95: Cheeseburgers and Old Tools

This week, CountrySlide comes from somewhere between the burger van and the chainsaw demonstrations at APF 2026.

Richard Prideaux is joined by forestry contractor and SideCountry writer Nick Adams for a wander around the 50th anniversary show at Ragley Estate, where the machinery is enormous, the fish and chips cost £16.50 and somebody appears to be selling a 16-foot shovel.

They compare APF with the Game Fair, consider the financial commitment involved in some seriously expensive forestry machinery and attempt to record a podcast while seemingly every chainsaw manufacturer in Britain starts a demo nearby.

Along the way there are broken brush cutters, George Browne attempting to handle tools, a chance meeting with a Richard Negus fan, Nick's latest SideCountry article, beavers, strange Warwickshire road names and the discovery that the forestry world is small enough that somebody at every stand appears to know somebody else.

All recorded with the 'gentle' background ambience of petrol engines, tannoys and two men waiting for their cheeseburgers.


You can contact us on social media, using the messaging system on patreon or emailing - contact@countryslide.co.uk

Links
-APF Exhibition
-Forestry Contracting Association
-Nick Adams: Rewilding Is No Panacea
-Morakniv Woodcarving Knife 106
-Grizzly Peak Enterprises axe scabbards
- T-shirts are still available on - store.sidecountry.co.uk
- Sign up to our newsletter - The Rural Register
- SideCountry Network
- Negus' book tour dates can be found here

DISCLAIMER
Views are those of individual speakers and do not necessarily represent SideCountry, its presenters, contributors, partners or sponsors. For general information and entertainment only. Laws, seasons, access and guidance change; check official sources, obtain permission and act within your competence.