DEVELOPMENT FOR VITAL EARTH
Vital Earth, the manufacturer of peat-free growing media and plant feeds, all made from recycled garden waste, has appointed Dr Arnie Rainbow as research and development manager. His role will be to develop new products and provide technical support throughout the business from production to sales.
Arnie has had a long career developing growing media and fertilizers and is particularly associated with the peat-free movement and the production of horticultural products from organic waste via green composting. “Vital Earth is now the most advanced manufacturer of UK-sourced, 100% recycled organic composts and growing media. The products have been rigorously tested in both the lab and out in the field and their performance is proven”. Says Arnie Tel01335 300355 info@vitalearth.tv
HALF-A-CENTURY OF SUCCESS
Etesia has joined its parent company, Outils Wolf in marking 50 years as a leading European manufacturer of outdoor power equipment.
To celebrate the occasion, Outils Wolf staged a highly prestigious two-day event at their Wissembourg headquarters. Day one was attended by dignitaries from notable French governing bodies; representatives from world-wide manufacturers and business partners; plus trade press and TV journalists from across Europe. Company board members and key personnel welcomed guests to a formal reception, at which Elmar Wolf, Chairman of the holding company made a resume of the 50 years history ,
Commenting on his aspirations for the future, Pierre Wolf, the President of the holding company and of Outils Wolf, said “As a 4th generation member of the Wolf family, my objective is to care for this planet as custodian for future generations. In conjunction with this, my aim is to continue our successful policy of producing innovative products which meet the demands of niche markets.”
www.etesia.com Tel (0033) 3 88548910
New range of garden features
Graham Moore has launched Marble Traditions, specialising in the supply of marble and travertine garden features. Operating from Cambridgeshire, Moore is expecting a high demand from landscaper contractors, designers and architects for his range of high quality products.
Moore says: “The new company benefits from my experience in importing and through my extensive knowledge we are now able to offer a range of over 200 individually sculptured items all produced by traditional techniques used for over 1000 years.” In addition to the existing range Moore is also able to hand produce in marble bespoke designs, features or personal artefacts.
Uniquely Moore has developed a permanent display site for his extensive range. Located in East Anglia the site features a collection of statues, water features and fountains. Moore says, “Landscapers and designers are welcome to visit the show room anytime and even bring along their clients. Our prices are very competitive which means that our customers – landscapers and designers can make a healthy profit margin by supplying it to the end user – the gardening public. (202 words)
Tel +44 (0) 1223 413886
enquiries@marbletraditions.com
Web: www.marbletraditions.com
New wild flower courses
Wild plant and flower specialist, Charles Flower of Flower Farms is offering gardeners, farmers and landscape specialists the chance to learn more about using native plants in their designs at home as well as in farm and woodland schemes.
On 28 October there will be a full day workshop on the ancient art of hedge laying giving participants the chance to learn one of our oldest countryside skills
Flower Farms Course Dates
1 July (half day 2pm-5pm) Restoring Wild Flowers to the Garden and Countryside, £30
24 July (half day 2pm-5pm) Collecting and Propagating Wild Flowers, £30
28 October (full day 9.15am-4pm) Hedge laying, £50
07825 082595 flowerfarms@btinternet.com
1947-built Tractor Thrasher
A group of volunteers at the Chiltern Open Air Museum have painstakingly restored a 1947-built Ransomes 54” Tractor Thrasher, which is believed to be the only machine of its type in a UK museum and now sits proudly on display at Newland Park in Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire.
The restoration team were led by retired Agricultural Engineer John Smithson, former Police Officer Christopher English and Keith Baggaley, a retired Research Chemist. The project, which began in August 2006, was eventually finished in February 2008 having taken over 1,000 hours to complete.
Tel: 01473 276386. Email: www.textron.com.
Free design& planning
Specialists in underground irrigation systems, Tricor, is offering a free design planning service to landscapers and groundsmen, in conjunction with its innovative Mona Plant System (MPS) irrigation range.
A modular self-watering system perfect for parks, gardens and floral displays of all types and sizes, the MPS range provides effective and easy to manage irrigation solutions that save time, money and resources. Whether you are responsible for large urban areas of greenery, town centre shrubs and trees or public floral displays, Tricor’s expert team of garden designers are available to provide free design plans to help you tackle the problem of keeping green areas properly irrigated all year round.
The bespoke MPS system uses a series of linked water reservoirs placed beneath the plant’s roots. Unobtrusive and free from any surface clutter or pipes, the system is easy to install, does not require electricity and won’t rot or degrade.
Tel: 0870 446 2888 or visit www.tricor.co.uk
HILL SIGN AUTO-LOC QUICK HITCH DEAL
Hill Engineering Ltd signed an agreement to supply its unique ‘Safety First’ Auto-Loc excavator quick hitch to Woods Equipment Company, one of the USA’s largest independent manufacturers and suppliers of construction and agricultural equipment attachments.
Auto-Locs are now being manufactured by Hill and delivered to Woods for sale in the United States. All hitches are produced at Hill Engineering’s factory in Newry, Co. Down, Ireland. Invest Northern Ireland has helped Hill Engineering to ramp up its overseas marketing capability, as well as significantly improve productivity and efficiency at its Newry factory.
The supply deal was signed by Hill Engineering’s founder and Managing Director, Ian Hill, and representatives of Woods Equipment Company at the CONEXPO 2008 event in Las Vegas.
Ian Hill said, "There is no American-made quick hitch with the unique safety features to be found in the Auto-Loc, which is why Woods Equipment Company has decided to take it on board
Tricor. Tel: 028 3025 2555. Email: info@hillengineeringltd.com
Web: www.hillengineeringltd.com