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The day I sampled a commitment to quality forged in STIHL

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The day I sampled a commitment to quality forged in STIHL: It’s 22 May and Scott MacCallum has left me a voice mail asking me to give him a ring… I’m out at the RSPB reserve in Loch Leven, just having had a lovely bowl of soup and I head out to phone Scott with a curious mind.

He asks me if I would attend a press day at STIHL and without a pause, I jump at the chance. He then goes on to tell me it’s in Germany and my excitement grows. I only hesitate to tell him my passport expired a few months ago… but hey, a mere detail!

The day I sampled a commitment to quality forged in STIHL

The day I sampled a commitment to quality forged in STIHL

The event is in September, so I have plenty of time to plan.

A new passport and four failed photographs attempts later, I’m off to STIHL!

Arriving at the hotel in Waiblingen, heralds the start of a great adventure as STIHL have even provided chocolates in the shape of chainsaws, dressed in a smart orange ribbon. I demolish the chocolates as the first task on my to-do list.

At the amazing STIHL brand museum, we are introduced to products, personalities and the incredible world of timber sport.

The press gathered today will get to experience several product demonstrations throughout the programme of events.

My particular interest is with the new battery mowers from series 7 and the new FSA70 R battery brush cutter, making lawn trimming easy. Well, I say to myself, I’ll be the judge of that!

We are offered the chance to don the PPE and get cutting and so off I go!

The battery mowers offer low-noise and emission-free power for noisesensitive areas. As a former gardener within a hospital setting, these lownoise options would have been perfect.

The mowers from the 7-series have a power of up to 2.9 kW. They are also equipped with an 8-litre grass catcher box, minimising the need of the operator to stop and empty the catcher as frequently as other mower options demand. On the heavy, wet grass that they are being demonstrated on to today, the RMA 750 and RMA 756 make easy work of the task.

The new backpack BRA 500 and BRA 600, also offer a noise reduction system and a blowing force of up to 32 or 35 newtons, constantly available for the entire battery operating time.

Disruptive frequencies and noise peaks are specifically eliminated, and these powerful battery blowers can tackle heavy, autumn leaves effortlessly.

The BRA 280 B has a blowing force of up to 26 Newtons and a maximum speed of 86 m/s. it is light weight and compact and reduces the strain on the operator. It also has a quick adjustment design of the blowing tube length to allow for varying requirements. Ideal for green cuttings, wet leaves and dirt.

The other item of interest to me is the STIHL FSA70 R battery brushcutter. As someone of a grand height of 5 foot 2 (and a half) inches tall, I am eager to see if this product works well with a smaller operator.

I put on the PPE and harness etc and clip on the strimmer. I’m merrily trimming the lawn for a while when I’m stopped and told it’s time to move on to the next demonstration. I can honestly say, that using that piece of kit was the most enjoyable trimming experience I have had and that it was indeed genuinely ergonomically superior to any other option I have tried.

Don’t get me started on the rapidquick system that allows mowing heads to be replace easily at the touch of a button…I’d be here all day singing its praise. The advanced EasySpool winding mechanism is simply a gamechanger and this piece of equipment is now firmly on my Christmas present wish list.

It is now time for us to head inside the factory where we are told no photographs are allowed. I suddenly feel as giddy as Charlie did when he won the Golden ticket and was about to meet Mr Wonka inside the chocolate factory. Indeed, with the brand’s trademark orange, I wonder for a moment if we will encounter Oompa Loompas…?!?

We head in and there are only professional, highly skilled and passionate employees.

In the “drum testing” room, batteries are placed in a cement mixing drum and left to withstand what damage they can…. We are given a battery to inspect that has endured such an experience. With only a few scuffmarks on its exterior, the batter has survived with operational abilities intact.

The day I sampled a commitment to quality forged in STIHL

The day I sampled a commitment to quality forged in STIHL

This level of testing to ensure the consumer and prosumer, have only the very best quality of product, is awe-inspiring and the commitment to the buyer is in a class of its own. Batteries with long life and durability are certainly on show today.

One of my favourite parts of the STIHL factory must be the sound room. My imagination is running away with me as we enter the sound room, and I am anticipating Gene Wilder stepping out and singing “Pure Imagination”. They really shouldn’t have given me those chocolates; I think the sugar has gone to my head!

Anyway, in this room the decibels of each machine are measured, and tests are carried out to make noise reduction possible.

Other products that cannot be left without commenting on is the vast range of chainsaws and I was given the opportunity to use a chainsaw for the very first time during the workshop outside. The power is impressive and so is the effort gone in by STIHL to ensure safety is paramount.

