Initial consultation:
Kimbolton School is a leading independent co-educational day and boarding school in Cambridgeshire, educating pupils aged 3 to 18 across a stunning historic campus centred on Kimbolton Castle. Known for its “One school, one family” ethos, it combines strong academic ambition with exceptional pastoral care, a broad co-curricular programme, and a warm, supportive community. Pupils benefit from small class sizes, dedicated teaching, and outstanding facilities, developing the curiosity, courage, kindness, and integrity to thrive in life beyond school.
Understanding the requirements:
Kimbolton School approached GroundTech following their research into the market, identifying GroundTech as a quality dealer with a strong reputation. They also recognised ECHO Robotics as a leading commercial brand with a long-standing history of producing high-quality, reliable machinery, which helped make the decision to proceed much easier.
Implementation of Robotic Mowers
Following a successful week-long demonstration of the machines at Kimbolton School, which proved extremely helpful and made the decision to proceed with the investment much easier, we were able to move forward with confidence. With the integration of the components outlined below, a seamless and efficient operation was achieved.
- 1x TM2050 Low Cut
- 1x TM1050 Low cut
- 1x Charging Station
- 1x 4g Base station
- Annual Service
- 300x blades per machine per annum
- Up to 12 Engineers visits per annum
- App and data fees for term
The robotic mowing technology has significantly improved the quality and maintenance of the playing fields by mowing twice a week, resulting in a more consistent and accurate height of cut.
The use of robotic mowers has enabled the grounds team to redeploy staff to other essential tasks by significantly reducing the number of hours spent on grass cutting. This has allowed the team to respond more quickly to other projects such has overhanging trees across the school grounds which has improved the environment for pupils and provided greater access to the facilities throughout the year.
Conclsion
The project has worked far better than expected, delivering significant benefits across the school grounds. Regular robotic mowing has taken the pressure off the grounds team, freeing up valuable time for other essential tasks along with a savings in fuel. The reduction in conventional mowing has also resulted in considerably less noise, creating a quieter environment for pupils and staff with automated scheduling between the hours of 5pm and 8am, while supporting greater wildlife activity.
Joe Firby the Head of Grounds for 15 years and team have responded very positively to the technology, with the integration of the robotic mowers proving seamless and effective. The pupils have also responded very positively to the introduction of the robotic mowers, showing genuine interest and enthusiasm for the new technology. The school even held a competition for pupils to come up with names for the new arrivals, helping to create a sense of ownership and engagement with the project.
The Duke of Mowchester is a welcome addition to the team!