Amenity sprayer awards open for entries

The search is on to recognise the UK's most professional sprayer operators in the sports turf, amenity and landscape management industries.

 

The Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year awards highlight best practice and experience in the role of ensuring accurate application on all amenity surfaces.

Sponsored by ICL and Syngenta and managed by the Amenity Forum, the awards seek to share top tips and advice that will raise the standards of spray application across the amenity industry. 

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Announcing the opening of the awards at SALTEX (1-2 November), Syngenta Technical Manager Sean Loakes said: "Sprayer operation is a key factor in the success of every application, including elements of nozzle choice, water volume and fine tuning the sprayer to more effectively hit the intended target.

"However, for the best possible results, today's professional sprayer operators must also fully understand the wider aspects of why an application is being made, and what other integrated options they can also employ for better long-term management of potential problems. Knowing when not to spray is in many ways as important as the techniques to actually make an application."

The winner will be announced at the BIGGA Celebration at BTME in January 2024, with prizes worth over £500. All applicants will also be entered into a competition to win one of five Syngenta Sprayer Calibration & Application Kits. BASIS CPD points for participating in the awards can been applied for.

ICL Landscape & Industrial Business Manager Lewis Blois added: “We are delighted to support such an important cross-sector industry initiative with a continued commitment to raise standards and improve results. Importantly it has identified and recognised the range of spray application techniques and the differing skills involved across the amenity sector. It will provide a unique and vitally important resource for all involved in spray application.”

This year the entry process aims to test sprayer operators' broader knowledge of issues and solutions faced across the amenity sector through an initial online question form. Entrants are not expected to know the answers to all the questions, however the entry form will help the judging panel assess an individual’s experience and approach to dealing with challenges.

Lewis added: "The entry process will stimulate thought and understanding of the challenging issues around application across the sports turf, amenity and industrial land management industries, including the need to create integrated solutions using a full range of tools and tactics. We're looking to find operators that can make those important proactive decisions with every application."

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