A grappling and severing head for gripping and severing a tree stem. The grappling and severing head comprise: a grapple assembly (10) comprising a grapple body (11) and grapple arms (12, 13, 14) and a severing assembly (30) comprising a severing assembly body (31) and a severing device (32). The grapple arms (12, 13, 14) are attached to the grapple body (11) and extend forward beyond a front face of the grapple body. Each of the grapple arms has a gripping face for contacting an object when gripped by the grapple arms (12, 13, 14). The severing assembly body (31) is attached to the grapple body (11) and is moveable, relative to the grapple body (11), between a retracted position and an extended position. The severing device (32) is attached to the severing assembly body and is moveable, relative to the severing assembly body (31), between a stowed position and a range of deployed positions. When the severing device (32) is in the stowed position and the severing assembly body (31) is in the retracted position, the severing device (32) and the severing assembly body (31) lie substantially behind the front face (15) of the grapple body and/or behind the gripping face of at least one of the grapple arms (12, 13, 14).
