BTCV Handbooks Online

Book:	Woodlands
Chapter:	4 Safety, equipment and organisation
Section:	Tools and accessories
Metadata:	Details	Buy this book

Items are listed by category according to their most important type of use.

For all projects

A First Aid Kit, complying with current Health and Safety requirements, should be available at all times. For projects involving up to 10 people, the contents should be as follows:

1 guidance card
20 waterproof plasters
2 No. 16 sterile eye pads
6 triangular bandages
6 safety pins
6 medium sterile dressings 12 x 12cm
4 large sterile dressings 18 x 18cm
10 alcohol free cleansing wipes
2 pairs latex gloves
1 pair scissors, blunt-ended

The following welfare kit is also useful:

Pair of tweezers
Pair of scissors
Safety pins
Needle and thread
Pencil
Sanitary towels
Whistle
Toilet roll
Cotton wool
30 plasters
3 finger pouches
rubber gloves
insect repellent
2 x 10p pieces
sun cream
barrier cream

A list of local hospitals with casualty departments should also be to hand.

Planting and early care

Planting equipment

Heavy duty treaded garden spade
Heavy duty garden fork
Junior garden spade, for use by children

Specialist tree planting spades are available as follows:

The Schlich spade and the Mansfield planting spade both have a ridge down the face of the spade which makes a hole to take the main tree roots.
Treeplanter spades have slightly dished, treaded blades to make deep notches for planting transplants.
The treeplanter bar is a solid all-steel tool for planting in difficult conditions.
The spear is a special tool designed for planting cell grown plants.
Marker canes or similar, to mark planting positions or lines.
Planting bags for carrying planting stock from the supply point to the planting position. Clean, heavy-duty plastic sacks are suitable, or specialist planting bags can be used for large-scale projects. Some growers of cell-grown plants can supply special carriers for use during planting operations.
Lump or sledgehammer, for treeshelter stakes.

Fencing tools

Fencing may be needed around tree nurseries or tree planting areas.

Crowbar, for making pilot holes for stakes.
Post driver (Drivall), mell or maul for driving posts.
Shuv-holer, for removing soil from post holes.
Wrecking bar (swan neck).
Claw hammer
Fencing pliers
Mallet and chisel
Wire strainers
Heavy-duty wire cutters
Tinsnips, for cutting netting.

Pruning tools

Secateurs. Bypass action type are recommended.
Loppers. Various grades are available for cutting branches up to 3 or 5cm (1 or 2") diameter.
Treetop pruner. Extension poles give 3m cutting reach, for high pruning or seed collection.
Pruning saw. Extension poles available for high pruning.

Easy reach tools

Several manufacturers produce tools to which optional longer handles can be attached to extend their use. These are ideal for weeding and other tree nursery work, especially for those people who find it hard to bend or who work from a wheelchair. Tools are available from Wolf, Spear and Jackson and other manufacturers.

Thrive offer a comprehensive information service on all aspects of gardening and horticulture for those with special needs (address in contacts).

Clearance and coppicing

Clearing tools

Long handled scythe (Turk scythe) for cutting grassy rides and glades.
Grass hook, for cutting herbaceous material.
Brushing hook (slasher) for bramble and other light woody material.
Heavy-duty slasher for scrub clearance.

Coppicing

Billhook, for coppicing, clearance and hedgelaying. Various patterns are available. A fairly light, single edged tool is suitable for most users.
Bowsaw. The 53cm (21") bowsaw is suitable for most coppicing work, as its triangular shape makes it possible to use in confined spaces. Suitable for cutting wood up to 12.5cm (5") diameter. The 60cm (24") bowsaw is suitable for felling large coppice stems, small trees, and for cross-cutting felled timber.
Clearing or snedding axe, for snedding, trimming and coppicing.
Sharpening stones