Charlie with the Robo Flail is busy this week, clearing scrubby banks near Castle Combe as part of a grassland restoration project.
Robo flail out busy this week clearing scrubby banks near Castle Combe
Author: Debbie Newman
Cut and collect flail working well
Here, the video shows the Valtra 121 is fitted with a cut and collect flail to clear 5-year old scrub regrowth to help the chalk grassland and nearby Juniper. The site was cleared 5 years ago. The ability of the machine to collect the cut materials prevents the nutrient level from being raised in the soil. This helps with chalk grassland and wildflowers as they prefer a low level of soil fertility to prevent being outcompeted by other species.
And the pics show Toby out on the cut and collect flail clearing scrub as part of chalk grassland management
Damage from Storm Goretti
Happy New Year
We received a phone call from a client in Bristol during Storm Goretti about a fallen tree across an access road to a hospital complex.
The job could not wait until daylight. So, William and Toby left the Devizes depot shortly after midnight to clear the fallen tree sufficiently to allow access until a full team could reach the remains of the large sycamore tree in daylight, make it safe, and tidy up.
Well done to Toby for not being in bed! And all part of the 24/7 service provided to our clients across the UK
Tractor Run on Sunday – part of the annual Tractor n’Tinsel Run 2025 in Devizes
Tractor run about to leave to join everyone else in Devizes as part of the annual Tractor N’ Tinsel Run 2025 on Sunday 21st December.
We were delighted to support Devizes Young Farmers Charity Tractor run on Sunday – a great turnout.
“The first pod included many vintage tractors before the big modern beasts arrived. Devizes Young Farmers’ volunteers, particularly those too young to travel by tractor collected money from the crowd for this year’s chosen charities (Wiltshire Air Ambulance, Bugs Fund(Burns Unit Group Support) and Salisbury Hospital’s Star Appeal). It’s not too late to make a contribution, click here for the Just Giving page.”
Thanks to Tristan, George, Mark & Charlie
The tractors in action
These were the tractors we used:
MB trac 1000 (green)
The oldest in the fleet, first registered in 1985, so very much a vintage machine.
Built by Mercedes but no longer in production.
This was the one we rebuilt the engine on back in April – read our link to our post here
Valtra 121
Fitted with a front loader and first registered 2012
This was the tractor seen on the wire unroller putting up the deer fence recently
Used in a multitude of different tasks on a daily basis
Valtra 234 Active (blue)
This is the most modern one – registered new in 2021
Used to move large machinery to site
Colour-coded front toolbox with integrated fuel tank – blue
Valtra 8450 (red)
Date of first registration 2006
Nearly 20 years old, so almost vintage
Fitted with a rooftop crane to move timber away from felling operations with its timber trailer
Conservation Contractors December Newsletter
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Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP)
Following our annual Health and Safety audit undertaken by The Arboricultural Association this autumn, we were very pleased to have been awarded SSIP Accreditation status.
Great job and thanks to Dan, Emma & Scott for all their hard work.
SSIP refers to an Arboricultural Association (ArbAC) Approved Contractor scheme, which is a registered member of Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP). It is a mutual recognition umbrella organisation for health and safety schemes in the UK, and an ArbAC certificate demonstrates to clients that a company meets rigorous health and safety and quality management standards. Holding an ArbAC certificate provides instant safety credentials and assures clients of high-quality, safe, and competent arboricultural services.
In essence, choosing an ArbAC contractor gives you the dual assurance of a specialist tree care accreditation (ArbAC) and alignment with the national health & safety standard (SSIP).
We are now preparing for our ISO accreditation and audit, which is due in February.
SoloNet wire unroller
SoloNet wire unroller
Part of tree protection going up on Robina posts around newly planted trees. Robinia is also known as ‘Black Locust’ or ‘False Acacia’ and is known for exceptional durability, being sustainable and strong, requiring low maintenance and having aesthetic appeal.
Following on from the new planting pictures posted previously, we are now erecting deer and rabbit-proof fencing around the larger plots of young trees. The SoloNet machine is a fully mechanised netting dispenser, rolling out and tensioning the wire netting in a single operation saving time and labour while making the process safer. The SoloNet is working well
Read our case study from back in April from Tornado Wire.
Great job by Alex, Toby and Brian
25th November 2025
Grapple saw at work with digger
Grapple saw at work with a digger
Here, Mark is removing dead and dying pipe trees as part of a forestry thinning project.
All the timber will remain stacked for habitat.
19th November 2025
Complete tree management for the next generation
It’s all about the preparation – in the foot of Roundway Hill near Devizes
Before the planting, we sowed a legume mix back in September, then the lines were marked out with GPS then sprayed out to create a suitable planting area. Deer fence next on the to do job list
Complete tree management for the next generation
19th November 2025
Cross Guns Avoncliff tree removal
Following a tree survey, it was decided that a large ash tree, which was showing signs of acute Ash Dieback, should be removed, given its position adjacent to a road and public house
The safest way was with the Merlo Roto to undertake the dismantling of the tree.