arboriculturist

100% yes - but some people don't want to hear as they perhaps think you are biased. It appears that if some people see sometning on the news, they assume it must be right. I am not sure that things are going to improve with time in this case ?

Nice kit

Mmm - debatable, as immediately the headlines hit I had customers phone to check our wood complied now, as they didn't want anything else - "as it says in the news only < 20% MC is allowed and its very bad if any higher " and getting more similar day by day. Not a clue comes to mind, which is even more dismal ?

Spoken to them on several occasions - set in stone - no backtracking / amendments. They are not interested in the effects on businesses whatsoever - which is depressing for many many producers. Even some in the 100's m3 a year have had enough, far far easier ways to earn a living they are thinking, which is of course without doubt true ?

This is 100% not the case now. They have a robust system for dealing with complaints and be aware that they categorically carry out unannounced 'spot checks'. More than enough funding, revenue streams etc are coming their way to enforce the regulations, which are to tighten up even further in due course. ?

Like most things in life - you get what you pay for. I have a £7 orange generic Stihl labelled MM I bought years ago, You can still get them, just slightly different shape. The Stihl reads 1% higher MC than my £175 protimeter and the Protimeter reads the same as a £300 magnetic field Protimeter. Branded high end MM's will have been calibrated, have longevity and keep there accuracy long term. If you have spent out, I can't see many customers disputing your MC reading if they come out with one they bought from Lidl for £10! ?

Liking the humour - SPUDDOG ? THIS MAY OR MAY NOT PROVE TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT POST THIS DECADE FOR FIREWOOD PRODUCERS. Chain of custody : The 'Landowners' need to take back control ! "That's agreed then, our harvesting company will pay you £13/tonne for your standing timber for that 21 acre block of Larch and £15/tonne those 2 blocks of mixed Hardwoods - Terms: payment on uplift " - " Oh and by the way, it will all be going to be chipped for biomass to produce electricity which you will be subsidising from the tax you pay to HMRC". In reality, I wonder how many Landowners actually are aware of where exactly their timber they sell to the harvesting companies goes, if they were its guaranteed that at least a proportion would be looking elsewhere to sell their standing timber. I would urge people who are in a situation to do so, to work on woodland / plantation owners they know to educate them where possible about the whole Biomass for power industry. We need more harvesting independents like Big J. who actually cares where the timber he harvests goes and works hard to ensure a sustainable long term future for Firewood producers and the mills.

Looking at the current rate of harvesting in England alone, I am concerned that in well under a decade, timber availability will decline and prices will rocket. We are all aware of the many new Biomass Power Stations that are coming online annually to take advantage of the generous taxpayer funded tariffs available to them. This has led to an unprecedented level of timber harvesting that cannot be sustained for any length of time, as Britain's forests and woodland are being felled at an alarming rate. A haulier that comes to us has spent 4 months in Wiltshire, parked roadside in forestry plantation, loading 6 flats every day on turnaround to Sandwich Biomass Plant in Kent, then travelling back empty. So much for the environment. Near month end when the monthly quota has not been met, on go the sawlogs to meet the quota level for the month to avoid penalties being levied on the harvesting company. Sandwich is taking circa. 250,000 tonnes of British timber per year and that is only 1 electricity producing biomass plant of many up and down the UK. We already import around 75% of timber used in the UK, depending on what data you read. The future for firewood producers in Britain is not looking great, many of whom have invested tens of thousands in establishing their businesses, unless age is on your side and you have the funds and availability of land to establish short rotation Eucalyptus or similar plantation for your own production supply. I look forward to hearing differing views on the future of timber availability in Britain.

I was hoping you may be able to comment on the new thread I posted earlier today, given your long experience in industry. The LINK I gave in the post directs you to a lengthy document which you may or may not already be aware of. Thread Title below: Proposed regulation of the sales, distribution and marketing of house coal and wet wood (>20% moisture)

What is annoying is they are making a blanket statement, no mention of drying conditions, species etc. Yes, in a huge heap in a barn chunky Oak logs could take 5 years or more, whereas in stillages outside Ash could take very few months in summer to achieve 20%. There was far far to little consultation with producers before dishing out often unsupported information to the media, which has now been fed into the public arena, in addition to proposing to bring in legislation that will ultimately affect thousands of smaller firewood producers !!! I am not keen to take this 'lying down'.

For those on the forum who have not had chance to catch up with why all the fuss about Woodburners and burning wood - well here is a copy and paste excerpt: What is the problem under consideration? Why is government intervention necessary? The UK is obligated under the National Emissions Ceilings Directive (NECD) to reduce emissions of particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less (PM2.5) alongside other key pollutants, to protect its citizens and environment from the resultant damage. I have been banging on about this on other threads but my latest research has brought to light a previously published document (2018) Lead by the Government agency - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFFRA). - SEE LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST: They produced a ' Wood burning impact assessment ' and it states ' in consultation with Firewood producers' , etc.etc. This is the first I have heard of it. This is a hefty document and I have only had chance to briefly read it. On 1st reading there are some glaring errors. They are claiming that it can take up to 2 years to air dry firewood. The average cost to a business to successfully adapt to air dry their Firewood to < 20% MC is circa. £800. They make out that generally people are using wet wood with 40% MC or words to that effect. There is no reference to the fact that probably the majority of dry seasoned firewood is sold by smaller retailers who market around 100 - 250 m3 /year at around 20 - 25%. What is really annoying is that there is no consideration given to the actual fact that the increase in emissions of particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less (PM2.5) between burning firewood <20% MC and at 25% MC is without any doubt in my mind 100% negligible - once you factor in the emissions of particulate matter produced when many producers would be forced to kiln dry to achieve the < 20% MC target, especially in the winter months. Added to that the huge raft of pollution that comes from road hauling / shipping thousands of 40ft container loads of kiln dried firewood from Russia , Latvia etc. etc. I would like to see 'evidence based data' on comparable laboratory trials where burning 25 % MC firewood with 20% MC firewood. I think this is key to the whole argument. In addition where are the impact assessments on UK based wood drying kilns and similar assessments for the containers of kiln dried firewood transported from overseas? This is basic math: emissions from burning firewood @ 20% MC + emissions from burning fuel to achieve the 20% MC (UK or overseas) + transportation VERSUS emissions from burning firewood @ 25% MC (air dried) - - - THIS IS WHAT WE MUST LOBBY FOR !!! Going about lobbying for a revision towards a maximum 25% MC threshold for dry firewood sales to Government before the proposed legislation is implemented would be no easy feat and I am uncertain if there are forum members who could take the lead? Draw your own conclusions - Here it is: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/733368/domestic-burning-consultation-ia.pdf

