CPD Penrhyndeudraeth FC’s groundsman Aled Thomas says a compact tractor and Quadraplay combination, funded through the Cymru Football Foundation’s Fit for Future Equipment Fund, has made an immediate difference to pitch presentation and playability at the north Wales club – helping it avoid call-offs through a difficult winter.

GroundsFest 2026 has revealed a free CPD education programme across four seminar theatres, with speakers from Edgbaston, Leicester City, BIGGA and BALI covering climate resilience, robotics, AI and workforce development at Stoneleigh Park on 16-17 September.

Kress returns to GroundsFest 2026 with live demonstrations of the all-new Voyager 60, the Master Series robotic mower range, iPilot technology and its 4×4 robotic mower, plus hands-on trials of its handheld range, competitions and a demonstration stage running throughout the show.

Head greenkeeper Scott Vincent, who has spent 38 years at Grimsby Golf Club, has cut back on disruptive hollow coring after trialling ThatchEater – reporting a marked reduction in organic matter and, for the first time in years, no temporary greens through a very wet winter.

Agrovista Amenity will demonstrate its latest autonomous turf technology at GroundsFest, including the RM21 autonomous mower and line marker, the new Paint Master Pro RLM01 robotic line marker and the FJD Dynamics FR4000 robotic mower.

Mansfield-based Weedfree Landscapes has used Aspen alkylate fuel across its petrol-powered equipment for eight years, citing fewer breakdowns, lower maintenance costs and cleaner emissions since switching after a conversation at SALTEX.

GroundsFest Academy’s free CPD-accredited Integrated Weed Management event at Loughborough Grammar School combined expert talks, funding advice and live equipment demonstrations for grounds professionals exploring alternatives to chemical control.

DLF will highlight seeding products including from MM, on Stand 30 in Hall 1 at GroundsFest 2026.

Mansfield Sand will present its full range of reinforced rootzones, sand-soil and sand-compost blends, top dressings and Mansil silica sand at GroundsFest 2026, drawing on more than 180 years of expertise in sports turf solutions.

The hot, dry weather this summer has left many turf managers seeking solutions to a problem when it was too late. Agronomist Kate Finlayson suggests that prevention is better than cure when it comes to mitigating drought stress.

Visitors to GroundsFest 2026 will have the opportunity to be among the first in the UK to see the new Turf-Tidy 5000, as Redexim showcases its latest innovations on stand OSA230.

DSV – EuroGrass will showcase FLANELL and EUROGALA, two top-ranked BSPB and STRI-rated grass varieties, alongside its specialist EuroGrass PRO Links Fairway fescue mixture, on Stand 29 in Hall 1 at GroundsFest 2026.

ICL will return to GroundsFest 2026, providing practical advice and proven solutions for grounds managers, landscapers, contractors and turf professionals responsible for maintaining high-quality sports surfaces and amenity landscapes.

Machinery Nation LIVE returns to GroundsFest on 16-17 September at Stoneleigh Park with an expanded programme of machinery demonstrations, chainsaw relays and tractor challenges, alongside more than 500 brands and free CPD-accredited education.

From dawn pump checks to fighting off ants in valve-in-head sprinklers, Walton Heath Golf Club’s irrigation technician, Alex Lungu, tells John Kidson how he keeps water flowing across the venue’s 1,700-plus sprinklers, and why staying curious matters more than any tool in his kit.