The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Renewables => Topic started by: philcaegrug on December 19, 2013, 09:09:52 pm

Title: Firewood
Post by: philcaegrug on December 19, 2013, 09:09:52 pm
I've got half an acre of land that I want to plant with trees  :tree:as a future supply of wood for my log burner.  What's the best timber to go for good burning and quick growth?
Title: Re: Firewood
Post by: Victorian Farmer on December 19, 2013, 09:15:57 pm
Birch cheap good burning lots in Scotland
Title: Re: Firewood
Post by: cloddopper on December 19, 2013, 11:32:03 pm
Silver birch almost every time unless your looking for hazel to coppice for kindling as well .

Look them up on the ( RHS ) Royal Horticultural society's  website for propagation & care etc.
Title: Re: Firewood
Post by: Stereo on December 19, 2013, 11:34:09 pm
Depends what grows where you are. Hybrid willow and poplar will give the most volume of wood but it needs to be dried and kept dry. Alder is a fantastic and under-rated firewood. Fast growing and easy to split plus it coppices readily. You might want to also consider ash, hazel, sycamore and others for longer term coppice hardwoods.  A mix is probably best with a range of harvesting schedules. 

Have a look at what's growing on the land already and explore the potential of those species.