Trencher Hire in Crowborough, East Sussex —
Faster, Cleaner Trenches for Cable and Pipe Runs
The cable or pipe route is marked and you need it in fast. A chain trencher cuts clean and accurate every time. Call 01892 662 777 and we will get one to you from our Crowborough depot.
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Digging cable ducts, drainage runs, water pipe routes or irrigation channels by hand is slow and expensive. A trencher cuts a clean, narrow trench in a fraction of the time with minimal spoil to dispose of. Three trenching methods available: walk-behind Ditch Witch, tracked chain trencher on a Kubota excavator, and excavator-mounted Klac Margurite bucket for wider service trenches. From 30 per day.
Trencher Hire Fleet -- Methods, Depths and Rates
We hire three distinct trenching solutions, each suited to different trench widths, depths and ground conditions.
Klac Margurite bucket rates are for the attachment only — the excavator is hired separately. Call Crowborough on 01892 662 777 to arrange both on one account.
Trenching vs Excavating -- When to Use a Trencher
An excavator is the right tool for wide, deep or shaped excavations — foundations, chamber installations, bulk earthworks. A trencher is the right tool for long, narrow, consistent-depth runs where you want to minimise spoil, preserve surrounding surfaces and work quickly.
For rock or very dense chalk, a chain trencher will work but wear is increased. Describe your ground conditions when booking — we will advise whether a trencher or excavator is more appropriate.
For full specifications and pricing on our complete trencher range, browse the Coppard online catalogue.
Trencher Hire for Rural Estates and Agricultural Land in East Sussex and Kent
The High Weald and the Kent Weald are working agricultural and equestrian landscapes with a high level of ongoing infrastructure investment. New cable runs for barn conversions, water supply extensions to new grazing paddocks, irrigation installation for market gardens and CCTV systems for livestock units all generate regular demand for trenching equipment.
The Ditch Witch RT24/RT30 is the machine of choice for most of these jobs. It is narrow enough to use between established hedgerows and along fence lines, light enough not to damage ground that has just been reinstated, and simple enough to be operated by a competent farm worker rather than requiring a specialist contractor.
For longer runs or harder ground — the Hastings Beds sandstone and ironstone that appears across parts of the High Weald can be significantly harder than the surrounding clay — the Kubota chain trencher provides more force and a more controlled cut. It can also be transported in the same load as an excavator if you are already hiring both for a groundworks project.
If your trench route crosses a public highway or footpath, you will need a permit from the relevant authority under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA). Contact East Sussex Highways or Kent Highways before breaking ground on any route that crosses a public carriageway or footway.
We regularly supply trencher hire to customers across Tunbridge Wells, Uckfield, East Grinstead, Heathfield, Wadhurst, Forest Row and Tonbridge. Same-week delivery available from our Crowborough depot across East Sussex and Kent.
Trencher Hire for Contractors and Groundworks in Kent and Surrey
Utility contractors, groundworks companies and civil engineering subcontractors operating across Kent and Surrey use trenching equipment regularly on new estate roads, housing development service installations and utility upgrade programmes.
For housing developers and groundworks contractors running multiple services trenches on a new site — electric, water, gas, data — the excavator-mounted Klac Margurite bucket gives flexibility. The same excavator can do bulk earthworks in the morning and precise service trenching in the afternoon, simply by switching the attachment.
CCTV and security installation contractors increasingly use walk-behind trenchers for cable runs on commercial premises. The Ditch Witch can work on existing car parks and hardstanding areas with minimal reinstatement requirements, which is a significant advantage over excavator-based alternatives.
Where you are already hiring excavators from Coppard for the site, adding a chain trenching attachment or Klac Margurite bucket to the same machine on the same account is the most efficient arrangement. Call our Crowborough depot to discuss the attachment options for the excavator you are planning to hire.
Why Hire a Trencher from Coppard?
Coppard operates one of the largest plant hire fleets in East Sussex and Kent. Our trenching equipment is maintained to the same standard as our excavators — serviced, calibrated and ready to cut on day one of the hire.
Call Crowborough on 01892 662 777 to confirm machine availability and book a trenching attachment or walk-behind unit.
Searching for the best trencher hire near me? Coppard’s Crowborough depot covers Crowborough, Tunbridge Wells, Uckfield, East Grinstead, Heathfield, Tonbridge, Forest Row, Wadhurst, Hartfield and the wider High Weald area of East Sussex and Kent. Call 01892 662 777.
For the full range of Plant & Machinery Hire available from our Crowborough depot, visit our Plant & Machinery Hire page.
Browse the full Trencher Hire catalogue on the Coppard website — full specifications, models and current availability.
Frequently Asked Questions — Trencher Hire in Crowborough and East Sussex
How deep can a trencher dig?
The Ditch Witch RT24/RT30 reaches 914mm (approximately 36 inches). The Kubota KX101 chain trencher reaches 800mm. For greater depths, the excavator-mounted Klac Margurite bucket can achieve deeper cuts depending on the excavator model and boom configuration. If you need a specific depth, tell us when you call and we will confirm which machine achieves it.
Can a trencher cut through tree roots?
Light to medium roots — up to 50mm or so — will generally be cut through by a chain trencher. Larger roots (main tap roots and primary structural roots) will stop or damage the chain. If your route crosses established trees with large root systems, an excavator with a standard bucket is usually safer for hand-picking around roots without damaging the machine.
What ground conditions stop a trencher from working?
Trenchers work well in clay, loam, topsoil, light gravel and soft chalk. They struggle in dense compacted gravel, large embedded stones, ironstone (common in parts of the High Weald), reinforced concrete and hard rock. The chain and teeth will wear rapidly in abrasive sandy gravel. If you are unsure about your ground, describe the conditions when you call — we will advise.
Do I need a CSCS card or licence to operate the Ditch Witch?
There is no statutory licence specifically for a walk-behind trencher. However, the hirer is responsible for ensuring the operator is competent. Most employers require operatives to hold a CPCS or NPORS card for tracked plant. For a walk-behind unit on private land, competency is assessed by the hirer. Coppard does not provide training but can recommend contacts for CPCS-accredited courses in the South East.
How much spoil does a 100mm wide trench produce?
A 100mm wide trench to 600mm depth produces approximately 0.06 cubic metres of spoil per linear metre — roughly equivalent to a sack of material per metre. Over 100 metres, that is around 6 cubic metres. Most spoil is returned to the trench as backfill once the pipe or duct is laid. Surplus spoil can usually be spread on adjacent ground or removed by a small hired dumper.
What should I check before hiring a trencher?
Before trenching begins, you need to consider the required trench width and depth, the type of ground, available access and whether underground cables, pipes or other services may cross the proposed route. National Grid’s practical safe-digging guidance recommends obtaining utility plans, locating buried services and clearly marking them before work starts. Give Coppard’s Crowborough team the proposed trench dimensions, route and site conditions, and they can recommend suitable trenching equipment and arrange an operator where required.
Need Trencher Hire near you in East Sussex or Kent?
Call 01892 662 777. Same-day collection from Crowborough. Delivery across East Sussex, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Uckfield, East Grinstead and beyond.
