For over 18 years, Telford's Forestry Contracting has been helping to establish and maintain woodlands across Scotland. Managing and maintaining around 10,000 hectares, the company undertakes everything from tree planting and woodland creation through to ongoing forestry maintenance, ensuring young trees have the best possible start.
With such demanding work, having the right equipment is essential. That was exactly why owner Dave Telford began searching for a brushcutter capable of working efficiently between rows of newly planted trees while tackling the challenging terrain and vegetation found on forestry sites.
His search led him to the Etesia Attila 95, a machine that has already proved its worth just weeks after joining the fleet.
"I needed something that would fit between the tree rows," explained Dave. "The machine had to be around 39 inches wide, but it also needed plenty of power. You're dealing with steep ground, all kinds of vegetation and rough conditions, so I wanted something with a bit of grunt that could really get through it and keep the job productive."
Rather than arranging multiple demonstrations, Dave carried out extensive research and sought advice from trusted contacts within the industry.
"I spoke to a lot of people and Etesia kept coming up. Then you watch videos online and see the reputation the machines have. I bought it based on that reputation and it's definitely paid off."
The Attila 95 has been put straight to work mowing between rows of young trees, where its combination of power, manoeuvrability and productivity has impressed from day one.
"It covers the ground really quickly," said Dave. "It's a good piece of kit and it leaves an excellent finish. Once the job's done, it just looks tidy. The clients love it because the finished result is spot on."
Designed specifically for demanding vegetation management, the Attila 95 combines a 95 cm cutting width with powerful brushcutting performance, making it capable of tackling dense growth while maintaining productivity of up to 12,000m² per hour. Its hydrostatic drive, low centre of gravity and excellent traction also allow operators to work confidently on slopes of up to 30 degrees.
One feature that has particularly stood out for Dave is the quality of cut, even when working in long vegetation.
"What I've noticed is that even if you have the cutting deck set at its highest position, around 120 millimetres, the finish is still excellent. You'd think it was cutting much lower because it leaves it looking so tidy.
"With a lot of machines I've hired in the past, when the grass is long, you're driving over it and it just gets flattened rather than cut, so it looks like you've simply driven through it. The Etesia doesn't do that. It cuts properly as you go. It's just a really good design."
Like any contractor, reliability and ease of maintenance were also high on Dave's priority list. Downtime on remote forestry sites can be costly, making straightforward servicing a major advantage.
"I wanted something that was easy to fix if anything happened. The blades are really simple to change, so if you damage one onsite it's literally a couple of minutes and you're back working. You don't have to lose half a day taking it back to the workshop. That's a massive benefit for us."
Dave purchased the machine through Lothian Turf Tech, where he received first-class support from Richard Fairnie and the team.
"I'd never dealt with them before, but they were recommended to me and they were absolutely brilliant.
"Richard brought the machine to me at a time that suited me, gave me a full demonstration and showed me everything I needed to know. I'd never even seen the machine before, but by the time he'd finished I was completely confident using it.
"The after-sales support has been excellent and the whole experience has been fantastic."
Although it's still early days, Dave has no doubts that investing in the Attila 95 was the right decision.
"It's 100% been worthwhile," he said. "Like any piece of equipment, it takes time to pay for itself, but this machine will pay for itself very quickly. There's no doubt about that."
For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit www.etesia.co.uk.
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