Forestry Mulching Services
Forestry Mulching Services Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire & Moray
Low Ground Pressure Mulching Machine
Epic Tree Care now offers forestry mulching services across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray. Using a specialist low ground pressure mulching machine, we can clear scrub, vegetation, brash and unwanted growth quickly and efficiently, with minimal impact on the ground beneath.
From rural estate management to land clearance ahead of development, our forestry mulching service is a fast, cost-effective way to get the job done without the hassle of separate chipping, burning or carting arisings off site.
What Is Forestry Mulching?
Forestry mulching is a single-pass land clearing method. A powerful mulching head – mounted on a tracked machine – grinds vegetation, scrub, small trees and woody material directly into a fine mulch, which is then spread evenly across the ground.
Traditional clearance usually means separate felling, chipping and removal operations. Mulching does it all in one go. The mulch left behind acts as a natural ground cover, keeping weeds down, retaining moisture and putting nutrients back into the soil.
It’s a practical, low-fuss option for landowners, estate managers, councils and developers across North East Scotland who need land cleared without a lot of disruption.
Our Low Ground Pressure Mulching Machine
What sets our forestry mulching service apart is the machine we use. We operate a low ground pressure (LGP) machine, which makes a real difference on the soft, boggy and sensitive ground you often find across the Scottish landscape.
A low ground pressure machine spreads its weight more evenly across a wider track surface. In practice, that means:
- Much less soil compaction compared to standard heavy machinery
- Works on soft, wet or sensitive ground – including areas heavier equipment simply can’t access
- Far less rutting and surface damage – the ground looks a lot better once we’re done
- Suitable for environmentally sensitive sites, including areas near watercourses, SSSIs and protected habitats
In short, it lets us do the job properly in places where other methods would cause too much damage – or wouldn’t be viable at all.
What Can Forestry Mulching Be Used For?
Our mulching service covers a wide range of jobs across residential, commercial and rural land:
- Land Clearance & Site Preparation Clear scrub, bramble, gorse, saplings and dense undergrowth ahead of development, fencing, planting or landscaping.
- Woodland & Ride Management Open up overgrown woodland rides and glades, let more light in and improve conditions for wildlife.
- Vegetation & Scrub Control Deal with invasive or encroaching vegetation on agricultural land, field margins, embankments and roadsides – without the cost and time of manual labour.
- Brash & Arisings Management Process felling residues and brash left over from tree surgery or timber harvesting. Turns waste material into a clean, biodegradable mulch layer, right where it stands.
- Estate & Conservation Management Manage heathland, moorland fringe, hillside scrub and other habitats as part of a wider estate or conservation plan. Our LGP machine handles the varied and often challenging ground across Aberdeenshire and Moray well.
- Amenity & Recreational Land Clear overgrown paths, green spaces, parks and public land for local authorities, conservation bodies and recreational operators.
We operate with £10 million Public Liability Insurance and £10 million Employers Liability Insurance
Qualifications list
Inspection
Professional Tree Inspection: Lantra Professional Tree Inspection
Lifting Equipment: City & Guilds NPTC Level 3 Thorough Examination of Arboricultural Equipment
Base
Woodchipper: Lantra Woodchippers
Stumpgrinder: Lantra Stumpgrinders
Chainsaw: City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross-cutting
Chainsaw: City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Ground Based Chainsaw Operator
Chainsaw (200-380mm): City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Felling Small Trees up to 380mm
Chainsaw (over 380): City & Guilds NPTC Level 3 Felling and Processing Trees over 380mm
Windblow: City & Guilds NPTC Level 3 Severing Uprooted or Windblown Trees using a Chainsaw
Assisted Fell: City & Guilds NPTC Level 3 Assisted Fell Operations
Working at Height
Rescue: City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue
Chainsaw: City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Using a Chainsaw from a Rope and Harness
Chainsaw: City & Guilds NPTC Level 3 Aerial Tree Pruning
Chainsaw: City & Guilds NPTC Level 3 Aerial Cutting of Trees with a Chainsaw Using Free-fall Techniques
Rigging: City & Guilds NPTC Level 3 Aerial Tree Rigging
Utilities
Utility Arboriculture: City & Guilds NPTC Level 3 Utility Arboriculture Basic Electrical Knowledge
Machinery
Chokerman – Skyline: City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Forest Machine Operations – Chokerman
Base Skidder: City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Forest Machine Operations – Base Machine with Skidder
Forwarder: City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Forest Machine Operations – Base Machine with Forwarder
Mulcher: City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Forest Machine Operations – Flail/Mulcher
Felling: City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Forest Machine Operations – Felling
First Aid
First Aid: Emergency First Aid at Work + Forestry
Frequently Asked Questions
What size of vegetation can a forestry mulcher handle?
Our machine handles scrub, bramble, gorse, dense undergrowth and small to medium-sized trees well. For larger timber, mulching works nicely alongside our tree felling and woodland thinning services.
Will mulching damage my ground?
Our low ground pressure machine is chosen specifically to keep soil compaction and surface damage to a minimum. It’s well suited to soft, boggy and sensitive ground where conventional machinery would cause significant disruption.
What happens to the mulched material?
The mulch is spread evenly on site and left in place. It suppresses weed growth and returns organic matter to the soil. There’s nothing to remove or take away.
Do I need planning permission for vegetation clearance?
It depends on the location, the scale of the work and whether any Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) or conservation designations apply. We’re happy to advise on any permissions or licences needed before work starts, including Tree Felling Licences where relevant. Contact us to talk through your situation.
Can you work on SSSI land or near watercourses?
Our LGP machine is well suited to environmentally sensitive sites and we’re experienced in working within sites that have ecological or conservation constraints. Any work on designated sites should be discussed with the relevant authority – NatureScot – beforehand, and we can help guide you through that process.
Can forestry mulching be combined with other services?
Yes, easily. Mulching works well alongside our woodland thinning, tree felling and land clearance services. We can put together a combined programme of works to suit what you need.