Kubota excels on historic estate
Kubota's ZD1211 zero turn mower is showing its versatility on a busy estate in South Wales which is a popular and picturesque events venue.
The Glanusk Estate, near Crickhowell, totals 3000 acres, of which 350 acres is parkland, much in demand for everything from weddings to festivals and as a set for film and television work. There's also a busy caravan site and holiday cottages with stunning views, while the park boasts the second largest collection of oak trees in the UK.
Owner Harry Legge-Bourke has a long relationship with Kubota, having used a BX compact tractor with mowing deck for some 20 years.
"I was looking for a more versatile mower to work in the gardens and the areas of the parkland used for events, golf course and caravan park, and having seen a ZD at a local hotel, thought it would fit the bill," he explains.
The manoeuvrability of the zero turn design is key, to work around obstacles such as electric hook up points in the caravan park and mow close to trees safely, Harry points out.
"It offers a good quality cut and I've specified a mulching kit for areas such as the caravan park, where it's important to minimise clippings which otherwise might be walked into the vans, " he adds.
With such a large and varied area of grass to maintain, Harry comments that the speed of the ZD1211 is its outstanding feature. Powered by a 25hp diesel engine with shaft driven two-speed HST transmission the ZD can travel at up to 17kph, making light work of long runs while turning effortlessly in its own length at the end.
"We can cut four acres of gardens in an hour for example, which helps us keep on top of mowing when we are so busy," he comments.
The Kubota mower is also handy for topping off the park between events, and with the varied mowing requirements, the ability to swap cut height from 25-127mm just by using a convenient dial also comes in for praise. The three-blade rear discharge rotary deck cuts effectively in the wet, a useful quality in the green and lush region.
Although the zero turn lever steer design was a departure for Harry and his team, they have quickly got used to it, he comments.
"It's very good to drive, and very comfortable with its well-padded seat. All the controls fall easily to hand."
There's one other factor that has brought Harry back to Kubota for this latest purchase and that's the brand's renowned dependability.
"The mower is built to industrial standards and that gives peace of mind. Our experiences with previous Kubota machines have shown how reliable they are and the ZD has the quality to last us for many trouble-free years."