Grounds Management - July 2020

July 2020 | £4.00

GROUNDS MANAGEMENT Making sport possible

MIND MATTERS

Resources to boost mental wellbeing

PRIDE AND PRESTIGE The grounds firm going the extra mile

BACK TO ITS BEST

How to bring an artificial pitch back into play

LOOKING GOOD

Stuart Vause on his award-winning work at Castleford Tigers’ ground

Through tailor-made fertilisation concepts for maximum power and strength.

The Fertiliser Manufacturer agronomy@compo-expert.com - T. 0333 772 1904 www.com po-expert.corn EXPERTS FOR GROWTH

COMPO EXPERT®

JULY 2020

WELCOME

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A slow path to recovery Last month we greeted the muchanticipated announcement from the Prime Minister that our Covid-19 rating had moved to Level 3, meaning that the pandemic that has engulfed as all had ‘reduced’ to become an epidemic.

We also welcomed the return of professional football to our screens – another example of our gradual return from lockdown.

Thankfully, with restrictions starting to lift, we can begin to look to the future and plan ahead. For recreational sport, however, cricket suffered a set-back as the Prime Minister focused on the ball and its potential for spreading the virus. So, cricket was omitted from the sports that could resume, alongside inside gyms, leisure centres and other sports such as badminton and swimming which were left scratching their heads as to why they were not deemed safe enough. The events sector, too, awaits a return to action.

Many challenges remain. There will be more twists and turns to navigate, and there are some really important decisions to make and work to do. The resilience shown by our profession is one of the industry’s strengths and, for us at the GMA, the move of our SALTEX trade show to Spring 2021 means we are focused on doing our utmost to deliver a quality event while, in the meantime, presenting membership services of the highest standard.

These are significant challenges that we are determined to meet.

18 REGULARS

FEATURES

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Industry news The Pitch Preparation Fund is bringing football surfaces up to scratch, plus news from around the industry

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Best practice: Prestige Grounds Going beyond the call of duty led to a GMA industry award for one contractor

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SALTEX news The industry’s positive response to the new date for SALTEX 2021

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GaNTIP update The Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme’s ‘back to play’ strategy

Best practice: Castleford Tigers Head groundsperson Stuart Vause talks about his awardwinning work

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Help is at hand Resources to help boost your mental wellbeing

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Gunning for success A visit to Arsenal FC’s Highbury ground as a boy inspired Mike Hood’s career

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Technical update Preparing artificial pitches for play post-lockdown

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In action Products from AMS Robotics and Rigby Taylor

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Product showcase Compact tractors and fertilisers

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Grow with the GMA Wellington College’s deputy head of grounds Jackie Evans on making the most of training

This magazine is printed using paper from responsible sources

GROUNDS MANAGEMENT Geoff Webb Chief Executive Grounds Management Association

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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 312511 | e:membership@thegma.org.uk Magazine subscriptions: Jo Cornford | t:01908 312511 | e:accounts@thegma.org.uk Subscriptions: £72 UK | £82 Europe | £112 rest of world Published by: James Pembroke Media ■ Editor: Colin Hoskins | e:editor@thegma.org.uk | t:07785 293077 Publisher: James Houston ■ Product editor: Lizzie Hufton | e:lizzie.hufton@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk | t:01225 337777 Head of design: Simon Goddard ■ To advertise in this magazine: t:020 3859 7097 | e:sales@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk

GROUNDS MANAGEMENT is published monthly by the Grounds Management Association. All material is copyright of the Grounds Management Association and may not be reproduced without permission. The publishers do not accept responsibility for any advertisement appearing in the journal and cannot be held liable for editorial omissions or errors. The views expressed in the journal are not necessarily those of the Grounds Management Association.

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 3

UPDATE

UPDATE | NEWS

THE LATEST HEADLINES FROM GMA AND THE INDUSTRY

FOOTBALL

Pitch Preparation Fund helps bring grounds up to scratch FOOTBALL PITCHES across the country are set to be enhanced thanks to a £7 million scheme from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation.

The Pitch Preparation Fund was set up in support of the game, which is currently facing unprecedented challenges because of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is providing grants to clubs that have lost out on normal revenue streams during this difficult period and helping them to get their pitches ready for when it is safe to play football again, following Government advice.

The response to the Fund has been positive, with around 3,000 applications received in the two-and-a-half weeks the application window was open during May. As a result, £7m of investment has been awarded to 2,902 clubs and organisations. This will allow 9,588 football pitches to be made match-fit, benefiting 33,153 football teams in the grassroots, non-league and women’s game, as well as every club in the Welsh Cymru Premier League.

As a result of the exposure of the Pitch Preparation Fund, the Football Foundation also received an increase of 176% in its regular facility grant applications during May 2020, compared with May 2019. This means even more football sites will be improved, over and above those receiving Pitch Preparation Fund grants.

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The Pitch Preparation Fund’s impact in numbers: • A total of 2,902 grants awarded • £7m of investment • 9,588 football pitches improved • 33,153 football teams benefitting • 2 ,196 grassroots clubs awarded grants • 7 06 clubs in the National League System awarded grants • 1 ,138 grants will support women and girls’ football • A ll 12 Welsh Cymru Premier League clubs awarded grants • M ay 2020 saw a 176% increase in general Football Foundation applications when compared to the same period last year.

Robert Sullivan, interim chief executive officer of the Football Foundation, said: “We’ve been delighted by the response to the Pitch Preparation Fund when it launched just a few weeks ago.

“Our national game can’t take place without playing surfaces being in good condition so this £7 million of investment provided by the Premier League, The FA and the Government

is an important helping hand for clubs across the country to get their pitches match-fit for when matches are allowed to start up again.”

Mark Bullingham, The FA’s chief executive officer, said: “This fund will help clubs to carry out vital work and prepare pitches for when it’s safe for the game to resume.”

The grants awarded will help with essential maintenance works towards grass pitches, including vertical decompaction, slitting, over-seeding, fertilising and weed-killing, as well as routine preparatory works such as grass cutting and the setting out and line-marking of pitches. For artificial surfaces, works eligible for help include deep cleaning, overmarking and FA pitch testing.

In addition to grassroots clubs benefitting from the scheme, 673 non-league, Women’s Super League and Welsh Cymru Premier League clubs have also been supported via the Premier League’s Football Stadia Improvement Fund.

Clubs and other organisations are also being given access to the Football Foundation Groundskeeping Community. This is a free online resource the Foundation developed with The FA and the Grounds Management Association, containing advice and guidance. Anyone can sign up at thefa.hivelearning.com/ groundskeeping

NEWS | UPDATE

C OV I D -1 9

As things improve, adapted gameplay can begin

ECB takes steps to aid return of cricket THE ENGLAND AND WALES CRICKET BOARD (ECB) has created a five-step plan for the return of the recreational game in England, and has announced further funding to help the game to recover from the effects of the Covid-19 crisis.

The five-step plan takes into account Government guidance and moving from one step to the next is dependent on this guidance and on medical safety.

Currently, the game is at step three, which allows groups of six to train together outdoors (regardless of household), providing they follow social distancing and hygiene measures. Essential grounds maintenance is allowed. When the game moves on to step 4, all grounds maintenance will be allowed and adapted gameplay

can commence.

Meanwhile the ECB Board has approved a £35.7 million financial support package for professional and recreational cricket. In addition, recreational clubs will still have access to the £20m available through the cricket club support loan scheme, grants through the Return to Cricket scheme and a 12-month holiday on loan repayments.

ECB chief executive officer Tom Harrison said: “It remains our priority to get cricket started again this summer, from the grassroots to the elite level, and we will continue to work with Government to try and do so in a way that keeps people safe but that limits the ongoing impact of this crisis on our game.”

