Alan Titchmarsh has revealed his hatred of robots in gardens and described robotic lawn mowers as a “dark force”.
The gardener and broadcaster, 73, said his heart sank when he heard a friend was using the automatic invention, which “drives him nuts”.
Titchmarsh wrote in BBC Gardeners’ World magazine: “I am happy undertaking what to many would seem like an arduous chore.
“And my mind is never more rested than when I find myself walking up and down behind my mower.
“Oh, I love my wildflower meadow, make no mistake, but there is a kind of mental solace in producing stripes on the two lawns outside the house thanks to the heavy rear roller on my rotary mower.
“A friend of mine came up to me beaming last year... her eyes sparkled as she said, ‘I have a robot mower’. My heart sank.
“I just know that, as efficient as such a piece of equipment is, I would want to send it scuttling into its little charging station and let me get on producing my stripes.
“I’ve watched one of these robot mowers in action and know that it would drive me nuts. How does it decide which way to go? Why does it not notice that tuft of grass it has missed just six inches away?
“I know it will get there eventually but until then I will be frustrated beyond measure.
“Electric mowers are a great invention and mercifully quiet, but unless I can stand behind them while they do their work I shall continue to believe that there are dark forces at work.”
