Felling License query

[Chris Sheppard]

I'm off to have a look at a job tomorrow which will involve 5 or 6 reasonably sized Ash coming down from within a hedgerow but I'm not entirely sure whether they come under exemption from felling License or not.

 

Size wise, if need be we'd be able to get round the FL by doing a couple before the end of march ,another two in the next quarter and the remaining the quarter after that but ideally it would be better to go in in one go.

 

The problem I have is that whilst where they are is at a (semi secluded, rural) domestic address, I'm not sure they really fall under the "garden trees" exemption as they are on the side of a paddock rather than an actual garden. I know they aren't TPO'd it's just the FL side of things I'm unsure of. A couple of them are within range of a neighbouring building so justification shouldn't be a problem if need be.

 

I know it's difficult to say without seeing them but anyone able to cast any advice?

Edited February 28, 2011 by Chris Sheppard
missed a bit

[Tom D]

Remember there has to be 5 cube of millable timber, which is actually quite a lot. I personally would get stuck in.

[Chris Sheppard]

Remember there has to be 5 cube of millable timber

 

Gotcha - I wasn't sure if the 5 cube was in total or not as most I'd dealt with in the past were on nice straight softwood full of sawlogs

[Justme]

Remember there has to be 5 cube of millable timber, which is actually quite a lot. I personally would get stuck in.

 

 

I got to ask.

 

Do you have an official source to quote on that?

 

All the official paperwork that I have read just says 5 cubes per quarter & you cant sell more than 2 cubes of it. Which does imply that the 5 cubes is in total & 2 cubes is sell able.

 

So you would have to leave the wood for them even if they dont want it as they cant sell (even for no money) it.

 

Oh & its per ownership so you cant do another 5 cubes in the same quarter on another parcel of land owned by the same entity (person, partnership, company).

[Tom D]

All this legislation is aimed at forestry, in a conifer plantation there is no way the voulme of the brash would be taken into account, no reason why this should be the case for hardwoods. I Remember this from my Tech cert. I am 95% sure that I am right.

 

Think about it, if you class branchwood logs as "timber" where to you start or stop counting? 10"? 8"? 3"? It would be unworkable.

 

There must be some way of looking it up. I can't be bothered tbh but i'm sure i'm right.

[Justme]

I would say that you are right about brash but not about millable.

Its not a timber felling exemption.

What about firewood? That will produce double or more than millable would.

 

Right done some digging. Now this is an old document but the newer ones will have the same definition.

 

the aggregate cubic content of the trees which are felled by that person without a licence (exclusive of trees to whose felling subsection (1) above does not apply) does not exceed 5 cubic metres in any quarter; and

 

(ii)the aggregate cubic content of the trees so felled which are sold by that person whether before or after the felling (exclusive as aforesaid) does not exceed 2 cubic metres in any quarter, or such larger quantity as the Commissioners may in a particular case allow.

from legal document

 

So that leaves no doubt its 5 cubes in total as aggregate means in total, all together, sum of ect ect.

[Paul Jenks]

Don't sell it all in the same quarter. Even as firewood. Anyway, once it's cut up, seasoned and processed who knows which trees it came from.

[renewablejohn]

Justme

 

Thanks for the link.

 

In category 2 were it refers to a diameter that is allowed to be cut is there a definition as to what height off the ground you take the diameter measurement.

[Justme]

Justme

 

Thanks for the link.

 

In category 2 were it refers to a diameter that is allowed to be cut is there a definition as to what height off the ground you take the diameter measurement.

 

 

Your welcome

 

 

and references to the diameter of trees shall be construed as references to the diameter, measured over the bark, at a point 1·3 metres above the ground level;

[Quickthorn]

I'm sure I've been told it's the whole tree volume, and that was by a FC member of staff on a timber measurement course. For an open grown tree, branchwood can be as much as 50% of the tree, so it makes a difference..

 

Best thing's to ring the local FC office and get it from the horses mouth.