Improvements in and relating to splitting apparatus

Splitting apparatus for splitting material, said material including an upper end and a lower end, said splitting apparatus including a body, said body including cutting means, said cutting means including at least one cutting surface, said cutting surface including at least one cutting edge oriented vertically, the cutting means being configured to effect an upward force against a portion of the lower end of a said material sufficient to split the material on application of a separate downward force applied to the upper end of the material, and said body including safety means and substantially elongate supporting means, said elongate supporting means configured in a substantially perpendicular arrangement relative to said cutting means wherein said cutting means is encompassed by said supporting means, and said supporting means engaging with said safety means and retaining said safety means at a predetermined vertical distance from the cutting means, said safety means being located in the vicinity of the upper end of the material, and said safety means in conjunction with said supporting means providing hands free support of the material such that its lower end rests on said at least one cutting surface and its upper end extends either or both level with and above said safety means, and the splitting apparatus characterized by said safety means being configured to surround said material and limit the ability of both the means for applying the separate downward force and an operator's hands from contacting the cutting means.