Tatton Park needs little introduction as one of the UK's most complete historic estates and home to the annual northern RHS Flower Show in July. With its Tudor Old Hall, Neo Classical Mansion, 50 acres of garden, a rare breed farm and 1,000 acres of deer park it is one of the most popular National Trust family days out in the North West.

The gardens represent over two hundred and fifty years of garden design and today virtually represents the way they would have been in Edwardian times, having then a staff of around 30 gardeners. Now a 14 strong team, assisted by dedicated National Trust volunteers and managed by head gardener Simon Tetlow, is responsible for developing and maintaining the 50 acres.

Over the last six years Simon's team have been using the popular Mantis tillers in the restored vegetable gardens. Chosen for their adaptability, portability and light weight, they have found the tillers just the job for seeding new rows and weeding. They use the Mantis tillers all year round and praise their dependability. "We have found them incredibly reliable and robust, with a powerful 25cc 4-stroke engine. Some of the gardeners have bought them for themselves," says Simon.

Glasshouses were built at Tatton from around the mid 1700's and used for growing pineapples along with many other fruit including figs, apricots, grapes, peaches and nectarines. "We use the Mantis in the greenhouses to get under vines to do the weeding for example," he says, "you can't get a big machine into the area and it's ideal for the job."

The latest glasshouse to be restored is the Pinery Vinery, believed to be the only genuine rebuilt example in Britain and brought back to work as it would have done in 1793. At the time a pineapple was a status symbol and an individual fruit could sell for as much as £5,000 in today's money.

"We have been trialing a Little Wonder HPV vacuum for collecting oak leaves around the park," Simon continues "with the benefit of keeping the turf and lawns clear of leaves and then using them in growing the pineapples. The beds are filled with the oak leaves and the fermentation creates supplemental and steady heating as it would have been done over 200 years ago."

Mantis and Little Wonder are distributed by Schiller Grounds Care UK through their Stockport office on 0800 840 0888, or email Lucy Barlas at lucy.barlas@mantisonline.net