Artificial Lawns are ideal for many reasons as there is no mud, no mess, no mowing, no watering and no hassle. Artificial grass always keeps your garden lawn green and is perfect for play areas and sports surfaces. Synthetic grass has evolved over the years and the synthetic turf now looks and feels like natural grass. For further information please go to www.softsurfaces.co.uk or alternatively www.sportsandsafetysurfaces.co.uk
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IOG Groundsmanship Expertise Helps Amateur Turn Farmland Into Cut-Price, High-Quality Cricket Squares
(PRWEB) March 17, 2006
The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) has played a key role in helping amateur groundsman Kester Clarke steadily move closer to realising his dream of staging a Minor Counties cricket match at Ipswich Cricket Club’s new ground, which was formerly agricultural land.
Through his membership of the IOG, not only has Kester Clarke found the institute’s Technical Enquiry service invaluable during the past two years as the club’s new cricket ground has taken shape, but contacts gained through IOG networking have, he says, also literally helped lay the foundations for a ground that is set to become the focal point for cricket in south Suffolk.
In addition, the IOG influence has enabled him and fellow volunteers to spend around £15,000 on the construction of two cricket grounds that would otherwise have cost up to £100,000.
An amateur groundsman since 1969 at Tattingstone and Copdock and Old Ipswichian Cricket Clubs, and an IOG member for over 30 years, Kester Clarke admits that he didn’t take advantage of the full benefits of IOG membership until Ipswich Cricket Club was formed from the merger of Tattingstone and Browns Cricket Clubs.
Tattingstone had previously won the Two Counties Championship and the club knew that real progress could only be made if it was enlarged to include junior, ladies and senior cricket.
Having been seconded to reconnoitre for a new site, Kester Clarke soon arranged with a local farmer an agreement that would benefit both parties both financially and in terms of security of tenancy.
The 10 acres of arable land — on Clay Hall Farm at Copdock, a few miles outside of Ipswich — had no artificial drainage and comprised about 14 inches of heavy clay loam overlying a mixture of yellow clay with sand outcrops, flints and chalky clays — typical of the outwash plains south of the Ipswich Glaciation.
After consultation with and advice from IOG consultants and other members, the soil was analysed by Professor Bill Adams at the University of Wales. Although slow to drain, the soil has a binding strength equal to the Ongar load used locally to top dress cricket tables and was adjudged adequate for the cricket squares. However, a higher silt content (30 per cent rather than the average 22 per cent in Ongar loam) suggested slower drying and a propensity to crack when very dry.
With little money, the decision was taken in September 2003 to construct a traditional square. The field was ploughed, sub-soiled, power harrowed, stone buried, levelled and seeded. The outfield was seeded, followed by light harrowing. No drainage was constructed, “because we simply couldn’t afford it,” says Kester Clarke, “so a risk had to be taken”.
He adds: “We then suffered an extensive drought with no rain until the November and, as result, germination was patchy. This was followed by an incredible growth of volunteer crops throughout the mild winter — rape, barley, wheat and wild turnips grew in profusion!”
At this time, small work parties spent a back-breaking few months planting thousands of indigenous hedge plants (the cost of these was part-funded by the local council) as part of a three-year programme to improve a mile of hedgerow.
A tractor-mounted rotary mower was used to tackle the weeds, yet despite the tractor’s light weight and 12 inch grass land tyres, a grid of shallow ruts were left over the entire field. Top dressing was out of the question — lack of finances again — so it was decided to sit tight for the following season. Play started in May 2005 and, other than a bumpy outfield, the square produced plenty of bounce and some pace.
In the meantime, work was advancing with the second square, which had been ploughed and stone buried after a six months ‘resting period’ to allow the land to settle. In early May 2005, prolific secondary growth was sprayed off and the intention was to seed immediately. But nature intervened and during an extremely dry spell all thoughts of seeding were put on hold until late summer.
Then tragedy struck and the club lost a respected young player, Martin Hackney. A generous donation by his family prompted the club to dedicate the second ground to him, and to use the money to employ Sovereign Turf, on the recommendation of an IOG colleague, to prepare, seed and drill the outfield. The square had been prepared in similar fashion as previously but this time with more consolidation prior to levelling and seeding.
It is planned to cut a few pitches on the new square in July, thus enabling all the teams to play at the new ground this year.
All this has been achieved with no grant aid, though local companies have generously donated and sponsored various items, such as sand and aggregates, as well as the temporary pavilion, while Kester Clarke and the club members have devoted themselves to securing useful items and building materials.
“Without all the help and advice we’ve received from the IOG and IOG members, as well as the continuing efforts of our sponsors, supporters and club members, we really wouldn’t be where we are today,” adds Kester Clarke, as he unwraps the ageing 36 inch Ransomes mower that is used to keep the ground in order.
It’s a 12 miles walk behind that machine to cut the entire field. Now that’s devotion.
With Compliments:
Colin Hoskins
Wildish Communications Ltd
36 New Road
Chatham
Kent ME4 4QR
Tel: 01634 832221
Fax: 01634 832224
Issued on behalf of:
The Institute of Groundsmanship, 28 Stratford Office Village, Walker Avenue, Wolverton Mill East, Milton Keynes MK12 5TW
Tel: 01908 312511
Fax: 01908 311140
Contact: Siobhan Harper, Marketing Manager
Email: sharper @ iog.org
Editors note:
About The Institute of Groundsmanship
The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) is the leading membership organisation representing grounds managers, groundsmen, grounds maintenance managers, greenkeepers and all others involved in the management of sports pitches, landscape and amenity facilities in the UK. As well as maintaining the IOG Performance Quality Standards and providing a consultancy service for sports grounds, lawn maintenance and amenity horticulture, the IOG’s extensive Training and Education programme includes cricket, football, tennis, horseracing, bowls, artificial surfaces, turf science and many other specialist subjects. It also stages the annual IOG SCOTSTURF and IOG SALTEX exhibition, Europe’s leading show for the open space profession. For more information visit http://www.iog.org
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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
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Artificial Turf Supply Tapped to Provide Synthetic Turf for Strasburg High in OH
Strasburg, OH (PRWEB) August 16, 2011
Artificial Turf Supply, a premier supplier of wholesale artificial grass, gave news of its new venture: a partnership with the Knoch Corporation, a general contractor from North Canton, to install a playground grass system at Strasburg High School, home to the Tigers.
Chuck Fenske, a project manager at Knoch Corp., offered the following kudos to his project colleagues and their provision of synthetic grass: “We partnered with Artificial Turf Supply to provide the highest quality playground grass system. We were blown away with the quality, look and feel of the artificial turf product. The care and precision displayed by Artificial Turf Supply definitely defines them as a leader in the artificial turf industry. We look forward to working with them in the future.”
Knoch Corporation selected Artificial Turf Supply’s ProPLAY PLUS-73S for Strasburg High. This playground grass system is certified for meeting the ASTM 1292 fall height requirements for up to 7 ft., and found among its other prized features is an additive yielding antimicrobial protection; the additive is introduced into the synthetic turf during production to ensure its properties keep on till the end of the product’s life.
The antimicrobial technology keeps the artificial grass surface clean and safe for use by inhibiting the growth of mold and mildew. Beyond protecting the turf surface from the emergence of offensive odors or an unpleasant appearance, the procedure and additive also shield the fake grass from damage occasioned by UV radiation and rain. There will be no qualms about the shrewd choice of surface cover for all 18,134 sq. ft. of the Strasburg High School project.
About Artificial Turf Supply
Nationwide, Artificial Turf Supply is a chief provider of wholesale artificial turf for residential, commercial, and athletic applications. The company is internet-based and manufacturing takes place in Dalton, GA; go to http://www.artificialturfsupply.com to view its products. Artificial Turf Supply’s inventory is lauded for using high-quality components, all manufactured in the United States of America.
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Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden Comes Alive with Synthetic Turf
Albuquerque, NM (PRWEB) March 4, 2011
The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival opened this week at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. The spring special event offers many surprises for visitors such as Disney character topiaries, a colorful array of flowers, and live music events, but guests may be most surprised to learn that the lush, green grass beneath their feet may be fake.
The Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden features a gorgeous green lawn, but like most attractions at the theme park, this grass is not what it seems. The turf is an incredibly realistic synthetic grass offering from ForeverLawn and DuPont that is not only accessible to wheelchairs and braces, but is also a beautiful, durable landscaping solution that can withstand the festival’s heavy foot traffic. If walking on the turf isn’t enough, the park also offers a playground where guests can roll, tumble, and play on it. Part of an overall safety system called Playground Grass, the grass is safe for children to play on and safety rated to fall heights of 12 feet, so children lucky enough to visit the park can play safely.
ForeverLawn calls their Playground Grass product “the new generation of playground safety surfacing.” A soft, accessible surface, Playground Grass provides children of all abilities the opportunity to play. Even children with allergies can romp on the grass, since the non-organic surface does not harbor allergens or insects.
