30.09.2026

APF 2026 - Celebrating 50 years

The APF Exhibition tree care show was held at Ragley Estate in Warwickshire, UK, last week and marked 50 years since the first APF Demo event was held at Longleat Estate in Wiltshire.

This year’s show enjoyed three days of good weather and attracted record crowds with more than 20,000 visitors. The only downside of this success was the morning traffic congestion as visitors attempted to access the showground. On Friday morning most roads around the show were gridlocked, delaying access by about an hour.

The even has seen a growing number of spider lifts, small truck mounts and telehandlers on display and this year was no different with most of the big brands represented. Forestry and arb attachments for telehandlers and excavators were also a major equipment feature of the show.

In addition to the forestry and arborist equipment there were plenty of associated events including the European Chainsaw Carving Competition, Speed Fencing British Championships, the World 25 metre Pole Climbing Championships, Axe throwing and for the first time a winch racing competition providing entertainment for those not interested in the equipment. There were other interesting attractions including a woodland craft area with more than 30 craftspeople demonstrating a huge array of skills from clogs to coracles, oak swill baskets to dug out canoes.

The APF Exhibition is not a show for major equipment product launches, with manufacturers tending to use the more international or specialist events. However dealers able to supply and maintain the equipment were busy as visitors took a closer look at machines already identified on their purchasing short lists.

Exhibition Secretary, Ian Millward said: “The show was a fitting celebration of our 50th anniversary. The smiling visitors and happy exhibitors make all the hard work the APF team has put in worthwhile. The show has been a fantastic showcase for the Forest & Arb industries and the 700 school children who came along on guided tours now know a lot more about woodlands and trees than they did before.”

Here is an extended pictorial review of the show.