July 2011:- Sand arrives at Horse Guard Parade

Sand is delivered ahead of The London Prepares Series VISA FIVB beach Volley Ball International Test Event..

April 2011:- Safe Play Sand for The South Bank Centre

Turfgroup's safe play sand is supplied to the largest single-run arts centre in the world,the south bank centre. a 70 metre beach was constructed on queens walk for the duration of the The Festival of Britain celebrations, providing an experience of the British Seaside in Central London..

January 2011:- Alton Towers choose Turf Group

Turf Group have recently completed a substantial turf order for Alton Towers in readiness for the park this year. Ian Hodgkinson commented: "We are proud to be recognised and associated with such a prestigious venue"..

January 2008:- The worlds largest turf roll was installed at the Millennium Stadium Cardiff

Turf Group and partner Hendriks carried out the installation in preparation of the Six Nations 2008. A first for the millennium and the U.K. The turf installation can now be completed in 1 day which will be a huge benefit to the stadium when preparing for events with strict time limits. The turf measures 2.4m wide, 15m long and incredibly weighs approximately 3 tonnes..

November 2007:- Shadow chancellor of the exchequer Mr George Osborne MP officially opens the playground

George Osborne MP officially opens the recently constructed playground at High Legh. Turfgroup who supplied and laid the turf were commended for their quality workmanship and turf quality. The playground project was made possible by Mrs Clare Hay, committee member of High Legh Parish Council..

September 2007:- Brookfield Manor, Hope Valley

It was a pleasure for the Turf Group to carry out a big roll supply and lay turf project at the stunning location, at Brookfield Manor, Hope Valley in Derbyshire. The project involved levelling of the surrounding grounds and laying 4500sq metres of Rye Sports turf in readiness for it's official opening..

July 2007:- Most advanced big roll turfing system used for the first time

In July 2007 the most advanced big roll turfing system was used for the first time at the Nordbank Arena, FC Hamburg in Germany. The big rolls of turf 2.4 metres wide and weighing 3 tonnes were supplied and installed in the stadium in approximately 7 working hours. "This system is the No.1 in the World for Stadia Turf Installation. The turf has been harvested, transported and laid in the stadium in a day ! ".

June 2007:- New playing field for Chafford Hundred Campus

This challenging turf project was carried out within a week to provide the school children with a safe natural grass playing field. Previously the school children had been forbidden to use the field due to the excessive stone content and a dangerous un-even surface. Turf Group rectified the situation by removing the old grass re-levelling and reforming the new surface. A sandy rootzone was imported and spread onto the site, levelled and reformed. 16500sq metres of instant play sports (40mm thick) turf was installed in preparation for their sports day..

Feb 2007:- Landscaping and turfing works for senior partner of St James' Place

Mr Robert Allen, senior partner of St.James's Place instructs the Turf Group to carry out landscaping and turfing works at his recently built stately home in Cheshire. The works included site clearance, landscaping and big roll turf installation.

Nov 2006:- Parken Stadium, Copenhagen Denmark

Due to adverse weather conditions in Scandinavia the Parken Stadium decide to install a new pitch in preparation for Denmarks 2008 qualifier against Northern Ireland and FC Copenhagen's Champions League game against Manchester United. A second re-turf was carried out in November for FC Copenhagen's other Champions League game against Celtic. In between the two re-turfs the Parken Stadium was used for a Bruce Springsteen concert and a World Championship Boxing contest which as anticipated severely damaged the turf. Both re-turfs proved a huge success for FC Copenhagen who beat Manchester United and Celtic on the Turf Group installations.

August 2006:- Rugby League Cup Final turfing works

Following the Rolling Stones concert the turfgroup.com team were called in to strip and re-turf where the Stones stage had been constructed. The operation had to be completed in 12 hours in order for the rugby league cup final to take place the following afternoon. The whole operation was successfully completed in 8 hours to allow Keith Kent and his team an extra 4 hours of final preparations.

July 2006:- New compact tractor is delivered to the Emirates stadium.

