SIDE STORY
withstand not only sporting action but the rigours of other events too, such as concerts,” Stephen explains. This is one reason why Lindum and others offer turf with greater load-bearing capacity. The Vale of York cannot claim sole bragging rights to the best turf in Britain, however. “Pockets are also to be found in Lincolnshire around the edge of the river Trent - Gainsborough and the Isle of Axholme for example, where sand has been deposited to provide a good growing base,” says Stephen. Further south, he names Woodbridge in Suffolk as another spot of note. Whichever county claims top honours, the characteristics of the underlying soil largely determine the quality of what’s cultivated. “It’s a question of understanding the soil and what it can do," Stephen says, “as well as knowing about its nutrient status. Sandy soils are prone to wind erosion and, because they are free-draining, will not hold nutrients as well.” Tighter rules over the quantity of nitrates passing into water courses have prompted DEFRA to introduce ‘Nitrate Vulnerable Zones’ in regions such as the Vale of York. Growers like Lindum are responding with new ways to feed turf, Stephen explains. “We have no qualms about the zones because we spray liquid feed on to turf rather than apply granular feed, allowing more efficient uptake of nutrients - typically 95% compared with 35-40%.”
The fine, sandy loam of the region
promotes dense, vigorous turf sward, which helps stave off the establishment of weeds, a benefit that, in turn, enables growers to apply less plant chemicals, a key factor given current concerns over impending EU legislation. However, he believes that sports management practices “may have to change” as lower input grasses designed to cope with the reality of fewer applications of pesticides and fertilisers become more the norm. Turf varieties continue to burgeon as the sector adapts to the demands of climate change. Lindum grows nine or ten for example, including ones tolerant to prolonged drought and wet,
disease and wear. Indeed, the variety of sportsturf available in Britain draws the world’s elite to our shores. “US golfers love to play here because our courses are so different from theirs,” says Stephen. At a time when most turf growers might argue against the need for GM turf, Stephen for one would like to see it gain a foothold. “The case for it is so solid and it presents a way we can adapt quickly to climate change, but it is an emotive issue.”
Whatever the applications for turf, and the number continue to grow, Vale of York growers are well positioned to capitalise on shifting market trends - everything from green roofs and wildflower turf that supports greater biodiversity to overflow car parks laid with reinforced turf to satisfy new measures governing sustainable urban drainage. With its focus on sporting applications, Inturf, based ten miles from York, runs a 650-acre turf farm in the Vale as well as a similarly-sized undertaking in Grantham, just a mile from the A1. Joint managing director Alex Edwards, who runs the company with his identical twin, Steve, after founder and father Derek retired about three years ago, formed Inturf in the mid-1980s.
“Grantham enjoys a dry climate and the soil is very fertile, sandy loam, ideal for turf-growing,” says Alex, before revealing another clue to the success of those located here. “The north-east and east of England
receive only 50% of the rainfall of the north-western seaboard. We are able to irrigate turf and turn on the tap if it gets dry. You cannot drain it as easily as you can add water, and draining is a costly exercise. We can lay overland pipes when we need to, rather than having to lay them under the surface to drain water away.” Turf-growing is a year-round operation and the management of the growth and harvest cycle is crucial to efficiency, especially as the likes of Lindum and Inturf export turf to European countries such as Norway, Sweden and Denmark. “Stiffer, richer, firmer and heavier
land can make it impossible to harvest turf. In winter you are simply not going to get a machine in the field,” says Alex. “At Grantham, I cannot remember us ever having a puddle of water in the field.”
But there are differences in soil type.
At Grantham, it’s a medium type sand, whereas the Vale of York is closer to medium/fine grade, Alex explains. “Twelve to fourteen months is the ideal growth cycle, but we have to plan two years ahead to prepare the crop, so that means forecasting likely demand.” Inturf prefer to keep sales home- based rather than export, “although demand for English technical consultancy continues to grow,” he stresses.
Although synonymous with sportsturf, the company also supplies the landscaping and domestic markets, giving them exposure across the field. “The mood of the nation is still green,” he says. “People want to be closer to nature and feel it is good for them. They increasingly like to relax in their gardens and spend less on going out.” “Turf is inexpensive - it hasn’t
increased in price in real terms for fifteen years and the market is highly competitive,” he adds. “Britain has become extremely good at growing turf cheaply.”
Also, with its eye on the impact of climate change on turf, the company has developed a rhizomatous fescue in collaboration with Barenbrug - a mix of 85% tall fescue and 15% smooth stalked meadow grass with the ability to stand up to both waterlogging and drought. Yet another company founded in farming, Rolawn, developed in the 1970s when Ken Dawson was working in farm management in Aberdeen before hitting on the idea of growing turf commercially. Today, son and managing director
Paul Dawson carries on a business that has swollen from its first field of eight acres, to the 3,500 it cultivates now. “After the company had trialed
growing turf for a couple of years, we commissioned a survey by Cranfield University into soil types in the UK. The Vale of York came out best, so we relocated here,” he explains.
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