A forestry firm has invested in a specialist Scandinavian vehicle to help it better manage and conserve areas of woodland across the Midlands after securing a funding deal.
Based in Kidderminster, Woodland Ways specialises in managing small woodlands for both councils and private estates.
With the new Alstor vehicle, financed with a flexible £30,000 loan from HSBC, Woodland Ways will be able to carry out more complicated works across rougher terrain and hard-to-access areas.
The Alstor 8×8 is a machine designed to extract timber from difficult to access or sensitive sites and enables Woodland Ways to carry an extra tonne of load over a working day, making the business around 30 per cent more efficient. It is believed to be one of only five in the UK.
David Llewellyn, owner of Woodland Ways, said: “Over the 15 years we’ve been managing woodland the continued support from HSBC and their in house business advisors has been invaluable in making the business blossom.
“The company has grown from humble beginnings, to a viable business with a large order book because of the specialised works we carry out.
“We invested five years ago in new machinery to extract timber and the business went from strength to strength.
“Now we have invested again with help from the bank to increase production and get more neglected woodlands back into management.”
Andy Willett, area director for business banking in South West Midlands, said: “It’s great to see David’s business doing so well.
“We are committed to helping British businesses realise their ambitions and this is the perfect example.
“David presented such a strong business plan for how the Alstor will be able to help grow Woodland Ways so we were more than happy to help finance the purchase of the new machine.”
