A lawn unto himself
Stuart’s 37yr labour of love is UK’s finest
A GARDENER who spends at least 30 hours a week mowing has beaten off turf competition to land the title of Britain’s Best Lawn.
Stuart Grindle, 74, has spent 37 years honing his grass and cuts it four days a week, two or three times each day, to keep it exactly 5mm high.
And he is so obsessed with perfection he even banned son Jonathan from playing on it when he was a child.
Stuart said: “Winning is like the Holy Grail for me. I’m fanatical about grass. I just love it. I sit with a glass of wine and watch the sun set over it and it gives me all the satisfaction I need in life.”
He and wife Anne, 74, open the garden to the public every year for charity – but visitors in high heels are turned away.
And on Jonathan’s childhood, retired joiner Stuart said: “My son was never allowed to play football, cricket or rounders on the grass. There’s a football field down the road. He wasn’t even allowed to play cricket or pitch a tent on it. He had to go to our neighbour’s.”
Anne added: “I’m surprised our son hasn’t got a phobia about grass!”
Asked about comparisons between Wembley and his lawn in Tickhill, South Yorks, Stuart replied: “Wembley is rubbish compared to my garden, it’s more like Wimbledon.” Steve Roskell of gardening kit manufacturer EGO, which sponsors the Britain’s Best Lawn contest, said: “We received lots of great entries but as soon as we saw Stuart’s we knew he was a contender. He’s a very worthy winner.” Stuart was given a toprange mower but will stick to his handpowered, 14-blade 1947 Ransomes Certes.