With informative seminar sessions planned for arborists, groundsmen and open space management professionals including landscapers and play officers, this year’s IOG SALTEX education programme taking place in The Grandstand at Windsor Racecourse on 2-4 September promises to provide the latest updates on all the issues that count, in presentations from some of the leading names in the industry. And it’s all free!

In addition, a special series of football-related presentations includes a trio of exclusive seminars that will intrigue every soccer-related grounds care professional: 

• Artificial surfaces – the real story – results presented by Dr Iain James of Cranfield University into a just-completed three-year research project
• The FA strategy, revealed by Nigel Hargreaves
• Matt Frost, head groundsman at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, describes how he prepared for the Champions League Final.

With daily presentations by Davo Ruthven-Stuart of the ever-popular personal development workshops, the IOG SALTEX education programme also provides updates on hand-arm vibration risk management (by Peter Wilson of the Industrial Noise and Vibration Centre), trends in nutritional turf management programmes by Stuart Staples of Scotts and tree management best-practice by the Arboricultural Association, embracing safety issues and record keeping, for example.

There will also be a daily focus on playground equipment and surfacing in line with changes to BS EN 1176/77. These presentations will be shared by Keith Dalton of the Register of Play Inspections International, Rob Davies of Wicksteed Leisure and Peter Heseltine of the Play Inspection Company.

Stuart Douglas from Play England will explain the implications of the National Strategy for Play, Proludic’s Kristina Hinks will outline ‘innovation in consultation for playground design’, and  a speaker from Record RSS will help delegates investigate play inspection.

As well as launching the National Highways Sector Scheme 18 for the Environment and Landscape sector at a special event on Wednesday 3 September at 11.30, BALI – the British Association of Landscape Industries – will be staging a special daily presentation in the seminar room where Neil Huck, technical director BALI, and Tony Sangwine from the Highways Agency will be sharing the stage.

Visit www.iogsaltex.co.uk for full details of the programme.

Register NOW at www.iogsaltex.co.uk to receive your FREE entry badge and information about IOG SALTEX, or call the Ticket Hotline for FREE tickets on 0844 557 2724.

IOG SALTEX 2008 will be held on 2-4 September at Windsor Racecourse, Berks, and will embrace fine turf and sports surfaces, turf maintenance equipment, children’s outdoor play and safety surfacing, landscaping, contractors, commercial vehicles, outdoor leisure and facilities management, as well as software and security equipment.  The show is attended by open space management professionals and contractors – from groundsmen and greenkeepers through to play officers, architects, designers and surveyors as well as local authority and outdoor leisure facility managers.