The purchase of an Avant 630 compact loader has not only accelerated operations across Strudwick’s tree surgery and firewood businesses, but it’s also unlocked new opportunities, turning the machine into what Strudwick now calls “the centre of the firm.”
The Avant 630 isn’t just a forestry machine for Strudwick – it’s a versatile workhorse. Used both on-site and at the yard, the compact loader handles everything from loading trucks and towing trailers to moving hay bales for horses and feeding timber into kilns.
Strudwick said, “We use it for shifting machinery, unloading our Unimog, clearing the yard, moving crates of firewood – you name it. It’s sped up production so much. What used to take multiple people and hours of manual labour, we can now do faster, more efficiently, and with less fatigue.”
Its versatility comes from its size, agility, and the vast range of attachments available – Strudwick currently uses forks, a loading bucket, a power rake, and a stone burier, with plans to add a stump grinder and flail mower to his kit.
On-site at Barrack Wood, a historic woodland near Warley and Thorndon Country Park, Strudwick uses the Avant 630 to manage timber extraction with minimal impact on the environment.
Strudwick explained, “It’s relatively light on the ground, so you don’t get the damage you would with a 10-tonne forestry vehicle. You can trailer it in and out easily, and you don’t need to leave it on site overnight. It’s so versatile.”
Barrack Wood, steeped in history from the Napoleonic era, is a delicate environment. Strudwick’s careful management and the Avant’s low ground pressure make it an ideal combination for sustainable woodland work.
Brentwood Tree Surgery also runs a kiln-dried firewood company – the only one in the area with a wood kiln capable of drying 15 tonnes of timber in just five days. Strudwick said, “All the waste wood is burnt in biomass boilers to fuel the kiln. The Avant loads the firewood processor, moves the crates into the kiln, and unloads them when they’re ready. It’s essential to how we work now.”
The high-quality firewood meets DEFRA and Woodsure standards – a key requirement in today’s market – and Strudwick credits the Avant 630 for helping maintain this efficiency and quality.
He said, “It ticks so many boxes for a machine of its size. You can do so many different types of work with it – it really is a super tool. And the quick-release hydraulics make switching attachments a matter of seconds. No downtime.”
He’s been so impressed with the performance that after three years of ownership, he’s looking to add a second unit – or possibly upgrade and keep the original.
Strudwick also praises the support he’s received from Avant’s dealer, Avant South East. “Chris and the team have been fantastic. They’re a family-run firm and really good to work with.”
Avant will be at GroundsFest 2025 on 9-10 September at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire.
