Trentham Estate Keeps Grounds Spotless with the SISIS Litamina 1200
With more than 3.6 million visitors every year, Trentham Estate in Staffordshire is one of the UK’s most popular leisure and garden attractions. Maintaining the site’s 725 acres - which include formal Italian gardens, lakeside walks, play areas, model gardens and a busy amphitheatre that hosts concerts and events throughout the summer - is a major undertaking for its dedicated grounds team.
To help keep the estate looking immaculate year-round, the team has invested in a SISIS Litamina 1200 sweeper from the Howardson Group- using it for everything from clearing goose droppings to sweeping up autumn leaves and acorns.
With sweeping lawns, lakeside walks, an Italian Garden, model gardens and a busy amphitheatre that hosts concerts and events throughout the summer, presentation and cleanliness are top priorities for Trentham’s gardening team.
Head Gardener, Luke Bartle, who has been with Trentham for three years, explained why the SISIS Litamina 1200 has become an essential part of their maintenance programme:
“We bought the Litamina earlier this year after I’d used the same model in my previous job with the National Trust. It’s a great British-made machine that does exactly what we need,” said Luke. “Our main reason for buying it was, believe it or not, goose poo! The amphitheatre is a popular space for outdoor concerts and we need it spotless before every event. Visitors sit on the grass, so it’s vital that it’s clean and comfortable. The Litamina 1200 has been a game changer for us.”
For Trentham, goose droppings are more than just unsightly - they create hygiene and safety concerns. Goose waste can be slippery when wet, carry bacteria and leave stains on paths and lawns. With large numbers of visitors attending outdoor events, maintaining a clean, safe surface is a must.
Previously, the team used pod mowers to pick up debris and cut the grass at the same time, but they found it wasn’t effective enough for removing surface waste.
“The mower just wasn’t picking it up properly,” Luke continued. “The Litamina 1200 does a far better job. It really gets down into the turf and clears everything away efficiently. I couldn’t recommend it enough for this kind of task.”
Garden Lead, Adam, who has worked at Trentham for almost ten years, also praised the machine’s ease of use and build quality:
“It’s a sturdy bit of kit, really easy to attach and operate,” he said. “The hopper holds a decent amount before it needs emptying and it’s simple to tip out when it’s full. We use it a lot for event preparation, but this time of year it really comes into its own- picking up autumn leaves, acorns, twigs and general debris from paths and play areas. It helps us keep things safe for visitors and saves a lot of manual work.”
Fallen leaves and acorns are not only unsightly but can quickly create problems for busy public spaces. Layers of decomposing leaves can block drainage, cause moss build-up, encourage disease and create slippery conditions underfoot. For a popular destination like Trentham, where presentation and safety go hand in hand, regular sweeping is essential.
Right Fit for the Job
Before purchasing, Trentham trialled the Litamina 1500 -a wider 1.5m model - but found it too large for the contours of their grounds.
“We initially demoed the 1.5-metre model thinking the bigger the better,” explained Luke. “But actually, it was too wide for our terrain. The 1.2-metre model follows the contours perfectly and picks up far more efficiently. It might take a little longer, but it’s much more thorough and we can use it in tight areas around trees.”
Why the SISIS Litamina 1200 Works
The SISIS Litamina range of tractor-mounted sweepers is designed to collect and remove surface debris such as leaves, litter, grass clippings, pine needles, thatch and aeration cores without damaging the turf. It’s ideally suited to fine and outfield turf across sports facilities, parks, estates and schools.
Key features include:
Spiral-designed brush for efficient debris collection and clean finish
Tool-free brush adjustment for quick and simple setup
Galvanised steel hopper for durability and long service life
Large-capacity hopper to reduce emptying frequency
Standard Cat. 1, 3-point linkage for easy tractor attachment
Hydraulic tipping for quick and effortless emptying
The spiral brush design ensures debris is driven into the hopper while following ground contours closely ideal for maintaining the even, high-quality finish required at venues like Trentham Estate.
Built for Versatility and Longevity
Both the Litamina 1200 and Litamina 1500 are built for professional turf maintenance.
Litamina 1200: 1200mm (48”) working width, requires minimum 25hp tractor.
Litamina 1500: 1500mm (60”) working width, requires minimum 30hp tractor.
The model used at Trentham Estate - the 1200 - has proved ideal for navigating tighter spaces and uneven ground while delivering powerful sweeping performance.
For Luke and his team at Trentham, the benefits are clear:
“It’s made a huge difference to how we maintain our grounds,” he said. “From event prep to day-to-day presentation, it’s reliable, simple and does exactly what we need. It’s a fantastic bit of kit.”
For more information about the SISIS Litamina 1200 and 1500 sweepers, visit www.sisis.com or contact the Howardson Group marketing team at info@sisis.com.
