A year on and horticulturists at the Royal Botanical Gardens Kew (RBG) continue to enjoy the benefits of the gardens’ partnership with robotic mower manufacturer Husqvarna, who teamed up with Kew in 2023 to install three commercial robotic lawn mowers – two Husqvarna Automower® 550 EPOS robotic mowers and one Husqvarna Automower® 535AWD robotic mower. A Husqvarna Automower® 550 EPOS mower was also installed at Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex. Since then, the team has been able to overcome multiple challenges they previously faced using traditional machinery and see for themselve ..read more

After witnessing good results with the Johnsons J All Bent mixture, Woolley Park Golf Club are now enjoying similar success with new eco-friendly areas created with DLF’s Pro Flora range. The project to enhance habitats and encourage diversity of wildlife has gathered pace in recent years under the stewardship of Head Greenkeeper John Rowbottom who, with the help of DLF’s Stuart Yarwood, has not only boosted biodiversity but brought new life to previously unmanageable areas. The West Yorkshire club are longstanding users of seed mixtures from DLF. “We’ve used many different mixtures over the y ..read more

Wyevale Nurseries has been awarded a Plant Healthy Certificate for its high biosecurity standards for the fourth year in succession. Kyle Ross, Production Manager at the Hereford-based leading UK commercial grower, was presented with the certification from the Plant Health Alliance following a comprehensive independent audit. He says: “We’re delighted to have achieved our Plant Healthy certification for a fourth year running. It’s a wonderful achievement and everyone at Wyevale Nurseries should be very proud. Grown in Britain, which is the certification body for the scheme, conducted our exter ..read more

The Grounds Management Association (GMA) represents professional and volunteer grounds staff and partners with four sport National Governing Bodies (NGB) for rugby union, rugby league, cricket and football through the GMA’s Pitch advisory service (PAS). Each of the four dedicated teams work with community clubs, organisations and local authorities to improve the quality of their playing surfaces. Tom Rowley heads the seven-strong contingent for football which, like the other three, works to key performance indicators (KPIs), set by each governing body and the GMA. Tom Rowley Each of the N ..read more

Toro GrandStand services larger areas fast Speedier mowing in tight spaces is the gain for commercial groundscare contractor Landscape Services since it added a Toro GrandStand to its fleet. (see main image)  The Kent and Southeast provider bolstered its Toro fleet with the mower last year to help it quicken operations in awkward areas. Smaller and more compact than traditional units, the mower allows Landscape Services greater access to smaller areas than a ride-on, it reports. “Adding the Toro GrandStand allowed us to service larger areas quickly, regardless of whether they had small po ..read more

With some 42 acres of the finest landscaped grounds and award winning sports surfaces to manage, the Hurlingham Club’s Grounds and Gardens team is dedicated to sustainable horticultural practice. In carrying out their meticulous management and maintenance programmes, the team has worked closely for some 20 years with Andre Holt of Holts Irrigation, the East Sussex based specialists in sports turf, commercial and residential irrigation. The iconic, diverse natural landscapes of the Hurlingham Club include sensitive historic areas, ornamental lawns and paths, hedging, herbaceous and mixed border ..read more

Makita has launched a new high-power blower to join its growing range of outdoor equipment. The UB003C 36V Blower combines comfort and functionality with a high-performance brushless motor and battery system to deliver a maximum air velocity of 86m/s and long run times, making it the perfect companion for grounds maintenance professionals. Lightweight and comfortable to use, the new UB003C offers an average blowing force of 24N, a maximum air volume 17.6m3 per second, and air velocity up to 86m per second. For clearing large areas, this machine can provide a continuous run time of up to 60 min ..read more

DLF Seeds, a global leader in grass seed innovation, is proud to announce the launch of its refreshed packaging for its professional Masterline® seed mixtures. The new packaging design, available for 5kg, 10kg and 20kg bags, comes after a full redesign of DLF’s corporate visual identity in early 2023. The updated design not only reflects the company’s dedication to innovation but also underscores its mission to provide customers with top-tier products that meet the highest standards of both quality and performance. One of the standout features of the new packaging is its visual representation ..read more

A trio of Kubota tractors have proven themselves to be capable workhorses for the entire facilities operation at Warwick Castle. With 64 acres of vast and varied historical landscape to maintain, grounds and gardens manager Tony Cameron explains how – alongside some more obscure uses – the L2622, L4240 and B2261 are responsible for towing the mowers that cut 95% of the turfed areas, with the assistance of their F3890 out-front mower also from Kubota! The ancient walls of Warwick Castle surround an array of lawns and gardens, a ‘Horrible Histories’ maze and a glamping site plus a new 60-bed hot ..read more

The Octavia Hill Garden by Blue Diamond with the National Trust receives RHS / BBC People’s Choice Award at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show Today, the penultimate day of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, The Octavia Hill Garden by Blue Diamond with the National Trust by award winning designer Ann-Marie Powell received this year’s RHS/BBC People’s Choice Award, an award voted for by the public. The Show Garden was also voted the favourite of the junior judges who presented the designer with the RHS Children’s Choice Award earlier in the week. The Octavia Hill Garden by Blue Diamond with the Nati ..read more