John Deere, through their dealers Godfreys Golf and Turf, have struck a first time deal with Chessington World of Adventures and extended their 23 year relationship with Thorpe Park.
With over 40 rides in 10 themed lands, a zoo with over 1000 animals and a Sea Life centre, plus daily live shows and seasonal events,
Chessington World of Adventures Resort in Surrey offers a host of attractions for all ages throughout the summer months.
Chessington’s estates manager Alan Soutar (seated) with dealer Godfreys Golf & Turf area sales manager Dave Searles
Behind the scenes, estates manager Alan Soutar, team leader Lee Harper and Chessington’s grounds staff keep the whole resort clean and tidy. In addition to two hotels, the zoo, the rides areas, formal gardens, large grassland areas and car parks, the team is responsible for all the trees on site and conservation in the surrounding (some of it ancient) woodland.
To help maintain the site, Chessington’s owner Merlin Entertainments Group has invested for the first time in a John Deere fleet supplied by local dealer Godfreys Golf & Turf at Wokingham.
The fleet includes three HPX 4x4 Gator utility vehicles, a 1550 front rotary mower with 72in deck and a 4066R compact tractor with H180 front loader. Additional ancillary equipment includes a JCB digger, a GreenMech chipper for use with the tractor, and SnowEx rear-mounted salt spreaders for the Gators.
“We worked out the equipment list with Godfreys’ area sales manager Dave Searles,” says Alan Soutar. “Lee used to work for Reigate & Banstead Council, who used John Deere equipment, so he was familiar with the kit. I originally bought a 1026R compact tractor when I started here in 2013, as it was a good size for getting into the animal enclosures for example.
Meanwhile John Deere has struck a new fleet deal with
Thorpe Park Resort, the Surrey-based theme park famous for its signature rollercoasters.
Thorpe Park Resort’s new John Deere fleet in front of the Depth Charge and Swarm rides, with the landscape team led by Ian Stanbridge (seated front left).
The deal brings the working relationship between the two businesses into its 23rd year.
Gators feature strongly once more in the Resort’s latest three-year grounds equipment fleet renewal deal with dealer Godfreys Golf & Turf following two successful lease hire contracts lasting three years each.
The upgraded, 14-strong fleet now includes a 1580 front rotary mower, 5100M 100hp utility tractor, 4066R compact tractor plus front loader, 3038R compact tractor and 10 Gator utility vehicles: two XUV 855D S4s, three HPX 4x4s (all diesel), three TE electric and two TS 4x2 petrol model
Recently appointed senior landscape and conservation manager Ian Stanbridge says: “We look forward to our 23rd year using John Deere equipment and we are happy with the additional Gators ordered for various departments on site, from Entertainments to Waste Management & Recycling"
Ian went to explain, “The quieter TE electric Gators are especially useful due to the daily bird counts and conservation work that take place here at Thorpe Park Resort,” Ian adds. “We are actively promoting water fowl on the resort’s Manor Lake and we are judged on key performance indicators against other water bodies. We therefore need to maintain the numbers of key birds that nest and feed here, including Northern Shoveler and Gadwall ducks, so the electric Gators allow us to do this without disturbing the wildlife.”
