On 03/02/2017 00:38, Theo wrote:

I have a patch of scrubby trees to clear. They're mostly quick-growing
sappy things, I don't recall exactly what, but a bit like elder or mountain
ash. The stems are maybe 2-3cm diameter and a couple of metres high.

What are you proposing to do to them?
Chop off and then spray off any regrowth from the roots?

If I was doing it then I'd go with a fork, mattock and a scaffold pole
and lever each one out with as much root as I could get.

There's enough of them and time is limited so I've been looking at power
tools. What would be a good tool for this? I think it might be a bit much
for a hedge trimmer but a chainsaw seems a bit too powerful - especially the
PPE needed.

A strimmer with a solid blade perhaps but also need right PPE.

Due to logistics petrol and mains electric aren't feasible, which leaves
battery powered. Also portability is an issue - most hedge trimmers are
about 80cm long which is a bit awkward to carry.

I don't understand. Petrol tools are usually lighter and smaller than
battery powered and the latter never have enough charge to do the job.
At least with petrol you can get the job done in one go if you can
persuade the engine to actually start. My strimmer is a real PITA for that.

I see there are 'cordless secateurs'. Are these any good? Can they cope
with this kind of thickness?
I spied some Stihl ones that could do up to 45mm, a snip (ahem) at 1,200
pounds (without battery).

My instinct would be for a good pair of classic manual long handled
bypass loppers. All battery powered tools I have ever encountered have
run out far too soon to be useful on any decent sized job.

Or is it better to invest in a really good pair of manual secateurs - and
how would I find such a thing?

Bypass loppers should find you the right tool.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown