Grounds Management - May 2020

Making sport possible

HOLDING FAST Advice for keeping your grassroots grounds ticking over

TIPS FROM THE TOP How top grounds staff have been adapting

YOUNG GUN

A new role for award winner Nick Pepper

LOCAL HERO

Harborough Town FC’s Kez Dunkley

May 2020 | £4.00

GROUNDS MANAGEMENT

MAY 2020

WELCOME Thank you!

The past few weeks have changed the way we live and work. As a sector, we work outdoors. We work with science and nature. We work with technology.

And we work long hours preparing playing surfaces for every level of sport across the spectrum. We work in parks, stadia, schools, colleges, universities and at community clubs.

So, to be asked to stay at home goes against all our natural instincts. But we are facing an invisible enemy that has turned sport on its head.

Our sector has acted with respect and restraint, as advised by Government, in providing essential maintenance to our green spaces and sports facilities. And many of you have paid tribute to NHS staff with ‘thank you’ messages marked on turf.

We have ensured that the profile of our industry has been recognised during this time, with articles in The Times and The Guardian, for example, and on Radio 5 Live, providing insightful interviews portraying our industry in a positive way. In addition to providing advice about safe, essential working (www.thegma.org.uk/covid-19-0), GMA has also been active updating Government on the issues you face.

Every letter, email and call to the DCMS will help Government prepare for when restrictions are lifted.

We know it’s not easy but, on behalf of everyone at GMA, thank you for acting responsibly, for staying strong and for the work you do in enhancing communities by preparing the pitches that make sport possible.

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REGULARS

FEATURES

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Industry news Including GMA Covid-19 messaging

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GMA update Working for the future of grounds care

Industry advice Top grounds managers explain how they are adapting during the pandemic

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SALTEX news Profiling Mr SALTEX, Derek Walder

Technical update Advice for keeping your grounds ticking over

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GaNTIP update Success at Nailsea and Tickenham FC

Harborough Town FC Best practice in the community sports sector

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Young gun: Nick Pepper The award-winning grounds keeper on his new role

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Grow with GMA Charterhouse grounds professional Joanne Rawlinson

This magazine is printed using paper from responsible sources

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In action Products from Headland Amenity, Pellenc, Dennis, Rigby Taylor, Reesink Turfcare and GreenMech

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Product showcase Weed and pest control, sprayers and grass seed

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

The new online training aims to build turf care knowledge

GMA offers fee deferral AS PART of its plans to help members affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, GMA is offering payment deferral on membership fees for up to three months. Any new members signing up by direct debit before July will also receive a three-month deferral. To make a claim for a deferral, please email membership@thegma.org.uk

Latest Covid-19 guidance from GMA GMA

Grounds Management Association launches online training GROUNDS MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, the leading not-forprofit organisation for grounds professionals and volunteers, has announced further support for its Individual, Organisation and Corporate members during the coronavirus outbreak.

From May 5, GMA launched its new online learning courses, boosting the nation’s grounds care skills to get the best results out of sport surfaces, which can be put into play as soon as normal working resumes. The training covers the maintenance of sport surfaces and facilities at grassroots level – which allows the opportunity to enhance practical skills with a sound understanding of turf grass basics.

Costing £25 inc. VAT for every delegate, Level 1 training is suitable for professionals and volunteers, and the courses include cricket, football, rugby league and rugby union. Each participant will receive a certificate upon completion and be signposted to practical videos to use after the session.

The training aims to help build a cohort of skilled grounds staff

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and volunteers and make sport possible across the nation, helping to increase the number of games played on natural turf pitches, resulting in even better user experiences.

The online courses follow the theory content of the traditional

THE TRAINING AIMS TO HELP BUILD A COHORT OF SKILLED GROUNDS STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS courses and allow participants to join a virtual community, receive remote mentoring and enhance career prospects.

GMA is also developing a progressive online training package of courses for both professionals and volunteers, including Level 2 and 3 to complement the skills required beyond Level 1.

Find out more at https://portal.iog. org/education/courses

GMA HAS CONTINUED to network with sports bodies and Government to provide the latest guidance for the sector. Our primary focus remains the safety and wellbeing of everyone in the industry.

We have been able to gain clarity from Government that for those where working from home is not possible, it is possible to resume work. However, this can only happen if you feel well and that it is deemed safe (by your employer) for you to do so. Work on pitches should only be considered if it is essential, safe and does not conflict with current Government guidance.

We urge staff and employers to monitor guidance daily. If you have any questions, contact your employer or sports body which can provide the most relevant information for you. We have produced a set of ‘safe working’ tips for employers, relevant specifically to our sector – visit www.thegma. org.uk/guidance-interim-worksyour-sports-turf for details.

Webinar: GMA Live GMA will air its first ‘GMA Live – Back to Play’ webinar on May 13 at 8pm. The free session will be hosted

by Jason Booth, GMA director of technical and learning, who will give advice on the minimum works required to keep surfaces ticking over for football, cricket, rugby, horse racing, bowling and croquet.

Register at www.thegma.org.uk/ news/gma-live Diary date. Next webinar: Wednesday June 10.

NEWS | UPDATE

CHARITY

Toro helps fund Covid-19 effort

EGO equipment will be used as part of the new courses

THE TORO COMPANY has announced that it is giving $500,000 (around £403,000) to help families and communities worldwide that have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Grant funding from the Toro Foundation will cover all regions where the company operates.

“Supporting our customers and communities is an important part of our culture,” said Rick Olson, chairman and chief executive officer of The Toro Company. “Now more than ever, it is critical that we come together to respond to the unprecedented challenges posed by Covid-19.”

The contributions include commitments to several global non-profits that are assisting in the relief efforts, including the American Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross, Feeding America and the World Food Program. The commitment also includes a special programme for Toro employees who wish to give to designated Covid-19 relief organisations.

Under the scheme, Toro will match employee contributions to a non-profit organisation. www.toro.com

TRAINING

EGO and Lantra offer new training courses EGO HAS JOINED forces with training provider Lantra to offer professional courses for battery-powered outdoor equipment.

The courses will teach students how to productively use battery-powered equipment and will cover the safe maintenance and use of units such as mowers, chainsaws, pole saws, hedge trimmers and brush cutters.

EGO is providing Lantra’s network of training partners with a range of equipment for use as part of the courses.

Lantra is one of the UK and Ireland’s leading awarding bodies for landbased industries.

David Fisher, head of industry partnerships at Lantra, said: “Batterypowered equipment is growing in usage and appeal. This is why we felt it important to deliver courses that ensures users feel confident using these tools efficiently and safely.”

Find out more at egopowerplus.co.uk

FUNDING

NEWS IN BRIEF

National Lottery Heritage Fund announces £50m support fund

THE NATIONAL LOTTERY Heritage Fund has announced a new £50 million emergency fund to help the sector cope with the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak. Funding for grants of between £3,000-50,000 will be available to organisations that have received funding in the past and are either a current grantee or still under contract following a previous grant. Applications will be open to the full breadth of heritage, including historic sites, parks and gardens, landscapes and nature.

Organisations looking after historic parks can apply for help

Find out more at www.heritagefund.org.uk

Perennial advice

Parks to stay open

Industry charity Perennial is offering support and advice to those suffering hardship as a result of the coronavirus lockdown. The charity’s website (perennial.org.uk) includes an online budgeting tool, money advice section and a guide to the benefits available to people struggling during the crisis.

You can contact the Perennial helpline on 0800 093 8543, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

The Government has told local authorities they must keep parks and green spaces open for exercise and recreation. The secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, Robert Jenrick, said the spaces must remain open for those living with limited open space.

The Government also announced an additional £1.3 billion of funding for local authorities.

Chelsea stadium plans on hold Chelsea Football Club has announced it will postpone plans to build a new stadium, acknowledging that its planning permission expired on March 31 2020. The club had permission to build a 60,000-seat venue at Stamford Bridge but said the plans would now be on hold “until economic conditions improve”.

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UPDATE | NEWS

Sport bodies offer relief funds BRITISH SPORT BODIES are offering financial assistance to help the industry recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sport England (www.sportengland.org), the Rugby Football Union (RFU, www.englandrugby.com), the Rugby Football League (RFL, www.rugby-league.com) and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA, www.lta.org.uk) are all offering funding and support to help organisations and clubs bounce back.

Sport England has announced up to £195 million of funding to help the sport and physical activity sector through the crisis. The RFU has launched a support fund worth £7 million for community clubs in England. Clubs will be able to apply for loans from £2,000 up to £10,000, while clubs with existing loans have had their loan repayments suspended. Meanwhile the LTA has announced a multi-million pound package to help keep clubs and venues viable. It includes a venue support line and a hardship fund. In addition, the RFL will receive a £16 million cash injection to safeguard the immediate future of the sport for the communities it serves, the Government has announced.

All Super League, Championship and League 1 clubs based in England can apply for a loan.

NEWS IN BRIEF

FUNDING

Hayter Harrier turns 50 The Harrier range of mowers, manufactured by Hayter, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2020. The original model was launched in 1970 and the Harrier has won various awards over the years, including the BAGMA award. These days the Harrier 48 and 56 continue to offer high performance mowing while the Harrier Pro features two-piece steel rollers for turfcare professionals.

Find out more at www.hayter.co.uk

Kioti offers five-year warranty PEOPLE

Gary Robertson joins Precision Microbes GARY ROBERTSON HAS worked in the turf industry for 25 years, including a stint as a Premier League groundsman, working in Bulgaria as a construction and grow-in manager, and as technical sales manager at Consolidate Turf.

