Grounds Management - Summer 2022 Preview

GROUNDS MANAGEMENT SUMMER 2022 Summer 2022 / £7.50

Dream team

Wellington College’s Jackie Evans on her exceptional crew and encouraging women into groundscare

INSIDE Warrington Wolves’ pitch transformation / Court perfection at Devonshire Park Edgbaston’s turf management challenges

INSIDE THIS ISSUE SUMMER 2022

WELCOME

GMA grows stronger Now In its 76th year, our flagship exhibition, SALTEX, is set to be one of the best yet with many companies booking bigger stands as we see a fresh demand from exhibitors keen to return post-pandemic.

We have also been strengthening our team, starting with two new leadership appointments.

Andrea McMahon is our new director of communications and Sarah Cunningham is director of commercial and events. Both will play a key role in helping to grow the reputation of those working in and with the groundscare industry.

We continue to engage with government on the issue of red diesel and are conducting further research to follow up on the 2019 ‘Sport’s Vital Profession’, which will support GMA’s work as we promote, lobby and advocate for change on your behalf. We are also pleased to see signs that our recent #Groundsweek initiative is helping to gain wider recognition of our sector.

As we move closer to launching our workforce development programme, we highlight a diverse range of GMA members in this issue, from Jackie Evans and her (mostly) female grounds team at Wellington College to former Bolton FC apprentice Niall Hazlehurst’s career progression to head groundsperson at Warrington Wolves.

The GMA Awards are back at Birmingham’s Vox this year, giving you the perfect opportunity to recognise a worthy team or individual by nominating them.

COVER IMAGE: BEN WRIGHT

Geoff Webb, GMA CEO

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REGULARS

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TWO-MINUTE UPDATE News from across the industry BRIEFING GMA boosts SALTEX investment with key appointments; GMA Industry Awards are back; #GroundsWeek success; red diesel issues in focus NGB UPDATE: ECB Growing the CPA network TECHNICAL INSIGHT Dr John Dempsey’s turfgrass surfactant trials IN ACTION Products used by Eton College, Lincoln City FC, Jordans Sports Ground Solutions and tree surgeon Paul Cutler PITCH ADVISORY SERVICE Sustainable cricket pitch provision in Luton MAINTENANCE TIPS What to do in summer PRODUCT SHOWCASE Product news from Barenbrug, Husqvarna, Grounds Training, AMAZONE, Redexim and Vanmac 60 SECONDS WITH …

Katie Stott swaps her office job for an outdoor role at the University of Leeds

FEATURES

12 EXTENDED PLAY AT EDGBASTON Gary Barwell gears up for more cricket events including the 2022 Commonwealth Games 22 GIRLS ALLOWED Jackie Evans’ exceptional Wellington College team and why she wants to attract more women into the sector 28 RAISING THE GAME Niall Hazlehurst talks teamwork at Warrington Wolves RLFC 32 EYE ON THE BALL Danny Negus focuses on elite and community tennis at the Devonshire Park facility 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: Andrea McMahon e: amcmahon@thegma.org.uk Managing editor: Kirsty Fortune Group art director: Jes Stanfield Client engagement director: Melissa Michael 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

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2 MINUTE

UPDATE GMA AND INDUSTRY NEWS LTA PLANS TO UPGRADE FACILITIES AT NOTTINGHAM TENNIS CENTRE The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has taken over the long-term lease and management of Nottingham Tennis Centre from Nottingham City Council and has pledged a major upgrade for the 39-court facility.

The national governing body was keen to protect the important tournament and tennis venue and, following successful negotiations, it took over the 150-year lease and site operation from 1 May. Immediate upgrades will include resurfacing the outdoor hard courts, upgrading the floodlights, installing new fencing and upgrading the existing air bubble covering three courts.

Over the next 12 months, there will be further development on site including the installation of four indoor courts under a new bubble.

Gary Stewart, LTA head of operations, said: “This move will allow us to safeguard [the venue’s] future, and the changes will help us support the thriving community tennis programme and provide infrastructure for events throughout the year.”

