have put a greater strain on the GB-EU border, but that is where we’ve really seen the preparation pay off because we haven’t suffered any unnecessary delays and have been able to stick to our delivery schedules.
“A majority of it has been paperwork based and being proactive as situations change. Doing this means we are now in a place where our customers don’t see a difference. For them, when they order an Imants machine or Air2G2, they still get it when they expect to, which was always our main priority.”
German fertiliser manufacturer Compo Expert has announced the appointment of Agrovista Amenity as the exclusive national distributor of its turf products in the UK.
German fertiliser manufacturer Compo Expert has announced the appointment of Agrovista Amenity as the exclusive national distributor of its turf products in the UK.
As part of this partnership, Agrovista Amenity will be involved in all Compo Expert turf product research and development - working closely with their global head of turf - Dr Fritz Lord and Dr Mauricio Hunsche the head of research and development. Head of regulatory affairs Dr Thomas Leppin will work with Agrovista Amenity on regulatory issues and chief marketing Officer Dr Ingo Mueller will contribute to joint marketing initiatives.
Compo Expert will supply its full portfolio of turf and landscape products, through Agrovista Amenity’s distribution channels, containing controlled-release fertiliser, slow-release fertiliser and nitrification inhibitor technology. The range of granulometry will also be available to turf and landscape clients.
Commenting on the partnership, Compo Expert managing director Gerald Bonner expressed his delighted at being the preferred partner for the manufacture and supply of turf and landscape fertilisers to Agrovista Amenity. "Our unique and innovative controlled and slow-release chemistry will provide the most environmentally-friendly fertilisers to turf and landscape clients," he said.
John Marland, head of amenity, Agrovista UK Ltd said, “We feel this partnership further signals Agrovista Amenity’s commitment to bring choice and technical excellence to the UK amenity market.”
Managing director David Cole has spoken about how the pandemic has forced the company to make some changes, including welcoming some new key personnel.
Reesink Turfcare’s managing director, David Cole, has spoken about the challenges and achievements their company faced 2020 and what is coming up for them this year.
“2020 was an extremely challenging year for us all,” David says. “Few, if any, industry sectors escaped unscathed from the impact of a sweeping pandemic. So, it’s worth taking a moment to recognise the resilience of our customers, our dealers and even ourselves for surviving the year. For Reesink, we have had to become a different business from this time last year.
“COVID-19 forced us to make some changes. We saw some of our well-known customer-facing colleagues take early retirement as a result of the changing workplace, whilst some also left to seek out new challenges. So, we took the opportunity to restructure the business, and refocus on the fundamentals.
"We welcomed, and congratulate here, Alastair Rowell in his appointment as UK sales manager and Trevor Chard as national account manager for Toro fine turf and grounds. In addition, we welcomed new people to the Turfcare sales team, regional business manager David Timms for the southwest and midlands and salesman Daniel Tomberry for the midlands.
“Customers in certain areas of the country have a new Reesink contact, not because their old contact left but because we’ve made those structural changes to the areas our representatives work in and because our sales reps now cover both Toro fine turf and grounds machines. Post-Covid, it made sense to now have one contact for all Toro customers in one area, a single source of expertise.
“We focused on our parts, servicing and support division. We knew how important this would be to so many throughout lockdown. During that time machine sales slowed, and clubs kept hold of existing machines due an upgrade for longer. Toro has the benefit of longevity and durability on its side, but still replacement parts have never been more in demand. We’re pleased to say we and our dealerships were able to continue fulfilling performance parts orders throughout that time and we hope it helped.
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Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370
“Despite the challenges, concerns and distractions, 2020 had some highlights. We launched our online national network Ree.Own, providing access to the best used Toro machinery available in the UK. The launch of the Toro Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 all-electric riding greensmower was another highlight.
“We are transitioning to Tier V engines in many Toro machines," David continued, "an important and regulatory change for emissions control that has impacted the whole industry. And we welcomed Franklin pumps and SRC two-wire irrigation controllers to our product portfolio to provide an even more comprehensive range of irrigation solutions to our customers.
