News

This was the message from Mark Gregory, Vice Chairman of the Association of Professional Landscapers and Managing Director of Landform Consultants, to turf growers who had gathered for the Turfgrass Growers’ Association’s autumn members’ meeting in Peterborough recently.

Delivering vital feedback from the end-users of cultivated turf, Gregory also said that growers are generally doing a great job at growing a quality product and delivering it on time.

He added that turf has a great future in the landscape due to its unifying affect in a design and its beneficial environmental characteristics and suggested greater use of turf in sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS).

He also advised growers that that there was a need to train landscape staff in the laying and aftercare of turf to ensure its benefits are seen at their full potential when in situ.

Commenting after the meeting, TGA Chief Executive, Tim Mudge said: “We recognise that we can gather vital feedback from other organisations within the supply chain and this year’s speakers have really got their fingers on the pulse on key issues relating to turf. They opened our eyes to new opportunities and their presentations stimulated more debate and interaction than ever before. We are now looking to organise a seminar for landscape professionals next year in conjunction with the APL and BALI to address the issues Mark raised.”

The tender documents for the Olympic Delivery Authority specify, in reference to turf, that ‘the supplier shall be a member of the Turfgrass Growers Association (TGA), to TGA quality standards’, the association can announce.

Chief Executive, Tim Mudge said: “We are pleased that the work we’ve put in over the past three years has led to the TGA being recognised as the professional body for turf supplies to the Olympic Park project. The turf was specified by the parklands design team after recommendations were made by the TGA. As a result, the contractors delivering the parklands for the Olympic Delivery Authority will know that the turf they buy has been grown to meet the specific demands of the lawn areas in the park.”

Tim Mudge represented the turf industry on the ‘Greening the Games’ committee alongside the HTA, BALI and other industry partners who had pledged their support for the campaign to showcase and achieve a lasting legacy for UK horticulture.

The TGA is the only body in the UK and Ireland dedicated to the advancement of quality turf production. One of the main reasons the association joined the Greening the Games group was to have its quality standards recognised and included by the Olympic Delivery Authority.

John Hopkins, Project Sponsor for the Parklands and Public Realm at the Olympic Delivery Authority said: “We really appreciate the support of the Turfgrass Growers Association. Contracts are currently being or about to be let for soft landscape supplies and implementation across the park and we want to work with the best”.

Superb weather, impressive demonstrations and a positive turnout have given the Turfgrass Growers Association (TGA) its most successful Turf Show to date.

The biennial event was hosted by member grower Q Lawns at its turf farm near Thetford, Norfolk on 24^th June.

As well as attracting growers from across the UK, turf producers travelled from as far afield as Slovakia, the Netherlands, Norway, Germany and Italy to give the show a European boost. In total, staff from 58 grower companies attended.

Machinery demonstrations ran throughout the day covering ground preparation, netting, harvesting, mowing, vacuuming and hands-free steering tractors.

TGA members and affiliates then gathered in the evening for a gala dinner at the Menzies Hotel in Cambridge.

Feedback from the event has been unanimous in stating that there was a huge feeling of optimism amongst those attending and exhibiting.

John Bailey, UK Sales Manager of exhibitor Moffett agrees: “As normal for us as a supplier the show was a great success. It gives us the opportunity to meet with old and new customers plus allows us to showcase new products. Overall, this year’s show was well organized and laid out. One point that I picked up on was the increase in overseas visitors, which for us as a company selling worldwide makes the event even more appealing.”

TGA Chief Executive Tim Mudge praised hosts Q Lawns for the superb site and those who exhibited and attended: “The TGA is extremely proud of its unique Turf Show and the quality of exhibitors is reflected in the high number of specialist producers, their staff and affiliated companies who attended this year’s event. An added bonus is the recognition by European and Scandinavian producers that this specialist show has so much to offer.”

Tim Fell is the new Chairman of the Turfgrass Growers Association (TGA).

Fell, whose company Tillers Turf has been growing turf in Lincolnshire for 25 years, took over from Robert Adcock when members gathered at the STRI for their Spring meeting.

He is an active ambassador for turf and is determined to raise further the profile of the association as a body of highly knowledgeable professionals, passionate about their product.

“Members of the TGA are already leaders in the industry when it comes to innovation, quality and service. We want to continue to set the standard for turf production in this country”, he says. “I would like to see the TGA Standards for Cultivated Turf being used universally in any specification for turf.”

His two year stint as Chairman comes at a time of unprecedented challenges for the turf industry. The recession is having a major impact on the income of turf growers, some of whose businesses are underpinned in large measure by the property market. The highly specialist sportsturf market is less affected. Other pressing issues facing turf growers today include the reduction in the numbers of pesticides, and water restrictions.

Fell praised the work of the TGA Council, Chief Executive Tim Mudge and the association’s former Chairmen for the substantial progress made in promoting the benefits of turf and addressing matters affecting turf production: “The TGA has worked hard to raise the awareness of the benefits of turf to the Water Industry and Local Authorities. The message is getting through that turf is the unsung hero of the landscape.”

Scotts hosted the Turfgrass Growers Association’s Spring members’ meeting at the STRI recently.

Representatives from a number of growers and TGA affiliates gathered to hear a series of presentations. The first was from Andy Newell from the STRI who provided an overview of the Institute and its work before Michael Fance took to the floor with a potted history of The Scotts Company and its products, research and development and its new grass seed range.

