A fleet of eight Valtra tractors maintains the grass verges and drainage channels of Gloucestershire and most of Oxfordshire.
The Valtra N- and T-series tractors are owned by BGG Garden & Tree Care Ltd, based near Faringdon. “We bought our first Valtra in 2010,” explained owner Ben Gristwood.
“We specialise in local authority and highways contracts and maintain verges from May to September, then cut hedges until March. Grip cleaners replace some of the cutting heads during winter.”
BGG tractor operator Robert Ducker enjoys driving the N- and T-series tractors. “I like the smoother 6-cyl engine of the T-series, but the more manoeuvrable N-series is great for verge cutting on narrow lanes,” he commented. “A lot of extra equipment is carried when we are working for local authorities, and a big advantage of Valtra tractors is the amount of in-cab storage space available.”
Some of the tractors are used mostly for tree work and demand for the company’s services has increased due to the ash dieback fungal disease. A T234 with TwinTrac reverse drive powers a large chipper, and two additional T-series tractors haul woodchip for biomass and tow excavators with tree shears between sites on plant trailers.
“Business growth means we always need more tractors. We’ve tried other brands but remain more than happy with Valtra and the back-up from Chandlers (Farm Equipment) Ltd,” Ben confirmed. “We update the tractors after four years and they hold their value well – even after working 2,000 hours annually.”