Introduction
Platts Robotics is proud to deliver a commercial robotic mower installation at Hever Castle in Kent, one of England’s most iconic historic estates. This project showcases how modern robot lawn mowing technology can be successfully integrated into a heritage sites, visitor attractions and large estates to deliver quieter operation, maintain immaculate lawns, and achieve significant time savings. Freeing-up time for the skilled gardening team to focus on higher-value horticultural work.
About Hever Castle
Hever Castle is a Grade I listed castle located near Edenbridge in Kent and is best known as the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII. With over 600 years of history, the estate combines medieval architecture with world-renowned gardens developed extensively during the Edwardian period.
Today, Hever Castle welcomes over 420,000 visitors throughout the year and regularly hosts weddings, corporate functions, and public events. The estate spans more than 125 acres, including formal lawns, landscaped gardens, and historic grounds where presentation, tranquillity, and consistency are essential.
The Grounds Maintenance Challenge
Maintaining lawns at a historic estate such as Hever Castle presents unique challenges:
- Large areas of grass requiring frequent cutting during the growing season
- The need for low noise levels to protect the visitor experience and those staying in b&b accommodation
- Tight scheduling around public opening hours, weddings, and special weekend events
- Grounds staff spending many days per week operating noisy, petrol ride-on and walk-behind mowers
- The gardening team wanted to reduce the amount of time spent on repetitive mowing tasks without compromising the visual quality of the lawns or the character of the estate.
The Platts Robotics Solution
Platts Robotics designed and installed a tailored robotic mowing solution suited to the scale and sensitivity of the Hever Castle grounds. The system was carefully configured to integrate with existing maintenance routines while operating discreetly in the background.
The robotic mowers were programmed to run on a precise schedule outside of peak visitor hours and event times, ensuring uninterrupted access for guests while keeping lawns consistently maintained.
Key Benefits Delivered
Low Noise Operation in a Heritage Setting
Robotic mowers operate at a fraction of the noise level of traditional petrol-powered machinery. This allowed mowing to take place early in the morning or later in the day without disturbing visitors, events, staff, or wildlife. The quiet operation is particularly important in a historic and tranquil environment like Hever Castle.
Scheduled Mowing Around Events and Visitors
The system runs to a fixed timetable agreed with the estate team. This ensures mowing takes place outside of weddings, corporate functions, and busy visitor periods. Lawns remain presentation-ready at all times without last-minute disruption or manual intervention.
Improved Lawn Quality Through Regular Cutting
Unlike traditional mowing, which often involves cutting large amounts of grass in one session, robotic mowers maintain the lawn through frequent, light cuts. This approach improves grass density, colour, and overall health, resulting in a consistently high-quality finish across the estate.
Freeing Up the Gardening Team for Higher-Value Work
A major objective of the project was to reduce the number of hours the gardening team spent operating lawn mowers. Previously, multiple days per week were dedicated solely to mowing duties.
With robot mowing now handling routine grass cutting, the grounds team has been able to redirect their time towards more skilled and valuable tasks such as border maintenance, planting, pruning, and caring for the iconic “Italian Gardens”. This shift improves both efficiency and the overall quality of the gardens, allowing horticultural expertise to be used where it makes the greatest impact.
A Smarter Approach to Grounds Maintenance for Historic Estates
The robotic mower installation at Hever Castle demonstrates how automation and expert human care can work together. The lawns are maintained quietly and consistently in the background, while skilled gardeners focus on preserving and enhancing the historic landscape.
For heritage sites, estates, and visitor attractions, this approach delivers measurable benefits in presentation, efficiency, and long-term maintenance planning.
Results
This project at Hever Castle stands as a strong example of how Platts Robotics supports prestigious commercial and heritage sites with intelligent robotic mowing solutions. By combining low-noise operation, precise scheduling, improved turf quality, and significant time savings for staff, robotic mowing has become an integral part of modern grounds management at one of Kent’s most important historic landmarks.
For commercial robotic mower installations across estates, golf courses, and public spaces, Platts Robotics provides expert advice, professional installation, and ongoing support.
FAQ: Robotic Mowers for Historic Estates and Visitor Attractions
Can robotic mowers be used at historic estates?
Yes. Robot mowers are well suited to historic estates due to their low noise levels, consistent cutting, and ability to operate discreetly outside visitor hours.
Are robotic mowers quiet enough for visitor attractions?
Robotic mowers are significantly quieter than traditional ride-on mowers, making them ideal for gardens, castles, and estates that remain open to the public.
Can robotic mowers operate around weddings and events?
Yes. Mowing schedules can be programmed to avoid specific times and dates, ensuring no disruption during weddings, corporate events, or peak visitor periods.
Do robotic mowers improve lawn quality?
Frequent, light cutting promotes denser grass growth and healthier turf, resulting in a more consistent and professional lawn finish over time.
