Ecosolve’s Gareth Phillips recently visited Ayr and Musselburgh racecourses in Scotland at the request of the Clerks of the Course to undertake an agronomic inspection of both racecourses. It is a British Horse Racing Association requirement that all racecourses must have an independent agronomic report each year, this includes looking at the condition of the track, sward cover, density and grass health, before undertaking soil profile sampling to ascertain the condition of the topsoil around the track.
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We are delighted to announce the appointment of Gareth Phillips to head up the Ecosol Turfcare operations team in the new position of Project Manager.
Gareth joins from agronomists PSD which specialise in professional sportsturf design and agronomic consultancy for projects across the full range of sports surfaces, from racecourses to bowls greens. His key accounts included Arena Racing Ltd, Bristol Bears Rugby, Bristol City FC and Principality Stadium, Cardiff amongst numerous other projects for organisations such as the RFU and Sport England.
After training at Cannington College Bridgwater and Bicton College, Devon, Gareth spent time as advanced practitioner for Reaseheath College’s Sportsturf Management course where he was responsible for the educational content and ran the apprenticeship programme.
Our team has recently been further strengthened with the addition of two skilled machinery operators, Steven Barber and Graham Witt, who have solid qualifications and experience in horticulture and agriculture respectively.
All three are enjoying getting out and about meeting our clients.
Ecosolve Turfcare is proud to be the main contractor for Swindon Cricket Club’s current grounds renovation - the biggest investment in its County Ground outfield for 40 years.
“The project is part of the Club’s commitment to continually improve its facilities for members and users”, said Kevin Thompson, grounds manager at the Club. The outfield was planted as far back as 1946 and was full of unwanted grass species and thatch. During the works we even recovered two substantial metal spikes, believed to be remnants of the ground’s time as a WW2 prisoner of war camp!
Last winter’s record- breakingly wet weather affected the whole sportsturf industry and spurred Chippenham Golf Club into taking direct action on their soggy first fairway.
“In all my years of working outside”, said Chris Sealey, the Club’s course Manager, “I have never seen rain like last winter’s. Our first fairway has always been wet but this year it was completely waterlogged and we decided to install primary drainage.”
We have just become an approved contractor for an exciting scheme to preserve the habitat of newts, particularly the threatened Great Crested variety.
Ecosol Turfcare has dug two new ponds for Wiltshire smallholders anxious to encourage habitats for this protected species. The Natural England scheme, administered throughout the South West by the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group(FWAG), the government is refunding costs for landowners who want to install or restore a pond suitable for newts.