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The report into women’s football will look at achieving greater parity with the men’s game

Government to launch review domestic women’s football This summer, the government will begin an in-depth review of domestic women’s football, which will look at how to deliver growth at both elite and grassroots levels.

Independently chaired and supported by an expert advisory panel, the review comes before England hosts Euro 2022 in July, which will be broadcast across the BBC. It is expected to look at how to achieve greater parity with the men’s game – focusing on commercialisation, spectator support and media interest.

It follows the fan-led review of football governance, published last November by ex-sports minister Tracey Crouch, which recommended a review of the women’s game. Findings are expected to be published by the end of the year.

Campey Turf Care expands down under Campey Turf Care Systems has grown its products and services provision into Australia, where it will collaborate with dealers to provide machinery and customer service.

The Australian arm will be overseen

by Campey product specialist Rob Rob Jenkins will head up Jenkins, who is based in Melbourne Campey in Australia and brings 20 years of international consultancy and sales experience at top stadia and golf courses.

During his time in the UK, Rob worked with Campey and gained a ‘sales apprenticeship’ from company chairman Richard Campey, making him the perfect candidate to lead the expansion.

Meanwhile, back in the UK, Campey has bolstered its customer support with the addition of four new team members.

Workshop manager Bob Nixon, outside service engineer Dave Juke, sales demonstrator Archie Thomas and product specialist Tom Weston join Campey as the company expands into its new premises. The second Campey branch, which is also based in Macclesfield, includes a showroom and retail shop, as well as additional servicing facilities.

Places and Spaces receives funding boost Sport England’s Places and Spaces fund is being increased to £7m to help communities across England benefit from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Originally launched in November 2021, with £3.5m to cater for organisations from the West Midlands, the government funding agency is committing additional National Lottery funding to extend the money available to help community organisations make small-scale facility improvements. It is hoped that Birmingham 2022 will be a catalyst for improving community sport.

The fund is now available to applicants nationwide, but Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Tyne and Wear, and Tees Valley have been specifically selected for targeted investment as these have been identified as areas of underrepresentation in activity figures, which were worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commenting on the funding, Sport England CEO Tim Hollingsworth said: “Birmingham 2022 will be a festival of sport at the highest level, but for its true impact to be felt, it must also be used as a catalyst to help communities all over the country get active, connect and have fun.

“By making our Places and Spaces fund available nationally and focusing on areas with the greatest need, we’re allowing organisations to provide brilliant new facilities in their local area to allow everyone to enjoy sport and get active.”

BY MAKING OUR PLACES AND SPACES FUND AVAILABLE NATIONALLY AND FOCUSING ON AREAS WITH THE GREATEST NEED, WE’RE ALLOWING ORGANISATIONS TO PROVIDE BRILLIANT NEW FACILITIES IN THEIR LOCAL AREA

ALAMY

SEAN LOAKES JOINS SYNGENTA TEAM Sean Loakes has been appointed as Syngenta professional solutions technical manager for the UK and Ireland.

His appointment will enable the existing Syngenta technical and business team to offer further specialist trials expertise, and develop new integrated solutions for turf, landscape, ornamentals production and pest control. He will also support Glenn Kirby, technical manager for turf and landscape across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

A qualified biologist, Sean has had a career in environmental science and research through practical field trials and laboratory studies, primarily focused on pesticide efficacy and best practice.

David Withers appointed AEA president The Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) has appointed David Withers, MD of ISEKI UK and Ireland, as its president.

David has been an active member of the AEA on the Outdoor Power Equipment Council since 2000 and this is his second term as a board member.

Commenting on his new appointment, David said: “It’s an honour to be appointed to this role at what is truly a time of change. New technologies are driving change at

ever greater pace and with possible post-Brexit standards’ divergence, the supply chain crisis and the war in Ukraine, the AEA has never been more important to its members.”

David entered the industry as a demonstrator at Charterhouse Turf Machinery before embarking on a 25-year career at Textron, where he had various roles including eight years as MD of Ransomes Jacobsen, followed by six years as US-based president of Jacobsen. For the last four years David has been back in the UK with his new company, ISEKI.

