Scavenging for firewood

[treequip]

and back then it may have been O.K, but theres nigh on 65 million folk in the u.k now, should we let them loose on the woodlands?

 

As I said, it was a right granted to some (if memory serves) so population densities aren’t an issue.

[fishman1966]

I am lucky i live next to the coast in northumberland and after a heavy rainfall we get lots of wood washed up that has come down the river coquet,but with so many people changing over to coal fires people have the same idea so i have to be quick..

[Salix Tree & Countryside]

We felled a load of beech, ash and birch last year for the council, they dint want any so it was mine too keep....we left it in 10 ft sections thinking it would be ok until the following day..........came back at 8 the followin day........not a twig left !!! We didn't leave site until 8pm ! Must have been watchin us, I reckon about 5 - 6 hundred quids worth once processed !!

Mark

[felixthelogchopper]

The branch initially landed in a field but then the farmer lifted it over his hedge and dumped it next to the cycle path. It's not from someone's forest.

If it was felled and left there I wouldn't have touched it. Thanks for all the replies.

 

If that is the case then you are saving him from a charge of fly-tipping

[farmer_ben]

just to have to pennys worth.

 

my land is split in 2 by a railway line. there are no footpaths along the banks, but the villages chose to ignore this and walk up and down, regardless of me cropping right up to the egde of the fence to try stopping this. couple of locals have now started to take dead elm that has fallen from the banks on to my fields. one did ask if it was ok to send her son up with a saw, after expplaining it wasnt even a footpath and they shouldnt be there, she left looking very confused as to why i had a problem with her son chainsawing on private land!!

[renewablejohn]

Problem we have in this country is historic rights of collecting wood off common land known as estover. Given that their is 550.000 hectares of common land in UK it is very difficult to accuse somebody of stealing if you first have to find out whether the land is common land and then whether the person collecting the wood is a "commoner" and is entitled to collect the wood. Until this loophole is closed you cannot treat all removal of timber without permission as theft and once you start changing commons rights do you also apply it to sheep and cattle grazing.

[18 stoner]

Imagine if woodland became a free for all scenario.

 

There are certain organisations that are pushing for a complete "right to roam" on any privately owned land:thumbdown:

 

Removal of property would still be classed as theft IMO though.

 

.

[treequip]

Problem we have in this country is historic rights of collecting wood off common land known as estover. Given that their is 550.000 hectares of common land in UK it is very difficult to accuse somebody of stealing if you first have to find out whether the land is common land and then whether the person collecting the wood is a "commoner" and is entitled to collect the wood. Until this loophole is closed you cannot treat all removal of timber without permission as theft and once you start changing commons rights do you also apply it to sheep and cattle grazing.

 

Surely the only people rightfully entitled to prevent the removal of anything from a piece of land would be the owner (or his agents) of private land.

 

By default this excludes common land.

[milky1984]

Having worked for a contractor thats manges Army training areas, nothing surprises me. Ive seen people with chainsaws ringing sections up. Most of the trees that are taken down alongside the roads generally disapear within days. The amounts im talking about are not small either. Generally the wood is left at the roadside due to costs involded moving it.

[spudulike]

If you look at the actual facts - a tree drops a bough in to a farmers field, the farmer thinks, a bother - I don't want that on my land so shifts it to outside his boundary - pretty common!

 

Our Arbtalk friend spots the bough and thinks - oh, a nice lump of wood, I will chop that up and heve myself a nice hot fire!

 

The farmer has broken the law by dumping the bough on anothers land and our lad has cleared up the wood that the local council or others would have probably had to shift.

 

I have had similar, if I can locate the owner, I will always ask and have had good responses from local farmers - beer for branches - seems to work:thumbup:

 

If a bough has obviously been dragged to the edge of a boundary and has been there sometime then I liberate it for the fire and would reckon most would thank me for my efforts.

 

Did a bit locally and tried to find the owners - 6 months later there are two houses being built on the land - think it was the right call to take it!

 

So - personally, I dont' step on others land unless I have consent but if a lump of timber is in a local ditch by the side of the road then my call is it is fair game and the farmers I have talked to are usually happy to have me clear it and unblock the ditch.

 

Just my opinion - don't trespass, don't pinch wood cut by others that you haven't asked for but if it is in a ditch by the side of the road........