Butlers’ workshop is filled with equipment that helps us do our job with quality and efficiency. From the cherry pickers that help us reach high places, to the chainsaws that help us cut wood, it all comes together in getting the job done right. We’re obviously passionate about our big boys toys, so we wanted to share the in-and-outs of our workshop and yard so you can know all the kinds of equipment we’ve purchased over the years.

Out in the Yard

Butlers have our vans ready to go for any jobs that we might get called for. We’ve also got a few all-terrain vehicles with four-wheel drive for anything on uneven land. We keep space in the yard for spare logs and extra fuel for our vans, as well as hedge trimmings that might end up in our composter. We also keep our log splitter out in the yard – obviously it would make a mess if we used it inside the workshop!

Big Machines

This is where we keep our telehandler here too, which is a machine used to lift and carry all kinds of materials. As you can imagine, it often comes in handy to move things that are otherwise too heavy to lift and shift. In a lot of Butlers’ jobs, we need to reach high-up places as well, so for this task we have two 27-metre cherry pickers that can help raise us up. We also have a fleet of trailers that can help carry wood chips, logs and other waste, or materials for fencing and landscaping jobs.

Different Jobs, Different Requirements

Different jobs have different requirements, with some spaces small and some large it’s important to have the right equipment for the job. That’s why Butlers have a range of chippers, from 6’ to 12’; they’re prepared for any job they’re needed for. Our diggers are similar, with big and small ones that can be sent out depending on the access circumstance.

Our tractors are obviously useful in a whole manner of situations, and we even have a smaller model for littler areas, like gardens, so we can do our job quicker and more easily. Speaking of tractors, Butlers is particularly fond of a vintage model that’s been with us for generations and still stored in the workshop. Of course, there’s little use for it on jobs nowadays!

Into the Workshop

Inside the workshop itself, we all kinds of equipment that always come in handy. For example, there’s a myriad of hedge cutters and chainsaws of different lengths, including a whole range of re-chargeable ones. This is where we keep our mowers too, as well as our fence post fitting machine, which helps us build fences faster and more efficiently. This is also the location of our flailbot, a radio controlled machine for clearing long grass and scrub, as well as the climbing and safety equipment that help us use all our machinery safely.

Maintenance and Safety

Above the main workshop is where the Bulters’ office is situated, but in our line of work we don’t tend to spend too much time there! We have our own maintenance bay to keep our equipment top-notch – we make sure everything is compliant with LOLER (Lifting Operation and Lifting Equipment Regulations) requirements, to keep everything as safe as possible. All our equipment requires training to use, especially the pieces that are larger and heavier, which also require an operator who is more familiar with the machinery present.

Butlers always keep our machines in tip-top shape – not just for us, but also for when we rent them out, so they still operate safely and efficiently. Our vehicles are properly certified too, so we know everything will work properly whenever anyone takes them out on a job. Butlers is always very conscious of safety, as tree surgeons have to be, so we take equipment maintenance very seriously.

So, next time you call Butlers to a job you’ll know where we keep all our amazing machines – and you may even see some of it in the hands of someone who’s rented it out!

A lot of the work Butlers does is domestic. From tree surgery to landscaping, we’re happy to provide our clients with an efficient, quality service. However, we also do contract work for local authorities, too. Whether it’s an emergency, or a routine job Butlers’ extensive experience make us a reliable choice for councils, charities and a whole manner of other clients.

Ash Dieback in Test Valley

Just recently, Butlers were contracted by Test Valley Council to handle cases of Ash dieback in three sites throughout Andover. Dieback in ash trees occurs as a result of a fungal infection and is highly destructive to the species. This means that it’s important to prevent the spread of the disease so it doesn’t threaten more trees. While Butlers’ mostly do our auditing, on this occasion it was conducted by the council’s in-house tree survey – so we knew exactly what we needed to do before arriving on the scene.

