News

Knapsack and handheld sprayers both have maintenance demands to keep them operating sweetly. The knapsack sprayer is overlooked as a tool despite its importa...

National Trust Nostell – Spirit of place!

Knowing such a marvellous house, gardens and grounds – with Robert Adam architecture and Chippendale furniture in abundance – and then learning about a certa...

Woodland Management made easier for Wildernesse GC thanks to GreenMech CM220TMP

A CM220TMP woodchipper from GreenMech has transformed the woodland management programme for Wildernesse Golf Club. The heavily tree-lined woodland/parkland c...

An exciting future

This is my first editorial comment since the news of our sale to Agrovista UK became public. It may seem strange to see two direct competitors now working as...

Winter sports pitches – Keeping it Simple

We all want our pitches to look and perform to the highest standard possible. However good we get them, we are secretly never satisfied and want to get to th...

PCA support for new Amenity Standard

National trade body The Property Care Association is playing a key role in a new initiative, developed to create assured standards in amenity management. Dr ...

Props and ploughers; a rugby groundsman’s tale

Valence School, offers some do’s and don’ts for looking after a rugby pitch in winter. Hi everyone. l am thrilled to be publishing my first blog and my years...

Three’s company for the ongoing management of the historic Bowood estate

The ongoing management of historic estates as thriving communities where people work together to make the most of the land’s assets remains key to their comm...

Machinery training – Why it’s important

In our last article we spoke about how training is a shared responsibility and becoming a necessity in a fast moving and ever-changing industry. Here, traini...

Government introduces new Environment Bill

The government has introduced an Environment Bill to Parliament to tackle climate change. It is said to help ensure that we maintain and improve our environm...

Players at Killingworth Young People’s Club United at one venue thanks to opening of new 3G pitch

Footballers at Killingworth Young People’s Club (KYPC) no longer need to traipse around Northumberland for training and matches thanks to the opening of the ...

Rare Japanese knotweed hybrid found in south Wales

A team of Swansea University scientists have discovered a rare Japanese knotweed hybrid in south Wales. Although this could mean further proliferation of kno...

Woodland Trust appoints new CEO

The Woodland Trust has announced the appointment of Dr Darren Moorcroft, currently director of estate and woodland outreach, as chief executive. He will take...

Grounds Training Tutor Frank Newberry asks ‘do you feel valued?’

Grounds Training tutor Frank Newberry believes that most people want to work for an organisation that values their efforts. In this article, Frank suggests n...

Wasps… view them differently!

You’re having a few drinks in the garden with your friends, or a family BBQ, when a load of pesky wasps arrive to spoil the party. You haven’t seen them all ...

Grounds Training celebrates its 1000th course

Grounds Training achieved the 1000thÂ accolade whilst delivering an Initial Sports Line Marking customised course, accredited by Lantra. Over the past thir...

There’s a lot more to being a groundsman than mowing the grass

Leicester City groundsman, John Ledwidge, admits you have to ‘nurture the pitch like it’s your baby’ as he completes 35,000 steps a day. John Ledwidge always...

Why we should listen to trees

When life gets too much, most of us try to get away from it all. Some might head to the pub, play football or knit a jumper. But if you really want to take a...

Why are England’s roadsides blooming?

A long-running campaign encouraging councils to let neatly-mown grass verges become mini meadows where wildflowers and wildlife can flourish appears to be bu...

The Triple C

Time was when most of my days were spent running seminars on specific subjects, like ‘Negotiating Skills’, ‘Presenting to Committees’, even ‘Report Writing’....

MM proves its worth at Shrewsbury School

Grounds manager Andy Richards claims that Limagrain UK’s MM brand of grass seed has proved time and time again, to be the best mixtures for the sports pitche...

Adrian Forbes unveils new all-weather pitch at grassroots club in Suffolk

Ex-Norwich City midfielder, Adrian Forbes, was on hand to officially open Beccles Town FC’s new floodlit third generation (3G) artificial grass pitch (AGP) i...

GreenMech launch Evo 165 at The Arb Show 2019

The ARB Show provided the launch platform for GreenMech to introduce their much-anticipated revolutionary new woodchipper series, the EVO 165. Capitalising o...

Sharks and Dolphins II

In the first of a two-part article, Frank Newberry, tutor at Grounds Training, reported on the perils of giving people feedback on their performance at work....

Disease management – time to be proactive

In recent years, we’ve seen a continually changing landscape in our industry, relating most notably to the chemical armoury we have available to us. The days...

