Fifth Element Training

12/05/2026

New climbing kit day, looking forward to getting to grips with the new ascender. Fantastic service from here in France.

21/04/2026

New saw day is always a joy, but today’s is mixed with a tinge of sadness. I started off with the 2 series Husqvarna’s, 254xp and 262xp, through the 3 series with the occasional ‘affair’ with those German harlots, and onto the 5 series. These two, the 592xpg and the 564xpg will probably be the last professional saws of my career before finally hanging up my spurs. I tend not to purchase saws on line and would rather support my local dealer, but after being let down and requiring the saws for an upcoming job, I bought them from based in Austria, incredible service, both saws arrived in France within two working days.

21/01/2026

A few images from my last trip to the UK conducting forestry/chainsaw training. One of the very few places still making this type of Sweetchestnut fencing by hand using a froe. A good maker can cleave in excess of 200ft (60m) per day, all tied and bundled ready to go through the wiring process. I have seen this type of fencing made here in France, but it is mostly done by machine and the waste created in its production is incredible.

01/11/2025

Finally back from the UK after a series of training and recertification events.
I started off completing a LANTRA chainsaw recertification even, where I performed all the recognised felling cuts for the Technical Standards Verifier to critique, I didn’t drop one point.👍
Then on to the RSPB to conduct a mix of training and NPTC/City and Guilds refresher CPD’s, Felling and Processing Trees over 380mm and up to 760mm, Using a Clearing Saw up to and over 50mm.
Good to catch up with old faces and make new connections with familiar names.

05/05/2025

After the disappointment of not winning the recent arbor trolley competition in partnership with , I decided to sell a kidney and purchase one. After a 9 hour drive from Kent back to France, the moment finally arrived to unpack, the assembly obviously being marred by the ubiquitous missing assembly bolts. 👍

10/02/2025

I’ve been recently instructing some introductory courses into woodland management/small tree felling, to produce material suitable for cleft post and rail fencing. In the UK, cleft post and rail is traditionally made with Sweet chestnut, although Oak is sometimes used as an alternative where Sweet chestnut is scarce. For this exercise, we produced cleft post and rail in the East Sussex vernacular, but with a twist, we used Acacia alongside Sweet chestnut to compare and contrast, I think I like it.

29/01/2025

03/12/2024

Winny the Teckel

11/11/2024

Back from my regular stint in the UK instructing RSPB staff in chainsaw maintenance, cross cutting, felling and processing trees.
I also ran some brushcutter courses for the staff who manage lowland heath rather than woodland.
Great people doing great work, promoting biodiversity and protecting endangered habitats for the benefit of wildlife.

08/10/2024

Assisted felling of this Blue Atlas Cedar utilising the Eder 1800 powered winch. The winch was set up with an offset pulley to locate me in a safer position. The tree was felled towards the pulley and into a stiff side wind, avoiding the pump house and covered pool just out of site and to the right.