Grounds Management - Spring 2022 Preview

GROUNDS MANAGEMENT SPRING 2022 Spring 2022 / £7.50

INSIDE GMA proposes 3% pay rise for grounds staff Resources and support for mental wellbeing Rise of the machines: are robot mowers the future?

What lies beneath Managing and maintaining Tottenham Hotspur’s retractable football pitch

INSIDE THIS ISSUE SPRING 2022

WELCOME

Sector of support I’m sure that many of you have felt refreshed coming into 2022, and are looking ahead to new horizons and opportunities. If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s the critical importance of our personal health and wellbeing, as well as taking time to reflect on personal ambitions and the expectations placed upon us. This year, the GMA hopes to provide more support and guidance than ever to help manage day-to-day activities and share links to mental health support.

What’s more, we want to really push the message to encourage even more new recruits into the grounds management sector to help reverse the industry’s talent drain and ensure that a steady flow of well-trained staff and volunteers keep coming through for the future years. This issue focuses on our #GroundsWeek promotional activities as well as our pay recommendations within our annual National Salary Framework Report to help raise industry standards.

Later this year, we will also be launching our five-year strategy with sector workforce development as a key aspect of our work.

We also continue to celebrate the successes of professional networking, with our GMA Awards and national trade show, SALTEX, returning for 2022. We hope you join us in celebrating our wonderful sector and help us spread the word.

COVER IMAGE: THFC

Geoff Webb, GMA CEO

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REGULARS

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TWO-MINUTE UPDATE News from across the industry BRIEFING Encouraging #GroundsWeek collaboration; visitor survey confirms SALTEX success GROW WITH THE GMA Face-to-face training is back on course RFU UPDATE Raising rugby pitch standards TECHNICAL INSIGHT The rise of the robot mower TECHNICAL INSIGHT Examining water resilience in the leisure sector IN ACTION Products used by the University of Chester, Stockport County FC, Boston United FC and York Racecourse PITCH ADVISORY SERVICE UPDATE The Hive’s digital network offers advice and support MAINTENANCE TIPS What to do in spring PRODUCT SHOWCASE Robot mowers, RTVs, pest control and fertiliser in the spotlight 60 SECONDS WITH… Agronomist, RFU volunteer pitch advisor and GMA board director Andy Spetch

14 FEATURES

14 SALARY FRAMEWORK REPORT GMA recommends a 3% pay increase 17 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT What are you worth?

22 MENTAL WELLNESS RESOURCES Where to get help and advice 24 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR’S SUBTERRANEAN SECRETS Retractable football pitch management 29 VOLUNTEERING IN THE COMMUNITY It’s a family affair at Moorgreen Colts FC CONTRIBUTORS

KAREN MAXWELL Editor of Grounds Management magazine

DR ANDY CARMICHAEL Freelance writer and sportsturf academic

GROUNDS MANAGEMENT Editorial address: 28 Stratford Office Village, Walker Avenue, Wolverton Mill East, Milton Keynes MK12 5TW / t: 01908 312511 GMA membership and general enquiries: t: 01908 312 511 / e: membership@thegma.org.uk Magazine subscriptions: Jo Cornford t: 01908 312511 / e: accounts@thegma.org.uk Subscriptions: £30 UK / £50 Europe / £70 rest of world Published on behalf of the Grounds Management Association by: Think, 20 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JW / t: 020 3771 7200 Editor: Karen Maxwell t: 07866 736597 e: editor@thegma.org.uk Head of communications: Miri Buac e: mbuac@thegma.org.uk Managing editor: Kirsty Fortune Group art director: Jes Stanfield Client engagement director: Anna Vassallo To advertise in this magazine: Tony Hopkins: t: 020 3771 7251 / e: tony.hopkins@thinkpublishing.co.uk / Tom Fountain t: 020 3771 7250 / e: tom.fountain@thinkpublishing.co.uk

SPRING 2022

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2 MINUTE

UPDATE GMA AND INDUSTRY NEWS FA RECOGNISES LONGSERVICE ACHIEVEMENTS Rossendale United Junior Football Club groundsman Chris Shufflebottom and chairman Derek Boyden have received accolades from the Lancashire Football Association for their dedication to the game.

Derek received an award for his 30-year service to football and Chris received an award in recognition of his 50-year service – both as a player and as a grounds volunteer.

Chris said he first got involved in groundscare 32 years ago “because I could drive a tractor” and he had attended several GMA courses, which he said had helped raise pitch standards.

“We cut and line mark, sledge and spike using essential kit and contractor services that we’ve bought through the generous sponsorship from local businesses,” Chris explained. “I’ve also sought advice from the GMA’s Ian MatherBrewster over the years and I’m very grateful for his support.”

Chris (left) and Derek receive their awards

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SPRING 2022

Derby County FC applauds grounds team’s GMA L4 success Derby County FC head groundsman Paul Thompson and assistant stadium head groundsman Paul Shepherd were recently presented with their Level 4 GMA Professional Certificates in Turf Surface Management by club coaching staff and manager Wayne Rooney in a gesture of appreciation and respect for the grounds team and their educational achievements.

The 11 members of the club’s grounds team look after the stadium pitch and 17 grass areas at the training ground, which cater for the playing needs of the club academy’s U8s up to first-team players.

“Every member of our grounds team works incredibly hard and it’s great that the club appreciates everything we do,” Paul said.

According to Paul, he and Paul Shepherd, who had already achieved their GMA Level 2 and 3 qualifications, wanted to broaden their skill sets by moving up to Level 4. “The course was very interesting, the learning materials were really helpful From left: Liam Rosenior (assistant and the GMA’s Chris Gray kept in regular manager), Justin Walker (first contact with us,” Paul said. He added that team coach), Paul Thompson, the qualification, which took them a year Jason Pearcey (goalkeeping to complete, has given them new skills in coach), Paul Shepherd and club sustainable grounds management. manager Wayne Rooney

Reesink appoints David Banks as MD

Reesink UK has appointed David Banks, who succeeds David Cole as its new managing director.

David was previously JCB Industry general manager for seven years. A sales growth leader and marketing strategist, he brings expertise in building product portfolios, developing dealer networks, distribution and routes to market, and providing group leadership within both OEM and retail.

He said: “I’m looking forward to having an autonomous role, working with Reesink’s dealers, branches and wider teams, building on the fantastic work that has already been done and expanding into different sectors with a continued focus on providing the very latest technologies as part of our key offering.”

He has a three-month handover period with David Cole, who leaves at the end of April.

AMENITY FORUM NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE OFFICER The Amenity Forum Board has appointed Peter Corbett as executive officer. He replaces John Moverley, who will step down at the end of June.

Peter is an independent consultant with a wealth of experience within the amenity sector and strong technical knowledge.

The Board will also appoint a new chair drawn from its membership, who will be announced shortly.

The Amenity Forum is in the process of hosting regional Updating Events to address new policy issues regarding the approval and use of plant protection products. n To register for a free Updating Event place, email: admin@amenityforum.net

NEW COTSWOLD DISCOUNT CODE FOR GMA MEMBERS

The GMA Awards is a highlight of the industry calendar

GMA Awards are back The GMA is relaunching its annual GMA Awards this year, with the celebratory dinner taking place at The Vox, NEC Birmingham, on the evening of Wednesday 2 November (during SALTEX).

Last year, the GMA put its awards celebration on hold due to COVID-19 restrictions, which gave members the opportunity to focus on their challenging maintenance diaries.

With turfcare’s media presence and public interest growing, this year the GMA is making award nominations more accessible to those who work or volunteer at all levels of turf management by allowing nominees the option to submit a short video to answer set questions as an alternative to completing a written form.

GMA CEO Geoff Webb said: “Last year, we recognised that entering the GMA Awards was not a priority for many grounds staff and volunteers, but with growing post-COVID-19 optimism we warmly welcome everyone back to celebrate their achievements in 2022. Both paid grounds staff and volunteers are the backbone of sport and physical activity, and our new award categories aim to make the applications more inclusive and easier to enter for all.”

Award nominations will open on Tuesday 3 May. Nominees will receive an award application, which they can complete in written or video format. These will then be judged by an independent panel of experts. n For more information, please visit: thegma.org.uk/awards. For award sponsorship enquiries, please email: vnewton@thegma.org.uk. Tickets for the Awards dinner will be on sale from this summer

A new discount code has been issued to GMA members, who are eligible to receive 15 per cent discount on a wide range of Cotswold outdoor clothing, equipment, footwear and accessories.

Available as part of the GMA’s extensive package of membership benefits, this exclusive discount code is included within your annual membership pack or you can receive it by calling the GMA office.

Members need to present their membership card or their unique discount coupon with a valid form of identification when shopping in any nationwide Cotswold, Runners Need and Snow+Rock stores, or you can use the unique discount code when shopping online.

RED DIESEL CONCERNS The GMA understands that there is a lack of clarity regarding the Government’s red diesel legislation and its use for grounds management going forward.

We are in the process of speaking to the Government for specific updates and will connect with members as soon as we know more.

In the meantime, please read our article about new red diesel legislation and how it could impact you (see Grounds Management, Winter 2021, p33).

PRIMO MAXX II RECALL AND REPLACE SCHEME Syngenta has announced that stocks of Primo Maxx II manufactured prior to the end of 2021 are out of specification from the approved label formulation.

The company has issued a full product recall and replace notification, operated by ICL. Anyone with existing stocks of affected Primo Maxx II must cease any

further use or transport of the product with immediate effect. Bottles must be relabelled as ‘flammable material’ and stored accordingly to await collection and removal by the scheme’s registered waste contractor.

A dedicated website has been created to explain the details and register all unused Primo Maxx II

into the recall and replace scheme, including any full or part-used bottles.

All product reported into the scheme will be replaced with new, compliant stocks of Primo Maxx II ready for the spring PGR application season.