Gary is confident that the Precision Microbes’ products will help grounds staff who may feel short of renovation time when sport eventually resumes play following the current lockdown. “Our organic range will complement existing practices and potentially alleviate some of the issues resulting through the inability to turn the surface over,” he says.

PRODUCTS

Iseki launches virtual demos ISEKI UK HAS produced the first three in a series of virtual demonstrations of its equipment, as a means of staying in touch with customers during the coronavirus lockdown.

David Withers, managing director of Iseki UK, produced the videos to help turf care managers who are still able to work, but who are temporarily unable to have

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face-to-face demonstrations.

“I thought that if customers can’t come to us, we’ll go to them, albeit in a virtual sense,” said David.

The videos help demonstrate an SXG323+ mower, SF235 & SF224 outfront mowers and an SRA950F ride-on brush cutter. David said: “I felt it was important to try to connect with as many of our community as possible in a lighthearted and informative manner.”

View the videos on Iseki UK’s channel at www.youtube.com

Tractor firm Kioti has announced that all new tractors sold will be covered by a five-year, 3,000-hour warranty. The warranty cover for new Kioti Mechron K9 units sold is also enhanced, running to two years with unlimited hours. www.kioti-uk.com

Year-round use for Valdor Flex The residual herbicide Valdor Flex from Bayer (see page 37) has received a label update, extending usage periods and application areas. The product can now be used on amenity vegetation (eg around the base of trees) and all year round; previously its use was restricted to February to June. www.bayer.co.uk

Groundsman Association Denmark announces award winner The Groundsman Association Denmark (GAD) has announced Miki Stengaard Petersen, 26, as the winner of the Campey Turf Care Systems and Havdrup Danish Student of the Year 2019. The award is given to the student who finishes the Danish Groundsmen’s school with the highest grade in the final exam. Miki works for Danish First Division team Skive IK.

UPDATE | PRODUCT

ICL

Gronamic

EGO

Range additions EGO is launching a powerful new 10Ah battery and a range of equipment in its Power+ line, including a new 42cm selfpropelled mower and a 45cm chainsaw. Additionally, the company is introducing new tools for its multi-tool.

To help customers and dealers to recognise the right tool for their needs, EGO is also creating three distinct product ranges.

The Power+ range includes the new 42cm self-propelled mower. The Power+ Professional range covers larger gardens and heavier use. This includes the new 45cm chainsaw. Finally, the Power+ Professional-X is for heavyduty professional use as well as specialist users and applications.

This includes the new Rotocut attachment. www.egopowerplus.co.uk

ICL has launched Gronamic, a new range of organo-mineral fertilisers.

The range comprises various analyses and particle sizes to suit the demands of all types of fine and coarse turf.

The range combines the benefits of mineral and organic sources of nutrient to provide consistent and long-lasting growth responses. There are four products in the range: two Gronamic Golf mixes (High N and High K), Gronamic Sport and Gronamic Allround. All of the products have a low C:N ratio, to ensure optimal nutrient availability (as C:N ratio increases plant nutrient availability in short term reduces). The Gronamic range is also part of ICL’s Turf Rewards scheme – purchasing 25 x 25kg will earn five points. www.icl-sf.com

GKB

Deep Tine Aerator The Deep Tine Aerator (DTA) works on natural sports pitches to relieve surface compaction, enabling water to travel through and stronger roots to develop. With an adjustable 25-degree heave angle, the GKB DTA’s tine holding system allows the user to take control of alleviating compaction, from varying depths up to 16 inches. Featuring a three-speed gearbox, the speed on the tines can be adjusted to create the required hole pattern in the turf, and with its unique tine mounting system, quick changeover of tines is easy. www.gkbmachines.com

ECHO

HC-2020, HC-2020-R and HC-2320 ECHO has introduced a new range of three double-sided hedgetrimmers: the HC-2020, HC-2020-R and HC-2320, all of which replace existing models. The new trimmers are lighter in weight and feature a reduced emissions engine.

The HC-2020 replaces ECHO’s HC1501. It features 534mm length cutting blades for tackling small to medium jobs. The Japanese double-edged cutter blades offer sharpness and durability

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while the hedgetrimmer is balanced and lightweight at just 4.5kg dry weight.

The HC-2020R replaces the ECHO HCR-1501, offering a rotatable handle version of the HC-2020 double-sided hedgetrimmer. The five-position handle allows users to find the most comfortable position for cutting at different angles.

Replacing the HC-156 is the new ECHO HC-2320, a light, double-sided

hedgetrimmer with an extralong 639mm blade for tackling larger, taller hedges. The lighter weight and ergonomic construction combine with robust components to result in a rugged yet easy to use hedgetrimmer. www.echo-tools.co.uk

GMA Live – Back to Play Sign-up now for our first Grounds Management Association webinar!

Date: Wednesday May 13 2020 Time: 8:00pm – 9:00pm GMA Live: Back to Play will cover latest news and the GMA’s interim works documents.

Hosted by Jason Booth (Director of Technical and Learning.

GMA), Tom Rowley and Ian Mather-Brewster (Key Account Managers – Football & Cricket for GaNTIP) This webinar has been created with our members in mind, providing recommendations on the current minimum works that may be required to keep sports surfaces ticking along across football, cricket, rugby, horse racing, bowling and croquet.

This free webinar aims to help you understand: • What may happen to your surface if it’s not maintained • How you can bring your playing surface ‘back to play’ • How GMA is encouraging more volunteers to sign-up and help grassroots sports get ‘back to play’ • Core grounds maintenance tasks, and how to identify these • Where to go for latest funding, advice and support It’s FREE to attend. Join us on Wednesday May 13. Please sign-up online using the link below: www.thegma.org.uk/news/gma-live

Save the date: next seminar Wednesday June 10.

Grounds Management Association has continued to network with sports bodies and Government to provide the latest guidance for the sector. Our primary focus always remains the safety, as well as the physical and mental wellbeing of everyone working in the industry. We also understand that each working situation and environment during this challenging time is a case-by-case scenario.

PROGRESS | GMA UPDATE

POSITIVE PROGRESS Geoff Webb Chief executive of Grounds Management Association Geoff says the overwhelming industrywide positive response to the organisation’s rebranding is set to underpin a modern and progressive industry-focused membership organisation

Join us in this exciting journey.

Become a member today: www.thegma.org.uk/membership

Grounds Management Association sows new seeds to inspire future workforce T HE M AI N T H R US T of the Grounds Management Association (GMA) in these unprecedented times is to continue to provide appropriate guidance to help keep our members, their families and the wider industry safe during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly while all playing surfaces are ‘on hold’ until Government begins to relax social distancing restrictions and until sport can resume again.

We have created a dedicated section on our website (www.thegma.org.uk/ covid-19-0) that not only acts as a reminder of the Government’s safe working practices and provides useful sources of advice for members’ wellbeing, but also highlights how grounds managers – both professional and volunteer – can keep their playing surfaces ‘ticking over’ with minimal maintenance during these difficult times.

At the same time, GMA is working hard to ensure that our usual services remain ‘business as usual’ – including our annual trade show, SALTEX. We also continue building our ambitions for the Pitch Grading Framework and have just announced the launch of new online learning. The training, suitable for professionals and volunteers, covers the maintenance of sport surfaces and

facilities at grassroots level to enhance practical skills. We are determined to plough on with our ambitions in professionalising the grounds sector, and also inspiring the next generation of talent to help raise the status and future of the profession.

The facts are: our industry is not attracting enough new recruits; it has an ageing demographic; and there is a lack of diversity. Our new identity is contemporary, fresh and bold, better positioning GMA to address this, and we will be working hard to reach new audiences in 2020 and beyond. This includes developing a platform with modern services – and messages – to attract more people into the industry.

This embraces our ‘Grounds for Sport’ campaign, which seeks to highlight how vital grounds management is to sport nationwide. Through extensive research during the rebrand process, we believe GMA is now ideally placed to promote the profession to wider audiences, while continuing to raise awareness of the vital work of grounds managers and staff – both professional and volunteer, elite and grassroots – to attract a new generation.

The restrictions placed on everyone

by Covid-19 are a challenge across the industry, but I’m confident that we will emerge from this as an even stronger notfor-profit association that has the industry and its workforce – the people who make sport possible – at its heart. www.thegma.org.uk

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COMMENT | COVID-19 ADVICE

KEEPING THINGS TICKING OVER Playing surfaces of every type are being kept ‘ticking over’ during the coronavirus pandemic. We asked grounds people up and down the country how they are managing while adhering to Government advice on safe working practices

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MICHAEL YAN HIP Head groundsperson, Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh

“WITH OUR USUAL five full-time staff now down to three due to furloughing, and a daily shift for everyone of 4.5 hours (no breaks so no lunchtime ‘contact’), we are continuing to maintain our 97-acre site and, in terms of the sports surfaces, keeping them up to standard as best we can.

“We started with a basic cutting regime of 1.5 cuts a week but are now undertaking three cuts a week – with no fertilising, topdressing or vertidraining – keeping the three cricket pitches and the eight rugby surfaces at 25mm using rotary and gang mowers.

“The heavy rainfall earlier this year has been followed by a dry April, with only 2mm of rain, and the morning dew is currently [at the end of April] ensuring there is still enough moisture in the top profile.

“Social distancing isn’t a problem on our expansive site but, in addition to the ‘no contact’ shifts, the team is also encouraged to bring their own flasks of drinks.

We use anti-bacterial spray on all contact surfaces and items such as padlocks, gates and steering wheels, and there is a good supply of rubber gloves.”

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Colin Hoskins Editor

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MARK WOODWARD Head groundsman Grasshoppers RFC, Osterley, West London

“I AM ONE OF the lucky few in that I am able to carry on working during the lockdown.