How We Helped to Solve the Problem

Each dieback site requires one team to take care of the problem. Our teams are always equipped properly for the job; and on this occasion the best tool is a digger with a timber grab. With it, we can operate quickly and efficiently without compromising on safety. In fact, Butlers were able to handle the first ash dieback site in four days even though we were contracted for five. This allows the dieback to be dealt with as smoothly as possible, and means the council don’t have to worry about the infection spreading even more.

Efficient Solutions to Other Problems

After dealing with the dieback, Test Valley Council asked us to poison the tree stumps so they don’t cause more trouble. To do this, Butlers make sure that the stumps are left high so they don’t create a tripping hazard. As well as this, the poison we use is dog friendly, so it won’t have any adverse affects on unsuspecting animals.

With all material disposed of safely, Butlers make sure that the entire job is secure for both the team and everyone else. After it was over, we offered to remove some ivy for the council as well, since it’s a relatively simple tree survey to undertake. With that over, we were off to the next job!

Butlers would like to welcome a new addition to the team – James Colledge. James has actually been friends with Luke and Stephen for over thirty years, and he’s collaborated with Butlers on a number of occasions in the past. Now, though, he’s taken on a permanent role for us, as Butlers Landscaping Manager.

The Landscaping Manager

Chances are, if you’re calling up for a landscaping job it’s James you’ll be talking to. Luke’s still going to be your man for tree surgery, though, and the big commercial jobs will likely involve both of them together. Customer service is one of James’ biggest strengths and he’s proud of his ability to be personable and communicative. His new position transfers a lot of skills from his previous jobs, so he really knows his stuff.

While the position is very customer-facing, James will also be dealing other matters, such as ordering materials and handling job progress. This is where his attention to detail comes in handy – another key skill he’s made use of throughout his other work. As the other members of Butlers are more occupied with practical work, the addition of James is a welcome one. It means they can continue to focus on their strengths while James focuses on his, making for a smoother running organisation.

James’ Focus

James has a few areas he’d like to focus on through his job. Winning work has been going well so far, with September setting up a pretty packed October to December. What he’s looking toward right now is recruitment, however, to help expand the landscaping side of the business. It’s common for people to say to Butlers, “I’m not sure if you do this kind of work,” and James wants to let people know that they have the skills and the machinery to do it all to the professional standard Butlers customers expect. He wants to play his part in growing the business far beyond tree surgery, into a one-stop shop that can do everything in the garden that customers need them to, even though Butlers are clearly still “the tree people” to go to!

Landscaping involves all kinds of work, including patios, driveways, fences, planting, turfing, gates and automation. James finds the various construction methods really interesting and is excited to try new and different approaches. So, if you’re interested in having any landscaping work carried out, make sure you let James know!

In his spare time, James enjoys traveling, sports and working with the community, for example with charities and youth groups. Butlers is a family business, even if it’s not bound by blood, and its something he’s glad to be a part of. So in the future, if you call up Butlers in need of some landscaping it may well be James on the other end of the line!

As tree surgeons, you can imagine that in our day-to-day work we come across a huge variety of trees. From big, wild native trees, to little ornamental ones there’s no shortage of species to keep our work interesting. In this blog, we’d like to explore a few of the more common ones. Hopefully this will give you a nice idea of the sorts of trees you might find in your back garden. But don’t forget, there’s more to trees than just Oak, and we love taking care of the stranger sorts too!

Common Oak (Quercus robur)

Common oak can be found throughout Western Europe but is by far the most common tree in the UK. Oak trees are home to lots of insects and animals and can grow up to 40 metres tall. Their seeds are acorns, a popular food amongst lots of animals such as squirrels and jays. The widest oak in Britain is the Majesty Oak with a circumference of 12.2 metres. One of the most famous, though, is Major Oak, where legend says Robin Hood used to take shelter.

Field Maple (Acer campestre)

Field maple is native to much of Europe as well as southwest Asia and North Africa. It’s often grown as an ornamental tree in parks and gardens and has been introduced to some parts of America and Australia. The wood of maple is white and strong and is often used for furniture and musical instruments. Maple is also a fairly popular plant among bonsai enthusiasts.

Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)

Common Ash is another tree native to mainland Europe and Great Britain. Ash is very resilient, grows quickly and its wood is versatile, historically making it very useful to smallholders and farmers. While not as resistant to rot as oak, its wood is flexible and shock-resistant, often being used for tool handles.

Common Beech (Fagus Sylvatica)

Beech trees are very large and can reach up to 50 metres tall. They’ve historically been considered native to southern England, but recent evidence suggests they weren’t brought here until the stone age. Like maple, they’re often used as an ornamental tree in parks and gardens, being frequently clipped to make attractive hedges. Beech is dominant in woodlands from North Suffolk to Cardigan, with oak overtaking it from there. Common beech is one of the best woods for fireplaces.

Trees for small gardens

We’ve gone through just a few of the most common UK trees, but lets have quick rundown of a few species you might want for a smaller garden.

• Crab Apple – Crab Apples are compact ornamental trees that blossom in spring and provide colourful fruit in autumn that can last through Winter.
• Rowan – There are a few cultivars in the Sorbus species. Some provide pink berries, some yellow, and some have a purple autumn colour.
• Japanese maple – Japan has cultivated these for centuries and they first arrived in Britain in 1820. They grow slowly and have a blazing autumn colour.

These are just some of the most common tree types you might come across, but there are loads out there. We’re experienced with all different kinds, no matter how common or rare. If you need your tree taken care of we’re more than happy to help you out!

Our clients often share great interest in our cutting-edge (and cutting hedge) machinery and tools when we’re on any job from fencing to landscaping. We love sharing our inside knowledge on what tools are the best for what jobs and why. We also enjoy giving our recommendations for your own home-maintenance jobs, after all, our team members have had experience with almost every tool out there in our line of work! So, we thought you’d like to know about the Top 5 Most Important Tools in our kit that we couldn’t do our job without.

 

1. Garden Rake

You may laugh and think “what on earth does a tree surgeon need a rake for?”. Well, you may have read in our Google reviews from many impressed clients that mention how we leave a job without a trace and this is where the rake comes in handy! At BUTLERS we take real pride in our work and we like to ensure that our sites are left as tidy as possible. This is where the rake really comes into its own!

 

2. Chainsaw (Sharp!)

It may be obvious that a chainsaw is important for a tree surgeon to do a good job. What is perhaps not so obvious is that it needs to be extremely sharp. Not just to cut wood but to do it in the safest way possible. One of our mantras on site is “a sharp chainsaw is a safe chainsaw”. This reduces wear and tear, minimises operator fatigue and makes for a far more efficient job.

 

3. Chipper (Sharp!)

At BUTLERS our fleet of chippers are kept well maintained and replaced regularly. It’s super important to keep the chippers as sharp as our chainsaws. On average a busy ‘one-man-band’ tree surgeon will use his chipper for 300 hours per year! While some of the BUTLERS’ chippers are doing three times that with over 900 hours a year! We process approximately 3,000 tons of woodchip in a single year from our arboricultural jobs. Keeping our chippers sharp means we ensure our machines run efficiently under high usage.

 

4. MEWP (Mobile Elevated Work Platform, also known as a Cherry Picker)

MEWPs are one of the safest ways to gain access into the trees. We have 10 MEWPs of all shapes and sizes. All are available for hire and are used wherever possible on our own jobs to make the work safer, quicker and more efficient for our staff and our customers. Not only do they help keep our team safe but they also enable some amazing views on a blue sky day!

 

5. PPE & Climbing Kit
We have an important list of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) which we take very seriously onsite. We also have climbing kits for (you guessed it) our climbers, which are the team members that go up into the air to work on the trees. We covered this in one of our recent blogs which you can read HERE!

 

We hope you found this blog interesting and hopefully have gained a little more insight into life at BUTLERS. If you want to learn more about the services we provide with these tools, check out our website or get in touch with our team!

At Butlers we are proud to facilitate an Apprenticeship Programme for young people looking to get into the industry. We know it can be challenging to break into Arboricultural work without any experience or knowledge of the specialised skills needed. So, we are pleased to welcome Apprentices to the Butlers’ team and offer them a big first stepping stone in starting their career. To learn more about what it’s like to be an Apprentice at Butlers, we caught up with Adam to share some first-hand experience!

1. What was the process to become an Apprentice at Butlers?

The first thing that I did to start the Apprenticeship process was to contact the college and the employer about getting into the course, then I was invited to an open day at the college (Sparsholt, Winchester). They showed me around the facilities and the classrooms that I would be using in my two years at the college. After this, I met with Butlers and was shown around the yard and the machines and met some of the guys I would be working with. Then I was given a start date for work and college and the rest is history. 

2. How many years will your Apprenticeship be? What qualification(s) do you finish with?

My Apprenticeship is two years. I attend college on a Monday and work the rest of the week. During this time, I will gain NPTC (National Proficiency Test Council) tickets in just about everything going from chainsaw to climbing and much more. In total, I will get eight in my two years at college.

3. What does your role involve?

The role I play as an Apprentice is mostly learning and supporting the team. At the same time, I try to gain as much knowledge and experience as I can. It’s great to shadow the team and learn from hands-on experience. As Butlers provide a wide range of services I get to learn about them all on the job which is great!

4. What do you like most about being an Apprentice at Butlers?

The thing I like most as an Apprentice at Butlers is learning the vast knowledge that some of the more experienced members of the team have, like little tips and tricks to make the day easier and more efficient.

5. What’s the most challenging part about being an Apprentice?

The most challenging part for me is that you are being fed a lot of information very quickly, but the upside to this is that you can also progress very quickly within the industry and I will have a great start once completing the apprenticeship.

6. What advice would you give to anyone wanting to follow in your footsteps?

Do it! It’s great and you’ll enjoy it as much as I have!

If you’d like to learn more about becoming an Apprentice with Butlers, don’t hesitate to give us a call! We’d be happy to have a chat and welcome you to the team.

Did you know that one of the most important things for a tree surgeon to do their work is not just their tools, but their clothing too! Don’t get us wrong, it’s no fashion show in our line of work, but there are still some surprising purposes to our dress code. 

The Butler’s uniform is bottle green with our nice clean logo, which the team wears proudly! Even though our uniform can get pretty grubby, we like to make efforts to look as professional and smart as possible when we arrive onsite. To make sure this is possible, we have multiple of each item so we can wear a fresh and clean uniform to every job.

Most of what we wear depends on the weather! As we work in all temperatures, we have to dress appropriately for the outdoors. In the winter we sometimes have layers upon layers to keep us warm while we work. Everyone in the team appreciates our big branded hoodies and hats in the colder months! In the summer we wear our green Butler’s t-shirts but we still have to wear our orange overalls for safety onsite.

Another important aspect of our clothing is wearing the correct PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and ensuring this is presented properly and professionally. The PPE we wear to every job will include: 

• Helmets
• Ear and eye protection
• Chainsaw protective trousers
• Chainsaw protective boots
• Gloves 

Tree surgeons that go up into the air, known as Climbers, will also carry a personal first aid kit and a whistle so they’re ready for any emergencies. These team members have to wear even more accessories in the form of harnesses and ropes to be able to do their job effectively and safely.

It’s very important that everyone onsite keeps their PPE clean and in good working condition. As a lot of our uniform is designed to keep us out of harm’s way, all the team respect their kit and the rules we have at Butler’s. Clean kit is safe kit!

Check out our Instagram to spot our bright orange trousers and see the different colour helmets we wear.

At Butlers, we pride ourselves on the fun and positive environment we work hard to create for our family-run team! We love to read reviews that highlight this happy and friendly atmosphere that we bring along with us to every job. Many of our clients are very interested in what we do and how we do it. So, what is a day in the life of a tree surgeon really like?

Get Ready…

A typical day at Butlers starts off with meeting all the team in the yard. We are soon met by Luke who sets out the teams for the day and we lay down the action plan. After this, we all gather around for our ‘Tool Box Talk’ where Stephen goes over a few things that we have done well over the past week and a few things to improve on. This helps the team to focus on the tasks at hand and motivates us to keep up the hard work! 

Get Steady…

Next, it’s time to get the kit ready! We go out into the yard and get our vans, chippers, saws, and machines filled and checked for the day ahead depending on the type of work. The final check is for safety equipment, including helmets, ear defenders and first aid kits. Our Health and Safety procedures are taken very seriously onsite. The team makes sure checks are done thoroughly and carefully every morning before we head out. After this, we’re on our way to the job.

Go!

Once we arrive the team leader does a walk-through with the client and they point out what work they want to be done according to the job sheet. The rest of the team set up our tools and machines needed for the day. When this is complete, it’s time to get to work! Depending on the length of the job we stop for two breaks during the day, one at 10:00 and another at 13:00. We love to work on a sunny and warm day but will get the job done come rain or shine!

Every day on a job is filled with banter, teamwork, learnings, and a lot of hard graft. However, every day can be different based on the jobs that come in. Some days we’ll be meters in the air removing huge trees and other days we’ll be fixing fencing firmly on the ground! It keeps the kind of work we do exciting and feels like a new adventure every time we head out on a job.

We work through the day until usually about 16:30, but this depends on the size of the job. If we can’t get it finished in that time the team are always up for a bit of overtime! When we get back to the yard we’re most of the time covered in mess but always feeling like we accomplished a great deal that day. We return the vans to the shed and maybe sharpen a saw or two if we have time. Then it’s time to head home for a shower and a well deserved rest.

 

If you have any questions about the services we provide, feel free to get in touch!

Ash Dieback continues to be a large problem for people all over the UK. As a homeowner, it’s no surprise that you want your garden and all of the trees in it to be looking their best. Unfortunately, due to diseases like ash dieback, your ash trees may be in danger. If you aren’t familiar with it, here’s a quick run down…

What is Ash Dieback? 

Ash Dieback is a disease caused by a fungus called Hymenoscyphus Fraxinus. This unfortunate disease is also commonly referred to as Chalara. This fungus essentially kills the tree from the top down. This is because once present, the fungus prevents the tree from getting nutrients to its upper branches. Trees are often infected during the summer by airborne spores. These originate from fruit bodies often found at the base of the tree. 

Ash tries are one of the most common trees in the UK which means there’s a strong chance that some of the trees in your garden may be affected. Ash dieback has the worst impact on younger trees as they are less resilient to any diseases. Fortunately, this means older trees stand more of a fighting chance. That being said, these older trees will lose a lot of strength and become susceptible to insect infestation and other issues. 

Spotting Ash Dieback

Spotting this disease in your trees can be difficult if you’re not a tree expert or if you’re unsure what types of trees you have. If that’s the case, feel free to get in touch, we’d be happy to arrange an inspection. There are a few indicators that one of your trees may be infected, you can read all about that here. 

What Should I Do? 

If you’re unsure how to proceed with a tree that has ash dieback, we suggest giving us a call. Oftentimes, we find that our clients will have just one tree that has ash dieback. In this case, we definitely suggest having this tree removed. When caught early, it means that we can ensure the fungus is under control and won’t spread to other trees in your garden. 

If you have any more questions surrounding ash dieback or any of our other services, feel free to give us a call. We’d be more than happy to provide you with more information or set up a consultation or inspection.

