Aviva Premiership Rugby Club Harlequins contract the maintenance of their ground – The Stoop – to Nurture Landscapes who are fully supportive of non-chemical treatments like that used at Murrayfield.

Contracts Manager for Harlequins Nick Ebelthite said: “I am in full support of groundsman trying to use natural remedies.  Although we are yet to really suffer from nematodes at The Stoop, It is something we are aware of. We try to avoid spraying chemicals wherever possible. As the variety of demands from sports turf increases there are always reactions to using one chemical which causes you to use another chemical to combat a side effect. I am sure using Natural ingredients helps to combat this.”

Head Groundsman Paul Sykes, who has been referred to as the ‘Hippy Groundsmen’ on more than one occasion, commented:  “It should be no surprise to anyone that I am very conscious of my carbon footprint here at The Stoop. One thing I can influence are the materials that I apply to the grass itself; after all, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium have only been applied to soils in farming and our industry post World War II, when these chemicals were used to make bombs. 

Paul Sykes is always looking for new and interesting ways to be environmentally friendly at The Stoop.

“Recent studies by scientists are showing that soils worldwide are degrading as a result of 60 years of this practice and suggest reverting to pre-war principles nowadays labelled as ‘organic’. If the garlic application works I’d be very interested to trial it at The Stoop as I’m always looking for new and interesting ways to be environmentally friendly. I currently apply a friendly bacteria called Bacillus subtilis, which attacks disease pathogens, reducing the need to spray harmful chemicals that kill other important biota in the soil. Yakult for turf as I call it.”

Nurture Landscapes as a business pride itself on aiming to be at the forefront of any green initiatives, where possible, including the use of shredded human hair from local barbers and hairdressers to humanely deter foxes.