Collecting Firewood from the Forest

easypeasy_2

I live in a Village in Norfolk. We are surrounded by Thetford Forest. I use an open fire and logs are pretty dear to buy. Does anyone know if it is ok to go to the forest and pick up the old logs and sticks laying about ? They do fell regularly and I obviously wouldn't take from a large pile of great big logs all cut to length !! I suppose the answer would be to phone the Forestry Commission but I was wondering if anyone here knows ? Thanks !

Astaroth

The other consideration is that some council have a "clean air" policy and therefore you can only use logs with a low smoke "output"... would need to check that angle too

Zinger549

I think if there on the ground it's ok but don't quote me on that

easypeasy_2

Astaroth wrote:

The other consideration is that some council have a "clean air" policy and therefore you can only use logs with a low smoke "output"... would need to check that angle too

There are no restrictions where I live. We are very much in the Countryside and people are always having bonfires, burning "normal" coal etc. So that angle would be fine. But thanks for your reply.

peat

Contact the Forestry Commission, in some districts they sell you a license which gives you the right to salvage a particular area of the forest after a harvesting operation. The license used to cost a tenner for three months in my area.

Debt_Free_Chick

The land and everything on it belongs to someone - looks like the Forestry Commission, in this case - but some of the land may be in private ownership.

Technically, taking anything from the land is theft, unless you have the landowner's permission.

Your best bet is to contact the landowner and get permission.

You need permission anyway to go on to the land, otherwise you are committing a tresspass. A public right of way gives you access, but only along the route of the ROW. It still doesn't give you the right to lift any firewood either lying on the path or just to the right or left of it.

HTH

Poppycat

Interesting thread I wondered about this. We are looking at a house at mo with a coal fire, the homeowners use logs. As we have dalby forest on my dorrstep I was hoping to get some excercise and collect some sticks on the way for a walk. I may have to go to a saw mill and get them there if we move.

save-a-lot

It might be worth looking at this related thread
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=118669&highlight=firewood

researcher

Firstly I would say you have to have permission from the forestry commission - it should be easy to find who your forester is - check out their web site and then telephone your local area and speak directly to him.

Secondly, living close to a forest I can tell you from experience that most of the wood is useless for burning. Unless it's been recently felled, the wood you find laying on the ground is so soft it burns in no time, and you need a huge pile just for a few hours heat. To collect enough wood for even one evening takes much more time than it's worth. It's more economical to save your newspapers and convert them into 'bricks'.

The cost of wood/coal fires, (unless you have access to quantities of good quality wood/coal at a cheap price) is high. If you have a wood burning stove, they are more practical - is it possible to fit one? If so, I'd try and source one from freecycle.

The last point I'll make, is that open fires are much dirtier, they take a lot of work and most of the heat goes up the chimney. We fitted a gas fire in our front lounge and it's saved us loads, not only financially (including redecoration, chimney swept annually), but in all the time and effort of cleaning the room (and it does make a huge difference) and actually getting the fuel.

oldnick

If the forest around you is common ground you can take any branches that have been blown down. you just mustn't touch anything that's still growing.

I used to have afriend who got enough wood to be able to sell it simply by telling his neighbours that he would clear any trees blocking paths etc. in exchange for the wood. If you have a chainsaw and are happy to help you will never have a problem getting wood.

Gordie_2

researcher wrote:

It's more economical to save your newspapers and convert them into 'bricks'

Can you explain what you mean by this please? I am unaware of how I would go about reusing my old newspapers in this way for my fire.

TIA
Gordon