This marks the fifth year that ForeverLawn synthetic grass has been part of the festival. The turf originally appeared in a DuPont display in 2007, and continues to draw amazement and attention from guests. “People ask us all the time if the grass is real,” said Jim Davis, product portfolio manager, DuPont Landscape Systems. According to Davis, visitors at the display would bend down to touch the grass to make sure it is, in fact, artificial. “They don’t believe us when we tell them it’s artificial,” he said.
More information about Playground Grass can be found at playgroundgrass.com. Visitors to the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival can experience the unique grass for themselves from March 2 through May 15, 2011.
About ForeverLawn
ForeverLawn provides innovative synthetic grass products to create better landscapes worldwide. In areas where real grass is difficult to grow or maintain—due to high traffic or poor conditions—ForeverLawn offers a realistic alternative that is beautiful, functional, and durable. In addition to its landscape lines, ForeverLawn also offers specialty products including K9Grass, SportsGrass, Playground Grass, GolfGreens, and SplashGrass. ForeverLawn—Grass without limits. http://www.foreverlawn.com
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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
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EasyTurf Earns Coveted IPEMA Certification for Playground Artificial Grass
Vista, Ca (PRWEB) August 03, 2011
EasyTurf’s break-through artificial grass playground products recently earned a coveted International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) certification. This newest endorsement is a testament to EasyTurf’s continued dedication to delivering the very best in playground surfacing to their clients along with the amount of product innovation behind the development of these FieldTurf products.
IPEMA is an organization that works to promote the value of play to the public, park and recreation officials and school administrators. EasyTurf’s playground products exceeded the rigorous requirements and standards for safety and durability that is part of the IPEMA certification process.
“When it comes to durability, safety and the natural look of our synthetic grass products, we continue to set the bar for the rest of the industry,” said EasyTurf President Dave Hartman. “EasyTurf was originally engineered to hold up to the rigors of 300lb plus pound football players while ensuring the safest playing surface possible. To be recognized by IPEMA for making this state-of-the-art surface available for play areas is confirmation of the exhaustive efforts the company has invested in product research and development.”
Easily the most advanced synthetic grass product available, EasyTurf provides the ultimate playing environment, combining unmatched durability with a cushioned, safe and clean, yet non-abrasive surface. Unlike traditional play surfaces, the revolutionary drainage technology built into the EasyTurf products increases play time by processing rain at extremely high rates as well as eliminating the grass stains and tracked in dirt and mud that routinely plagues families and schools.
About EasyTurf
In May 2010 EasyTurf, a long-time distributor of FieldTurf’s line of landscaping products and a recognized leader in the artificial grass industry, became the national brand of FieldTurf’s landscape, pets, playground, and golf artificial grass products. The partnership allowed FieldTurf to rapidly expand its existing dealer network and accelerate sales and distribution of FieldTurf’s landscape products on a national level to homeowners, municipalities, schools, businesses and the military. For more information about EasyTurf, please visit http://www.easyturf.com.
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Sportexe Forms Partnership With ACT Global Sports
Calhoun, GA (PRWEB) March 13, 2008
Sportexe Construction Services, Inc. and ACT Global Sports announced the formation of a partnership for synthetic turf production. Each company will be contributing equipment and technology to the partnership. Capital improvements are also being made to house these new manufacturing operations within the existing Sportexe operations center. Sportexe’s equipment contributions are being financed through its recently announced banking relationship with Wells Fargo.
“We are very pleased to continue to expand our investments in the synthetic turf market. Through our partnership with ACT Global Sports, we are creating a state-of-the-art manufacturing and research center,” Stephen Noe, CEO of Sportexe said. “While pleased with our current tufting provider, this new partnership will provide us with greater flexibility in our product development and allow us to interact more closely with all our vendors in the supply chain. With this move, we see tremendous opportunity to be more strategically positioned as one of only a few turf installation companies that have control over their turf production. Additionally, this demonstrates our continued commitment to deliver a superior sporting experience and tangible value to our customers.”
ACT Global Sports Managing Director John Baize is equally happy with the agreement. “We are pleased to enter into a strategic partnership with Sportexe,” Baize said. “We are making significant manufacturing investments in the North American market, so it is valuable to find a partner with such a high reputation for building excellent sports fields.”