Find out more at www.ecb.co.uk

EVENT

Amenity Forum 2020 Conference to go ahead

NEWS IN BRIEF

THE AMENITY FORUM has announced that its 2020 Conference will go ahead on October 15 at the Kettering Conference Centre. The conference will also be made available online to registered delegates for those unable to attend in person.

Having liaised with the venue and all concerned, it is felt possible to run the event at the conference centre and all

measures will be taken to ensure delegates’ safety.

Professor John Moverley, chairman of the Forum, said: “We can assure delegates that all precautions will be taken. We recognise some delegates may still have reservations about attending in person.’’

Entry is £85+VAT for members and £95+VAT for nonmembers. An early-bird discount of £10 will be applied for bookings made before September 1. Online attendance is £45+VAT for members and £50+VAT for non-members.

Find out more by contacting admin@amenityforum.net

Reesink Turfcare launches care plans

New Etesia dealership announced

Hayter thanked for PPE donations

Reesink Turfcare has launched three maintenance plans which will be rolled out through its branches in Scotland, the South East and East Anglia. The Gold, Silver and Bronze plans cover scheduled servicing and every machine covered gets an annual health check.

The Gold plan covers all servicing, breakdowns and replacement spare parts at a fixed price for the duration of the contract. Find out more at www.reesinkturfcare.co.uk

Family business Rod Gaskin has been appointed as a new Etesia dealer, distributing the firm’s products from its depots in Hampshire and West Sussex. The company, which specialises in agricultural, grounds care and garden equipment, will offer Etesia’s full product range, which includes ride-on mowers, scarifiers, brush cutters, green technology and pedestrian mowers. Find out more at www.etesia.co.uk

Health and care facilities have thanked Hayter, and its parent The Toro Company, for its donations of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and headbands for face shields during the Covid-19 pandemic. Dr Sarah Dixon at South Street Surgery, Bishop’s Stortford – near Hayter’s base in Hertfordshire – said: “We are extremely grateful and this will help ensure we are able to continue to safely see patients.” www.hayter.co.uk

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 5

UPDATE | NEWS

C OV I D -1 9

STRI has announced the launch of ‘Project Pathfinder’, which forms part of the UK Government’s emergency Covid-19 innovation strategy.

The project will provide sports facilities and green spaces affected by the Covid-19 crisis with stage one consultation advice for free up to August 2020. If required, STRI will also deliver roadmaps to give facilities business plans to assist with their longer-term financial stability.

This initiative is available to any sports or green space facility that is currently experiencing issues directly or indirectly due to the Covid-19 crisis. This may involve advice on turf grass maintenance practices with reduced staff, planning applications, potential cost savings, or longer-term options to put facilities on a stronger financial footing such as redevelopment or land sales.

By funding this project, the Government has recognised the

huge health and mental wellbeing benefits sports facilities provide to the UK. However, many of these sports facilities are especially vulnerable since the Covid-19 outbreak, which has impacted revenue and long-term business survival. STRI aims to assist as many sports facilities as possible to help them on the road to recovery.

STRI consultant Kelly-Marie Clack said: “Project Pathfinder will provide a lifeline to sports facilities which are impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Our services will fill the gap in knowledge for facility managers who need to rapidly adapt to new financial and practical pressures. This is truly a unique opportunity to reach out and offer advice to all sections of our industry, regardless of budget or location.”

To take part in Project Pathfinder, please complete this short and simple survey at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ stripathfinder

Jeff Anguige retires from Reesink Turfcare

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LTA announces park tennis drive The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has launched a major drive to boost participation in tennis in parks across the UK, supporting local authorities with a range of measures to help open up the sport to more people.

The programme includes an interestfree Easy Access Loan Scheme to help support local authorities or operators to develop park tennis facilities, with loans of up to £250,000 for improvements such as resurfacing courts, adding new courts or floodlights and replacing fencing.

Scott Lloyd, CEO, said: “As courts open back up following the easing of restrictions, the LTA is determined to work with local authorities to safeguard park tennis venues.”

Find out more at www.lta.org.uk

Intelligent One switches to US brand name

PEOPLE

Reesink Turfcare has announced the retirement of its national sales manager, Jeff Anguige, who has been with the Toro UK distributor (and its predecessor Lely UK) for 21 years.

Jeff, 63, began working in the industry 46 years ago, straight after leaving college. He learnt about the business working at golf and grounds dealerships as well as at turf machinery manufacturers such as Ransomes. In 1999 he joined the then Toro UK distributor Lely UK, with headquarters at St Neots, Cambridgeshire, as national Toro sales manager, responsible for spearheading sales of its golf course and sports turf maintenance machinery.

Jeff has seen many big changes

NEWS IN BRIEF

STRI reveals Project Pathfinder

throughout his time in the industry.

Among the biggest, he says, is the way in which clubs now buy their machinery.

He says: “When I started, people tended to get their cheque book out and buy one piece of equipment at a time, outright. Now the majority of customers invest in fleet deals on finance. It gives the option to have more machines straightaway for the same level of investment, as well as the latest technology to maintain playing surfaces. The upscale is huge, as is the improvement in quality of playing surfaces. It’s certainly a very different market to when I started, and very much for the better.”

Robotic line marking company Intelligent One has changed its name to the US brand title, Turf Tank.

The move will also see the renaming of the GPS line marker which will now be known as the Turf Tank One. The Danish company has also announced a software update with a number of new features as well as improvements to usability and reliability.

Find out more at www.prosportukltd.com.

New Pellenc dealer announced Baggleys Machinery in Norfolk has been appointed as an authorised Pellenc dealer. The firm will distribute the full range of Pellenc battery-powered equipment, which includes chainsaws, blowers, hedgecutters, pole saws, grass strimmers and mowers. The firm says it has already seen demand for the products from local authorities, hospitals, universities and contractors.

Find out more at www.pellencuk.com.

NEW PRODUCTS | UPDATE

S PA L D I N G S

Honda range Honda brushcutters, walk-behind mowers and lawn tractors, and a new range of cordless electric hand tools, are now available to grounds care professionals through Spaldings in Lincolnshire, following the firm’s appointment as a national dealer covering the UK and Ireland.

In addition to 25cc and 35cc fourstroke petrol brushcutters and the multi-function Honda Versatool – a push-and-click powerhead available with several different attachments – the Honda products now stocked by Spaldings include newly introduced battery-powered hand tools and walkbehind mowers.

The professional grade cordless hand tools include the Honda HHT 36 AXB brushcutter supplied with a threetooth blade and nylon strimming line, ‘handlebar’ grips and a double shoulder harness. It weighs just 6.5kg before fitting the 36 volt, 6.0Ah Lithium-ion universal battery that is also used for Honda’s new 60cm hedge trimmer.

When powering the HHB 36 AXB leaf

blower, the battery pack is worn on the user’s belt to minimise the weight of the blower, which comes with two interchangeable nozzles and variable fan speed to deliver the best airflow to shift dry, wet and heavy debris.

With the cordless rotary mowers, users get proven features from Honda’s petrol-fuelled IZY machines, including a pressed steel deck, but with a newdesign quiet and efficient brushless electric motor powered by a 4Ah, 6Ah or 9Ah Lithium-ion battery.

There are two IZY-ON models – a 41cm (16in) push mower and a 46cm (18in) self-propelled with single-lever change over between mulching and bag collection.

They complement a comprehensive line-up of domestic and professional petrol mowers starting at 46cm (18in) and culminating in several 53cm (21in) models with mulching and rear roller variants.

For maintaining larger areas with minimum effort, Spaldings offers within 60 miles of its Lincoln retail

outlet Honda’s Miimo ‘set and forget’ robotic lawn mowers and the HF 2417 from Honda’s premium range of lawn tractors.

