Bloke with chainsaw becomes millionaire

The Eye finally understands why Alan Titchmarsh is rolling in lolly.

This from the BBC with a bowler tip to AlanG...

Network Rail... says there are are 21,000 miles of track to keep clear and the cost of pruning and felling trees is between £20,000 and £50,000 per mile.

How much?!?

UPDATE: This, somewhat unbelievably, from Capability Brown...

Sir

As one who has supervised the felling of countless trees when improving country estates, may I comment on the costs of removing arboreal features alongside the rail-way?

Say 500 guineas to fell a tree. Then 20,000 guineas a mile represents 40 trees or one every 132 feet, which does not seem too high a frequency in my personal observations.

Might I crave your indulgence to add that nothing so pleases the eye of God and man as a well ordered estate and that Mr Coucher Esq would do well to restore his linesides to the pristine nature of yesteryear by razing embankments and cuttings within his way leave to grass.

I would hope to see, in particular, the elimination of that abomination the Buddleia.

I remain, Sir,
Your Humble and Obt Svt

Lancelot Brown

UPDATE: This just in from Captain Deltic...

Is Capability Brown related to the well known PR hack Incapability Brennan-Brown?

UPDATE: This just in from Rupert Brennan Brown...

No!