Register product for recall and replacement at: icl-sf.com/uk-en/ primo-maxx-ii-recall

SPRING 2022

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BRIEFING

THE LATEST INDUSTRY HEADLINES FROM THE GMA

Collaboration is key to this year’s #GroundsWeek Bolstered by the success of last year’s #GroundsWeek campaign, the GMA’s annual awareness week will encourage more people to seek work or volunteering roles within the sector

BY MIRI BUAC, GMA HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS

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ur annual #GroundsWeek campaign celebrates the vital role grounds staff and volunteers play in making sport possible. Last year’s campaign reached more than 135 million people, secured support from 1,193 organisations and individuals across sport, and generated more than 3,000 mentions on social media. Many messages were also shared beyond our industry, allowing more people to better understand what a job in grounds management entails.

In this year’s campaign, which runs from 28 February to 6 March, we’re planning to widen our reach and showcase potential career opportunities to encourage more people to work or take a volunteering role within the sector.

The UK’s ‘Great Resignation’ has seen many individuals leave their jobs, reconsider their priorities and seek different career opportunities. We want to use #GroundsWeek to highlight the personal and professional benefits that a role in grounds management can offer – from volunteering, job change or career pathway perspectives.

Working within the grounds management sector offers great work/ life benefits, but many job seekers are unaware that these roles exist. We want to shine a spotlight on the unique work aspects within the sector, including working in an outdoor environment, and delivering safe sports surfaces for local communities and elite sport performance

The GMA’s ‘Schools into Stadia’ initiative encourages young people to consider grounds management as a career

alike. By raising awareness, we want to encourage more people to seek roles within our industry, enjoy its job satisfaction and develop the deep passion for achieving the sportsturf excellence that drives our sector forward.

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT

This year, we’re particularly reaching out to young people. We will be ramping up our ‘Schools into Stadia’ workshop initiative and have recently launched a GMA educational toolkit, which introduces schoolchildren to grounds

management techniques in an aim to engage more young people than ever.

Ultimately, we want to continue to raise the nation’s awareness of grounds management, celebrate its vital importance within sport and encourage those with ‘career curiosity’ to take their first steps into pursuing a rewarding role within our sector.

We’d like you to join us by getting involved in any way you can. Look out for the #GroundsWeek hashtag, follow GMA on Twitter or get in touch to share your story with us.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED This year, we’re asking you to share details of the rewarding aspects of your job and why others should consider it. You can write a blog, share a photo or upload a video, tagging the GMA. Make sure you use the #GroundsWeek hashtag.

SPRING 2022

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BRIEFING EVENTS UPDATE

Visitor survey confirms SALTEX 2021 success

Below: Attendees enjoy meeting in person again at SALTEX 2021

Post-show survey reveals attendees rate SALTEX 2021 highly and offers a fascinating insight into the show’s visitor profile

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idely recognised as ‘the show the industry needed’, the 75th SALTEX event provided the ideal opportunity for the grounds management sector to regroup, reunite and celebrate.

According to the post-show visitor survey, 83 per cent of attendees rated SALTEX 2021 overall as ‘excellent’, ‘very good’ or ‘good’; 67 per cent attended specifically to purchase new products or services; and 84 per cent either had full purchasing responsibility or contributed to the process.

A third of visitors held a management position: 14 per cent were company CEOs and 13 per cent of the total visitors worked in a grounds manager/head of grounds capacity.

Regarding visitor interests, 72 per cent rated the variety of products and services on show as ‘excellent’ and knew exactly what they were looking for. Seventy per cent attended to see machinery and power and hand tools, and nearly half were interested in seed, turf and aggregates. More than 33 per cent visited exhibitors representing both landscaping

materials and arboriculture, horticulture and forestry. Other areas of interest included sports surfaces and facilities (32 per cent); commercial vehicles, tyres and trailers (29 per cent); education, training and development (20 per cent); synthetic turf (18 per cent); security, health and safety and personal protection (17 per cent); and play equipment (12 per cent).

Neil Stubley, head of courts and horticulture at the All England Lawn

The survey revealed the percentage of visitors who worked in one or more of the following industry sectors: 31% Sportsturf 29% Arboriculture, horticulture and forestry 26% Lawn care 19% Business/property services 15% Parks 14% Private estates/stately homes 13% Roadside landscape 12% Play areas/equipment 12% Town/village landscapes 11% Country estates 9% Churches/burial grounds 8% Retail 8% Caravan holiday parks 8% Hotels/pubs 2% Transport hubs 2% Theme parks

THERE’S NOTHING BETTER THAN SEEING PRODUCTS ON THE FLOOR AND SPEAKING TO THE EXPERTS Tennis Club, said: “It was great to get back to what life was like pre-pandemic and see people again. During COVID-19 everyone has been working hard to come out of the back of it with a bang and we witnessed that at SALTEX. There’s nothing better than seeing products on the floor and speaking to the experts.”

Natalie Regan, who was one of 52 students who attended SALTEX from Wiltshire College & University Centre, said she really benefited from her visit.

“It was my first time at SALTEX and I now feel a lot more knowledgeable about turf management,” she explained.

Seventy-two per cent of survey respondents confirmed that they would be returning to SALTEX 2022, which takes place at the NEC Birmingham on 2 and 3 November 2022. n For more information, visit: gmasaltex.co.uk n Follow SALTEX on: Twitter: @GMA_SALTEX and Facebook at facebook.com/GMASALTEX

SPRING 2022

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BRIEFING GROW WITH THE GMA

Racecourse groundspeople return to in-person training Although the GMA has been running a successful programme of online training courses throughout the pandemic, it’s great to get back to face-to-face instruction. I visited the British Racing School in Newmarket to watch the first Level 2 Intermediate Racecourse: Turf Management in-person course in action since COVID-19 struck BY KAREN MAXWELL, EDITOR

ALAMY

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y visit to Newmarket was on a cold, crisp winter’s day. The low sun cast long shadows across the Warren Hill Gallops and the distant sound of hooves raced towards our group of 20 senior racecourse grounds staff and turf experts as we gathered on the spectator side of the running rails.

There are more than 70 racing schools located in the Newmarket area and there were many riders out exercising their horses that morning. However, our group’s attention wasn’t focused on the horses – they were looking down at the turf and discussing the practical issues involved in maintaining a safe running surface.

According to Alan Lewis, a sports surface and grounds staff mentor, and leader of the GMA’s five-day Level 2 Intermediate Racecourse: Turf Management training session, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) makes it compulsory for head groundspeople and clerks of the course to attend these courses to help ‘maintain and improve racecourse standards’.

The course delegates also benefit from expert advice and practical know-how from BHA senior inspector of courses Richard Linley, who ensures they have a good understanding of the correct ‘bypass’ (diverting jockeys away from a fallen horse behind a fence), ‘flipstart’ (elastic rope to ensure every rider has a fair race start) and running rail procedures.

York Racecourse head groundsman Adrian Kay also joins Alan and Richard on one of the course days to present a racecourse health and safety session.

On the final day, the delegates complete two written exam papers.

Turfcare on racecourses presents the unique challenge of horses carving up the sward

Alan, who has been a GMA course lecturer for the past 30 years, explains: “The intermediate course provides delegates with the knowledge of soil types, grass species, nutrient analysis, how to deal with threats to turf health, construction profiles, drainage and irrigation.” He adds that he and Richard plan each site visit so delegates can compare the different levels of racing surface, from mixed sward to pure ryegrass.

“We also demonstrate how to perform a full assessment of a track by carrying out data collection through the use of a penetrometer and a clegg hammer,” he says. “This is because resources can be tight at some racecourses, and soil profiling helps grounds staff to assess a track and adjust its maintenance accordingly. For example, deep

RESOURCES CAN BE TIGHT AT SOME RACECOURSES AND SOIL PROFILING HELPS GROUNDS STAFF TO ASSESS A TRACK

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SPRING 2022

aeration is great for getting air into the soil, but we remind delegates not to forget the top 30-50mm of the surface where thatch can be a problem if there’s not enough air.

By taking a profile, you can match the machine and the maintenance to what the profile is showing.”

TAILORED CONTENT

Although Richard’s involvement is very much from a BHA regulatory point of view, he has been instrumental in the course’s development since 1997, and has helped to tailor its content to suit the specific and evolving needs of racecourse grounds staff, alongside former colleagues Ron Barry, Neil White and Frank Hope, a former GMA (IOG) educationalist.

“When we started these courses back in 1997, we benefited from the help of experts such as Michael Prosser, who is now clerk of the course at Newmarket; and Chris Stickels, who holds the same position at Ascot. They are still very

BHA inspector of courses Richard Linley demonstrates ’flipstarting’ (main image) and course leader Alan Lewis discusses soil profiling (insert)

DELEGATES BENEFIT FROM CONTACT WITH FELLOW GROUNDSPEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR CHALLENGES Level 2 Intermediate Racecourse: Turf Management WHAT DOES IT COVER? It helps delegates make informed decisions to determine effective racecourse maintenance. Key subjects include: n Health and safety requirements n Construction profiles and drainage n Evaluation of nutrient analysis records n Assessment and identification of grass species n Pesticides available to assist in maintenance.

WHY ATTEND? The course offers practical and theoretical information to help delegates, who work alone or as part of a team, understand the science of racecourse grounds maintenance. On completion, and following an exam, delegates receive a certificate of achievement and the course is worth 25 CPD points.

WHAT’S NEXT? To build on the GMA route, delegates can enrol on the five-day Level 3 Racecourse: Management Skills course.

much part of our network and delegates definitely benefit from the face-to-face contact with fellow groundspeople who are experiencing similar challenges – whether its flat racing or jumping,” Richard says.

He adds: “This course is all about establishing a well-rooted sward, addressing the cause of any pests or diseases, and adopting other sustainable practices such as using harvested water for irrigation. However, our biggest challenge that no other sport has to deal with is the damage caused by 60 or 70 horses running across your sportsturf and completely obliterating it on a wet day!” n If you are interested in enrolling on a GMA training course or qualification to further your career, the GMA runs a wide range of online or face-to-face courses. Visit: thegma.org.uk/learning n If you are interested in the benefits of hosting a course, please email: learning@thegma.org.uk

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SPECIAL REPORT SALARY FRAMEWORK REPORT

GMA RECOMMENDS 3% PAY RISE FOR GROUNDS STAFF Following the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting recession, the GMA’s annual National Salary Framework Report helps members understand their worth and improve their earning potential. We look at the key highlights

BY COLIN HOSKINS, FREELANCE WRITER

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he GMA recommends a 3 per cent increase in national minimum salary bands for all levels of grounds staff this year. In addition, the GMA suggests that the ‘bonus’ amounts paid in recognition of those with GMA qualifications should increase to £675 per band – a rise of 3.8 per cent – extending from £675 for Level 1 accreditation up to £4,050 for Level 6.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting largest recession on record, the increases outlined in the GMA’s 2022 National Salary Framework report are made against a backdrop of forecast growth in the economy, as well as projected increases in both consumer price index (CPI) and retail price index (RPI) inflation.

Forecasts are for CPI to peak at 4.4 per cent in 2022 (it was 3.1 per cent in September 2021, up from 0.3 per cent in November 2020), while inflation is not expected to return to target levels until 2024 and, indeed, could in the meantime increase to its highest rate in 30 years.

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NATIONAL BASIC SALARY BANDS The GMA’s recommended national basic salary bands, with effect from 1 January 2022, are based on a 37.5-hour week: These ranges relate to the minimum basic salary and are not ‘salary ranges’.

There is no maximum salary specified for grounds staff as experienced staff in some sectors (notably professional sports) would be expected to earn well above the average in other sectors. If this is the case, these recommendations can be used purely as a recommendation for annual uplift. Bonuses, overtime and subsistence payments have not been included and are therefore additional.

GROUNDS MANAGER

£38,230–£59,224 HEAD GROUNDSPERSON

£32,605–£44,750 DEPUTY HEAD GROUNDSPERSON /SOLE CHARGE

£26,675–£34,045 GROUNDSPERSON (SKILLED)

£24,946–£31,823 GROUNDSPERSON

£19,986–£25,496 JUNIOR GROUNDSPERSON (AGE 17)

£16,993

JUNIOR GROUNDSPERSON (AGE 16)

£14,112

THE GMA RECOMMENDS THAT COMPETENT AND EFFECTIVE JOB PERFORMERS WHOSE 0CCUPATION CONTENT RELATES CLOSELY TO THE ‘STANDARD’ POSITION DESCRIPTION SHOULD BE PAID AT THE MID-POINT AND UPPER PAY LEVELS OF THE BANDS

REGIONAL VARIATIONS

Regional pay variations in the salary bands (left) have been taken into account, with higher cost areas of the country expected to make salary awards at the upper levels of the appropriate band. Regional differentials are:

INNER LONDON

OUTER LONDON

£4,108 £2,453 FRINGE AREAS

£734–£1,473 The recommended minimum pay rate for a groundsperson in London should be set at £21,500 (outer) and £23,000 (inner), according to the GMA, which also encourages employers to become a Living Wage Employer by gaining accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation (livingwage. org.uk). This has been shown to enhance job satisfaction and improve the employer’s reputation.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

To accompany the recommended salary bands, the GMA publishes position descriptions that reflect the typical job responsibilities and experience required for each level within the industry career hierarchy. It is not possible, however, to have single position descriptions that encompass all individual situations.

‘Standard’ position descriptions are provided by the GMA, against which employers can evaluate the varying responsibilities and circumstances that are to be found in their individual positions. Such variables will include:

THE NUMBER OF SPORTS BEING PLAYED THE LEVEL OF SPORT INTENSITY OF USE TOTAL ACREAGE MANAGED JOB HOLDER’S PROBLEM-SOLVING AND DECISION-MAKING CAPABILITIES STAFFING LEVELS BUDGETARY RESPONSIBILITIES QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

The GMA recommends that competent and effective job performers whose occupation content relates closely to the ‘standard’ position description should be paid at the mid-point and upper pay levels of the bands.

BACKGROUND INFLUENCERS

Following the pandemic and the resulting recession, the UK economy experienced faster than anticipated growth in 2021.

The effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out, combined with consumers’ and businesses’ surprising degree of adaptability to public health restrictions, has seen output recover faster than projected, boosting tax revenues in the process. The economy was expected to grow by 6.5 per cent in 2021 and is expected to grow by a further 6 per cent in 2022.

However, the report states that the strength of the rebound in demand in the UK (and internationally) has resulted in supply constraints in several markets, and these have been exacerbated by changes in the migration and trading regimes following Brexit. Energy prices have soared, labour shortages have emerged in some occupations, and blockages in some supply chains have caused shortages and price rises. These can be expected to hold back output growth in 2022, while continuing to raise prices and put pressure on wages.

The CPI forecast of 4.4 per cent is in excess of the recommended uprating and as such it may fall short of increases in the cost of living. Given this fact, in combination with record vacancy levels and labour shortages in many areas, there is an argument for uprating grounds staff salaries above the 3 per cent recommended. However, commenting on the report, the GMA says: “We are equally aware that the past year has been difficult for employers, and a balance should be maintained between competitiveness and affordability.” n The research was carried out independently by Myriad Research (myriadresearch.co.uk) using a number of data sources for analysis.

GMA members can access the full report via their online member portal.

SPRING 2022

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SPECIAL REPORT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

WHAT ARE YOU WORTH?

To coincide with the publication of the GMA’s Annual Salary Framework Report, we offer some work-based negotiation tips BY FRANK NEWBERRY, TRAINER AND SALTEX JOB CLINIC HOST DON’T SAY “MORE PAY PLEASE”

Find something you have that is of real value – something you can negotiate with.

It’s not about asking: it’s about trading.

You have something your employer wants and the value of what is wanted has not yet been agreed (with you).

START THE DISCUSSION

Get a discussion going around the concerns you have about your future.

This could include pay rises, improved conditions and opportunities for development. You want to be absolutely clear on how these are earned.

£

DEALING WITH A NEGATIVE FIRST RESPONSE

If your employer’s reaction is something like “I would pay you myself, but it’s not my decision”, then ask: “How can I help you with it? What do you need from me?”

One way you can help is to have two shopping lists. The first could have ‘no’ or ‘low-cost’ items that are of value to you and are relatively easy for your employer to give you. If your employer resists some of the items on this list then suggest a trial period, then a review.

Typical first list

n You attend and eventually participate in higher-level management meetings. n You contribute to and ‘sign-off ’ policy documents. n You visit other organisations to research ‘best practice’. n You take all purchasing decisions for your unit. n You take charge of your unit’s pay budget.

Typical second list

n Pay increases – automatic, earned or

incremental. n Cost-saving incentives – where you get a share of any savings you make. n More pay for extra qualifications/ responsibility. n Overtime/extra hours rate. n Extra holiday leave.

GET A DISCUSSION GOING AROUND THE CONCERNS YOU HAVE ABOUT YOUR FUTURE. THIS COULD INCLUDE PAY RISES, IMPROVED CONDITIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT WHAT ARE YOU OFFERING IN RETURN? FOR EXAMPLE:

n Cost savings n Greater productivity n More leave in lieu of a pay rise n Additional responsibilities to come

to your level n Your loyalty for the next two or three years. The bigger the rise the greater the loyalty.

ALWAYS ASK FOR MORE THAN YOU WANT

This is so that your employers can ‘knock you down’ and feel that they have won.

Move politely from ‘concerns’ to tentative proposals to suit both parties.

Make as many as you can so you can ‘trade’ them later.

Listen carefully and note employer reactions. Ask for counter proposals.

Give understanding nods when you hear your employer’s concerns and summarise reactions, saying: “I want to get this right.”

It is vital to preface every firm proposal with the words: “If you … then I”. For example, “if you (agree to an increased training budget), then I (will report clear benefits to the organisation of every training course attended).”

Make a deal, congratulate the other side on a job well done and immediately write up your understanding of the arrangement.

Remember there is no win or lose in negotiation, just more negotiation next year and the year after. n If you have a question about this subject, contact Frank via: franknewberry.com

SPRING 2022

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NGB UPDATE RFU

RUGBY RAISES PITCH STANDARDS

Main image: Rugby enjoys pitch improvements Inset: Honda Rugby Grounds Connected offers technical advice

The Honda Rugby Grounds Connected programme and the GMA’s Pitch Advisory Service are helping rugby club volunteers improve pitches and increase their carrying capacity BY TED MITCHELL, RFU NATIONAL FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

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ith more than 3,000 rugby club pitches across England and more than 1,300 volunteers already signed up to the free-to-join Rugby Grounds Connected, Honda has become principal partner for an inspiring threeyear programme that will reward those who keep pitches playable nationwide.

As part of the programme, groundscare volunteers will be rewarded and recognised, with some invited to help Twickenham head groundsperson Jim Buttar on international match days. There will also be a new, year-round, live and on-demand webinar programme and, hopefully, face-to-face events across the country in the spring and summer

months, with keynote speakers and machinery demonstrations.

Buttar also on occasion rewards grounds volunteers with a visit to their club. For these volunteers, a visit from a Twickenham head groundsperson is the equivalent of players getting one from England head coach Eddie Jones. We plan to build on that by continuing to provide inspiration and guidance.

SPRING 2022

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NGB UPDATE RFU

There are more than 3,000 club rugby pitches in England

Rugby Grounds Connected was originally set up by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in 2015 and led by former Twickenham Stadium head groundsman Keith Kent. Around 200 grounds volunteers have already benefited from the programme’s training and education courses.

RUGBY-SPECIFIC PITCH ADVISORS

In addition to the Honda Grounds Connected Programme, the RFU has joined the Sport England and Football Foundation-funded three-year Pitch Advisory Service (PAS). Managed by the GMA, the programme aims to deliver grassroots, multi-sport pitch improvement outcomes.

The GMA’s team of full-time regional pitch advisors now includes four RFUdedicated grounds management experts, including a key account manager who will liaise with and visit clubs, and help grounds staff and volunteers to improve and maintain their pitches.

The RFU has been involved in the advisory team’s recruitment process, and we will work closely with the advisors, and very much appreciate the significant Sport England and Football Foundation investment in our sport.

SINCE THE ORIGINAL RUGBY GROUNDS CONNECTED PROGRAMME LAUNCHED IN 2015, MORE THAN 1,000 RFU GROUNDS VOLUNTEERS HAVE SIGNED UP The regional pitch advisors are already building on what the RFU originally accomplished at grassroots level within the Rugby Grounds Connected Programme by providing expert advice and guidance on how to improve their pitches.

Although the main focus of the PAS programme is improving pitch quality, the big win for the RFU in its overall rugby development plan is that by improving the quality of a pitch, you also improve the carrying capacity by increasing the amount of play you can get on a natural turf surface.

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For example, a better-maintained pitch is more likely to accommodate an extra match each week of the season.

There’s science behind that, and if a club has got a poor maintenance programme and is able to improve it to good, or excellent, then the number of games can be extended. If you take this principle across, say, 1,000 rugby clubs, with each maintaining four pitches, the sport could potentially see an additional 40,000 or 50,000 more matches or training sessions each year.

ORGANIC GROWTH

Since the original Rugby Grounds Connected programme launched in 2015, more than 1,000 RFU grounds volunteers have signed up. Although things quietened down during recent COVID-19 lockdowns, we are now very excited to recharge the programme and connect with our existing and new audiences.

We have rebranded Rugby Grounds Connected, changing our Twitter handle, email address and the branding, but kept the name, which is well known within the sector.

The Honda partnership is a huge step forward and, combined with the GMA’s PAS partnership, will have a tremendously positive impact after the recent challenging time for sport.

Whether we are helping people who have never maintained a pitch, or those who have some expertise, Honda Rugby Grounds Connected and the RFU’s engagement in the GMA’s PAS programme will bring sound advice and inspiration for rugby club grounds volunteers from Cornwall to Cumbria.

Tech aid Another spin-off from joining the PAS programme is the RFU’s access to the Football Foundation-funded revolutionary PitchPower app, which is currently used within other sports in the programme and is now in its RFU-version testing phase with an expected launch date in April.

This app will assist any groundsperson who possesses a smartphone, a tape measure and basic equipment by enabling them to upload informative data related to the pitch condition. The GMA PAS team, who manage the system, can then generate a pitch report related to the uploaded information, and send the groundsperson pitch maintenance advice to improve, or maintain, its condition.

The app enables the PAS team to perform many virtual pitch assessments in the first instance. However, the team aims to conduct at least 250 face-to-face priority club visits during the first two years of the programme.

n Any RFU member club can submit an expression of interest form for free pitch advice. Visit: tinyurl.com/mw77c27d

SPECIAL REPORT MENTAL WELLNESS RESOURCES

Life can be tough for people working in grounds management, with work pressures as well as personal ones, but there is help out there if you know where to look for it. We investigate how to access it

BY KAREN MAXWELL

DON’T GO IT ALONE

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A

few months back, you may have seen an invite to take part in a health and wellbeing survey created

by Perennial, the charity dedicated to helping people working in horticulture. If you completed this survey, thank you – it was created to help the charity and the wider horticultural community to develop services and guidance that will support people who may need it – whether that be during or after their career.

According to Perennial’s head of casework, Helen Waddington, the charity actually received more than double the amount of feedback it expected, and it came from all sectors of the industry.

This is a very important indicator that people are becoming more willing to discuss or learn more about mental wellness and that, in recent years, there’s been a stronger focus on talking about this important issue. In fact, the GMA has noticed that Learning LIVE sessions related to mental wellness at SALTEX and its dedicated webinars on the subject are becoming more popular with GMA members year on year.

PERENNIAL’S HEALTH AND WELLBEING APP

Regarding Perennial services that GMA members can tap into, Helen says that the charity has used the valuable information gathered from the survey findings to provide a new health and wellbeing platform and app in partnership with industry expert Spectrum Life. It’s free to download for those who work within the industry, and is accessible on a smartphone, tablet, computer or laptop.

“The platform and app take a holistic approach to wellbeing,” Helen explains.

“You can access hours of wellbeing content and take the ‘Insights’ short survey to discover which areas of your wellbeing you would like to work on.

The app offers wellness videos, podcasts and general advice to help improve your fitness, embark on healthy eating plans and sleep better, and offers advice on how to calm anxiety and identify stress signs and triggers. You can also access 24/7 in-the-moment support, which is a confidential service where you can speak to a qualified clinician to help you cope and deal more effectively with personal or work-related problems.”

Perennial also provides advice and information on a variety of areas such as family, work, health and finances.

Its friendly and experienced team are there to help you and your family.

They understand the impact that life challenges can have and recognise that everyone is different. Perennial’s helpline is there to answer your questions, and the team can work with you to develop the support that is right for you.

PEOPLE IN THE GROUNDSCARE SECTOR FREQUENTLY WORK LONG HOURS, CAN EXPERIENCE INTENSE PRESSURE WITHIN THEIR JOB AND OFTEN WORK ON THEIR OWN – ALL OF WHICH CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON THEIR MENTAL WELLBEING

GETTY

CALM-ING INFLUENCE

For those who have extreme mental health issues that may lead to feeling suicidal, Maria Kuzak, senior philanthropy manager at mental health charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), says there’s often more than one reason why people can find themselves struggling with these thoughts and CALM’s aim is to get people to seek help as early as possible.

According to CALM, 125 lives are lost every week to suicide in the UK, and 75 per cent of these are male. CALM’s aim is to change this alarming statistic by encouraging conversation, offering access to life-saving services and bringing people together so they can get help when they need it.

Maria says that CALM has recently gained a better understanding of the common triggers for people who work within the grounds management and greenkeeping sectors since it embarked on a partnership with life sciences company Bayer last year.

“People in the groundscare sector frequently work long hours, can experience intense pressure within their job and often work on their own – all of which can have an impact on their mental wellbeing,” Maria explains. “Through our work with Bayer we are able to raise awareness of our services – including our webchat, our helplines, and links to other essential resources and organisations via our website – so that people who are

struggling can find help and advice, or someone to talk to quickly.

“For example, we have a section on our website that covers suggested issues that may be affecting someone’s mental wellness, and a click on each of these provides access to helpful guidance and a directory of other organisations that can offer help and support. In other words, we offer a supportive and informative first place to start.”

However, Maria points out that a key issue for some people is that they can also minimise their problems and think that they don’t deserve support. “We want to break down the taboos that stop people asking for help in the first place.

It’s very important that people know that there is help out there and they don’t feel that they are on their own.”

n Call Perennial on: 0800 093 8543 for confidential help and support. You can also find tools, resources and helpful information at: perennial.org.uk n Visit CALM’s website for help, advice and access to further services via: thecalmzone.net

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BEST PRACTICE PROFESSIONAL

We look at the management and maintenance of Tottenham Hotspur FC’s unique, retractable football stadium pitch, and how Wayne Billing and his team manage its stored-away turf

BY COLIN HOSKINS

THFC

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uch has been written about Tottenham Hotspur FC’s awardwinning stadium in north London. And deservedly so, with the £1bn project collecting 17 industry accolades since it was opened in April 2019 across categories including structural engineering, architecture, building design, branding and inclusivity.

Relatively little, however, is known about the management and maintenance of the stadium’s world-leading dividing and retractable football pitch that sits 1.4 metres above an artificial playing surface designed to host American football as well as myriad events including boxing matches and music concerts.

In particular, how does the Tottenham Hotspur grounds team maintain the GrassMaster grass-hybrid PlayMaster ‘top pitch’ that, when not required, is

The turf pitch is rolled out in three 33-tray sections, each weighing more than 3,000 tonnes

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BEST PRACTICE PROFESSIONAL ‘divided’ into three mammoth trays of playing surface that slide away into storage beneath the stadium’s south stand, occupying an area that doubles as a car park? Have the past 24 months or so taught the stadium grounds and transition manager, Wayne Billing, and his team any significant lessons in the management of the grass when it is stored away?

TURF MONITORING

“It’s certainly been a case of constantly monitoring the turf and, when needed, changing certain things and tweaking the maintenance schedule,” says 35-year-old Wayne, who joined the club in 2018 while the stadium was under construction (previously he was head groundsman at Gallagher Premiership rugby union side Northampton Saints).

“For example, we found that certain steel beams beneath the stand created adverse areas of shadow on areas of the stored pitch, so we added more lights to counter that. In addition, the pitch trays are moved along beneath the lights by up to one metre every third day to avoid any issues that may be caused by shadows or light uniformity problems from any beams. Likewise, additional air circulation was needed, although

WE INSTIGATE OUR OWN ‘STANDARD’ FORMULA OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATOR AND NUTRITION DURING THE BUILD-UP TO STORAGE we are mindful that the over-use of the air vents can ‘dry down’ the turf considerably, which we don’t want.”

Wayne continues. “While we try to ensure that the turf goes into storage in the best state of cleanliness and health with no trace of algae or organic matter, that is not guaranteed. The results of numerous trials have led us to instigate our own ‘standard’ formula of plant growth regulator and nutrition – an increase in the former and a decrease in the latter – during the build-up to storage. We reduce the height of cut to

How the retractable pitch is designed The top pitch sits in 99 500mmdeep ‘trays’ that are ‘batched’ into three sections: two outer sections consist of 66 trays (33 each) measuring 21m x 3.5m, and a central section that comprises 33 trays measuring 28m x 3.5m.

Each section is 120m long (pitch length plus areas behind the goal lines) and weighs more than 3,000 tonnes. In total, the three sections weigh 10,000 tonnes. The joints between each section – which have rubber joining strips at a minimum of 25mm below the grass surface – are at positions that are effectively ‘masked’ by the pitch mowing pattern.

Each tray incorporates sub-air, irrigation and undersoil heating services, with three appropriate (and simple) connections having bleed valves to ensure no loss

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Powered flaps along the sides open to allow the pitch to be retracted beneath the south stand

of pressure/leakage at any time when connecting/reconnecting.

Pitch removal involves powered flaps along all sides opening to allow the outside ‘track’ to drop down 1.4m. The two outer trays then move sideways by 1.5m, away from the central tray, then all three trays move laterally in turn to beneath the south stand.

Infill for the artificial surface will fill and cover the carrier channels that this top pitch moves on.

The top pitch moves in and out of place by a sophisticated and well-engineered system of hydraulic rams. Indeed, it takes around just 25 minutes to move the pitch in and out, plus the time taken to disconnect services and erect the goals, advertising boards and so on. The integrated irrigation, sub-air and undersoil heating services are simply ‘unplugged’ for pitch removal, then re-connected once the pitch has been moved out of the arena.

grow-lighting before the sward is held at 23mm for Premier League fixtures.

A seed chamber is also in use for pregerminating the seed ready for filling any ‘thin’ areas in the surface when the pitch comes out.

Importantly, the maintenance of the artificial surface is treated with equal importance, with a regular schedule of grooming, sanitising and surface testing to ensure National Football League criteria are met. “This is also an elite playing surface,” Wayne adds, “so we treat it as such.”

SAVOURING CHALLENGE The pitch is stored underground and the team monitor its temperature, moisture and humidity, adjusting artificial light levels and air flow accordingly

THE REMIT, OF COURSE, IS TO MAINTAIN ALL THESE SURFACES AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL TO ENSURE ALL STAKEHOLDERS ARE HAPPY around 17mm and apply a wetting agent to prolong the period when we don’t need to apply water; we don’t like to apply moisture when the pitch is being stored since this can increase humidity and the risk of disease.”

The grounds team keep a close eye on temperature, moisture and humidity levels, and adjust the artificial lighting and air circulation as necessary while the pitch is in storage.

THFC

SWARD SCHEDULE

While “the idea is to sustain the turf, keep it dormant”, if cutting is required, then a radio-controlled mowing and flexicomb ‘tug’ system, based on an inhouse design, ensures the surface height is maintained and that all clippings and any loose material are collected.

The maximum period to keep the pitch in storage before the sward starts to deteriorate is judged to be two weeks.

Upon re-emerging from the stand, the pitch is treated to a mini renovation of Procoring, topdressing and overseeding, plus a formalised, conventional schedule of cutting, nutrition, fungicide and

Wayne says he joined Tottenham Hotspur because of the various challenges the role presented: “Not only the management of three pitches – two in the stadium plus the new hybrid surface that is grown at a turf farm [see ‘Turf waiting in the wings, right] every year for which we also specify nutritional and maintenance needs – but also the fact that, for example, here in Tottenham we have a stadium with probably the worst shade problems in the Premier League. The remit, of course, is to maintain all these surfaces at the highest level to ensure all stakeholders are happy.”

He concludes: “My role has changed quite a bit during the past two years, with my responsibilities now heavily involving ‘transitional’ tasks to ensure all events are staged professionally and effectively. For instance, there are sometimes 12 or more different contractor companies on site for certain events, and each one has to be managed correctly and efficiently.”

Wayne also commends the dedication of the stadium’s grounds team of Gary Lee (deputy), Harry Collison (apprentice), David Cox, Oliver Deeming, Ayden King and Tony Sayers because he says “they all play a huge part of what we do here”.

In addition to an ongoing Premier League/European soccer and American football schedule, Wayne and his team’s skill sets will continue to be tested to the full as the stadium gears up for a series of additional events in 2022, including a Saracens rugby union game, while in 2023 the stadium schedule already includes hosting the European Rugby Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup finals.

Turf waiting in the wings

Tottenham Hotspur FC replaces its stadium’s grass hybrid surface every year using a pitch that is grown in Lincolnshire. The management and maintenance of this is a collaboration between Tillers Turf, Hewitt Sportsturf and Tottenham Hotspur FC. The process has been re-examined and improved every year, from the laying and filling of the carpet through to harvest, to ensure the best possible quality of pitch.

“The new surface is usually seeded at the end of March, and we would normally aim for a growing window of 12 to 16 weeks to ensure the turf is young and has no or minimal organic build-up,” says Wayne. “It is then lifted and transported through the night over three days – this is done during a cool spell to avoid stressing the turf too much.”

Each stadium tray is individually re-turfed, with the top 45mm being removed for the new surface. Of course, the turf joints between trays are perfectly seamless.

Two weeks is an ideal period between new pitch installation and the first Premiership game.

However, because of other events – such as pop concerts – it doesn’t always work out like that!

The replacement pitch growing at the Lincolnshire turf farm

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BEST PRACTICE VOLUNTEER

A FAMILY AFFAIR When volunteer Neil Martin followed his late father in managing the grounds for Moorgreen Colts FC, other family members joined his team to help raise pitch standards BY KAREN MAXWELL

N

eil Martin has a long family connection with Moorgreen Colts FC, a five-pitch sports venue at Birnum Park in Eastwood, near Nottingham.

His late father, Robert, who sadly died in November 2020, was the club’s former chairman and president. Neil, who played for the club’s youth teams when he was younger, remembers using various playing surfaces across the Eastwood area until his father gained permission to use Birnum Park’s main pitch facilities on land that was owned by his employer, Magna Seating.

The club used the site as its home ground from 1998, alongside members of a radio-controlled car track and an air rifle shooting club. In 2014, Robert became club president and was instrumental in the landowners bequeathing Birnum Park’s extended

Left: Neil Martin on line-marking duty.

Above: Lynette Davies helps her son-in-law

MY BROTHER AND I SOON REALISED THAT WE NEEDED TO UP OUR GAME IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF THE CLUB PITCHES

land to the club for community use.

This agreement ensured that any rent or land sale would go to the Air Ambulance charity if the club closed down.

Like many community club administrators, Robert also helped to maintain the venue’s pitches until he stepped down as chairman in 2002, and Neil remembers often tagging along and learning the groundscare basics.

“I got involved again eight years ago when my son, Jake, started playing in the club’s under-fives team,” he explains. “I started coaching Jake’s team, then my brother and I joined the committee and we soon realised that we needed to up our game in improving the quality of the club

With help from the GMA’s Pitch Advisory Service and Football Foundation grant funding, Neil and his team have made Moorgreen Colts FC’s pitches the envy of rival clubs

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BEST PRACTICE VOLUNTEER

Moorgreen Colts enjoy a safe playing surface Inset: Neil’s son, Jake, gives the pitches the thumbs-up

SINCE ENGAGING WITH THE PAS PROGRAMME, THEY’VE WITNESSED A DRAMATIC CHANGE IN PITCH QUALITY AND CARRYING CAPACITY pitches and not let our dad’s good work go to waste, particularly when a local sports club started promoting the use of its 3G surfaces to some of the teams that used the venue.”

HELPING HANDS

An electrician by trade, Neil took over the grounds role from current club chairman Tony Rowland, who Neil says “did a fantastic job with limited resources”. He now spends most of his free time looking after the club’s five pitches. In fact, he’s developed a real passion for it and also volunteers at Nottingham Forest FC on match days, admitting that he’d love to work full time in the sector.

His parents-in-law, Peter and Lynette Davies – aware of Neil’s hard work in keeping his father’s legacy alive – have also been lending a hand, along with fellow club volunteer Dave Barrie.

“Neil normally decides what needs doing each week and, depending on

Birnum Park football pitches One 11-a-side main pitch, with spectator stand Two seven-a-side pitches One nine-a-side pitch One five-a-side pitch n These accommodate 16 teams – from under-sevens up to the 16-year age group, including seven 11-a-side teams.

The club also connects with nearby Awsworth Villa FC for player progression.

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what shifts he’s on at work, we share the load,” Peter explains. He says he and Lynette tend to mow the pitches and tidy the edges and surrounds, and he and Dave do the line-marking. “We have all become as passionate as Neil about raising the pitch standards and take pride in doing everything to the best of our ability,” he says.

RAISING STANDARDS

When Neil started looking after the grounds, he admits that all the pitches were rated as ‘poor’. That’s when he connected with the GMA’s Pitch Advisory Service (PAS) through Nottinghamshire FA. “I was always on the phone asking for advice and bombarding people with emails,” he says. However, since engaging with the PAS programme, Neil says they’ve witnessed a dramatic change in pitch quality and corresponding carrying capacity.

After a PAS visit by regional pitch advisor Julien Morris, the club used the pitch report to help apply for £24,000 in Football Foundation grant funding. This was used to buy a tractor, a mower and a multi-sport tool for raking, spiking, brushing and rolling.

The club moved into a second funding phase and has recently gained £10,000 for deep aeration, weed control and fertiliser, plus a delivery of 160 tonnes of fibresand, which Neil says has helped with pitch drainage issues. “We’ve even been able to host games in inclement weather when other local venues couldn’t, thanks to the sand dressing and pitch aeration,” he says.

Regarding regular pitch analysis, Neil, who recently gained a distinction in the GMA’s Level 2 Winter Pitches: Technical Certificate course, says he can

now create his own report on the GMA’s Football Foundation-funded PitchPower app, and can access guidance as and when he needs it from the Football Foundation’s Groundskeeping Community on the Hive, plus the groundscare community he’s now connected with on social media.

“I want the kids to have the best surface possible to play on to help them develop their skills on a safe surface,” Neil says. “We’ve got 16 teams here, and accommodate around 10 games each weekend and we all love it when visiting managers tell us that our pitches are ‘awesome’.”

HOME ADVANTAGE

When I ask if the home players also appreciate the team’s hard work, Neil says they “definitely prefer playing at home”. Lynette also tells me that “young players should also take part in simple groundscare so they understand what it takes to get a good surface”.

So is Jake taking an interest in following the family hobby? “He enjoys following me around and sitting on the tractor,” Neil says. “But his foot doesn’t quite reach the brake so he’s got some growing to do first.”

TECHNICAL INSIGHT ROBOTIC MOWERS AND WATER MANAGEMENT

The rise of the robot mower We take a look at the increase in robotic mower technology and how it may be changing groundscare practices

Belrobotics’ Bigmow and Parcmow sit at the larger-format end of the market

BY DR ANDY CARMICHAEL, SPORTSTURF ACADEMIC

I

magine if the old delusion about turf professionals spending their days ‘simply mowing’ was taken away from us. With this being a possibility with the rise in popularity of robotic cutters, what would the armchair expert think of us then?

Fortunately, the sector knows the truth of it and rather than being a blow to perceived activity, automated grass cutting could free up muchneeded time for all those other tasks needing attention – after all, no groundskeeper has ever said the words: “I have nothing to do at all.” So should we be looking more keenly at this technological advancement?

There are a number of suppliers of robotic turf technology and their visibility in the industry is increasing.

There are effectively two markets, explains AMS Robotics MD Philip Sear.

First, the domestic and smaller-area market aimed at potentially millions of customers looking to manage their lawns. Second, the ‘large format’ environment, which can measure thousands of square metres.

Regardless of their target market, all the machines function in a similar manner,

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running on rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries. While lawnmowers navigate round using sensors, the larger, professional models work on GPS, with both usually offering control via a smart device or computer. Mowers typically charge in around an hour to 90 minutes and alert the user when the battery is running low.

CHOICES, CHOICES

As with traditional mowers, there are options depending on the size of the area, task and budget. Picking out just a few of the possibilities,

Stihl offers a range known as the iMow, with its RMI 632 PC model able to handle up to 5,000sq m on its 280mm cutting width that offers a mowing height of 20-60mm.

Husqvarna has the Automower product range, which was introduced in 1995. Like the iMow mentioned above, its 550 model has a mowing height of 20-60mm and a working area of 5,000sq m, but it has a slightly narrower cutting width of 240mm. These two weigh in at 13.5kg and 15kg respectively. If these mowers were used by a football club, The Husqvarna Automower 550 has a working area of 5,000sq m

for example, two machines could be employed to run simultaneously.

At the larger-format end of the market, AMS supplies Belrobotics’ Bigmow Connected and Parcmow Connected, with the GPS-RTK model of the former stating an ability to maintain 75,000sq m of turf.

At 71kg and a cutting width of 1,033mm, it is clearly a different proposition.

BOTS ON THE LANDSCAPE

So why would you consider adopting a new approach to the one task that all groundstaff share? The advertising is pretty consistent: the robotic mowers are quick, convenient and have a reduced footprint (both ecological and weight on turf). While any time saved would be welcome, and the need for turf to reduce its emissions is evident, the quality of finish is essential.

This is where Phil says robotic mowers have gone from “the early equivalent of the Sinclair C5 to the Tesla”.

The better machines are rated to be competitive with cylinder mowers, with the bonus of being able to cut multiple times per week at

Stihl offers a range of robot mowers in its iMow range

IT WOULD BE DUPLICATING EFFORT FOR A TURF MANAGER TO USE A ROBOT AND THEN INSPECT THE FIELD OF PLAY AFTERWARDS a relatively low cost after purchase. This may appeal to clubs reliant on volunteers, where not only is the budget for fuel and maintenance squeezed, but finding people available to do the work is a challenge. In terms of grass removal, there is an emphasis on results such as “very small, quick-composting clippings” that can “provide a constant source of fertilisation” (Husqvarna) and the ability to “cut, shred and fertilise as a mulching mower in a single operation” (Stihl).

Disposal of clippings from walk-behind or ride-on machines that collect them

can be an issue, and many organisations simply leave them on the sward as they do not have the means or need to remove them. This is less of an attraction where turf management employs highly exact and targeted nutrition applications and staff are keen to remove the dead leaf tissue from their surface, but may be perfectly acceptable for other situations such as school and university grounds with different levels of sport and pressures.

TOO HANDS-OFF?

However, there are reasons why turf professionals may prefer a pedestrian mower.

This is not a criticism of the technology, rather a positive reflection on the traditional alternative.

As James Williams, head groundsman at the London Stadium, explains: “For me, it’s important that the grounds team cover every blade of grass on a

regular basis in order to spot things like disease and many more aspects of grounds management, which is essential to the job.

Pedestrian mowing enables us to do that whereas a robotic mower will not.”

On this point it would be duplicating effort, rather than saving time, for a turf manager to use a robot and then also want to inspect the field of play afterwards. Furthermore, James’ enthusiasm for the task extends beyond the benefit for turf management to vitally important welfare considerations. “Mowing keeps us fit and plays a part in our mental wellbeing.

Most of my great ideas have come from walking behind a mower,” he explains.

There is clearly a balance to be struck. When you are held responsible for everything that happens to your turf, it is understandable to want a very close relationship and

managed level of detail with it. The growth in data capture and precision intervention over the last decade or more reflects that, and robotic machinery can be part of that approach. The reduced environmental impact is a key consideration, yet battery-powered, walkbehind mowers could be an additional option.

STRIKING A BALANCE

The pressure on volunteers in the sector has perhaps never been greater so an extra pair of hands to manage the one task that always needs doing would be welcome. We must, however, appreciate the primacy of the person, both in terms of turf knowledge and management, and their enjoyment and satisfaction in completing the task. A simple human resources cost sum does not work: these devices are tools to be used by people, not to replace them.

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TECHNICAL INSIGHT WATER MANAGEMENT

Water resilience in the leisure sector Without action, England will have an excess demand on the available supply of water estimated at 3,435 million litres per day by 2045. What can the leisure sector do to manage sport facility use?

BY TONY HANSON, DIRECTOR, ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL

T

he leisure industry places a huge demand on water supply, so it needs to rethink its practices in this respect.

The Leisure Sector Water Working Group is a great starting point. It has opened broader discussions and the collaboration that took place during its first meeting was incredibly positive.

There are a number of reasons why the Environment Agency is predicting a shortage of water in England.

These include:

n Climate change – longer dry spells and heavier, more intense rainfall n Population increase – from 65 million to 80 million n Increase in ‘per capita consumption’ – average consumption per person has doubled in the past 50 years from 75 litres per person per day (pppd) to 145 litres pppd n Historic over abstraction that needs to be rebalanced.

To help manage current water consumption and ensure that more water is

left in the environment, the Environment Agency’s ‘abstraction licence’ (which gives the right to take a certain quantity of water from a source of supply, such as a river, stream or underground source) is being reviewed. This takes account of the increasing demand from the domestic and the agriculture sectors, a less certain groundwater recharge, and the increasing incidence of heavy rainfall leading to flooding and water loss to sea.

If you rely on water for turf irrigation, you need to think about developing a ‘water resilience plan’ to ensure your right to future usage – and water companies are offering

help and advice to facilities that sign up to the Leisure Operator Water Charter.

THE SEARCH FOR ALTERNATIVE SOURCES In November last year, as part of the project infrastructure developed for the ‘water use and resilience’ project, the Leisure Sector Water Working Group met for the first time to discuss this issue in more detail.

The group’s intention is to work with leisure associations to find alternative sustainable sources of water to reduce reliance on mains and abstracted supply, which in the near future will simply

IF YOU RELY ON WATER FOR TURF IRRIGATION, YOU NEED TO DEVELOP A ‘WATER RESILIENCE PLAN’ SPRING 2022

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TECHNICAL INSIGHT WATER MANAGEMENT

THE GENERAL FEEDBACK WAS THAT THE ‘STORAGE’ SOLUTION HAS GREAT POTENTIAL not be available in many areas of England and Wales.

Attendees at the meeting included a representative of the English and Welsh water companies; three national leads from the Environment Agency with a focus on resource, abstraction, flood relief, coastal erosion and pollution; Natural England; the Rivers Trust, Cranfield University; and the Regional Water Resource Groups.

The leisure sector is facing the potential loss of the ability to use mains water

DELEGATES FROM THE WATER SECTOR SAID THEY WERE STRUGGLING WITH THE EFFECTS OF RECENT HEAVIER RAINFALL EVENTS THAT CAN OFTEN LEAD TO LOCALISED FLOODING

ALAMY

KEY CONCERNS

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The GMA, with Club Managers Association Europe, the National Association of Public and Proprietary Golf Clubs, the Racecourse Association and the UK Golf Federation, have created and adopted the Leisure Association Water Charter and Leisure Operator Water Charter.

Their representatives at the meeting led discussions that highlighted the issues and assistance that need to be addressed for their members to transit smoothly from mains or abstracted water to more sustainable alternatives wherever possible.

During the meeting, delegates from the water sector said they were struggling with the effects of recent heavier rainfall events that can often lead to localised flooding, combined sewer overflows, sewage discharge into water courses, and poor water quality and ecological standards in more than 80 per cent of the rivers in England.

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Another issue highlighted at the meeting was that the leisure sector is facing the prospect of reduced abstraction licences and the potential loss of mains water for irrigation.

During the discussions, a question was raised regarding the possibility of creating a solution to the excess water problems by finding ways to encourage the leisure sector to store problem water and use it for irrigation instead of mains or abstraction during the summer months.

The water companies, the Environment Agency, the Regional Water Resource Groups, Natural England and Cranfield University answered that this could be a viable prospect.

Indeed, the general feedback was that the ‘storage’ solution has great potential.

LOOKING AHEAD

The group’s next task is to define what a ‘good’ project looks like and what features it should have to satisfy the needs of the water companies, the Environment Agency and Natural England.

Future discussions will focus on how to improve water quality and provide flow-balancing projects by

creating excess water storage on leisure facilities, with the option to enhance flows to local water courses during drought periods to help maintain the flows required and improve water quality.

I will continue these discussions to ensure there are sustainable water sources available to the leisure sector to help with transition from the use of mains or unsustainable abstraction, and reduce the impacts of changes to water availability.

n The water companies have funded a range of help and guidance on this subject. To access this and corresponding workshops, simply get your facility to adopt the Leisure Operator Water Charter via: tinyurl.com/3twwu9rk n For further information on how to develop your water resilience plan, please contact: Tony Hanson, Environmental Solutions International, at: thanson@esinternational.co.uk

IN ACTION CASE STUDIES

Maintaining sports grounds across the UK Four organisations explain how they utilise industry products and services to ensure their grounds and facilities are kept in top condition ASPEN FUELS A CLEANER UNIVERSITY OF CHESTER CAMPUS

As part of a campaign to reduce its impact on the environment, the University of Chester’s grounds department has recently switched to Aspen fuel for its petrol-powered equipment.

It’s not the first time that grounds and gardens coordinator Dan Cristofoli has used Aspen 2- and 4-stroke petrol, but his team is now benefiting from the improvements the fuel makes to both the running of the machinery and their working conditions.

“We have been progressively switching some of our fleet over to battery-powered equipment to reduce our carbon footprint,” says Dan. “However, some items are difficult to substitute and that’s where Aspen fuel is helping us to reduce pollutants, which is beneficial

Aspen fuel burns 99 per cent cleaner than petrol

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for both the operators and the environment.”

Aspen fuel is virtually free from benzene, as well as sulphur and many other harmful hydrocarbons, which means it burns 99 per cent cleaner than ordinary petrol. Also being free from ethanol, Aspen maintains engine performance and preserves the life of component parts that can be susceptible to failure.

“We made the switch at the start of the growing season and discovered the convenience and the reduction in risk assessment considerations associated with having the fuel delivered by the pallet directly to our site. The operators have also commented on the reduction in odours when operating the equipment and chainsaws,” says Dan. n Find out more at: aspenfuel.co.uk

The GroundWOW all-terrain printer can print on a variety of surfaces, including grass

GROUNDWOW FINDS CREATIVE PARTNER IN STOCKPORT COUNTY FC

Autonomous vehicle technology innovator GroundWOW has signed an exciting development partnership deal with Stockport County Football Club that will see GroundWOW’s autonomous printing capability deployed at Edgeley Park Stadium.

The agreement provides Stockport County FC with 24hour access to the world-first technology that turns pitchside real estate into a revenue-generating opportunity.

“We visited GroundWOW at its high-tech headquarters and were blown away by its innovative technology,” explains Stockport’s director of operations, Richard Simkin. “While we can see the opportunity for match-day activations, it was obvious that its vision aligned with ours for non-match day opportunities as well. GroundWOW thinks on the same wavelength as us and so we are excited to imagine the sort of activations we can bring to life”.

GroundWOW’s chief commercial officer, David Pritchard, says: “At this stage in our full-colour, groundprinting product roll-out, we need to work with creative thinkers, innovators and individuals who are willing to embrace what the technology has to offer. We saw that straightaway in Stockport County FC, a club that doesn’t shy away from doing things differently. We know the club has a strong commercial foothold in the community and so bringing a world-first capability to that setting is a source of real excitement.” n Find out more at: groundwow.com

The pure ryegrass in MM60 seed gives Boston United’s new pitch excellent protection

MM60 GRASS SEED HELPS THE PILGRIMS ON THEIR JOURNEY

MM60 grass seed has been the ideal mixture to help get Boston United FC’s new pitch off to the best possible start, according to head groundsman Jim Portas.

At the end of the 2019/20 season, Boston United, nicknamed the Pilgrims, left their York Street home to move to the Jakemans Community Stadium with the aim of providing the club and its community foundation a secure future.

Unfortunately, the pandemic meant that the first season in the new stadium was somewhat quiet.

“The fans were not allowed in, which was a real shame, especially as it was a new era for the club,” says Jim. “From the players’ point of view, it was also unfortunate because they had started really well up until the season became null and void. It was a fantastic new pitch, with MM60 seed at its foundation.”

MM60 is the UK’s leading winter sports renovation mixture and can be attributed with playing a key role in many of the finest sporting venues you see today. The 100 per cent

ryegrass formula, which is perfect for divot repair, is renowned for its extremely fast germination and its high-wear tolerance. It produces fantastic aesthetic qualities and its high disease resistance provides ultimate protection.

MM60 is also treated with Headstart® GOLD, which is a natural revolutionary grass seed treatment that ensures rapid germination, and is perfect for enhancing performance sports fields, golf courses, lawns and amenity turf. n Find out more at: lgseeds.co.uk

YORK RACECOURSE INVESTS IN TERRA SPIKE XD8 DOUBLE

York Racecourse head groundsman Adrian Kay has purchased a second Wiedenmann Terra Spike XD8 after eight years of great service from his first aerator.

Opting to retain the original machine, and not trade it in, Adrian says: “Our XD8 is an integral part of our operation. It’s not a luxury to have two Terra Spikes, but a necessity. We will give the original machine a bit of TLC so we can run them both at the same time.”

York’s calendar of flat races traditionally runs from May

to October and last season was unprecedented due to COVID-19 restrictions, although Adrian and his team still managed to host 122 races over 18 race days.

The team’s tried-and-tested aeration programme has brought consistency and maintained a high standard for the 15 years Adrian has been head groundsman.

“The XD8 is used after every race meeting to alleviate the compaction and damage from the various number of horses running at about 50mph. We start the process by back-filling all the damage from the hooves and then Terra Spike the day after. We’ve a steady team of 35 back-fillers who set about the task with buckets of rootzone and seed mix. Every hole gets filled in and then we use the Wiedenmann.

“Sometimes we’ll be on 20mm tines, but we move up to 25mm tines when required, varying the heave and depth each time according to conditions. We don’t roll our course like some venues: we can achieve aeration and decompaction, as well as smoothing the surface, with the one machine.” n Find out more at: wiedenmann.co.uk

The Weidenmann Terra Spike in action at York Racecourse

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PAS UPDATE HIVE LEARNING

Hive of activity

Line making is covered in a range of guidance videos

The Football Foundation’s Groundskeeping Community connects 2,800 grassroots volunteers to a digital network that offers advice, training and funding opportunities.

Have you signed up yet?

BY JULIEN MORRIS, GMA SENIOR REGIONAL PITCH ADVISOR, FOOTBALL

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aunched in August 2019 and developed as a partnership between the Football Foundation, the Football Association (FA) and the GMA, the Football Foundation’s Groundskeeping Community is facilitated by the Hive Learning team and provides free-to-access guidance, support and resources to help groundskeepers across the country.

Sign-up is straightforward and the site is navigated via easy-to-use dashboards within the two main groups: Community Support and Technical Resources. Users can browse for content by going to the resources tab, search for key words or phrases to access relevant information, and make use of the share, post and comment functions to ask or respond to a question, share best practice or tag a group or users by using the ‘@’ feature.

The GMA’s Pitch Advisory Service team are responsible for monitoring the community, creating the technical resource cards and responding to posts from users.

In addition to the monthly essentials section, the GMA’s regional pitch advisors and key account manager have developed over 100 learning cards across both groups, which cover everything

from pitch maintenance tasks and equipment to goalposts and pitch layout, including a range of guidance videos that cover, mowing, line marking, aeration and scarification. So far, the learning resources have already been viewed more than 125,000 times.

Real positives that have sprung from the platform’s growth is the interaction between volunteers in

WHAT A FANTASTIC GROUP – IT HAS ALREADY HELPED ME SO MUCH WITH THE DIFFERENT CHALLENGES WE ARE FACING

The Groundskeeping Community app is very easy to use

supporting each other and the input from leading industry professionals, with contributions from the FA’s groundsteam and others who work at Leicester City and Manchester City football clubs.

VALUABLE FEEDBACK

In a recent survey conducted by the Hive Learning team, more than 80 per cent of members make regular use of the community and 81 per cent of these users said it had helped to increase their groundskeeping knowledge.

Seventy-nine per cent said the resources were good or excellent, and a further 85 per cent said they found value in being able to interact with the GMA pitch advisors.

We’ve also had some great testimonials from community users. For example, one said: “What a fantastic group – it has already helped me so much with the many different challenges we are all facing.”

Another commented: “Some excellent advice has been given out so far. It shows how effective this group can be. Let’s keep asking the questions, let’s keep sharing our experiences.”

n To sign up, visit: footballfoundation.hivelearning.com/join

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MAINTENANCE TIPS SPRING

SPRING OPERATIONS The GMA’s seasonal maintenance guide to help you keep your sports surfaces in top condition all year round

Bowling greens

careful not to overdo it too early on. n Ensure that the square is correctly set out with the corners being at exact right angles, and that the pitches are correctly marked and numbered according to the pitch plan for the season ahead.

n Drag brush or switch

to remove morning dew, and monitor disease pressures and earthworm activity. n Ensure all machinery is serviced and ready for the demands of the season ahead, test irrigation equipment, and clear and refresh ditches and perimeters along with any other odd jobs. n As the weather improves and temperatures rise, increase cut frequency in line with growth, gradually reducing the height of cut. n Apply a suitable spring fertiliser to maintain and encourage optimum growing conditions for the grass plant. n Once the threat of harsh frosts passes, perform planned spring renovation tasks.

These can include topdressing, light scarification or verticutting and overseeding. n Increasing cut frequency will assist in

A groundsman mows the village cricket ground in Ashford, Kent, in the spring

firming the surface, but introduction of a specific rolling programme might be needed – if so, increase weight gradually, roll in multiple directions and ensure profile moisture levels support this. n Aeration operations will assist in improving the quality and performance of the surface. Some greenkeepers will transition to solid tine aeration during this period to prevent slits opening later in the season.

Cricket squares

ALAMY

n Continue dispersing

Maintaining the bowling green in Stirling

morning dew and inspecting for any signs of disease – monitor or treat as required. n Take time to repair ends that may have sparse coverage or isolated low levels – covering with

germination sheeting will accelerate establishment, but be mindful to regularly check the activity underneath. n Rolling and consolidation of the cricket square should be a priority as the weather changes. Begin rolling when conditions allow with a relatively light roller and gradually move up to a medium weight unit or increase ballast.

Look to carry out even roll coverage in a ‘Union Jack’ pattern. n An application of a suitable fertiliser will help to kick-start desired growth rate and optimum growing conditions for the grass plant. n Gradually reduce the height of cut in line with cut frequency, but be aware of any potential change in the weather. n A light verti-cut may be possible once growth is reasonable, but be

Cricket outfields n Regularly check for

damage, especially if used for winter sports, and make repairs when conditions allow, paying attention to bowlers’ run-ups. n Cut the outfield as growth demands, gradually increasing frequency and slowly reducing the height of cut ahead of the season beginning. n Drag brush to disperse worm casts before commencing cutting to avoid blunting newly sharpened mower blades. n If budgets allow, spring overseeding and an application of a controlled-release fertiliser will improve the coverage and surface aesthetic. n Monitor the outfield for weeds and make plans to apply selective herbicide when growth is strong and conditions allow. n If conditions allow, aeration or

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MAINTENANCE TIPS SPRING decompaction early in spring could improve the quality, performance and drainage potential of the outfield for the season ahead.

just because a pitch might not have had this operation carried out for some time, as it could cause more harm than good if soil conditions are unsuitable. n The end of season is now in sight, so plan ahead for renovation works and order materials and book in services.

Football pitches n Continue to brush

the pitch to open the sward and stand the grass back up when cutting is not required. n As conditions improve, increase cut frequency and gradually reduce the height of cut to a desirable level to thicken the sward. n An application of a controlled-release spring fertiliser will assist in promoting growth and enhance recovery. n Keeping the pitch safe and playable is essential.