A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with a couple of groundsmen, and one asked the other why is a STIHL saw called a STIHL saw, the answer was simply “because the best made saws are arguably made by STIHL”. It is engrained on our mind that STIHL make saws and with the emergency services opting for STHIL over other manufactures, that is truly a testimonial. The STIHL MSA 300 Rescue and STIHL TSA 300 Rescue are ideal for fire brigade and disaster relief teams and are available on the market now.

When I left Wonka-world, sorry I mean STIHL world and got back to the UK, I made a trip to an event called “Farming of yesteryear”. Among all the tractors, old ambulances and antique fire engines, was an old STIHL chainsaw… this is truly a brand that has withstood the test of time and has a well-deserved place in the hearts of those who are dependent on its power and performance to get the job done well and safely.

STIHL understand the people they create their products for, and every effort goes in from start to finish, to ensuring that the quality of manufacturing is unsurpassable.

The AODES Workcross arrives in style

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The AODES Workcross arrives in style: BOSS Off-Road Vehicles has announced the arrival of the AODES Workcross 1000-3 HVAC utility vehicle in the UK. As the sole UK distributor, BOSS is supplying its growing AODES dealer network with the AODES range, which boasts high-quality vehicles at very competitive prices.

The Workcross 1000-3 HVAC features a V-Twin 75hp 1000cc engine to take on all the usual rough terrain tasks demanded of a UTV. Fuel is delivered through electronic fuel injection. A walk round reveals adjustable suspension and shock absorbers, an electronically remote-controlled winch, and a large-capacity tippable rear bed.

The AODES Workcross arrives in style

The AODES Workcross arrives in style

The HVAC stands for the creature comforts of a climate-controlled cab with Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. Luxury continues with a touchscreen multifunctional digital display for your radio, Bluetooth and USB sockets, offline navigation, and a reversing camera, which makes hooking up to a trailer a cinch. Beadlock wheels are a nice touch to the clean lines of the vehicle, which comes with a variety of bonnet colours, including Desert Brown, seen in the picture.

The drivetrain is 2WD-4WD and the smooth drive is enhanced with electric power steering. Parking is made easy with a gearbox brake. The AODES Workcross 1000-3 HVAC is arriving at most AODES dealers across the UK and at the surprisingly competitive price of £15,199, which gives you a great deal of a workhorse at a relatively low outlay.

The UTV also comes with a 2-year limited warranty for additional peace of mind.

For more information about BOSS ORV distributed machinery, you can call 01785 561046

E-mail: sales@bossorv.co.uk Web: www.bossorv.co.uk

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Hibernian FC Invests in Redexim Verti-Rake

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Hibernian FC Invests in Redexim Verti-Rake: Maintaining a top-class playing surface at Easter Road Stadium is no small task, but for Steven Thomas, Head Groundsman at Hibernian Football Club, having the right machinery is making all the difference. One of the latest additions to his maintenance fleet is the Redexim Verti-Rake – a tool he says is already proving invaluable.

“We’ve had the Verti-Rake for a few months now,” Steven explained. “For us, it was about maintaining the highest standard of turf possible. We were looking for an attachment that could rake the surface, keep our hybrid stitch clean, and clear out organic matter. Having looked at a few options, we felt the Verti-Rake was the best choice. It’s simple to use, easy to set up, and does exactly what we need.”

Hibernian FC Invests in Redexim Verti-Rake

Hibernian FC Invests in Redexim Verti-Rake

The Redexim Verti-Rake is designed for fast and effective thatch removal. Its spring tines work between the grass blades to loosen thatch, while adjustable tine angles allow operators to alter the aggression of the rake. Working depth can also be fine-tuned for perfect results. As well as helping to clean surfaces, the Verti-Rake can be used to create a seed bed ahead of overseeding.

Steven and his assistant Ronan use the rake regularly. “We tend to use it after every game,” he said. “It’s great for raking out organic matter and keeping the hybrid stitch upright. But it’s also weather dependent – we’ll assess the conditions and decide if it’s needed. What’s been clear so far is that every time we’ve used it, it’s easy to set up, easy to manoeuvre, and leaves the surface clean.”

He adds that the machine also has benefits for playability. “Earlier in the season, we felt the surface was maybe too dense for ball movement and traction. Once we put the rake through, followed by a rotary cut to tidy debris, you’d almost not know we’d been on the pitch. It leaves minimal disruption and keeps the surface playing really well.”

Ease of operation is a standout feature for Steven. “For me, the key feature is how easy it is to set up. It’s literally just a case of attaching it to the three-point linkage on the tractor and using the side levers to adjust the depth. It’s quick, simple, and effective.”

