On 1st October, the world marks the International Day of Older Persons. At STIGA, we know just how valuable the wisdom passed down through the generations can be, especially when it comes to the art (and joy) of gardening. This year, we’re celebrating by turning to the u3a movement, a vibrant UK-wide community of retired and semi-retired people who share skills, passions, and experiences with one another.

With over 1,000 local groups and around 400,000 members, u3a is a hub of knowledge. And when it comes to gardening, their Southport u3a has something extra special to offer: their Gardening Group members created an AI Show Garden, which went on to win a Gold Medal and a Silver Cup for Best Charity and Community Garden at the Southport Flower Show this year.

As STIGA continues to innovate with AI-driven robotic mowers, helping gardeners of all generations save time while keeping their lawns immaculate, it has been a joy to learn from Southport u3a Gardening Group members, who combine traditional know-how with cutting-edge techniques to create a sustainable garden for the future.

Here are some of their award-winning tips that anyone can try at home:

Hydroponics gravel: Grow plants without soil, using nutrient-rich water delivered through precise irrigation. This method saves water, increases yields, and uses less space.

Renewable energy: Power your garden with the sun and wind. Solar panels and wind turbines provide clean, sustainable energy for year-round growth.

Carbon capture with sphagnum moss and trees: Nature’s own sequestrants. Moss locks carbon in peat, while trees store carbon in their trunks and branches, helping fight climate change.

Robotic horticultural management: Smart gardening tech monitors, prunes, and waters with precision. 

Recycled sustainable materials: Build your garden using reclaimed bricks, bark, timber, and plants loaned from the community. It’s eco-friendly, beautiful, and gives old materials a new life.

This International Day of Older Persons, STIGA is proud to shine a spotlight on the creativity, experience, and forward-thinking ideas of older generations. Their knowledge continues to inspire new ways of connecting with nature, proving that gardening wisdom, like gardens themselves, only grows richer with time.

You can find many lightweight and handy tools and mowers on the STIGA website, including battery pruning shears and cordless multi-tools.  You can also read more about STIGA's wide range of robot mowers, too, AI at its best!  www.stiga.com/uk/

If you are interested in joining the u3a, you can read more and find your local u3a at www.u3a.org.uk

Photo: Christine Howorth holding the cup, Honora Ormesher, Alison Ryan, and Carolyn Saunders at the back.

Photo by Phil Knight - also a u3a member.