SIZE REALLY MATTERS

When it comes to working in a challenging environment and a low ground pressure machine is essential, size definitely matters – not particularly the size of the excavator, but the width of the tracks, as CD Forestry Excavations have discovered.

The company specialise in working in challenging and high compliance roles operating the latest and best technology the industry has to offer to undertake the most complex projects, which is why they were sub contracted to play a pivotal role in a major wetland restoration scheme at Purbeck in Dorset.

Needing a low ground pressure machine to operate effectively and efficiently in such a sensitive environment, they turned to specialist earthmoving equipment parts provider Astrak who are based in Fife in Scotland to supply extra wide tracks for their JCB 150X HD excavator.

“It turned out to be the perfect solution,” says CD Forestry Excavation’s owner Callum Dyckes. “It simply wouldn’t have been possible otherwise to carry out the work.”

The £1 million restoration scheme being undertaken by the Dorset Peat Partnership will create England’s first ‘super’ National Nature Reserve by reinstating 172 hectares of peatland, which is equivalent to the size of 240 football pitches. It is one of 23 restoration projects across the country to benefit from a huge investment by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Callum has been working on the first phase of the project in Purbeck, where one site is owned by the National Trust, the other by the Forestry Commission. Heather bales, timber dams and peat bunds made of peaty soil are being used to create ‘leaky dams’ in the hope of slowing water flows and create pools of still water to encourage growth of sphagnum moss, which would force the water to flow across the mire rather than down artificial channels.

David Brown, the National Trust’s lead ecologist in Purbeck, said: “Spreading the flow of water across the mires will create a wetter habitat where mosses and other rare plants like marsh saxifrage and tiny bog orchids can thrive. Under the acidic, waterlogged conditions, mosses and other plants never fully decompose, and over time they turn into new peat which keeps their carbon locked up instead of releasing it into the atmosphere.

“Purbeck's peat forming mires have enormous significance for rare insects, plants and other wildlife, including bog hoverflies and birds such as skylarks, as well as one of our few long-term carbon storage habitats.”

Re-wetting the mires will also improve drought and fire resilience by holding more water in the landscape during the summer, as well as helping to prevent flooding by soaking up heavy rainfall.

This project has proven to be an ideal ‘fit’ for CD Forestry Excavations who have also been involved in countless other schemes including the creation of new forest roads and repairs to existing, cut and fill for timber lay down areas, brash raking and recovery, forestry ground prep, infrastructure drainage and vegetation clearance on large and small scale projects up and down the country.

The company are particularly passionate about their work on habitat creation and the restoration of peatlands, wetlands and other scientifically and environmentally significant areas; it has taken them all over the country to some of the most unique and rare habitats.

Callum’s expertise has been especially valuable on the Purbeck project, as has the 15 tonne JCB 150X HD which he acquired on the recommendation of a friend who knew the type of machine and specification he would be working towards. One of its key features was its heavy duty undercarriage that allowed the installation of much wider tracks without the need for modification. He said it was exactly what he was looking for.

Callum started CD Forestry Excavations in 2018. It will begin trading under the name of CD Forestry & Environmental Ltd in 2025. He admits it wasn’t the best of timing given that Covid-19 struck shortly afterwards. “Thankfully the subsequent lockdown didn’t have much of an impact on the business. In fact, it was the busiest time for us as we worked all the way through it.”

Before going out on his own, he had driven different diggers over the years, for other companies and friends, including a spell on the HS2 project, so was able to compare those with his recently acquired JCB which, he says, has outperformed most of them in his particular applications.

“The 1150mm wide steel tracks supplied by Astrak were easily matched up with the JCB and have enabled the machine to work successfully on the slushy and wet peatland; the machine’s standard 700mm tracks just wouldn’t have been able to cope. The tracks are simply fitted, so I can quickly swap them over with two other sets of bolt on tracks that I have for use on other contracts, such as highway work and general forest operations. This effectively gives me three work configurations in the undercarriage alone.

EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE FROM ASTRAK

When we visited the wetland site to see the excavator in operation, Regional Account Manager for Astrak, Dean Thomas, was also there to offer Callum support and to check that the wide tracks were working well for him.