Steven also believes it is an exciting time for the Redexim brand right now. “I think they’re making a bit of a wave just now with new machinery. There’s a lot of innovation coming through, and we’ve had good support from Allen Whellans at Redexim too – he has always been on hand and supportive.”

Hibernian FC Invests in Redexim Verti-Rake

Hibernian FC Invests in Redexim Verti-Rake

The Verti-Rake now sits alongside other Redexim equipment in Steven’s fleet, and he sees clear benefits in how they complement each other. “As well as the Verti-Rake, we have a Verti-Drain, and they can work side by side. One can be raking while the other is aerating – they’re very much multipurpose and help us get the most from our maintenance programme.”

He also credits Hibernian FC for investing in the tools to allow his team to achieve high standards. “Over the last two years, the club has made a big investment in machinery, which gives us an advantage in producing the pitch we want. When I first joined, there were just two of us and limited resources. The progression since then has been massive. People rightly give credit to the groundstaff, but the club deserves huge credit too for backing us with the tools we need.”

With the Redexim Verti-Rake now firmly embedded in their maintenance regime, Steven and his team are well-equipped to keep Easter Road’s playing surface clean, healthy, and ready for action.

For more information, visit https://www.redexim.com/uk/

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Green-tech aids increase in biodiversity

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Green-tech aids increase in biodiversity: As Scotland’s eighth newest city (2022), Dunfermline was the birthplace of King Charles 1 and once served as the ancient capital of Scotland. Over recent years the city has become more popular with house prices increasing and investment in new residential developments.

As part of the Dunfermline Eastern Expansion, Taylor Wimpey have built around a hundred homes, a mix of 3, 4, and 5-bedroom houses, as well as affordable housing units, situated around Macpherson and MacCallum Avenues.

Green-tech aids increase in biodiversity

Green-tech aids increase in biodiversity

Although Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is not mandatory in Scotland just yet, the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), focuses on ‘significant biodiversity enhancements’ for major developments. And any urban greening, particularly street trees, plays a vital role.

Although new developments have modern storm drains and sewers, unlike the old, woefully inadequate Victorian-era systems in the city centres, it is still important to attenuate rainwater, and subsequent runoff, diverting it from gushing straight down the drains. Trees are highly efficient at doing this, both through their root network, and leaf canopy. Add to this their ability to store carbon, capture airborne particulates, and provide habitat for birds and insects, and the value of trees to our neighbourhoods cannot be denied.

Green-tech Involvement

Advance Construction (Scotland) have been offering groundworks and civil engineering expertise throughout Scotland for over twenty-five years. They have worked with Green-tech for over ten of those years across various projects.

ACS approached Green-tech to price up twenty-one tree pits throughout the new Taylor-Wimpey development, using the TreeParker® tree pit support system.

Having been used in mainland Europe for the past twelve years or more, on high-profile projects such as the pavements around the Eiffel Tower, and Rotterdam’s main boulevard, Coolsingle, TreeParker® works by supporting the paving above a tree pit, whether used for pedestrian or vehicular traffic. In doing this, it protects the soil within the tree pit from becoming compacted. This enables the landscaper to use a soft, friable, organic topsoil for the tree to grow in, rather than having to make do with a less organic, structural tree sand.

Unlike similar systems, it has several distinct advantages. The heavy-duty, reinforced legs are available in six height options from the factory: 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, and 1500mm. This gives a previously unheard-of adaptability with depth options. From a contractor’s point of view, it means there is never any need to stack two units to achieve a depth over 600mm, saving installation time and money.

The other major advantage is that there are no side walls to get in the way of utilities, new or existing. By having smooth, rounded legs rather than side walls, the units can easily straddle or work around service pipes and lines.

There was a mix of tree pits across the site, mostly single trees, but also three double tree pits in the central section of MacCallum Avenue. To finish off the installations, Green-tech supplied cast-iron Newdale tree grilles, along with Wharfdale tree guards, to protect the trees from any vehicular contact. Grilles are an ideal way to give a smart, long-lasting finish to a tree pit, whilst allowing air and water access into the rooting area.

In total, twenty-one TreeParker® tree pits were installed, each having Mona Relief irrigation rings and cast aluminium filler caps, as well as underground anchor systems. With it being vital to the health of any tree or planting scheme, Green-tech delivered a total of 260 tonnes of Green-tree British Standard subsoil and Geocell topsoil to site over a staggered period as required.

Client Feedback

Stuart Mcneill, Managing Quantity Surveyor for Advance Construction (Scotland) comments, “We have always found Green-tech to provide excellent service. They deliver what they say, when they say they will. We found the TreeParker® system to be surprisingly quick and simple to install, and we look forward to working with it again.”

Further Information

For further product information or to request a CPD in person or remotely on any of our urban or rural modules, please email info@gtspecifier.co.uk or call on 01423 369728.