I am maintaining the grass pitches as usual with regular cuts and watering as well as other landscape maintenance work, including over 200 young trees plus regular strimming of banking. With our two newly-constructed grass pitches, we are experiencing some teething problems so regular maintenance is crucial in keeping these going. Other works include aeration and local repairs to the playing surface as well as general weeding.

“We had been planning to Koro them off, reseed then topdress but, due to the Covid-19 outbreak, we have decided to delay this work. Instead, we are going to do a basic fertiliser and a sports field ‘renovation’ mix grass seed.

Once we are operating again, we will review and decide what work needs doing to get the pitches ready for the new season. The club is fortunate to have our first team 3G pitch to fulfil some of our commitments until the grass pitches are available.”

COVID-19 ADVICE | COMMENT

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KARL MCDERMOTT Head groundsman, Lord’s

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GUY WOODWARD Head groundsman, Warwick Racecourse

LIVING ON-SITE, Karl McDermott says he is carrying on cutting and rolling to ensure that the ‘Home of Cricket’ will be ready whenever the sport resumes.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Karl said: “Being at work on your own and not greeting the lads is a bit strange. My deputy comes in a couple of days a week, to look after the Nursery Ground, but we’re working in isolation from each other. I would have liked to use this downtime to complete some more reseeding and top-dressing of the wickets, but I have to prioritise the big jobs.”

He offers a few pointers for volunteer cricket staff: • Prioritise – now isn’t the time to do all those little jobs around the ground; you just won’t have the time • Focus on cutting and rolling the square – the outfield can wait for a few weeks • Make sure your square is ready to go so, when we get the go-ahead, you don’t have to waste time before your first game.

Visit www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/52182319 to read the full story.

“WE WERE WELL through our racing season when the lockdown came into effect. The abrupt end to the season meant we lost our busy April and May period, but with 12 fixtures already staged, we had plenty of winter damage to repair.

“Fortunately, a change in the weather towards the end of March led to great conditions for the necessary levelling and vertidraining work. We have since overseeded and applied fertiliser and, given the prevailing dry weather through April, it has proved necessary to irrigate. This work, alongside cutting twice a week, is plenty to keep myself and groundsman Luke Randall busy (the other three members of our team are on furlough).

“Warwick remains a busy site, nevertheless.

With the central area open to the public and some key working events still being held, there is always something to be attended to.”

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DANNY NEGUS Head groundsman, Devonshire Park

“IT WAS AGREED at the beginning of March that, when required, I would split teams into two groups across all my sites with an on/off rotation. One task is allocated to one operator who is responsible for the cleaning of any equipment used. Double gloves are worn at all times.

“All staff are supplied with hand sanitisers and the last member of the team to leave applies disinfectant on any facility used. Limiting contact by removing all breaks, for example, has been welcomed by the team.

“All ‘playing surfaces’ now take priority (the greens being the priority on the golf course) and all other surfaces are being maintained at a level to limit any impact on budgets. Plant nutrition has been my focus; we try to ensure we still have plant health yet control its lateral growth. This limits our frequency of application and therefore the mechanical processes that would naturally follow.

“The desire is to still be an operational venue for both major tennis and golf this season. However, my team’s wellbeing will always trump all of the above.”

ANDY CAMBRIDGE Volunteer groundsman, Foxton FC, Cambridge

“I’VE ALWAYS WORKED solo at the five acres of sports surfaces on two sites in Foxton so the Covid-19 situation hasn’t affected me much.

“With the football season finishing early, I managed to scarify, vertidrain and overseed the pitches before the restrictions were in place. Since then, I have focused on watering the new seed – cutting will resume when the seed has established – moving the sprinkler to concentrate on the central area of the main pitch, for example, that receives most wear. Also, I have been hand watering to encourage growth on the pitch areas that encounter heavy wear (goalmouths, centre circles, dug-outs and spectator areas). I recently applied a controlled-release fertiliser to the pitches.

“My work on the adjoining school field continues, where I had previously overseeded the goalmouths and now undertake an amount of raking, brushing and cutting to keep the site ‘ticking over’.”

Andy is also ‘deputising’ for the now vulnerable person who traditionally maintains the recreation ground’s cricket pitch.

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TECHNICAL UPDATE

BE PREPARED The nation will have many questions about the current and potential restrictions the Government may impose to reduce the transmission of coronavirus and, in terms of the turf care industry, what ongoing sports turf maintenance can be performed to provide a fit-for-play surface when sport resumes. This article sets out what may happen to the surfaces and soils should they be left alone for lengthy periods, what maintenance can currently be done at grassroots level and what works will be needed when play resumes

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COVID-19 ADVICE | TECHNICAL UPDATE

Jason Booth On behalf of the Grounds & Natural Turf Improvement Programme

Is it essential?

Your priority is to keep safe, protect others by avoiding contact with those outside your household and maintain social distancing. If you are working, ensure all precautions are taken to avoid putting anyone at risk. If you cannot work safely, you should not be working nor be forced into working by others.

Follow Government advice.

Grass cutting With reduced wear and tear on the grass, and no need to provide a player experience, then it is possible to let the grass grow a little longer, within reason (see guidelines). The grass will be under less stress by being longer. The sward will open out a little, which will reduce disease pressures (less humidity among the leaves) and will encourage greater root growth which, in turn, will improve soil structure, reduce drought stress and improve infiltration and surface stability. Mow regularly to encourage tillering and maintain a good sward density (number of plants per square metre).

If it is left to grow too tall, the grass plant will become ‘leggy’ and ‘clump like’ and sward density will reduce as plants compete against each other. The plant will try to set seed and weeds can establish in the more open sward. It will be hard to get the surface back into a suitable playing condition because the grass may be too tall for the mowers that are available and, as grass height is reduced, the cover will be thin and patchy. It can also be difficult to manage the excess clippings which, if left in large quantities on the surface, can damage the grass beneath. This is particularly important on cricket squares.

Aeration Aeration improves soil structure,

nutrient cycling and soil gas transfer. If carried out with heave, it will reduce soil compaction and increase infiltration rates, encouraging water to move into the soil rather than be lost by evaporation. Roots will be able to explore more of the soil profile and this will help produce a surface which can better withstand wear and tear when play starts again.

The soil at aeration depth needs to be dry enough to crumble easily in your hand. If it smears or you can roll it into a ball, it is too wet – wait until it dries further. You may need to spike at a shallower depth initially, then deeper as the soil dries. Don’t aerate if it is coming into a dry spell unless you can irrigate, or if it is already too dry.

Fertilising Fertilising will encourage growth and could make keeping on top of cutting an even greater challenge.

In many cases, there will be no need to apply a fertiliser as it will not need to recover from wear and tear, and the grass will grow naturally using the nutrients already in the soil. If fertilised, it may become too dense and fast growing, increasing disease risk and result in increased mowing and scarification requirements. If fertilising is considered essential, consider an autumn/winter fertiliser to help maintain or improve root growth – without excessive leaf growth that will need more mowing.

Weeds Weeds are part of everyday life on grassroots playing surfaces. The soil contains many viable weed and grass seeds, and some will germinate. Normally they need space to do so. If you can minimise bare patches and brush off worm casts quickly, weed establishment will be slowed down.

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TECHNICAL UPDATE | COVID-19 ADVICE

Research into turf management under lockdown A NEW RESEARCH project could provide answers to the pressing questions of managing turf under lockdown, with results reported weekly as the trial progresses to enable grounds teams to make informed decisions.

Sponsored by Syngenta, in association with ICL and STRI, the initiative will give an insight into the implications of lower intensity mowing regimes on fine turf surfaces, along with some of the techniques to more effectively manage growth.

The trial at Bingley, Yorkshire, led by STRI’s Dr Christian Spring, will deliver up-to-the-minute results of the effects on turf quality, and suggested actions to help maintain playing surfaces for when play can resume.

STRI’s team will provide weekly trial updates and advice from observations of sward height, uniformity, clipping yield, colour and overall turf health. The ‘Managing turf under lockdown’ project will also include investigations of the results of different mowing regimes on poa/ bentgrass, with five, three or one cut per week.

The height of cut for all of the treatments will be 5mm, to reflect current practice and enable turf to optimise use of water and nutrient resources, as well as reduce disease pressure.

Syngenta technical manager, Marcela Munoz, said: “At a time when many fine turf managers have been forced to reduce mowing frequency, they need answers to what the effects will be on turf quality for the future.

Rapid reporting of the findings from the trial could help them to make better decisions to maintain turf more efficiently and effectively through this period.”

Weekly reports and videos from the initiative will be available at www.greencast.co.uk with further advice and commentary on the GreenCast Advisory blog and Twitter @syngentaturfuk

16 GROUNDS MANAGEMENT | MAY 2020

Local repairs Where possible, and where resources permit, take time to repair areas that have always caused issues – typically with light renovations by hand forking (or machine, if a large area), a light fertiliser application, overseeding and light topdressing followed up with regular watering to aid germination and establishment.

This may not be considered to be essential works unless restricted to small areas that are genuine problem areas and would need work doing to them anyway.

Irrigation Irrigation should be carried out as needed but do not over-irrigate as too much water will affect growth and may impact soil conditions to the extent that compaction occurs with subsequent maintenance operations. If your ability to irrigate is limited, focus on those areas with the weakest grass growth or newly sown grass.

Getting surfaces back into ‘fit for play’ condition If left with minimal or no maintenance, then inevitably the playing surface will be affected detrimentally. But the surface will not be beyond repair and you can get it back in a playable condition in a fairly short period. It will be important that you have a plan in place and ready to go when the restrictions are lifted. This will include ordering products, machinery and equipment, organising a working group and employing contractors if needed.