“The tracks are specifically designed to significantly reduce the ground pressure, helping the excavator to work much better on soft, wet terrain. Ground pressure is reduced from 5.8psi to around 2.8psi and allows Callum to move the machine much more freely when he is mulching. If he was on a machine fitted with the standard 700mm tracks he would have to use bog mats to enable him to get to where he needs to be.”

Dean is one of seven regional managers at Astrak responsible for different areas of the UK , providing exceptional support for customers like Callum. “We will all go the extra mile if required and we all can be readily contacted as and when the need arises. At Astrak, we carry over 5,000 tracks in stock at any one time, as well as undercarriage spares, rollers, idlers, recoil assemblies, drive and slew motors, cutting, bolt and reversible edges, and a range of our own excavator buckets starting at 0.8 tonne up to 25 tonne, plus a range of hydraulic products – and all of our products come with an industry-leading warranty.”

Callum says the service and support provided by Astrak is second to none. “It is especially important in this type of job where you need things the next day and good availability of parts and I couldn’t ask for a better service.”

He’s also been full of praise for the performance and handling of the fuel efficient JCB 150X HD. “I spend much of my working day in the cab, so I need a comfortable, stress-free operating environment and the JCB hasn’t disappointed. The cab gives me plenty of storage space for all my bits and pieces, the control functions are very intuitive, noise levels are low, it is very stable on all types of ground, offers plenty of power and is extremely well spec’d, with lots of nice little touches like courtesy lights which can be turned on with the flick of a switch, making it much easier to carry of my pre-start checks each morning.”

ENGCON TILTROTATOR ADDS VERSATILITY

He adds that the machine’s versatility has also been enhanced with the addition of an Engcon EC219 tiltrotator, designed for use on excavators in the 14 to 19 tonne range. It was spec’d with EC-Oil, an automatic quick coupler system which allows for instant switching of hydraulic tools directly from the cab. As standard, it comes with single block EC-Oil but due to his attachment requirements this set up was built with the latest generation V3 twin block configuration to allow for extra hydraulic functions and case drain requirements.

“I use a lot of different attachments over the course of a working day, so EC-Oil is invaluable to me; it’s a perfect complement to the JCB 150X HD and saves me so much time as I don’t have to worry about manually connecting and disconnecting hydraulic hoses. I wouldn’t be without it.”

But the Engcon connectivity isn’t just limited to tiltrotators. Callum has recently added a new Seppi BMS-L125 fixed tooth forestry mulcher, supplied and assembled by Arbgear Ltd, that runs through the EC-Oil utilising the oil and electric connectivity, allowing full proportional control of all the functions but using only one hydraulic circuit.

The Utility-80HD is a heavy-duty work light that adopts the latest and most efficient LED technology to make it stand apart from other work light solutions. Four high density LEDs deliver 8,940 raw lumens which is harnessed through ultra-reflective, vacuum-metallised optics designed and engineered in the UK using advanced CAD design and light simulation software. This results in more light being distributed over a bigger area.

Lighting performance aside, the Utility-80HD is a product built to last, and to withstand the harshest of environments. The polycarbonate lens with hardcoat, is now bonded in place to guarantee water-tightness, and in keeping with a comprehensive warranty, the lamps have been extensively tested to comply with EU regulations in relation to vibration, shock, and corrosion resistance.

The company precision engineer the lights to have a colour temperature of 5000K, which is carefully selected to be as close to natural daylight as possible which improves safety through maximising definition of objects and hazards ahead, while reducing fatigue that can come from using products with a higher colour temperature.

So impressed with the lights, Callum has become something of a brand ambassador for Lazer Lamps and indeed he has even featured in the company’s work light catalogue and on the front cover of one of their internal newsletters. Laser Lamps have also used Callum’s own set up for their photoshoots and marketing material – and he will be continuing to work with Lazer on future projects including the launch of some more new products in the plant/forestry and automotive sector.

LAZER LAMPS LIGHT THE WAY

Callum also wouldn’t be without his extra LED lighting package from Lazer Lamps. Fortunately JCB fit a good amount of lights as standard but the light output isn’t matched to the Lazers.

He has a full set of Utility-80HD’s and Utility 25 Max lights on the JCB, improving visibility from the cab and even allowing him to extend his working day during the winter months or when working nights on the road network.