A grappling and severing head for gripping and severing a tree stem, having a grapple assembly 10 and a severing assembly 30. Grapple arms 12, 13, 14 are attached to a grapple body 11 and extend forward beyond a front face of the grapple body. A severing assembly body 31 is attached to the grapple body and is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position. A severing device 32 is attached to the severing assembly body 31 and is moveable 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 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. 23 22 - 21 22 - 20
