NEWS
MAKING TURF MATTER
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It’s a perfect fit for Barry Littleport Bowls Club is unusually situated in the centre of a large housing estate, so any new equipment must tick three key boxes according to groundsman Barry Greatbatch. Barry, who works alongside
Head Groundsman David Page, has been helping to maintain the Clubs’ 2,025m2 green for 12 years and feels the Club is now in a good position again following a difficult couple of years during the Covid pandemic. “It’s been a challenging time for the Club and its members and, given that we’re quite a small club and the staff here are all unpaid volunteers, the purchase of any ground-care equipment is generally done with three things in mind – efficiency, affordability and noise levels. “The estate has literally grown up around us over the years so it’s important we get on well with our neighbours and that means being considerate and using low decibel emitting machines wherever possible. “In 2019 our previous 30-year-old sprayer was coming to the end of its working life, so we approached local manufacturer Techneat Engineering
for ideas on a replacement. Our call proved timely as the company had begun work on a new design for the Acuspray Solo, a lightweight pedestrian sprayer for turf-care that offered accurate spray coverage. “Allowing the company to trial their prototype at our Club, we eventually purchased the first Acuspray Solo off the production line, and it’s certainly been a good investment. “The very low decibel emissions are a big plus, meaning we can use the machine early in the morning before members arrive and even in the evening, if required. We’ve made two modifications since purchase, lowering the boom by 15cms to reduce spray drift on windy days and mounting a new plug-in charging point at the rear of the sprayer tank which saves time removing the battery from the machine when recharging,” explained Barry.
For hire: A ‘greener’ solution to weed control and other benefits Weedingtech, developers of the world-leading herbicide-free weed control product Foamstream, have announced the launch of a brandnew rental service - available to customers throughout the UK. The introduction of the new hire programme provides an opportunity for people to quickly and easily discover the environmentallyfriendly Foamstream solution for complete weed and moss control, eliminating the sometimes lengthy and complex capital procurement process. Since its launch in 2011, Foamstream has redefined nonherbicidal vegetation control. Its patented low-pressure process combines hot water and a biodegradable foam, made from natural plant oils and sugars, which acts as an ‘insulation blanket’ to retain the heat and keep the water in the ‘kill zone’ for longer. In addition to eradicating the plant, Foamstream also sterilises surrounding seeds and spores that haven’t yet germinated, providing 20 | TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022
a long-lasting solution that is safe to use around people, animals and sensitive environments including water courses. A recent study into the overall efficiency of Foamstream, conducted by the University of Athens, concluded that its performance was comparable to that of Glyphosate, and it appeared to surpass the results of a number of other nonchemical methods which only provided a moderate level of weed
control. Effective and easy to apply, Foamstream is delivered through one of Weedingtech’s industry-leading machines. The range is mountable on an array of vehicles and UTVs and encapsulates different power options to deliver the perfect combination to meet the requirements of clients in all areas of grounds and green space management. The new rental package includes 100L of the organically-certified foam, the latest high-specification machinery and full technical training for a set weekly rate. In addition, an information of things (IOT) tracker is included as standard, to provide accurate measurement of output and ongoing remote support. Not only does this new service provide a cost-effective option to those looking for a ‘greener’ solution to weed control, the Foamstream machines can deliver additional value when used for other outdoor cleaning tasks such as gum removal, power washing and sanitisation. n www.weedingtech.com
