Have access to some wood...not sure what it is?

[slicendice73]

There's been some thinning done in the woods near where I live and I've been told I can take whatever I want (quite a bit of legwork involved as there isn't vehicular access! 😶).

 

Anyway, I'm not entirely sure what wood I'm dealing with - can anyone ID? Some of it looks a bit like ash maybe?

 

 

[slicendice73]

There's also an absolute ton of this...it looks like possibly willow or poplar? If it is then am I right in thinking it can be very damp and takes a lot of seasoning...and then very smoky with not much heat when you burn it? But I've never burned any on my log burner so can't say for sure.

 

And it is free...!

 

[peds]

Lot of sycamore in post 1 think, and yeah, I'd agree with a bit of willow in post 2.

 

It burns grand, especially when free, but do compare it against the legwork necessary! 

[slicendice73]

1 minute ago, peds said:

Lot of sycamore in post 1 think, and yeah, I'd agree with a bit of willow in post 2.

 

It burns grand, especially when free, but do compare it against the legwork necessary! 

 

Great, thanks for the info 👍

 

Never burned any sycamore before...any good?

[roys]

Sycamore is a very good fire wood, I burn a lot of it, by coincidence I also burn a lot of willow, not as good but because the price is right (free) they are both fantastic.

Of course split and stack and leave for a year to dry out.

[openspaceman]

30 minutes ago, peds said:

Lot of sycamore in post 1 think, and yeah, I'd agree with a bit of willow in post 2.

 

It burns grand, especially when free, but do compare it against the legwork necessary! 

First set look like sallow to me, second set definitely a willow.

[Steven P]

I was going for ash in the first set and then, yes willow I think. If free they are both excellent firewoods.

 

If it was me I'd be collecting the ash first - make the most of your available time then the willow. Split it all this side of summer and both will be ready to burn Winter 2026 / 2027.

 

If you have varied woods available take a quick look at the end grain - close growth rings indicate a more energy dense wood, far apart growth rings and the wood is generally less energy dense. Both have their uses - less energy dense can make excellent kindling, release their heat quickly, but you need to fill the stove more often, but for a heat blast mid winter can add just that. More dense wood is great for general use, and if you are not sat on the stove all day.

 

Best of all of course, is 'free'

[MattyF]

First lot looks more like whitebeam and goat willow but not sycamore to me …second lot is white willow 

[slicendice73]

Thanks everyone for the info.

 

I'll grab a bunch of it and get it seasoned...I've got a moisture meter so will hang on to it until it gets down to 10-15%

 

Hopefully it will give some warmth to chilly winter evenings 😊

[slack ma girdle]

3 hours ago, slicendice73 said:

There's been some thinning done in the woods near where I live and I've been told I can take whatever I want (quite a bit of legwork involved as there isn't vehicular access! 😶).

 

Anyway, I'm not entirely sure what wood I'm dealing with - can anyone ID? Some of it looks a bit like ash maybe?

 

 

Its all unpopular Poplar