These have been upgraded for this year with a four-speed ‘cruise control’ transmission and new high-back seat with armrests to complement a new digital instrument panel and the mobile device holder and battery-charging USB port. http://spaldings.co.uk

TORO

A G R OV I S TA A M E N I T Y

Internet of Turf

Huwa-San TR50 and TR3

Toro’s Internet of Turf brings together five of Toro’s key technological products and services which, when connected online, help reduce operating costs, enhance safety and produce better quality playing surfaces.

Combining Lynx central control irrigation system, Turf Guard wireless soil management system, GeoLink precision spray system, myTurf Pro asset management system and NSN technical support, the Internet of Turf brings together for the first time accurate information on all aspects of turf care management from one access point.

Grounds teams returning to work can use Huwa-San TR50 and TR3 to help minimise the risk of infection from coronavirus at work. Based on stabilised hydrogen peroxide, the product quickly inactivates coronavirus and is safe on all surfaces with no-rinse application.

Huwa-San also has efficacy against bacteria, mould, spores, fungi and mycobacteria, and is biodegradable, breaking down to oxygen and water.

The hydrogen peroxide solution found in Huwa-San TR50 has increased stability thanks to the application of innovative ionic

www.reesinkturfcare.co.uk

silver stabilisation technology. This means that the product is powerful yet non-residual. It is also noncorrosive and biodegradable, as well as approved by the Health and Safety Executive as a constantdose biocide for the control of legionella.

Dan Hughes, head of commercial for Agrovista Amenity, said: “Huwa-San is an effective solution for the current climate. Its flexibility also means that it can be used across the board – in irrigation tanks, on hard surfaces such as machinery, and for handcontact surfaces such as steering wheels, tools and equipment.” www.agrovista.co.uk/ amenity

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 7

SALTEX UPDATE

TECHNICAL UPDATE | COVID-19 ADVICE

Industry praises Spring 2021 decision

KEEP IN TOUCH SALTEX 2021 will take place on March 3 & 4, 2021 at the NEC, Birmingham. For more information, visit www.gmasaltex.co.uk. Follow SALTEX on Twitter and Facebook

Chris Bennett SALTEX press officer

The recent announcement that SALTEX has been rescheduled to Spring 2021 has been met with enthusiastic support from both exhibitors and visitors TH E GROUNDS M AN AGEM EN T A S S OCI AT ION (GMA) Board of Directors said that the unanimous decision to move SALTEX from November 2020 to March 2021 was based on ensuring the safety of everyone connected with the event and to provide the respite required to re-adjust to changing professional and personal circumstances.

Furthermore, the Board believes that by acting now, the move will allow everyone to plan as effectively as possible and help the industry to regroup and recover.

The announcement has been well received, with exhibitors and potential visitors praising the timing of the decision.

“We are pleased to see the GMA take decisive steps to deal with the growing doubt and anxiety about SALTEX going ahead in November,” said David Cole, managing director of Reesink Turfcare. “It would have been a difficult decision for a variety of reasons, but for us the right one to remove uncertainty and replace it with a date we can look forward to with optimism.”

David’s views are echoed by Caroline Shaw, European marketing manager for Trimax Mowers. “The decision to postpone the largest show of the year couldn’t have been easy,” she said. “But the decisive action, coupled with the determination to put the health and wellbeing of our industry professionals first, is something we are proud to support.”

Tom Shinkins, operations manager at GKB Machines, believes the new dates could be advantageous: “I believe the new dates will actually be more beneficial because we’ll be able to arrange demonstrations with

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prospective new customers straight after the show.”

Social media channels and online forums were flooded with industry professionals who also welcomed the announcement: “It’s a sensible decision which allows everyone to concentrate on the here and now, then focus for 2021,” said Neil Stubley, head of courts and horticulture at the All English Lawn and Tennis Club, Wimbledon.

Karl McDermott, head groundsman at Lord’s, said: “Sad news but the right decision. I always see SALTEX as a great way to finish off the cricket season but now it is going to be a nice warm-up for next season. I’m looking forward to March 2021.”

Landscaper Greg Francis was also positive about the decision: “I’m looking forward to it. It’s a much better time of year for the gardeners because it is non-stop leaf clearance during October and November.”

Speaking on behalf of the GMA

Board, Geoff Webb, CEO at the GMA commented: “We would like to thank our exhibitors, visitors, partners and suppliers for their support and patience during this challenging time. It has been highly encouraging to see the industry come together and support the GMA’s decision.”

Early indications for SALTEX 2021, the show’s 75th anniversary, are extremely positive after show organisers reported a recordbreaking loyalty period, stand upgrades and an influx of debut exhibitors. It comes off the back of the most successful SALTEX to date which saw a record breaking 9,104 visitors attend the 2019 event. ■

For SALTEX sales and sponsorship: Matthew Knight: matthewknight@rabdf.co.uk Charles Neale: charlesneale@rabdf.co.uk Luke Perry: lperry@thegma.org.uk For SALTEX invoicing enquires: Alan Clarke: accounts@thegma.org.uk

BEST PRACTICE | PRESTIGE GROUNDS

PRESENTING A PRESTIGE SERVICE

One grounds maintenance contractor goes beyond the call of duty to ensure its work is something to be proud of – so much so that Prestige Grounds Ltd last year collected a GMA industry award for its unstinting efforts

Colin Hoskins Editor

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IF THERE is a secret to the continued success of contractor Prestige Grounds, “it is because we pride ourselves on the standards of our work; in particular, on the presentation of the finished pitch”, says director Bradley Anderson. He adds: “We do not apply the ‘get it done as quick as we can’ attitude.

Instead, we always focus on the end result; often double cutting grass to achieve a nice ‘chequered’ look and increasing mowing frequencies, when not contracted to do so, and even, on occasion, overseeding at our own cost to consistently maintain an improved and neat site.”

It’s an attitude that explains why the company has continued to go from strength to strength since its establishment in 2015. Operating from its base in Ford, Wiltshire, the firm has never lost a contract – indeed, it has continued to gain new clients – and its quality of work was last year recognised at the GMA Industry Awards when Brad stepped up to receive the AMS Robotics Public Sector Sports Grounds Team of the Year Award.

Prestige Grounds’ constant success has also led to an increase in its workforce (to three full-timers and one part-timer) “to enable us to maintain our high standards in managing a range of facilities for

parish councils, private and state schools, as well as football, rugby and cricket clubs, for example”.

Brad continues: “We perform a variety of tasks – depending on the time of year, extending from the annual renovations of sports pitches, line marking and yearround grass cutting to bin emptying and litter picking in parks, as well as hedge maintenance.”

While the GMA award was, he says, “due recognition for the team; the company wouldn’t be able to provide such a high level of service without the outstanding attitude they adopt”, the turning point in sports pitch maintenance was, he reflects, the positive impact of a Pitch Improvement Programme (PIP) report produced in 2018 (the year of the Beast from the East followed by a very hot summer) on a set of parish council pitches being maintained by Prestige Grounds.

Shoots of recovery “After only a year of renovations, and despite that very hot summer, I was really worried that the work we had put into the pitches was going to be wasted,” Brad says.

“After seeding the pitches (not for the first time out of my own pocket) I was so pleased to see the improvements in the surfaces –

PRESTIGE GROUNDS | BEST PRACTICE

Life during lockdown Left to right: Prestige Grounds’ outstanding service results in high standards of presentation

both visually and on paper via the PIP reports – and these, in turn, have enabled the council to improve its revenues because fewer games are being cancelled. Indeed, one team which had left to go to a new-build facility wanted to return to these pitches halfway through the season because they were so good.”

He adds: “On the same site, we also managed to address a cricket square which had some really bad ‘saddles’ at either end. We Koro’d the surface then laser-levelled on the very undulating square.

While the grow-in didn’t go to plan – without a water source and a dry September and October, the square was left with little grass – with constant work over the winter and early spring, we managed to produce a square that the cricket teams were delighted with.”

Small budget, big results Brad cites another major achievement as taking over the maintenance of a trust-owned public open space where, with limited budget, the company focused on a first team football pitch. The pitch was constantly having matches cancelled and it had very little grass coverage, most of it being annual meadow grass mixed with moss and weed. “It transformed after being renovated,

and one memorable event was when I received a phone call on a very wet Saturday morning a few weeks into the season asking if that pitch could be used because the scheduled site was waterlogged.

For the very first time, we were able to offer that pitch ‘because of the work you have done’, said the trust.”

With budgets for schools and parish councils, in particular, being the tightest they’ve ever been, Brad says Prestige Grounds “often finds itself double cutting to give the chequered look” despite being paid to cut it in only one direction. “It’s the same with mowing frequencies, which are increasingly being contracted at fortnightly. But I can’t leave a playing field looking messy so we regularly cut weekly.”

The company’s level of service doesn’t end there, as Brad concludes: “Each of our clients has my personal phone number and email which they can use to contact me at any time, seven days a week. This is great for some people – though not for my wife!

– but I want to be available for my customers. We look after a lot of sports clubs run by volunteers and they regularly contact me for help, asking about anything from the colour of the pitch to changing the mower height. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.” ■

Bradley Anderson reflects on the challenges of this unprecedented period WELL, WHAT A YEAR we have had so far – starting with the wettest winter on record and, from the day grassroots sports was cancelled, it dries up!

We hoped this break [due to Covid-19] would give us the opportunity to have renovations completed earlier than ever, resulting in great seed germination due to the March and April showers. How wrong we were.

As the days went on and talk of lockdown became more prominent, thoughts of whether we would be paid were accompanied by doubts over whether we would even be allowed to work. Lockdown was announced at the time we were able to start making the first cuts on some of our sites. I immediately abided by Government guidelines, with one person only travelling in each vehicle. Although this would cost more money, taking three vehicles to the same site was the safest thing to do. We also ensured staff used the same equipment – mowers and hand tools, for example, wouldn’t be shared.

After managing to get the first cut on most sites and seeing key workers’ children bringing desks out onto the fields to create outdoor classrooms, while also witnessing the vast number of people taking their daily exercise, I felt we were doing the right thing.

How has the pandemic affected the industry?

Many grassroots sports clubs only survive thanks to summer tournaments, clubhouse functions and matchday bar/tea takings. Clubs have therefore struggled. Some have luckily managed to gain a rates grant, but one of their largest outgoings – if they employ a contractor – is grounds maintenance.

Most clubs stopped their planned renovations and at some sites we have tried to make the minimal number of visits to reduce their costs yet still keep the pitches at a decent standard.

On most sites we have undertaken more cuts than we have been contracted for; I believe that now is the time when grassroots clubs really need help.

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 11

Andy Carmichael Freelance writer

LOOKING GOOD AT WHELDON ROAD Castleford Tigers’ head groundsperson Stuart Vause has an enviable record in the GMA Industry Awards over the past six years – being a finalist in the rugby league category every year and winning the accolade twice

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I WOULD HAVE LOVED to report that Stuart Vause, head groundsman of Castleford Tigers’ Mend-a-Hose Jungle stadium, is happy with how the pitch is coping with the onslaught of a Super League season.

But sadly, in these unusual times, the closest a lot of us are getting to this vision are images on social media of beautifully manicured sports pitches desperately needing players. So, instead, I will settle for confirming that the boot room he is FaceTiming me from looks immaculate.

Stuart and his assistant, Rob Lilley, the 2019 GMA Professional Rugby Football League Grounds Team of the Year, are following Government guidance and managing to work safely at the club.

There are always plenty of jobs for Stuart, not only as head grounds manager, but also as kit man and as the club’s all-round chief maintainer and fixer. His assistant Rob helps with tasks and Stuart is quick to point out that “the club has been really good” for keeping the two of

Stuart Vause: “Right now, I can do things I haven’t had the chance to do since I came here full time”

them on full time during the Covid-19 crisis. It is good for both parties though. Not only does the club benefit from the security of having someone overseeing the facility but, when we return to better times, the first team pitch and training surface should be in peak condition.

Both turf grass surfaces are benefitting from the enforced break and greater freedom that Stuart has in his management decisions, with a cut every other day. Usually the use of the pitches is high, with everything from charity matches for children, to academy, reserves, women’s teams and the Castleford first team. “There is normally someone on them nearly every day,” says Stuart, “and training sessions can suddenly be extended.”

This can play havoc with planning maintenance activities but, he adds, “right now, I can do things I haven’t had the chance to do since I came here full time”. That was six years ago, but prior to that he spent 14 years as a volunteer at the Tigers, helping out while working in grounds care for the local authority.

Weathering well In that time there have been a few challenges. The stadium, on Wheldon Road in the Yorkshire town, lies a couple of hundred yards from the river Aire. The pitch was a native clay soil development, first played on by the club in 1927, and has no artificial drainage network. When it rains, it runs off the terraces onto the turf.

Stuart recognises the difficulties this poses, but approaches it as simply needing “to make the best of a bad situation” and laughs that “it wasn’t as bad as the Beast from the East in 2018”. And not a match of that new season was missed. Thanks to a policy of decompaction in the close season and amelioration of the profile with increasing amounts of sand over the last few years (initially 20 tonnes, building up to 100 tonnes this year), the pitch absorbs the worst of the weather, with the excess being pumped away.

Helping his efforts has been Russells Groundcare, a supplier of materials and support, and “a big Tigers fan”. That link with people in the sport is something Stuart returns

CASTLEFORD | BEST PRACTICE

to several times in our chat. He says he has become “good mates” with the players and has “established a level of trust” that is so important in difficult circumstances. Even at the top most players are very approachable, something Stuart ascribes to them being “workingclass lads who don’t forget where they come from”. This is why sport matters in communities such as Castleford. The current absence of sport has been keenly felt.

Last year saw Stuart’s second win in the GMA awards and he has contested the final two places in the rugby league award category every year since going full time. Initially his runner-up status was a chance for a bit of good-natured joking at the club. But staff appreciated he was competing against bigger clubs with more people and greater resources, particularly after winning in 2017, when matched with Leeds Rhinos.

What might have previously “just been considered a piece of grass”, says Stuart, “is now a focal point”.

Stuart does not have a fixed budget but the club has never turned down a request for something that will help raise the quality of the surface, and he receives lots of positive comments from management and players alike.

It is possible the future may hold greater change for Stuart, the club having been the subject of a longmooted move to a new development.

The area had planning permission granted for a large retail scheme and stadium several years ago, but there is now the uncertainty of the status of many of the proposed high-street name tenants. It is not something worrying Stuart and Castleford Tigers though. They will carry on hosting rugby league at Wheldon Road until decisions are made, and fans should be assured that, even though they cannot currently see it, their pitch is receiving first-class care and attention. ■

Visit www.thegma.org.uk/awards for a full list of 2019 winners

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 13

FEATURE | MENTAL HEALTH – COVID-19

Andy Carmichael Freelance writer

HELP IS AT HAND In the second of our mental health series, we look at where you and your colleagues can get help with your mental wellbeing

IN LAST MONTH’S ISSUE we featured the need to talk about mental health in the grounds industry with Karl Standley, grounds manager at Wembley National Stadium, sharing an open and honest description of his wellbeing challenge. This month we highlight just some of the available sources of advice and help. These cover different perspectives as we, as individuals, may feel more comfortable with one route over another. But one thing is clear: there is a lot of help available.