"Plus, during 2020 we saw a significant pick-up in interest in Toro’s GeoLink precision spray system, which impacts chemical waste and over-spraying."
Gareth Walters and Dr Ruth Mann have been appointed as finance director and director of research, whilst both continuing to manage their existing departments.
STRI Group has announced the appointment of two new company directors to its board.
Dr Ruth Mann and Gareth Walters
Gareth Walters and Dr Ruth Mann have been appointed as finance director and director of research from January 2021, with both continuing to manage their existing departments.
Gareth will lead the group finance function, ensuring that effective processes and controls are in place across STRI Group, and will work closely with the Board to drive through strategic growth.
Ruth will be instrumental in ensuring STRI remain at the forefront of innovation and technological developments in the sports infrastructure and environmental industries.
Ruth said, “It is very exciting to be involved with researching and developing future solutions to challenges in the sports turf and environmental industries. The range of national and international partnerships and projects STRI is currently involved with demands a wide range of technical expertise, and I am looking forward to supporting the continued expansion of services.”
“STRI Group has grown in recent years to become a multi-disciplinary solutions provider in the sport and environment markets with a global reach.”
Gareth said, “With two key strategic acquisitions made last year, 2021 represents an exciting time for the Group and I look forward to joining the Board to support this continued growth.”
STRI chief executive officer, Mark Godfrey, said, “STRI has continued to expand at a rapid pace over the last twelve months and we felt that now was right time to expand our board. Ruth and Gareth have been important senior figures at the company for several years and are helping drive change and growth across new markets. I am delighted to welcome them to the board”
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STIHL has updated its range of cordless long-reach hedge trimmers designed for landscaping professionals and groundskeepers.
STIHL has launched the new HLA 66 and HLA 86, updating its range of cordless long-reach hedge trimmers designed for landscaping professionals and groundskeepers.
HLA 66
Ideal for pruning taller hedges and shrubs as well as clearing ground cover plants, the new HLA 66 and 86 replace the popular HLA 65 and 85 models, and feature a series of upgrades to improve the user experience. Exceptionally well balanced thanks to the repositioned battery, the hedge trimmers are lightweight for easier handling and reduced fatigue when working over longer periods.
HLA 66
Thanks to the EC motor, rapid acceleration of the blades is achieved for optimum performance, and the tool can be used in wet conditions to minimise downtime. The 115º swivelling cutter bar allows user to achieve top, side and bottom cuts easily, whilst the blade is also sharpened on both sides for efficient cutting in any direction. Additionally, the cutter blade can be folded flat for improved user safety and space saving when transporting the tool.
Both of the models feature a new ergonomic control handle and a self-resetting locking lever in combination with the Ergo lever for an intuitive start-up process. This design also ensures that the tool is comfortable to use whether right-handed or left-handed and features anti-slip protection for further safety and comfort.
The HLA 66 is available with a loop handle and shaft grip for ergonomic working helping users trim closer to where they are standing, whilst the HLA 86 offers a telescopic alternative for a longer reach. With an adjustable length of 260cm – 330cm, users can easily find the best working position using the HLA 86, whilst the square shaft design prevents against twisting and deflection allowing for precise positioning even at full extension.
HLA 86
Both the HLA 66 and HLA 86 can be used with STIHL’s high-performance 36V AP battery system for professional use and are compatible with a number of accessories, including a mounting base, carrying system, clamp for the telescopic shaft and catcher plate for the cutting blade.
HLA 86
For more information on STIHL’s range of long-reach hedge trimmers, please visit www.stihl.co.uk.
SOIL LIFE IS PRECIOUS Good-quality soil can help save the planet by Laurence Gale, TurfPro editor
Understanding the nature and properties of soils is a must for any turf professional.
Recent news headlines warn the state of our soil is now a serious threat to the environment and crops. But they also say good-quality soil can help save the planet. “No country can withstand the loss of its soil and fertility”, said Michael Gove in 2017, raising fears there are just decades of UK farming left. What are the powers and dangers of this dark material, and how worried should we be?
Soil is everywhere, in our parks, gardens, farmland, beneath our feet and under our pavements. But this extraordinary and valuable substance is often overlooked and dismissed as ‘dirt’.
We fundamentally rely on soil. It produces 95 percent of our food, be it the crops we eat, or grasses and other plants to feed animals for meat. And this is just one aspect of the goodness of the ground.
“Soil is one of the most underrated and little understood wonders on our fragile planet”, said Professor Bridget Emmett of the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
It is vitally important we take stock of this and, where we can, preserve this vital commodity. It was not until I did a Master of Science at Cranfield University in 2002 under the watchful eyes of Professor Dick Godwin and his team that included Dr Alex Vickers & DR Ian James, that I fully appreciated the science behind the soil. As a practicing turf professional / parks manager I was acutely aware of the importance of soil management when it came to maintaining managing sports surfaces and parks and open spaces.
I can vividly remember one of our first tutorials when Alex described the nature and properties of soil. It was then that I and a batch of grounds professionals that included the likes of Dr Colin Mumford, David Warner, Andy McLeod, Colin Robinson and Steve Prinn to name a few, were introduced to the vast subject of soil science.
Understanding the nature and properties of soils is a must for any turf professional. Once we know what type of soil and its composition we are dealing with, we can manage it within its geographical location. In fact, one of the best books to help you understand the complexities of soil management is the 960-page The Nature and Properties of Soils by Nyle C. Brady and Ray R. Weil.
Why is soil crucial to us?
Watch The Miracle of Soil below, a short animation to explain the power of soil and the need to care for its health.
To grow, plants need not only minerals from soil, but also carbon dioxide from air in order to make food by photosynthesis – and some of this carbon goes into the ground. Soil stores an extraordinary amount of carbon – three times the amount in the atmosphere and twice the amount in trees and forests. While soil can store or ‘sequester’ carbon, it can also lose it when degraded. The loss of the carbon in poor soils contributes to the rise of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, one of the gases that causes climate change. In just one gram of soil, it’s estimated there could be 50 thousand species of micro-organisms, and in a single teaspoon there are more individual micro-organisms than the world’s entire human population.
Crucially, this rich ‘soil-web’ of underground life creates an open structure. This allows rainwater to seep into the ground, storing moisture for plants to make crops grow well, even in times of drought. It also prevents flooding, an important function as global warming makes extreme and uncertain rainfall more prevalent in the UK and around the world.
We must be more careful in the treatment of our soils. It usually takes around 1000 years to produce an inch depth of topsoil by natural weathering processes. We can move literally tonnes in a matter of minutes using modern earth moving machinery, we just need to be more aware of the consequences of eradicating our precious soil resource.
Knowledge and understanding of soil physical properties has always been important for professional turf managers when making decisions about maintenance operations and when carrying out reconstruction works. Precise soil knowledge, including information on boundaries between soil types, should result in more efficient use of fertilisers, pesticides and improved management practices, thus ensuring that the final managed outputs result in the production of economically safe, consistent, playable natural sports turf surfaces.
Soils can vary in many ways, both physically and chemically on a local or regional scale. Many factors, including original parent material source, climate, weathering processes, topography or history of the land use influence their properties. This soil variability gives rise to all the different soil types universally classified by soil texture composition. Soil composition (soil texture) is determined predominantly by mineral particles and organic matter content and can be classified by the percentage of sand, silt and clay mineral particle content.
The strength and permeability of any soil is determined by its structure, soil type, drainage capacity and how well it is managed. Soils will perform differently governed by the amount of water, root mass and air there is in the soil matrix.
Determining soil texture can help you learn about possible restrictions and advantages of the soil. Soil texture is related to weathering and the parent material. The three basic texture classes are sand, silt, and clay, though many soils are a combination of these textures.
In the UK we have at our disposal a number of organisations that can help us identify what soils we have. One of them is the UK Soil Observatory that provides a soil mapping service that helps identify the predominant parent material soil by geographical location. However, taking a number of localised soil samples from your pitches will easily identify your soil type. Once you have taken some soil samples and sent them off for analysis you will need to test for particle size and nutrient status.
