“Oak before ash, in for a splash. Ash before oak, in for a soak”, they still say in many parts of rural Britain. Yet how many people these days can actually tell the two species apart? So if you’re buying firewood logs, how do you know that what is delivered is actually the load of seasoned beech hardwood you were promised?
With the gloomy economic situation, it’s sometimes tempting to go for what seems like a bargain. There are plenty of “cowboy” firewood suppliers going door to door offering loads of logs at what seems like a good price. But do you know enough about trees and wood to know exactly what you’re buying?
The best solution is to buy from your local tree surgeon. Most come from ecology, forestry, agricultural and horticultural backgrounds so are in tune with the environment. The firewood logs they sell will be from a sustainable local source and they’ll be more than happy to tell you exactly what wood you’re buying and where it’s from.
They’ll also discuss with you which wood is best for your particular needs and which will provide the most heat efficient fuel for the best value for money. Seasoned firewood simply means it’s been left to dry out tree surgeon near me being ready for use. And buying it seasoned, or storing it yourself before use, can give you up to twice the energy efficiency of unseasoned firewood.
If you’re wanting to use wood from your own land to provide you with logs, your tree surgeon will discuss with you how to manage your woodland to make it sustainable, and advise on landscaping and replanting, especially with native species.
Qualified tree surgeons know all about trees, including which species do best locally, and which native species are vital to ensure there is still plenty of wildlife for future generations to enjoy. They’ll enjoy chatting with you about trees and the environment, and they’ll know all the old myths and wives’ tales about trees, and which ones are true.
So not only will buying your firewood from your local tree surgeon give you the best value for money and energy efficiency overall, it will also make a significant impact on the future of your local environment.