Tree spade in Scotland?

[Suth_Co]

Does anyone know of a contractor or plant hire place that can provide a tree spade, with or without operator, for a project in Scotland (Aberdeenshire)?  We are hoping to move 20+ trees, 4-6m beech, on a construction site at some point in the next year.  Thanks!

[daltontrees]

I looked into this a couple of years ago and kind of gave up. Well, not quite, I found a company down south that had a spade big enough. There is a company in Cumbernauld that hired out Bobcat attachments that would do the job for smaller trees.

The big issue is that unless young trees have been moved regularly at nursery to contain the rootball they will only survive a move if you take a huge cone.

There's als a bit of a limitation on ground conditions for getting the spade in. Stony conditions are a killer.

[Khriss]

A job to prepare for right away, root cutting and soil health care, be interesting to see the details. k

[Suth_Co]

Thanks for your responses.  The trees are self-seeded and could be anything up to about 10 years old.  Unfortunately they have never been moved so I suspect damage to the rootball will be a problem as you suggest Jules.  It is a real shame but it is increasingly looking like we might need to fell them.

[dumper]

How big are they got a picture?

[Suth_Co]

Some photos attached - they are typically 4-6m high.

[dumper]

Look ideal for a spade thought about a bit of hand work and a jcb front bucket?

[Khriss]

Just undercut them an mini digger them out, worth a shot, no guarantees but they young and better they flourish elsewhere if they  getting the chop. K

[openspaceman]

2 hours ago, dumper said:

Look ideal for a spade thought about a bit of hand work and a jcb front bucket?

...and some ratchet straps and hessian plus a newman trailer.

[Suth_Co]

Thanks for everyone's comments.  It could be a reasonably big job and I'm not based in the immediate area for the project so open to suggestions if anyone knows decent contractors who might be able to do the work on the ground?