Grow Your Own Magazine

i now have a solid fuel fireplace in my living room - just need to round up some logs

we've got local woods nearby - am i right in thinking i can normally take whatever has fallen on the floor?
i can always get wood from the scout group grounds as well, so not a problem

with any wood i get, whether fresh cut or picked up from ground, it needs to be dry - will it dry naturally outdoors if cut and stacked? or better storing it in the garage? how long does it need to dry out for?

I don't think you can just help yourself to wood on the floor in private woods- after all, they are private !
How about finding out who owns the wood and asking their permission?? They may be pleased for you to help keep it clear.
What you can do however is help yourself to any wood on/by the side of the highway. If you feel a bit guilty stuffing branches into the boot of your car, then nip to Ikea and get one of their fluorescent jackets for a couple of quid, and then you'll suddenly become one of the 'great unnoticed!!!'
Most wood takes about a year to dry out when stacked.
They're better outside , but something over the top to keep off the rain- the wind will help keep them dryer than in a garage where they could go a bit moldy.

Nice romantic nights in infront of a wood fire....lovely!

cheers nicos
the local woods is on common land but i'll ask around .... the scout group grounds will be fine to collect wood from (i'm a scout leader anyway)

when i was in the local garden centre looking at sheds, i saw a "log store" for abut £180 .... i can build one similar for nothing ..... probably need to be several times bigger than that one anyway .....

The wood you burn ideally needs to be seasoned for a minimum of 2 years to prevent a build up of resin in the chimney that can cause a chimney fire.
Advice given by my chimney sweep.

The local wildlife trust may say that the wood must stay on the floor for ecological reasons, rotting wood is home to a lot of wildlife.

Check out who owns the rights, even common land is owned, usually by the council.

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I try and kill two birds with one stone. A log pile is a haven for wildlife and if stacked really tidily is an asset to any garden.
After a year or two it is split and used as fuel and a new pile is started.

Mine came free from a local tree surgeon who delivers woodchips to the allotments.
I say free, it actually cost me two large cabbages, which was still a good deal!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)