Beyond IPM 
The negative impact pesticide use has on wildlife and the environment in general is well documented and the need to challenge Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as supposedly being the best practice approach for the use of pesticides is a much wider issue that should be explored. Beyond IPM is an integral part of Sustainable Turf Management and would now be considered a more appropriate best practice approach.
Looking beyond short-term benefits and limitations of IPM by more actively engaging with a systematic and holistic approach which delivers a sustainable outcome to turf surface manageme
Continue reading about this
Bid
A formal offer to provide a service, especially where a contract is being made available, or to make an offer to purchase something.
Bill of Quantities
An itemised list of resources which are required for a particular task. This is usually used for a construction or maintenance specification and to summarise resources for a work programme. The resources might include material quantities, labour inputs (e.g. hours), equipment, and related costings. Typically, an item within a bill of quantities will have a unit (such as a m2) and total quantity (such as 2,000) and if it is a tender document then a column for a price to be given against the item and quantity.
Borehole
A vertical channel made, by drilling, into the ground which is undertaken to find water in aquifers for extraction. Up to 20m³ (20,000 litres) of water per day can be extracted without an abstraction licence. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/water-management-abstract-or-impound-water
Bottleneck
An issue or situation that holds up the progress of a task or event. An example of a bottleneck can arise during a renovation programme: One activity, for example, during renovation is if hollow-tining is being carried out: This can hold up the start and progress of other activities, such as overseeding and top-dressing if the aeration machinery is old and inefficient and is prone to breaking down, or if the operative is poorly trained and experienced.
Brief
An outline for the requirements of a project or idea. A brief will typically be provided to a consultant to help identify a customer’s requirements. The consultant would then produce a detailed written report based on the brief.
Brownfield Site
An area of land that has or had buildings on. Typically this will be an urban area, often derelict waste land, which is in need of significant improvement.
Budget
An estimate of the potential income and probable expenditure for a set period of time, which could typically be for the coming financial year. The expenditure element of a budget will typically consist of two areas: The operational day-to-day costs, and the longer term capital expenditure, such as for machinery or major infrastructure construction / building projects.
The purpose of a budget is to assist in forward planning and to identify possible areas that may present a problem, focusing on solutions in a timely manner. A budget helps an organisation be pro-active rather than reactive.
Continue reading about this
Budget, Preparing a
Managing finances effectively usually requires the preparation of a budget, which can typically be approached in the following way.
• Identify and define the aim of objectives of the budget. This might include considerations such as to increase savings, reduced expenditure, the purchase of new equipment, the taking on of new staff or facilities, readjustment due to a change of quality outcomes for a sports surface, or increased expenditure. Having a clear and measurable indication of the outcome to be achieved will help to set a realistic budget.
• Distinguish between essential requirements
Continue reading about this
Budget, The need to Monitor and Control a
Monitoring and controlling a budget is an essential activity if effective and efficient financial decisions are to be made. The need for this activity can include the following:
• To improve financial decision making because suitable data is available on which to make those decisions.
• Understanding financial performance, especially the current position of the budget (income and expenditure) in relation to a planned budget. By keeping a good track of the budget over time this provides a measure of if the budget is on course, ahead of budget or below budget. Better informed decisions can be
Continue reading about this