It is important that some form of reduced but regular maintenance work has been carried out during this period, so that a gradual

reduction in mowing height over, say, a two-week period can be achieved. A gradual increase in the usual maintenance activities, including a fertiliser application to help encourage a thickening of the sward, will help to quickly produce a suitable playing surface. Potential actions include: • If grass length is too long, scarify or flail mow to cut down vegetation, remove some thatch, surface debris and unwanted grasses. Arisings should be collected where possible.

• Chain harrow with rough side down to level any areas as well as possible and create a seed bed.

• Apply selective herbicide (any spraying should be undertaken by a qualified specialist).

• Introduce a regular mowing regime to encourage rejuvenation of the grasses.

• If required, overseed at a rate of 30-40gm/m2 in at least three directions.

• Fertiliser – carry out a soil analysis and devise a fertiliser programme tailored to your surface.

The length of time needed to become playable and to the required standard will also depend on the condition of the surface in the first place – which will be helped by regular but reduced maintenance practices during this difficult time. The main message is to continue with your typical maintenance practices but at the minimum intensity necessary to meet the basic needs of your surface. In all cases, have an ongoing dialogue with your club/ league/employer to agree what is essential, to enforce safe working practice and ensure sufficient leadin time to get the surface safe and match ready. ■

Note: These are abridged versions of the GMA guidelines.

Please visit www.thegma.org.uk/covid-19-0 for ‘live’ updated advice.

Sport England (www.sportengland.org) has made available £195 million of support which includes a £20 million Community Emergency Fund for clubs and community organisations to bid into. Grants between £300 and £10,000 are available.

The Rugby Football Union (www.englandrugby.com) has launched a support fund worth £7 million for community clubs in England to help them cope with the uncertainty created by the pandemic.

The Lawn Tennis Association (www.lta.org.uk) has announced a multi-million pound package of additional funding and measures to support those involved in tennis, including additional support for tennis venues.

The Rugby Football League (www.rugby-league. com) will receive £16 million from the Government.

Super League, Championship and League 1 clubs in England can apply for loans.

COVID-19 ADVICE | TECHNICAL UPDATE

Bowls Mowing heights of cut (HoC) during non-play Suggested HoC: 8-12mm (a typical winter height will be fine for the current situation) How much to remove: Max 1/3rd Frequency: Twice weekly, where possible Comments: This would possibly allow for grass height before cut of 12mm-18mm at this time of year

Cricket Mowing heights of cut (HoC) during non-play Square

Outfield

Suggested HoC: 18-22mm (a typical winter height will be fine for the current situation) How much to remove: Max 1/3rd of leaf height Frequency: Once or twice per week, where possible Comments: Encourage a thicker sward and roots

Suggested HoC: 20 – 25mm How much to remove: Max 1/3rd of leaf height Frequency: Once or twice per week, where possible

Non-turf pitches should be brushed, and the weeds and moss removed, then rolled if needed (on dynamic based pitches, wet them well beforehand).

Croquet Mowing heights of cut (HoC) during non-play Suggested HoC: 12-18mm (a typical winter height will be fine for the current situation) How much to remove: Max 1/3rd Frequency: Twice weekly, where possible Comments: This would possibly allow for grass height before cut of 18mm-28mm at this time of year

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 17

TECHNICAL UPDATE | COVID-19 ADVICE

Football Mowing heights of cut (HoC) during non-play Suggested HoC: 40-50mm How much to remove: Max 1/3rd Frequency: Once per week, where possible Comments: During a cold snap/drought frequency of cutting could be reduced. Cut in dry conditions – avoid full heat of day

Horse racing Mowing heights of cut (HoC) during non-racing (not necessarily out of season) Racing Flat and Jump Point to Point (In preparation to race in October) Suggested HoC: 100mm (not normally longer than usual). Try not to allow the grass to get too long and thin the sward density How much to remove: Max 1/3rd Frequency: Once per week, where possible, with the clippings returning to the surface Comments: Maintaining this HoC will help maintain root growth which is vital for horse racing On synthetic surfaces, an occasional working of the material would be required. Take the opportunity to top up infill levels and repair features such as fencing. Depending on how long ago the surface was taken out of use, some decompaction would also typically be beneficial.

Back to ‘fit for use’ condition: You may need time to irrigate

to produce ‘safe ground’ and, if needed, apply a fertiliser to help the grass take the wear and tear from racing. Two weeks will allow time for the British Horseracing Authority to inspect the course prior to racing. Ensure all operations conform to British Horseracing Authority General Instruction: (3.2 Annex A Best Practice)

Rugby (League and Union) Mowing heights of cut (HoC) during non-play Suggested HoC: 40-50mm How much to remove: Max 1/3rd Frequency: Once per week, where possible Comments: During a cold snap/drought frequency of cutting could be reduced. Cut in dry conditions – avoid full heat of day

18 GROUNDS MANAGEMENT | MAY 2020

BEST PRACTICE | HARBOROUGH TOWN FC

KEZ MARCHESS ON! Kez Dunkley’s path to success as the winner of the 2019 GMA National Governing Bodies’ Community Sector Sports Club Grounds Individual of the Year Award is a story of career change, re-skilling and hard work

Andy Carmichael Freelance writer

20 GROUNDS MANAGEMENT | MAY 2020

I ARRIVED EARLY at Harborough Town FC to meet head groundsman, Kez Dunkley, and he’s nowhere to be seen. Someone thinks he may be out on the pitches, or perhaps he is helping with a project in the clubhouse? A few minutes later he appears, and it soon becomes clear why he is a man on the move: his responsibilities include not only the playing surfaces but also the club’s premises.

After 16 years deployed around the world in military service, Kez joined Leicestershire and Rutland County FA as premises manager at its Holme Park site. His interest in grounds management began when he started cutting pitches when the facility’s groundsman was on holiday. Enjoying the work, Kez moved to Harborough Town FC five years ago. Since then, his turf management duties have developed significantly as the number of pitches and sports teams has increased.

The site has doubled its playing area over the last 12 months. Funding to do so has come from a number of organisations: the Premier League and The Football Association Facilities Fund (delivered by the Football Foundation);

HARBOROUGH TOWN FC | BEST PRACTICE

Following 16 years of military service around the world, Kez Dunkley discovered a love of grounds management and is dedicated to keeping Harborough’s pitches in peak condition

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 21

BEST PRACTICE | HARBOROUGH TOWN FC

the Football Stadia Improvement Fund and Harborough District Council securing section 106 agreement finance (under the Town and Country Planning Act, contributions can be sought from developers towards providing community and social infrastructure); and the club’s own investment. There are now two artificial grass pitches (AGPs), and six full-sized and three nine-a-side natural turf surfaces. These host 50 football teams, ranging from the youngsters in the 17 mini-soccer squads to the first 11 playing in the United Counties League Premier Division.

Then there are also the academies, juniors, girls and inclusive teams. Neighbouring Brooke House College, with its 150-strong football academy, also uses the site daily.

Not that football is the only activity here. There are cross-country runs, rounders tournaments and dog walkers. Surely, maintaining the surfaces amidst all the sports is challenging enough without the potential distraction of public access? “It can be a bit of an issue,” says Kez as he highlights the regular need to reseed and topdress goalmouths that may have been renovated the day before. “There is no problem with the dog walkers, but not all people coming through here act responsibly.”

Looking forward The club has a 50-year lease on the site from the local authority and while people can be deterred from thinking it is common land for a kickabout, the club would not seek to restrict entry to an area that also hosts a leisure complex, rugby club and medical centre. Improving the facilities has helped though. “Most people who come here daily are so appreciative of the work as they remember how it was,” explains Kez. Fortunately, there are few distractions from other potential pitch invaders. In the club’s Leicestershire neighbourhood, with its association with the fox, Kez has had to try and discourage one or two from digging holes but, as with encounters with badgers and their habitual behaviour of returning to locations, he knows it is a matter of living alongside nature rather than trying to change it to fit sport. The key for him in keeping on top of things has been implementing a well-observed timetable of pitch management.

There are maintenance logs, agreements for players using the pitches and, Kez adds, people now know “everything happens for a reason”. The previously council-maintained surfaces are now cut every week to a height of 35mm. This alone takes two days to complete – partly due to the benchmark Kez sets for himself and the surfaces.

“I believe the mini-soccer players should have the same pitch standards as the senior players,” he says, “so, if the older ones have pitches with nice stripes, they all should.” He obviously prides himself on presentation.

22 GROUNDS MANAGEMENT | MAY 2020

Callum Holland currently helps Kez by looking after the artificial pitches, a part-time role that will shortly be made full-time, such is the impression he has made. The first team plays on the newest AGP but this is a club with a community focus and the majority of activity is across natural turf. This means a lot of wear and compaction. There is no fertiliser or chemical programme but slit tine aeration helps to alleviate some of the drainage and gas exchange issues that have been a problem.

Like a lot of sports turf venues, this year* has been particularly hard for Harborough Town.

“Some teams are 12 games behind schedule,” says Kez, “and what it would be like without the AGPs would be unthinkable.” What is frustrating for him is that often it may only be a small percentage of a pitch that is unplayable, and the opportunity for additional maintenance could potentially address that and keep games on.

To that end, and helping to keep football on grass, has been the assistance afforded by the Grounds Management Association-led Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme (GaNTIP). Receiving the support from GMA and the local FA has given Kez backing for his strategy of rotating play and minimising the strain on each individual pitch. He feels GaNTIP’s official reports and recommendations on the surfaces offer him the chance “to approach the board and highlight what is needed”. He praises his line manager for “listening and then letting me get on with it”.

