World’s quietest lawnmower

Petrol-powered lawnmowers might have made gardening a little easier but they are far from kind on the wider environment; some estimates put the amount of pollution from a lawnmower at four times the amount from a car engine for every hour they are in use.

The problem prompted bicycle builder Ted Wojcik to build a recumbent pedal-powered lawn mower as a pollution-free way for people to cut their lawn while at the same time getting some exercise.

The 63-year-old American now plans to put the lawnmower into small-scale production.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “Bicycle powered lawnmowers are a far cheaper, quieter and greener alternative to ride-on petrol models.”

The idea of using a bicycle to propel a lawn mower is not new.

A design from the 1930s allowed a conventional bicycle to be turned into a powered lawnmower. The front wheel was removed and a cylinder mower took its place.

Such a design, whilst not practical for smaller lawns, has the advantage of being environmentally-friendly, free to us, easy to store and quiet enough to be popular with the neighbours.

Cycle insurance

Cycle insurance from the ETA won’t mow your lawn, but it includes new-for-old replacement and accidental damage (including at race events), third party insurance (in the case of an accident you may need to seek compensation or even deal with a claim by someone else), personal accident cover and if you breakdown, they will even come out and get you.