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BRIEFING

THE LATEST INDUSTRY HEADLINES FROM THE GMA

GMA boosts SALTEX investment Andrea McMahon and Sarah Cunningham join the GMA leadership team as new directors as the GMA gears up for this year’s must-attend turf management event

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he GMA is marking the 76th year of SALTEX with a series of investments set to make the 2022 event, which will take place at the NEC Birmingham on 2 and 3 November 2022, the best yet.

With the support of its chairman and board, the association has made two key appointments that will add great value to the team delivering the industry’s largest must-attend trade exhibition.

On 20 April, Sarah Cunningham joined the GMA’s leadership team as director of commercial and events, and Andrea McMahon became the new director of communications.

Sarah brings a wealth Andrea of expertise gained from McMahon a decade of managing large-scale trade events primarily in the media industry and not-forprofit sectors. She had previously worked in an interim capacity to support the delivery Sarah of SALTEX 2021.

Cunningham Andrea offers multisector communications experience, having held senior communications roles in central government departments, law enforcement organisations, membership associations, and businesses in the media, advertising, telecoms, automotive and management consultancy sectors.

GMA CEO Geoff Webb said: “We’re delighted to have Sarah and Andrea join the GMA team. They both have extensive experience in their fields, and will be a great asset to SALTEX and the wider GMA family. With most stands already taken and remainder selling fast, coupled with industry colleagues embracing a return to normality post-pandemic, the 2022 event could be one of the best yet.”

Learning LIVE 2022: Call for Papers SALTEX organisers are looking for the best speakers in the grounds management industry to showcase their knowledge at SALTEX. Learning LIVE, the show’s all-encompassing education programme, provides advice, insight and real solutions to the biggest issues that the grounds management industry cares about most. The organisers aim for the seminar programme at SALTEX to be engaging, informative and educational for attendees.

Since its creation in 2015, the most popular Learning LIVE sessions have been case studies and presentations from companies or individuals who are prepared to share personal experience and learning, but the submission of presentations on new and emerging trends, technologies and innovations that will benefit the sportsturf industry are also encouraged.

Each proposal will be evaluated and those that most closely match the needs of the attendees will be selected. n To submit a proposal, please visit: gmasaltex.co.uk/learning-live2022-call-for-papers

HOW TO GET INVOLVED For exhibitor or sponsorship opportunities at SALTEX, please contact Sarah Cunningham at: saltexsales@thegma.org.uk For more information, visit: gmasaltex.co.uk.

Follow SALTEX on Twitter @GMA_SALTEX and Facebook at facebook.com/GMASALTEX

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BRIEFING EVENTS AND NETWORKING

GMA relaunches Industry Awards 2022

Below: The GMA Industry Awards celebrate the best in the turfcare sector

The GMA Industry Awards (previously the IOG Awards) are back for 2022. The ceremony will take place in November at The Vox, Birmingham, during this year’s SALTEX

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

Danny Negus With turfcare quickly growing its media presence and public interest, the GMA has also looked at ways to make the annual GMA Awards more accessible to those who work at all levels of groundscare or turf management, from grassroots community facilities to professional stadia. This means that, for the first time, nominee applicants have the option to submit a short video to

address the set questions and entry criteria, instead of completing a written form.

Commenting on this year’s event, GMA CEO Geoff Webb said: “Last year, we recognised that entering the GMA Industry Awards was not a priority for many grounds staff and volunteers, but

AWARD CATEGORIES n Young Grounds Person of the Year n Newcomer of the Year n Volunteer Sports Grounds Team/Individual of the Year n Community Sports Grounds Team/Individual of the Year n Bowls/Croquet Grounds Team/Individual of the Year n Best Managed Artificial Surface of the Year n Best Environmental and Sustainability Impact n Professional Cricket Grounds Team of the Year n Professional Tennis Courts Grounds Team of the Year n Professional Horse Racing Grounds Team of the Year n Professional Rugby Football League Grounds Team of the Year n Professional Rugby Football Union Grounds Team of the Year n Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year (A) n Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year (B) n University/College Grounds Team of the Year n Independent School Grounds Team of the Year n International Impact Award n Alex R Millar Award n Induction to Hall of Fame

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 opened on Tuesday 3 May. Nominees will receive an award application. These will be judged by an independent panel of experts and award category shortlisters will be announced later this year.

Deadline for nominations is Friday 29 July 2022 and the deadline for applications is Monday 8 August. n For more information and to sign up for further updates, visit: thegma.org.uk/awards n To purchase award sponsorship packages, email Sarah Cunningham at: scunningham@thegma.org.uk

BOOK YOUR PLACE Table booking for the awards opens 1 July 2022. For more information, please visit: thegma.org.uk

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BRIEFING GMA UPDATE

#GroundsWeek campaign a resounding success Awareness initiative results in an increase in media coverage of the groundscare sector

BY OLLIE SWAN, GMA SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS EXECUTIVE

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he GMA launched #GroundsWeek in March 2021 as part of its Grounds for Sport initiative, when funds were reinvested to help raise the influence and profile of grounds management to support the growth and diversification of future workforces. This original campaign followed one of the most challenging years in the sector’s history, due to COVID-19, and provided an opportunity to raise the public’s awareness of ‘Sport’s Vital Profession’.

This year, #GroundsWeek returned for a second celebration – from 28 February to 6 March – to again raise the profile of the key role that the groundscare sector plays in sport across the country, while encouraging more people to consider a career in grounds management.

New research released by the GMA to coincide with this year’s campaign found high levels of job satisfaction and fulfilment among grounds staff and volunteers, with 77 per cent of outdoor workers feeling a strong sense of achievement in their work compared with 47 per cent of desk workers.

The #GroundsWeek campaign gained a 48 per cent rise in coverage compared with last year’s campaign, reaching 52.3

million people through coverage that included interviews and news segments taking place across multiple media platforms, including ITV News and BBC Radio.

Through this and other initiatives, the GMA is highlighting the industry’s invaluable role in enabling people of all ages to play on safe, good-quality pitches at sport clubs, parks and schools.

With the industry’s support and our

THANKS TO #GROUNDSWEEK SPONSORS: John Deere, Nutrigrow, Origin Amenity Solutions, Premier Pitches, Redexim, Infinicut, SIS Grass, Kubota, ISEKI, Husqvarna, idverde, Sports & Turf from British Sugar, Turf Matters, Advance Grass Solutions, Reesink Turfcare and Barenbrug UK

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Profihopper 1250

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GMA pushes for red diesel guidance change

Young members of the Viper Champions team in Hampshire, who have recently completed their Level 1 online cricket course

sports’ national governing body partners backing our work, we’re confident that the groundscare sector will see more reasons to be positive about the future when #GroundsWeek returns in 2023. n For more on the success of this year’s #GroundsWeek, visit: thegma.org.uk/news/groundsweekgrows-its-success

again

The GMA has written to the Government to request a change to the recently published guidance on changes to rebated fuels entitlement, which fails to be inclusive of all sports when citing exemptions to the new red diesel legislation.

In a letter to HMRC and HM Treasury, GMA CEO Geoff Webb reminded policymakers of the commitment made in the ‘Reform of red diesel and other rebated fuels entitlement’ policy paper, published in November 2021, which made it clear that there would not be a withdrawal of an entitlement to use red diesel in areas such as heating and sports.

“We are calling for wording within the guidance to be

changed to replace the multiple references to ‘golf courses and driving ranges’ with a more inclusive term that reflects HMRC’s original intention to maintain the rebate entitlement across the wider sporting community. It is not acceptable to exempt only one sport when there are many other sports facilities with turf surfaces that rely on red diesel to fuel essential machinery and specialist vehicles to maintain grounds to a safe, accessible and satisfactory standard,” said Geoff.

The GMA will continue to engage with the Government on this matter and encourages others to write to local MPs to reiterate the points made in the association’s letter.

n For more information, visit: thegma.org/news

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ALAMY

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dgbaston Cricket Ground’s Head of Sportsturf and Grounds, Gary Barwell, considers himself to have been “very lucky” to work with some of the best in the game during his career, and he is full of praise for the grounds staff and the rest of the stadium team who pull together to provide exceptional sporting events at Edgbaston, the home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club and a venue for major international events.

