A showcase of cutting-edge models from STIHL, EGO, Milwaukee, and DeWalt, alongside some extremely rare vintage chainsaws. A fascinating mix of power, precision, and history.
12:00 – Stand-On Commercial Mowers: Is This the Next Machine for Your Business? Watch top brands including Toro, Grasshopper, and Hustler go headto-head, with insights into how these machines can transform efficiency for landscaping and maintenance teams.
14:00 – Machinery Relay: Machine vs Machine, Man vs Man A fast-paced, highly competitive relay event involving different power tools and machinery brands, where skill and speed go hand in hand.
With three shows a day, the atmosphere in the Machinery Nation LIVE arena is always buzzing- and there are prizes to be won for visitors who get involved in the action.
NEW! Lawn Mower Racing – The GroundsFest Cup – in partnership with Kramp UK
For the first time ever, GroundsFest will host adrenaline-fuelled Lawn Mower Racing as part of the brandnew GroundsFest Cup. Across both days of the show, professional racers from the West Midlands Lawn Mower Racing Association will battle it out on a custom-built track- blades removed but engines roaring. Expect tight corners and plenty of friendly rivalry as competitors push their modified machines to the limit in pursuit of the inaugural GroundsFest Cup title.
The Landscape Zone in Partnership with BALI For landscape architects, garden designers, contractors, and green infrastructure professionals, the Landscape Zone is a must-visit. This dedicated area is packed with exhibitors showcasing futurefocused products and solutions, from sustainable planting schemes to advanced outdoor construction technologies.
GROUNDSFEST
At the heart of the Landscape Zone is the Landscape Theatre, home to a two-day programme of CPDaccredited seminars. This year’ s lineup blends business advice, practical expertise, and forward-thinking sustainability topics.
Day one will see Kim Sones share tax-saving strategies tailored for landscaping business owners, followed by Adtrak’ s Aalia Zorko and Ben Shaw on how AI is revolutionising digital marketing. Renowned designer Andrew Wilson will offer tips on persuading clients to embrace sustainable choices, while George Trott and John Mellor explore how to futureproof urban landscapes. Later sessions will cover sustainability in grounds maintenance with Andy Corcoran and Ryan Pembroke, and the industry’ s skills shortage with Nigel Payne and Victoria Fiander.
Day two opens with an honest panel discussion on what it really takes to run a successful landscaping business, featuring Rob Woodhouse, Will Petty, and Dan from Design It Landscapes. Soil expert Tim O’ Hare will then share insights into mastering soil for resilient landscapes, followed by Kate Cooney from Perennial tackling mental health and motivation in the trades. The programme closes with Wildflower Turf discussing wildflower meadows and rewilding targets for local authorities.
Festival Vibes After Hours When the business of the day is done, the networking continues in a more relaxed style. On the evening of 9 September, the GroundsFest Live Music Festival kicks off with street food and live sets from Definitely Mightbe- the world’ s best Oasis tribute band- and Elevate, plus a live DJ. And yes, the everpopular bumper cars are back- and free to ride.
Why You Can’ t Miss It With hundreds of brands in one place, the chance to try equipment first-hand, access to top-tier education, and a social scene that makes networking easy, GroundsFest is more than an exhibition- it’ s an unmissable industry experience.
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