Trenching apparatus and a method of trenching

A trenching apparatus featuring a body 10 moveable on the ground surface and a ground engagement boom 12 associated with the body, wherein the ground engagement boom comprises a chain 14 for interacting with earth in use. Lifting means are arranged to control and configure the ground engagement boom so as to enter the ground and to configure the boom to an inclined orientation in which the boom extends at least partially over the body. A winch 80 is provided on the body to engage with the chain of the ground engagement boom when in the inclined orientation. Optionally, the ground engagement boom is a cutting boom or a mixing boom. Optionally, the winch has a spool with a cable having an end connector for engagement with the end of a replacement chain to be put on the ground engagement boom when in the inclined orientation. Optionally, the cable is routed via a shoulder on the distal end of the ground engagement boom to enable substantially the entire length of the ground engagement boom to be surrounded by the replacement chain.