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A Day in the Life of a Female Arborist

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A Day in the Life of a Female Arborist: The day starts early, often before the sun has even tipped above the horizon.

Tree work is not a nine-to-five desk job. It’s physical, unpredictable, and enriching.

A Day in the Life of a Female Arborist

A Day in the Life of a Female Arborist

It is also a male-dominated industry, which gives young female arborists, such as Jess Riches, a chance to carve themselves a trailblazing role, breaking down stereotypes and paving the way for others.

From Farm Work to Tree Work

Jess’s path to arboriculture wasn’t a straight line.

She’s worked on banana farms, driven buses, and spent years in the tough FIFO construction industry in Australia.

“I’ve always preferred manual labour roles,” she explains. “When I came back from Australia, I knew I wanted to continue doing a manual job.”

When she returned to the UK, she remembered her brother’s positive experience with Blake Tree Care. “It seemed perfect. I could learn new skills while using my previous experience in operating machinery.”

No Two Days the Same

Ask her what a typical day looks like, and she laughs… because there isn’t one.

If she’s with the ‘willows’ team, she might spend the day operating machines, using chainsaws, and handling large-scale clean-up. On domestic jobs, she could be hedge cutting in the morning, chipping in the afternoon, and chainsawing in between.

Her favourite part? “Definitely domestic work. It’s like being a kid again climbing trees, but this time you don’t get in trouble!”

The Best & The Toughest Parts

The joy of the job lies in the variety. Every tree is different, and every site is unique. Climbing and chainsawing bring an adrenaline rush and a childlike sense of freedom. And working outdoors in the Essex and Suffolk countryside is a privilege in itself.

But tree work isn’t always sunshine and fresh air. “The toughest part can be working in all weathers,” she admits. “There have been days in torrential rain that are mentally challenging. But it’s never been too bad, you just push through.”

Teamwork and Support

Tree surgery is rarely a solo job. The work is demanding, and safety relies on teamwork. For her, that’s one of the highlights: “The team all get on well and support me. As I’m new to the industry, they’ve been keen to teach me anything I don’t know.”

Being the only woman in the crew could feel daunting, but she’s never let it hold her back. “From day one, I’ve never said no to anything. I wanted to do everything the men can do – and I believe I have.”

Breaking Misconceptions

People are often surprised to see a woman in tree surgery. It’s still rare in the UK, but her experience has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Everyone has been very welcoming. The only challenge is the need to ‘prove yourself’ as a woman. Men are expected to be able to lift heavy equipment and logs. But with women, there’s sometimes doubt. I just got on with it.”

Her advice to other women? Simple: “Absolutely try it. It’s an amazing industry with so many skills to learn. Don’t be put off by it being male-dominated. If you put the work in, you’ll be just as valued as anyone else.”

And as for the public’s view of arborists: “One misconception is that we just cut down trees and ruin the environment. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Blake Tree Care plants thousands of trees to replace those that have to be removed. Arborists love trees more than most.”

Learning on the Job

A recent standout moment came when she was called to a golf course project. The task required her to operate 8- and 14-tonne diggers, which are much bigger than the ones she’d used in Australia.

“It was a great experience. I learned how to adapt my previous skills to tree work. I even got to drive two different types of tractors, which was a lot of fun.”

It’s a reminder that arboriculture isn’t just about climbing. It’s technical, it involves big machinery, and it demands constant learning.

Jess isn’t stopping here. She’s working towards gaining formal qualifications in tree climbing and felling. These skills will not only expand her role but also cement her long-term career in arboriculture.

Why She Loves the Work

At the heart of it all, simple things keep her going.

One of the things that stands out most for Jess is the culture at Blake Tree Care itself. “Everyone wants to help each other and watch each other gain skills. It’s something I haven’t experienced too much before.”

That sense of encouragement and teamwork is what makes the hard days in the rain worth it and the good days in the sunshine even better.

Working in the British countryside also comes with its quirks, according to Jess. “I love working in the amazing scenery that Essex and Suffolk have to offer. I never got to see it much in my previous jobs. But now I work in it every day, and it makes everything easier.”

As one of the few women in the field, she’s proving that anyone can find their place with resilience, curiosity, and passion.

What We Can All Learn from Jess

Jess’s story proves that arboriculture is about passion, grit, and teamwork. Not gender.

At Blake Tree Care, we’re proud to have a team that supports one another and values growth. If Jess’s journey has inspired you, why not learn more about what we do, or even explore a career in arboriculture with us?

If you’ve ever thought about a career in tree care, follow Jess’s lead. The industry needs more people who love trees and want to protect them for the future.

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