A grappling and severing head for gripping and severing a tree stem, having a grapple assembly and a severing assembly. Grapple arms are attached to a grapple body and extend forward beyond a front face of the grapple body. A severing assembly body is attached to the grapple body and is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position. A severing device is attached to the severing assembly body and is moveable between a stowed position and a range of deployed positions. When the severing device is in the stowed position and the severing assembly body is in the retracted position, the severing device and the severing assembly body lie substantially behind the front face of the grapple. body and/or behind the gripping face of at least one of the grapple arms.
