From Waste to Wonder: Stowe Gardens' Journey with the Seko Samurai Bio-Shredder
In the heart of Buckinghamshire lies Stowe Gardens, a masterpiece of Georgian landscape design and natural beauty owned and maintained by the National Trust. For over 300 years, this Grade I listed garden has captivated visitors. Now, with a firm commitment to sustainability and eco-friendliness, Stowe Gardens is taking its green credentials to new heights with the introduction of the Seko Samurai 5 ME electric green bio-shredder, provided by RT Machinery.
The Seko Samurai 5 ME stands as a beacon of innovation in waste management, offering a seamless blend of efficiency and environmental consciousness. Designed by Seko, a pioneering company dedicated to preserving the planet's resources, this state-of-the-art bio-shredder represents a bold step towards sustainable gardening practices.
Paul Stefanovic, Assistant Head Gardener at Stowe Gardens, expresses his enthusiasm for the Seko Samurai 5 ME, highlighting its positive impact on their operations. "Before we got the new Seko Samurai 5 ME, we had a smaller diesel Samurai," says Paul. "Although it was a very good piece of kit, it was a bit too small for us, and we wanted to go electric, so we decided to go a lot bigger and get the Samurai 5 ME."
The switch to the electric-powered Samurai has proven to be a game-changer for Stowe Gardens. Paul notes, "The key difference with the new one is that obviously it is electric, so we are not using any diesel at all. This model is so much bigger, and with it being electric, we can compost materials a lot quicker, and it is just a great all-rounder."
The Seko Samurai range of shredder composters boasts impressive specifications, available in various models ranging from 5 to 30 m³. Equipped with chopping and mixing horizontal spiralled shafts of high-strength steel with rotational replaceable blade tips, this bio-shredder ensures thorough composting of organic waste. Its electric motor and epicycloidal gearbox guarantee smooth operation, while the independent hydraulic installation enhances efficiency in unloading using the convenient conveyor system. The all-round simple and well-designed machine is easy to operate and with the electric version even has its own control board and box with recorded running costs and electricity usage.
Stowe Gardens prides itself on its commitment to sustainability, and the Seko Samurai 5 ME aligns perfectly with this ethos. Paul emphasises the environmental benefits, stating, "I am quite confident in saying that we have saved about £2000 in diesel over the past 12 months just by going electric. We’ve worked it out and we probably spend about £100 a month on the electric here but it totally outweighs what we have been saving on diesel alone and it is so much better for the environment."
In fact these machines are 50% more economical than hammer shredding machines and are relatively low cost to maintain. They have low noise levels too!
Moreover, the versatility of the Seko Samurai 5 ME allows Stowe Gardens to compost a wide range of materials efficiently. Paul explains, "We put anything in here, from six inches and below; we put prunings, we put grass clippings in here, we even put our Vegware takeaway container waste from the cafe in here, and it composts nicely all together."
In collaboration with RT Machinery, a trusted provider of ground care equipment, Stowe Gardens continues to lead the way in sustainable gardening practices. Richard Taylor, founder of RT Machinery, shares Paul’s dedication to environmental stewardship - as confirmed by Paul. "We have been working with RT Machinery, especially Richard Taylor, for many years, and he has always come up with fantastic products," says Paul. "He is on the same journey as us, with turning greener."
With the Seko Samurai 5 ME bio-shredder revolutionising their waste management processes, Stowe Gardens reaffirms its commitment to preserving the natural beauty of its historic grounds.
