The Alke ATX200E battery-electric vehicle was bought from supplier ePower Trucks, and offers a 40 mile range, 530kg payload and a 2,000kg towing capacity. Through the Trust’s green electricity tariff, the electricity used to charge its batteries is from renewable sources, meaning the truck has almost no CO2 emissions.

Later this year, Nymans will install solar panels to generate electricity on site, some of which will be used for the truck, as part of an ongoing environmental programme. The site uses beneficial microbes instead of funcicides, composts its garden waste and waters the plants with collected rainwater.

Head gardener Ed Ikin said: ‘We already use a battery-powered mower, so an electric truck felt like a natural progression. Electric vehicles and tools are cleaner, quieter and less obtrusive, helping us to lower our carbon footprint and look after the gardens in the most sustainable way.’