THEY fell and harvest the willow that goes into most of the world’s cricket bats. But it is the performance of Aspen Fuel that has bowled over one forestry contractor. 

C J Ashby Forestry has been powered by the brand for the last 15 years, ever since owner Colin Ashby picked up a copy of a forestry magazine and read about it for the first time. 

The fourth generation of the family to take the helm, Colin leads a team of 17 operatives nationwide, looking after all stages of the willow production – from procuring and planting the trees, through to harvesting and hauling.

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“Our journey with Aspen began 15 years ago when we started experiencing a number of issues with our petrol-powered chainsaws,” he said. “I was working on a farm at the time, and the farmer suggested the source of the problem was the fuel. Later that day I picked up a copy of a forestry magazine and started reading about Aspen Fuel, and the rest, as they say, is history. 

“We purchased a few cans to give it a try and we’ve been using it ever since – starting with Aspen-2 initially in our handheld tools and then moving onto the Aspen-4 for our larger bits of equipment such as the mechanical arbor.

“As soon as we started using Aspen Fuel, all of the headaches and sore throats you just became accustomed to stopped, immediately.” 

Virtually free from sulphur, benzene and solvents, Aspen alkylate petrol is much less harmful that pump unleaded. By removing these ingredients, operators can breathe clean air, contributing to a healthier and cleaner working environment. 

The omission of ethanol also makes Aspen better for engine health, providing maximum performance while simultaneously extending equipment life and reliability. 

“Chainsaws which may have lasted 12 months previously, now give us three years of reliable performance,” Colin – who works in partnership with J S Wright & Sons – added. “Across the board, I’d say since we switched to Aspen our hand tools are lasting twice as long and our maintenance and repair bills have halved.”