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greentree · Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 5:15 pm Post subject: Tree species for sustainable wood

We are thinking of planting about half an acre of woodland for timber for the fire.

Can anyone recommend what to plant? We would like to have a mixture of species and manage it in a sustainable way.

Thanks!

Mick

keithrawlins · Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 152 Location: banbridge

i am doing the same thing this winter . what i havefound is that willow, hazeland oak can all be coppiced, these are the main three i am going to use. i my plant beech as well just for a little autumn colour. Cool

blowin · Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 11:22 pm Post subject:

I don't know how high Ash would rate in the commercial list of recommendations but I am planting some in the hedgerows with a view to coppicing them in a few years time . I think it is slower to grow than willow or the others you mention but it really is the most versatile firewood IMHO Wink

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

Great idea lads Very Happy

. Willow seems the commertial preference. Wobern Abby uses copiced willow and has got a mechanised system to harvest it. How would you guys process your timber?
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chook · Joined: 14 Mar 2007 Posts: 305 Location: North Clare

We just cut down 2 willows planted as whips 11 years ago. Would have done it in winter but they were actually blocking our radiowave based internet connection Sad

. The goats got a lot of browse out of that and the rest we cut up for firewood which we'll leave to season for a year (pallet and raincover). Surprising amount of wood out of 2 young trees, I guess about 1/3 of a cubic metre. What the goats leave behind will become kindling once it's dry.
Another fast (triffid-like) grower is alder (Alnus glutinosa). I planted some in 2000 and some of the trunks are 8-10" in diameter already and unbelievably tall for only 9 growing seasons. They too can be coppiced.

chook

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

Interesting comments on the Alder. I have a run of mature trees which need a bit of thinning and was thinking of planting some Willow for copicing in their place. Perhaps it will be a better idea to just copice the Alder as they are well established and would re-establish themselves in no time. The lower boundry to my veg plot is water logged with no prospect of growing anything but water cress. So am thinking of growing some copicing Willow there which may help dry the land a bit. I have a good stand of basket willow growing there <thanks to Mr Blowin>, which seems to love the wet conditions. So I am hoping a copicing veriety will do as well. I will need to locate a good veriety for this.

Cheers.
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lofty · Joined: 07 May 2008 Posts: 65 Location: north mayo

we burnt some alder there last year wouldnt be great as a fuel i suppose what else do you plant in wet ground. has anybody compared willow to alder as a fuel

lofty · Joined: 07 May 2008 Posts: 65 Location: north mayo

We planted 5 acres of ash sycamore silver birch and oak as part of one of those forestry grants. That was five years ago now and the ash,silver birch and oak have done very well up to 14 feet high. The sycamore i wouldnt plant again an absolute disaster. Alot have had to be replaced with alder they didnt take off at all alot depends on the ground they are going on to

chook · Joined: 14 Mar 2007 Posts: 305 Location: North Clare

blowin · Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 1:43 am Post subject: