GROUNDSFEST PREVIEW
SEGWAY NAVIMOW TRANSFORMS LAWNCARE AND MAINTENANCE AT A RESTORED HAMPSHIRE MILL
Robotic lawnmowers are on the rise, transforming operational efficiency and reducing costs at the Old Mill in Milford on Sea.
Work at the Old Mill in Milford on Sea, a Grade II-listed former mill site, has spanned more than nine years and included both the restoration of a historic old mill and its surrounding land, featuring a lawn which spans more than 6,000m ². The owners have long relied on autonomy and automation to improve operational efficiency and reduce labour costs, initially using a Segway Navimow X3 Series before upgrading to the Terranox CM120M1, capable of tackling the site’ s undulating landscape while successfully navigating around its wildlife and water features.
Left overgrown, untouched and damaged by yearly floods for nearly three decades, the site has been completely rebuilt, using over 3,000 tonnes of soil and extensive groundwork to create a thriving lawn at its heart. After more than nine years of hard work with more to come, owners Simon and Amy Davies now adopt a modern approach to lawn care which pays them back for their efforts and saves them an estimated ten hours of labour each week, which is something anyone with a large area to manage would appreciate.
“ When we first took on the property, the challenge was clear,” explains Simon.“ The land had fallen into disrepair, with uneven ground, dense overgrowth and no meaningful lawn to speak of. Restoring the space has required a lot of patience, persistence, sensitivity to the wildlife in the surrounding area and a significant amount of groundwork that is still ongoing.”
Extensive landscaping has taken place over a number of years, including the installation of over a kilometre of trenches for a ground source heat pump and the careful preparation of more than 3,000 tonnes of soil. Only once this was complete could attention turn to establishing a lawn capable of matching the ambition of the wider project.
Despite the late sowing window, the lawn established quickly, developing into a dense, resilient sward that continues to improve year on year. Today, it provides a rich, green canvas that anchors the outdoor space and enhances the overall setting.“ Our attention soon turned to how we were going to manage such a huge space,” adds Simon.“ We’ ve got an
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