GroundsFest Education Programme – Learn, Grow, Excel
With four seminar theatres, practical sessions, and an abundance of land-based education providers in attendance, GroundsFest has a wide variety of educational opportunities.
The CPD accredited education programme is free to attend.
FINE TURF THEATRE
FINE TURF THEATRE
Wednesday 16 September
| Time | Title | Speaker/s |
| 10:00 | The role of light | Glenn Kirby, Research Director, STRI |
| 11:00 | Is Our Bowling Green Dead? | Stuart Yarwood, DLF |
| 12:00 | Open the bag: The hidden science behind better turf | Stuart Yarwood, DLF |
| 13:00 | How Better Topdressing Decisions Build Better Turf | Gary Cunningham, Mansfield Sand |
| 14:00 | Change your turfs response to stress | Phil Collinson |
| 15:00 | Lead or be led’ Navigating managers, members & committees | Rob Phillips & Scott Reeves, BIGGA |
Thursday 17 September
| Time | Title | Speaker/s |
| 10:30 | Beyond the fairway: battery and robotics for today’s turf professionals | Jonathan Snowball & James Walker, Husqvarna |
| 11:30 | Is Our Bowling Green Dead? | Stuart Yarwood, DLF |
| 12:30 | New technologies to enhance golf and bowling green performance | Kelly-Marie Clack, Origin Amenity |
| 13:30 | How Better Topdressing Decisions Build Better Turf | Gary Cunningham, Mansfield Sand |
| 14:30 | The water advantage | Paul Lowe & Peter Lacey, Aquatrols |
THE BALI & HORTWEEK THEATRE
THE BALI & HORTWEEK THEATRE
Wednesday 16 September
| Time | Title | Speaker/s |
| 11:00 | Smarter Kit, Stronger Teams: the power of autonomous and battery technology – Sponsored by Kress | Jim Kirkwood, Kress; Mike Day, Mike Day Garden Maintenance; Paul Larsen, Turf Consultant |
| 12:00 | Future-ready Landscapes: resilient planting, healthier soils and smarter inputs – Sponsored by Origin Amenity Solutions | Alistair Taylor Origin Amenity Solutions; Stuart Simpson, Ashlea Ltd; Trudy Martin, TruGrowth. COMPLIMENTARY LUNCH VOUCHER FOR ATTENDEES COURTESY OF ORIGIN AMENITY |
| 13:00 | The Battery Bottom Line: demystifying the financial transition from petrol to battery – Sponsored by Cramer | John McGrady, Cramer |
| 15:30 | Innovation Awards Presentation – Sponsored by Cramer, Kress and Origin Amenity Solutions Ltd | Join us at for a champagne reception courtesy of Groundsfest to see which products will be crowned as the innovations of the year! |
Thursday 17 September
| Time | Title | Speaker/s |
| 10:00 | More Than a Logo: The Business Case for BALI Membership | Sarah Potrykus, BALI |
| 11:00 | The Employment Agency You’ve Never Heard Of – How the DWP can help you | Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) |
| 13:00 | Let’s Get Technical – an intro to T Levels | Jackie Bradnick, Skills Development Network |
| 14:00 | The Importance of Outdoor Spaces to Bring People Together | Catherine Barratt, Furnitubes |
| 15:00 | From Survey to Strategy: Turning the 2026 Findings into Action | Amy Cobbett, BALI |
THE LANDSCAPE THEATRE
THE LANDSCAPE THEATRE
Wednesday 16 September
| Time | Title | Speaker/s |
| 11:30 | Right Tree, Right Place, Right Future: Breeding for Climate Resilience sponsored by Coles Nurseries | William Innes-Taylor, Hillier Nurseries; George Trott, Arboricultural Consultant; James Robinson Tillett, Islington Council |
| 12:15 | More Than Metal: Why Your Dealer Matters | Ellis Adderley, Buxtons |
| 13:00 | Using AI to Improve your Marketing sponsored by Adtrak | Anna Steele & Aalia Zorko, Adtrak |
| 13:45 | The Accidental Horticulturists: How Unplanned Careers Became Lifelong Professions | Nigel Payne, Blakedown Landscapes; Bryony Waddington, Horticulturist at Bryony the Gardener; Ryan Horsman, Palmer Landscapes; William Innes-Taylor, Hillier Nurseries; Sarah Potrykus, BALI |
| 14:30 | Landscape Careers Live – fast-paced recruitment sessions to discover live vacancies | |
| 14:45 | Who Will Be Doing The Work in 10 Years’ Time? sponsored by Fresh Horticultural Careers | Nigel Payne, Blakedown Landscapes; Darren Bosworth, DB Landscape Management Ltd; Rupert Keys, Task Academy Ltd; Marian Barker, Fresh Horticultural Careers; Steven Higginbottom, Consultant and former grounds maintenance business owner |
| 15:30 | Cutting Costs Without Cutting Corners: Smarter Planting for Public Estates | Owen Hayman, Pictorial Meadows; Paul Hutchinson, Oxford University Parks |
Thursday 17 September
| Time | Title | Speaker/s |
| 11:00 | More Than Metal: Why Your Dealer Matters | Ellis Adderley, Buxtons |
| 11:45 | Landscape Careers Live | Fast-paced recruitment sessions to discover live vacancies |
| 12:00 | From One Van to a Growing Business: Scaling in Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance | Shawn Town, Verdant Groundcare; Rob Woodhouse, Solent Garden Services; Richard Browning, Blue Butterfly Garden Design |
| 13:00 | The AI Advantage: Boosting Efficiency and Profitability in Landscaping | Kim Sones, Sones Accountancy |
THE PITCHCARE THEATRE
THE PITCHCARE THEATRE
Wednesday 16 September
| Time | Title | Speaker/s |
| 10:30 | Turf production elite sport | Richard Owens, Tillers Turf |
| 11:30 | An insight into renovating after a hot dry summer of turf stress | Gary Barwell, Edgbaston Stadium |
| 14:00 | The installation of a high-performance pitch | Gary Birch, Hednesford Town FC |
Thursday 17 September
| Time | Title | Speaker/s |
| 11:30 | The importance of apprenticeships | Dr Jonathan Knowles, Leicester City FC |