“The cricket experiences at Edgbaston always produce a great atmosphere – similar to an enthusiastic football crowd

enjoying the match, rather than polite applause,” Gary says. “Our spectators have certainly taken the role of the ‘12th man’ on many occasions.”

Recalling his first Ashes Test at the venue in 2015, Gary says he was told that he would never experience anything quite like it – and it didn’t disappoint.

He says the excitement in the run-up to and during the 2019 England versus Australia fixture was another standout experience and he’s really looking forward to the repeat fixture in 2023.

This year, however, another major international cricket event awaits, with

Edgbaston hosting the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games’ Women’s T20 cricket tournament. This heralds an opportunity that Gary believes will help promote the game by showcasing elite women players in a first-class venue that provides a fantastic spectator experience, and will help to encourage more women, girls, men and boys to support the female game.

MAN WITH THE PLAN

It will be a hectic schedule for Gary and his team. Starting on the 28 July, Edgbaston will host 16 cricket matches

Gary’s career path Gary was introduced to groundsmanship through a college work experience programme, rotating through various departments at his beloved Leicester City FC until he came to, and stopped at, the grounds department. This positive experience ultimately led to him to getting a job at Grace Road cricket ground, home to Leicestershire County Cricket Club, in 1993. He worked his way up the ranks before moving on to become deputy head groundsman at Nottingham Trent Bridge before he joined Edgbaston Stadium in 2011.

Here, Gary and the team have won IOG (GMA) awards for their outstanding workmanship – much to the benefit of the cricket-watching public.

Gary’s pitches have helped to win the County Championship Bob Willis Trophy five times (two for Leicestershire, one for Nottinghamshire and two for Warwickshire CCC)

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NGB UPDATE COMMUNITY CRICKET

Cricket at all levels benefits from well-maintained playing surfaces Inset: The ECB and GMA are training up a growing number of CPAs

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GROWING THE CPA NETWORK

CPA TRAINING ALAMY

Without the volunteers who help prepare pitches at grassroots level, there would be no community cricket. We find out how the GMA is working with the ECB to offer them support and practical skill sets BY KAREN MAXWELL, EDITOR

s we learn to live with COVID-19 and following two interrupted seasons, grassroots cricket clubs across the country are welcoming England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and GMA support as they prepare for what we all hope will be a fun and memorable summer of cricket.

This support includes the training of a growing number of County Pitch Advisors (CPAs) – a network of predominantly volunteer specialists who work with the County Cricket Boards to provide essential advice on grounds management and improving pitches and outfields in the recreational game.

Working with the GMA’s Pitch Advisory Service (PAS) cricket team, which is funded by Sport England and the Football

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BEST PRACTICE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL

GIRLS ALLOWED

Wellington College’s Jackie Evans is possibly the only woman head groundsperson in the independent schools sector and is proud to have three other women on her team. We discuss her role and why she wants to encourage more girls into the industry

BY KAREN MAXWELL, PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN WRIGHT

The team – from left: Esmee, Sarah, Jackie, Scott and Jess – in the gounds of renowned school Wellington College

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here are infectious peals of laughter as head groundsperson Jackie Evans leads me into the grounds shed at Wellington College. Jackie’s grounds team – Sarah Hack, Esmee Sturges, Jess Jackson and Scott Osler – are on their mid-morning break and Esmee, the most talkative member, is holding court. The camaraderie is obvious and, in between smiles, Jackie says that the same team spirit is evident on the school grounds too, adding that when the pressure’s on, which is often the case at the prestigious independent school facility, their work ethic and attention to detail is exceptional.

Another exceptional fact about the grounds team is that four of the five members are women – and Jackie says she’s keen to shine a spotlight on their roles to encourage more women to join the industry.