Pesticides of the future – Part 2

In the last issue, Maxwell Amenity Technical Manager John Handley stated that the case in favour of chemical pesticides is that they have worked in the past....

Boro boss Tony Pulis unveils refurbished all-weather pitch at Herlingshaw Centre in South Bank

Middlesbrough FC manager Tony Pulis joined the club’s Foundation, to celebrate the opening of their newly-refurbished third generation (3G) artificial grass ...

Spring maintenance of bowling greens 2019

The joys of spring soon come round each year. The Bowling Green fraternity will soon be seen out practicing and playing on their bowling greens up and down t...

A common-sense approach to surveying your trees

In the present climate of litigation, many clubs are now afraid of the words health and safety. However, with a common sense approach to surveying your trees...

How golf courses can save Scotland’s bees

The putting greens are perfectly smooth, every blade of grass is polished and preened to perfection. No stray clumps of moss or random dandelion leaf to caus...

Pre-season rolling advice

By the time you read this, some of you may have already started your pre-season rolling. I have completed four passes to date, but many may not have even sta...

Dolphins and Sharks

In this, the first of a two-part article, Communication Skills Trainer Frank Newberry reports on the perils of giving people feedback on their performance at...

Pesticides – A brief history and analysis

In part one of a two part article, Maxwell Amenity Technical Manager John Handley provides a brief history and analysis of the current situation surrounding ...

Spring – into action?

February is always such an uncertain month weather-wise. Last year, we were gripped with sub-zero temperatures blown down from Siberia, but we have largely, ...

Two greenkeepers seriously injured

Two greenkeepers have been “badly hurt” in a tree-felling exercise at Leyland Golf Club. The men, James Dobie and Charlie Bevan, who are described as “highly...

A bit of a Deva!

The North West of England is home to five top flight teams. But what is life like for the region’s lower league groundsmen who can only dream of the extensiv...

Never Complain, Never Explain

Grounds Training Trainer Frank Newberry has always been fascinated by the maxim ‘never complain, never explain’. This advice is believed, by many, to be the ...

Karl McDermott begins role at Lord’s

Karl McDermott has, this month, begun the role of Head Groundsman at the prestigious Lord’s Cricket Ground. Karl, who has joined Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC...

How To series – Setting cylinder mower on cut

In this series of How To videos, Jonny Bowker from JA Bowker, gives a step by step guide how to correctly set a cylinder mower on cut. It is important to set...

Online mental health support

Greenkeeper sets up mental health support page on Facebook Mike Davie, the Head Greenkeeper of Hazel Grove Golf Club in Cheshire, has set up a successful Fac...

Tree planting in UK ‘must double to tackle climate change’

Government advisers call for radical changes, including turning farmland into forests Spring leaf growth on young birch trees, protected in plastic tubes, on...

Brooksby Melton College Student Wins Horticulture Award from Leicestershire and Rutland Gardens Trust!

Brooksby Melton College student April Castell (18) was recently presented with the Brooksby Horticulture Award; an annual prize awarded by the Leicestershire...

Double Delight in Newark as two new all-weather pitches support development of Sports Community Village.

Football participation in Newark, Nottinghamshire is set to flourish thanks to two new Football Foundation funded all-weather pitches which were opened on (M...

Brooksby Melton College Students Create a Poppy Display with a Twist

Students from Brooksby Melton College have been working hard to create a stunning poppy display to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the First ...

Double delight in Handsworth as two lots of funding are presented by Clive Betts MP

Clive Betts, MP for Sheffield South East, was on hand to present Handsworth Junior Sporting Club and Handsworth Parramore FC with two lots of funding from th...

Jeffrey Humble Playing Fields opens in Liverpool

A major new community sports complex has opened its doors in Liverpool. Jeffrey Humble Playing Fields has become the first facility in the city to open as pa...

Five tips for employers to support their staff’s mental health

With one in six people experiencing a mental health issue in a given week, supporting mental well-being in the workplace can no longer be ignored. Here, Jaan...

Astwood Bank Cricket Club – Not Breaking the Bank

In his short grounds career to date, Brad Jefferies has already been an assistant to Gary Barwell at Warwickshire CCC’s Edgbaston and Tim Packwood at Worcest...

The John Fretwell Sporting Complex – Tied up in Notts

The John Fretwell Sporting Complex is managed by The Warsop Sporting Trust which is operated by volunteer trustees from the organisations who use the complex...

Summer turf stress increases chance of Anthracnose

As grass plants have experienced extreme droughts this summer greenkeepers are reminded to act now before disease onset this autumn. Dr Colin Mumford, Bayer ...

