Landscape
Amenity PRODUCT UPDATE
OCTOBER 2016
SALTEX 2016 Preview
Sweepers, Collectors & Vacs
Winter Maintenance
A look ahead to NEC Birmingham
A showcase of the latest product news
Jane Carley takes a look at the seasonal sector
Page 13-28
Page 35-38
Page 32-34
Concern as parks report reveals green spaces at tipping point The Parks Alliance has responded to the Heritage Lottery Fund’s (HLF) report State of UK Public Parks 2016 by calling on the
government to recognise the range of benefits and value that Parks deliver, including in health, social cohesion and air quality,
and take a joined up approach across Departments to funding them. The HLF report found that the number of people using parks
is increasing but the funding they receive is reducing. Over half the UK population regularly use their local park, yet the challenge of managing our parks and green spaces is increasing due to the continued reduction in funding and loss of staff and skills. We have to find a solution now before the improvements made over the past 20 years are lost and our parks, once again, go into decline and become places that require significant investment. There is a need to improve and monitor improvement in parks, which is why the Parks Alliance would like to see a national measure of quality using the Green Flag Award standard with an annual update. Local authorities should then adopt and monitor this national measure. Parks are an integral part of childhood. In an average month, almost half (48%) of all children in England visit local urban
Last year’s SALTEX (Sports, Amenities, Landscaping Trade Exhibition) was an unprecedented success with over 260 exhibitors and 8,714 unique visitors spanning 45 different nations. Building on that success, SALTEX 2016’s improved show features and unrivalled industry
support are set to work together to create the most exciting groundscare event to date when the doors to halls 6, 7 and 8 open at the NEC, Birmingham. Over 280 exhibitors from a diverse range of grounds management sectors have confirmed. The exhibition will see a plethora of exhibitors representing the likes of forestry, play, groundscare machinery, artificial surfaces, natural turf, landscaping products, pest control, line marking, waste management, sports equipment and many, many more.
“Local authorities, voluntary groups and contractors have done an excellent job of offsetting significant budget reductions by working inventively and collaboratively to find new solutions and is disguising the depth of the crisis. “The sector is at a tipping point, with a high percentage of parks managers having left the sector leading to a degradation of the skills base. Of those remaining, some 95% expect cuts to their budget over the next 3 years. This is unsustainable. We all know Parks have a beneficial effect on our lives, so we need to act on this now. A make do and mend approach will not
work. The government and local authorities need to recognise the benefits of parks and green spaces, including on health, and fund them appropriately.” Phil Jones, Chairman of BALINCF, said it was of great concern that, whilst the use of parks is increasing, the report shows a continuing decline in the state of the infrastructure. “There is an urgent need for more collaboration at local level to further engage all stakeholders, both public and private,” he added. “Coupled with the move to increase awareness at national level of the importance of saving our parks in the UK and the resultant benefits our green spaces provide, this collaboration will generate further credible evidence to support the cause. Parks Alliance
Enquiry 1
New CEO for the Landscape Institute
SALTEX is still growing Show organisers have listened to visitor feedback from last year’s event to ensure that SALTEX 2016, taking place on 2 and 3 November at the NEC Birmingham, will offer even more reasons to attend.
parks. Mark Camley, Chairman of The Parks Alliance, said: “HLF’s findings that the recent renaissance in parks over last 20 years is now coming to an end is of great concern and should be a wakeup call for us.
Show orga nis e rs ha ve commissioned an extra seminar theatre for SALTEX 2016 in order to expand the number of presentations across the two days. Learning LIVE will now see four purpose-built seminar
theatres with state-of-the-art sound systems and screens featuring a greater depth of content and quality. SALTEX Enquiry 2
Bring a touch of class to every surface
Landscape Institute President Merrick Denton-Thompson has announced the appointment of Daniel Cook as its new Chief Executive Officer.
said: “Daniel joins at an exciting time for the LI as it modernises its governance and approach to develop a broader membership of landscape professionals.
The move will provide fresh leadership and drive forward its aim to broaden membership, particularly internationally. Daniel will move from his role as Director of Strategy and Planning at RICS to the Landscape Institute during October. Mr Denton-Thompson
“He will also seek to improve engagement with the next generation and progress the LI’s focus on education to ensure that our profession continues to provide skilled practitioners to meet industry and society’s needs.” Landscape Institute Enquiry 3
See us at SALTEX Stand E070
For more information on our full range of grounds maintenance equipment or a no obligation demonstration call 01332 824777
World class turf maintenance equipment www.dennisuk.com
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READER ENQUIRY 4
12/03/2012 10:59