The development of the site and the facilities it offers, thanks to the contributions from all the parties involved, is something Kez is keen to emphasise. “Everything is moving forward as a club,” he feels. Kez is moving forward himself – studying for his Level 2 qualification in sports turf, he is keen to add to his formal education in the future. This can only be more good news for the growing community that continues to enjoy sport at Harborough Town. ■

The site includes six full-sized and three nine-a-side natural grass pitches

Visit the GMA website (www.thegma.org.uk) for details of GaNTIP and GMA training and education provision

Note: *These comments were made in relation to the heavy rainfall encountered prior to the Covid-19 situation

YOUNG GUN | NICK PEPPER

“Nothing beats practical experience” AS A SCHOOLBOY Nick would accompany his father, a volunteer groundsman, to the local football ground to help him with things like line marking. “But I didn’t know then that I would have a career in the industry.

After I gained my A Levels, it came down to a choice between following a path in oceanography or embarking on a two-year Foundation Degree in sports turf science at Myerscough College.

While at college, a seasonal work placement came up at the Bristol County Ground (in 2017) and, a year later, a full-time role for the start of the 2018 season.

“I found the seasonal placement in Bristol really helpful. While learning about soil and plant science, and equipment mechanicals, is essential, of course, nothing beats practical experience and, at times, working under pressure to have the playing surfaces ready.”

At the 2019 GMA Industry Awards, Nick Pepper’s award was presented to his father, Nick senior, since Nick junior was in Australia where, in addition, to being part of the cricket tour to Valley District CC in Queensland, he spent time researching cricket pitch grass coverage and ball rotation, for example, as part of his dissertation for his online BSc Hons (via Myerscough College).

Nick senior’s volunteer groundscare career started with his local RTB Ebbw Vale FC ground in Ebbw Vale (in between his shifts as a fireman), south Wales (where Nick junior plays) and now with the Ebbw Vale CC where he also runs an indoor cricket school.

24 GROUNDS MANAGEMENT | MAY 2020

Nick’s experience at Bristol County Ground gave him practical experience of grounds preparation at a high level, building on his academic work at Myerscough College

NICK PEPPER | YOUNG GUN

NICK NETS A NEW JOB!

Colin Hoskins Editor

GMA award winner Nick Pepper’s willingness to learn – and an understanding of the characteristics of a playing surface and its rootzone – have been key to his progress AS 21-YEAR-OLD Nick Pepper embarks on his new role at Warwickshire County Cricket Club – at the club’s Foundation ground in Birmingham, under the auspices of Warwickshire CCC’s head groundsman Gary Barwell – he can look back “on a highly enjoyable and very rewarding spell” at the Gloucestershire CCC’s Bristol County Ground where, as part of Sean Williams’ team, the pinnacle was winning the 2019 GMA Rigby Taylor/Top Green Young Grounds Person of the Year Award.

“Winning the award was fantastic, and being part of the team that prepared the nets and wickets for World Cup games undoubtedly played a large part in my success,” says Nick, “but my new role is equally as exciting. The Edgbaston Foundation Sports ground, currently home to Warwickshire women’s and girls’ teams, as well as the men’s second XI Championship squad, will this year host two one-day 50-over County games as the Edgbaston County Ground greets the arrival of ‘The 100’ matches*.

The standard at the Foundation ground – which is scheduled to have new net screen/practice wickets – will naturally be very high and the maintenance of the new net block area is a large part of my role. I’m really looking forward to getting engrossed in producing top-class wickets at this famous ground where, for example, Rachel Heyhoe-Flint led England Women to a six-wicket victory over The Rest in 1975.”

Valuable experiences Nick has joined Warwickshire CCC after two full years at Bristol (plus a previous term of seasonal work) and his experiences with head groundsman

Sean Williams and the team has included a considerable amount of work on the net areas.

“Sean gave me a lot of responsibility; I showed that I was willing to learn and I’m very thankful that I’ve gained so much from him and his deputy Paul Collett.

Gaining a vast amount of practical experience has enabled me to complete roles to a high level. This has included quite a bit of work preparing the net areas, including deciding the best locations for the two blocks as well as setting them out for World Cup games.”

Applying lessons The Bristol County Ground not only accommodates Gloucestershire CCC games but also England one-day international matches to complement the County Championship series and one-day 50- and 20-overs competitions. Last year it also hosted three World Cup warm-up games and three World Cup matches.

“Understanding the characteristics of the surface and rootzone at Bristol has helped me to progress enormously, at both a personal and team level,” Nick continues. “And for the ICC Cricket World Cup, I played an integral role in producing several net pitches for the eight nations that played at the ground. Utilising the knowledge gained from my time at Myerscough College and from Sean and the team, I helped to produce net practice wickets that had to replicate the match conditions the players could expect.

“That meant, for example, selecting the best location on the square in terms of loam type, grass coverage, anticipated recovery time and tolerability to wear, and through strict irrigation, brushing,

mowing and rolling, I was able to produce wickets that received high praise. I was obviously very pleased about that.”

Nick continues: “Of course, the weather dictates what happens and when, so it’s a balancing act to produce pitches and net areas that satisfy the demands of the players (and of the head groundsman). Importantly, much of what I did at Bristol was about understanding what the players wanted and needed – and sometimes [in terms of the nets] that meant leaving a bit more grass on.

“As part of the team at Bristol, I would also say that we were always confident in our pitches, preparing them to the highest levels and producing surfaces that were always fair to everyone. We all knew and understood the pressures of consistently delivering high-class wickets, squares and outfield – and I now want to transfer that outlook and those standards to Warwickshire’s Foundation ground.”

Nick adds that he believes that his role in cricket grounds care has been helped by his understanding and love of the sport. “I am a keen footballer (playing for Saturday and Sunday teams) as well as cricketer. I am also a youth coach (at two locations), so it was a hard decision to sacrifice much of my weekend sport [in season] when I joined Gloucestershire CCC on a full-time basis. But I’m so glad I did!”. ■

Want to know more from the GMA: www.thegma.org.uk/learning

Note: *These comments were made prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, so this year’s fixtures may be subject to change

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 25

SALTEX UPDATE Mr SALTEX still gets butterflies SALTEX operations manager, Derek Walder, provides an insight into his passion for the show and how this year’s event will mean so much to so many DE RE K WALDE R has rightfully earned the nickname of Mr SALTEX. At 83 years old, he has overseen the operations of the show for five decades – 51 years, in fact – and is, unsurprisingly, the longest serving member of the SALTEX team. Today, during this difficult and uncertain period, Derek reveals that he is staying positive and is continuing to do what he does best – helping to organise the groundscare industry’s largest event.

“SALTEX 2020 will mean more than any other previous event,” he says. “I am hugely confident that it will be the best yet. It’s all about getting this show on the road because the trade will need it, the people in the profession will need it – everybody will need it. After this awful period, SALTEX 2020 will be a much-needed boost for everyone.”

SALTEX 2020 will be the show’s 75th anniversary but it all started for Derek in 1969 when he visited the event at Motspur Park in London. A year later, he began working as a volunteer at the show. “I felt at home straightaway.

I found myself doing lots of things including erecting marquees, helping exhibitors and visitors, and even parking cars. Back in the 1960s and early ‘70s, the show never had more than 30 stands but it grew and grew over the years and it wasn’t long before there were around 8,000 visitors. The formula then is still what it is now – to bring the industry together, to talk and to discuss, to educate and learn, and to see all of the latest products.”

Derek took over as operations manager when the event moved to Windsor Racecourse in 1979 and, 36

years later, when SALTEX relocated to the NEC in Birmingham, he reflects how pleased he was with the new indoor venue.

Changing with the times “The outdoor shows were a nightmare if we had bad weather.

Lorries would get stuck, there was mud everywhere and exhibitors used to complain about the puddles outside their stands. We also had to lay metal tracking across the racecourse – a huge job – and if an exhibitor a mile across the racecourse wanted an electric socket, the feed had to be dug into the ground.

“It is a different ball game at the NEC and the major change is that we now have only two days to build the show (rather than eight) in what is a tighter area. It’s putting all the little things together which is difficult – like the furniture supply

Chris Bennett SALTEX press officer

Derek has been working on SALTEX for 51 years, through its move to the NEC, Birmingham

and the electrics. Fortunately, I’ve got a great team with lots of experience, and everything has run incredibly smoothly to date.

“It’s important to remember that this team is largely made up of volunteers – Grounds Management Association (GMA) members who give up their own time because they are passionate about SALTEX and the industry. Indeed, how many people know that any profits created by SALTEX are re-invested back into the work GMA does to support the sector?” ■

SALTEX 2020 will take place at the NEC, Birmingham on November 4 & 5.

Visit www.gmasaltex.co.uk for more information. Follow SALTEX on Twitter and Facebook

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 27

GaNTIP UPDATE

“All clubs should use PIP” John Murray MBE, treasurer at Nailsea and Tickenham FC in Somerset, says The Football Association’s Pitch Improvement Programme has “transformed our playing surface” and reduced the number of postponed matches NAI LSE A AND TIC K EN HAM F C has a team of willing volunteers who maintain the club’s pitch in Nailsea, Somerset and, wanting a maintenance plan and advice on what machinery to acquire, the club asked Somerset FA for an FA Pitch Improvement Programme (PIP) visit.

This PIP investigation, in November 2018, revealed high levels of surface compaction with a hard soil pan at 100mm and the grass was unhealthy, shallow rooted and included a high percentage of weed. This compaction and slow percolation of rainfall was causing lots of games to be cancelled. Also, there were bare patches in the high-wear areas and it was found that minimal maintenance, other than cutting, was being undertaken.

The initial report suggested that the club introduced an aeration and decompaction programme to

Visit www.thegma.org.uk/about for details of the Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme

increase root depth and improve surface drainage, plus instigate an overseeding programme to increase the dwarf perennial ryegrass.