AJ Bell Stadium – Binary Codes

Hosting two professional rugby clubs at AJ Bell Stadium, one of the 13-man code and one of the 15-, Dan Huffman, 50, has studs and scrums on his surface year...

No Can Do!

Trainer Frank Newberry has been helping people to be more assertive at work for over thirty years. Saying ‘no’ to requests for help can be difficult. Frank p...

Nectar Network boosted by support from The R&A

Work to create a network of nectar-rich habitats along the Ayrshire coast has taken a step forward thanks to funding from The R&A. The support from the organ...

Latest health and safety guidelines for turf professionals “could save lives” following major review

The Greenkeepers Training Committee (GTC) has launched a free-to-use web-based platform created by the Xact Group that aims to ensure golf club employers und...

Cricket renovation (only cheaper)

We’ve had a couple of requests for autumn renovation advice from those cricket clubs on the tightest budgets, and thought we’d put a little something togethe...

Renovate Your Renovation with Dennis and SISIS

The Dennis/SISIS Cricket Renovation Day 2018 threw up some challenges the groundspersons present: ‘are you missing out on vital modern techniques?’ was the g...

Four pitches ‘just like a big garden’

The principal volunteer groundsperson at Willenhall Rugby Union Football Club is 44-year-old Iain Athersmith. He’s a big guy with an even bigger beard. Jake ...

Commonwealth Games brings Bowls to HQ

Royal Leamington Spa’s historic Victoria Park was one of the first sports facilities to be named as a venue for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, after Birmingham...

The threat of resistance is very likely!

The ability to control weeds on and around sportsfields, facility grounds and ornamental areas using herbicides is easily taken for granted. But, what if tho...

Brooksby Melton College train hundreds of students in CPR

Tracey Duncan, Health and Wellbeing Advisor at Brooksby Melton College, has completed the mammoth task of training 450 students in CPR during the 2017/18 aca...

Pesticide Forum Annual Report 2017

The Health & Safety Executive’s (HSE) Pesticides in the UK: The 2017 report on the impacts and sustainable use of pesticides is now available to download as ...

Double standards?

News that the 2026 men’s World Cup will be played entirely on grass means an apology is in order to top female soccer players. So says the U.S. lawyer who re...

AquaTrax brings Ashton Playing Fields running track back to ‘as new’ condition

Ashton Playing Fields provide a variety of sports and leisure facilities across their 50-acre site in Chigwell, Essex. Home to Woodford Green and Essex Ladie...

Captains fantastic!

It is said that it was at the University of Cambridge’s cricket ground Fenner’s that the very first ‘striping of grass’ was publicly conducted, making Lee De...

The ‘long’ employment journey…

Chris Long is now the Head of Grounds at the University of Leicester. But, as is the case for a surprising number, just to transfer from greens to grounds to...

Fact, fiction and weed management

We live in a world of instant communication and 24 hour news. The power of social media means any story can be transmitted instantly by the press of a button...

World Cup Pitches Come To Salford Primary Schools

Schoolchildren and football fans in Greater Manchester will now benefit from a safe and enjoyable place to participate in grassroots football, following the ...

The effect of climate change on pitches set to host international cricket this summer

The impact of climate change is set to be felt harder by cricket than any other sport according to a report by leading action group Climate Coalition. The sw...

Please – don’t ruin your ground!

The weather from the start of this year has been very unhelpful, to say the least to that most long-suffering species, the cricket groundsman. This is not ju...

100% safe rubber crumb?

A UKâ€ˆcompany claims that it has produced the first 100% safe rubber crumb infill for artificial surfaces and, if their website is to be believed, this ...

Planting Party at Edgbaston Priory Tennis Club

Pitchcare were delighted to be part of a ‘Planting Party’ today at Edgbaston Priory Tennis Centre. The Club work closely with the Heart of Birmingham Vocatio...

Iprodione loss – The best thing that could ever happen – According to John Handley, Technical Manager

Just in case you’ve been living on Mars for the last year, iprodione, the Active Ingredient (AI) in Cavron Green, Chipco Green, Emerald Turf, Green Turf King...

How to motivate multiple generations in the workplace

Grounds Training Tutor Frank Newberry looks at the challenge of getting the best out of people from multiple generations in the workplace. In Part 1, Frank l...

Ealing Cricket Club – Good turf requires labour

The Head Groundsman at Ealing Cricket Club has two jobs – he is also a doctorate-educated, elected Councillor for the Walpole ward. Jake Barrow meets Gareth ...

Consequences of workplace accident

A Derbyshire man has been forced to leave full-time work and has undergone multiple operations after a horrific workplace accident. The 47-year-old groundsma...

Taylor Swift and the Slovenian Greenkeepers

Grounds Training Tutor Frank Newberry reports on how we can all be tempted to blame others for our workplace woes. He suggests the way forward is to try not ...

Basic Tree Survey & Inspection

Whilst trees have many values – social, environmental and economic – they may, if suffering from certain mechanical defects, represent a hazard in areas wher...

Training Update

2017 was a very successful year for us and we will be continuing to provide high quality turf and ground care education in 2018. The Team are looking forward...

So, it’s goodbye from her!

After almost twelve years, Chris Johnson is standing down from her day-to-day role as Grounds Training’s Development Manager and is taking a well-earned reti...

**New** Basic Lawn Care

Presenting our new course on Basic Lawn Care. A one-day course which has been developed in response to enquiries from clients. It has been designed for anyon...

**New** Ecology/Botany Courses

These courses are delivered by our own respected and experienced ecologist/botanist, John Handley, and can be helpful for the beginner developing or rekindli...

Tree Protection Legislation – managing trees and woodlands

Whilst this may seem a dry subject, it is really important that we all are aware of, and understand, the basics here. There are several areas of legislation ...

Pesticides in the UK: The 2016 report on the impacts and sustainable use of pesticides

Pesticides in the UK: The 2016 report on the impacts and sustainable use of pesticides The report is now available to download as an interactive PDF The Repo...

Pitch Surface Delays Kick Off at Eastleigh

Eastleighâ€™s relaid pitch was the focus of more controversy before the Spitfires extended their unbeaten start to the season.Â The new Silverlake St...

Unscientific advice putting UK at risk from Japanese Knotweed

Businesses pushing â€˜quick-fixâ€™ treatments for infestations of the highly destructive Japanese knotweed plant are exposing homeowners and busines...

Dennis & SISIS Cricket Pitch Renovation Day a huge success

Dennis and SISIS recently hosted their first ever Cricket Pitch Renovation Day which has been hailed a huge success. Over the past few years Dennis and SISIS...

Trade Body Warns of Giant Hogweed Danger

National trade body, the Property Care Association (PCA), is urging caution as the invasive weed Giant Hogweed takes hold this summer. The plant’s sap is ext...

Grounds Training heading for Basingstoke in August

Grounds Training was established ten years ago to provide a complete and unique service delivering training courses for the sports turf industry.Â In addi...

Replay travel to Iceland to deliver talk on synthetic surface maintenance

A team from Replay Maintenance were recently invitedÂ to deliverÂ a seminar, entitled â€˜The Maintenance of Artificial Turfâ€™, to a select cong...

Dennis and SISIS announce Cricket renovation event

Dennis and SISIS have announced that they will be hosting a cricket renovation event at St Albans School, Woollam Trust Playing Fields on Tuesday 18 July 201...

Environmental Centre and Nature Reserve application

Tottenham Hotspur FC (THFC) is delighted to announce that its application to build a new education and environmental facility, on a site adjacent to our Trai...

Pitchcare to Sponsor BCGBA World Club Championship

KING GEORGE V collected the first piece of silverware of the BCGBA season to lift the PITCHCARE World Club Championship trophy at Leyland Fox Lane Sports & S...

Two new Turf Maintenance Online Training Courses just launched!

Following on from the success of our first two online Turf Maintenance courses launched earlier this year – Bowls Green MaintenanceÂ and Cricket Pitch Main...

Speaking truth to power … and to other people at work

There are times when we all need to give team members, colleagues and even managers some honest feedback at work. This honest feedback might be about anythin...

Nominations now open for Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year 2017

The Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year 2017 award (ASOY) was recently launched at the Amenity Forum Conference – with the chance for the top operators to w...

Pitchcare’s Online Learning success

Mindful of the need to keep pace with modern practices and learning methods, Pitchcare’s Grounds Training team have created a suite of Online Training Course...

Grounds Training – A milestone

The autumn of 2016 marked 10 years since John Richards invited me to â€œsee if I could do something with a few training enquiriesâ€ that had trickle...

Newly Qualified Instructor Available For Lantra Mower Courses

We are pleased to announce that our Instructor, Martin Sampson, is now registered with Lantra Awards to deliver all their Pedestrian and Ride-on Mower traini...

