Saltex the premier landscape show of the year is all but a month away.
Landscapers, groundsman, horticulturists, product manufacturers and just about anyone in the industry heads to Windsor Racecourse at the beginning of September.
I remember going to Motspur Park, the BBC sports ground when I worked at Blackmoor Golf Club in the late 70's. The show was small and it wasn't there much longer and had to move to a larger venue because of its popularity.
In the early days the groundsman was a lowly servant and budgets for machinery were small. In fact the green keeping staff often had their budgets cut in times of hardship before the bar and restaurant and I clearly remember having to cannibalise machines to keep them working because there were not the funds to replace them.
It was kind of accepted that the course was there and somehow maintained itself without intervention. The membership of the golf club were never helpful and always resisted paying more subs for their golf. Mind you they would soon moan if they thought the course was not right.
So it seemed The green keeper was a professional first and in my opinion more highly skilled as a housekeeper second because of the juggling of money against quality.
These days the skill of the green keeper is more than recognised and the pay is good. The machinery the green keeper needs is readily available and with attractive leasing and finance available it is upgraded and replaced often.
I will report more on the products on show before during and after the event.
The producers of machinery recognise the availability of funds and they all compete for the hot money at Saltex' prestigious event.
From the employees point of view this is also a great day out. From a full English breakfast in the canteen with thick gloopy tea to a burger and chips from one of the many catering vans washed down with a pint of warm ale from a beer truck. This is the highly prized world of the groundsman and a welcomed break during the busy calandar and paid too.
They all make many passes of the large shredding machine with the crowd five deep at times. They all seem to be watching the half trees passed into the mouth of the mammoth machine with such interest. They some how seem to be oblivious of the two scantily clad models in high heel boots handing out glossy brochures.
Who says sex doesn't sell. I would love to see the stats and if Saltex makes a difference to the sales to this wood chipper manufacturer?
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