Having spent 50 years in tree felling, forestry and explosives it’s truly remarkable the advances that have been made over the last 20 years in the development of forestry machinery and the management of the woodland estates.
For hundreds of years the woodman with his primitive saws and axes, used horses to extract the timber from the woods and it was not until the invention of steam power and the birth of the traction engine that advances really began making life easier for the woodman and more profitable for the Estate owners. A few years later the petrol chainsaw was invented and now there was no stopping the “Man of the Woods”.
With this advancement in technology came the inevitable “safety regulations” and legislation. The final straw being a “competence test” for the operator. Unfortunately this new test of “safe working practices” meant change, and for many of the “old timers” it was nigh on impossible to comply or even want to alter their old working habits, having been taught in the woodland ways by their fathers and forefathers.
On reflection, I consider myself privileged to have been part of this lifestyle, and the challenges it posed on a daily basis. To be working in the fresh air all day, to come home and put my feet up in front of a wood burning fire and to savour the aromas of the kitchen, of roast pheasant or rabbit pie ….Sheer heaven, I wouldn’t have changed a thing!
In this book I have chosen just a handful of stories as a Tree Surgeon. I’m sure they will have a few Health & Safety Officers reeling and many a retired policeman chortling at the “antics” of a bygone workforce. Hopefully, you will find these stories educational, hilarious, sometimes dangerous or simply unbelievable.
However, I can assure you that everything written is 100% true, except for a few name changes and “Yes” Jeremy really was that unfortunate!
Now, I really must phone the Bomb Disposal guys to clear out the remains of my explosives store…….True.
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