14 GROUNDS MANAGEMENT | JULY 2020

MENTAL HEALTH – COVID-19 | FEATURE

The Mental Health Foundation

Ell&Dee

The Mental Health Foundation is a charity that emphasises “prevention is at the heart of our work”. Stress and anxiety are two symptoms of a decline in mental health, says the foundation.

Stress is a feeling of being under abnormal pressure. When you are in certain situations, your body creates a stress response and releases hormones producing physical changes. You may be familiar with the concept of ‘fight or flight’ responses as blood pressure, heart rate and sweating increase. When experienced briefly, there may be some benefit towards performance.

However, excessive or persistent stress can not only result in mental health problems but also in physical decline, including heart attacks. More generally, you might start having headaches, nausea, dizziness, sleep problems and other such disorders. Emotions may become more intense and lead to mood swings.

People react differently to stress and it is important to tackle it early. The foundation suggests various steps: • Realise when it is causing you a problem and do not ignore warning signs • Identify the causes – are some within your power and others not?

• Review your lifestyle – can you make changes?

Consultancy Ell&Dee works with people and organisations to change their thinking and help them with their mental health. Founder Claire Morton highlights how our lives have become so busy and the number of thoughts we have can be overwhelming – which leads some of us to end up “living on our nerves, fears, worries and limiting beliefs”. For her it is about taking time out from these routines. “It’s about finding other ways, helpful ways, to quieten the mind.”

Claire knows it is not easy for everyone; “it’s scary for people to not be doing things”, she adds. By slowing down and taking time to reflect, she says we can focus on what we really want, how we want to live our lives, and how we are going to start making the choices that lead us to a calmer and more peaceful place. Rather than the negative mindset that sees us reliving past issues, or worrying about what may come, Claire suggests we teach ourselves how to look at what is here now, to be able to connect to the ‘present moment’, as the present moment is all we have.

She suggests there are ways we can achieve this; through meditation, focusing on our breath and by choosing at least three positive things we can find to be grateful for at the end of each day.

She also advocates physical exercise, through her role as a yoga teacher. Dispelling some of the myths associated with the practice, she laughs “it isn’t a spiritual woo, woo thing”, as evidenced by the many professional sports people, neuroscientists and growing number of people in the western world advocating its benefits.

Aware of the challenges that some men particularly have with this issue, Claire has created The Purpose Pusher Project, a free-tojoin Facebook group that allows participants to “share a safe space for personal development and growth”. She hopes it will allow individuals to reach out and provide those who have found a good state of mental health a chance to offer support and inspiration. www.ellanddee.com www.facebook.com/purposepusherproject

Anxiety describes fears of things that may happen, not what is happening. Worrying about the outcomes may stop you from acting when you need or want to and, consequently, the anxiety worsens. Try to understand the fear and deal with it in small steps, perhaps using a diary to note when and what makes you anxious, or list things that help reduce the concern or physical objects that put you in a more positive frame of mind.

Some people utilise complementary therapies, exercises or relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety. Faith may be important to some and talking therapies may be of benefit.

The Mental Health Foundation produces guides highlighting factors relevant to our emotional wellbeing that we may be able to change, including Talking, Keeping Active, Eating well and Drinking alcohol sensibly. www.mentalhealth.org.uk

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 15

FEATURE | MENTAL HEALTH – COVID-19

Perennial and Big White Wall

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England

The charity Perennial has been helping people involved in horticulture for over 180 years. It offers free and confidential advice, support and financial assistance to people of all ages working in, or retired from, the sector.

Perennial emphasises the need for action before a situation deteriorates. Whether it be personal or employment concerns, health or monetary challenges, it encourages people to get in touch as soon as a problem is evident and avoid it becoming a crisis. It says that one in four people in horticulture experience problems at some point.

“Often when we help people, we’ve been downstream – someone’s fallen in and we’ve dragged them out and helped them,” says director of marketing and fundraising Anita Bates.

“What we want to do is to get upstream and stop them falling in, so this year we are launching new services aimed at preventing people getting into difficulty in the first place. One is our partnership with the Big White Wall.”

Big White Wall provides online support in a safe and supportive environment, an anonymous community of members and professionals offering advice and support 24 hours a day.

People have access to a variety of content, tests and tools that help them understand how they are feeling, with techniques to help get them on the road to recovery. The services available include: • A discussion wall to tell your story, or listen to what others in the community are saying, and get professional support • A self-assessment to get a better understanding of how you’re feeling • Online self-guided mental wellbeing programmes to help you to manage a variety of mental health difficulties.

“Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the mental health equivalent of physical first aid,” says Vicki Cockman, workplace lead at MHFA England.

“It gives people the skills and confidence to recognise the signs of common mental health issues and guides them towards the right support, be that self-help information, an Employee Assistance Programme or professional services.

“As a social enterprise, MHFA England offers expert guidance and training, both online and face to face, to support mental health in the workplace and beyond. We’ve worked with over 20,000 organisations of all sizes across sectors and seen up to a 75% reduction in mental healthrelated sickness absence in the workplace.

“Our mission is to create an unshakable belief that we can all talk freely about mental health and seek support when we need it, and that mental health should be of equal importance to physical health. So far, our Instructor Member community has trained one in 70 adults in England in vital mental health awareness and skills.

“As the sporting season restarts and workplaces begin to physically re-open, it’s vital employers can support the wellbeing of the many who will have concerns about returning to work.

By spotting signs early, promoting self-care and signposting to further support, Mental Health First Aiders can help ease this transition.

“With the Centre for Mental Health estimating that half a million more people than average are experiencing mental ill health in the wake of the pandemic, we believe our work is more important than ever. We hope our work will help more people access the right support at the right time.” www.mhfaengland.org ■

A short, anonymous questionnaire provides access (www.perennial.org.uk/home/ways-wecan-help/big-white-wall/); alternatively, if you need help or know someone who does, contact Perennial on 0800 093 8543 or visit www.perennial.org.uk

16 GROUNDS MANAGEMENT | JULY 2020

The Grounds Management Association does not seek to judge, promote or advocate one route of help and advice over another, but it is clear from our contributors that the important thing is that we act – that we talk to someone and we begin the process of managing our mental health. Too many people are struggling and they should know they are not alone. www.thegma.org.uk/guidanceyour-health-and-wellbeing

INSPIRATION | HIGHBURY

GUNNING FOR SUCCESS AFTER HIGHBURY VISIT When Arsenal FC fan Mike Hood realised his schoolboy dream of visiting the club’s iconic north London stadium, little did he know that it would lead to a successful career in grounds care – and also Colin Hoskins that, 15 years later, The Gunners’ then head groundsman Editor Paul Burgess would remember his visit NOTHI NG COM E S C LO SER to utopia for an Arsenal FC fan than a tour of the club’s ground. And, for then 14-year-old Mike Hood, a devoted Gooner, his visit to the club’s Highbury stadium 14 or so years ago was certainly perfection personified.

“I not only got to tour the stadium and walk on the pitch,” says Mike, “but I also met the then head groundsman Paul Burgess, who somehow arranged for my photoshoot with the Premier League Cup, which Arsenal had won in the 2003-4 season when the team was undefeated. What a day; one I will always remember!”

Inspiring a career Arranged with Paul by Mike’s dad, Colin – at the time an established figure in equipment supply to the grounds industry – Mike was yet to realise that those few hours spent in north London would lead to his successful career in groundscare.

“I always knew Arsenal had a good pitch but being able to walk on it and touch it, I immediately realised that it was so much better that what I had seen on the TV. Looking back, it was clear that Paul knew what he was doing.” Since then, Arsenal FC has moved to the Emirates Stadium and Paul Burgess to Real Madrid, now as director of grounds and environment there. Now, aged 28, Mike is head groundsman at Leicester Grammar School.

