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DAVID WITHERS JOINS ISEKI UK One of the industry’s highest profile and best known figures over the last 15 years will once again be a familiar and welcome sight, albeit in a new guise. David Withers, former President of Jacobsen, has joined the newly-launched Iseki UK and Ireland as Managing Director. ISEKI UK has been formed with investment from ISEKI for the sole purpose of distributing the ISEKI range of products and growing market share and sales in the UK & Ireland Markets. For many years, the ISEKI product line has been distributed in the UK and Ireland by Ransomes Jacobsen operating out of their facilities in Ipswich and the new ISEKI company will also be based in the Ipswich area “I started working with Iseki when the product line came to Jacobsen in 1996 and have always enjoyed being involved with such an exciting and reliable product line,” said David. “When ISEKI outlined their strategic vision of getting closer to the customers by investing in their own distribution in the UK it made sense to me,” he added. “I am really looking forward to joining Iseki UK to head up this exciting new venture” Kazuya Tani, the European Managing Director of ISEKI, was equally delighted. He said: “The commitment of ISEKI to the UK Market will be significant and we trust that the market will react positively to this approach”
David Withers
RIOT OF COLOUR: Willingdon Golf Club
Kazuya Tani
4 | Turf Matters | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018
Golf courses embrace their wild side Once renowned for artificially lush fairways, a handful of British golf courses are undergoing an ecorenaissance with nature given priority over the nurture. Eco-minded Course Managers and top grass seed manufacturers such as Barenbrug have become wild at heart, bringing eco-friendly and sustainable practices to the industry in a way not seen before. “Greenkeepers and golf courses are often portrayed as un-environmentally friendly but we definitely don’t see it like that here,” said Luke Turner, Course Manager at Willingdon Golf Club, in Eastbourne. “The golfing industry has changed massively
in the last three-to-five years and greenkeepers are pushing a commitment to ecology and making courses more sustainable.” This year, as well as hand crafting bird and reptile homes, Luke has turned an area of rough into a wildflower meadow that’s attracting more than 25 species of butterfly. And at Mortonhall – the oldest course in Edinburgh – Head Greenkeeper, David Fraser, has also implemented a wildflower programme to increase biodiversity on the course’s ‘out of play’ areas. The change of focus is thanks in part to eco-minded grass seed manufacturers. Both Luke and David have turned to Barenbrug, the UK’s
20 NOT OUT FOR SIMON RICHARD Simon Richard Ltd has just celebrated 20 years of continuous trading. “Our business was set up in 1997 selling fertilisers and sprayers but really expanded when we were appointed as UK Sales Agents for the Muthing flail and Reform specialist tractors ranges,” said Simon.
“The business has enjoyed consistent year on year growth since and the addition, this year to our portfolio, of the Woods Equipment rotary cutter range, has further expanded our product range.”
largest grass seed distributor, in their efforts to green up their greens. The top seed grower is leading the way in eco-friendly wildflower seeds, developing a portfolio of 18 mixes for different soil types. “It’s estimated that since the Second World War, 95% of the UK’s wildflower meadows have been lost – and yet around 15,000 hectares of unimproved grassland are believed to remain nationwide,” said Luke Hunt, from Barenbrug. “It’s our hope that our wildflower mixtures will go some way to re-establishing wildflowers on roadside verges, parks, and golf courses once again – all of which is of great benefit to protecting the unique botanical identity of the UK.” Both greenkeepers have been staggered by the results from their wildflower mixes, which saw 100% germination and a long flowering season. “The end results were like something out of a brochure,” said Luke. “The area was alive with butterflies and bees and the whole thing had a stunning visual impact, being visible from two or three of our tees. It was great for wildlife and for our members.”