Controlled-release fertiliser and an application of selective herbicide was also recommended. Having purchased a mower, aerator and brush, the club also engaged with a contractor to perform the deep spiking, selective herbicide application and overseeding.

Reaping the rewards I returned 12 months later with Brendan Dix of Somerset CFA and we couldn’t believe the improvement – for example, grass cover had gone from 75% to 100% and the weeds, formerly at 20%, had been eliminated. Brendan commented: “The club utilised PIP to seek support and guidance, after experiencing numerous postponements. Following the initial visit, and a grant from The Football Stadia Improvement Fund to purchase machinery to support an enhanced maintenance programme, upon our return visit there were outstanding improvements to the pitch and,

Simon Johnson Regional pitch advisor, South West

more importantly, the club was experiencing less postponements.

“A huge well done to the volunteers for their efforts and commitment to the programme.

They are definitely reaping the rewards!”

True transformation John Murray MBE, club treasurer, was very influential in joining PIP and in persuading the committee to implement all the suggestions made. He commented: “We have received excellent results since following all the advice given in the initial report. The players are really enjoying the improved playing surface which has been made possible by the purchase of the new equipment and the advice given. We fully intend to continue to follow the pitch maintenance plan and would recommend all clubs join PIP, which has transformed our playing surface.” ■

A new maintenance regime and investment in equipment transformed the surface

WE HAVE RECEIVED EXCELLENT RESULTS SINCE FOLLOWING ALL THE ADVICE GIVEN IN THE INITIAL REPORT

28 GROUNDS MANAGEMENT | MAY 2020

TO ADVERTISE in Grounds Management Please contact: Fred Combe 0203 859 7100

fred.combe@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk

Covid-19 Advice and Guidance from the GMA The GMA have created a new section on our website providing you with information and links to expert advisors to help you, your organisation and your club through the current challenges. These resources will help you make your own informed decision for your circumstances.

Go to www.thegma.org.uk/covid-19-0 NEW Interim Works guidelines launched We have been working closely with various National Governing Bodies to offer advice and guidance on what works may be possible to be carried out throughout this period, and, what works may be required once sport resumes.

These ‘interim works’ documents are free to access for members and nonmembers of the GMA and cover a range sports played on natural turf and will be updated as and when the climate or current situation dictates. www.thegma.org/guidance-interim -works-your-sports-turf

The GMA recognise and appreciate that each sport, facility and the people that work hard to maintain these surfaces have very different circumstances and whilst these documents are comprehensive they are in place to suggest and highlight only the effective but minimal works to keep surfaces ‘ticking over’.

Please always ensure you following up to date government guidelines.

We wish all our members continued good health and safe keeping.

GROW WITH THE GMA

Top class!

Having recently gained her Level 2 Technical Diploma in Turf Surface Maintenance with Distinction, 45-year-old Joanne Rawlinson outlines her career path from hotel management to becoming a key member of the Charterhouse grounds team

Colin Hoskins Editor

How were you introduced to the industry?

After leaving school, I attended Guildford College to study hotel management and I worked for eight years at a hotel. I then spent two years travelling Australia and, upon my return, worked in an office for three years or more. It was while at the office (and approaching my 30th birthday) that I decided I didn’t want to spend the rest of my working life inside, so I enrolled on the one-year, full-time Certificate of Horticulture course at Merrist Wood College. The course involved a broad range of subjects including plant/soil science, machinery, plant identification and garden design, and it was potentially the best thing I have ever done.

I joined Guildford Borough Council in a fulltime role in charge of a mowing round, and I was there for three years. But something was ‘missing’ – with the amount of grass, it was more about getting the round done as soon as possible rather than making it look pretty.

Then I was alerted to a position in the grounds department at Charterhouse, which I’m glad to say I was offered and I have spent the past 11 years there. I absolutely love the job, love the school and I love being able to make the grounds look the best they can.

What is your job title and your role?

My official title is grounds person – I’m one of seven grounds staff (and six gardeners) and as a team we maintain pitches for football, rugby and lacrosse, grass cricket squares and artificial cricket strips, plus Astro surfaces for hockey, artificial areas for tennis and netball, a six-lane athletics track with two jump pits, shot putt, javelin and discuss facilities, as well as a ninehole golf course and a woodland area. Looking after all these different areas and sports through the year means it is never boring.

You’ve recently been accredited to Level 2: have you undertaken any other training?

Joanne enjoys the variety involved in her role as grounds person at Charterhouse

At Merrist Wood I attained my PA 1 and 6 spraying certificates, and at Charterhouse I have completed my tractor-mounted spraying course, and buggy and tractor training, as well as powered hand tool training for strimmers, brush cutters, blowers etc. It seems that every month I learn something new, which is one of many reasons I love it so much.

Your Level 2 was an online course.

How did you find that?

I struggled a little at first; I seem to learn better if I’m shown something rather than reading about it. But I started writing a diary of what I was learning and trying to put some of those things into practice at work, so that they would stay in my head – and things got easier.

What does the future hold?

Visit www.thegma.org.uk/learning for details of GMA training and education

I’m really happy here and I may undertake another qualification. Who knows what the future may bring? ■

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 31

IN ACTION

No competition Clipless NT from Headland Amenity has helped Trent College improve its success with seeding Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) are a long-standing programme component for those maintaining all types of amenity grassland and managed amenity turf. Clipless NT from Headland Amenity is a Trinexapac-ethyl PGR, which is typically applied from mid-April on outfield or course turf and midlate May on fine turf. PGRs can contribute towards a sward that requires less frequent mowing and are often used by grounds keepers to increase the density of a given area. They have also been shown to optimise the conditions for seeding.

With the regulated growth and lower energy consumption of the existing plant, nutrition from the soil profile is optimised for germination and establishment of the new seedling.

Inverallan Landscapes’ Pellenc equipment range includes everything from chainsaws to grass strimmers and mowers

Cleaner and greener Inverallan Landscapes is increasing its range of Pellenc equipment as part of a longterm plan to drop fossil fuels

32 GROUNDS MANAGEMENT | MAY 2020

Clipless NT has been effective at controlling growth on the cricket facilities at Trent College

At Trent College in Nottingham, head of gardens and grounds Peter Flewitt trialled Clipless NT in this capacity, on the site’s four cricket squares. “In our environment, we are able to renovate the squares much earlier in the growing season than perhaps other local clubs or the county grounds would. We applied Clipless NT at the end of July, a week before we started our renovations and we nicknamed this area our ‘old grass’. We were interested to see if by regulating the growth here, the new seed sown in the vicinity would germinate better due to lower competition – and it worked well.”

Peter continues: “We left the ‘new grass’ to grow through and the difference in their comparative

growth speeds was evident – particularly when we mowed the new grass for the first time when it was just this new grass being cut. With the Clipless NT, used in conjunction with H-Cote (slowrelease fertiliser) we were able to then manage and sustain the healthy, dense sward we achieved in our renovations through the autumn and winter period when our workload focuses on our winter sports areas. With the wet winter we had, the Clipless NT application kept growth in check meaning we didn’t have to take any mowing equipment out onto the soft ground at any stage.”

Inverallan Landscapes has taken one more step in its quest to become fossil fuel-free by expanding its Pellenc portfolio with the purchase of two Rasion Easy self-propelled mowers and a set of Airion blowers.

Managing director John Maxwell said: “We want to be the first landscape contractor to operate battery-only, so during the past three years we have been upgrading our tools and equipment to the equivalent battery models, as well as installing solar panels at our business unit.”

The company first became acquainted with Pellenc equipment in 2018 after purchasing a set of Helion 2 Compact hedge trimmers.

After reporting excellent results, it continued to invest in Pellenc equipment and two years later, Inverallan Landscapes now boasts an impressive portfolio which

includes chainsaws, blowers, hedge cutters, pole saws, road sweepers, grass strimmers and mowers.

John has particular praise for the Rasion mower, claiming that it has enhanced the team’s grass cutting operations: “It’s a brilliant machine and it has more advantages than a petrol mower.

It is so much lighter and from our point of view up here in Scotland, with the amount of rain we have, the ground can quite often be saturated. If you go onto that ground with a petrol mower, you are adding a lot of weight and you find yourself sinking into the ground. With the Rasion mower we have been able to get onto those saturated grounds and we can tend to grass that we might not have previously been able to cut.”

For more information visit www.headlandamenity.com

For more information visit www.pellencuk.com

TECHNICAL UPDATE | COVID-19 ADVICE

IN ACTION

The Dennis PRO 34R has cleaned up the pitch at Meadow Lane

Clean sheet Dennis PRO 34R mowers are keeping Nottingham County FC’s Meadow Lane clear after matches

Since using the Dennis PRO 34R rotary mower, the pitch at Notts County FC’s Meadow Lane has never been so clean, according to head groundsman Matthew Hallam.

Matthew has two members of staff working alongside him and admits that it can be challenging at times and that resources are often stretched, and it is for this reason that the owners agreed to the purchase of two new Dennis PRO 34R rotary mowers.

“We first had a demonstration and I was instantly impressed with the speed of them and the amount of ground they covered due to the size of them. Prior to the purchase of these machines it was taking four rotary mowers and four people to clean up after a match.

“Purchasing the machines would mean that we would be able to get the pitch cleaned with just two people in a quicker time

– it made complete sense and fortunately the owners agreed to it.”

The Dennis PRO 34R is a 34in rotary mower which has been designed to help grounds managers achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance and desired playing surface. It is ideal for sports pitches and lawns, producing crisp stripes while a powerful vacuum flow collects the debris efficiently.

“The PRO 34Rs are good at getting all the debris off the surface – the vacuum is absolutely brilliant,” he continues. “We’ve found that after a game we have never seen the pitch as clean compared to how it used to look with the old rotary mowers we were using.”

For more information visit www.dennisuk.com

Working together Rigby Taylor products and expertise combine with groundsman’s experience at Grasshoppers RFC When Rugby Union club Grasshoppers RFC moved into its new £11 million home in Osterley, West London, head groundsman Mark Woodward knew he had work to do to bring the pitches up to the standard that the club was used to.

Drawing on his experience and with the input of Rigby Taylor’s technical representative, Corin Beeney, the playing surfaces at the Syon Lane site are continually being improved.

When Mark and his team were given access to the site in September 2018, not only had extreme conditions that year taken their toll, but he wasn’t used to managing sand-based surfaces like those at Syon Lane. “This is where Corin has helped; he has a lot of experience of different types of pitches and together we decide on the best ways forward.”

Mark instigated a programme of maintenance including regular

34 GROUNDS MANAGEMENT | MAY 2020

vertidraining and the application of lots of sand, followed by overseeding with Rigby Taylor’s R140. Designed for rapid establishment, as well as The Grasshoppers’ pitches showing excellent tolerance to are continually improving wear, cold, shade, disease and drought, R140 is a mixture of perennial rye (Eurosport and Columbine exchange capacity. There are threecultivars) and tetraploid perennial rye fold benefits of the use of magnesium (Fabian and Tetragreen). compared to formulations containing Rigby Taylor fertilisers are also part just nitrate and iron. Magnesium allows of Mark’s maintenance programme, the plant to take up nitrate when it is with a liquid ‘topping up’ feed applied photosynthesising, naturally provides monthly, including Cold Start which colour and increases the plant’s ability provides turf with nitrogen in cold to use iron. conditions, in conjunction with a rapid “I’ve used Rigby Taylor products for colour boost. Effective at temperatures the past 10 years or so,” says Mark, “and of 5°C, Cold Start has a nitrate and high have always found them to be effective.” iron content, as well as magnesium for increased colour. It also includes zeolite For more information visit to reduce leaching and improve cation www.rigbytaylor.com

IN ACTION

Getting more from mowers FCC Environment has invested in Toro mowers, through Reesink Turfcare, to keep on top of its workload FCC Environment, based in Northamptonshire, has a full schedule of work which means having a fleet of reliable groundscare machinery is essential. The 21-person grounds team is usually out in force every day during peak season and relies on its fleet of Toro machinery, from Reesink Turfcare, to get the job done.

Richard Moss, FCC Environment’s grounds foreman, explains: “We have several clients we work with on a range of projects and across all types of surfaces, from parks and public sports grounds, to highway verges.

So it’s very important for us to have reliable machinery that helps us achieve results that keep our clients happy.”

F3000 triple flail mower.

“The T4240 and LT3340 mowers we’ve had for four years and we invested in a LT-F3000 triple flail mower last year,” says Richard. “We needed another machine to help with an increase in our workload.”

Richard opted for the LT-F3000 from Toro. “Not Toro’s LT-F3000 has only has the LT-F3000 impressed FCC impressed me thanks to its Environment with its performance in versatility coping with both all weathers long and short grass, but also, despite the wet Making up the bulk of FCC weather at the start of the Environment’s maintenance fleet are year, all the Toro machines have still three Toro LT3340 heavy-duty triple produced excellent results.” mowers and a T4240 high-output cylinder mower which were purchased For more information visit four years ago, and most recently a LTwww.reesinkturfcare.co.uk

Low noise, high volume The new GreenMech EVO 165D is quiet but powerful, helping Rooted Tree & Landscapes to improve productivity An EVO 165D has become the latest addition to Swansea-based Rooted Tree & Landscapes’ collection of GreenMech machines.

Owner Craig Mylan says he first saw the machine at the 2019 Arb Show and was struck by its low noise level in operation. “We have a duty to our customers and our operators to look at things like reducing noise and this machine demonstrates real progress,” says Craig. “There are so many new

The EVO 165D can be used on a range of projects

developments on this machine – simple things like the foldable chute which makes storage of the unit that much easier.”

The re-designed flywheel and large in-feed chute have resulted in labour and time savings when it comes to processing large volumes of woody waste. “The more powerful pull-through means we can feed in material without having to send it down first. It then chips whatever we feed in quickly and efficiently before throwing it out again cleanly.” With its 165mm chipping capacity, the EVO isn’t the largest machine in Craig’s fleet, but it has been used on a range of projects both large and small.

Craig concludes: “For independent companies like us, success depends on reliable and robust equipment that’s capable and works to its full capacity. The fact that the new EVO is a great machine is one thing, but the GreenMech ethos to support its users every step of the way is another to be applauded.”

For more information visit www.greenmech.co.uk

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 35

Targeted weed control A comprehensive collection of selective herbicides for amenity turf Headland’s range of selective herbicide products are effective against a wide range of amenity turf weeds – whether it’s management of deep-rooted weeds such as docks and thistles or economical broad-spectrum control, there’s a Headland herbicide that hits the mark.

AMENITY PRODUCTS

Use herbicides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.

Please refer to the product label or our website for further technical information.

01223 491090

info@headlandamenity.com www.headlandamenity.com

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

WEED & PEST CONTROL, SPRAYING EQUIPMENT & GRASS SEED

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

Long-lasting action Valdor Flex residual herbicide is now available from Agrovista Amenity.

The product was introduced in the UK last year and provides residual control for hard-tomanage weeds. It’s active on a range of surfaces including open soil, gravel and industrial areas.

It contains two synergistic active ingredients, diflufenican and iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium, which help to minimise the risk of resistance through two complementary modes of action.

Valdor Flex keeps the soil weed-free for up to four months with just one single application, providing cleaner surfaces for longer and helping to target herbicide use more effectively.

Valdor Flex can be used standalone prior to germination or before weed emergence.

If weeds are present, it can be mixed with glyphosate or a fatty acid, which helps to

provide the initial knockdown.

Manufactured by Bayer, it uses the latest generation of wettable granule to ensure the product remains stable in water for at least 24 hours, meaning any remaining solution in the tank can be used the following day.

Valdor Flex should be applied from February through to June, a single application is required per season, and it is available in 10g sachets or 500g bottles. The 10g sachets can be mixed in a knapsack sprayer with 6-10 litres of water, providing the operator with surface coverage of up to 200m2. For those looking to treat a larger area, the 500g bottle can be mixed with 300500 litres of water and applied with a tractormounted sprayer to achieve coverage of 1ha. www.agrovista.co.uk

ICL

RE E S I N K TU RFCARE

LockStar looks to Ireland

Staying in control

ICL has announced that LockStar – a residual, pre-emergent herbicide for vegetation management – is now available in Ireland.

Developed for use on natural surfaces not intended to bear vegetation and permeable surfaces overlying soil, LockStar controls a broad spectrum of weeds and has a long-lasting formula. The formula contains diflufenican and iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium. When applied before germination, LockStar creates a dual barrier at the soil surface ensuring that soil is kept weed-free for up to four months. To control weeds that are already present, LockStar should be tank-mixed with glyphosate or a fatty acid.

LockStar, available in a 500g tub, uses the latest generation of water dispersible granules, which means the product quickly dissolves in water and remains stable in the spray tank for at least 24 hours. Compared to conventional weed management programmes, LockStar keeps surfaces clean and weed-free for longer, as well as reducing the number of applications required.

Toro’s range of turf sprayers combines extensive customer input with advanced sprayer technology.

The Multi Pro 5800-D has a powerful 36.5hp Kubota engine to give the power to perform in the most demanding conditions; an oversized pump – an industry exclusive – to satisfy the highest spray rates; and a 300-gallon tank ready for the long haul. If you opt for the large optional rinse tank kit, 30 gallons of fresh water can be carried, meaning three cycles worth of water will be on hand at one time.

Continual tank content agitation means chemicals are always applied evenly, while the optional Pro Control feature enables precise calibration responding instantly to the operator’s desired flow rate, so spray application stays consistent pass after pass.

And if you’re looking for something smaller, the Multi Pro 1750 is one of the most advanced 175-gallon dedicated vehicle sprayers on the market. Every element from the intuitive control, industry-leading mixing and hill-assist traction is engineered to enhance vehicle performance and the precision and control of the spray system.

Completing the range is the bed-mounted Multi Pro WM advanced spray system for Toro’s Workman HDX utility vehicle.

It leverages the spray system capability of the Multi Pro 5800, but with a 300-gallon tank.

www.icl-sf.ie

www.reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 37

GMA | CLASSIFIEDS

To advertise in the classified section of Grounds Management Please contact FRED COMBE 0203 859 7100 fred.combe@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk

TO ADVERTISE IN GROUNDS MANAGEMENT CONTACT FRED COMBE: fred.combe@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk 0203 859 7100

38 GROUNDS MANAGEMENT | MAY 2020

WEED & PEST CONTROL, SPRAYING EQUIPMENT | PRODUCT SHOWCASE

R I G BY TAY L O R

Simple solution Herbicide choice is important. Not all herbicides control all weeds and grasses, and if you are wanting to control all vegetation in an area, then the use of Mascot Hi-Aktiv is a good choice, assuming you hold a spray qualification.

For those who do not hold a spray certificate, the alterative would be a product holding a different form of registration, such as Barclay Gallup home and garden. These broadspectrum herbicides both work by moving through the leaves and roots of plants inhibiting energy production at a cellular level. The active ingredient, glyphosate, only has an effect on plant cells, therefore they are classified as non-hazardous. However, all products should be applied following good practice guidelines and the Amenity Forum 10 Golden Rules (https:// amenityforum.co.uk/guidance/).

To ensure products work effectively, operators must apply products correctly. This

includes selecting the correct rate and, if using a power sprayer, always calibrating the sprayer being used.

The other option is to use a knapsack, which is for smaller areas and ideal for spot treating.

Rigby Taylor supplies the RT Evolution sprayer, either manual or electric, together with a sprayer nozzle package to make the correct application of product very simple. A pressure regulator is included which will only allow spray through the nozzle at 1 bar; pressure is the biggest variable when using a knapsack. Also included is a range of nozzles, which are all matched to the pressure regulator, so the concentration of the chemical in the tank does not have to be changed – no matter which nozzle you are using. Three anvil nozzles are supplied which have swath width of 50cm, 1m and 2m. The full cone nozzle is for use around objects.

SCH

AGRIGE M

Quick coverage

Grassroots gains

The versatile 4MPS threepoint linkage sprayer from SCH features a 70-litre capacity tank.

The sprayer comes with an integral 12v diaphragm pump powered from the tractor battery, with a flow rate up to seven litres per minute. The 2,440mm (96in) spraying width allows for vast areas to be covered in minimal time, and is supplied with a four-nozzle spray boom and hand lance.

www.rigbytaylor.com/chemicals/knapsacks/

The lance is ideal for spot application of weed killers to nettles and docks.

The hand lance and boom are easily changed over by means of quick release couplings. All SCH mounted sprayers are supplied with a five-litre fresh water washing bottle to dilute any spillages when mixing chemicals, should they occur.

The 70-litre sprayer can be made with alternative hitch types, included mounting on an ATV or attaching to the 48in grass care system, which allows users to care for grass in every possible way, all in one cost-saving machine.

Agrigem has been continuing its “Putting the Grass into Grassroots” campaign by working with grassroots football club volunteers and their contractors to provide effective and economical solutions to their pest and weed problems during this unprecedented period.

BASIS advisors are on hand to provide expert technical advice to qualified volunteers as well as contractors, and with the wet winter and dry spring, this has proven to be invaluable.

Advisors have seen an influx of leatherjackets and disease issues such as Red Thread last autumn are already being replaced by Dry Patch, in which case Agrigem recommends wetting agent Abzorb as both a preventative and curative.

Granular and soluble feeding through the Nutrigrow and Nutrigem ranges provides superior stress relief and plant health when teams return and help reduce the need for preventative weed and pest control.

www.schsupplies.co.uk

www.agrigem.co.uk

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 39

WEED & PEST CONTROL; GRASS SEED | PRODUCT SHOWCASE

HEADLAND AMENITY

LI MAGR AI N

Catch-all collection

Top grass for Glassboys

Headland Amenity has a collection of selective herbicides which offers the safe, efficient and targeted control of invasive, broad-leaved and difficult-tomanage weed species – all without detriment to the health of the surrounding plants.

Firstly, Cabadex is highly effective at combating some difficult weed species that many other formulations may leave unchecked, including Yellow Suckling Clover and Common Daisy.

The product can be used on young turf as early as second leaf stage.

Also suitable for use on newly sown turf when applied at a lower rate is Enstar, a three-way selective herbicide for the control of a wide range of weeds. Along with Quickfire, an economical turf herbicide which features two tried and tested active ingredients (Mecoprop-P and Dicamba) for broad spectrum weed control, Enstar can be safely used through knapsack equipment.

Another effective triple-active selective herbicide is Columbus.

Rainfast in just two hours, its microemulsion formulation enhances herbicide activity to make it effective on weeds from across the control spectrum.

Completing the line-up is Blaster Pro foliar applied herbicide, which provides control for a wide range of difficult perennial weeds such as brambles, nettles, docks and thistles. www.headlandamenity.com

Stourbridge FC groundsman Ian Pilkington says the club’s ground has benefited hugely from using Limagrain’s MM60 grass seed.

Ian is a dedicated volunteer groundsman and director for the club – also known as the Glassboys. He claims that he has seen a remarkable development in the pitch ever since he started using Limagrain’s MM60 grass seed 10 years ago after it was recommended to him by Agrovista Amenity.

Limagrain’s MM60 grass seed is a 100% ryegrass formula which is perfect for renovation and divot repair, has a high disease resistance, strong aesthetic qualities and offers extremely fast germination – which is boosted by the inclusion of Headstart Gold.

“We use MM60 for our renovation at the start of May. We share the ground with a cricket club so as soon as we finish the football season there is change over to cricket. Therefore, we need

something which is very quick in establishment and we’ve found that the MM60 is ideal for that – it gives us great coverage.”

“I also tend to overseed in autumn – so I will use the seed on areas which need a bit of a boost.”

MM60 also includes Limagrain’s ryegrass cultivar Annecy which has outstanding disease resistance particularly against Leaf Spot.“We never suffer from any disease here and I’ve found that the seed provides great recovery – even in bad weather conditions,” says Ian. “Ultimately, we have consistently good results year in year out.” www.lgseeds.co.uk/mm

ICL

New developments ICL has revealed some enhancements to its leading range of ProSelect seed.

Proselect Turfgrass seed blends have been developed for use on golf courses, sports fields and turf/sod production. Varieties in the range are developed through extensive breeding by ICL and its international partners.

The ProSelect mixtures have recently been tweaked to further enhance performance and turf managers can now look forward to a new and improved range which contains highly ranked STRI cultivars. ProSelect 1 Premium Pitch, for instance, now features three of the top ranked cultivars in the form of Eurodiamond, Eurocordus and Eurosport, and independent trials have revealed outstanding levels of purity and germination.

Furthermore, Torsion TRT, the turf repairing tiller perennial ryegrass or Riptide, the UK’s No.1 ranked creeping bent, are just some of the outstanding developments from the ICL turf grass portfolio and will feature in the ProSelect range. www.icl-sf.co.uk

thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 41

PRODUCT SHOWCASE | GRASS SEED

R I G BY TAY L O R

It’s all about the blend

DLF

The perfect combination The track at Ffos Las Racecourse in Carmarthenshire stages flat meetings throughout the summer months and National Hunt meetings for the rest of the year. Estate manager and clerk of the course, Dai Jones, uses a combination of Masterline PM79 and Johnson’s J Nitro 4Turf to deliver hard-wearing, quickrecovery surfaces for the venue’s year-round calendar of racing.

The venue is exposed to strong southwesterly sea winds which, combined with years of heavy rainfall, creates challenging ground and growing conditions. “DLF worked in close counsel with the contractors throughout the construction process,” explains Dai. “DLF recommended the ProMaster 79 mixture from Masterline which was used to get the course ready for opening in 2009 and has continued to work well for us ever since.

“With over 65 inches of rain falling here last year, I sat down with our local DLF regional technical manager Ian Barnett to look at some alternative mixtures that would help to give additional strength to some of the hardest hit areas. We opted for ProNitro coated J Nitro 4Turf from Johnsons Sports Seed.” 4Turf tetraploid rye ensures exceptional disease resistance and rapid germination even at soil temperatures as low as 3oC. Its deep-rooted quality makes it ideal for the high wear requirements associated with equestrian use.

The J Nitro 4Turf gives Dai and the team a mixture for divot repair and overseeding that delivers reliable results for racing throughout the challenging winter months. “We used this on the take-off and landing sides of the fences, the hurdles and the bends through the winter months and found it established well even in the cold and wet. The root growth is tremendous giving us great hardiness and wear tolerance.” www.dlf.co.uk

42 GROUNDS MANAGEMENT | MAY 2020

With so many perennial ryegrass sports blends available, the fundamental expectation for all will be fast establishment and good wear tolerance. However, it really is worth looking a bit deeper than just the headline cultivars and particularly how the blend is put together as this can make a big difference to playing quality.

The percentage of each cultivar within the blend should always be well balanced. For example, including a top-rated cultivar at only 10% provides little benefit in a 100% ryegrass blend. This is particularly important if much of the seed in the bag comprises a high imbalance of any single cultivar and/or poor wear tolerant cultivars.

Rigby Taylor’s R14 is not only a balanced, top performing blend for wear tolerance but also top rated for recovery; strengthened with the inclusion of new cultivar Cameron which has the highest score for recovery in Turfgrass Seed 2020.

R14 Wear and Recovery Scores

Wear

Recovery

25% Europitch

8.0

7.5

25% EuroCordus

7.8

7.5

25% Eurosport

7.7

7.7

25% Cameron

7.6

7.8

Mean score

7.8

7.6

Turfgrass Seed 2020 www.rigbytaylor.com

GERMINAL

To the rescue After two hot summers had left the lawns at High House in Essex looking worse for wear, advice from Germinal’s Sandy Pentecost has helped to restore them.

The south-facing 14-acre site is maintained under contract

by Thurrock Council. Two hot and dry summers in 2018 and 2019 had left the lawns in need of significant renovation. Sandy says: “It was clear that there was a lot of dead grass which simply wasn’t going to recover. I recommended over-seeding with a suitable seed mixture and designed a bespoke fertiliser plan to give the new seed the best chance of establishing and survival.”

The lawns were overseeded in autumn 2019 with Germinal’s A30 Rapid Sports mixture: a combination of 35% Calico perennial ryegrass, 35% Carnac perennial ryegrass and 30% Zurich creeping perennial ryegrass which provide improved wear tolerance, rapid recovery and excellent green aesthetics.

Sandy advised Liz Wood from Thurrock Council to overseed the site in autumn, rather than the usual spring timing, to give it a better chance of becoming established before summer.

“The new seed established amazingly quickly,” says Liz. “The lawns have been totally transformed.” www.germinalamenity.com