The origins of the company ‘Airborne Tree Specialists‘ can be traced back over two hundred years to when Sid’s ancestors first took up tree works in the region of South Shropshire circa 1800.
It is from circa 1900, however, that the business began to evolve, when Sid’s great, great grandfather Tom Smallman opened a sawmill in Clun and founded "Tom's Timber Fellas!"
Felling and tree surgery works would be carried out during the winter months and milling works would be undertaken during the summer months. With only axes and crosscutters to use, the work was arduous and gruelling with no modern chainsaws and equipment back then!
The company name later changed to "Shropshire Valley Timber" and, in time, the family sold the sawmill to a local businessman circa 1930. It continued to be in service for a number of years before eventually closing and making way for housing developments.
Sid’s family continued with their tree works however and around 1960 the company changed its name to the "South Shropshire Timber Company." In 1964, Sid's grandfather died and his father, Cyril, took the reins, contracting all over the country felling large hardwoods and carrying out tree surgery work, while trading in logs and kindling at the weekends. The company contracted out to big firms Barker Bros, James Barker, B & J Davis of Bucknell and Chantler Timber of Crewe.
Cyril was involved in the national efforts to overcome the outbreak of Dutch Elm Disease that spread across the country at this time.
Cyril's son, Sid, joined the business in 1975 and, soon after in 1976 the company found their resources tested to the limit to help with the clean up of a major storm that brought down many trees across Shropshire and Powys. They were similarly involved in the clean up after the great storm in the South of England in 1987. There was so much damage that the total clean up operation took over four and a half years!
In 1990 Sid's father, Cyril, died and Sid took over the company. The company continued carrying out contracts right across the whole country and, in 1994, Sid was approached by the Forestry Commission to take on a national contract felling Douglas Firs to be used as transmission poles in Switzerland. He had to climb to the top of the 104 feet high trees to ensure that the top felled out and not inward as this would cause too much damage to the centre of the tree for its planned use.
Sid changed the company name to "Airborne Tree Specialists" in 1999 and changed the direction of the company to move away from forestry and do more work with utilities companies and local authorities as well as private tree work.
"Airborne Tree Specialists Ltd" became a limited company in 2003 and continues to carry out contract work all over the country. The heritage and experience of the company continues with the latest generation offering a professional and highly skilled service.