Before lunch, guests were able to venture outdoors to see the latest trial plots for themselves. After lunch, Dr. Ruth Mann discussed her research into Glyphosate-tolerant products, a subject of great interest to growers following the withdrawal of chemicals that control annual meadow grass.

Commenting after the meeting, TGA Chief Executive Tim Mudge said: “Once again we’ve enjoyed a number of interesting and thought-provoking presentations at our Spring event and we extend our thanks to Scotts for their support and hospitality. These events provide a platform and meeting place for members which enables them to get the latest news and meet industry colleagues, suppliers and customers.”

The Turfgrass Growers Association (TGA) recorded its best ever turn out for a members meeting recently when growers from across the UK gathered in Peterborough.

2008 has been an eventful year for the association and the meeting was an ideal opportunity for Chief Executive Tim Mudge and the TGA council to feed back their progress to the members and affiliates present. They heard a varied programme of presentations on a diverse range of subjects, with Andy Cole from the STRI the first to take the floor with a presentation on the history of turf grass development. He was followed by Marcel Hoekstra from Clean Greens who had travelled from Holland to introduce UK growers to the benefits of UV crop protection in the treatment of pathogenic fungi. TGA council members then provided an update on association and industry matters including the forthcoming pesticide vote and the 2009 Turf Show.

A presentation on reaching potential customers was delivered by Fiona Tarpey from England Marketing and the focus remained on marketing after lunch with a presentation on the TGA’s 2008 PR and marketing activity by Ellie Tait of Forte Marketing kicking off the afternoon session. Jeremy Steele and Lindsey Byrne from Tack Training drew the programme to a close as they led a discussion on the key aspects of leadership in senior management.

Commenting after the meeting, Tim Mudge said: “There are some very important issues affecting growers at the moment and as an association we’re working hard on our members’ behalf to address them. With the current economic climate, and the prospect of changes to EU pesticide regulation, the theme of our meeting was very timely. It gave members the chance to get information on all aspects of their business. Feedback was very positive and this event is becoming an important date in their diaries.”

The TGA is pleased to welcome Sovereign Turf as a new member.

Sovereign Turf Limited is a family owned and run business which has grown turf for gardens and specialist applications at its site near Woodbridge since 1988. Managing Director David Waring commented: “Sovereign Turf Limited has always recognised and supported the need for a strong association that clearly represents the needs of turf growers. With the work that appears now to be starting and a renewed effort in making itself relevant to the marketplace, the TGA once again appears to have the basis for a credible voice in our industry. We are pleased to rejoin the TGA and support it once again in its future plans.”

The TGA’s Chief Executive Tim Mudge commented: “The TGA has had a very productive year, which is reflected by our growing membership. We have many important issues on the agenda for 2008 and the input of all members is invaluable.”

The Turfgrass Growers’ Association (TGA) has written to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, urging him to utilise the benefits of turf in alleviating the effects of climate change, following the publication of his draft London Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.

The association which represents more than 70 turf growers and affiliated companies, collectively responsible for more than 70% of the UK’s cultivated turf production, stresses that turf can help mitigate the effects of flooding, extreme temperatures and drought, which were the primary environmental concerns highlighted in the publication.

In addition to recommending turf as the ideal medium for reducing environmental contamination, the letter highlights its ability to reduce rainwater run-off and subsequent surface flooding, to absorb rainwater and replenish underground aquifers and to cool the urban environment during hot weather.

The association also voiced support for Mr Johnson’s proposal to lead an ‘urban greening programme’, calling on him to make green spaces “integral in the design of all new developments, not just an afterthought”. TGA Chief Executive Tim Mudge commented: “It is important that the lead for this vision comes from the top and that it is supported by an able and willing industry. We feel that TGA members are best placed to implement the best quality turf to help improve the environmental conditions in London and other major cities.”

Stand bookings are now being taken for the 2009 TGA Turf Show which will be held at Q Lawns on Wednesday 24th June.

The biennial event is the only opportunity for turf industry companies to exhibit their products and machinery to UK turf producers. In recent years, it has also attracted growers from France, Italy, Ireland, Turkey, Finland, Germany and Spain.

Stand space is available from £500, with affiliate members of the TGA receiving a discount on their booking. Machinery demonstrations run throughout the day and companies with mowers, turf harvesters and cultivation and handling equipment can also book demonstration areas on turf or hard ground.

Turf industry companies visited the Q Lawns site in Norfolk on 17th September to tour the site and discuss the layout and show programme. Chief Executive Tim Mudge was pleased with the turnout.

“A good number of company representatives attended to view the site. Everyone was pleased with the layout and with the facilities on-site and we’ve already taken a number of stand and sponsorship bookings. We’re more focused than ever on getting as many growers as we can to the 2009 show, members and non-members, and I’m confident it will be the best yet.”

To obtain details of stand and sponsorship opportunities, please call Joanna Lazell at the TGA office on 01507 607722 or email joanna.lazell@pvga.co.uk.

Turf industry companies who are interested in exhibiting at the 2009 TGA Turf Show are invited to visit the Q Lawns site in Norfolk on Wednesday 17th September.

Starting at 11am with a tour of the show site, there will be the opportunity to discuss stand spaces and machinery demonstration requirements and to ask any questions about the show which will be held on Wednesday 24th June 2009.

Lunch will be served from 12.30 - 1.30pm. Please do come along – the TGA values your input.

Please let Joanna Lazell at the TGA office know if you wish to attend by calling 01507 607722 or emailing joanna.lazell@pvga.co.uk.