Feature: Garden Power Flymo turns 60: How space
age idea dared to defy gravity When an inventor came up with an idea to combine a hovercraſt with a lawnmower he wouldn’t just reinvent the wheel - but remove them all together. Swedish superstar Karl Dahlman dared to defy gravity and thought, “why push a lawnmower, when you can make it fly?”
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nspired by the 1950’s hovercraſt invented just a few years earlier, Dahlman created a machine which
would revolutionise lawn care and change the way people mowed their grass forever. Karl invented a lawn mower that would glide on a cushion of air, which was completely ground-breaking compared to the heavy, petrol-powered push lawnmowers of the time. The first Flymo, a combination of flying and
mower, was actually blue but changed the colour after speaking to a range of consumers - and the famous orange brand was born in 1965, making Flymo 60 years old. Back in 1965, gardeners were initially sceptical about the flying mower but were left stunned by demonstrations and many rushed to replace their old-fashioned petrol wheeled mowers for the light and agile Flymo. The first electric model was launched in
1970 followed by the first grass collecting version in 1981 which received a Queen’s Award for export achievement. Love Actually’s Bill Nighy, Peter Sallis from
Wallace & Gromit and Coronation Street’s Ken Morley are among a host of stars to appear in
Flymo’s famous adverts over the past 60 years. Peter, who voiced Wallace,
promoted the E-Minimo to tackle “handkerchief lawns” while startled Ken, who played legendary Reg Holdsworth in Corrie, used his mower to quickly cut the lawn as his wife arrived home in the 1986 advert. Peter Roughead, a now retired product manager, who worked for Flymo for 25 years, said: “We had incredibly innovative products, but never chose to talk about the science
in the ads. Instead, it was about how our innovation led to ease and speed. “We know most Flymo customers don’t enjoy cutting the grass or doing gardening jobs, it’s something they want done quickly so they can get on with enjoying their garden. So that was always the tone, to make gardening tasks quick and fun at all times.” In 1999 Flymo launched the first cordless, battery powered mower for small gardens and in 2017 created the first Flymo Lithium-Ion battery lawnmower, the Mighti-Mo 300 Li, which quickly became the number one selling battery lawnmower in the UK. Today the Flymo is instantly
recognisable by all generations and the UK’s best-selling hover mower. Darren Feasey, Senior Director for Product Strategy for Flymo &
GARDENA, says: “The colour is iconic. My kids recognise the brand every time they see an orange lawnmower. Flymo has been passed down generations - my dad and grandad had one, and over the years Flymo has stayed in the family.”
Autonomous robot mowers just got even smarter
STIGA is shaking up the world of garden maintenance with upgrades to its autonomous robot mowers, making them smarter, faster, and easier to use than ever before. With new features in its 2025 line-up, STIGA autonomous mowers deliver seamless navigation, powerful performance, and an unmatched user experience. Powered by STIGA’s ePower battery, these
mowers offer whisper-quiet operation, GPS- precise cutting, and a flawless finish. Whether you have a cosy backyard or a massive 12,000 sqm garden, STIGA’s robots have you covered. With 45 registered patents, STIGA is
leading the charge in cutting-edge garden tech. This year’s upgrades include a new STIGA.GO app interface, offering a modern, easy-to-use design with Dark Mode for better visibility in sunlight. Plus, instant updates keep you in control at all times. Signal Checker finds the perfect GPS antenna location with real-time feedback, ensuring a seamless connection for your mower. Over- the-air updates – no manual tinkering! Your mower evolves automatically with wireless software updates. A one-minute pairing process, self-calibrating reference station, and
intuitive app controls mean you’ll be mowing in no time. And Remote Garden Perimeter Sketching allows you to design your virtual garden boundaries from anywhere, using the STIGA web interface. STIGA’s 2025 Autonomous
Robot Mowers are more than just tools, they’re garden game-changers. With top-tier performance, intelligent automation, and a hassle-free user experience, maintaining a gorgeous lawn has never been easier.
Find out more on the official STIGA website at
www.stiga.com/uk
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GCU Spring 2025
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