dead elm

[Mike Dempsey]

Dundee City Council (and its predecessors) have run a successful sawmill for years based up in Camperdown Park. I met the guy who ran it many years ago and he was very good at what he did. He had first shout on any trees that were down in the area and they were delivered to him. Any surplus timber was sold to the public. I believe it either broke even or made a profit. The guy was just left to run it with a couple of other blokes and did a good job of utilising what would have otherwise been ringed up for firewood.

Falkirk Council give their trees to Falkirk Wood who plank it and kiln dry it. Councils can be involved in successful initiatives such as these but it takes a bit of initiative and commitment, but it can be done. Its certainly better than landfilling trees or carting them off for these monstrous biomass plants.

[Big J]

its being turned into lage tables, notice boards, display cabinets, and anything used in council maintained or sponsered outdoor recreational areas, no more plastic or concrete, a return to the old ways or doing things. The local people in the areas where this is happening are noticing this and are starting to comment on how good it is

 

Fair enough. I do stand by my statement that using a large Elm for such things would be a waste.

 

Mike, I know Falkirk Wood quite well. There are other sawmills in Scotland that have similar arrangements with councils. It can be a double edged sword though, as they have to process some real rubbish too. It's best to be as selective as possible with regards to timber you mill - it's all the same time and effort to mill a crap log, but without the quality timber at the end. Leave the rough logs to the local authorities!

[John Hughes]

I agree that this elm is to rare to turn into picnic tables and notice boards that may only last 20 years.

We haven't seen an elm down here in Essex for many years.