STRI Group

Last week we were delighted to take part in the inaugural community forum for the Port Vale Community Campus. The session brought together local residents, @PVFCFoundation and club representatives, and a range of community stakeholders from across the city, including partners from the church and science in the city, alongside team STRI. While the development is still in its early stages, the discussion focused on the long-term vision for the campus and the far-reaching benefits it will bring. The project includes improved sports pitches and padel courts, a community hub building, and wider enhancements to the park itself, including improvements to the landscape and biodiversity. Those involved in the forum will now come together on a monthly basis to help shape future plans, ensuring the facilities are well used, protected, and maintained for generations to come.

Last week, Sarah Hosmer, Ian Anderson and Christian Spring have been in Newmarket conducting training surface assessments across @TheJockeyClub Estates’ horse racing training facilities. This work was part of the @WelfareBoard Trainer Best Practice project alongside the @BHAHorseracing. The team assessed an incredible 48 individual training surfaces, covering everything from turf and synthetic gallops to canter ovals and arenas - all while battling the famous Newmarket wind, sticky sand, tufty grass and even the occasional hailstorm. The assessments included: 🏇21 turf gallops 🏇15 synthetic gallops 🏇8 additional training surfaces 🏇Visits to the British Racing School to assess their synthetic gallop, canter ovals and arenas The work is part of the ongoing development of industry best practice guidance, helping to improve surface quality, safety and performance for both equine and human users. The week in numbers: • 48 surfaces tested • 1,332 Clegg hammer drops • 1,776 synthetic surface depth checks • 168 soil cores and thatch depth measurements • 80+ miles walked • 1 hail/sleet storm weathered • Waterproofs on/off: 18 times • Strops/paddies/tantrums: 0 • Dinners cooked by Christian: 4 • Sandwiches made by Sarah: 8 • Lunches eaten by Ian: reportedly 0 A fantastic effort from the team and a great example of the specialist work being delivered across the equine sector.

Elite football pitches are under more pressure than ever before. More matches. More non-football events. Heavier player loads. Tighter turnarounds. Higher aesthetic expectations. And all of it happening under increasing climate pressures. Recent conversations around player injuries have once again brought pitch performance into the spotlight, but the reality is far more complex than simply blaming the surface. In this latest opinion piece, @striturf_greg, Principal Consultant explores how modern pitch management has evolved into a highly scientific balancing act - where maintenance windows, recovery time, stadium usage and environmental conditions all play a critical role in surface performance. An interesting read for anyone involved in elite sport, stadium operations or sports surface management. strigroup.com/why-elite-leve…

Construction has commenced on the new Vale Park Community Campus, marking a major milestone in the delivery of a £2.3 million government funded investment to enhance community sport and wellbeing facilities in Burslem. STRI Group is leading the masterplanning and design work, with the Group's construction business, @CarrickLimited, providing the build. Carrick has launched the first phase of works with completion of the overall project due in spring / summer 2027. We caught up with Patrick Shanahan, Will Turner and Matt Hancock from @OfficialPVFC Vale Football Club and @PVFCFoundation, and James Podesta, Development Director, to find out what this next phase means to them, and the community. Watch them in action and find out more here: strigroup.com/construction-b…

Next week, Glenn Kirby, Research Director, and Greg Whately, Principal Technical Consultant will speak at the @ets_turfgrass Conference. 📆 When? 22nd-24th April 📍 Where? Athens Greg will be discussing multi-use stadia, and the growing challenge of balancing an increase in multiple uses with maintaining high-performing playing surfaces. Glenn will be presenting on the critical role of light in turf performance, exploring how photosynthesis underpins growth and why understanding light is key to meeting the increasing demands placed on modern surfaces. We're looking forward to a great event and some insightful discussions, some of which are hosted by our very own Principal Scientist Christian Spring.

@GlennKirby spoke at the @SGLsystem & @ICL_Turf Growing Solutions UK & Ireland: Industry Insights conference at Hampden Park yesterday, discussing the critical role of light in turf performance. The day focused on pitch management, sustainability, and the latest innovations, with excellent conversations throughout.

As the demands on pitches continue to evolve, data-led insight is becoming increasingly important in understanding performance, improving consistency and supporting decision-making at every level of the game. Combining scientific research with real-world application sits at the core of what we do helping to deliver surfaces that perform, adapt and stand up to the pressures of modern sport. We caught up with Toby Lumsden, Senior Sportsfield Design Consultant for @STRI_Australia to discuss 'can data shape the future of cricket?' Read more here: striaustralia.com.au/2026/02/20/can…

We're looking forward to attending next week and catching up with new and old industry colleagues. @GlennKirby will be speaking on all things research - see you there!