New Pitchcare Training Website Launched

Today we are pleased to announce the launch of our new Training website â€“ Grounds Training. A slight change in title to our previous site, but a major...

Is it important to be nice?

You, like me, may have been told in your formative years by a well-meaning person that "it is nice to be important, but it is more important to be nice".

Fitz Park Bowling Club – Floods of praise

There can't be many more picturesque settings than Fitz Park Bowling Club in Keswick in the heart of the Lake District.

Believe, Achieve, Succeed

As spring turns towards summer, we approach the end of another college academic year and more young people head off...

Can you be better, or is this as good as you are going to get?

Like many others who made the move from management to skills training, I was soon made aware...

Sustainable Use Directive (SUD)’s legislation changes

How will the SUD's new legislation changes affect Groundsmen? Lely's Neil Adams offers insight and advice.

Ten Ground rules for the Turfcare Team

Trainer and Motivational Speaker Frank Newberry keeps the promise he made in his last article and gives us ten ground rules...

INNSA to take over Japanese Knotweed Code of Practice

The Invasive Non-Native Specialists Association (INNSA) is to take over the ongoing administration...

Joe and Harry and You – part II

In Part 1 of this article, I described the 'Johari Window'; the creation of Joe Luft and Harry Ingham.

Grounds Training Strengthens Links with Local Authorities

Groundsman Training were pleased to have the opportunity to participate in the recent Society of Local Council Clerksâ€™ Practitionersâ€™ Conferenc...

Inspire; Challenge and Achieve

As winter approaches we welcome a new face to the team here at Myerscough College...

Are You Supervisor Material?

Pitchcare Trainer and Motivational Speaker Frank Newberry looks at the difference between...

Blazing a trail for Apprenticeships

As spring turns towards summer, we approach the end of another college academic year...

Grounds Training in Southern England

Martin Sampson, our Senior Instructor based on the South Coast, achieved a 100% pass rate with a group of PA1/PA6A candidates last week.

Is Your Team Up to Scratch?

In his first article on how to improve a work team's performance, Pitchcare Trainer and Motivational Speaker Frank Newberry...

Changes to Safe Use of Pesticides NPTC Qualifications

For those seeking new PA1/PA6 qualification after 1 January 2015.

Hang on – do you even need a team?

In the first of his articles on how we can improve our work team's performance, Pitchcare Trainer...

Empowering people who look after the Cumbrian bowling greens

Tom Dennison, Chairman of CCCGBA speaks...

A Greek tragedy – well, almost?

It started with a Chris. Or, to be more precise, a Christina Aradipiotis, the Managing Director of CMS Training Centre in Cyprus...

Is your co-worker just obnoxious?

Most adults spend the bulk of their waking hours at work. Some say that their "best" hours are given to their employers.

New Grandfather Certificate FAQs

On the 18th July 2012 regulations that implement the Sustainable Use Directive came into effect in the UK.

Glasgow 2014 – Obsessed by the greens!

One commentator compared the cityscape setting of Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls Centre for the 2014 Commonwealth Games...

Are you employing a team of idiots?

In the first of his articles on how you can improve your work team's performance, Pitchcare Trainer...

Whatever happened to winter servicing?

Demonstration and CPO Workshop Manager at Ransomes Jacobsen, Tom Stidder, has eighteen years of experience...

A Code of Ethics – The Gap Part 3

In Part 1 of this series, Pitchcare Trainer and Motivational Speaker Frank Newberry expressed his concerns...

The GTC at Downing Street

The GTC, as one of the Government's Apprenticeship Trailblazer organisations was represented at a Downing Street reception on Thursday 6 March.

Myerscough – Industry Links and Education

At Myerscough College, we have full and part-time courses in Sportsturf from levels 1 (Certificate) to 6 (BSc Hons).

Lantra Awards leads the way in Forestry and Arboriculture

Lantra Awards recently introduced its suite of refresher training modules, covering ground-based forestry & arboricultural operations.

The R&A Scholarship will open doors

Similar to last year's 'Opening Doors with an R&A Scholarship' article (issue 45), the aim of this editorial is to...

Myerscough College – Creating Opportunities, Delivering Promises, Celebrating Success

The new 2013/14 academic year is now well underway, and has already brought its share of success...

Magpies choose Myerscough

Myerscough College are delighted to have extended their employer links into yet another Premier League Football Club.

Fleetwood dream job for Sportsturf Apprentice Ashley

Myerscough College is delighted to have signed up their latest Apprentice in Sportsturf Groundsmanship at Fleetwood Town FC.