Timing matters – plan now for off-season transformations
As the busy summer season continues it can be difficult sometimes to find the time to catch your breath, let alone to take stock and start to make plans for next year. But time flies and it’s important to take note of what’s working and what can be improved to create opportunities for higher returns. Know thyself… Failing to understand the business need for attractive and functional outdoor spaces, especially in failing to see them through the eyes of your customers, will lead to poor budgetary decisions and missed opportunities. To avoid expensive mistakes it is important to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and how it will benefit your customers before undertaking a planting scheme. Prioritise key areas, plan for ongoing maintenance and don’t take on more than you can handle in one go. Know the conditions on site and select plants accordingly – planting the right plant in the right place will avoid problems later. Where required, mature planting can provide instant impact and maturity to key areas, shelter to exposed areas as well as privacy and security. Waiting until the off-season to plan landscaping work or planting schemes may seem logical but, since that’s the time when you actually need to be carrying out the works to minimise disruption to your business, it needs to be planned well in advance of that, not least because good contractors, suppliers and growers may be booked-up for months in advance… and the key period for planting trees, shrubs and hedges, and therefore the busiest time, is during the winter when the plants are dormant. Supplying the holiday park industry with high quality large trees, specimen shrubs, instant hedging and screening plants for over forty five years, Wykeham Mature Plants are experts in supplying instant transformations tailored to the site conditions and to the requirements of your business. The nursery is located in a frost pocket near Scarborough; the Yorkshire-grown stock is guaranteed to be hardy and, as one of the few nurseries in the country to have achieved Plant Healthy certification, you can rest assured that it is free from imported pests and diseases. For further information visit www.wykehammatureplants.co.uk. Advisory and planting services With Wykeham Mature Plants you can buy time, the most valuable commodity. Mature planting provides instant impact and maturity to key areas, shelter to exposed areas and, perhaps most useful of all, privacy and security to give both you and your customers peace of mind. Utilising the expert advisory services will ensure that your planting scheme will be carefully selected and of guaranteed quality and, with all of the information supplied regarding ongoing care and maintenance, you can be sure that your investment will grow and thrive. Do you want to give your plants the best start possible? Wykeham Mature Plants offers planting services for the range of trees, mature shrubs and instant hedging. From relatively small planting schemes to major projects, if your site is within a hundred miles or so from the nursery (for distances further than that a conversation would need to happen first!), site visits are available to provide an accurate quote to assess your project’s logistics and the conditions on site, to help you to prioritise which areas to plant first in terms of the benefit to your business and to help you to maximise your ROI. The fee for the visit is £50 within Yorkshire but this increases for visits further afield. Buy peace of mind Not only are the plants grown on the PlantHealthy certified, 150 acre nursery in North Yorkshire guaranteed to be hardy and free from imported pests and diseases, but stock planted by the Wykeham team is guaranteed for three years – subject to correct aftercare as instructed of course (regular communication is encouraged!) – protecting your investment. Get in touch For more information regarding the planting service call the office on 01723 862 406 or email m.howe@wykeham.co.uk to discuss your requirements or arrange for a site visit.
Caravan owner has won £5000
A lucky static caravan owner has won a £5000 cash prize from insurance specialists Leisuredays. Between March 2023 and February 2024 the insurance provider ran a “Spin to Win” promotion for people who obtained an insurance quote via the holiday parks it works with. Those customers were entered into a draw to win a £5,000 cash prize as well as a chance to instantly win a £10 Amazon voucher with a spin of an online wheel of fortune. Shirley Mugford from Devon was drawn as the £5,000 winner after getting an insurance quote for her new Regal Osprey static caravan bought from St Ives Bay Holiday Park in Cornwall last summer. Prize-winner Shirley said: “I couldn’t believe when I got the call to say I’d won. It took several calls and emails until I realised it was actually true.” When asked what she planned to spend the money on she added: “I gave some money to my children, enjoyed some great bucket list excursions on a cruise trip and will be treating myself to some beauty treatments.” Head of Leisuredays Insurance, Gareth Walker, said it was a great pleasure to hand over the top prize to Shirle “Her Regal Osprey is a lovely static caravan and it’s great to know she’s using some of the money to treat herself and her family.” Shirley praised her experience of getting a quote and taking out a policy with Leisuredays: “It was so simple to buy the caravan insurance I’d forgotten about the prize draw,” she said. “I’m just a regular customer who chose a great trusted insurance company for my little bolthole caravan and it’s come with a fantastic icing on the cake win!” To find out more about working with Leisuredays or for more information about their specialist insurance to protect your customers’ holiday caravans email their team at development@leisuredays.co.uk or visit www.leisuredays.co.uk/ A lucky static caravan owner has won a £5000 cash prize from insurance specialists Leisuredays.Between March 2023 and February 2024 the insurance provider ran a “Spin to Win” promotion for people who obtained an insurance quote via the holiday parks it works with.Those customers were entered into a draw to win a £5,000 cash prize as well as a chance to instantly win a £10 Amazon voucher with a spin of an online wheel of fortune.Shirley Mugford from Devon was drawn as the £5,000 winner after getting an insurance quote for her new Regal Osprey static caravan bought from St Ives Bay Holiday Park in Cornwall last summer.Prize-winner Shirley said: “I couldn’t believe when I got the call to say I’d won. It took several calls and emails until I realised it was actually true.”When asked what she planned to spend the money on she added: “I gave some money to my children, enjoyed some great bucket list excursions on a cruise trip and will be treating myself to some beauty treatments.”Head of Leisuredays Insurance, Gareth Walker, said it was a great pleasure to hand over the top prize to Shirley.“Her Regal Osprey is a lovely static caravan and it’s great to know she’s using some of the money to treat herself and her family.”Shirley praised her experience of getting a quote and taking out a policy with Leisuredays: “It was so simple to buy the caravan insurance I’d forgotten about the prize draw,” she said. “I’m just a regular customer who chose a great trusted insurance company for my little bolthole caravan and it’s come with a fantastic icing on the cake win!”To find out more about working with Leisuredays or for more information about their specialist insurance to protect your customers’ holiday caravans email their team at development@leisuredays.co.uk or visit www.leisuredays.co.uk/operators. .
Instant screening solutions to provide security and privacy
With so many demands on time and budgets, why should leisure sites plant hedges? Aside from the obvious functional and ecological benefits there are also sound commercial reasons. As all successful operators know, a holiday park business cannot rely solely on their location or the surrounding countryside and must provide attractive, functional spaces to make their site a destination in itself. Failing to understand the business need for well-maintained outdoor spaces, especially in failing to see them through the eyes of your customers, will lead to poor budgetary decisions and missed opportunities – and failing to understand the conditions on site prior to planting may lead to costly mistakes. Developing ongoing relationships with clients is key in helping them to grow their business and to provide their guests with an experience that they will want to revisit time and again. Supplying the trade with high quality large trees, specimen shrubs, instant hedging and screening plants for over forty five years, Wykeham Mature Plants spans 150 acres of nursery, located in a frost pocket ten miles from Scarborough; the Yorkshire-grown stock is guaranteed to be hardy and free from imported pests and diseases. Nationwide delivery is available, and for sites located within a hundred miles or so from the nursery, site visits are available to provide consultations on your site and, if required, a professional and guaranteed expert planting service to help give your scheme the best possible start. Hedges can be useful on leisure sites for far more than just marking the outer boundaries. So many utilise existing, sometimes ancient hedgerows at field margins and at roadsides but planting new hedges can also be useful for dividing different areas within the park and marking changes of use as well as for providing screening and privacy between pitches and to give shelter and shade for the comfort of your customers and guests. So why choose hedging over fencing? There are of course reasons for both options, and some may consider hedge maintenance, ie clipping, as just another thing to add to the endless list of jobs. But fences need to be maintained too with painting, treating and repairs if the fence is to last although, even then, fences still need to be replaced when they eventually wear out or blow down in a gale. Around the British countryside, solid screening and shelter has traditionally been provided by hedgerows. These provide a haven for wildlife and absorb CO2 from the air (helping to combat climate change). From a more practical stand-point, hedging makes sense as it doesn’t require planning permission, is far less likely to blow down than a fence and provides better security as it is harder to climb over. It absorbs sound, often cutting down noise far better than a solid screen such as a fence or wall, and rather than having to be replaced every few years, such as is invariably the case with fencing, a hedge can outlive its owner! If varieties are carefully chosen, maintaining a hedge does not need to be hard work or require as frequent pruning as some may think. You can choose plants to provide different functions in different parts of your site, including those that will make the hedges a real feature of your site. Traditionally, when planting a hedge you’d use small bare root plants of no more than about 12-18 inches tall and wait 5 – 10 years for them to grow enough to produce a decent hedge. This is of course still the obvious option for areas where there is little urgency and where budgets are limited but for important site improvements, to quickly add privacy and security, or simply just to add a “wow” factor to key areas you’re rarely going to want to have to wait that long, so planting more instant solutions need to be an available option. One of the main reasons that Leylandii conifers became so popular is because it makes a good, dense hedge very quickly. However, in terms of its wildlife value, it’s pretty sterile (some might even say damaging), not to mention the problems of when people don’t maintain them. Many people plant Leylandii because they want a 6ft or more hedge quickly but don’t realise that there are other options to achieve quick and effective results. For instance, for a solid evergreen hedge, Laurel is a good choice where the conditions are appropriate as it grows 2-3ft per year but only needs clipping once a year. Heavy Laurel blocks, properly trimmed on the nursery, can instantly provide a solid 6ft hedge for screening and security but, if for whatever reason it’s allowed to get too big, it can be cut hard back and it will regrow from stumps if necessary. There are numerous other plants that could be used for “instant” hedging, such as Portuguese Laurel, Yew, Eleagnus, Privet, Photinia and other evergreens, Hawthorn or holly for a more traditional country hedge, or for an “everbrown” hedge you can get big plants of Beech or Hornbeam (Hornbeam is particularly useful on heavy clay soil prone to being soggy in winter where no evergreen hedging options would thrive). You could even use plants more often used as individual ornamental specimens, like Forsythia, Weigela and so on to make a really attractive informal flowering hedge. The only limit to hedging really is your imagination but remember to use the basic principals of plant selection in choosing the right plant for the conditions as well as for the function and appearance. A conversation with staff at Wykeham to discuss your requirements will help you to select the ideal hedging options for your needs and for the conditions on site With Wykeham Mature Plants you can buy time, the most valuable commodity. Mature planting provides instant impact and maturity to key areas, shelter to exposed areas and, perhaps most useful of all, privacy and security to give both you and your customers peace of mind. Utilising the expert advisory services will ensure that
Lanchester wines: First impressions count
Heather Scott is key account manager at Lanchester Wines: Elevating the customer experience within caravan parks is about crafting memorable moments that linger long after the holiday ends. Wine, often synonymous with celebration and indulgence, presents a golden opportunity for parks to enhance customer satisfaction while boosting turnover. From the very moment of booking, the journey begins. During the booking process, a simple inquiry about the occasion can pave the way for tailored experiences perhaps offering a bespoke welcome hamper, curated to match the occasion as an enticing upsell. Or a celebratory bottle awaiting guests upon arrival, setting the tone for their stay. By integrating wine offerings into onsite amenities like restaurants and stores, parks can further enrich the guest experience. Partnering with a versatile wine supplier opens doors to channel-specific labels, ensuring a unique selection that sets the park apart from supermarket options. After all, guests seek authenticity, not replication. In on-park dining venues, upselling premium wine options or crafting food and wine pairings can transform a meal can enhance the customer experience. Perhaps consider the allure of “fizz and chips” which pairs fish and chips with Prosecco or even Champagne – a delightful fusion of holiday nostalgia and luxurious indulgence that resonates with holidaymakers seeking a taste of extravagance. Lanchester Wines has developed a Back Label Only service whereby we supply the bottle with just the back label (which includes the relevant legal information) and the customer can create their own front label. The wines available include the key super varietals customers know and love, as well as Prosecco and Champagne. Some of our customers have created bespoke own-brand ranges for their shops and dining venues, while others create bespoke labels for each customer. Guests on holiday are primed for relaxation and indulgence, making these thoughtful touches all the more significant. By embracing the power of wine to create moments of joy and connection, caravan parks can transform ordinary stays into extraordinary memories that keep guests coming back year after year. Heather Scott from Lanchester Wines shares insights on optimising your venue’s wine offering: Crafting Your Wine List: Give your guests good, interesting, alternative wines which elevate your list. This could be the next level up from the usual ‘super’ varietals, or something completely niche because, of course, every wine list will be different – because every Park’s customer and food offering will be different. Suppliers come in all shapes and sizes, from smaller importers focusing on a region or country, scaling up to larger national composite wholesalers – but it’s the suppliers that make the effort to create a wine list most beneficial to their customers’ specific venue, understanding the geographic and demographic impact of what wines work best, who will be the most successful. The wine list is your silent salesperson: Don’t underestimate the power of promotion. Too often wine lists are relegated to an afterthought resulting in missed sales opportunities. By prominently displaying your wine list and infusing it with personality and character you can pique the interest of consumers and demonstrate your passion for your selection. Embrace Sustainability: Consumers increasingly value the sustainability of their purchases. Consider the benefits of bulk wine which can reduce the CO2 of transporting the wine by around 38%, which is around 2kg CO2 per KM travelled. Bulk wine is then bottled in the UK in a selection of sizes and formats, such as 187ml cans (single serve) which are incredibly popular for takeaways, events or areas where glass isn’t permitted. Lanchester Wines works with wine suppliers who share its commitment to sustainability, and has developed a Sustainable Wine Portfolio https://www.lanchesterwines.co.uk/what-we-do/sustainable-wine-business/ For more information on Lanchester Wines, visit www.lanchesterwines.co.uk or contact 01207 52 1234 / sales@lanchesterwines.co.uk
The UK’s leader in Locker and integrated Vending Solutions
Vending by JSR is a family-run business covering the whole of the UK supplying and servicing automated retail solutions designed to sell goods and fresh food directly to consumers. The family run business (JSR Services Ltd) is built on egg production and were exploring methods to sell their fresh eggs direct to customers. 8 years ago, they purchased the first locker style vending machine to sell fresh eggs directly from the farm. Since it was the first of its kind in the UK, some other forward-thinking farmers approached them to see if they could source more. In negotiations with Roesler Ltd from Hamburg, Germany, they were thrilled to be offered the contract to distribute these machines in the UK. Thus, Vending by JSR was born. Over the years, due to customer demands their vending technology has developed into larger touchscreen multi-function machines. At that time, they were the only vending machine that had software control allowing them to have a class leading fully remote monitoring solution called “Vending Web” which is still industry-leading today. Fast forward 8 years, Vending by JSR have supplied over 250 vending machines to food producers all around the UK. Financially benefiting them as they take higher margins selling directly to the consumer and with lower overheads selling through their vending machine. Recently Vending by JSR have supplied a vending solution to a Holiday park owner. During the discussion and design of the solution required Vending by JSR have learned why their solutions would benefit a camper/holiday maker’s experience, while creating additional revenue for the park operator. Here are some of the benefits listed below: A vending machine can offer several benefits to a campsite, enhancing the experience for both campers and campground operators. Here are some ways a vending machine could be advantageous: Convenience for Campers: Immediate Access to Essentials: Campers may forget or run out of essential items like snacks, drinks, batteries, toiletries and other items they will need during their stay. A vending machine provides quick access to these items without requiring a trip to a nearby store. Late-Night Snacks: For campers arriving late or those staying up for a campfire, a vending machine offers a convenient option for late-night snacks or drinks. Additional Revenue for Campground Operators: Profitability: A well-stocked and strategically placed vending machine stocked with goods your campers are looking to purchase can generate additional revenue for the campsite. Low Maintenance: Modern vending machines are relatively low maintenance, Only requiring occasional restocking and maintenance checks. Extended Business Hours: 24/7 Access: Unlike campsite stores or reception areas which might have limited hours, a vending machine can offer around-the-clock access to goods. Enhanced Amenities: Variety of Choices: The Vending machines are designed to be able to stock a variety of products In all shapes and sizes to cater to different needs, from snacks and drinks to camping supplies and souvenirs. Customization: Campground operators can customize the vending machine’s offerings based on the preferences and feedback from campers. Allowing you to add new products, remove old product and changing product pricing and combi deals as you see fit. Security and Safety: Cashless Payments: Every vending machine supports cashless payment methods, reducing the need for campers to carry cash. Emergency Supplies: In case of emergencies, a vending machine stocked with first aid supplies, basic medications, or emergency tools can be invaluable. Promotion and Information: Promotional Items: Campground operators can use the vending machine to promote special offers, events, or local attractions by including promotional items or brochures. Information Display: Touchscreen digital displays can be customised for operators to display important information, safety tips, or campsite rules. In conclusion, a vending machine can be a valuable addition to a campsite, providing convenience, generating revenue, and enhancing the overall experience for campers. Properly managed and stocked, it can become an essential amenity that campers appreciate and utilize during their stay. To learn more about what Vending by JSR can offer please visit www.vendingbyjsr.co.uk. If you believe this would be a great addition to your holiday park and would like to discuss the possibility of benefiting from our technology, then please don’t hesitate to contact a member of the team at info@vendingbyjsr.co.uk If you would like to see and use one of our vending machines for yourself, then you can visit the Vending showroom at Betty Farm, The Castle Way, Willington, Derby, DE65 6BW.
Why choose Aluminium Cladding?
Eltherington Leisure has carved out a unique niche in the leisure industry by specialising in aluminium cladding. This specialisation not only sets us apart from competitors but also showcases our commitment to providing durable, aesthetically pleasing, and innovative solutions for a variety of leisure facilities. Aluminium cladding, known for its lightweight, versatility, and resistance to corrosion, offers an ideal solution for holiday homes that demand both functionality and style. This makes it a perfect choice for the leisure industry, where the appearance of facilities plays a crucial role in attracting and retaining visitors. By focusing on this niche, Eltherington Leisure ensures that our products meet the specific needs of the leisure industry, such as creating inviting exteriors that can withstand the rigors of high traffic and diverse weather conditions. Their commitment to innovation is evident in our use of cutting-edge technology and design techniques, which allow for custom solutions that reflect the unique brand identities of our clients. Moreover, Eltherington Leisure’s approach to aluminium cladding emphasises sustainability and energy efficiency, aligning with the growing demand for green building materials in the leisure industry. By offering products that contribute to better insulation and reduced energy consumption, we not only enhance the operational efficiency of leisure homes but also support the industry’s efforts towards environmental responsibility. This combination of aesthetic appeal, durability, and sustainability positions Eltherington Leisure as a leader in aluminum cladding solutions for the leisure sector, ready to meet the evolving demands of this dynamic industry. Why choose Aluminium Cladding? Aluminum cladding has emerged as a popular choice for holiday homes and lodges, offering a blend of aesthetic appeal, durability, and low maintenance. The versatility of aluminum as a cladding material allows it to be manufactured in various profiles, catering to a wide array of designs and preferences. With five distinct cladding profiles available, customers can select the perfect match for their home, ensuring that the final design not only meets but exceeds their expectations. The range of colours available in aluminum cladding is vast, enabling you to achieve the desired look and feel for any home. From vibrant hues that make a statement to subtle tones that blend seamlessly with the environment. This flexibility in colour selection is complemented by the choice of emboss finish styles, adding texture and depth to the cladding. Whether the preference is for a smooth, sleek finish or a more detailed, embossed pattern, aluminum cladding can be tailored to suit any vision. Moreover, the option to choose between varying levels of gloss and low gloss finishes allows for further customisation. This choice can significantly impact the overall appearance of any holiday home, with gloss finishes reflecting more light and adding a shimmering effect, while low gloss finishes offer a more muted, understated look. Such customisation options ensure that aluminum cladding can meet a wide range of customer requirements, making it a highly adaptable and sought-after material in the leisure industry. Its combination of aesthetic versatility, durability, and ease of maintenance makes aluminum cladding an excellent choice for anyone looking to achieve both beauty and functionality in their building projects. CoreLux A1 – taking cladding to the next level! If you looking for a more exclusive appearance then why not try our CoreLux A1 metal cladding system. It represents the pinnacle of design and functionality in the realm of home exteriors, especially for those seeking to elevate the aesthetic of their holiday homes. This innovative system combines the durability and strength of metal with the sophisticated appearance of wood, offering a two-tone wood texture effect that is both captivating and unique. The ability to mimic the warm and inviting look of wood while maintaining the resilience of metal makes CoreLux A1 a sought-after choice for homeowners and designers aiming for a high-end finish without compromising on longevity and maintenance. Available in a palette of five core colours – Cliffside, Timberwolf, Almond, Acadia, and Cedar – CoreLux A1 provides ample flexibility to match a variety of design aesthetics. Each colour has been meticulously selected to ensure that it not only complements the natural beauty of the wood texture effect but also enhances the overall quality of the cladding. Cliffside offers a bold, rocky appearance reminiscent of rugged coastlines, while Timberwolf brings a cooler, more nuanced gray to the table. Almond provides a light, creamy hue that brightens facades, Acadia introduces a rich, earthy tone that echoes the natural wilderness, and Cedar replicates the classic warmth of traditional wood. What sets CoreLux A1 apart from other cladding systems is not just its exceptional appearance but also its commitment to quality and exclusivity. This system is tailored for those who desire a bespoke look for their holiday homes, ensuring that each installation stands out with its distinctive finish. CoreLux A1’s versatility and elegance makes it the ideal choice for adding a touch of luxury and sophistication to any home. In today’s rapidly evolving digital world, the way we explore and engage with businesses has transformed dramatically. A standout example of this evolution is the virtual showroom experience. It’s an innovative solution that allows customers to browse products or services in an immersive, online environment, closely mimicking the experience of a physical showroom but from the comfort and safety of their own home. Our virtual showroom is designed to provide you with an interactive and user-friendly platform, showcasing our full range of offerings in vivid detail. Visiting our virtual showroom, you’re not just browsing; you’re embarking on a unique journey through our collections. Whether you’re in the market for the latest innovations, seeking inspiration, or simply exploring your options, our virtual showroom is tailored to meet your needs. With just a few clicks, you can navigate through different sections, view products from multiple angles, and even access detailed information and specifications. This level of accessibility ensures that you have all the necessary tools to make informed decisions about your purchases. We warmly invite you to experience our virtual showroom today. Virtual Showroom – Eltherington Virtual Showroom (matterport.com) Website – www.eltheringtonleisure.co.uk
The World of Park & Leisure Homes Show 2024
NAEC Stoneleigh, Warwickshire CV8 2TA Friday 28th June to Sunday 30th June 2024 (everyone welcome) (trade only preview Thursday 27th June). Discover a whole new exciting, affordable, secure, and increasingly popular leisure lifestyle for today and a wonderful retirement opportunity for the future The World of Park and Leisure Homes Show returns to Warwickshire in June 2024 bringing the UK’s largest outdoor event dedicated to those already living or those looking to enjoy the wonderful benefits of the Park and Leisure Lifestyle. After taking advantage of free entrance and parking, visitors will then have the chance to view an enormous range of of over 50 Residential Park Homes and Leisure Lodges including the latest models from leading Manufacturers. It’s a fantastic opportunity to see so many homes all on display together. Its your chance to compare models, see the latest designs and innovations, enjoy the inspirational decoration ideas, and discuss your requirements and with the experts on hand to chat about the benefits of enjoying these homes and find the best deals including many exclusive offers. The show has something for everyone and of course, its not just the homes themselves. It’s the wonderful locations available across the UK and beyond. It’s the extras, the fabulous range of new products and accessories. There’s Ideas for renovation and plenty of those extra touches to provide the leisure lifestyle you dreamed of . Laid out in the beautiful grounds of the NAEC Stoneleigh and designed to create a very informal, relaxed, and welcoming event for visitors to enjoy. Plus, don’t forget to visit the ‘Park Life’ catering area providing delicious home cooked meals and snacks. In addition, rest areas are available for those visitors who prefer to picnic. Well behaved dogs are, of course, welcome and for those visitors wishing to stay, the venue does have onsite facilities for motor homes, camping etc. alongside its own in-house hotel (the Stoneleigh Lodge). For a great free day out and a chance to meet like minded people and make new friends, come along to ‘The World of Park & Leisure Homes Show’. Everything you need all in one place. This really is a wonderful opportunity for those new to the lifestyle to find out more and for those who have already made the move to discover all the latest ideas product and innovations to upgrade and renovate. The show opens daily from 10am to 4pm. Access is easy with FREE Parking readily available. The NAEC Stoneleigh is situated between Leamington Spa, Kenilworth and Coventry and is very well signposted from the many major routes that run close by. USE SATNAV…. CV8 2TA For more information, please visit www.parkhomeandleisure.co.Uk See you in June at the NAEC Stoneleigh showground
Instant planting for holiday parks – adding the Wow Factor
With decades of experience in supplying the holiday park industry, as well as expert horticultural knowledge and advice, Wykeham Mature Plants are experts in supplying instant transformations tailored to the site conditions and to the requirements of your business. Developing ongoing relationships with clients is key in helping them to grow their business and to provide their guests with an experience that they will want to revisit time and again. Supplying the trade with high quality large trees, specimen shrubs, instant hedging and screening plants for over forty five years, Wykeham Mature Plants spans 150 acres of nursery, located in a frost pocket ten miles from Scarborough; the Yorkshire-grown stock is guaranteed to be hardy and free from imported pests and diseases. Nationwide delivery is available, and for sites located within a hundred miles or so from the nursery, site visits are available to provide consultations on your site and, if required, a professional and guaranteed expert planting service to help give your scheme the best possible start. Do you want to give your plants the best start possible? Our tree planting service also extends to planting