The team at STIGA have been busy getting their mowers out to all the England rugby clubs who have joined their special campaign.
Bideford RFC was founded in 1926 and is a beacon of rugby and community spirit, nestled in the heart of North Devon.
It is not just a rugby club, but a family, a group of passionate enthusiasts bound together by their love for the game. The club, entrenched in history and tradition, embodies the enduring spirit of rugby: camaraderie, respect, and unyielding determination.
The club is delighted to receive its robot mowers as part of STIGA’s partnership with England Rugby, giving the club a new edge in pitch preparation.
Chris Hobman of Bideford RFC, said "The mowers have reduced our tractor work on the pitch by a minimum of 40%. Diesel for the tractor last year was £0.80 per litre. This year it is nearly £1.20 per litre. We are lucky enough to have solar panels and battery storage at the club. This allows the mowers to have virtually free charging and also reduces our C02 emmissions.
“Not only do the mowers save the amount of diesel we use, but it also saves 3 hours per week mowing. The robots cut the pitch on a constant cycle over 3 days. This allows the grass to never get overgrown and run to seed. It also controls annual meadow grass and the growth of broadleaf weeds. Reducing tractor time on the pitch makes for a less compacted surface, aiding drainage and improving root growth conditions.
“The time saved mowing allows the grounds volunteers to do other tasks. Yesterday, the volunteers started pitch renovations. This would not have happened if we had to mow the grass to the correct level. The robots had done this for us. It was and is great that we can set up zones that are not mowed. This allows newly planted grass seed to germinate without anything running over it. The robots are continuing to keep the other areas trimmed to the correct level and allowing us to do other tasks.
“Trimming the grass constantly aids tillering. This thickens the existing grass and makes for an excellent playing surface. When the newly planted grass has germinated and grown to a stage where it can be cut, we will remove the no-mow zones and let the robots do their thing. With the constant cutting, the playing surface is looking the best it has at the end of the season. Hopefully, going into the club's 100th year, we have and will continue to have a pitch that is the envy of many South West clubs."
Clubs can still sign up for their free mowers ...to read more about the STIGA partnership with England Rugby, and how to sign up, click here:
www.stiga.com/uk/stiga-x-rfu
