Scavenging for Wood

Davesnave

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Not sure if you are talking about me here, or someone else. But I can't see anyone ranting at you for theft.
I can see straightforward legal advice.

Lotus, I think she was referring to her original post when she said:

'various members of the public have verbally abused us and said that we are breaking the law and stealing.'

not to the advice given here, but I agree it's not clear. You did say that you thought verges were fair game, presumably for blackberries, sloes, rose hips etc. so I don't think she meant you at all.;)

I can confirm that the rotting log thing it is practised New Forest and Forest of Dean where I've had guided tours from foresters.

jennyjelly

OP - I don't know if this is any help - it will depend whether you live near an arboretum - but when we visited Westonbirt recently we came home with a car boot stuffed to capacity with sawn logs for a tenner. All legal and above board - not free I admit, but as we only needed one load to make a log pile near the pond for the frogs' and toads' winter home we thought it was worth it, far better than stepping over the legal line by helping ourselves.

I know you need a constant supply for your WB so it would probably be worth asking if they would give you a low price on a regular supply. I think they are just glad to get rid of it - managing a huge wooded area like that must produce an awful lot of logs!

Hope this is helpful.

RAS

Get hold of your local tree surgeon.

Ours cannot get rid of all his timber and sometimes dumps a load. You have to saw and split it though.

Lotus-eater

Davesnave wrote: »

Lotus, I think she was referring to her original post when she said:

'various members of the public have verbally abused us and said that we are breaking the law and stealing.'

not to the advice given here, but I agree it's not clear. You did say that you thought verges were fair game, presumably for blackberries, sloes, rose hips etc. so I don't think she meant you at all.;)

Please don't stop me when I'm on a rant

I concur I may have grasped the wrong end of a pole. I did wonder where the abuse was. You're just too sensible.

I asked a farmer once if I could have some wood down by the side of the road. It wasn't his land, but he then offered me a load of other stuff which was on his farm. Always worth meeting new people. I find honesty is the best way. But only if you are local and know where the farms are.

Davesnave

Lotus-eater wrote: »

I asked a farmer once if I could have some wood down by the side of the road. It wasn't his land, but he then offered me a load of other stuff which was on his farm. Always worth meeting new people. I find honesty is the best way. But only if you are local and know where the farms are.

Agree totally. Everyone connected with the land that I meet around here seems very approachable and helpful......apart from the guys that have huge numbers of pheasants, though they're probably relaxing a bit more now we're past October 1st. It's like 'Danny, Champion of the World' round some parts!

SallyForth_2

rhiwfield wrote: »

Sallyforth, what an unnecessary remark.

The team that looks after this meadow, plus volunteers from scouts, wildlife groups and a local agricultural cottage have put in 10,000+ hours on this project since 2002. They have not been paid a penny. Each year we have to remove bottles, litter, glass and worse because some people think they have the right to despoil the area. So when people trash the habitat piles, burn the grassland, steal rock from the dry stone wall and leave their dogs mess in plastic bags in the hedges, are we meant to applaud them?? God give me strength!

I am sure they are doing a fantastic job. My remark was general, and not targeted at your team. I can just visualise some Health and Safety goon (not your team) deciding it's unsafe to harvest wild foodstuffs, and as a consequense it will have to be banned by all groups who manage woodlands and the like through fear of being sued (by some other goon, no doubt)

Davesnave

SallyForth wrote: »

I can just visualise some Health and Safety goon deciding it's unsafe to harvest wild foodstuffs, and as a consequense it will have to be banned by all groups who manage woodlands and the like through fear of being sued (by some other goon, no doubt)

It may be worth noting in this context, that if you have land, such as a small farm or smallholding, you may well find 'normal' insurers won't touch you with a barge pole. That's what I discovered, which is why I'm now with NFU Mutual, with a much increased premium.:rolleyes:

'It's because the public may come onto your premises,' I was told.

rhiwfield

SallyForth wrote: »

I am sure they are doing a fantastic job. My remark was general, and not targeted at your team. I can just visualise some Health and Safety goon (not your team) deciding it's unsafe to harvest wild foodstuffs, and as a consequense it will have to be banned by all groups who manage woodlands and the like through fear of being sued (by some other goon, no doubt)

Ok, Sallyforth, it just seemed targeted as you quoted my post.

The daft thing is nowadays is that if anyone is injured, no matter thats its their own stupidity, the first reaction is to look for someone else to blame. So taking your point calmly (:p), if someone visited our site and went picking sloes , then got an infection from the thorns, or lost an eye from a bramble stem whipping back, could they sue the volunteer group's insurers (also NFU) under the public liability section ?. I bet you they would try. A couple of years back a dog owner sent its dog racing thru the meadow off the fp and it severely damaged its hind leg which went down a rabbit hole. I was half expecting a claim then because we should have forseen someone loosing their dog off the fp and we hadnt made sure that all rabbit holes were safely fenced!

We try to maintain a sense of perspective and allow free access to all the meadow, accepting that some people do not deserve that freedom but hoping that the majority appreciate the displays of flora and fauna.

But if we were successfully sued....? My guess is that insurers would either stop cover or impose unworkable conditions and hike premiums, in either case we would have to let the meadow go.

choille

Since the free access law in Scotland I can be sued if someone walks across my land & is injured - mad but true.

Rolandtheroadie

Davesnave wrote: »

I think permits to forage for wood from Forestry Commission land have also been withdrawn, but I'm not 100% sure. This is almost bound to happen as fuel costs rise.

In Scotland its £60 for a 3 month licence (still avaliable). No power tools allowed, only a handsaw. In areas that have been recently felled. Then you've got to cut and split it.
Dont think the Forrestry commission trees are best burners either.
We got 5 tonnes of seasoned beech or birch (cant remember which, definately hardwood) for £250 delivered to the door. Planning to get my own wood next year (just not from forestry).