As Arb Approved contractors, Shire Trees proudly work to the highest and safest standards on domestic and commercial tree works across
Cambridgeshire. A third-generation business, tradition underpins much of the day-to-day operations, but onething that hasn’t stayed the same is their choice of fuel. After 17 years of working with standard petrol and its harsh fumes, Owner James Cantle has transformed the running of the business and the wellbeing of his team by switching to Aspen Fuel.

James started working alongside his father in 2005 before taking over the family business in 2017. In the interim years he enjoyed periods working in Bergen, Norway, which is where he first encountered Aspen alkylate fuel. “I hadn’t really come across it before but over there, everyone uses it – you can even buy it straight from the pump” he explains. “Immediately you noticed the difference in engine performance. It was smokeless and the saws just ran better, something I was keen to implement on my return to the UK.”

“As an employer, you’re always monitoring things like vibrations and exposure to harmful toxins and fumes so using Aspen in all of our petrol-powered equipment is just one less thing to worry about.” He continues, “The reduction in fumes not only makes a real difference to our team of eight operatives, especially when working in confined spaces, it’s also important for work in public areas. It has definitely helped us score well in a number of school tenders for example.”

For James and the team, the perks of Aspen extend well beyond the health benefits. “The convenience of it being pre-mixed adds further peace of mind that we’re not going to get incorrect fuel ratios clogging up carburettors in the field. The shelf life of Aspen also means that we can pull out machines that perhaps only get used a couple of times a year and they’ll still start first time. The days of draining out tanks before putting the equipment away are long gone!”

“The time saved here, and the convenience of having the Aspen delivered by Ben Burgess in bulk 200L drums to our site goes a long way to offset the additional upfront cost.”

Aspen 2 is alkylate petrol premixed at 50:1 with a premium quality biodegradable 2-stroke oil. Virtually free from harmful substances such as benzene, aromatic hydrocarbons or olefins – and with no ethanol – Aspen helps equipment run cleaner for longer.

James concludes, “For us, it just makes a lot of sense. While the price per litre may be higher, the combination of the health benefits, convenience, reliability and reduced downtime means Aspen delivers real value where and when it matters most.”