Included in the new, comprehensive SALTEX education schedule will be an open workshop on ‘The state and future of UK parks - exploring the public benefit of parks, new ways of using the spaces and alternatives to the traditional local authority parks service model’.
Presented by The Parks Alliance and chaired by Andrew Gill, president-elect, Institute of Horticulture, the debate’s panellists will include Heritage Lottery Fund parks consultant Peter Neal, author of the report ‘State of the UK’s Public Parks’.
Also in the Grandstand at Windsor Racecourse, a ‘Question Time’ style open debate will be held on ‘The control of pests, weeds and diseases in the amenity sector’. Chaired by John Moverley, chair of the Amenity Forum, the panellists will include Will Kay, Leo de Montaignac, Paul Singleton of BASIS Registration and Nick von Westenholz of the Crop Protection Association.
A series of ‘Tree planning and establishment’ seminars will be presented by Rhoderic Taylor, consultant and Fellow of the Arboricultural Association and Julie Sadler, Arboricultural Association member, Level 3 Arboriculture Examiner and a Local Government Arboricultural Officer, planning department.
Also, the daily seminar on ‘Outdoor Fitness Equipment Safety Standards’ will highlight the developing safety standard relating to permanently installed outdoor fitness equipment. EN 16630, due to be published and adopted by the UK early 2015, will be of critical interest to everyone involved in the likely purchase of such equipment, especially local authorities, parish councils and community operations.
This session will be presented by Rob Davies, committee member of TC/136/WG26 – the European Safety Standards Committee responsible for formulating EN 16630.
Consultant Peter Corbett will talk about spraying efficacy and efficiency in a presentation sponsored by Rigby Taylor – highlighting, for example, what is needed to ensure safer and more effective use of chemicals.
In addition, trade charity Perennial will each day be presenting a seminar entitled ‘Good for you, good for business and good for employees’ with guest speakers Nigel Payne, operations director, Sodexo Horticultural Services, Richard Gardiner, director Norris & Gardiner and BALI’s chief operations officer Wayne Grills.
Perennial has an excellent track record of responding quickly and efficiently to the needs of those working in or retired in the land-based sector. The session will present how Perennial can help you to provide additional pastoral care to colleagues, helping to boost productivity and morale, and reduce absenteeism.
These activities complement the extensive series of turf-focused panel debates on a live stage and FREE Ask the Expert advice sessions with key grounds professionals taking place daily in the IOG Hub at the centre of the showground.
Visit www.iogsaltex.com for full details.
SALTEX (www.iogsaltex.com), the Sports Amenities Landscaping Trade Exhibition organised by the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) and managed by Brintex Events, will be held on 2-4 September 2014 at Windsor Racecourse, Berks. Founded in 1938, the exhibition is attended by open space professionals and volunteers who design, construct, manage and maintain the UK's outdoor facilities – from sports grounds of every type to motorway service stations, and from stately homes to local council parks and schools. They visit SALTEX to meet suppliers of the machinery, tools, vehicles, turf, soils, seeds, aggregates, artificial or natural surfaces, playgrounds, landscaping equipment, street furniture, arboriculture, horticulture, safety, security, training and education services designed to help them do their jobs as effectively as possible.
Source: Wildish Communications Ltd
