A Countax D50LN Diesel Tractor will feature in a Channel 4 Series covering the restoration of Trawscoed Mansion in Wales.  Programs will be along the same lines as Grand Designs, and will feature heavily on the 10 acres of formal gardens, aided by the Welsh Historic Garden Trust.   The garden is filled with wonderful features, including a Japanese Water Garden, and long-lost pathways dating back as far as the 17th century.

The restoration of the house and gardens is expected to take around two years to complete, and a book to accompany the Series will be published in 2010.  The first Series, entitled “Restoration Man” will air on Channel 4 in March 2009.

The Countax D50-LN is ideally suited to the gardens at Trawscoed, with clever bonnet design making it considerably quieter than other diesel ride-ons of this size.

The powerful Yanmar, V-Twin 13.42kw diesel engine drives a 50” cutter deck, either IBS or mulching, and the 390 litre grass collector means fewer trips to empty the net.  Built on a commercial heavy-duty chassis, the D50-LN is a powerful mower, and yet the light, responsive steering makes it easy and convenient to use.

Other key features of this new Countax model include electronic dial-a-height cutter deck control, electric push button emptying and electric raising and lowering of the powered grass collector.

Transmission is smooth foot controlled hydrostatic, and a differential lock provides control on slopes.  The D50-LN is also fitted with Countax’ Operating Management System, providing the user with dashboard digital display of RPM, hours of work, service intervals and low fuel warning.

Trawsgoed Mansion is a fine country house surrounded by parkland and beautiful wooded gardens.  It was the home of the greatest landowners in the county of Cardiganshire in Wales, the Vaughan family. 

The story of the Vaughans of Trawsgoed begins in the 14th century when the daughter of Ieuan Coch married Adda Fychan, the direct ancestor of the present Lord Lisburne. Throughout the latter Middle Ages the Vaughans served as minor officials and Crown agents, accumulating land and wealth. During the 16th and early 17th century judicious marriage and careful exchange and purchase resulted in the formation of a respectable-sized estate. A fine mansion and gardens had been established at Trawsgoed by 1684, and in addition to the formal gardens, parkland was laid out and a deer park or paled park established. In 1947, Trawsgoed Mansion was sold to the government, and converted to offices for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and until 1995 was the Welsh headquarters of the Agricultural Advisory Service, as well as being part of the Institute for Grassland and Environmental Research.  In July 2007, the property was purchased by Lady Edwards, with the aim to restore the fine buildings and extensive gardens to their former glory.