Once you have determined your soil type based on the soil results of giving you a percentage of clay silt and sand using a soil textural triangle you can identify what type of soil you have and how best to manage and maintain it to sustain plant growth.
The Soil Texture Triangle, as shown on the image, helps us classify the soil type, these percentages are determined by undertaking a PSD, particle size distribution analysis.
The definition of soil texture is the relative proportion of sand, silt or clay in a soil. The terms sand, silt, and clay refer to relative sizes of the soil particles - sand, being the larger soil particle, feels gritty; silt, being moderate in size, has a smooth or soapy texture; clay, being the smaller size feels sticky.
Topsoils are complex arrangements of mineral particles, air, water, organic matter, living organisms and nutrients. The proportion of these elements is not always critical, however it is important that a soil contains all these elements in one form or another.
Topsoil is a major component of almost all natural sports turf facilities, the exception being pure sand constructed facilities. Its primary role is to provide a medium for grass growth that is both sustainable and stable. This sustainability and strength only comes about when the soil has a good structure.
Soil, naturally, is separated into layers called horizons. These horizons are described as topsoils and subsoils. Topsoil material is generally darker due to the impact of the organic matter that has incorporated itself within this layer. This organic matter is also responsible for enhancing the physical properties of the soil such as tilth, structure, water infiltration and water holding capacities.
The topsoil horizon plays a major part in plant growth and biological diversity as well as some hydrological processes. Topsoil is the interface of air, minerals, water and life (soil organisms), which all interact with one another to support and maintain a soil structure.
The four major components of soil are air, water, mineral matter and organic matter. The relative proportions of these components greatly influence the behaviour and productivity/performance of the soils.
The ideal volume composition of a loam topsoil, for example, would be a pore space of 50% air and water, with 45% mineral matter and 5% organic matter. The proportions of air and water will fluctuate as the soil becomes wetter or drier.
However, we need to find better ways of safeguarding our precious soil resources. We must not lose sight of its true immense value to the planet and begin finding better ways of protecting and manage this valuable resource for future generations.
Information displayed on the WWF website states, half of the topsoil on the planet has been lost in the last 150 years. In addition to erosion, soil quality is affected by other aspects of agriculture. These impacts include compaction, loss of soil structure, nutrient degradation, and soil salinity. These are very real and at times severe issues.
The effects of soil erosion go beyond the loss of fertile land. It has led to increased pollution and sedimentation in streams and rivers, clogging these waterways and causing declines in fish and other species. And degraded lands are also often less able to hold onto water, which can worsen flooding. Sustainable land use can help to reduce the impacts of agriculture and livestock, preventing soil degradation and erosion and the loss of valuable land to desertification.
We can undertake several steps to help preserve soil erosion these include maintaining permanent vegetation, reduce farming and gardening activities, plant cover crops. As the name suggests, cover crops provide a protective cover for soils in between the main plantings. Their function is the same as the function of permanent vegetation. They protect soils from rain and wind, slow down runoff and encourage water infiltration.
Mulching bare soils, increasing organic matter, controlling water runoff, sustainable grazing and Afforestation, the planting of trees. All these activities over time will certainly reduce the loss and erosion of our precious soil.
Next in our regular series of the TurfPro Files, we hear from Richard Campey, Chairman of Campey Turf Care Systems.
TurfPro editor, Laurence Gale writes:
One of the biggest challenges our industry faces in the coming years will be inspiring the next generation of turf professionals to join our sector. We desperately need to start finding ways to encourage more people to come and work in this diverse, international industry.
To help start this process, I have asked a number of our leading professionals to write a piece about how they came to work in this industry and the opportunities it has given them.
Richard Campey, Chairman of Campey Turf Care Systems
Who or what inspired you to take up your career?
Towards late 1975 I applied for a job as a service engineer, advertised in the local paper for Sisis Equipment (Macclesfield) Ltd. I was selected for interview but failed. Instead in the letter they sent they said that they may shortly have a job available as a sales demonstrator and if it was of interest to make an appointment to see their general sales manager, Arthur Harrison. This I did and was offered the job. I started 2nd January 1976 in an industry that I did not know existed and it has been a part of my life ever since..
Which individuals have inspired you or helped you develop professionally?
Sisis in those days was run by Eric Staniforth MBE, who joined William Hargreaves & Son Ltd (as it was known then) when he left school at 14 along with Arthur Harrison who later became sales director. Their ethos for the business was to find out what the customer wanted and the company would then build it. They had a close relationship with groundsmen and greenkeepers, especially those who wanted to move the industry forward.
Meeting Eddie Seward is another moment I shall never forget. He tapped me on the shoulder after seeing one of the first demonstrations we carried out with a 2M Koro Fieldtopmaker at Stamford Bridge and said “That machine is just what we need to improve the courts at Wimbledon but it is far too big. Make a smaller one and let me see it working on a court and if it works, I will buy one”. So, we did and less than two years later he bought one and another shortly after. Another incredible player in this industry is Steve Braddock and his dedication to achieving top class natural grass playing surfaces. He has taught many professionals the correct method and this is evident in what they are achieving around the world today.
What machinery or innovations have in your opinion helped drive our industry forward or helped make your job easier?
I will not mention the names of three pieces of machinery that have helped to drive the industry forward, but in my opinion these are:
The ability to carry out aeration and decompaction to greater depths using vertical or linear action machines.
Machines that can apply topdressing to all sports surfaces by spinning action with minimal adjustment and with perfect spread pattern up to 10m wide.
Tractor mounted machines that can remove large amounts of organic matter and the dreaded poa annua - leaving a perfect level and clean surface.
What concerns do you have for the future of our industry?
This past twelve months has put all businesses and associations under tremendous pressure, mainly because none of us know how it is going to turn out. Perhaps it is the right time for all sides of the industry to come together and shout as one voice.
Here in the UK we should be telling everyone what a great industry the sportsturf industry, is worldwide. From what I have seen in my travels over the years, professional standards and equipment, are much higher here in the UK than anywhere else in the world. Machinery is better built and ahead of its time. For example, a machine that we brought to market well over twenty years ago is only just catching on in the USA now, that is how far behind they are in some aspects of turf maintenance.
But if we do not let people know through our educational programmes then the industry will not progress.
I appreciate that things will not change overnight, but it seems that our industry is awfully slow to react at times. Over 40 years ago I clearly remember Eric Staniforth telling the guys in charge of greenkeeping and groundsmanship to alter their ways starting first with changing their job titles - head greenkeeper should be called course managers and head Groundsmen should become grounds managers - to reflect the wide area of responsibilities they cover.
Their value and depth of knowledge is only just starting to be recognised now as more and more of these expert individuals are starting to leave the profession.
How do you think we can entice the next generation of industry professionals to come and work in this industry?
We need to become more involved with potential youngster recruits when they are at school. Target open days or careers evenings - perhaps industry representatives should attend? Or is anyone from the GMA, AEA or BIGGA in touch with County Education Departments explaining what careers are available?
Up till around 10 years ago as a local employer we had contact with local schools and used to take one a year in for a couple of weeks each year, but this contact has diminished over the years and we could do with introducing more apprenticeships, trainee courses with the official backing of our industry organisations.
How have recent events impacted on your job and how would you like to see the government support our industry?
Who would have thought at the beginning of 2020, events would have turned out like they have?
I suppose the government have been trying to govern with one hand tied behind their back. They seem to have handed money out very quickly but slow at times to react quick enough to lockdowns. Bear in mind that whatever any government gives they will eventually take it back one way or another!
My company has had little help apart from a couple of months when we had some staff on furlough. This gave us time to work out what was happening and from the first week of June last summer, we started bringing staff back and by the end of July we were all back and still are. Last year we altered the management structure of Campey Turf Care Systems. Julia is now MD, John and Lee are now directors and Neil is now company secretary. All are in their mid to late 30’s with knowledge gained each with a minimum of 15 years working for Campey’s.
They bought me a new chair and called me Chairman! After nearly 45 years in the industry, it is time for the young ones to take it forward and I know they are more than capable of doing this.
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