10/10/2026
An old woodsman was once asked what he’d do with five minutes to fell a tree. His answer: spend the first half sharpening the axe.
The line usually gets pinned on Abraham Lincoln. He never said it. It came from the men doing the work.
We’ve swapped the axe for a chainsaw, but the principle stands. A sharp chain cuts cleaner, works safer and leaves a better finish on the tree. A blunt one means torn cuts, tired climbers and a slower job.
Preparation isn’t the bit before the work. It is the work.
🌳 Tree Squadron | Wales & the South West
www.treesquadron.co.uk