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Ventrac ’ s versatility is the key at Wellington College
ellington College
W sits on a 410-acre site in Crowthorne , Berkshire , with a huge variety of habitats and landscapes , sports fields , a golf course , formal gardens , lakes , woodlands and heathland areas , all of which require completely different management techniques .
To assist with this complex management , Grounds and Gardens Manager , Mark Dodd , has purchased of a Ventrac package from his local dealer , RT Machinery Ltd . As well as the 4520 all-terrain compact tractor unit , the attachment package includes a 72-inch Finishing deck , a Tough Cut deck and a Stump Grinder .
“ We initially hired-in the machine with a Tough Cut deck to work on the banks clearing scrub on our 9-hole golf course , but quickly appreciated the opportunity the versatility of the machine could provide across the estate ,” he said .
Above , The Finishing deck leaves a pleasing stripe on sports pitches Below , Mark Dodd appreciates the versatility the Ventrac provides across the estate
“ Unfortunately for our Golf team , the machine is used almost exclusively by the Grounds team and that ’ s simple down to its versatility . The Finishing deck was initially purchased for use on our formal lawns , as it leaves a very pleasing strip and presentation is very important here at Wellington .
“ We used to cut our pitches with a ride-on cylinder mower , but the quality of cut from the Finishing deck is excellent and now we use it extensively on our winter pitches . The light footprint of the machine is another factor and we can continue our maintenance regimes , even in inclement weather .
“ We are hosting the Women ’ s Rugby Under-18 Six Nations in April , which includes three back-to-back matches over 10 days . It ’ s a quick turnaround and we ’ ll cut the main pitch with the Ventrac and finish with our Dennis hand mowers .
“ The design of this machine has been well thought through ; maintenance is easy and the mounting system allows for a quick and easy exchange of attachments . Add to this the responsive support from our dealer , RT Machinery , and we have a package that we are delighted with .”
Mark Dodd heads a team of 16 across three departments : Grounds , Gardens and Golf . He has been in his current role for the past two years , having joined Wellington in 2015 . Prior to this he spent seven years at Benenden School and three years at Epsom College as Head of Grounds & Gardens .
For more information visit : www . priceturfcare . com /
GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | September / October 2023 19