The Farmers Mart Feb-Mar 2018 - Issue 55 | Page 54

54 COPELAND FENCING FEB/MAR 2018 • farmers-mart.co.uk HARD WAY OF LIFE BUT ENJOYABLE I recently met up with Dave and Adam Copeland, a dedicated father and son fencing team. WAY back in 1989 Dave Copeland started his fencing business with virtually nothing just a spade a big hammer a wire puller and one week’s wages to keep him going. A bold step indeed. Previously Dave had worked for the then Browns Agricultural only having onejob since leaving school. During his time at Browns he had being doing a bit of fenc- ing on the side and enjoyed the outdoor life. It was this that prompted him to go into fencing full time. All credit to Dave he has continually learnt on the job picking up new skills and also working alongside seasoned professionals in the early years. Testament to the quality of his success and business is the fact that un- like many he hasn’t had a day without work in 28 years which is quite extraordinary. He is in the unique position that he doesn’t need a yard for his equipment as he simply moves it from job to job. Nowadays his biggest chal- lenge is fitting in the amount of work he has into the time he has available. Then add into the mix is our notorious northern weath- er which on one hand can be far too wet, making ground far too soft or the other side of the coin too dry making ground extremely hard so it wont give. As soon as the weather is improves the phone never stops ringing. In 2007 Dave’s son Adam joined him in the business and just like his father has a passion forfencing. Adam has managed to achieve where he is today, along with being a partner for the last 7 years and he is looking to carry the business on for many years to come. The challenge with fencing, is margins are low,weather unpredictable, so you have to work quickly but with expertise. Time being money, Dave’s most impres- sive day was completing 220 metres of post and rail in a day. Todays modern equipment is very costly but does allow for much quicker working. The most impressive piece of kit in their arsenal is the Pro Fencer which can carry 500 metre rolls of fencing at a time, it will both roll out and roll up the wire. 90% of Dave’s work is Agricultural fenc- ing he loves working on farms and being amongst livestock. He lives on the outskirts of Leeds but one day would like and Adam won’t tackle to move further into the coun- no matter how hard, stoney tryside. He used to have a small herd of or uneven the terrain. Probably Simmental’s but in this day and age you one of the toughest jobs he’s tackled in really need a bigger herd to make it pay. recent years was erecting a Deer fence So Dave sold the herd to concentrate around a woodland on a near mountain- fully on the fencing. They cover every side up at West End near Thuscross. There aspect from Stock and rail, post and net is no obstacle that can’t be fenced from to poultry 69897 fencing. There’s no job Dave mountainsides, slurry lagoons, awkward - BryceofScotland (Fencing) Ltd - 8TH.pdf 1 05/03/2018 15:13:26 C C M M Y Y CM CM MY MY CY CY CMY CMY K Tel: [phone] | Mob: Jock - 07970 730 567 Andrew - 07901 618 479 e-mail: [email protected] www.brycesuma.co.uk Linton Hill, Morebattle, Kelso, TD5 8AE, Scotland K driveways , undulating fields with often equally awkward entraces and gateways. Livestock are an expensive commodity, quality robust fencing is a must for both animal safety and security A testament to the workmanship and quality that Dave and Adam deliver is the fact they have an annual contract with the The Game 69867 Fair - ProFencer at Ragley Hall which alter- - 16th.pdf 1 24/01/2018 12:46:08 Designed and developed by a working man for the professional fencing contractor. All hydraulic opertated including: • Loading. • Sideshift. • Forward shift for safe tensioning. • Clamp tilt for vertical tying off on bank sides. • Clamp rise and fall for tying off at ground level. • Top link for top and bottom tension on netting. • Clamp mechanism. Proud to be associated with Dave Copeland and wish him continued success. The deer clamp fits to the standard machine by a quick hitch system. For more info contact Alan on 07785 700 952 Email [email protected] • www.profencer.co.uk