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JCB has launched its fourth annual Christmas Toy Appeal as employees unite to bring festive joy to local children.   Since the appeal’s launch in 2022, employees have donated almost 4,000 gifts for distribution to children and young people in the Stoke-on-Trent and Wrexham areas – with last year seeing a record haul of 1,700 donations at 15 collection points at JCB’s UK plants.   The 2025 appeal runs until Tuesday, December 2nd and the gifts will then be handed over to two charities - Stoke-on-Trent’s Hubb Foundation and the Wrexham branch of the Salvation Army - for distribution to local communities. Donations to the appeal are also welcome from members of the public at JCB’s World HQ at Rocester.   JCB Group HR Director Laura Atkins said: “The generosity of JCB employees continues to amaze us. The appeal has flourished over the last three years and promises to, once again, bring festive cheer to local communities.” Helping to co-ordinate this year’s appeal are JCB apprentices: Kitty Hulme, 20, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Lewis Durham, 20, of Derby, Lucy Pepper, 23, of Stoke-on-Trent, and Will Jenkins, 20, of Stone. Kitty said: “It’s fantastic to be part of something that brings so much joy to children at Christmas. Every donation counts and helps make the season magical for those who need it most.”

CocoTurf Cricket has been developed to support the growing need for environmentally responsible solutions within the sport. Notts Sport, one of the UK’s most established innovators in sports and play surfacing, has announced the launch of CocoTurf Cricket, the world’s first 100% natural, plastic-free artificial cricket surface. Designed from the ground up using natural materials, CocoTurf Cricket represents a major step forward in sustainable facility development for cricket at all levels of the game. CocoTurf Cricket builds on Notts Sport’s pioneering CocoTurf® technology and has been specifically re-engineered to meet the demands of cricket performance. The surface is constructed entirely from natural coconut fibres, jute backing, and certified natural latex, creating a high-performance wicket system with zero plastics, zero microplastics, and zero PFAS. This makes it the first artificial cricket surface of its kind worldwide and a significant milestone in reducing environmental impact in sport. The first installation of CocoTurf Cricket has already taken place at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, providing a real-world example of how elite facilities are beginning to embrace natural, plastic-free alternatives. The surface has undergone full cricket performance testing, including a Ball Pitch Impact Assessment, which confirmed the system’s consistent bounce, realistic pace and long-term durability comparable to professionally prepared non-turf wickets. An ECB application is currently in process, marking an important step toward official recognition and future adoption by clubs, schools, county boards and national programmes. CocoTurf Cricket has been developed to support the growing need for environmentally responsible solutions within the sport. With concerns increasing around microplastic shedding, PFAS contamination and the environmental cost of synthetic materials, CocoTurf Cricket offers a future-proofed alternative that aligns with the sport’s sustainability objectives. The system is Oeko-Tex certified, 100% recyclable, features a dense pile weight of 1,300 g/m², and achieves an exceptional water infiltration rate of 15,166 mm/hr, providing reliable use throughout the year. Each square metre of CocoTurf Cricket uses fibres from 6.5 coconuts, meaning approximately 585 coconuts contribute to a single-lane match facility. This approach transforms natural by-products into high-performance surfacing technology and reduces dependence on petrochemical-based materials. The product is protected under International Patent Application No. PCT/GB2024/050422 (pending). Duncan Bennett, CEO of Notts Sport, said: “CocoTurf Cricket is a genuine breakthrough for cricket facilities. For the first time, the sport has access to an artificial surface that performs like a professionally prepared pitch but is made entirely from natural materials. This is a major step toward eliminating plastics from non-turf systems and creating facilities that protect both players and the environment.” Adam Walker, Technical Manager at Notts Sport, added: “We engineered CocoTurf Cricket with players in mind, but with absolute commitment to sustainability. This surface shows that you no longer have to choose between performance and environmental responsibility — you can have both.” With more than 40 years of experience delivering cricket surfaces across the UK and worldwide, Notts Sport continues to lead innovation in the industry, offering solutions that support the future of the game.

A West Yorkshire entrepreneur is approaching a decade in business – celebrating record-breaking growth for his vegetation management company. At just 29, Declan Colleran has transformed his venture from a small local operation into a seven-figure national enterprise – achieving a 140% increase in turnover during the past five years. Having started out as a 16-year-old trainee tree surgeon, Declan, from Dewsbury, founded DC Ground and Tree Care in 2016 as a sole trader. Since then, he has grown the business into a limited company – providing principal contractor services to a diverse range of commercial and public sector clients across the construction, highways, environmental and waterways sectors. “From starting out with a small team – me with a few groundworkers, mainly doing domestic tree work – we’re now leading large-scale projects and contracts that last several months for some of the biggest names in the industry,” said Declan, who also launched Aquatic Restorations in 2023 – a complementary company providing specialist aquatic environmental services. “It’s been stressful at times, but an incredible journey that holds even more potential for the future. Growing the business alongside my wife Lucy, our managers and trained specialists, we’ve worked hard to become recognised experts in the industry. I couldn’t be prouder of how far we’ve come – especially our longest-serving employees, many of whom joined with no formal qualifications and have grown into highly skilled professionals.” As the company approaches its 10-year anniversary, it is entering a new chapter with a rebrand that reflects the wider service offering. “I’m excited to announce that we will now be trading as DC Environmental,” Declan added. “We are so much more than just cutting down trees. We’ve expanded into complex arboriculture, landscaping and vegetation management work – all requiring specialist equipment and expertise. We also take on niche silt and invasive weed projects, as well as civil engineering, facilities management, fabrication and plant hire services.” Since starting out as a one-person operation, the business has evolved into a fully accredited and professionally structured organisation. “Lucy and our administration team have worked tirelessly to ensure full compliance with Health & Safety regulations, environmental standards and sustainability initiatives,” Declan added. “We’ve also maintained key industry accreditations – including ISO and the National Highway Sector Scheme. Doing things the right way – safely, legally and responsibly – is what has earned us the trust to be offered bigger projects." Key strategic investments have also driven growth – from sourcing specialist equipment across Europe to establishing a purpose-built depot in Heckmondwike, complete with fabrication and mechanical workshops. “From day one, we’ve owned our equipment and resources outright – often having machinery custom-made to suit our work,” said Declan. “That model has allowed us to weather challenges, including COVID-19, while keeping things stable for our team and reinvesting in line with client needs.” Co-Director Lucy, 29, who is expecting the couple’s second child, said the rebrand feels timely as the company embarks upon more capital projects – including the development of new offices and the expansion of its existing warehouse. “Declan is the driving force behind the business, but it has matured into a well-established organisation with strong management and operational teams in place,” she said. “As we head into our tenth year, we’re so grateful to our clients for trusting in our expertise and supporting our journey, and we look forward to what the future holds for DC Environmental.”

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