“As a schoolboy, I used to help out at the local tennis courts, where dad volunteered and ‘my input would get me out of the house for a few hours’, he would say. Then, when I left school

18 GROUNDS MANAGEMENT | JULY 2020

Right: Mike Hood visited Highbury as a 14-year-old boy Below: Mike today

aged 16, I joined the greenkeeping team at a local golf club and spent seven years there before moving to Oakham School for two years, working alongside Mark Pettit who, coincidentally, had previously worked with Paul Burgess at Arsenal. Three years ago, I joined Leicester Grammar School – where there is a particular

focus on cricket and rugby – and I’ve been head groundsman here for the past year.” Over the years, Mike has successfully gained his Level 2 and Level 3 sports turf accreditations – as well as certificates for spraying and chainsawing.

Mike’s visit to Highbury was the subject of a recent social media post by Colin Hood and, remembering the visit (among the many hundreds of grounds professionals he’s hosted over the years in Spain), Paul Burgess responded along the lines of ‘perhaps one day I’ll see you both again, but this time in Madrid’. ■

GaNTIP UPDATE – COVID-19

Plans for life post-pandemic Like everything else, the role of the Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme (GaNTIP) also had to change at short notice as the country endured lockdown. Now, as we emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, GaNTIP is focusing on a ‘back to play’ strategy WITH CORONAVI RU S having had such a dramatic effect on all areas of life, it is important that the grounds industry adapts to provide as much assistance as possible as sport finds its feet and everyone faces new challenges. In order to be best placed, GaNTIP is now focused on a ‘back to play’ strategy as we enter a period of enormous challenge for sport and those who maintain playing surfaces. The Grounds Management Association (GMA) and GaNTIP are ready to play their part, and our ‘back to play’ strategy will be key: Local authorities risk register: We have gathered information on how the maintenance of local authority pitches has suffered.

This will help the national governing bodies of sport (for football and cricket) and Sport England to formulate their strategies of support.

GaNTIP is helping to bring sports grounds back into use after lockdown

Webinars: GMA has been updating and upskilling volunteers.

Guidance documents: GaNTIP has created free-to-all advice and instruction on what needs to be done to bring playing surfaces ‘back to play’.

Online training: GMA has developed a series of affordable online, sportrelevant Level 1 training courses.

Support: GaNTIP has been supporting the Football Foundation’s online Hive app, as well as County Cricket Boards and County Football Associations, in meeting their aims, objectives and strategies.

Pitch Grading Framework: Scheduled for launch in September, GMA’s new Pitch Grading Framework will offer a clear ‘measure’ of pitch quality alongside with the appropriate and necessary training and education needed at each level for the staff and volunteers who maintain them.

Jason Booth GMA director of technical and learning

GaNTIP success rate GaNTIP’s record of success over the past six years includes: • Assessed more than 10,900 pitches and has a success rate of 84% at improving these pitches.

• Contributed key advice and guidance that has resulted in a significant increase in funding for grass pitches.

• NGBs and Sport England now have, for the first time, a breakdown of playing facilities and the quality of their surfaces, along with the average age and numbers of volunteers who maintain them, their budgets and the level/ amount of training they have experienced.

• Supported and assisted over 100 cricket and football pitch advisors.

• Developed a data collection system that has led to a self-assessment app which enables grassroots volunteers to assess their own pitches. The data also provides key information for GaNTIP regional pitch advisors to remotely assess and provide consistent and sustained ongoing support.

• Completed reviews and updates of the services of cricket grounds associations and cricket pitch advisors to enable the delivery of an improved and consistent approach across England and Wales. ■

Visit www.thegma.org.uk for details of the Grounds & Natural Turf Improvement Programme

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 21

IN ACTION

Go big and go mow Halesowen goes to town with AMS Robotics’ mowing solution “A huge amount of time and effort has been saved at Halesowen Town FC by using AMS Robotics’ BigMow robotic mower,” according to the club’s co-owner and director, Keith McKenna. “The quality of the cut is very impressive and the mower has certainly caught the imagination of all the supporters and everyone involved with the club. We would recommend it to any football club looking to improve their playing surface.”

Grounds care professionals at more than 75 locations across

The TLM allows customers to make small changes to their line positioning

A mark of high quality John O’Conner is reaching new standards of customer service thanks to the TinyLineMarker from Rigby Taylor 22 GROUNDS MANAGEMENT | JULY 2020

The BigMow robotic mower has brought brilliant results to the pitch at Halesowen Town FC

the UK are using AMS Robotics’ robotic mowers as part of their turf maintenance regimes – and as a result are having more time to focus on other aspects of maintenance, as well as seeing improved turf health and reducing their maintenance costs.

The company’s large format commercial robotic mower, BigMow, offers coverage of up to 24,000m2 on a single battery charge. It has 15 blades to provide a uniform, manicure-style cut and the mulch produced fertilises the

soil in a 100% ecological way.

Low noise output levels allow for extended mowing hours and the robot emits 90% less CO2 than traditional ride-on mowers.

It weighs only 71kg, so imposes no stress on the grass and avoids compacting the soil. A smartphone app allows staff to program regular weekly mowing schedules.

BigMow requires minimal attention and is self-charging.

Grounds maintenance firm John O’Conner is improving customer service, increasing productivity and reducing its carbon footprint thanks to an investment in a new TinyLineMarker (TLM) machine from Rigby Taylor.

The firm’s managing director, Matt O’Conner, says the machine offers several advantages: it saves time, taking just 30 minutes instead of 90 to mark out a fullsized football pitch; saves on paint costs, using just 1.1 litres of paint to mark a football pitch; uses less water, with Rigby Taylor’s readymixed Impact paint; and delivers the service with just one operative and a small van, compared with two people and a larger vehicle for traditional methods.

Matt says: “In addition, because everything with TLM is computerised with the operator programming TLM via a userfriendly tablet to produce preciselypositioned lines, the software also allows for clients to make

subtle but sometimes important changes to the positioning of certain lines – for instance, inserting training grids alongside running tracks. This means we can tweak the line marking to satisfy our clients’ every need in terms of additional line marking, and that can only further improve customer satisfaction levels.”

TLM utilises the latest GPS technology with an RTK receiver and antenna that connects with global satellites and mobile network connections. It takes the input of pitch line dimensions and multiple pitches via an app and re-positions them to best fit the site using Google Maps. Once stored, the lines are never lost, even if they disappear if a pitch is not used for any length of time. “This means we can save money for customers since we will not be overmarking for the sake of it,” says Matt.

For more information visit www.amsrobotics.co.uk

For more information visit www.rigbytaylor.com

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CalciComplex® is an organic mineral fertiliser containing calcium and magnesium alongside humic acids, to enhance natural growth and maximise plant health.

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE COMPACT TRACTORS

JOHN DEERE

Clean green machines John Deere has announced a number of updates to the company’s compact tractor range for 2020, which includes 13 models in six series from 25 to 66hp.

The main change is prompted by the latest Stage V emissions regulations in Europe, which are designed to limit ultrafine particulate emissions in all engines above 25hp (19kW).

John Deere’s compact tractors rated at 25hp and below – the 1026R and 2026R, and the new 3025E – already meet the necessary standards. Other 2R and 3R Series models above 25hp get a new Yanmar 1.6-litre, three-cylinder TNV Series diesel engine that features a high torque reserve, providing plenty of power under heavy loads. This uses the latest engine technologies to improve fuel economy, control and accuracy, while also reducing environmental impact and operating costs.

The engine’s new after-treatment

system consists of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) and diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), similar to that used successfully on John Deere’s larger agricultural tractors. This operates automatically to produce lower levels of exhaust emissions and reduced noise levels, and meets all current requirements for Stage V emission standards.

At the top of the John Deere compact tractor range, the new 4052M and 4052R receive a larger 2.1-litre, four-

cylinder engine with DPF. In addition to the new engine, the 3R and 4R Series compact tractors will be equipped with a new eThrottle function integrated into the eHydro transmission.