“I think I may be the only female head groundsperson in the independent school sector, which is why I’m getting more active on social media to highlight the work we do here and hopefully inspire young women to get involved.” she says, adding that she’d happily employ more

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Warrington Wolves’ George Williams holds onto the ball on the pristine pitch at the Halliwell Jones Stadium

RAISING THE GAME

Warrington Wolves head groundsman and GMA Award winner Niall Hazlehurst talks about teamwork, why he moved from football to rugby league and how he’s helping to raise pitch standards BY KAREN MAXWELL

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he recent improvement in pitch standards is getting noticed at Warrington Wolves’ Halliwell Jones Stadium – by players and management alike. This is due to the hard work and dedication that 30-year-old Niall Hazlehurst has put into his new role as head groundsman since he joined the

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club in February last year – after making the move from football to rugby league.

He’s not the type to take all the credit, though, citing the invaluable advice from Leeds Rhinos’ head groundsman, Ryan Golding, the support of the club’s CEO, Karl Fitzpatrick, and chairman, Stuart Middleton, and the help of his newly recruited grounds assistant, Phil Bannon.

The club’s ambition is to secure its first Super League win and Niall’s ambition is to deliver the best pitch possible to help them do so – and he has been busy educating the club on why pitch standards are so integral to the team’s success.

Since joining the club, Niall has been impressed by its team spirit. “Our CEO

EYE ON THE BALL GMA Groundsperson of the Year 2019 Danny Negus talks tennis court preparation for international tournament and community play at Devonshire Park

BY DR ANDY CARMICHAEL

D Centre court at Devonshire Park tennis club in Eastbourne Inset: Tournament grounds team 2019

anny Negus manages the grounds team at Devonshire Park, a natural grass court tennis venue that hosts the Rothesay International Eastbourne Tennis Tournament, the town’s annual tennis event that showcases leading international male and female players, including Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams and current All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) Grand Slam Holder Ashleigh Barty. It’s also the venue where Martina Navratilova has won the tournament trophy no fewer than 11 times.

Alongside the club’s association with elite sport, Devonshire Park is also a members’ club and a ‘pay and play’ venue for community use. Owned by the local borough council and one of a growing hub of tennis facilities in the East Sussex area, the council’s vision is to give local people the opportunity to play tennis and enhance their lives through regular physical activity in an outdoor environment.

The venue has in fact been open for play before the rules for tennis were even formalised in 1875. As Danny says: “We like to tell people the game was played here first.”

COURT MANAGEMENT

Currently the sport is played across 19 courts at the park, and Danny and his five grounds team members also manage a further seven courts at two other Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) locations.

Three of the onsite courts were newly constructed when Devonshire Park underwent a £60m redevelopment three years ago and were built using 23 per cent clay to a technical specification outlined by the AELTC. The remaining native soil courts are top dressed at 19 per cent on a sward that consists of Limagrain’s MM50 mix of three perennial ryegrass cultivars. A new irrigation system was also installed during the improvements, but unlike the AELTC there are no court roofs to close during play if it rains, making the management of excess water a challenge for the team.

Although the UK may not be known for its glorious summers, fortunately Danny does have the benefit of Eastbourne’s coastal location. “I know some venues boast a ‘microclimate’, but it really does feel warmer here – people comment on it all the time,” he says. In fact, the town holds England’s record for the most hours of monthly sunshine, which the local tourist board is naturally keen to promote.

The sunlit courts are cut at 8mm six times a week with Toro Triple and Jacobsen Eclipse pedestrian mowers.

In tournament time, the frequency of mowing rises to at least twice a day.

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TECHNICAL INSIGHT SURFACTANT TRIALS RESULTS REVEALED

Turfgrass surfactant trials data Soil surfactants, wetting agents, penetrants, wetters. Are they the same thing, what exactly do they do and are they worth the cost and the bother of having to apply them to our turfgrass surfaces?

BY DR JOHN DEMPSEY, INDEPENDENT TURFGRASS RESEARCHER

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urfactants have historically been used to greatest effect in the amenity turfgrass industry.

For many years they have been a key component of turf maintenance programmes, used to treat localised dry patch; mitigate soil water repellency; enhance rootzone water delivery, water use efficiency and nutrient access; and improve overall plant health.