Great to see @striturf_greg and Sam Swires representing STRI at The @premierleague Grounds Teams meeting, hosted at @DysonFarming this week. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with industry peers and share insight into the real challenges facing the sector, from weather and increased pitch usage to rising costs and staff pressures. The day also placed a strong focus on training and development, with the Grounds Management Association leading sessions around pitch management and supporting grounds teams to continue delivering at the highest level. A highlight was seeing the overlap between agricultural and sports turf research. Like Dyson Farming, STRI’s approach is rooted in scientific testing and data-led insight which leads us to create more resilient, efficient and high-performing surfaces. A big thank you to Adam Kaliniecki and Sarah Young at the Premier League for organising such a valuable event.

We’re delighted to have had Luke Gawthorp, Senior Designer, and Ian Lacy, Senior Consultant, attending the Coliseum Sports Venue Alliance Summit Europe 2026 at Fulham Pier in London last week. It’s been a fantastic opportunity to connect with industry peers, exchange ideas and gain valuable insights from speakers across the day. Bringing together leading stadiums, arenas and clubs, the event is a great platform for collaboration and we’re happy to be part of the conversation. #ColiseumSummitEurope2026

All week we've been highlighting the work our incredible grounds team delivers for our clients and the industry, and last but not least, we're shining our final spotlight on Head Groundsman Ross Normington. Joining in 2018, Ross started as an apprentice groundsman for a golf course and through shadowing his seniors and putting in the hours, he moved up the ranks to where he is today.  Ross shared his journey last year for #Groundsweek, and describes why he claims, ‘being outside is the best office in the world’. WATCH HERE: youtube.com/watch?v=V1MC0_…

The penultimate duo joining the set this week, we're shining the spotlight on Curtis Smithurst and Matthew Hobbs. Alongside the team, they work across eight hectares of land which needs to be strategically and expertly managed, with some trials lasting years for our clients, continuous care and attention to the plots is required throughout the seasons. Our team is unrivalled in their scientific knowledge of the biology, construction, care and maintenance of sports surfaces, and we're delighted to be celebrating them. #Groundsweek @wearetheGMA

It’s #GroundsWeek and we’re proud to be showcasing the individuals who make up our grounds team, as part of the national campaign celebrating the expertise and professionalism across the industry. We're looking forward to sharing the squad behind the science. Up first, Christian Martindale, Groundsperson at STRI HQ. Working in the industry for over 28 years, Christian is a key member of the team who works closely with the team, maintaining our trials ground to ensure best conditions for research clients, including product testing, grass testing. Christian brings a wealth of relevant experience and a strong foundation in horticulture to the role, and we're delighted to have him on the team. @wearetheGMA

We had a fantastic day at the @wearetheGMA conference at @Edgbaston Stadium, home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club. It was great to see catch up with old and new friends, listen to the insightful presentations alongside the brilliant host @MarkClemmit and network with industry professionals. Thanks to the team at GMA for organising.

With the #CheltenhamFestival underway and the racing taking centre stage, it's crucial to remember the importance of safe and consistent surfaces. Gallops play a vital role in preparing racehorses for competition. Maintaining them requires a combination of technical knowledge, practical skill and a deep understanding of how surfaces influence performance and safety. We've been working closely with the @WelfareBoard to develop a training course on gallops maintenance at training facilities. Developed with industry expertise, funded by the The Racing Foundation and with insights from The Jockey Club Estates, the programme helps yard staff better understand surface composition, maintenance techniques and equipment used to keep training gallops performing at their best. At STRI, we're keen to support the sharing of best practice across racing surfaces, helping ensure the welfare of horses and riders while maintaining high-performance training environments. Watch the video below to hear more about how improved skills and knowledge in gallops maintenance are helping to raise standards across the industry, featuring our very own Sarah Hosmer. youtube.com/watch?si=Uzhuj…

@GlennKirby is on tour! Speaking at the upcoming @BIGGALtd conferences across the UK, starting in Yorkshire, Glenn will be discussing 'Mowing in frost', the focus of one of STRI's current in-house trials. 3rd March - BIGGA Sectional Education Day - Yorkshire & Sheffield 4th March - BIGGA Sectional Education Day - North West & North Wales 18th March - BIGGA Sectional Education Day - North East & Cleveland View the events here: bigga.org.uk/event-listing.… We look forward to seeing you there.

BASIS training dates 2026 dates are out now 📢 At STRI, education and knowledge-sharing sit at the centre of everything we do, and there really is no better place to learn alongside the experts. BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection in Amenity Horticulture (Turf or Hard surface skill modules) Teaching dates (9 day course): 5-9 October 2026 and 2-5 November 2026 Online written exam: 7 December 2026 ID test: 8 December 2026 Vivas: 9 December 2026 FACTS Turf Teaching dates: 20-23 October 2026 Online written exams: 10 December 2026 Viva: 11 December 2026 BASIS Foundation in Amenity Horticulture Teaching dates: 23-25 November 2026 Online exam: 30 November 2026 All courses are hosted at our Bingley HQ, so delegates can receive hands on experience on on our trials grounds. Email - enquiries@strigroup.com to book your place. Find out more here - strigroup.com/basis-and-fact… #BASIS