Dennis Mowers is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Edgbaston Stadium and Warwickshire County Cricket Club.
This collaboration is aimed at achieving two significant objectives: becoming the most sustainable cricket ground in the country by having a fully electric range of mowers and enhancing education and support for local grassroots cricket clubs.
Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Edgbaston Stadium, are committed to becoming fully sustainable by 2030. This ambitious goal includes transitioning to a completely electric fleet of mowers.
The partnership with Dennis Mowers, part of the Howardson Group, is a crucial step toward this objective.
Gary Barwell, Head of Sports Turf at Edgbaston, explained the vision: "We have made a commitment that by 2030 we would like to have a fully electric fleet of mowers. We didn’t want to do it as a half-baked project; we wanted it to be across the main ground and the training ground, making us the first club to be fully electric. It was a case of finding a manufacturer that could supply everything we needed.
“Choosing to work with Dennis Mowers was an easy decision due to their high standards and their extensive experience supplying mowers to top-tier sporting teams. Bringing them in was a secure and confident move for both the club, the venue and myself. The quality and reliability of the mowers also ensure we maintain the high standards we have adhered to over the years."
The Dennis E-Series range, including the ES-22 Ultra, ES-36, ES-760, and ES-34R, has been chosen for this transition. These battery-powered mowers offer exceptional performance, with features like adjustable speeds, interchangeable cassettes, and superior cutting quality, all while being environmentally friendly.
Gary highlighted the advantages of the mowers: "The performance levels have been so good, the grass is healthy, the cut is so strong and there has been no drop-off from switching from petrol to battery. In fact, I would argue that there has been an upturn. The balance and overall performance are being praised by all of the team members."
Cascading knowledge to grassroots clubs
In addition to sustainability, the partnership focuses on educating and supporting local grassroots cricket clubs. The aim is to help improve the skills of groundstaff, enhance pitch quality, and ultimately increase participation in the game.
Gary is enthusiastic about this educational aspect: "The partnership is incredibly exciting and is going to be very promising for the industry. I want to help people by demonstrating the work we are doing here at Edgbaston and extend this knowledge to other clubs. I am extremely passionate about turf and cricket, and the idea is to work together with Dennis to improve cricket pitches."
Dennis plans to involve Gary in educational seminars and training sessions for cricket clubs, sharing best practices and demonstrating the capabilities of their equipment. This hands-on approach aims to create a lasting legacy by empowering local clubs with the knowledge and tools to maintain top-quality pitches.
A partnership for the future
Roger Moore, Head of Marketing at The Howardson Group, expressed his excitement about the partnership: "We are thrilled to partner with Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Gary Barwell. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to sustainability and community support. We look forward to a fruitful partnership that will benefit cricket clubs at all levels."
Ben Seifas, Head of Sales and Partnerships at Edgbaston, added: "We’re delighted to welcome the Howardson Group into our partnership family. Dennis is a brand renowned around the world within elite sport venues for innovation and excellence, aligning with our values and our sustainability ambitions. This is the first partnership of its kind for the Howardson Group, and we are delighted to be the venue of choice to showcase their high-quality products."
As Warwickshire County Cricket Club moves forward with its sustainability initiatives and educational outreach, the partnership with Dennis Mowers stands as a testament to their shared vision for a greener, more knowledgeable future in cricket.
To view a video interview with Gary Barwell, Head of Sports Turf at Edgbaston, click here.
