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EDITOR'S BLOG

TIME TO RECRUIT
The next generation is required
by TurfPro Editor, Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR

My recent 50 year working anniversary gave me pause for thought to consider what must be done to encourage fresh blood into the sector.

I recently celebrated 50 years of working in our diverse sports turf and horticulture industry - having begun my career as a parks apprentice with Birmingham City Council on the 14th August 1972.

There were around twenty-five of us enlisted on the prestigious City &Guilds scheme which involved attending Kings Heath Horticultural college one day a week for five years.

I recall being excited at the opportunity to be taught by some experienced and talented lecturers and more importantly working along seasonalised horticulturalists and practitioners during my working week.

My first two years were spent working at Kings Heath Park where, during the week, we were assigned jobs in the park. Menial to begin with, but as we became more experienced, we were given increasingly interesting jobs such as plant propagation and mowing bowling greens.

One day a week we all would attend the college and were educated to become good horticulturalists, learning plant ident, botany, biology, machinery and sports turf.

Kings Heath Park

Working at Kings Heath Park enabled me to meet up with other year groups who also attended the college. Amongst those apprentices were a number of students who went on to hold some prestigious jobs in our industry. For example:

Robert Standon, parks manger for Bath City Council
Michael Hinton, parks manager, Birmingham City Council
Phil Randle, Aston University
Harry Pool who just retired after fifty years working for Birmingham City Council
James Mead who also has just retired as head grounds manager at Rugby School
Andy Richards, current estates manager at Haileybury School
Dave Collins, current Head greenkeeper Lickey Hills GC

Plant A Tree In 73 at Kings Heath park

I also looked after the ATV Television Garden at Kings Heath Park. The programme, Gardening Today, was originally devised to show viewers how to design and maintain their gardens. The first presenters were Bob Price and Cyril Fletcher. Myself and Phil Randle were tasked with preparing and looking after the garden, ready for the celebs to present the show. I also remember the national UK scheme, Plant A Tree In 73 , when we planted loads of trees in both Kings Heath and Cannon Hill parks - happy days!

The rest of my apprenticeship was seen working at Cannon Hill park, as a propagator, Cocksmoors Woods GC and the island sites team based in Billsley Depot.

This was a great apprenticeship that gave me a set of skills to take into the numerous jobs and career opportunities I have held since.

Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham

Recruitment woes

Most horticulturalists and sport turf professionals spend years attaining the necessary skill sets they require to do their jobs. And in my opinion they should be rewarded and respected better than they are.

I read constantly the problems our industry is facing with regards to recruitment and retaining experienced grounds professionals.

I believe this is compounded by the poor wages and often poor working conditions turf professionals are expected to tolerate.

Both BIGGA and the GMA are trying to raise the profile of our industry and have for many years promoted recommended pay scales for professionals - however, in the main these do not appear to enforced.

A recent Turfcare blog What Skill Set Makes for a Top Groundsperson portrayed the necessary skills and competencies required for practicing grounds professionals and highlighted that pay and conditions need to improve to encourage the next generation of ground professionals to come into our industry.

I have said this on plenty of occasions, we need a national campaign to go into all schools, both private and state, to demonstrate the opportunities young people will have in choosing a career in this diverse industry. We need to demonstrate all the wider roles and career opportunities associated with working our sector.

We need a plethora of top industry professionals representing the different professional sports, local authorities, parks managers, manufacturers and leading career experts to promote our industry collectively through a proper national campaign.

We already have plenty of companies and individuals attempting to do this on a local scale, and there are plenty of apprenticeships being undertaken. However I believe it’s time we all came together nationally and had one big push to sell our industry on a grand scale.

It would mean that we would need the likes of the major manufacturers along with the leading trade bodies and land-based colleges to come together and finally work as one to help deliver and promote this national campaign to recruit our next generation.

Every school should be paid a visit by a team of industry professionals who give a presentation on their own careers and experiences, what opportunities they have enjoyed and what the industry can offer.

