by Nick Drew | Wed 11 Jun 2025
Saw Doctors Forestry: Built on grit, backed by Yanmar
When most contractors see a job and think, “No thanks”, Joe Blackburn, owner of Saw Doctors Forestry says, “Bring it on.”
Based in Burnley, Lancashire, Joe and his tight-knit team specialise in the kind of work others avoid – trenching through bedrock, laying cables in flooded forests, and erecting 14-metre telegraph poles in boggy moorland. It’s tough, gritty work – and just the way they like it.
To take it on, the company relies on a hard-working fleet from Yanmar Compact Equipment (Yanmar). Their line-up includes the SV26 mini excavator (OW 2,705kg), SV60 midi excavator (OW 5,685kg) and the C30R-3TV tracked dumper (OW 2,500kg) – all supplied and supported by trusted local dealer Mellor Plant.
“We don’t do easy jobs,” says Joe. “We’re the ones that get the call when it’s remote, reactive, and no one else wants to touch it. And the Yanmar machines just get it done.”
From the saddle to the site
Before Joe was operating diggers, he was clearing fences – on horseback. As a former Team GB show jumper, he knows the equestrian world inside out. That early experience not only shaped his work ethic, it helped him find his first niche. “I knew the industry, the standards, and the people – and they trusted me to deliver.”
Combined with a background in electrical engineering, Joe began tackling a mix of fencing, landscaping and repair work. As word spread and the jobs got tougher, he doubled down – investing in plant, building bespoke attachments, and saying yes to the projects others avoided. Today, Saw Doctors is a go-to name for equestrian groundwork, forestry, and emergency infrastructure jobs across the North West.
Real jobs. Real pressure.
Joe’s projects regularly push both people and machines to the limit. When a substation started collapsing into a brook mid-winter, his team was called in to stabilise it – fast. “The crack turned serious quickly. It was winter, the brook was raging, and if the building gave way, it would’ve knocked 500+ homes off supply. We had to dam the stream, reroute the water and underpin the foundations – all while monitoring movement daily.”
Another standout job involved trenching through woodland bog to lay power cable. “I was waist-deep in mud more than once,” Joe recalls. “We had to dig in with the SV60 and dig back out again. That kind of job breaks machines – but the Yanmar just kept going.”
And when other contractors turned down a high-end private project involving 200 tonnes of hand-laid permeable concrete, Joe stepped in. “It took four months, and I was the only one screeding it. Brutal – but worth it. We delivered, and the results were spot-on.”
Machines that don’t quit
Joe’s first Yanmar – the SV60 midi excavator – quickly became the backbone of the business. Fitted with a Rototilt RC2 by Mellor Plant, as well as a forestry grab, tree shear and winch, it’s a
multitool for extreme environments. “We’ve pulled 12-metre poles, felled entire stands of birch, trenched through solid rock – all with the SV60. It’s powerful, smooth and incredibly tough.”
For everyday access and general site work, the company turns to the nimble SV26, a compact, towable unit that “punches well above its weight.” Meanwhile, the C30R-3TV tracked dumper takes care of the worst terrain. “It’s such a joy to operate, the lads fight over who gets to drive it,” Joe laughs.
Trusted dealer support
Behind the machines is Blackburn-based Mellor Plant, the official Yanmar CE dealer for North West England – and for Joe, their support is just as critical as the equipment. “They’re 20 minutes away from our facility and just brilliant. I’ve called them at 5pm and they’ve stayed late to help. Whether it’s parts, customisation or emergency fixes, they’ve always got our back. That kind of support is priceless when you're running five or six jobs at once.”
Joe’s approach has earned him loyal clients and serious respect across the industry. He’s already planning to grow the fleet, investing in specialist kit to take on even more niche, demanding work. “I’m always looking for problems that haven’t been solved yet. If I’ve got the right machine, I’ll find the job. That’s the logic.”
For Saw Doctors Forestry, it’s about pride, precision, and problem-solving. As Joe puts it: “The Premium Red painted Yanmars turn heads on site, sure – but it’s what they can do that matters. They’re integral members of our team.”