Tips for foraging for wood

highrisklowreturn · 13 September 2011 at 7:21PM

Hi all

Did a forage for the first time today in anticipation of getting a stove soon and got two large ruck sacks full of everything - twigs, branches, logs, of different types of wood. Has anybody any tips on what to look out for?

I've read that Ash Trees are the best to be going for and wood from these dries quickest but - maybe not surprisingly - I couldn't find many Ashes, and suspect someone's probably downed them in the past.

pauletruth · 13 September 2011 at 7:42PM

you do know that without the landowners consent your stealing.

highrisklowreturn · 13 September 2011 at 8:16PM

...and on local council land it's called a tax-rebate.

brickie58 · 13 September 2011 at 9:42PM

try your local builders merchants ask for broken pallets

highrisklowreturn · 13 September 2011 at 10:05PM

I would but no car. Live beside good forested bit of land, that's council owned I think - although it's never touched by them - about 15 minutes walk away, and certainly would be bounteous for fallen branches, particularly after the wind yesterday. I mean it took no more than 15 mins walking straight to fill a rucksack full of branches.

suisidevw · 14 September 2011 at 3:14PM

This is one of my hobbies on my dog walks! Generally return with kindling or even logs and haven't bought wood in coal years, and through winter months use it most nights!

highrisklowreturn · 14 September 2011 at 6:49PM

Ok, I didn't bend the rules today slightly and "helped" an ash tree to its death with my bow saw. Have got some amazing logs as a result. Most happy except my rucksack strap broke on the way home and it did my arm in carrying all that wood. As I said the council never touch this place and generally leave it an overgrown mess, so it's now an overgrown mess sans an ash tree.