our mature shrubs and instant hedging. From relatively small planting schemes to major projects, if your site is within a hundred miles or so from our nursery we would be delighted to help (for distances further than that we’d need to have a conversation!). Tailored to your exact needs, this service would normally require a site visit so we can provide an accurate quote to assess your project’s logistics and the conditions on site, to help you to prioritise which areas to plant first in terms of the benefit to your business and to help you to maximise your ROI. The Wykeham Mature Plants team are experts in planting large trees and shrubs. Many team members have more than 25 years’ experience in horticulture. For further peace of mind, our customers can rest assured that the plants grown on our own, 150 acre nursery in North Yorkshire are guaranteed to be hardy and free from imported pests and diseases. Should we need to source additional stock for your project from elsewhere in the trade, our biosecurity procedures certified under the PlantHealthy scheme ensure high standards of quality. Stock planted by our team is guaranteed for three years – subject to correct aftercare as guided by us. During the first few years after planting, we ask customers to share any concerns with us straight away. This helps identify and diagnose any problems early, minimising losses and protecting your investment. Site visit and consultation service: Need inspiration for a difficult corner, screening between plots, security hedging or a makeover of your reception area? We offer a site visit and consultation service. We will discuss your requirements and priorities with you on site, assess your site’s soil, light and exposure conditions in person. Then recommend the specific plants that will thrive. This service is available if your site is within a hundred miles or so from our nursery , although for distances further than that we can have a conversation to see if a visit would still be viable. The fee for the visit is £50 within Yorkshire but this increases for visits further afield. However, we try to keep costs down as much as possible by visiting when we’re in the area. Planting service aftercare: For the long-term success of your plants, we provide you with ongoing support and guidance. On the day of planting, you will receive detailed guidelines about caring for your plants. For the first year we will also email you with advice on watering, fertilising, loosening tree straps, and so on. If we do the planting for you, you will have a direct contact with our Planting Manager, an experienced and highly qualified horticulturalist, from the initial site visit through to completion and beyond, as well as for ongoing advice and support specific to your site and to your project. Interested in our planting service? Every site and plant is different, so please get in touch to discuss your requirements or to arrange for our Planting Manager to contact you to discuss and schedule a site visit. Please call us on 01723 862 406 or email m.howe@wykeham.co.uk .
Windstorm scores highly at North Hants Golf Club
At Saltex 2023, on the STM Co Ltd stand, Sam Evans, the Course Manager at the prestigious North Hants Golf Club, and his Grounds team took particular interest in the SCAG Windstorm debris blower. This is a stand-on zero-turn machine with a 37HP motor, 10mph ground speed and a colossal output of 600cfm. They could see immediate advantages over their present system of a leaf blower unit towed behind a utility vehicle, a system that means that two engines are required, one for the UV and the other for the blower. The operator also struggles with restricted rearward view because of the blower size. There is also the general safety aspect with the operator needing to look behind regularly to check blower performance and suitable clearance. The next step was to have an on-site demonstration; this was arranged with David Gray of the STM Co area dealer Lister Wilder. The Windstorm performance on that demo went beyond expectations; clearly an immediate saving was there being only one motor in use, but the visibility and zero-turn manoeuvrability were real sellers once experienced by the operators on their regular grounds. Not only that but there was an additional benefit; the Windstorm has so much power it can cope with clearing leaves within heather areas, which has been very time consuming in the past. Sam’s expression was “that stuff can be like Velcro”. The general reaction and enthusiasm were such that Sam was easily able to persuade his General Manager, who was equally impressed with the demo, that this was money well spent. So now the machine has completed its first winter debris season – but it doesn’t end there because routine mowing can leave grass cuttings on the surfaces. The North Hants greenkeeping team have always cleared this away to keep the fairways pristine, and now, with the Windstorm, they can do it in two-thirds the time it took them before. That, with general requirements for clearing wind and storm debris, plus the fact it does its job so well has made the Windstorm a firm favourite with Sam and his team at North Hants. The machines are available through the STM dealership network. To find your nearest dealer ring 01789 488450 email info@st-mach.com look at our website www.st-mach.com
