IRRIGATION Tools for watering tasks

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AUGUST 2021   WWW.LANDSCAPERMAGAZINE.COM     AVAILABLE ON SUBSCRIPTION

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DIGGING IN: options to
hire or buy an excavator
TURF CARE: solutions for
grass care managers
REVIEW: Hampton Court
Flower Festival
PLUS                                                    THE UK’S
news, events, groundscare                               NUMBER 1
                                                     LANDSCAPING
and mowers                                             INDUSTRY
                                                      MAGAZINE

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                                                                                                                                                                        LETTER                                                     sales@groundserv.co.uk
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        @landscaper_ed /TheLandscaperMagazine

                                                                                                                                                                                     It's been a busy start to the summer.    Also taking place was the Sports & Ground (SAGE)
                                                                                                                                                                                      Covid restrictions finally lifted on Expo at Malvern. Plenty of machinery on show here –

     BOUNDARIES.
                                                                                                                                                                                       19 July, coinciding with the start  a great turn out from the likes of John Deere, Kioti and
                                                                                                                                                                                       of face to face events across our   The Toro Company.
                                                                                                                                                                                      industry. The Royal Horticultural       And now we've had a chance to catch up with colleagues
                                                                                                                                                                                     Society kicked off with a triumphant  it's back to work! This
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Callmonth  we take a look at excavators
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       us on:
                                                                                                                                                                                   Hampton Court Palace Garden             and how useful they are to your business. An expensive
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      020

     ENDLESS
                                                                                                                                                                                Festival at the beginning of July closely  piece of kit, we also look at the pros and cons of either
                                                                                                                                                               followed by its flower show at Tatton Park at the end of    hiring and buying (see page 18). We also drop in on a new
                                                                                                                                                               the month. They brought together members of the public
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     8641
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           reseach project in Essex that is set to help find sustainable
                                                                                                                                                               and landscaping professionals who came in droves to                                   7979
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           solutions to manage sports and amenity spaces (see
                                                                                                                                                               admire the handy work of designers and landscaping          page 28). Plus we have a look at the latest offering from

     POSSIBILITIES.
                                                                                                                                                               contractors who created some amazing gardens – there        Suzuki as George Barrows test drives its Jimny LCV,
                                                                                                                                Machinery                      wereQUALITY           USED
                                                                                                                                                                     some justly deserved        GROUNDCARE
                                                                                                                                                                                             medal  winners among them. MACHINERY
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           and we report back DEALERS
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 from a day out with Dennis Mowers,
                                                                                                                                bought and sold                   July also saw the inagural Festival of Turf open,        reviewing their latest product launch.
                                                                                                                                                               organised by the British and International Golf                Enjoy the rest of the summer and don't forget to look
                                                                                                                                Golf, sports and               Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA). Thankfully the            out for our autumn issue – and for details on the next
                                                                                                                                landscape machinery            skies were blue for this mostly outdoor event, which        round of trade shows.
                                                                                                                                45 years’ experience           saw the turf care industry reunite for the first time in 18
                                                                                                                                                               months. BIGGA CEO Jim Coxton speaks of the fantastic
                                                                                                                                                               atmosphere at the event. “We owe a tremendous debt of
                                                                                                                                                               gratitude to all the exhibitors who signed up to support
                                                                                                                                ALL TYPES OF
                                                                                                                                                               BIGGA and its members at what we hope is the beginning
                                                                                                                                GROUNDCARE
                                                                                                                                                               of a strong new chapter for the golf and wider sports turf  Maggie Walsh, Editor
                                                                                                                                MACHINERY
                                                                                                                                                               industry,” he says. Attention for Jim and his team now      maggie.walsh@sheengate.co.uk
                                                                                                                                BOUGHT AND SOLD
                                                                                                                                                               turns to the BTME event due to take place at Harrogate
                                                                                                                                • Ride-on tractors             alongside the annual Continue to Learn programme in         Next issue copy deadline: 24th August. 2021. To advertise
                                                                                                                                                               January 2022.                                               please email us at landscaper@sheengate.co.uk
                                                                                                                                • Wood chippers
                                                                                                                                • Fairway and tees mowers
                                                                                                                                • Pedestrian cylinder mowers
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                                                                                                                                                                  MACHINERY                                                                                       and sold
                                                                                                                                                                  BOUGHT
                                                                                                                                                                  AND SOLD                                                                                      Golf, sports and
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             landscape machinery
                                                                                                                                                                  • Ride-on tractors
                                                                                                                                                                  • Wood chippers                                                                            45 years’ experience

                                                                                                                                                                  • Fairway and tees mowers
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                                                                                                                                                                  • Pedestrian cylinder mowers
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                                                                                                                                                                 PO52345-Groundserv-Slider Ad New Sizes 150x108mm.indd 1                                                06/05/2021 10:34
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 The Landscaper | Issue 255 | August 2021            5
COPYRIGHT © 2021 HUSQVARNA AB (PUBL). ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
IRRIGATION Tools for watering tasks
RAM TXGD
                                                              @landscaper_ed                     /TheLandscaperMagazine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   CONTENTS

                                                         Editor
                                                         Maggie Walsh | 07787 555 798 | maggie.walsh@sheengate.co.uk
                                                                                                                                                                   News........................................................................ 09
                                                         Contributors
                                                         Paula Warman | Jana Silver | George Barrow                                                                Events....................................................................... 14
                                                         Media sales executive
                                                         Jana Silver | 0208 939 5600 | landscaper@sheengate.co.uk                                                  Digging in................................................................ 18
                                                         Design and production
                                                         Lucas-studio.co.uk                                                                                        Appointments......................................................... 22
                                                         Circulation and subscriptions

                                                                                                                                                                   Irrigation................................................................. 24
                                                         Maggie Walsh | maggie.walsh@sheengate.co.uk
                                                         The Landscaper is owned and published by Sheengate Publishing Ltd.
                                                         The Landscaper is an entirely independent magazine. It is not a member
                                                         of any trade association or society.                                                                      Groundscare and turf........................................... 28
                                                         Sheengate Publishing Ltd
                                                         Unit A4, Kingsway Business Park                                                                           Mowers.................................................................... 30
                                                         Oldfield Road, Hampton TW12 2HD
                                                         0208 939 5600
                                                                                                                                                                   RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival................ 34
                                                         www.sheengate.co.uk
                                                         www.landscapermagazine.com
                                                                                                                                                                   Landscaper's Circle............................................... 37
                                                         Managing director
                                                         Alex Whitney
                                                         Publisher
                                                                                                                                                                   Work vehicles......................................................... 42
                                                         Con Crowley

                                                                     Nothing in this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the           Cover Story: An Underhill SuperKey XL and a multipurpose
                                                                     publishers. Readers intending to purchase goods or services from advertisers should
                                                                     make their own enquiries if in any doubt. Every endeavour has been made to ensure
                                                                                                                                                                   golf sprinkler available from TWL Irrigation. It effortlessly
                                                                     that all the information published in this magazine is as accurate as possible. Neither the   turns Electric-Valve-In-Heads on/off, removes, Cap Debris,
                                                                     publishers nor their agents can be held responsible for any errors or omissions; nor shall
                                                                     they be liable for any loss or damage to any person acting on the information contained
                                                                                                                                                                   Snap Ring, Assembly, Solenoid Plunger and more. For
                                                                     in the magazine. Copyright © 2021                                                             further details on TWL see page 23.

                                                             Remote Workflow PACNEW                                                                                               Digital, mobile workflow
                                                                                                                                                                                  management, field data access,
                                                                                     KAGE
                                                             Management         ZERO SET-UP                                                                                       safety and planning software
                                                                                                                                                                                  for landscaping
                                                             from office to site FEES                                                                                             • Create jobs and tasks, add all information
                                                                                                                                                                                    and sync to users’ mobiles in the field.
                                                                                                                                                                                  • Schedule users in the calendar and assign
                                                               Schedule                                                                                                             pinpoint map locations to jobs.
                                                                                                                                                                                  • Add landscaping specific digital forms
                                                               Capture                                                                                                              and workflows, accessed on or offline.

                                                               Track                                                                                                              • Assign materials and equipment to jobs
                                                                                                                                                                                    and users with codes for tracking,
                                                               Invoice                                                                                                              maintenance and SHEQ.
                                                                                                                                                                                  • Mark-up images, sign off forms and tag all
                                                               Report                                                                                                               submissions with time/date/location tags.
                                                                                                                                                                                  • Produce quotes and invoices within the app
                                                                                                                                                                                    using a Bill of Quantities and inbuilt calculators.
                                                                                                                                                                                  • Receive information and produce reports
                                                                                                                                                                                    to make data-driven decisions and improve
                                                                                                                                                                                    costs, safety and efficiency.

                                                                                                   www.re-flow.co.uk/landscaping | 01392 574002 | info@re-flow.co.uk
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                BOOK
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               A DEMO

T: 01206 589556 E: sales@ate-uk.com   W: towmate.co.uk                                                                                                                                                                                        7
                                                                                                                                                                       The Landscaper | Issue 255 | August 2021
IRRIGATION Tools for watering tasks
NEWS

                                                                                                              Management level ROLO courses
                                                                                                              available for land-based workers
                                       POWERED                                                The British Association of Landscape Industries has
                                                                                              introduced two new training courses at supervisor and
                                                                                                                                                           The courses take two days for the supervisor course and
                                                                                                                                                           three days for the manager course. Learners will engage
                                         BY                                                   manager level. This adds to its popular Register of Land-
                                                                                              based Operations (ROLO) Operative level course.
                                                                                                                                                           with activities and assessments in both aspects of the
                                                                                                                                                           course to gain knowledge and prepare them for their
                                     INNOVATION                                                  The new courses enable industry supervisors and
                                                                                              managers to receive the appropriate level of health and
                                                                                                                                                           final assessment.
                                                                                                                                                              On successful completion and passing of all aspects
                                                                                              safety training and apply for their Land-based Industry      of the course, learners will receive a ROLO accredited
                                                                                              Skills Scheme/Construction Skills Certification Scheme       certificate, which is valid for five years, after which the
                                                                                              (LISS/CSCS) cards. They have been developed by the           appropriate refreshers course can be undertaken. These
                                                                                              Association to meet the training needs of the land-based     courses will also support candidates in applying for the
                                                                   3 - 4 NOVEMBER             sector. They are fully supported and approved by the         appropriate LISS/CSCS cards.
                                                                          2021                Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and Build
                                                                                              UK as equivalent to the CITB Site Supervisors Safety
                                                                                                                                                              Refresher courses will be available for those
                                                                                                                                                           renewing from having taken the full Supervisors or
                                                                                              Training Scheme and Site Management Safety Training          Managers courses and for those looking to renew their
                                                                        THE NEC               Scheme courses.                                              CITB SSSTS or SMSTS courses for their Land-based
                                                                                                 ROLO courses address the specific safety and              sector position.
                                                                     BIRMINGHAM               environmental challenges the sector faces, providing            Wayne Grills, Chief Executive of the British
                                                                                              specific training and keeping candidates up-to-date          Association of Landscape Industries, says: “Over
                                                                                              with the latest knowledge and skills to work in the          the years our provider network has been delivering
                                                                                              landscaping environment.                                     ROLO training to the industry, we have seen standards
                                                                                                 Since ROLO’s relaunch in 2012 till February this year,    across sites consistently improving. In response to the
                                                                                              the Association has seen 36,580 Operatives go through        increasing call for higher level courses from businesses

           FREE                                                                               ROLO training and 20,167 gain their LISS/CSCS cards.
                                                                                                 Both courses are made up of two parts and have a
                                                                                                                                                           who are seeing how useful ROLO training is, we have
                                                                                                                                                           developed these two brand new courses to continue our

          ENTRY                                                                               blended learning approach that starts with an online
                                                                                              e-learning course, before moving onto a tutor-led course.
                                                                                                                                                           legacy of improving standards.”
                                                                                                                                                              For more information, please visit bali.org.uk/ROLO

                                                                                                                             Charterhouse rebrand
EUROPE’S LARGEST ANNUAL EVENT                                                                 Charterhouse Turf Machinery has officially re-branded to     artificial ranges with leading turf managers throughout
                                                                  Register for your chance    become Redexim. While the product portfolio, premises        the UK. The time is now right to unify the approach with
FOR GROUNDSCARE PROFESSIONALS                                       to WIN an Avant UK        and personnel are unaffected, the change of name brings      that adopted throughout the world by delivering sales,
• Discover the latest product innovations                            e6 multi-functional      the UK into line with the Redexim corporate strategy         service and support under the Redexim banner. This
                                                                       electric loader!       adopted throughout Europe and the rest of the world.         will help to strengthen our brand awareness and global
• Connect with industry suppliers                                                               The relationship between Charterhouse and                  corporate identity and streamline our communication
                                                                                              Redexim has been ongoing for more than 35 years,             with customers around the world.”
• Network with groundscare professionals
                                                                                              when Charterhouse were appointed to distribute the
• Receive 1-2-1 advice on specific turf challenges                                            now iconic Redexim Verti-Drain®. The success of this
• Update your knowledge on the latest trends                                                  partnership then saw Charterhouse become a wholly
                                                                                              owned subsidiary of Redexim bv in 1997. With the
• Progress your career with expert guidance                                                   Verti-Drain® firmly setting the standard for professional
• The Eco Village featuring the latest environmentally-friendly                               aeration, the product portfolio has expanded significantly
  products in groundscare                                                                     over the years to incorporate overseeders, topdressers,
                                                                                              scarifiers and renovation equipment for natural surfaces,
                                                                                              as well as a range of machinery options for artificial
REGISTER AT GMASALTEX.CO.UK                                                                   playing surfaces, that meet the exacting standards of
                                                                                              today’s turf managers.
                                                                                                Commenting on the re-brand in the UK, Redexim
                                                                                              Chief Operating Officer Herman de Bree says: “The
                                                                                gma_saltex    team at Charterhouse have done a fantastic job over the
                                                                                @gmasaltex    years at cementing the place of the Redexim natural and

                                                                                @GMA_SALTEX

                                                                                                                                                              The Landscaper | Issue 255 | August 2021            9
IRRIGATION Tools for watering tasks
NEWS                                                                                                                                                                                                                 NEWS

                    Just rewards for Etesia dealers                                                                                                   Ground Control accredited
It's been challenging times, but Etesia UK are delighted                                                                                              as a Living Wage Employer
to announce the winners of four achievement awards
amongst their dealer network.
    The awards commend outstanding performances                                                                               The UK’s largest landscape and maintenance
in sales, service, parts and customer service. The                                                                            contractor, Ground Control has committed to paying all
winners are: Peter Bagguley of Russells Groundcare                                                                            its workers the Living Wage.
and Allan Wright of Agrovista Amenity for outstanding                                                                            Its employees across the country will earn £9.50 per
individual achievement, while RD Mechanical and                                                                               hour – or £10.85 if based in in London. Both rates are
Sharrocks were awarded with outstanding company                                                                               significantly higher than the Government minimum for
achievement awards.                                                                                                           over 23s, which currently stands at £8.91 per hour.
    The awards were handed out at the recent ET Lander                                                                           Ground Control is one of Britain’s largest ground
electric utility vehicle and Pellenc new product launches                                                                     servicing and maintenance firms, providing a range of
held in May at Etesia UK’s offices in Oxfordshire.                                                                            services including grounds maintenance, landscape
    Les Malin, Managing Director of Etesia UK says: “We                                                                       construction, design, arboriculture and more to over
heavily rely on our dealer network and the efforts of their                                                                   50,000 commercial properties across the UK. The
sales teams in promoting both Etesia and Pellenc in the                                                                       company’s commitment will see its staff at the lower
UK and Ireland.                                                                                                               end of the pay scale receive at least £9.50 per hour,                    Ground Control team out in force
    “We're delighted to be able to recognise the winners,                                                                     meaning they will earn at least £19,960 a year at 40
which not only provide a snapshot of each dealers'                                                                            hours per week.                                                Of the move to recognise their employees, Jason
performance with us but also our support to all of our                                                                           The real Living Wage is the only rate calculated         Knights, Managing Director of Ground Control,
dealers in what has been a very challenging time for                                                                          according to the costs of living. It provides a voluntary   says: “We are delighted to have joined many great
everyone in the sector.”                                           Etesia announces the winners of four dealer awards.        benchmark for employers that wish to ensure their           businesses in becoming a Living Wage employer, and
                                                                                                                              staff earn a wage they can live on, not just the            ensuring all of our employees are paid fairly for the
                                                                                                                              government minimum. Since 2011 the Living Wage              amazing work that they do. We hope to influence others
                                                                                                                              movement has delivered a pay rise to over 250,000           in our industry, including our supply chain to make the
Workware rebrands to Carr's Billington Safety                                                                                 people and put over £1.3 billion extra into the pockets
                                                                                                                              of low paid workers.
                                                                                                                                                                                          commitment as we believe this is critical to being a
                                                                                                                                                                                          responsible business and a good employer.”

                                                              UK wholesaler Workware has rebranded as Carr’s
                                                              Billington Safety in a move to strengthen its position in the
                                                              market as a distributor of specialist equipment, protective
                                                              clothing, footwear and accessories to the arboriculture,
                                                                                                                                                        TH White acquires Murley
                                                              forestry, horticulture and agricultural industries.
                                                                 The rebranding, complete with new logo and                   Specialists in the supply and maintenane of machinery,      operations at Warwick and Stourport. Murley’s Vehicle
                                                              website, has been led by Neil Thomas, Commercial                T H White Group has acquired Murley Agricultural            business is not part of this acquisition. For staff and
                                                              Manager, who identified restrictions with the existing          Supplies Ltd, including its agriculture, construction,      customers it’s business as usual, with just a name
                                                              Workware branding which was often associated with               garden machinery and smallholders and estates               change above the door.
                                                              clothing alone.                                                                                                               At the Warwick branch Murley’s Agricultural
                                                                 “The name change from Workwear to Carr’s Billington                                                                      operations now trade as T H White Agriculture and the
                                                              Safety has been a real milestone in the company’s                                                                           Garden Machinery side of the business will continue
                                                              progression and represents a small but important                                                                            under the T H White Country Store and Garden
                                                              change, one that is part of the major developments                                                                          Machinery brand. At the Stourport branch Murley’s
                                                              that have been taking place over the last 12 months”,                                                                       Construction operations now trade as T H White
                                                              explains Neil Thomas. “Since joining 14 months ago                                                                          Construction and the agricultural business now trades as
                                                              Carr’s Billington Safety has evolved in so many ways,                                                                       T H White Agriculture, as at Warwick.
                                                              from the customer facing aspect of the business with                                                                          The deal means that T H White's trading territory for
                                                              better stock management and clear precise pricing                                                                           New Holland, Manitou and other leading agricultural
                                                              structures and investment in marketing programmes, to                                                                       brands has now been expanded to embrace
                                                              the unseen back-end changes with further integration                                                                        Warwickshire and Worcestershire, while the Doosan
                                                              with our parent company (Carr’s Billington Agricultural                                                                     construction machinery franchise at Stourport has been
                                                              (Sales) Ltd and utilising the excellent internal resources                                                                  added to T H White's existing construction offering from
                                                              available. The net result is that we have become more                                                                       Manitou, New Holland and Mecalac.
                                                              efficient and secured our position as an industry leading                                                                     The new T H WHITE branches are located at Nelson
                                                              supplier. This process is ever evolving and we’ll continue                                                                  Lane, Warwick and Sandy Lane Industrial Estate, Titton,
             Safety ladders from the new brand.               to adapt and respond to market conditions.”                                                                                 Stourport-on-Severn.

 10     www.landscapermagazine.com                                                                                                                                                           The Landscaper | Issue 255 | August 2021         11
IRRIGATION Tools for watering tasks
NEWS

                                        Sir Tom tribute

                                          The memorial walkway seating area.

Harrogate Landscaping firm, Ray Skelton (Harrogate)          trees are among six planted by the junior soldiers from
Ltd and Yorkshire nursery Johnsons of Whixley have           the army college, to honour of Sir Tom and to launch the
recently helped create a touching memorial for a national    Queen’s Green Canopy campaign across the country.
hero and fundraiser Captain Sir Tom Moore, who in 2020           Stuart Skelton, Director of Ray Skelton (Harrogate)
raised millions for the NHS and also celebrated his 100th
birthday before sadly passing in February this year.
                                                             Ltd, says: “It has been an honour and a privilege to
                                                             be involved in the Captain Sir Tom Moore Memorial,
                                                                                                                           Cleveland Gambetti Tractor Mounted
   Unveiled in July, alongside Sir Tom’s family, junior
soldiers and sponsors, the memorial sits at the Army
                                                             hopefully, this will continue to inspire future generations
                                                             of Junior Soldiers.”
                                                                                                                           and demountable sprayers
Foundation College Harrogate, where he was an                    Eleanor Richardson, Johnsons of Whixley’s
honorary colonel.                                            marketing manager, adds: “We were delighted to be
                                                                                                                           n The most professional sprayers for the turf industry
   Ray Skelton (Harrogate) Ltd commissioned Kris             part of this fitting tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore,
Elvidge, a local stone mason to engrave the stones           who was a true inspiration. The donation is particularly
                                                                                                                           n From 100lt to 1200lt
that can be seen on the front and back of the college        fitting as the magnolia is native to Asia, where he
headquarters identifying the start and finish of the Capt    served during World War II.”
                                                                                                                           n Nationwide 7 days per week support
Sir Tom Moore Walk. They also created four seating               The Queen’s Green Canopy is a tree planting
areas that surround a centre stone halfway along the         initiative to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2021.
main walkway taken by junior soldiers on parade day.         People across the UK are being invited to ‘plant a tree
                                                                                                                           Contact Cleveland Alliances on 01361 883 418
   Johnsons, who celebrated their centenary in June,
donated two Magnolia ‘Double Diamond’ 200-250 110L
                                                             for the jubilee’, with community groups and schools
                                                             encouraged to take part from October, when the tree           www.clevelandalliances.com
trees and 50 Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’. The          planting season begins.

 12    www.landscapermagazine.com
IRRIGATION Tools for watering tasks
EVENTS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                EVENTS

              GLEE plans ahead                                                                                              new product and make informed decisions ready for the
                                                                                                                            following year. A move from September to June will allow
                                                                                                                            more time to put changes in place for our business.”
                                                                                                                               The need for earlier ordering was also echoed by
                                                                                                                                                                                        industry. We look forward to working with Glee on what
                                                                                                                                                                                        we’re confident will be a very busy and successful show
                                                                                                                                                                                        season next year”
                                                                                                                                                                                           Referencing the move to a summer show, Glee Event
                                                                                                                            suppliers, with AMES’ Managing Director, Paul North,        Director, Matthew Mein said: “The new date for Glee
                                                                                                                            saying: “As long-term partners with Glee, we are excited    follows a period of significant consultation with our
                                                                                                                            to confirm our attendance in 2022, and supportive of        stakeholders, including suppliers, retailers and trade
                                                                                                                            plans to move the show forward to June accordingly.         associations. Glee’s role is to provide a hub for the
                                                                                                                            Given the very real need of many of our customers to plan   industry we represent. The new June timing will open-up
                                                                                                                            earlier than ever before, we believe this announcement      new opportunities for all, whilst – more importantly –
                                                                                                                            will be received positively across the marketplace”         working more efficiently within the buying cycle. It is a
                                                                                                                               Importantly, Glee’s trade association partners have      much-needed change that we believe will add significant
                                                                                                                            shown their support for the announcement. GIMA              value to all those that utilise Glee as a central hub for
                                                                                                                            Director, Vicky Nuttall said: “With a majority of our       their buying/selling needs. It’s a big move but one we are
                                                                                                                            members having previously expressed their desire for an     incredibly excited about. As always, we will work closely
                                                                                                                            earlier show, this latest development is welcome news       with our stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition.”
                                                                                                                            and something that GIMA is pleased to support.”                Add the 2022 dates to your diary but, don’t forget, the
                                                                                                                               The HTA echo GIMA’s thoughts. Martin Simmons,            industry has this year’s event to look forward to and the
                                                                                                                            Director of Membership at the HTA, said: “The HTA           much-awaited opportunity to come together under one
                                                                                                                            has had a long association with Glee having been the        roof, meet face to face, make new connections and touch
                                                                                                                            main supporter of the Retail Lab feature in recent years    and feel product. See you in September for Glee 2021!
                                                                                                                            and significant involvement in its seminar programme.
                                                                                                                            Equally, Glee is a strong supporter of the National         Find out more
                                                                                                                            Plant Show, both organisations recognising the unique       To keep up to date on the latest Glee news visit
                                                                                                                            benefits of each event and what they provide for our        www.gleebirmingham.com

There is great anticipation in the garden retail sector for   it offers improved growth opportunities ahead of the                         Follow The Landscaper
the long-awaited return of Glee (14th – 16th September        Christmas sales period. From a visitor perspective, Glee                     @Landscaper_ed
2021, NEC Birmingham) as an in-person event; with             will sit more comfortably within the buying calendar, as
suppliers and retailers set to reconnect and create           well as within the wider exhibition cycle.
new opportunities at this year’s show. Building on this                                                                                    please like us at facebook.com/
excitement, the Glee team has confirmed that the 2022         Reactions from the industry                                                  TheLandscaperMagazine
event will move to a new date in order to meet the ever-      British Garden Centres PR & Communications Director,
developing needs of the garden retail sector. As a result,    Boyd J Douglas-Davies praised the decision and stressed                                                                                                                                    01642
Glee 2022 will take place June 28th – 30th.                   the importance of Glee to the entire sector. He said: “I’m                                                                                                                                244663
   Over several months, the Glee team undertook an in-        delighted to see the team at Glee reacting to the seismic
depth consultation with key stakeholders, representing        shift in order patterns and moving the show to ensure they
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      @clevelandsitesafeltd
suppliers, retailers and trade associations. The outcome      maintain their position as the foremost and most useful                                                                               Fully compliant COSH stores
of these discussions was that a shift to a different time     show for the gardening industry. As we all react to the new
of year would better reflect, and support, the ongoing        world order scene, we need Glee to be there for us all to                                                                    The units
                                                                                                                                                                                         pictured were
development of the garden retail supply chain and             ensure the industry continues to grow.”                                                                                     supplied to
associated buying cycles.                                        Mike Burks, Owner, The Gardens Group, and Chair,                                                                         The National
   This decision received unanimous support, and it has       Garden Centre Association added: “The only reason for                                                                     Football Centre,
                                                                                                                                                                                          St Georges
been confirmed that the annual Glee exhibition will take      buying in September is because Glee is in September.                                                                      Park, Burton-on-
place in June, effective from 2022. The first show hosted     June is a better time for buying, and independent                                                                               Trent
under the new date line to take place on the 28th – 30th      garden centres will adapt. Also, in recent times with the                                                                  Official training
                                                                                                                                                                                         ground of the
June, 2022.                                                   uncertainties in the supply chain, the earlier ordering can                                                                                          Garages - Highly secure storage
                                                                                                                                                                                        England football
                                                              be done, the more forward planning that is possible by                                                                         teams.              for ground maintenance equipment
The industry shows support for                                the manufacturers, and a much higher chance of having                                                                      “The addition of the two new buildings has significantly improved the grounds
                                                                                                                                                                                         operation area, allowing us to fully comply with our health & safety
Glee’s new dateline                                           the right product, at the right time for the customer. Glee                                                                obligations. As well as meeting the legal side, the buildings offer first class
The Glee team’s realigned timing of the show has already      in June helps enormously with this"                                                                                        garage accommodation to high value kit which would otherwise deteriorate
                                                                                                                                                                                         quickly sitting outside”
garnered support from across the sector. Exhibitors              Perrywood Garden Centre Manager, Simon Bourne                                                                                                           Alan Ferguson
consulted about the date change said they whole-              commented: “I love going to Glee and it is one of the first                                                                                            Head of Grounds & Estates
                                                                                                                                                   Visit us at                                                        National Football Centre
heartedly support the move. Home and Gift suppliers           events to go onto my calendar at the beginning of the                                                                                                 info@cleveland-sitesafe.ltd.uk

have also praised the change, as they recognise that          year. I go to meet with suppliers and colleagues, source            www.landscapermagazine.com
                                                                                                                                                                                                             www.cleveland-sitesafe.co.uk

 14     www.landscapermagazine.com                                                                                                                                                          The Landscaper | Issue 255 | August 2021                                          15
IRRIGATION Tools for watering tasks
EVENTS

                          National Plant Show
                           returns for 2022
                                                              bulbs, house plants and a wide range of garden plants to
                                                              labelling and product information, growing media, display
                                                              benching and machinery.
                                                                 Anne Clark, Director of HR and Learning at the HTA,
                                                              said: “We look forward to welcoming visitors to NPS
                                                              at Stoneleigh once again next year and to enabling
                                                              exhibitors in reaching their most relevant audiences and
                                                              helping horticulture grow for the future of the industry.”
                                                                 Matthew Mein, Event Director of Glee, said: “Glee
                                                              and the HTA have a long-standing partnership that has
                                                              been pivotal in the development of Glee’s offering for
                                                              the garden retail sector. We appreciate the support of
                                                              the HTA and its members, particularly during the recent
                                                              period of consultation which led us to realign Glee with
                                                              current buying cycles, with a new-for-2022 June date.
                                                              This new timing will offer buyers and retailers significant
                                                              benefits and support business growth, values we know
                                                              the HTA Plant Show also works to represent. As always,
The Horticultural Trades Association has announced that       we remain key supporters of the event, and look forward
the National Plant Show (NPS) will be back in 2022 on         to working together with the HTA in the future to ensure
21 and 22 June at the NAEC Stoneleigh.                        we continue to offer our industry the tools and support it
  With over 60 companies, across both halls already           needs to thrive.”
confirmed to exhibit, it will provide British suppliers the      Keep an eye out for updates on the HTA National Plant
opportunity to showcase their produce from seeds,             Show Website at www.nationalplantshow.co.uk

                       Landscape Show
                   is back and on the move
Celebrating its 10th anniversary The Landscaper Show
returns this year following a break due to Covid. Taking
place on 3rd and 4th November the show is relocating
from its traditional riverside spot at Battersea, London
to the NEC Birmingham.
   The move to a larger venue in Birmingham gives
the ability to grow and create a bigger show, and in
this exciting chapter of the show’s history, it will also
be running alongside SALTEX, (the Sports Amenities
Landscaping Trade Exhibition), allowing visitors to
                                                                                                                                      ESSIO
attend both shows in one visit.                                                                                                   F

                                                                                                                            PRO

                                                                                                                                           NA
   Of the event, that attracts garden designers,
landscape architects, landscape contractors, local

                                                                                                                                               L
authority landscapers among many, event director
Jeremy Storey-Walker says: “ We continue to be                                                                                    G
overwhelmed with support and are delighted to provide                                                                                 R A DE
the opportunity for the industry to reunite.”
   To register for free entry visit
www.landscapeshow.co.uk

 16     www.landscapermagazine.com
IRRIGATION Tools for watering tasks
THE LANDSCAPER                                                                                                                                                                                                    THE LANDSCAPER

                          Time to dig in?
    How useful is an excavator for a landscaping business? The answer is that,
   potentially, it could take your firm to the next level. But, researching the right
             solution for your business is essential, says Caroline Scott

Mini excavators can prove transformative for                    There are numerous courses available for those
landscapers and many report that business this year is        without previous experience of using an excavator.
exceptionally good. Of course, the pandemic has a big         Typically, a complete novice would be looking at a three-
part to play in this - more people are relocating to the      day course and the cost would probably be just shy of
countryside and acquiring larger gardens. With holidays       £1,000 – although there is variation depending on the
often off the agenda, surplus cash is being spent on DIY      provider. Landscapers should ensure it is an approved
and outside spaces, while new home developments are           course however, such as by Lantra Awards.
springing up all over the UK.
   So, for landscapers, this may be an opportunity to         Should you hire or buy?
think about capital investment. But, do they need to bring    If the landscaper does a lot of heavier projects, involving
on more people and in particular, is an excavator worth       construction or on ground that requires extensive work,
buying?                                                       then it may be worthwhile. So, if an excavator is needed
   Excavators can certainly be used for a wide range of       on site almost every day, owning may be cheaper than
tasks such as breaking down walls, removing paving,           hiring. However, should an excavator only be needed
digging up turf, digging out ponds, removing tree stumps      occasionally, then hiring will be far more cost effective.
and levelling out ground, to name but a few.                      Ownership also brings additional costs in terms of
   For this work, a landscaper would typically be looking     needing to buy insurance and safety checks, such as
at a mini or micro excavator. Dealers will undoubtedly        LOLER inspections by a ‘competent person’. However, in
offer finance packages, but these involve interest            the case of hiring, these responsibilities are taken on by    landscapers want excavators that are “compact,                  Another option is an electric mini excavator, which has
payments and credit checks,                                   the hire company.                                             lightweight and easy to manoeuvre, even for beginners.”      zero emissions and low noise levels, although as with
   Alternatively, there is a buoyant hire market, and             Buyers also should be aware that excavators – and            As such, he says the most popular model from Kubota       other vehicles, these have a higher price tag. JCB was
excavators can also be hired with operators if preferred.     indeed many other types of plant - can be a key target        that is chosen by landscapers is the KX016-4. “It has the    the pioneer in this sector and has recently launched a
All of these options have their pros and cons. But before     for thieves and they should look to manage this risk          power to get almost any job done, from smaller DIY jobs      fully glazed cab on its 19C-1E model which is an industry
thoughts turn to acquisition or hire, safety comes first.     as best as possible, whether by installing trackers and       all the way to major projects.                               first. This means it can be used in colder and wetter
                                                              immobiliser and in where it is kept when idle.                   “Landscapers enjoy the KX016 because it combines          weather and windows demist once the heater is on. The
What are the risks?                                               A hire company will bring the excavator to the site and   its high power with unmatched versatility, offering a dig    excavator’s battery capacity allows a full day’s shift to be
Make no mistake, even a so-called ‘micro’ excavator           collect it at the end of the rental period.                   depth of up to 2.25m and a maximum reach of 3.73m.           worked. The excavator is priced at a tad over £41,500,
can be dangerous. As an employer, a landscaper will               This can mean less flexibility, but can also remove       It also has a comfortable cabin and its wide cabin door      while there are HP options at £258.99 a week or £211.40
also have a duty of care to ensure that anyone using          risk for the landscaper. Hiring companies will also           makes quick access even easier. The machine’s user-          for a three year lease option.
an excavator is competent. At worst and should an             generally offer an insurance option, where the                friendly digital panel gives operators all the information      An electric JCB may well have its attractions, but
accident happen, then they would be to blame and not          equipment is protected for an additional fee. While           they might need at a glance.”                                alternatively, there is an active second hand market,
the operator.                                                 there are both national hire chains and independents,            According to Kubota, its excavators are “designed with    where various makes of excavators can be found for
    So they should be enormously careful about who uses       one obvious disadvantage with hiring is that there            the first-time user in mind, just as they offer advanced     under £10,000, although landscapers may well want to
an excavator – including on a sub-contracted basis –          can be a shortage of supply, particularly if it a job that    power and capabilities for seasoned operators. We            consider buying from a dealer where there is a warranty
that the individual is competent.                             comes in at short notice.                                     design our controls to be easy to use and just as easy to    scheme and a solid reputation for service, rather than an
    Accidents that can occur include:                             Landscapers also have the option of hiring an             learn. New operators can pick up the basics on how to        online seller.
• Tipping over – can happen with machine is wrongly          excavator with an operator. This may suit some work,          use our machines in as little as half an hour.”                 Meanwhile, for those who need an excavator on a less
   positioned                                                 but the landscaper may also feel there are restrictions,         Hampson adds: “For novice users, speak to your plant      frequent basis, hiring is likely to be first port of call.
•D  amage to utilities such as damaging drains or cables     in that the operator may need close supervision if it is a    hire firm and they will do a comprehensive handover             Travis Perkins has branches across the UK and Aaron
• Injury to operator and others in vicinity, whether other   major project and the costs can be around £250 a day          with a rundown of how to use the machine. In addition,       Watson, health, safety and environmental improvement
   employees or passers-by                                    or more.                                                      Kubota works with our dealer network to ensure they’re       specialist for group hire says: “The past 16 months have
• Accidents when towing or falling from a truck.                                                                           on hand to help with any questions.”                         been incredibly busy for us, landscaping has boomed,
    An operator should complete at least an introductory      What to look for in an excavator                                 At the time of going to press, dealer Midlands            along with DIY, largely as a result of the pandemic.
training course together with a thorough handover from        In terms of purchasing, Glen Hampson, construction            Equipment had the model for sale for £16,495 +VAT or         People are at home more often, and want to improve
any company they buy or hire from.                            division manager at Kubota UK, says that most                 on finance at £65.00 per week for 60 payments.               their homes by having work done.”

 18     www.landscapermagazine.com                                                                                                                                                          The Landscaper | Issue 255 | August 2021             19
THE LANDSCAPER

    He comments: “Plant equipment can be dangerous if               “Our plant equipment will always be delivered to
it is not operated safely, and recently there has been a         the job site by our professional drivers who are highly
rise in plant tip incidents right across the industry, some      knowledgeable about the equipment and its use. We do
of these incidents can be very serious and on occasion           this so we can provide a comprehensive handover to
lives have unfortunately been lost.”                             the customer.” In 2020, Travis Perkins implemented a
    He continues: “The equipment is designed with                Plant Safety Handover Process, whereby they send the
safety in mind, but operators must be familiar with              customer a plant safety video at the point of order and
the controls and safety features to be able to operate           also show customers the video on the driver device at
safely when using plant equipment. Notably, large                the point of delivery.
companies will tend to ensure their staff have formal               He adds: “There can be vast capital outlay involved in
training, but that is not always the case with SMEs              buying quality new equipment and then there is also the
or individuals.”                                                 cost of servicing, maintenance and insurance. We take
    There is no specific legal requirement to hold a             that worry away from them as they know it will be in good
certificate to drive an excavator, digger or dumper              condition, no more than three years old and backed by
on private worksites and access roads. However,                  excellent customer service.”
operators must be competent and trained in the use of               The choice to hire or buy must be carefully weighed up
excavators, all manuals and information supplied must            but for landscapers, there is no doubt that an excavator
be read and understood.                                          can certainly help power up their business.

  Could an attachment do the job?
  One option that could interest landscapers is an attachment rather than a full excavator. Bobcat offers a backhoe
  which can be used for excavation and is attached to its skid steer loader, a compact piece of construction kit,
  used primarily for digging.
     The manufacturer says this offers value and versatility and could be a handy workmate for landscapers.
     It is available in four configurations [the two Versatile (V) B32V and B35V models and the two Standard (S)
  B32S and B35S models], which offer a choice of digging depths, reach and hook-up systems. The largest model
  in the range offers a maximum digging depth of 3.3 metres and a maximum reach of four metres.
     Landscapers are able to transform loaders into excavators that can dig holes, trenches and foundations and
  add other attachments – there are over 30 of these to choose from
     The new backhoe attachment is also about 100 kg lighter than the previous generation product, providing
  additional stability for increased safety and offers a clear line of sight from the operator’s seat, for accurate digging.

 20     www.landscapermagazine.com
PROMOTIONAL
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      APPOINTMENTS                                                                                                                                                                                                                  IRRIGATION

                           Moving places                                                                                     For all your irrigation needs
            The Landscaper Magazine congratulates the following in their                                                             just yell, TWL!                                                                 RM-2 RAIN MAKE R
             new roles across the landscaping and turf care industries                                                                                                                                               INTERNET BASED 2 WIRE DECODER
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  SYSTEM                          IRRIGATION CONTROLLER

                                                                                                                        TWL offers an extensive range of hand watering                 brands. Two different
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New CEO for Quartix                                        European service manager for Rain Bird                                                         of nozzles are of solid      to turf, saving time and
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Overview

                                                                                                                                                          Outstanding distribution     itself to clean out
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 The RM-2 Rainmaker irrigation controller
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          provides a solution for large scale irrigation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Providing both remote connectivity                                                      applications.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    and water balance control, the RM-2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 irrigation controller.                                                    is a very powerful and scalable

                                                                                                                                                          patterns make it ideal for   drains, removing debris
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 The RM-2 comes with both an Ethernet
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          and an integrated 3G modem providing
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 smart phone, tablet, PC or centralised                                           remote access via your
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        monitoring system. The unit is configured
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 interface, enabling the user to setup                                             using its own web
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       watering stations and program times.

                                                                                                                                                          high demand areas like       with ease. Special
                                                                                                                                                          greens and tees. Also,       feature includes a wire attachment connector, enabling
                                                                                                                                                          an excellent equipment       a wire locator to determine drain routes under greens,
                                                                                                                                                          wash-down nozzle - the       bunkers etc.
                                                                                                                        Firefighter or Pistol Grip make any wash-down very                The Gulp range of
Amenity seed company Germinal has recruited Stuart                                                                      comfortable high and low volume from 27L/min-163L/min          hand pumps discharge
Quartix, a leading supplier of subscription-based          Alastair Higgs has been promoted to the role of Europe       at 5.5 bar within the Magnum range.                            water from sprinklers,
vehicle tracking systems, software and services,           Service Manager for irrigation suppliers Rain Bird. In          The Precision range of nozzles are for specific tasks       valve boxes, fountains,
has announced the appointment of Richard Lilwall           this new position, working from Rain Bird Europe’s           on greens, tees, seed beds transplants and delicate            pipes, boats, toilets,
as successor to Andy Walters. Andy retires after 20        office in France, Alastair’s responsibilities will include   landscaped areas. Collectively the Rainbow, Rainmaker,         spas; just about
years' service to the company and Richard will join the    developing and driving forward service activities for        Cloudburst and Cyclone will syringe, spot water, drench        anywhere! From a
Company as Chief Executive Officer and as a member         Rain Bird across Europe.                                     dry spots, pre-game skim or heavily water large areas.         compact to a large with
of its plc Board in early October.                            Joining Rain Bird in 2016 as a golf sales specialist,     Between 56L/min-189L/min, within the Precision range.          a 72" discharge hose,
   Richard is currently VP and European Managing           Alistair became golf district manager for the UK, Ireland       PelletPro heavy-duty surfactant applicator gun with         they remove unwanted
Director of Teletrac Navman, a leading international       and Iceland in 2018, managing and promoting the              the high-flow valve and Precision "Cloudburst" nozzle          water easily. Made from
supplier of vehicle tracking and telematics services and   distribution of Rain Bird Golf products and services         combo, makes it the finest wetting agent gun available,        aircraft aluminum and the
systems. Having gained a degree in civil engineering       through trusted partners, providing support and              accepting all wetting agent tablets. Made of ultra heavy-      highest quality materials.
from Kingston University, he spent a brief period in       guidance about best practice to end users.                   duty brass fittings, aircraft aluminum, stainless steel and    Easy to disassemble and
project management and consultancy before setting             “My new role widens my remit significantly and            precision engineered glass-filled materials.                   clean.
up his own company, ACT Communications (UK) Ltd.,          covers the full spectrum of Rain Bird products over             Providing a high volume, yet soft spray for watering           Irrigation Controllers range from the low-cost TW-3
in January 2002. ACT became the most successful            a much larger geographical territory. Having been            or applying surfactants to tight, hydrophobic soils with       to the Internet-based RM-2, operated from a web
vehicle tracking distributorship in the UK and was         involved with golf throughout my career to date, it’s        a pellet rotation that evenly dissolves tablets. 132L/min      browser. TW-3, compact and low-priced, controls up to
subsequently acquired by Navman Wireless in 2011.          a welcome change to be dealing with a range of new           gets the job done faster!                                      127 decoders: Tonick, Gemini or Toro/Trident. Low cost
   At Navman Wireless Richard progressed rapidly           sectors from agriculture to residential. It also allows         LiquidPro can virtually "paint" the turf with liquid        remote control though your mobile phone.
from Major Accounts Executive to Head of Enterprise        me to manage and guide our team of talented service          wetting agents, fertilizers and micronutrients by covering        RM-2 is wall-mounted and does not need a dedicated
in 2014, following which he was appointed as Managing      engineers and support the network of approved service                                                  a 92 square          PC, as all its web pages are contained internally. It
Director of Teletrac Navman Automotive in January          providers to deliver after sale Global Service Plans,                                                  metres area          does not need a dedicated server. Any of the usual web
2017. In June 2018 he was promoted to his current          installation start-up, training, software and on-site                                                  in less than a       browsers can be used to access the RM-2 which can
position as VP and European Managing Director for          services,” he says.                                                                                    minute!              be connected to the Internet using Ethernet, WiFi, or
Teletrac Navman.                                              “As our focus is increasingly software-centric, remote                                                 EasyOut spray     4G mobile data. Maximum 508 stations. Amazingly low-
   Of his future role Richards adds, "I am proud and       and on-site support is becoming much more important,                                                   head removal and     priced compared to similar controllers.
excited to be joining the team at Quartix. Having spent    not only for new installations but also throughout the                                                 replacement tool        Please visit www.twl-irrigation.com to view all
20 years in the tracking and telematics business I have    lifetime of Rain Bird systems. An enhanced service                                                     makes light work     TWL products.
observed the success of Quartix over that time. To be      offering puts customers in full control and gives                                                      of replacing a
joining and leading this organisation is a real honour     them complete peace of mind, enabling them to                                                          broken sprinkler                                                                                                                                           Sales Office:

and I am confident we can continue and accelerate the      maximise efficiency of central control and cloud-based                                                 and fits all major
growth trajectory."                                        technologies and gain all the benefits that these offer.”                                              spray head                                                                                                                                                 Telephone:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Email:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Website:

                                                                                                                                                                                             With compliments
 22    www.landscapermagazine.com                                                                                                                                                         The Landscaper | Issue 255 | August 2021                                                                                23
IRRIGATION                                                                                                                                                                                                                 IRRIGATION

                              Pitch perfect
                                                                                                                                  Initial investigations revealed that whilst the existing
                                                                                                                               pump system was suitable for the pitch installation,
                                                                                                                               the in-ground sprinkler system could be improved.
                                                                                                                               Spacing between the heads was adjusted, pipe
                                                                                                                               diameters were increased and valving arrangements
               Specialists Rigby Taylor and Rain Bird combine to give a                                                        were optimised to operate more efficiently and with
                                                                                                                               better coverage than before.
            Gloucestershire university college improved sports turf irrigation                                                    As part of the solution, Rigby Taylor effectively
                                                                                                                               isolated each pitch rotor on to its own solenoid valve
Hartpury University and Hartpury College in Gloucester-          the whole site in pristine condition all year round.          by cutting the feed pipes between the sprinklers and
shire provide undergraduate and postgraduate degrees                 Providing the best possible playing surfaces year-        capping them. “Having individual solenoids on each pop
ranging from agriculture, animal and sport science.              in, year-out is a key responsibility and in Autumn 2019,      up sprinkler also gives us the freedom to give parts of
As such, to accommodate the needs of the students,               Matthew and the Acting Sports Turf Supervisor began an        the pitch extra water if needed,” says Matthew.
the outdoor facilities at this 360-hectare campus need           investigation into possible improvements to the irrigation       On recommendation from Rigby Taylor, the existing
to be in tip top condition - a task that is overseen by          system for one of its natural grass football pitches. The     irrigation decoder controller was replaced with a                       Rain Bird ESP-LXD on site at Hartpury College
the Ground and Sports Maintenance Manager,                       main objectives were to improve overall irrigation coverage   new Rain Bird ESP-LXD controller complete with a
Matthew Newman.                                                  across the surface with a continuous rain curtain system      network communication cartridge and linked to the                the next natural grass rugby pitch. 50 stations can be
   When the college needed to upgrade its pitch                  and to help optimise water usage on the site as a whole       IQ-Cloud irrigation central management system. This              accommodated by the ESP-LXD controller, each with
irrigation, Matthew turned to Rigby Taylor, experts in           which was capped to a consumption 10,000m³ annually.          combination was considered the best to meet Hartpury's           flow management, and this can be expanded easily to
supplying solutions and solving problems for sporting,           The new irrigation system would also need to be easily        requirements, giving a real time, fully automatic irrigation     200 stations .
amenity and landscaped surfaces. The initial challenge           managed, relatively maintenance free and reliable.            control system that can be managed remotely by                      "We are very happy with the improvements that have
was to upgrade the existing irrigation system for one                Hartpury already had a strong long standing               smartphones or a laptop connected to the internet.               been recommended and installed by Rigby Taylor as well
of several natural and artificial match day and training         relationship with Rigby Taylor having invested in their          The ESP-LXD controller's GSM cartridge enables                as the support that has been given by all concerned,"
pitches. The solution has included the installation of Rain      GPS, TinyLinemarker Pro, autonomous robotic pitch             employment of IQ-Cloud's full suite of remote water              concludes Matthew.
Bird's ESP-LXD irrigation controller and the IQ-Cloud            line marker and an associated company's TurfKeeper            management tools. Grounds staff know in real time
central management system.                                       online management data recording/communication                how the irrigation system is operating and can access             Green-tech adds Rain Bird to portfolio
   Hartpury are continuously investing in new facilities         system. Matthew therefore had no hesitation in                information on flow rates and performance. With its               Supplier Green-tech has joined forces with Rain Bird
and sport pitches, including the provision of professional       calling upon Rigby Taylor's expertise again to assess         flexible programming, IQ-Cloud allows many different              to provide an enhanced offering of irrigation products
quality playing surfaces. There are two 3G rubber                irrigation requirements.                                      functions to be carried out including stopping and                to its customers.
crumb all-weather artificial pitches for football and rugby          Extolling the services provided by Rigby Taylor,          starting irrigation programs as well as increasing or                Says Richard Gill, Sales Director for Green-tech:
which are certified by the Football Association and              especially that of Peter Robin UK Irrigation Product          decreasing watering schedules in accordance with                  “We are incredibly excited about this addition to our
tested to IRB regulations respectively. There are also           Manager, Matthew comments. “He (Peter) made site              predicted weather conditions.                                     product portfolio. This takes our offering to a whole
natural grass pitches, a golf putting green, a range and         visits, with the first to look at our existing irrigation        Water can be saved by reducing sprinkler usage by as           new level. For anyone that is planning a project that
recreational pitch and putt.                                     system, to understand how we operate and what we              much as 50% in wet spells and this level of control would         requires an irrigation system we can provide technical
   Matthew and his teams are responsible for maintaining         wanted to achieve. We also attended a Rigby Taylor            help Hartpury to keep within its capped water usage               data, drawings and site assessments to recommend
the rugby and football pitches as well as grassed areas          irrigation seminar at Celtic Manor, which was followed up     limit. Reports can be automatically created providing             the most suitable irrigation solution for you.”
by the residential buildings. Four dedicated ground              by an email detailing their recommendations along with        information on irrigation times, total water usage as well           “Rain Bird has a commitment to The Intelligent
staff look after all the sports pitches and golf facilities.     a quotation. The subsequent visit talked us through the       as other significant data. Automated e-mail alerts and            Use of Water™ which is a good fit for us as we try
Landscaping and other maintenance work around the                changes needed on-site and showed us the products,            alarms can be set up to help manage potential problems.           to move towards a more sustainable product range.
historic old manor house garden and the campus keep              fittings and wiring requirements."                               Rigby Taylor and Rain Bird worked closely on the               Rain Bird’s passion for water conservation along with
                                                                                                                               installation and towards the end of the improvement work          manufacturing high-quality products sits comfortably
                                                                                                                               visited the site together to install the controller and set up    with our ethos. Our customers are asking for more
                                                                                                                               the irrigation schedules. It was important for Hartpury's         environmentally friendly and conscious product
                                                                                                                               grounds staff to be able to change irrigation regimes and         choices and we are delighted that this new product
                                                                                                                               override pre-programmed schedules remotely, as well               range not only enhances our irrigation offering but
                                                                                                                               having the facility from pitchside to implement match day         meets these needs.”
                                                                                                                               half-time wet downs to slicken the pitch. Thanks to the
                                                                                                                               GSM module mounted in the ESP-LXD controller, this
                                                                                                                               is easily done using Hartpury's customised IQ-Cloud
                                                                                                                               smartphone App.
                                                                                                                                  The management, control and operation of the
                                                                                                                               irrigation system is handled by Matthew and the Acting
                                                                                                                               Sports Turf Supervisor. During the pandemic there have
                                                                                                                               been other priorities, but moving forward, the plan is
                                                                                                                               not only to train all the groundstaff to use the Rain Bird
                                                                                                                               controller and management system, but also to add
                                                  Football pitch at Hartpury                                                   further pitches to the expandable system, starting with

 24     www.landscapermagazine.com                                                                                                                                                                 The Landscaper | Issue 255 | August 2021            25
THE WORLD IS A STAGE AND
                                                                                                                   FOR KIOTI IT IS STAGE V
                                             THE WORLD IS A STAGE AND FOR KIOTI IT IS STAGE V                                       The new Stage V environmental
                                                                                                                                    requirements for tractors has
                                                                                                                                    resulted in the introduction of a
                                                                                                                                    whole host of new models and
                                                                                                                                    features for the Kioti range of
                                                                                                       The new Stage V environmentalCompact tractors. Starting from 21
                                                                                                       requirements for tractors hasHP models all the way to 110HP.
                                                                                                                                    Luxury standard factory cabins with
                                                                                                       resulted in the introduction airofconditioning now start at 25HP.
                                                                                                       a whole host of new models
                                                                                                       and features for the Kioti range
                                                                                                       of Compact tractors. Starting
                                                                                                       from 21 HP models all the way to
                                                                                                       110HP. Luxury standard factory
                                                                                                       cabins THE
                                                                                                               THE
                                                                                                               with WORLD
                                                                                                                     air WORLDIS A STAGE AND
                                                                                                                          conditioning      ISFOR
                                                                                                                                                AKIOTI
                                                                                                                                                  STAGEIT IS STAGE
                                                                                                                                                                 AND
                                                                                                                                                                   V
Sustainable                                                                                            now start at 25HP.               AH
                                                                                                                                           RUN
                                                                                                                                                       EAD
                                                                                                                                                     THE PACOKF
                                                                                                                                              The new Stage V environmental         The new Stage V e

soils, growing                                                                                                                            R UNrequirements for tractors has
                                                                                                                                              resulted in the introduction of
                                                                                                                                                                                    requirements for
                                                                                                                                                                                    resulted in the in

                                                                                                                                       AHEAD OF
                                                                                                                                              a whole host of new models            a whole host of

media and turf
                                                                                                                                              and features for the Kioti range      and features for th

                                                                                                                                       THE PACK
                                                                                                                                              of Compact tractors. Starting         of Compact tract
                                                                                                                                              from 21 HP models all the way to      from 21 HP models
                                                                                         Download                                             110HP. Luxury standard factory        110HP. Luxury sta
                                                                                                                                              cabins with air conditioning          cabins  with  air
                                                                                       a copy of our
British Standard Topsoil           Amenity Tree Soil                                                                                          now start at 25HP.                    now start at 25HP.
                                                                                      Guide to Good
Light in texture with good         Load bearing, fertile planting                       Soils today                                                                      R UN
water holding capacity.            medium. Enables tree root
                                                                                                                                                                      AHEAD OF
Ideal for environmentally          infrastructure to develop under
conscious projects.                hard urban landscapes.
                                                                                                                                                                      THE PACK
British Standard Subsoil           ArborRaft Soil
A high quality, clean and          Works as a rootzone with the                                                                                           2 YEAR UNLIMITED HOUR
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consistent soil with full          ArborRaft Tree Planting System.
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infill, raising levels and         Bespoke Mixes                                                                                                                                 WARRANTY ON K9 UTV

                                        CONTACT KIOTIT:UK  OR332YOUR LOCAL DEALER    FOR     MORE
                                                                                                OR YOURDETAILS:
creating landscape contours.       Rootzones, low fertility soils,
                                                       01423
                                   subsoil, sports soils and    100           CONTACT
                                                                               CONTACT KIOTI UK KIOTI  LOCAL
                                                                                                         UKDEALER
                                                                                                             OR YOUR
                                                                                                                  FOR MORE DETAILS:
                                                                                                                            LOCAL DEALER FOR M
Roof Garden Substrate              structural soils.                 E: sales@green-tree.co.uk                    WWW.KIOTI-UK.COM
                                                                                                                   WWW.KIOTI-UK.COM01480 401512                                    01480 401512
                                                                                                                                                                           SALES@KIOTI-UK.COM
Intensive and Extensive
                                   Turfs
                                               WWW.KIOTI-UK.COM
                                                          www.green-tree.co.uk                         01480WALES,
                                                                                                             401512 SCOTLAND,
                                                                                                            WALES, SCOTLAND,
                                                                                                                                             SALES@KIOTI-UK.COM
                                                                                                                             CENTRAL & NORTHERN
                                                                                                                                            CENTRAL
                                                                                                                                                ENGLAND: PATRICK
                                                                                                                                                             & NORTHERN
                                                                                                                                                                 DESMOND: 07881 013044
                                                                                                                                                                                    ENGLAND: PAT
options ensuring healthy plant                                                                                 WALES, SCOTLAND, CENTRAL & NORTHERN ENGLAND:
establishment for rooftop or       A comprehensive range                                                     SOUTHERN
                                                                                                              SOUTHERN ENGLAND:ENGLAND:
                                                                                                                               DAN WHITE: 07557 154300
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containerised planting projects.
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                                   including Wildflower Turf.
                                                                               SOUTHERNPATRICK   DESMOND:
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