Make repairs as the weather improves and divot the pitch to ensure the surface remains safe. Make isolated light sand dressings, and seed and spike in thin and bare areas. n Decompact using solid tines, or spike rather than slit at this stage if soil conditions permit in early spring. n Plan end-of-season works as early as possible – book renovation operations to take place and order required materials.

Horse racecourses

ALAMY

n Recommission the

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irrigation system. n Increase frequency of cut in line with growth to sustain a true surface. n Continue to carry out repairs after meetings, perform general area maintenance such

SPRING 2022

Mowing a public football pitch in early spring

as post strimming to maintain good presentation. n Aerate or decompact as conditions become suitable into early spring. n Apply the controlledrelease spring base feed once growth is regular and temperature stable. n Apply a selective herbicide to control weed coverage.

Rugby league pitches n Make timely repairs

and divot the surface back true following play. n As the weather conditions become favourable, overseeding and an application of a controlled-release spring/ summer fertiliser can be applied to improve cover. n Increase cut frequency, at a suitable height to encourage growth and sward thickening.

Groundsperson carries out maintenance at Chester racecourse

Tennis courts

n Continue regular drag

n Continue brushing to

brushing to stand the grass up and improve airflow around the plant. n Perform aeration or decompaction operations when conditions allow to aid gaseous exchange and root growth.

remove morning dew while inspecting for any early signs of disease. n Shallow solid-tine aerate, or sarel roll if conditions allow. n Begin light rolling of the courts if ground conditions are suitable.

As conditions improve rolling should become more regular to help firm up the court ready for play commencing. n Make repairs by overseeding and lightly dressing any low areas or patches of poor coverage. n Apply a suitable spring fertiliser to encourage sustained growth and allow for light verticutting to be introduced. n Ensure the courts are correctly set out with the corners being at exact right angles so all future operations such as cutting and rolling are in line with the courts. n Mowing frequency will be gradually increasing in line with growth. At the same time, the height of cut can be gradually lowered from the winter topping height to that required for the start of the playing season.

Rugby union pitches n Early spring growth

could require the pitch to be topped rather than brushed – only gently top off at a suitable height. n Excessive wear at this time of year may be present, but as spring growth starts to kick in it will assist in recovery of a thinning or sparsely covered surface. As conditions improve, cut more regularly to encourage tillering and sward thickening. n A controlled-release spring fertiliser will assist in promoting growth and enhanced recovery. n Keeping the pitch playable is essential and so continue to make repairs and divot the pitch to ensure the surface remains safe. n Aerate or alleviate compaction using solid tines if soil conditions permit. Do not aerate

n For more season maintenance tips, visit: resources.thegma.org.uk

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

THE LATEST GROUNDSCARE TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGIES

HUSQVARNA

The CEORA set to be a game changer for turfcare professionals Husqvarna’s new robotic mower, the CEORA™, covers more turf than ever, with an area capacity of up to 75,000sq m and can be scheduled to cut at any desired frequency. Covering larger areas means more cost-efficient mowing operations.

Because it cuts systematically in parallel tracks, the CEORA is efficient in any large green space. By cutting little and often, it will help you to achieve an excellent turf quality that is consistently dense and green with deeper grass roots.

The CEORA is robustly built and easy to manage. Grounds staff can expect it to navigate with a precision of 2–3cm, thanks to Husqvarna’s satellite navigation system, EPOS. This, alongside virtual boundaries, eliminates the hassle of physical wires and enables you to select individually defined areas on demand, with varying schedules and cutting height settings.

Using mobile technology to stay connected to operations is second nature these days so the CEORA can be controlled directly from a smartphone. Steering and defining cutting areas or changing the turfcare schedule is fast and simple. Husqvarna Fleet Services™ also enable surveillance and map localisation for full control and theft protection. n husqvarna.com

RIGBY TAYLOR YOUR TURF, OUR TECHNOLOGY Rigby Taylor’s Cold Start Boost R (11-5-5 +8Fe +7Cao +0.8MgO) is a highly regarded ‘true’ cold start fertiliser that can be used across the UK from the Cairngorms to Kent.

What sets it apart from similar analyses is the inclusion of nitrate, which is readily available in colder conditions. Other cold start products that rely on just ammonia and urea have to be converted into plantavailable nitrate by bacteria and enzymes.

However, research has shown that at temperatures less than 10°C it will take a few weeks for this conversion to take place.

Nitrate, by contrast, is available as long as the plant is photosynthesising and the

ground isn’t frozen. The analysis contains iron, which activates enzymes within the plant to enhance cell wall structure.

Furthermore, with the addition of calcium, the plant has greatly improved disease resistance. The high iron and magnesium content also gives magnificent colour to help give turf that ‘wow’ factor. This is a compound fertiliser, where the nutrients are in each 1–2mm granule, giving the ultimate in application accuracy.

Learn more about Cold Start and many other products at BTME stand 424.

n originamenity.com

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

THE LATEST GROUNDSCARE TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGIES

GROUNDS TRAINING

Monthly pesticides courses available to book now Grounds Training, the organisation dedicated to the provision of independently accredited training to the sportsturf and grounds maintenance sectors, has published the dates of its spring/early summer open courses for the Level 2 Award in the Safe Use and Safe Application of Pesticides using Handheld Equipment, the Lantra equivalent of PA1/PA6A. Held in at a West Midlands venue and delivered in a small group setting over three days, the course dates are: n 21–23 March n 11–13 April n 25–27 May n 27–29 June.

In the south west of England, parent company Sampson Training is running two open courses for the City & Guilds (NPTC) Level 2 Award in the Safe Use and Safe Application of Pesticides using Handheld Applicators (PA1/ PA6A) at a venue in Ferndown, Dorset.

The course dates are: n 16 and 17 May, with assessments on either 18 or 20 May n 27 and 28 June, with assessments on either 29 or 30 June.

Individuals requiring refresher training can also attend. Refresher training is required by law every three to five years in order to keep knowledge and skills up to date. n For further details and to book, email: info@groundstraining.com or call: 01865 509510 n www.groundstraining.com

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KUBOTA

Stately role for Kubota RTV Kubota’s utility rough terrain vehicle (RTV) is renowned for its versatility, and a 24hp four-seater RTV X-1140 is fulfilling a number of important roles on the Abbotswood Estate in the Cotswolds.

With 160 acres of pastureland and 38 acres of formal gardens, the estate is also home to the historic Abbotswood House and parkland.

Much of the land is steep and rolls down to the River Dikler.

“A capable, multi-purpose vehicle was needed for tasks ranging from transporting security staff to check perimeter fences to maintenance work on the house, which was remodelled in the early 20th century by Sir Edwin Lutyens,” explains head gardener Robert Champier-Clarke.

He says: “We like the fact that the Kubota RTV X-1140 comes with four seats so you can either carry four people or have a larger load area. It’s also got plenty of power so can tow a woodchipper or a loaded trailer – we’ve even used it to pull machinery out of ditches in bad weather. It’s really rugged and reliable.”

Kubota’s KVT transmission, which offers ample traction and unrivalled hill control via engine braking, is also praised.“It makes the RTV extremely easy to drive and the low-range box means that it copes with the hilly land at the top of the estate very well. We can always get around the estate even in the worst of weather,” Robert explains.

Robert says the RTV X-1140 will be transferred to the gardens in a couple of years to replace an existing utility vehicle, and he expects to replace it with a like-for-like new model for use by the security and maintenance teams.

The RTV was supplied by local Kubota dealer Hunts, and is part of a fleet of Kubota machinery on the Abbotswood Estate, including a new L1452 compact tractor, an older compact and an F3680 front mower.

“We find Kubota equipment to be extremely well built and reliable, and in 22 years as a gardener, I’ve never been disappointed,” says Robert. n kubota.com

60 SECONDS WITH...

ANDY SPETCH

ANDY SPETCH The agronomist, RFU volunteer pitch advisor and independent GMA board director explains why he advocates using soil-based topdressings to repair winter pitches What’s your industry background?

I joined British Sugar in 1987 as an agricultural trainee, and worked for the company as an agronomist in England and Poland before taking over the management of its topsoil business in 1997.

Every year, quality farmland topsoil is brought in to our factories on the sugar beets, and using that soil to develop sustainable products for the sports and amenity sectors has been my role for nearly 25 years.

I was a keen rugby player and coached when my playing days came to an end. I then volunteered as a groundsperson at my local National 2 Rugby Union club, Bury St Edmunds, and soon understood the challenge faced by grassroots clubs on tight budgets trying to maintain playable surfaces on their winter pitches.

How do soil-based topdressings address the cost versus benefit challenge?

Looking at sand versus soil at a basic level, sand is inert, chemically inactive and incapable of holding on to nutrients or moisture because of its large particle size and positive charge. Soil,

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Below: Spreading topsoil, which delivers nutrients to sustain healthy turf

SOIL-BASED TOPDRESSINGS SPEED UP THE GROWTH OF NEW GRASS ACROSS REPAIRED, HIGH-WEAR AREAS SUCH AS GOAL MOUTHS on the other hand, which is a mixture of clay and silt, is negatively charged, causing it to attract and retain nutrients such as potassium, phosphorus and magnesium, plus many micronutrients.

The clay particles also hold on to moisture.

The cost of inorganic fertilisers required for sandbased dressings is constantly rising and using peat-based composts within high sand/ compost dressings isn’t ideal, bearing in mind the focus on climate change. Soil-based topdressings have a natural nutrient base, and in drought

conditions the soil content improves moisture retention, which in turn reduces turf stress and speeds up the growth of new grass across repaired, high-wear areas such as goal mouths.

What research have you conducted around soilbased topdressings versus sand-based mixes?

British Sugar TOPSOIL commissioned extensive scientific, replicated plot trials with the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) in 2016/17 comparing the effects on turf of sand-only dressing

with our soil-based dressing, Sports&Turf.

The STRI carried out further trials, in pots, in 2020, and both trials concluded that when mixed with the correct sand, and with the right maintenance programme, sustainably sourced, soilbased topdressings will deliver valuable nutrients to sustain healthy turf – and deliver the drainage rates needed. n The STRI trial results and scientific data are available free from the TOPSOIL Academy section at: bstopsoil.co.uk