When it comes to tackling complex environmental projects in challenging conditions, CD Forestry Excavations has carved out a reputation as a specialist in the field.
Based in the South-West, the company’s expertise in habitat restoration and forestry operations has made them a trusted name in the industry.
Since founding the company in 2018, Owner Callum Dyckes has worked on numerous restoration and habitat creation projects. His passion for preserving scientifically significant areas has taken him across the UK, tackling unique challenges with the help of his trusted JCB machinery.
His most recent undertaking is to assist with the Dorset Peat Partnership’s £1 million wetland restoration scheme at Purbeck, Dorset – where a JCB150X HD with wide steel tracks is coming into its own.
Heavy duty handling
CD Forestry Excavations has been instrumental in The Purbeck project which aims to create England’s first ‘super’ National Nature Reserve by reinstating 172 hectares of peatland owned by the National Trust and the Forestry Commission. The project aims to slow water flow, create habitats for rare plants and store carbon.
Yet it has not been an easy task working in such a sensitive environment and the project has demanded machinery capable of operating on delicate, waterlogged terrain.
This is where the versatile and powerful JCB 150X HD tracked excavator came in, whose heavy-duty undercarriage provided the perfect base for wider steel tracks which were integral to the success of the operation. These tracks reduced ground bearing pressure from 5.8psi to 2.8psi, enabling efficient operations without bog mats.
Callum Dyckes | Owner
He continues: “The 1150mm wide steel tracks supplied by Astrak were easily matched up with the JCB and have enabled the machine to work successfully on the slushy and wet peatland. The tracks are simply fitted, so I can quickly swap them over with two other sets of bolt-on tracks that I have for use on other contracts, such as highway work and general forest operations. This effectively gives me three work configurations in the undercarriage alone.”
This combination of robust, durable machinery, advanced technology and the specialist wide tracks has proven to be indispensable for this sensitive project.
Comfort when you need it most
The JCB 150X HD is specially designed for demanding environments like the Purbeck wetlands but its operators do not have to suffer in this unforgiving landscape as the CommandPlus cab offers unmatched operator comfort, with low noise levels, intuitive controls, and thoughtful touches like pre-start courtesy lights.
Callum said of the spacious cab: “I spend much of my working day in the cab, so I need a comfortable, stress-free operating environment and the JCB hasn't disappointed. The cab gives me plenty of storage space for all my bits and pieces, the control functions are very intuitive, noise levels are low, it is very stable on all types of ground, offers plenty of power and is extremely well spec’d, with lots of nice little touches like courtesy lights which can be turned on with the flick of a switch, making it much easier to carry out my pre-start checks each morning"
While the 150X from the ever-popular JCB X Series range is super strong, having undergone thousands of hours of extreme testing including shaker rig testing, hot and cold climate testing, window and door operation tests and engine testing to 110,00 hours – the CommandPlus cab is known for its extreme comfort levels; making the JCB 150X the perfect mix of strength and comfort.
Versatility at its core
For Callum, the JCB 150X HD is more than a workhorse; it’s a multi-tasking marvel. With a versatile Engcon EC219 tiltrotator, specified with EC-Oil, an automatic quick coupler system, Callum can seamlessly switch between hydraulic tools from the comfort of the cab. “I use a lot of different attachments over the course of a working day, so EC-Oil is invaluable to me. It’s a perfect complement to the JCB 150X HD and saves me so much time,” he explains.
From forestry mulching to general excavation, the JCB 150X HD adapts effortlessly to varied tasks – making it the perfect partner for Callum’s complex and varied needs. And with plans to add another X Series to the fleet in the new year to manage workload it’s safe to say Callum is happy to place his trust in JCB machinery.
Looking ahead
CD Forestry Excavations plans to rebrand as CD Forestry & Environmental Ltd in 2025, reflecting their growing focus on ecological projects. With Callum’s teams’ combined 15 years of experience, a trusted partner in JCB, and the reliable 150X HD at their side, the company is set to continue making an environmental impact.