The Weeds Are Not the Problem: Join Our New Monthly Integrated Weed Management Workshops

Hands-on training at Kersten UK, Pierces Farm — first Wednesday of every month

If you manage paths, pavements, car parks or public spaces, you will know the cycle. A surface is sprayed, brushed or burnt, it looks tidy for a few weeks, and then the weeds come straight back. Budgets get spent, crews get sent out again, and the problem never really goes away.

That is because, in most cases, the weed itself is only the symptom. The real cause is what sits underneath it: the detritus, silt and organic matter that build up on a hard surface and give plants somewhere to root. Deal with that, and you change the whole picture.

It is this thinking that sits at the heart of our new Monthly Practical Integrated Weed Management Workshop, launching at our base at Pierces Farm in Mortimer.

Why we are running these workshops

The way the UK manages weeds is changing fast. Pesticide-reduction policies, public pressure and shifting expectations are pushing councils, contractors and facilities teams towards mechanical, thermal and electric methods — often without the training needed to plan or use them well.

Buying a new machine is only part of the answer. Knowing which method suits which surface, at what stage of growth, and how to sequence treatments across a year is what turns equipment into results. And being able to explain the financial case for preventative maintenance is what gets those programmes approved.

Our workshops bring all of that together in a single, practical day.

Led by Sean Faulkner

Each session is led by Sean Faulkner, author of The Weeds Are Not the Problem and developer of Lantra-certified Integrated Weed Management training. Sean has spent years working with local authorities, contractors and estates teams on reduced-pesticide maintenance, and the workshop draws directly on the diagnostic approach set out in his book.

What you will learn

The day is built around four practical outcomes:

1. Understand the surface — learn to read what detritus, silt and plant growth are telling you about how a site is being maintained.
2. Choose the method — compare mechanical, thermal, electric and cultural weed control in plain, practical terms, and see where each one fits.
3. Operate the machinery — get real hands-on time with the equipment on our demonstration areas.
4. Build the business case — leave with a framework for budgets, specifications and preventative programmes that you can take back to your organisation.

Hands-on with the machinery

This is not a day spent watching slides. The afternoon is given over to practical sessions, where you can compare methods side by side with the equipment in front of you. A typical workshop includes:

• Mechanical weed removal — weed brushes, sweepers and gravel path renovators, covering brush selection, setup, technique and debris collection.
• Thermal hot air — targeted hot-air systems, with a focus on heat application, timing and operator technique.
• Thermal hot water — hot-water treatment, including logistics, productivity and what to expect from repeat cycles.
• Zasso electric weed control — see how high-voltage electricity heats the plant from within, treating weeds through to the roots on hard surfaces.

The exact demonstration fleet may vary with season and availability, but the aim is always the same: to let you see, feel and compare the methods for yourself.

Who should attend

The workshop is designed for both the people who use the equipment and the people who plan, budget and specify the work, including:

• Local authorities — parks, highways, open-space and street-cleansing teams building pesticide-reduced programmes
• Grounds and landscape contractors — looking for better method selection, productivity and a stronger edge in tenders
• Facilities and estates teams — on campuses, housing sites and commercial premises
• Heritage sites and cemeteries — where sensitive surfaces need careful handling
• Sports and leisure teams — maintaining paths, surrounds, artificial surfaces and busy public areas
• Procurement and specifiers — anyone writing specifications or building the internal case for a new approach

The day at a glance

Arrival is from 09:30, with the programme running from 10:00 until around 16:00. The morning covers the thinking behind integrated weed management — pavement succession, the reactive maintenance loop, policy expectations, operator risk and method selection. After lunch, it is out onto the demonstration areas for the mechanical, thermal and electric sessions, before we finish by working through cost comparisons and how to structure a budget proposal or tender specification.

Workshop details

• When: First Wednesday of each month (next sessions: 4 November and 2 December 2026)
• Where: Kersten UK, Pierces Farm, Good Boys Lane, Mortimer
• Price: £150 + VAT per person
• Group size: Maximum 10 attendees, so everyone gets time on the machines and the chance to talk through their own sites
• Included: Full-day workshop, hands-on machine sessions, lunch and refreshments, certificate of attendance, take-away resource pack and free on-site parking
• What to bring: Sturdy footwear and outdoor clothing suited to the weather. Demonstration PPE is provided.

Book your place

With places limited to ten per session, we recommend enquiring early. Choose your preferred date and number of attendees on the workshop page, and let us know about any particular sites or challenges you would like to discuss on the day. We will then be in touch to confirm availability.

Can't make one of the monthly dates? We can also arrange private sessions for your organisation, or you can hire equipment to trial on your own site. For anything else, get in touch with our team or call us on 01189 869253.

We look forward to seeing you at Pierces Farm.