Toro Hosts Inspiring Factory Visit

Toro Hosts Inspiring Factory Visit: Toro UK has proudly welcomed Liverpool-based landscape contractor Kieran Wallace, founder of Swan Landscapes, to its manufacturing facility in Spellbrook, Hertfordshire, in recognition of his entrepreneurial spirit, charitable outlook and viral journey to business growth.

Kieran first gained widespread attention in January 2025, when he encountered business mentor and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author Simon Squibb – renowned for his viral videos offering investment opportunities to aspiring entrepreneurs. During their impromptu meeting, Simon invested £2,000 into Kieran’s gardening business after hearing his heartfelt pitch during a book signing.

Toro Hosts Inspiring Factory Visit

Toro Hosts Inspiring Factory Visit

Five months on, Simon and Kieran met once again in a follow-up video where Simon asked Kieran: “If there is a company listening that could sponsor the equipment for you, who would it be?” Kieran responded: “Toro – I will get all your tools and take them all around Liverpool, I’ll use them in every garden job.”

The video rapidly gained traction, reaching over 5.7 million views on TikTok and capturing the attention of the Toro UK team. Inspired by Kieran’s ambition and passion for his craft, Toro invited him to their Spellbrook facility, where Toro manufactures golf, commercial and home-use gardening machinery. The site is also the home of Hayter, where they have manufactured battery and petrol mowers for nearly 80 years.

During the visit, Kieran received a guided tour of the facility, insight into Toro and Hayter’s engineering and production processes, and was gifted a selection of professional landscaping tools to support the growth of his business.

Craig Hoare, Sales and Marketing Manager for UK and Ireland, had this to say about Toro’s experience hosting Kieran at the Spellbrook factory:

“It was a pleasure to meet Kieran in person, hear his inspiring story and to then be able to offer our support by donating him the latest equipment. Toro has a long tradition of supporting community projects, and Kieran’s work presents the perfect opportunity to give back to both him and the people of Liverpool.

“Kieran was already a Toro fan, but he was blown away when we took the chance to show him around our UK factory, try some machines in our test fields and more. We look forward to following Kieran’s journey and seeing the impact he continues to make, now with new top-of-the-line equipment.”

Following the factory tour, Kieran has been made an official Toro sponsor, being gifted a Toro 53cm 60V Proline lawnmower, as well as Revolution Hedge Cutter, String Trimmer and Blower Cannon power tools – complete with two 8.0Ah batteries, one 4.0Ah battery and two fast chargers, as well as a load of Toro professional wear.

Kieran had this to say about his experience:

“I was blown away by how organised and clean the factory was – it was a dream come true to see how all the parts and pieces of these machines that I use come together. I couldn’t have gotten a better experience from anyone.

“The experience has overwhelmed me, because I’ll be driving home buzzing, feeling empowered to keep going. I know what I can do, and I know anything is now possible. Thank you to Toro for this experience – I absolutely loved it.”

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Etesia Hydro 100 Proves the Perfect Fit

Etesia Hydro 100 Proves the Perfect Fit: With 12 acres of immaculately kept gardens, Grade I listed grounds, and renowned memorial spaces, Golders Green Crematorium in North London is one of the most historic and revered sites of its kind in the world. Keeping the grounds to a consistently high standard falls to a small but dedicated team—and their latest secret is the Etesia Hydro 100 ride-on mower.

For Head Gardener Ian Harman, investing in the right machinery was a top priority from the start.

Etesia Hydro 100 Proves the Perfect Fit

Etesia Hydro 100 Proves the Perfect Fit

“We’re a small team of just four, and we’re constantly busy with everything from maintaining rose beds to managing formal lawns and the large scatter lawn,” said Ian. “Machinery plays a key role in helping us work efficiently, especially with the tight spaces and tree cover we deal with here.”

Ian had previously heard positive things about Etesia mowers and decided to turn to the brand after becoming frustrated following issues using a different manufacturer. “The last mower we had just kept clogging,” he explained. “It slowed us down massively. When I came into the role, I went on a demo day and was really impressed with the Hydro 100—so we decided to go with Etesia.”

Since making the switch, the results speak for themselves.

“We’ve put about 60 hours on the Hydro 100 and had absolutely no clogging. It leaves a clean cut, picks up leaves and grass efficiently—even in wet conditions—and saves us lots of time. It also mulches the leaves as it goes, which helps with our composting.”

For a site like Golders Green, where space is at a premium and storage is limited, the compact design of the Hydro 100 has also been a huge bonus.

“We couldn’t store a large tractor-style machine, and we don’t need one,” Ian added. “This mower is the perfect size. You get the benefits of a large collection box with the manoeuvrability needed for tighter areas. It’s like having a garden vacuum—clean, simple, and effective.”

Ease of maintenance and usability were also deciding factors.

“It’s a very straightforward machine,” Ian said. “Fuel efficient, easy to service, and intuitive to operate. You’ve got a hydrostatic drive, simple controls, and changing the height of cut is quick—ideal if you hit a patch that’s slightly overgrown.”

Adam Nicholls, a gardener at the crematorium for over 11 years, agrees. “We’ve got a lot of trees here, and the Etesia is the best machine we’ve found for picking up leaves. The open chute design just swallows them—wet or dry—and shoots them straight into the back. No blockages, no messing about.”

Adam also praised its versatility across the crematorium’s varied terrain. “It handles tight corners just as well as big open areas. Even in damp conditions, the finish is clean and professional. It’s the easiest mower I’ve ever used.”

The Hydro 100 is powered by an 18HP Kawasaki engine and features a 500-litre grass collector with hydraulic tipping, which can be emptied from the seat. With a modern hydrostatic transmission and differential lock, it’s designed for durability, comfort, and productivity—especially in demanding, high-collection environments.

For Ian and Adam, the support from Etesia dealer RT Machinery was another big plus. “I’ve known Scott Reynolds from RT Machinery for years,” said Ian. “They really helped us choose the right model for our needs—no upselling, just honest advice. Their service is second to none.”

Compact, reliable, and efficient, the Etesia Hydro 100 has proved the ideal solution for Golders Green Crematorium’s unique needs. As Ian sums it up: “If you’ve got restricted space, need a clean finish, and want a machine you can rely on—this is the mower for you.”

To watch a video of the customer in action click here.

For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit www.etesia.co.uk.

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Etesia UK on X @EtesiaUK and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/EtesiaUK. You can also view the latest Etesia videos by visiting www.youtube.com/EtesiaUK

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Westfields groundsman wins social media acclaim

Westfields groundsman wins social media acclaim: A non-league football club groundsman has lit up social media with his latest pitch-mowing creation.

Joe Mecke-Davis looks after the pitch at Westfields FC, external in Hereford and posted an image on X of his beloved pitch ahead of the club’s first pre-season game.

Westfields groundsman wins social media acclaim

Westfields groundsman wins social media acclaim

Read the full story here

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