We’re pleased to announce that we just got a whole lot greener in our operations – Wye Coppice is now battery powered! This is great for the environment and our workers, and we hope our clients will also be happy with the switch to electric equipment. 

We thank the Rural England Prosperity Fund in the Forest of Dean for saying yes to our Going Greener project, which will hugely reduce our emissions during chainsaw operations. We hugely appreciate the help from the REPF, since cutting edge technology does not come cheap! However it was on our wishlist to convert to electric chainsaws and winches ever since the Stihl MSA 300 became available – the first battery chainsaw that can really compete with conventional petrol-powered versions. We have also been able to invest in a battery-powered Eder Winch.

Not only are we saving on fume emissions in the woods, but the battery saws are that bit quieter, as well. So that’s less disturbance for any people and wildlife within earshot. Other advantages include the ease of start-up, compared to the sometimes pesky pull-cord on petrol versions. 

There was definitely some trepidation from the team, all used to petrol saws and concerned about how powerful the new ones would be – and how long the batteries would last. But here’s what they had to say after putting the saws through their paces…

“We were both really surprised at how good they were,” said Louis and Will. “They’re really clean cutting and much quieter, with less fumes than regular saws which is really nice and refreshing. It’s also surprisingly good on larger diameter wood and the battery lasts a lot longer than we were expecting. We had it on the full power mode all day and processed a load of trees with it, a lot of large diameter wood too and the battery lasted the whole day. Really positive.”

Roxanne, a Wye Coppice trainee, was also pleased with her new saw:

“After using the Stihl MSA 300 on a range of tasks from cross-cutting, coppicing and tree felling, it’s safe to say that even on eco mode (the lowest energy setting) it packs a huge amount of power and can handle all of these tasks comfortably, without the need to use its higher power settings.”

She also likes the fact there’s no pull cord to start-up, saying, “A simple release of the handbrake, followed by a thumb press of the safety button and start button and you’re away.”

“The Stihl MSA 300 with AP 500 S batteries is really impressive,” added Nick, our other trainee this year. “It’s powerful and efficient, plus it’s comfortable to use, making it great for all our cutting jobs!”

We estimate that we’re reducing our carbon emissions by about half a tonne per worker, per year (based on avoiding use of three to four tanks of petrol per day, which would release around 4kg CO2). Annually, we’ll be avoiding about the same carbon as emitted by 6,000 miles driven in a petrol car. If they’re charged up with renewable energy, it’s a 100% emissions saving, and costs less, too!

We love the fact that we’ve been able to switch to this equipment with no negative impact on productivity. Workers are benefitting not just from lower noise levels and absence of fumes, but also lower vibrations. We hope others in the forestry industry will follow our lead!

Notes for Editors

1. Wye Coppice is a rural business based in the Forest of Dean and lower Wye Valley. A Community Interest Company, it is led by Director Joe Weaver.
2. Wye Coppice chiefly manages woodlands for biodiversity enhancement, working with ecologists and land managers from the Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, the Woodland Trust, Wildlife Trusts and others. As well as coppicing, we carry out woodland creation and works for nature-based solutions such as natural flood management. 
3. We work on both sides of the Wye, in Gloucestershire, South Wales, Herefordshire and beyond. We also work on the other side of the Severn, having a strong relationship with landowners in Bristol and Somerset.
4. Wye Coppice supplies traditional coppice products including polewood and craft material. Sales of our timber and other products support the woodland economy and rural workers, as well as nature recovery.
5. There is a growing need for woodland management for multiple aims, as recognised by current UK policies. Wye Coppice is a proponent of coppicing as one traditional form of management that should be revived for both its environmental benefits and potential to provide worthwhile employment. Happily, coppicing is enjoying a resurgence in popularity thanks to its ability to rejuvenate woodlands whose habitat value has diminished through lack of management. Nature recovery and the woodland economy can go hand in hand.

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Nick Rose and Roxanne Courtney with Stihl MSA 300s

Contacts

Joe Weaver, Director, Wye Coppice CIC: info@wyecoppice.co.uk / 07931 795104

Caroline Weaver, Project Manager, Wye Coppice CIC: caroline@wyecoppice.co.uk / 07735 317338