One of our newer members Roy Werrett has been posting a blog about the restoration of a 1920s Atco Motor Mower. This, of course, is the mower that enthusiasts generally refer to as The Atco Standard. There's lots of good information and useful tips that will surely help many people contemplating tackling their own machines. Roy's taken a very throrough approach to the restoration and his work goes well beyond what many pursists might consider necessary. But that's the beauty of collecting mowers - there's room for all tastes and preferences. By the look of the blog the work will be completed soon and we await images of the assembled machine.

Thurrock Council in Essex came up with a novel solution to cutting the grass at one of its sites of special scientific interest (SSSI) recently. The council called in local heavy horse experts Hawthorn Heavy Horses who used a specially adapted Dennis gang mower.

The mower is fitted with a set of jockey wheels to make it easier to control and steer. According to Liz Wood, trees officer at Thurrock, Holly the Suffolk Punch (that's another lawn mower name, by the way) will be helping cut the grass throughout 2010. Collectors and enthusiasts will be familiar with the old fashioned pony and horse drawn lawn mowers from period up to World War Two but it's very unusual to see horses with modern mowers. What a great way to manage grassland in a natural setting without disturbing wildlife.