CONTENTS Contents MULTI SPORTS Building the perfect beast


Ford Sport and Social Club run two sites in Essex - at Basildon and Ilford. Blair Ferguson went to meet Dan James, the Head Groundsman at Ilford, to discover how he has been coping with just one additional staff member on such a large site, and how his ‘Frankenstein’ skills are being put to good use! P88


SUMMER SPORTS


The umpire strikes back! Volunteer grounds professionals can tread a hard road, but a team of two can share the load, as Greg Rhodes discovered when he talked to Westgate-on-Sea Cricket Club’s groundsman and umpire Rafe Kelly and his sidekick Gary Sandwell. P96


CONSERVATION Winning at life on the course


Banchory Golf Club, on Deeside in Scotland, won the Syngenta Operation Pollinator Award at the Golf Environment Awards, presented at BTME 2020. Course Manager, Richard Mullen, was acclaimed for the course’s success in establishing wildflower areas on rough and out of play areas that has seen biodiversity flourish by providing essential natural habitats alongside a well managed golf course. P102


INDUSTRY A lasting legacy in sustainable soils


When Martin Ward launched Symbio with his brother David thirty years ago, it’s fair to say that their natural approach to soil and turf management was met with scepticism from many turf professionals. Now, as he hands over the reins at Symbio, thousands of sports turf venues are committed to sustainable soil management as part of their wider environmental responsibility and the global momentum to tackle the effects of climate change continues to gather pace. He reflects on three decades of developments with Ellie Parry. P114


TECHNICAL Stage V for cleaner air


For years, engine and machinery manufacturers across the outdoor power equipment industry have been working towards lower exhaust emissions and cleaner air. 2019 saw the biggest developments yet for non-road mobile machinery with the introduction of Stage V emissions regulations in the European Union. P112


TRAINING Putting Things Off Part II


In Part 2 of his article, Grounds Care Trainer and Conference Speaker Frank Newberry offers ten ways we can all reduce our tendency to procrastinate. P116


Also in this issue


Editorial ............................................................ 1 News ................................................................ 5 After the floods.......................................... 120 Blood, sweat and tears............................ 122 Product News .................................... 124-126 Offside.......................................................... 128


Jason Stewart, Maidenhead United Michael Main, Northumbria University


During the Covid-19 crisis, we will continue to provide articles that represent facilities in their ‘normal’ environment, whilst appreciating that everything is far from normal in our industry at the moment!


Jason Connaughton, Yeovil Golf Club


Rafe Kelly, Westgate-on-Sea CC


Floods and lockdown! Worcester Racecourse under water Dan James, Ford Sports & Social Club PC April/May 2020 3


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