The increase in cellular chloroplast boosts chlorophyll production and aids energy absorption . It works well in colder temperatures , has enhanced disease tolerance and creates a deeper , denser root mass nlike other clubs in the
U Championship , the playing surfaces at Nottingham
Forest ’ s City Ground and the training ground are not identical , so stadium Head Groundsman Ewan Hunter works closely with training ground Head Groundsman Matt Tietjen to ensure youth academy up to first- team players experience the best playing surfaces possible .
According to Ewan , the fibre-sand surfaces at both sites are in great condition , and that ’ s due to Rigby Taylor products .
“ The players like the pitches at both venues as they give a slick playing surface ,” he says . “ At the City Ground the surface doesn ’ t bobble and the ball moves around well . My deputy , Jack Farmer , and I take a meter reading with a Clegg hammer if areas of the pitch are harder than others and occasionally struggle with water in the winter months . However , when the weather is on our side , we produce one of the best surfaces in the Championship .” And a sizable collection of pitch , grounds team and groundsman of the year awards from the Grounds Management Association and the STRI is testament to the team ’ s high standards .
Ewan says he ’ s proud that the club ’ s team of four full-time and two apprentice grounds personnel do such a good job with what they currently have to work with . The equipment at the stadium includes G860 Dennis cylinder mowers , a Toro Procore , a vertidrainer and sprayers . At the training ground , Matt uses ride on and tractor-mounted equipment to cover the five and a half pitches - including sprayers , Toro Reelmaster 3100 mowers , a Toro Procore and a Rigby Taylor iGO line marker - marking pitches with the dilutable line marking paint , Dazzle .
Regarding pitch materials , Ewan says that Rigby Taylor ’ s Technical Sales Representative Mike Brear is an invaluable addition to the grounds team . “ Matt and I speak to Mike quite a bit , he ’ s always at the end of the phone when we need him . His product and industry knowledge is exceptional and we trust him 100 %.”
The club uses Rigby Taylor products that include the seed and its establishment , disease prevention , nutritional supplements and , according to Mike , his regular conversations with Ewan and Matt cover a proactive programme of treatment .
“ We discuss what we ’ re looking to supplement – the leaf , the roots or match recovery ,” Mike says . “ We keep an eye of the fixture list , the time of year and look at what the plant needs , not just now but in a few weeks ’ time .”
GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | Spring 2021 7