This feature is designed make the tractor quieter and more comfortable to use, as well as more fuel efficient. With the simple push of a button, engine speed is linked to the foot pedal position so that engine rpm and tractor speed can both be increased as the pedal is depressed.

The latest 4R Series models can also now be equipped with a StarFire satellite receiver and AutoTrac Universal automatic steering system. This is designed to help operators achieve higher levels of accuracy and input cost savings when working with implements such as amenity turf sprayers, seeders and spreaders. www.deere.co.uk

K U B O TA

PRICE TU RFCARE

User-friendly focus

Versatile Ventrac

Reliable and easy to operate, Kubota’s ST range of diesel tractors is designed with grounds care operators in mind. The machine is lightweight and compact yet powerful, helping it to deliver in terms of speed, manoeuverability and efficiency.

It can be used for a wide range of jobs. For mowing, its mid-PTO-drive mid-mounted mowers and shaft drive feature ensure maximum durability with low maintenance. It can also be used for front-loader or implement work, with grass catchers, trailers, decompaction equipment and pallet forks all easily attached.

The high torque, low noise Kubota diesel engine ensures powerful performance and offers a high and stable output.

Standard features include power steering and cruise control, as well as the exclusive Kubota bi-speed turning. This feature reduces drag, ensuring smoother, faster, and tighter turns, minimising turf damage.

The machine incorporates a cruise control setting which helps to reduce operator fatigue by ensuring a constant speed for mowing and other tasks. Its engine outputs low levels of noise and vibration, which also helps to minimise operator fatigue, improving safety.

Rupert Price, managing director of Price Turfcare, UK importer of the Ventrac compact tractor, says its versatility is its USP. “I’m biased towards compact tractors as it’s my core business, but our equipment has the advantage of being extremely versatile. As far as technology is concerned, Ventrac products are quite basic and for a good reason. They are simple to operate and that’s one of their attractions.

We have slope meters for safety reasons, but apart from that and some quick couplings for the hydraulic-driven accessories, that’s about it.

“With compact tractors comes versatility; they can be fitted with numerous attachments and our Ventracs can swap between implements in less than a minute, due to their innovative mounting system. If you can change that quickly, then it’s more likely that you will!

“The Ventrac 4500 can be used as a mower, with five different mowing decks for various types of turf or as a trencher, aerator, stump grinder, edger, leaf blower, snow blower, snow plough, gritter and more, so it can be used all year round.”

www.kubota-eu.com

www.priceturfcare.com

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 25

PRODUCT SHOWCASE | COMPACT TRACTORS & FERTILISERS

ISEKI

The right machine for the job ISEKI compact tractors are small, light and manoeuvrable, ideal for maintaining sports turf by adding your choice of scarifiers, aerators or other implements to these machines.

The most compact model in the range, the 23hp TXGS24, has hydrostatic transmission, independent rear and mid PTO, auxiliary valve with optional front loader, mid mount decks and collector making it the ideal multi-purpose tractor.

The TM and TH range has 15hp to 35hp models available and a three-point linkage lift capacity of up to 1,100kg.

These offer a choice of hydrostatic or mechanical transmissions.

Should you be tight on budget but do not want to compromise on horsepower and lift capacity, there is the premium economy TLE range. To complete the portfolio is the high specification TG tractor available with ROPS or an air con cab, 65hp and lift capacity of 1,600kg, hydrostatic, IQ DualClutch or PowerShuttle transmission for ease of use. www.iseki.co.uk

TYM

Little and larger

SCH

Broadcasting right The TDS125 broadcaster/ spreader has a generous 60kg hopper size, which is ideal for use on footpaths and small car parks where larger apparatus cannot be used effectively.

The large pneumatic wheels allow the unit to be easily pushed over rough ground and icy surfaces. An adjustable feed control makes it very suitable for the spreading of seed, fertiliser and salt. A shower-proof cover is supplied with this product to keep the contents dry in unfavourable working conditions.

A manual pull handle can be supplied as an optional extra for use on narrow paths or for manoeuvring in and out of storage. www.schsupplies.co.uk

R I G BY TAY L O R

Delta force

The TS25 and T503 are two of TYM’s most versatile and popular tractors.

The subcompact TS25 includes a mid-mounted mowing deck and is available with either a manual or hydrostatic transmission, which means it can be tailored to specific turf maintenance needs. It has a rear lift capacity of 600kg and can easily manage a front loader. It can be fitted with a range of accessories including a spool valve kit, mid-mounted mower, front loader and a rear counter balance.

The T503 is powered by a four-cylinder Perkins diesel engine and is mechanically robust with a well-thought-out platform.

It has an array of optional attachments, and its ability to tow and pull attachments such as aerators further opens up capabilities of this middleweight compact tractor. It offers a range of features and optional extras, including an airconditioned cab, independent auto PTO function, independent 4WD, telescopic lift arms and Dromone trailer hitch.

Both tractors have a powerful diesel engine, hydrostatic power-steering, a tight turning circle and a heavy-duty, fourwheel-drive front axle for greater traction where needed.

The Delta range of organomineral fertilisers, unique to Rigby Taylor, consists of four analyses which are suitable for turf surfaces mown at 10mm and above.

Each analysis has 20% organic content from chicken litter and lignite.

The chicken litter, which is fully composted so pathogen and weed free, contains multiple micro nutrients, boron, copper, magnesium, manganese iron and zinc, which are essential for the uptake of macro nutrients, and all-round plant health.

The addition of lignite gives a more efficient use of nitrogen as more is retained in the upper rootzone compared to pure mineral fertilisers. Lignite is also a source of humic acid, so root development is improved, enhancing surface stability as well as the plants’ ability to access moisture and nutrients. Within the range, the SR15-2-12+0.5Fe contains Methylene Urea. Twenty-six per cent of the total Nitrogen content is slow release, so will deliver nutrient for 8-12 weeks. The compound granule ensures even, accurate application so plant health is maximised and plant stress is minimised.

www.reesinkturfcare.co.uk

www.rigbytaylor.com

26 GROUNDS MANAGEMENT | JULY 2020

FERTILISERS | PRODUCT SHOWCASE

COMPO EXPERT

Fertilisers for all your turf needs

GERMINAL

Organic growth Germinal’s G7 Bio Builder is a granulated 5-3-8 NPK fertiliser which also contains 8% CaO and 0.5% Mg. It can be used at any time during the growing season but is especially effective when used after fine turf swards have been renovated or aerated.

Its 100% organic composition enhances sandbased soil profiles by providing naturally occurring rhizobacteria with a supply of organic material on which to feed. This stimulates biological activity within the rhizosphere and enhances the cation and nutrient exchange capacity of the rootzone, improving the sward’s ability to put down growth.

For a long-lasting effect, the organic-based phased-release fertiliser GSR Tri-Phase provides sward nutrients for up to five months from one application. GSR Tri-Phase contains three forms of nitrogen to provide three phases of nutrient release.

Compo Expert products include the primary plant health elements nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as well as trace elements to improve plant vitality. These include silicon, copper, iron and magnesium, which help turf grass tolerate biotic (disease infection) and abiotic (heat and drought) stress.

Fine turf granular fertilisers, such as Floranid, Fertilis and Easy Green Mini, contain additional trace elements to combat soil deficiencies. The Floranid range contains Compo Expert’s unique slow-release nitrogen products – Isodur and Crotodur.

The Fertilis Swing and Speed products are compound NPK fertilisers with trace elements, plus the added Bacillus Subtilis E4-CDX for root growth and vitality, while Easy Green Mini is a compound NPK fertiliser with trace elements included.

