Collecting wood from woods/forests

[944fan]

Wasn't sure whether to put this in here or the Law section but settled on here. Anyway, I have just moved into a house with an open fire. Does anyone know if it is legal to collect fallen branches from woods and forrests to burn?

I am talking about council or forrestry commission (public) owned places.

[richyb]

Not legal, it all belongs to the landowner. Fallen tree's and limbs are often deliberately left on site for biodiversity reasons.

[TooLateForAName]

Yep. (assuming your house doesn't come with commoners rights or anything)

In some places you can buy a licence to collect wood. I know my FiL has in the past done this - the forest in question marked trees that they wanted removed and people were able to fell and remove them.

I'd ask around local tree surgeons - I've had a few loads from a guy in the village, just bought him a few pints - or local land managers, I've just obtained a couple of car loads from the local nature reserve as they thin out the woodland.

[richyb]

As above, its worth asking about. I give tons away (quite literally) over the course of a month. I doubt you'll find anywhere that will let you fell anymore, health and safety of commercial forestry is (rightly so) very tight.

[Rollin]

According to my dads neighbour, you can take fallen wood that is less than the length of your arm. Dunno if that's right though.

[Flintstone]

Rollin said:

According to my dads neighbour, you can take fallen wood that is less than the length of your arm. Dunno if that's right though.

Pub fact (and therefore utter bks).

[944fan]

Rollin said:

According to my dads neighbour, you can take fallen wood that is less than the length of your arm. Dunno if that's right though.

I'm 6'5'' so my arms are huge!

Thanks for the other replies, I think someone down the road is a tree surgeon, has a van in the drive, might have a word next time I am passing.

[Simpo Two]

I hear that with the rise of woodburners, 'foraged' timber is getting short. Eventually HMG will realise they make carbons and use up trees so they'll be banned...

[mrmr96]

Simpo Two said:

I hear that with the rise of woodburners, 'foraged' timber is getting short. Eventually HMG will realise they make carbons and use up trees so they'll be banned.taxed..

EFA

[Simpo Two]

Actually I wrote 'banned/taxed' to start with!

[okgo]

Worth asking about.

We got tons and tons from an airfield nearby just by asking if they minded us thinning out the wood (which needed doing anyway).

[Penny-lope]

What about wood found on the beach? A few weeks back I saw a couple of guys collecting drift wood and branches at a local beach.

[itsnotarace]

Collecting driftwood is ok AFAIK, but you're not allowed to take stones/pebbles from beaches

The right to forage firewood in forests was removed in 2008

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3264458/For...

[andy43]

I reckon they removed the right to forage because when the original permission was set in law, people didn't rock up with two chainsaws and a Transit and 1 tonne trailer

[richyb]

Its the usual story of a few spoiling it for everyone. I have managed many large sites where we would happily allow people to stop by and take bits and pieces away (usually a wheel barrow or two). The only stipulation was you didn't take your vehicles on site or use chainsaws etc due to the potential accidents and noise. This had to be stopped because of one or two sods that decide it was OK to fell what they wanted or take van loads away with the intention of selling. Theft of commercial trees is a growing problem and has hit the forestry commission hard in many areas.

[andy43]

I know a builder who goes out in his Transit tipper, two up with reflective jackets and a chainsaw.
People out walking actually thank him for 'tidying up the woods'.

[Mobile Chicane]

Irrespective of the legality of collecting, wood needs to be dry stored for two years before burning.

Of course, softwoods, ash etc, etc will burn before that, producing an oily smoke / resin that will clog up your chimney.

Get chimneys swept and inspected before burning anything. A chimney fire isn't funny.

[BoRED S2upid]

I saw a couple carrying wood out of a forest when I was walking the dog on Sunday and why not I say

[Trevelyan]

The timber is the property of the landowner and no-one has the right to remove it without permission. The same applies to forestry commission land. In some areas the foresty commission will sell you a permit to collect a certain amount of wood but I think this tends to be where people have an ancient right to the timber. Even in these areas the commission sometimes cut the timber and leave it stacked at the side of the track for collection rather than have random people on the loose with chainsaws.

[richyb]

BoRED S2upid said:

I saw a couple carrying wood out of a forest when I was walking the dog on Sunday and why not I say

You could easily change that to - "I saw a couple stealing chickens from a local farm and why not I say". The principle is the same. You are taking things from someone elses property without permission. If I climbed into your garden and started helping myself to your firewood pile would that be fair enough?