British Softwood Market; seems wierd...

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

If you've 100 loads sitting at roadside and they've been sitting there for three years then I would say the FC have made a big cock up somewhere allong the line...

If I were you, I would contact the fc and ask if you can buy it off them.... offer them a stupid price per ton to clear it, and punt it out as local firewood.

 

Well here's an update. Went up to the wood today, chaps were sitting out storm whilst harvester was waiting for mechanic! Had a chat with nice chap (no work - should have enquired 3 months ago; seems to have started earlier up there this year) but he mentioned a few other gangs (clean cutters and cox brothers ?). FC will forward the timber themselves - again to rideside just to rot. Subsequently went to FC office in Bellever and had another chat. First they said the wood (inc that which HAS been sitting there for 3 years now - see pics) was spoken for as firewood but when asked if any was for sale the area foresters face lit up and the rest is obvious! Hence the quote above - a big cock up imo. Offered low but was told £20m3 end of. I must have driven past 60 or 70 stacks like the ones pictured.

[Highland Forestry]

That's the comission for you.

 

Offer them £11 m3 - If you make your offer official I bet they would mull it over and sell the whole lot.

[csservices]

I've done good business with Doug at ETC, very fair timber buyer. Bought a couple of hundred tonnes of 2.5m larch and douglas sawlogs off me from the Ugly Cottage at Betws y Coed.

 

Like I say it used to be good stuff when they were getting it from ETC apart from that shortage that time, but the stuff they get in now is cr@p your lucky if posts last 5 years