One of the many Compo Expert liquid fertiliser ranges include Vitanica, which contains Ecklonia Maxima kelp seaweed extracts – available in Vitanica RZ (including rhizosphere bacterium) and Vitanica MC (containing magnesium and copper) for plant strength and colour. www.compo-expert.com

HEADLAND AMENITY

www.germinal.com

ICL

Slow and steady wins New for 2020, SierraformGT CalMag is a slow-release fertiliser supplying calcium, magnesium and trace elements for turf growth and all-round plant health.

The nitrogen content is mostly slow-release (MU) based to create a sustained release and steady even growth. The new analysis also contains polyhalite to supply potassium, calcium and magnesium when required. The added SeaMax aims to bring benefits from plant rooting and stress tolerance.

Ed Carter, UK sales and development manager, says: “Our team has worked hard to create a nitrogen release pattern that will maintain consistently healthy growth through its 8-week release period.” www.icl-sf.co.uk

Growing value In the current climate, turf managers need good value fertiliser products. The first step could be to identify if there are reserves of P and K in the soil – in which case, straight nitrogen products can offer some of the least expensive nutritional inputs, while still providing a controlled-growth response.

In the right circumstances, a liquid application of a slowrelease nitrogen – such as Headland’s Xtend Soluble 46-0-0 – will provide over 18kg N/Ha when applied at just two bags per hectare. The nitrogen is designed to become available slowly, extending its performance depending on soil type.

Costs can be almost halved when compared with similar NPK granular products.

Where granular applications are preferred, lower cost often means larger granules/prills, less slow- or controlled-release nutrients and blended formulations. www.headlandamenity.com

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 27

TECHNICAL UPDATE: COVID-19

TECHNICAL UPDATE | WATER MANAGEMENT

PREPARING ARTIFICIAL PITCHES FOR POST-LOCKDOWN PLAY With the Covid-19 restrictions set to continue, artificial pitches may have to wait longer before they will be accessible. So, what should be done now, while they are not in use, and in preparation for their re-opening?

AN ARTIFICIAL PITCH needs to be regularly maintained by consistent brushing and cleaning to keep it in a safe and acceptable condition. The recent lack of use may have resulted in a build-up of vegetation, animal activity, or other contamination to the surface – worse still, even vandalism.

This could mean that a deep brush will be needed (as a minimum) or, indeed, an intensive clean. A simple checklist (downloadable from www.sportslabs. com) will flag up most potential issues, including: • Is the infill low or uneven and the pile flat?

• Is there evidence of animal activity (such as birds or foxes) on the surface?

• Are the goals broken?

There are many reasons why you should start getting ready now for any ease of restrictions.

Don’t leave it until the week before you need the pitch. Start planning.

If you need to effect repairs, order equipment (is your machinery/brushes up to the job?) or hire a contractor for the tasks – leaving work to the last minute risks getting left at the back of the queue. If you need to order chemicals, check what is suitable; not all are compatible.

28 GROUNDS MANAGEMENT | JULY 2020

What’s needed now?

Light brushing: Drag brushing is the main operation for most pitches.

Surfaces should be brushed and decompacted frequently, aligned to pitch use. Where there is compaction, tines can loosen infill and return it to the correct levels. All other artificial surfaces should be, as a minimum, brushed.

Deep brushing: Deep brushing and intensive maintenance with specialist equipment may be needed. If so, it is recommended that a specialist company performs this.

Vegetation: The lockdown may have resulted in an increase in the formation of moss, weed and algae. As we have been in lockdown during spring, blooms, leaf covers and young leaves have been shedding, and perhaps adding to contamination levels. Manual removal of this will probably be necessary, with some localised weed suppression.

Topping up: Some pitches may be lacking infill. A simple check on the level will determine free pile height against manufacturers’ recommendations.

Topping up is best undertaken with the assistance of a specialist; incorrectly applied infill can bury the pile, and affect the play and look of the surface.

Correct infill levels protect your asset.

Eric O’Donnell Managing director, Sports Labs

Cleaning: Removing contamination from birds and animals is a priority.

Once cleaned, it is recommended that a disinfectant is applied to the entire pitch. Any disinfectant should be cleared with your supplier because some chemicals can damage fibres or the backing of the turf. In addition, there are disinfectants that are effective against coronavirus, and cleaning and disinfecting to remove pathogens is a recommended strategy for all facilities.

Vandalism/repairs: There could be cuts and burns in the turf, goal structure damage and damage to fencing. You many even find vehicles have been brought onto the surface. All should be referred to your supplier as there may be warranty implications.

Warranties: It is very unlikely that this period of inactivity on your 3G pitch will result in an invalid warranty. But check with your supplier. ■ Any maintenance operations on playing surfaces should be carried out within Government Covid-19 guidelines Email corona@sportslabs.co.uk for further information, and visit www.sportengland.org; www.sapca.org.uk; and The International Hockey Federation at www.fih.ch/

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thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 29

GROW WITH THE GMA

Level-headed!

Jackie Evans has taken benefit from plenty of professional development at Wellington College – but she’s taking a steady approach to future plans for now

Colin Hoskins Editor

H AV I NG RE CE NT LY gained her Level 3 GMA Technical Diploma in Turf Surface Management, 38-year-old Jackie Evans says that while she could further develop her passion for cricket pitch maintenance, and perhaps undertake Level 4 accreditation, her full-time job at Wellington College and her young son are probably more than enough to keep her busy at the moment.

How did you enter the industry?

I have been involved for 22 years, solely working at Wellington College in Berkshire. My father is head of grounds here and I used to help out during the school holidays for pocket money.

When I left school, a position became available. I enrolled on a day-release course at Merrist Wood College for two years and worked hard at the college to be promoted to deputy five years later.

What is your role at the college?

The grounds team has six members. I work alongside the head of grounds and supervise the team, allocating daily tasks. I also assist with inhouse training. We have 65 acres to maintain that includes 16 winter pitches, nine cricket squares, 14 grass nets, artificial cricket nets, two artificial hockey pitches, hard tennis courts, netball courts and a grass athletics track plus field events.

During the summer I maintain the 1st team cricket square (21 pitches) to county standard; in itself a full-time job. I also supervise the work on our other eight squares and grass nets, advising when necessary. Once the cricket season has finished and all the squares have been renovated, I help with the preparation of the winter pitches.

Jackie is kept busy with her role as deputy head of grounds at Wellington College

You’ve recently been accredited to Level 3. Have you undertaken any other training?

I have completed a range of courses (see right). I have also gained two awards: the GMA Bill Ponton Award for the Most Improved Student (under 18); and the SISIS Award for the Best Student in Turf Management.

All team members have the opportunity to take part in regular training courses.

What benefits did you gain by undertaking the Level 3 online?

I work full-time and have a six-year-old son, so being able to have the flexibility to study at my own pace was a huge benefit.

What is your next step – in terms of both qualifications and aspirations in the industry?

Visit www.thegma.org.uk/learning for details of GMA training and education courses, along with news of GMA’s new part-time online tutor who is also looking at ways to encourage people to join GMA Learning.

30 GROUNDS MANAGEMENT | JULY 2020

I have developed a passion for cricket pitch preparation. I really enjoy the work that is involved, and teaching team members how to prepare pitches. So, I would like to learn more in this area to eventually have a role at a cricket ground. Also, I would like to study the Level 4 at some point but for now my focus is my son. ■

JACKIE’S KEY TRAINING • NVQ Level 2 Sports Turf/Amenity horticulture • GMA Level 2: Effective Maintenance of Artificial Surfaces • GMA Level 1 Cricket Pitches: In season • GMA Level 1 Cricket Pitches: Renovation • GMA Level 2 Cricket Pitches: Applied Turf Culture • GMA Level 3 Cricket Pitches: Advanced Turf Culture • GMA Level 3 Grounds: Management • NPTC PA1 & PA6 Spraying