IPSWICH: A mower made in Ipswich has been called into action to meet the exacting demands of an English aristocrat who expects immaculate lawns.

The machine, made by Ransomes Jacobsen, is cutting at swathe in the magnificent grounds of Longleat, a stately home which boats 900 acres of formal gardens, lawns and parkland, including a high-profile safari park, which are maintained by a 10-strong gardening team.

Deputy grounds and garden manager Paul Thompson said his boss, the Marquess of Bath, expected his lawns to be immaculate, and this was why they had chosen the Ransomes Highway 3 triple mower.

“I have used Ransomes product previously, mainly during the years I worked for Swale Borough Council in Faversham,” he said.

“Ransomes has a very good reputation in our industry and their products are well built and reliable. The Marquess demands immaculate presentation and we get this from the Highway 3. It has proper floating heads, by which I mean they cope with the undulations brilliantly, providing a superb finish without scalping.”

The Highway 3 has been fitted with 8-blade Sport floating head cutting units which follow the undulations in the 120 acres of maintained lawn and gardens on the estate.