The smell of oil, petrol and grass cuttings set the scene for our safe use of garden machinery course at Bicton College on 27^th April. 

Students were advised on the Health and Safety aspects of handling machinery, including avoiding personal injury, protective clothing and risk assessments. 

They were also shown how to undertake basic maintenance of strimmers, lawn mowers, hedge trimmers and rotovators, including checking the oil, filters and spark plugs. 

They learnt the difference between 4 stroke and 2 stroke engines, and how to mix 2 stroke fuel & oil at the correct quantities. 

In the afternoon the group got their hands dirty and had a go with the machinery.  

Some of the group who had been nervous of working with machinery overcame their fear to have a go at the strimmer, hedge trimmer and lawn mower. 

HogCO would like to thank Bicton College for organising this course and also Jon Sanders our tutor for a very informative (and entertaining) day.  If anyone would like to go on a safe use of garden machinery course please register your interest with HogCO and we will see what we can do in the autumn!