Clearing ground layer/understory of a small wood?

[Andrew McEwan]

Straight in with a track based mulcher TCD? Overkill for 3 acres of woodland that needs some access/assessment through dense elder bramble and nettle. It isn't 3 hectares of 7ft gorse.

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Straight in with a track based mulcher TCD? Overkill for 3 acres of woodland that needs some access/assessment through dense elder bramble and nettle. It isn't 3 hectares of 7ft gorse.

 

Never do anything by hand that can be mechanised. Three blokes with brushcutters (£480-600/day) vs 3 tonne swinger and flail (£300 plus £160 transport); I know which way I'd go. Plus, got any hogweed in there? RA will pleclude brushcutters if you're crossing the T's and dotting the I's.

[Andrew McEwan]

Agreed re mechanising, but the photos and description don't indicate a mulcher is needed. Perhaps after brushcutting/flailing access through what sounds like soft growth, and a brief survey mulching might be needed, but unless 360 operators can now respace regen and assess woodland condition on the fly, I'd have thought one man for 1/2 day and getting access might be better than unloading the excavator straight away.

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Agreed re mechanising, but the photos and description don't indicate a mulcher is needed. Perhaps after brushcutting/flailing access through what sounds like soft growth, and a brief survey mulching might be needed, but unless 360 operators can now respace regen and assess woodland condition on the fly, I'd have thought one man for 1/2 day and getting access might be better than unloading the excavator straight away.

 

From the ground cover mentioned in the first post, you reckon half a day on a brushcutter? 3 acres...

 

Ok...

[Jonny69]

Agreed re mechanising, but the photos and description don't indicate a mulcher is needed. Perhaps after brushcutting/flailing access through what sounds like soft growth, and a brief survey mulching might be needed, but unless 360 operators can now respace regen and assess woodland condition on the fly, I'd have thought one man for 1/2 day and getting access might be better than unloading the excavator straight away.

 

Of course they can, not all machine operators are animals.

 

I'd feel like I was wasting the clients time and money with hand tools. The only way to clear that kind of area is with a mulcher of some sort. Hand cutting leaves a load of crap on the floor and its slow. Have a couple of lads with chainsaws and cutters working alongside the machine if they want it really immaculate. Or another digger with a rake on at the same time.

[Andrew McEwan]

Re-read the posts tcd, You're missing my point of woodland assessment before unloading a mulcher. 1/2 day to get access for assessment, and then write up an appropriate spec.

 

Whether the machine operator is an animal or not also isn't the point Jonny, it's impossible to respace regen with any machine, unless you have a clearing saw head on a drone or something.

[arboriculturist]

It's not 3 acres of brambles and solid similar undergrowth, which is why we would walk the site where accessable 1st and spray mark the re-gen worthy of retention, then go with a self propelled walk behind flail, but not a micky mouse machine.

[spandit]

Just invested in the bladeless attachment for my DR Power brushcutter - replaces the heavy metal blade with thick trimmer cords (about 4.5mm). Just mown about an acre of bramble, bracken and rushes - cords survived for the most part. It's less damaging to trees & slows down a lot faster than the blade - would be ideal for mowing where there might be rocks & logs hidden in the undergrowth

 

 

Admittedly this wasn't that thick, up to 3' high but with the blade on it will cut through a 3" sapling

 

[benedmonds]

The current plan is to use a Ferrari Flail Mower walk behind.. Anyone think that won't work

[JLA Arborists]

Can't comment on that brand but I've used a walk behind flail and it surprised me. Even with its blunt flails.