Nominations open for Amenity Forum Sprayer Operator 2018
Nominations now open for Amenity Forum Sprayer Operator of the Year 2018. The Amenity Forum Sprayer Operator of the Year 2018 Awards (AFSOY) are once again open for entries. Now in their fourth year, the awards were established by the Amenity Forum and seek to recognise the high levels of professionalism and standards in the sector. There are different categories for entries and the overall winner will have a choice of three fantastic prizes, including a trip to a world-leading US turf or amenity show, or £2,000 worth of products. Sponsored by ICL and Syngenta, and supported by BASIS, the…
Horticulture trainees win at Lantra Scotland’s Learner of the Year Awards
Reece McNaughton, an 18-year-old apprentice from Kelso, has won the Horticulture category at Lantra Scotland’s annual Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards, which took place at Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro last night. Reece was also Overall Runner-up for the Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year, the second highest accolade of the night Wednesday 28 March. The horticulture category runner-up spot went to 22-year-old Jennifer Wright from Dunfermline. Reece has been doing an SVQ Level 3 in Amenity Horticulture through Borders College, while working for Mertoun Estate Gardens. He has always had a passion for learning about horticulture…
Ground Control recruitment days
Ground Control, the leading UK grounds maintenance company and recipient of numerous awards from institutions such as BALI for Maintenance and Landscape, and the Queen’s Award for Enterprise (Innovation). The core company purpose is to create and maintain external environments that are safe and enjoyable for all. Grounds Maintenance is where it all began for the firm, who are incredibly proud of the client portfolio they’ve won and retained over the years. Ground Control continue to grow thanks to their fantastic team of managers and operatives. In April the company is welcoming workers within the industry to their recruitment days…
Solar powered Christmas tree sales double
The TCL group reports solar powered Christmas trees are seeing a massive surge in popularity among local authorities across the UK as councils seek new ways to minimise public spending. The news comes from the country’s largest provider of plant displays, Plantscape, which has seen sales of its cost-effective alternative to traditional yuletide offerings double since 2015. The company, which has been providing floral displays to the public sector for the past 16 years and solar-powered trees for a decade, is anticipating even greater interest in its products as councils wise up to the financial, energy saving and hassle-free benefits of a…
ASLA applauds passage of Congressional Spending Bill
The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) applauds the congressional bill that passed a fiscal year 2018 spending bill that provides funding for programs vital to American communities. This bill takes important steps toward upgrading our nation’s infrastructure, improving our water management systems and increasing funding for parks, forests and federal lands. The Society has long advocated for the increased funding of green infrastructure, including releasing a series of recommendations last year that urged policymakers to support a comprehensive plan for transportation, water and natural systems. The spending bill as passed ensures that support. “The bipartisan passing of this bill is evidence…
Stihl to launch a cordless KombiEngine for all KombiTools
Stihl is set to launch a new cordless KombiEngine in May 2018, the lightest in the entire range, that is compatible with not only all current Stihl KombiTools, but also four new Kombi attachments, as the manufacturer continues to broaden its cordless product offering to the professional user. Weighing only 3.2kg for the powerhead and shaft, the new KMA 130 R is a powerful and lightweight cordless KombiEngine with high torque, low vibration and is 800 grams lighter than its petrol alternative (KM 94 RC-E). Used in conjunction with the AR backpack batteries or the AP battery belt, the KMA…
Bradstone launches new brochure for 2018 season
Domestic hard landscaping manufacturer, Bradstone, has launched a new brochure ahead of the 2018 gardening season. Designed to bring a wealth of information to professional landscapers, the new 187-page brochure focuses on inspiring readers through a series of product pages – catalogued by product for ease of navigation to include Porcelain, Concrete, Natural Stone and Driveway Block Paving – plus aspirational photography from Bradstone’s own Assured installers to showcase the results that can be achieved. The new brochure also includes an aspiration design section at the front of the brochure, highlighting the three design trends for the year which include…
Etesia dealership signals growth for Country Machinery
Etesia UK has announced the appointment of Country Machinery Ltd, based in Driffield, East Yorkshire as its newest dealer. Country Machinery, a family run business providing sales, services repairs and parts for all grounds care machinery, has enjoyed rapid growth since its establishment in 2012 – as managing director Karl Terry explains: “Initially I started working for a local dealer and then I came out of the trade for a short period before setting up by myself. I started with a single garage, then went to a triple garage and as of September last year I took the plunge and…