As preparations intensify ahead of the prestigious WTA 250 event at Nottingham Tennis Centre, Grounds Manager Ryan Middleton and his team are working tirelessly to ensure the venue’s grass courts meet the exacting standards expected of one of the UK’s leading pre-Wimbledon tournaments.

For Graham Smith, cricket has been a lifelong passion. From first joining his local club as a teenager to now maintaining the square as volunteer groundsman, he has dedicated more than five decades to the game and the club he proudly calls home.

The Dennis ES-20, ES-24 and ES-26 are part of a new generation of professional battery-powered cylinder mowers, combining quiet, low-vibration operation with the precision cutting performance that has made Dennis a trusted name across fine turf sports and ornamental grounds.

A healthy turf surface depends on much more than regular mowing and fertilisation. One of the most common issues affecting sports turf, golf courses and fine lawns is the build-up of thatch. While a small amount of thatch can be beneficial, excessive accumulation can quickly lead to poor turf performance, increased disease pressure and declining playing quality.

At the heart of every successful cricket club is a dedicated team working tirelessly behind the scenes, and at Whitmore Cricket Club, that commitment is helping transform one of Staffordshire’s historic grounds.

For James Holdcroft, groundsman and long-time player at Whitmore CC, maintaining and improving the club’s playing surfaces is both a passion and a responsibility.