The key to the successful use of surfactants is for end users to firstly decide the

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target criteria for their use at their facility, and then to research the technical aspects of available products and determine what they can deliver to help achieve those targets – within budget.

Legitimate surfactant producers and suppliers should have solid scientific research data to support their products’ performance, including data from replicated field trials.

Over the past few years, I have carried out numerous field trials, mostly in the

DETERMINE THE TARGET CRITERIA FOR USE AND THEN RESEARCH THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF AVAILABLE PRODUCTS AND HOW THEY CAN HELP ACHIEVE THOSE TARGETS

areas of disease control and enhanced turfgrass growth and health.

I’m sharing results from a couple of studies involving the use of surfactants. I won’t be naming any products, as most of the work was done in confidence, but I will provide some interesting and novel data.

TRIAL OUTLINE

These trials were carried out between May and September in 2020 and 2021. They were based on Poa annua greens at two sites, a USGA specification sand rootzone in Kildare and a traditional soil push-up green in Dublin, both maintained at 5mm cut height using standard management practices.

Treatments were randomised with four replications, comprising a range of surfactants and untreated controls, sequentially applied at 14- or 28-day intervals.

Assessments included: percent volumetric water content (VWC), normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI), turfgrass quality and wilt/drought stress.

60 SECONDS WITH...

KATIE STOTT

KATIE STOTT Katie, aged 27 and a mother of two, swapped an office job for a sportsturf operative role at the University of Leeds and says she loves working outside so much that she’s never looked back

BY KAREN MAXWELL

What’s your career background and your interests outside of work?

In September last year, I moved from working in hospitality corporate administration for a law firm to becoming a sportsturf operative apprentice at the University of Leeds. Outside of work, I enjoy gardening, baking and spending time with my two young children.

Why did you decide to move into groundscare?

During the COVID-19 lockdown, I found I had a real interest in horticulture and wanted to pursue a career working outdoors rather than in an indoor environment.

I originally applied for a job as a gardener at the university’s city campus. When I didn’t get that position, I worked with Churwell Environmental Volunteers and then applied for the sportsturf operative role instead.

My mental health is so much better from being able to work outdoors, even if it’s cold. It’s so satisfying to feel like I’ve done a hard day’s work and then get to see the amazing results.

I’m constantly mentally stimulated by working

outdoors and there’s so much variety in what I get to do.

The most challenging part is fitting in a full-time role and studying around family time – my children are aged two and four so childcare needs to be well organised and I often study on the bus to work.

What does your role entail?

I mainly work on football, rugby and cricket pitches, and maintain the hockey pitch and the triathlon centre’s grounds. I’ve been trained to use the small tractors and will be trained on loader tractors soon.

The head groundsman, Dave Thrackray, has helped me tackle different challenges and although I’m the only woman in a male environment, we all work well together.

How do you think more women could be encouraged to embark on a career in this sector?

We need to highlight the women who currently work in the sportsturf sector to help promote the possibilities and the job satisfaction benefits to the younger generation.

I WOULD RECOMMEND A CAREER IN GROUNDS TO ANYONE WHO IS LOOKING FOR A MORE FULFILLING CAREER PATH

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SUMMER 2022

I’M CONSTANTLY MENTALLY STIMULATED

BY WORKING OUTDOORS AND THERE’S SO MUCH VARIETY IN WHAT I GET TO DO Traditionally, televised and local sport has been dominated by men, which naturally attracts men into sport-related jobs. However, now that sportswomen are finally getting more exposure, hopefully this will inspire more women to get involved in the sports sector – including grounds management.

I would recommend a career in grounds to anyone who is looking for a more fulfilling career path. I’ve never been particularly practical or hands on, but I’ve learned so much on the job and I’m part of a great

community of people who help me learn. My familywork balance is far better, and I want to encourage my kids to get active and be outdoors more too. I’d like to pass down all the skills I’ve learned in grounds to them! I love getting to work outside and I’ve honestly never felt happier.

What are your future plans?

My immediate plans are to gain my Level 2 in sportsturf and I’d also love to do some Royal Horticultural Society qualifications so I have a more rounded knowledge of horticulture.