A new Kioti CK20H compact tractor is delivered to Arsenals new Emirates stadium. The tractor is to be used for all the pitch maintenance requirements.

July 2006:- Turf removal at Highbury stadium

Arsenal Football Club contacted Turf Group to remove turf from the immaculate pitch at Arsenal's Highbury stadium in order to supply their supporters with a piece of official Highbury Stadium turf. The turf was cut up into small pieces, packed into presentation boxes with a metal certificate. It was an amazing site to see the clubs supporters queing around the stadium in their thousands for a plot of Highbury turf. As a club official said " It's like a match day!"

FIFA World Cup pitches, Germany 2006

In April 2006 the most prestigious contract for turf installation work was carried out by Turf Groups partner Hendriks Graszoden groep The stadium turf order for the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 to supply and install sports turf 40mm thick in the 12 stadium venues across Germany was carried out in 3 weeks. This order did not only have a financial gain but more importantly proved that natural turf could be installed in 12 stadiums in 3 weeks allowing the players from all over the World to play on a natural grass surface.

2005:- First Re-turf at Millennium

In February 2005 the first re-turfing operation was carried out at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Although it was important to have a pristine playing surface for the Carling Cup Final, between Chelsea and Liverpool, It was more important for Wales to have a very strong turf as they were playing Ireland the following week in the six nations decider. The turfing job was a huge success, the turf withstood all the wear and tear of the rugby game and Wales beat Ireland to win the six nations trophy.

2004:- London Fashion Week, HRH Duke of York Headquaters, Chelsea

Following the London fashion week exhibition held at the H.R.H Duke Of York Headquarters in Chelsea London, Turf Group were called in to install new turf for the local schools play area. Installed in two days enabling the local schools sports day to go ahead as planned. Manchester City Council award Turf Group a major hedge cutting contract to cut hedges around the parks in Manchester. The 2140 hour operation was carried out with tractor mounted hedge cutting equipment and was completed in 10 working weeks.

2003:- The turfgroup.com brand is launched in recognition of its knowledge and experience with other companies

The Turf Group brand is launched to be recognised for its combination of knowledge and experience with other companies in providing 'total service to the turf industry'. The Bank Of England place an order for one of turfs groups specialised collectors for the removal of leaves and thatch on their sports surfaces at Roehampton. The syndicate of Horticulture at Hull on Humberside, call in Turf Group to rectify their drainage and playing surface levels. The first stadia turf installation job is carried out at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, home of FC Copenhagen and the Danish National team. A first for Denmark and a first for Turf Group.

2002:- 40th Anniversary Charity Ball

To celebrate the company's 40th anniversary, a charity ball was organised at the Mere Golf and Country Club. The ball was attended by 300 guests raising £3000 for the charity 'Christies against cancer appeal'. Major extension works are carried out for Bolton Wanderers training ground at Euxton near Chorley. The works included demolition of an existing bowling club and green, a new irrigation system installed and the construction of a new fibre sand pitch. In recognition of the turfing works carried out at previous stadia Chelsea Football Club place an order for 40mm thick turf to be delivered to the Stamford Bridge stadium. The first turf care machinery export order is received from 'New Lawns' in Jersey. In September a historic project was carried out at Wembley where Hodgkinsons are requested to remove the last playing surface from the famous Wembley Stadium. Turf was harvested and stacked on to pallets for transportation to a site in Sussex.

2000:- Ian meets with the South African Sports Minister

Ian meets with Mr Jordan the South African Sports Minister to discuss turfing solutions and turf installation techniques available for the difficult climatic conditions in international modern stadia. In January Hodgkinsons supply and lay turf for Manchester Utd which proves a huge success. 96 games are played on the re-turf and the first major turfing project is carried out in Scotland for Hearts F.C.

1999:- The BBC National Lottery 'Turf Show'

In May Hodgkinsons are requested by the BBC National lottery Production Team to remove turf from Old Trafford in large rolls and deliver to a lottery show winner in South Wales, where the lucky person had won the turf from the pitch to be supplied and installed in his back garden.

The Old Trafford turf was harvested in big rolls loaded on to a waiting truck and taken direct to the winners house in Pembroke South Wales where it was speedily off loaded and installed into his garden. The lucky winner thanked the Hodgkinson crew for the speedy operation and is now the proud owner of hallow turf from the 'Theatre of Dreams'. On behalf of the B.B.C. Production Team host Brian Connelly expressed his thanks to the Hodgkinson turf team.

1998:- Old Trafford pitch removal.

In May '98 Hodgkinsons are asked by Manchester Utd to remove their old pitch at Old Trafford. The turf was removed during the night and moved to our secret location in Cheshire where it is relaid and nurtured for the purpose of producing paper weights for the £25million charity appeal 'Christies against cancer'. Pieces of turf from our secret location are then sent away to be encompassed into paper weights and are then returned to Old Trafford to be distributed to their fan base Worldwide.

1996:- Euro'96 turf challenge

In Jan 1996 Hodgkinsons are asked to develop and renovate a local sports centre to provide training facilities for Italy. Other works include Pitch Renovation at Old Trafford and Turfing works at Anfield.

1994:- Hodgkinsons go 'Big Roll' as the Channel Tunnel opens

Various grades of turf are now being grown and supplied to the professional market. A Big Roll installation technique is now available and the first challenging big roll project supplying and laying 3000 sq. metres of greens turf for four golf greens at the prestigious site of the De Vere Group at Mottram Hall in Cheshire.

1992:- Ian & Richard invited to California, USA

In recognition of their turf growing innovations and turf care techniques Ian Hodgkinson and Richard Campey are invited to the Pebbles Beach Golf Resort in California to meet golf superintendents from the U.S.A.

1987:- Turf now grown from seed

With the shortage of mature meadow turf in the North West of England, and demand for turf on the increase, Hodgkinsons decide to grow & harvest seed grown turf. Up to date off-loading techniques are purchased, fitting rear-mounted fork lifts to the delivery trucks. Harvesting techniques are improved making the turf rolls easier to handle and lay. Turf is supplied to the National Trust for their award winning project at Biddulph Grange Gardens Stoke-On-Trent which was opened by H.R.H. Princess Alexandra.

1980:- First two Volvo trucks for the turf industry in the UK

The First a Volvo F725, 'Lady Jane' is added to the operations for turf deliveries. Proving a big asset in wet conditions. The second, 'Wendy Ann', 'Lady Janes' sister carries out the company's longest turf delivery on record from Cheshire to the Isle of Skye, 1000 miles round trip.

1978:- First Brouwer Turf Harvester purchased in the UK

The first turf harvester supplied by Chris Watmore is the start of the turf harvesting revolution. Originally 440 sq.yards were cut and manually stacked taking 3 men nearly a working day. Now this new harvester with 2 operators can stack 520 sq.yards in 90 minutes. The major turning point in turf harvesting. The same machine is still in operation and was used for projects at Old Trafford in 1998 and the old Wembley in 2002 for the removal of the turf from those stadiums.

1970:- First in the UK for offloading turf

After all the back breaking of manually off-loading turf, Sam Hodgkinson revolutionises the industry by fitting a centre mounted atlas crane to his truck which proved an advantage for his customers saving time and labour. "The first in the U.K."

1968:- Turf Prices

In 1968 a sq. yard of meadow turf delivered to Crewe was 2 shillings and 4 old pence, for the landscape and gardening trade. Which is equivalent to 10p per metre in 2007!

1966:- Sam and Peter complete their first 100 acres of turf.

In 1966 Sam and his brother Peter had manually cut their first 100 acres of meadow turf. At this time there is a 1 month waiting list for turf. To also celebrate their first 100 acres England win the World Cup in the same year.

1962:- Sam cuts his first turf

In the summer of 62' Sam Hodgkinson from Goostrey, a small village in Cheshire, starts the turf business by removing turf from a local field in Byley. This coincided with the Beatles first record release ' Love Me Do'