Each school visit should have at least four experts give a presentation of what our industry can offer their career path - followed by a question and answer session. We must demonstrate the variety of opportunities that can be grasped by working in this remarkable industry.

I would be more than happy to work with leading professionals to help deliver this programme. I am sure we could get some government funding for the project, along with some serious sponsorship from other parties to deliver this much needed campaign.

NEWS

STEVE BRADDOCK
1964-2022

In our first WEB ONLY story Arsenal FC have announced that their head groundsman, Steve Braddock, has died after a long illness.

A WORLDWIDE THANK YOU!
For greenkeepers everywhere

The Knutsford greenkeeping team of Ben Lambert, David Jones and Neill Sidebotham

In our next WEB ONLY story global greenkeeper trade bodies are organising a day offering recognition to those who help keep golf courses enjoyable and sustainable.

DEALER CONFIRMS NEW DEPOT PLANS
Facility on its way

The multi-branch, professional dealership says work is required, but they are confident to be up and running within a few months.

Tallis Amos Group (TAG) has confirmed plans for a new depot in Shropshire at Allscott between Shrewsbury and Telford.

The announcement follows TAG’s confirmation in July that it had been appointed as the John Deere dealer to cover Shrewsbury and Newport in Shropshire. The new depot is due to open in October 2022.

TAG was formed in 2012 when two long standing John Deere dealerships, Alexander & Duncan and Chris Tallis Farm Machinery joined forces.

Currently operating four depots in the West Midlands and Wales at Evesham, Kemble, Leominster and Narberth, TAG already has plans to open an additional site near Lampeter in October this year.

To ensure that the company can deliver support to customers throughout the Shrewsbury and Newport area, TAG say they are now actively recruiting sales, parts, service, precision ag and administration staff. Rea Valley Tractors (RVT) continue to be authorised dealers until 31st October 2022.

Simon Amos, TAG agricultural sales director, said, “The new depot in Allscott is perfectly positioned to support farming and contracting businesses throughout Shropshire. Although there will be some work required to get the site ready, we’re confident we can be up and running within a few months.

"We are also investing heavily in parts and service capacity at Leominster to further support customers from South and West Shropshire.”

INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT SHOWN
For November's SALTEX

Organisers say UK exhibition scene is back to pre-Covid levels with international exhibitors and visitors from over 40 countries signed up to attend.

The organisers of the SALTEX exhibition say Britain’s exhibition scene is back to pre-Covid levels with international exhibitors and visitors from over 40 countries now signed up to attend.

They say this overseas support with 12 weeks to go before the show opens its doors on 2 November shows the strength of this event, now in its 76th year, and is an indication that Britain is back to being fully open for business as exhibitors and visitors travel to the event from as far afield as Australia.

As an example of this international interest, SALTEX points out that Francesco Dotto, president of GrAssMed, the Mediterranean Groundsman Association, recently tweeted: “[SALTEX] is the most important green fair in Europe, for real professionals, but also for those who to approach sustainable and serious green.” He is referring to the show’s focus on sustainability and the environment, key topics featuring in the Learning LIVE seminars.

This also is a view shared by SGL, manufacturers of grass growth products such as grow lighting systems and data monitoring tools, based in The Netherlands - one of many international businesses exhibiting this year. Derk Pelle, content marketeer at SGL, confirms the reason they attend is because “SALTEX is an inspiring, international event where turf professionals come together to exchange knowledge and learn about the latest innovations in the industry and engage with turf professionals face-to-face.”

Geoff Webb, CEO of the Grounds Management Association, said of the show's international interest, “There promises to be a diverse visitor profile this year, we know there are visitors from over 26 countries already. We had a good show last year with our post-show visitor survey, showing that 83 percent of attendees rated SALTEX 2021 overall as excellent, very good or good, and 67 percent of those saying they attended specifically to purchase new products or services, and 84 percent either had full purchasing responsibility or contributed to the process.

"These are great stats, but we knew that it was post pandemic and people were longing to get out and meet up again but to continue this momentum is really encouraging.”

TRANSFORMATION AFOOT
At Gillingham Golf Club

After previously suffering with the side effects of excessive thatch content, Gillingham GC say they are transforming the health and presentation of their greens.

After previously suffering with the side effects of excessive thatch content, the course manager at Gillingham Golf Club has praised a programme from Headland Amenity for its role in transforming the health and presentation of the greens.

Together with a comprehensive cultural regime, the improvement in course condition has seen a reduction in disease activity and reduced reliance on fungicides, and saw Gillingham play host to a Kent Golf Captains event for the very first time.

John Hunnisett joined as course manager just over a year ago, where he was faced with a course that lacked any definition - with multiple areas including bunker surrounds and tee banks left completely unmaintained. To make the transformation project even more challenging, the greens team consisted of three trainees and, 13 months on, John remains the only qualified greenkeeper out of the team of five.

“I pretty much had to start from scratch in all areas” explains John. “I’d used a few Headland products previously but had the benefit of seeing a full Headland programme in action during a stint spent at The London Golf Club. It opened my eyes to a whole new range and so called in our Headland technical manager Andy Ward to help with the monumental task at hand.”

Soil analysis taken by Andy highlighted high levels of organic matter in the top 20mm which, combined with an increase in aeration, scarification and topdressing, has been improved with a new nutritional regime. “Our summer programme consists of Protec Plus, TeMag Elite, Turfite Elite and Ascoflex Plus. This combination of products delivers a long-lasting, balanced supply of nitrogen together with maximising health and recovery following periods of heat and/or stress. We have received lots of positive comments from the members about the presentation, with many saying that the greens have never looked better!

“In the autumn and winter we switch to Headland’s 20-20-30 tank-mix which is probably my favourite discovery and has made the biggest difference to the greens. The combination of reducing organic matter and enhancing plant health with monthly applications of 20-20-30 between September and March drastically reduced the amount of disease we registered – and what we did get was easily recoverable and didn’t lead to scarring.”

John concluded, “The course emerged in the spring of 2022 healthier than ever, which was great as we entered preparations to host the Hampshire County Match at the end of June. Being selected for this for the first time was testament to just how far we’ve come, with the right products and the pure passion of my team.”

CHARITY CYCLE COMPLETED
Part of pro dealership's fundraising

Nineteen team members came together from across all departments to take on the 95 kilometre route - facing sweltering heat and several punctures!

As we recently reported, the GGM Group have pledged to fulfil 12 months of fundraising for their chosen charity, the North West Air Ambulance, setting an ambitious target of £10,000.

This year's endeavours have now kicked off with the completion of a 96km bike ride across the North West from the depot in Haydock back to the head office in Colne via the Leeds and Liverpool canal.

Nineteen team members came together from across all departments, ranging in age between 18 - 62, to take on the 95 kilometre route. Despite facing sweltering heat and several punctures, the team finished the route together and enjoyed a well-deserved BBQ to celebrate.

To date the cycle ride has raised over £2,800 (and rising) for The North West Air Ambulance. The business says they will be running further initiatives over the coming months, with their aim to raise £10,000 for the charity over the year.

Managing director Chris Gibson explained, “Every year we carry out a physical challenge to raise funds for our chosen company charity and it’s a huge highlight in our calendar. Previously we have completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks and in 2020 we didn’t let lockdown dampen our spirits, carrying out a charity walk and cycle ride in socially distanced stints.

“I am hugely proud of what our staff have done in this year’s charity cycle and it is teamwork in the truest sense. Not everyone regularly cycles, yet they have committed to taking part in this challenge for our charity. As a family business, it’s fantastic for us all to come together.

“It’s a key part of our ethos at The GGM Group to give something back to the local community and North West Air Ambulance provide an essential service. Amazingly they receive no government or NHS funding so every penny we and others raise for the charity makes such a lifesaving difference.”

To support GGM's initiative and make a donation visit their Justgiving page.

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