Sportexe is one of North America’s largest installers of artificial turf surfaces for recreational and athletic facilities. Sportexe fields are used by The Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49′ers and Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. More than 200 Sportexe fields have been installed at NCAA, NAIA and high school facilities from coast-to-coast. Sportexe is owned by Insight Equity, a Dallas based private equity firm.
ACT Global Sports brings its international reputation and manufacturing expertise to the partnership. While ACT Global Sports is headquartered in Austin, TX, it has regional locations in The Netherlands, Cyprus, Hong Kong and China. The company is one of the largest international artificial turf manufacturers and has ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 quality-certifications.
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ForeverLawn Launches Playground Grass Ultra with Patent Pending XStatic™ Technology
Albuquerque, NM (PRWEB) August 02, 2011
ForeverLawn announced today a new patent pending technology that will address one of the playground industry’s most elusive problems. Playground Grass Ultra, with XStatic™ antistatic technology, is a revolutionary new synthetic turf for playgrounds that reduces static build up on the playground surface, which can be a serious problem for those who rely on electronic devices such as cochlear implants.
While static build up on the playground is nothing more than a nuisance to some, the fact that any child might be affected more seriously led ForeverLawn to research ways to eliminate this problem. “We have always prided ourselves on being the industry leader,” said Brian Karmie, Vice President of ForeverLawn. “When we heard that kids with hearing aids were having to remove their devices to avoid damage from static on the playground, we felt that it was up to us to research the problem and find a solution that would allow these children to both hear and play at the same time.”
The new artificial turf is the latest innovation from ForeverLawn, a company that has led the way in research and development in the synthetic turf industry. Other important product developments from ForeverLawn include the first ASTM F1292-compliant artificial grass surface for playgrounds, an advanced micro-mechanical seaming system for stronger and more dimensionally stable surfaces, and the first playground product with antimicrobial technology built in.
Static build up on the playground can be a problem to hearing-impaired children who rely on cochlear implants to improve their hearing. These implants are costly electronic devices that consist of an external transmitter located behind the ear, and a receiver that is surgically placed under the skin. Static build up may cause a shock that can zap the external transmitter, which can damage the device. This problem has led some parents of hearing-impaired children to make a difficult choice—prevent their child from playing on the playground, or remove the external transmitter and allow the child to play without sound.
Prior to the development of XStatic™, artificial grass playgrounds that were generating static could be treated in one of two ways. A topical spray could be used on the surface, or large amounts of sand could be poured into the grass. Both options add cost to the playground development, and offer different levels of success. The spray may take weeks of spraying to have the desired effect on the static, may not reduce it as much as needed, and will wear off over time. XStatic™ antistatic technology is engineered into the grass itself, will not wear off over time or use, and is effective immediately upon installation of the turf.
The first playground featuring XStatic™ was unveiled in Largo, Fla., on May 10. Largo Central Park features 22,000 square feet of Playground Grass Ultra, and according to Largo Parks and Recreation Director Greg Brown, there has not been evidence of static build up on the grass in spite of efforts to generate it. “We are thrilled with the new playground, and are so happy with the Playground Grass. It’s just so much better than the rubber mulch we had here before. Parents will actually picnic right on the Playground Grass Ultra. The grass looks so nice and the consistency in the surface gives us peace of mind that it will continue to maintain its safety rating day in and day out,” said Brown. “And static is not a problem with this grass.”
The word about XStatic™ has already spread to neighboring St. Petersburg, Fla., which will be testing the new turf in a designated area in the coming weeks. The city had experienced a problem with static build up on the artificial grass surface at one of their parks in 2009 that attracted some media attention, which was eventually solved by pouring four tons of sand over the grass.
“Playground Grass Ultra is the most advanced playground surface available today,” said Playground Grass brand manager Ty Allen. “It offers a brown nylon thatch for incredible realism, the XP blade, which is the most durable synthetic grass blade that exists, antimicrobial protection, and now the antistatic properties. This is a product that architects will spec in their playground projects.”
For more information about Playground Grass Ultra with XStatic™ antistatic technology, contact ForeverLawn at 866-992-7876 or visit playgroundgrass.com.
About ForeverLawn
ForeverLawn provides innovative synthetic grass products to create better landscapes worldwide. In areas where real grass is difficult to grow or maintain—due to high traffic or poor conditions—ForeverLawn offers a natural-looking alternative that is beautiful, functional, and durable. In addition to its landscape lines, ForeverLawn also offers specialty products including SplashGrass, K9Grass, SportsGrass, Playground Grass, and GolfGreens. ForeverLawn—Grass without limits. http://www.foreverlawn.com.
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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
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