 

 

Recently, we interviewed two members of the team here at G A Butlers & Sons, Graham and Adam Butler. They are both of very different experience levels and we were curious to see their opinions on the business and the arboriculture industry as a whole. We wanted to get an idea of the Butlers experience through the generations.

 

Graham, along with the help of his two sons Luke and Stephen, established Butlers in 1996 and has been overseeing operations ever since. With over 40 years of experience, Graham is an industry expert and the perfect teacher and role model for anyone who joins the team.

 

On the other hand, we have Adam, who has recently joined the team as an Apprentice Arborist. While new to the business, he shows very strong promise and is often referred to as the CEO – Chief Encouragement Officer!

 

Keep reading to see the parallels between Graham and Adam…

G: Graham Butler

A: Adam Butler 

1. What is your take on the business, the industry and see the benefits of the history and opportunity for the future? Perhaps tell us about how the business got started and how it has changed since it’s been in operation. Or tell us about the best bits!

 

G: “When we started the business 25 years ago, the industry was just taking off. From the jump, we were one of the first companies to have a cherry picker. The arboriculture industry has evolved over the years and we’re thrilled to see how Butlers become a leading brand within the arb sector.”

 

A: “The best part of the industry for me is the use of machinery, things that make life easier and quicker when you’re trying to get a job done.”

 

2. How long have you been part of Butlers?

 

G: “25 right from the get-go. From the planting!”

 

A: “ I’ve been working for butlers for about one year now and hopefully there’s many more to come.”

 

3. What’s your favourite part of working with Butlers?

 

G: “Interaction with its people and clients. We like to treat every customer like family.”

A: “ My favourite part of working for butlers is probably the people I work with, this alone makes the job worth doing, also making memories that I’ll never forget.”

 

 4. How has it changed since you’ve been working here?

 

G: “From its early days, it was evident that if the effort and attention to detail were a priority, the business would grow quickly by reputation. Over 25 years later, this still rings true. So in some ways, there have been no changes as we still see effort and attention to detail as a priority ”

 

A: “It has already changed a lot since I’ve been working here, mainly to do with the amount of machinery that has come on board since I’ve joined, most notably the crane lorry.”

 

5. Favourite memory?

 

G: “Easy. There was one time during a massive storm, we were all having a great time working together despite the difficult conditions. Lot’s of good stories came out of that day! Another memory was when Mrs. Butler and I spent a Sunday night clearing a big ash tree that had fallen across the road new Hungerford. Not your typical Sunday night!”

A: “My favourite memory is probably when I was younger going out with my dad on an emergency call out in the middle of the night and he felled a tree perfectly even though it was difficult to see in the dark, what a legend.”

 

6. What could you learn from each other?

 

G: “To keep my feet moving, learn about a bark box, whatever that is!!”

 

A: “I could learn a lot from Grandad, I think any arborist in the country would be happy to have half the knowledge that he does.”

 

7. What could you teach each other?

 

G: “I could teach him how to sharpen saws properly, whereas he could teach me more about technology and how to use my phone properly”

 

A:  There are a few things I think I could teach Grandad, like introducing him to new things that can make the job get done more efficiently.”

 8. Where do you see the business in another 25 years?

 

G: “I think the industry will change from an ecological standing and everything will be electric. The world now values the creature more than the creator… We might be about to see a shift to carrying out only very remedial work to trees.

More than anything I want to see the business in fresh, safe hands continuing on with the Butlers traditions.”

 

A: “Hopefully in 25 years (or less) we’ll still be one of the top tree surgery company’s in the UK, with a huge lineup of gear that sets us apart from anyone around.”

 

As you can see, there are a lot of similarities while also a few differences between the answers. One thing that’s clear is that passion is at the heart of everything we do at Butlers. We aim to have a good time and make great memories while providing our clients with high-quality work. If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch.