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University Shortlisted for IOG Industry Award

cyThe expertise of our Head Groundsman Charlie Yeomans and the quality of our sports facilities are being recognised for the first time by this year’s Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) Industry Awards.

As a finalist for the IOG British Sugar TOPSOIL award for the Environmental and Innovation Project of the Year, Charlie, who has been working for the University for over 28 years, and his team have been employing an environmental and sustainability strategy based around the explicit need to reduce pesticides.

The holistic approach taken by Charlie and his team has aimed to deliver the above requirement by reducing waste and costs as well as implementing an integrated pest management plan. This strategy has been embedded in the management of the department, including the adoption of better more environmentally appropriate materials on the playing surfaces – for example, the use of controlled slow release treatments which reduce the possibility of leaching and therefore potential pollution of the watercourse – and the optimisation of water usage.

This award highlights an exceptional environmental project, piece of research or an outstanding innovation that provides a bench mark for best practice in grounds management within the sports turf, amenity or landscaping industries. The University has been shortlisted for this prestigious award along with Forest Green Rovers FC of Gloucester, with the results to be announced at the IOG Industry Awards on 4 December at stadiummk in Milton Keynes. Warwick Sport in particular would like to congratulate Charlie and his team for this fabulous achievement.