Steve Bullman

The switch to Aspen Fuel has transformed operations for the Cowdray Estate forestry team– delivering significant health, safety and efficiency benefits to maintenance works across the 6,800 acres of managed woodland. Cowdray’s decision to start using Aspen two years ago has brought tangible benefits to both daily working conditions and long-term equipment performance. Assistant Forestry Manager Kris Gillespie has worked at Cowdray for the last seven years and is part of an 11-strong team looking after the maintenance of the conifers, broadleaf high forest and chestnut coppice that make up 36% of the total footprint of the estate. “Anyone who works with petrol-powered equipment will know that one of the major downsides is the fumes, and the implications this has for operator health and safety” Kris explains. “Even if you’re not actually using the tools, simply transporting cans from one place to another is enough to notice the smell.” “As soon as we started using Aspen, this all changed. The fact that it’s odourless in operation not only brings real health benefits for the team, it is also really beneficial for the visitors who regularly use the 100 miles of footpaths that run through our woodlands.” Aspen is an alkylate petrol, available for two and four stroke engines. Aspen 2 is pre-mixed with a fully synthetic, biodegradable oil removing the need to manual mixing and improving consistency and engine performance. Kris continues, “Not only has Aspen presented us with a cleaner, safer alternative, it’s also brought us efficiency savings by having Aspen delivered to site by the pallet – eliminating trips to the petrol station.” The absence of ethanol and other hazardous hydrocarbons has also been a gamechanger. “With a range of tools of all shapes and sizes, it’s not unusual for some machines to sit unused for a year or two at a time. Because Aspen is ethanol-free it doesn’t degrade like traditional petrol which means we can take a saw that hasn’t been used for a while, start it up and get straight to work.” He adds, “Before, we’d be spending money on repairs to machines which had barely clocked up any hours, just because of rotten fuel lines. That hasn’t happened since we started using Aspen fuel.” The Cowdray team has also adopted Aspen’s Fillpartner Combihandle, bringing further practicality and safety into practice. “With this, we can ensure no spills and quickly and easy swap out the Aspen can with a spare when required to get through a full day’s work with ease.”

STIHL will be unveiling a wide range of new tools and technologies at this year’s SALTEX, one of Europe’s leading grounds management shows, taking place on 12–13 November 2025 at the NEC, Birmingham. Among the highlights will be STIHL’s latest charging solutions and a series of new battery-powered products launched in 2025, including the PKA 30 battery pump head, the SGA 30 battery sprayer and the WSA 40 battery water container. A key attraction on the stand will be the CM 8 charging management system, which allows up to eight chargers to run from a standard 230 V socket. The system enables twice as many chargers to be used on a single fuse, with built-in overload protection ensuring safe and reliable operation. Designed for straightforward setup, it offers a simple yet innovative way to manage charging across multiple tools. Also on show will be a selection of AP System battery-powered machines, including the RMA 7 lawn mowers, BRA 500 & 600 backpack blowers, and the HSA 140 & 150 hedge trimmers. Visitors can also see live demonstrations of the new GTA 40 pruner and MS 400.1 chainsaw, which delivers the best power-to-weight ratio of any professional chainsaw in the 60cc class. STIHL will further expand its PPE range with three new lines of chainsaw protective clothing. The FUNCTION range is designed for occasional use, while the ADVANCE range is tailored for professional arborists and tree workers, ensuring every level of user is supported. Visitors can also discover the full line-up of STIHL’s latest spraying and water management solutions. The PKA 30 pump head provides automatic constant pressure when added to the STIHL SG 30 sprayer or cut-off machine water tank, eliminating manual pumping for greater efficiency. The SGA 30 sprayer builds on this innovation with a complete backpack solution, offering variable pressure adjustments and precise liquid distribution. Completing the trio is the WSA 40 water container, which delivers a mobile, pressurised water supply to cut-off machines such as the TS 410 or TSA 300, supplying up to seven tanks or 30 minutes of operation with a single AS battery. STIHL experts will be on hand throughout the event to provide demonstrations, advice and guidance across the entire product range. For more information, please visit www.stihl.co.uk.

The Norfolk Arborist has gone from strength to strength since its formation in 2017, providing expert residential and commercial tree maintenance services throughout East Anglia. On the journey alongside owner Michael Lomax since day one is an FSI B22, which continues to handle every stump removal job with effective, reliable results week in, week out. With a large portfolio of domestic clients and commercial contracts including the Ministry of Defence and several large landowners throughout Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Northamptonshire, no two weeks are ever the same for Michael and his team. One thing the team can always rely on is the performance of their FSI B22, which has been their go-to solution for stump removal in restricted-access, residential settings for the last eight years. “It’s incredibly versatile and easy to use, making it a popular choice with the team” Michael explains. “Being self-propelled means we can send one van, equipped with a chipper and the FSI B22 stump grinder, and the team will have everything they need to get the job done. We must have clocked up close to 1000 hours with this machine and, with the exception of the regular wear and tear replacements, we’ve had next to no issues.” He emphasises, “The reliability of this machine has been extraordinary. We must have made our money back on it ten-fold over the years!” The robust performance of FSI is not limited to the smaller jobs however. For larger domestic and commercial projects Michael turns to his local FSI Partner Stag Machinery, where he readily hires the powerful yet highly manoeuvrable FSI D30. “There’s not a lot the FSI D30 can’t do! We can tackle up to 120 two-foot stumps in a day, making it very productive and highly efficient. Not only that but the lighter footprint of this machine compared to others in this category means we can still transport the unit over residential lawns, patios and other sensitive areas if needed without risk of causing damage.” Like many, Michael not only values the reliable performance of his equipment, but the back-up support and service received from their local FSI dealer. “Will at Stag has been brilliant, delivering a personal service and a quick response if we need anything. We like the fact the depot is local, and the ability to hire the FSI D30 as and when we need it means we can run our business and service the various needs of our clients, without the headache of managing and maintaining a really large fleet of our own.”