Legislation is not in force until Feb 2021 for some producers.

We'll leave it to Bowland Stoves to put the record straight then ! Seriously though, setting the threshold at 20% is extreme. Just take a look at all the threads on here and it is clear that a 25% MC level would but a reasonable workable figure for all concerned. 5% MC may not sound a lot but its leaps apart when it comes to Firewood. However in terms of 'Particulate polution' levels, it is in fact negligible, when you factor in the additional ' Particulates' produced when people are being railroaded into forced drying. There is plenty of evidence based data out there if you care to take the time to research. In addition - Where is the public consultation? ! I think the Woodburner manufacturers / retailers need to make their voice heard as well as producers.

I think the latest headlines will not help businesses like yourselves without doubt. It may be a good time to diversify into moisture meters! I ordered a new one just today. No, without doubt I don't think this is the last of it. I replied to a post from Alcydion but he has not had time to reply yet - here is the question in response to his post: I have a question - A very important question: You say: "The regulations will be tightened further in 2025 and possibly again in 2030 not that the latter will bother me to much, I will be long dead by then". Exactly how, would you suggest "will the regulations will be tightened further in 2025 and possibly again in 2030" ? I am sure the planned legislation, when implemented, will have far reaching effects and a at first glance it would appear that a huge number of people are underestimating the gravity of the changes. Much of the pressure will end user - the customer, as they will have been subjected to a barrage of information on 'Ready to burn' firewood from all angles as I have mentioned in another thread. Many will be buying moisture meters off ebay or Amazon and when ordering they will be asking a lot more questions before they order, then on delivery they will be out with the axe and moisture meter. We have had 2 cases as such in the last 48hrs!

I have a question - A very important question: You say: "The regulations will be tightened further in 2025 and possibly again in 2030 not that the latter will bother me to much, I will be long dead by then". Exactly how, would you suggest "will the regulations will be tightened further in 2025 and possibly again in 2030" ?

Here here! Totally agree. I have worked hard at promoting soft and sell a lot. Very interesting info. thanks ?

Nothing to beat a windy hill, provided you can keep dry and access during the winter.?

Yes I keep my wood for my biomass in 1.2 x 1.6 x 1.2 deep boxes. Made them myself so the front opens up for access to wood and 50mm gaps between boards. I build in 3 rows of 500mm long wood and stack boxes 3 high and the top one has an old curtain side cover on top. This way I just lift the box of wood into biomass shed with tractor and loader. Using cut up slabs from milling at the moment and MC between 14>20% at the moment. Even with driving rain the wood stays dry Sound like a efficient system, and real low MC. ?

I think most are agreed that anywhere below 25% is perfect Firewood, however when the 'Log Police' descend things may take a turn for the worst. The general public are regularly easily swayed IMO by what they are told in the media, good or bad, fact or fiction, which will be a shame in part, as there are thousands of small producers who supply good quality dry firewood. The powers that be are on a mission to re-educate the public regarding 'ready to burn' firewood and a lot of resources will be expended in the media. The vast majority of suppliers large and small, unless they buy in or are able to produce forced dried firewood, will without question find themselves affected by the incoming and planned future legislation. It's harsh, but this is something that few of us will be able to ignore however much we would like to, as it's now not going to go away.

That's really informative thanks. Like it or loath it - It's going to be all about the 20% MC - coming soon !!!

Interesting post thanks. I have a question: You say: "The regulations will be tightened further in 2025 and possibly again in 2030 not that the latter will bother me to much, I will be long dead by then". Exactly how, would you suggest "will the regulations will be tightened further in 2025 and possibly again in 2030" ? (Hopefully you will still be alive).

There is no sign of these massive industrial scale setups burning sub 20% woodchip any time soon!

I know plenty who air dry their firewood in barns, but does anyone successfully air dry outdoors in stillages / potato boxes etc. and still manage to keep them dry outside during the winter months?

All our roundwood is pre-dried in stacks, then processed into IBC's where it is left to air dry. Totally agree with your comments, just look how the MC has risen in sub 20% over the last 4 1/2 months of rain!

WOOD BURNERS: MOST POLLUTING FUELS TO BE BANNED IN THE HOME. Most polluting household fire fuels to be banned WWW.BBC.CO.UK Owners of wood burners and open fires in England will be discouraged from burning house coal or wet wood. Latest headline from the BBC as above. So it looks like someone looked in a 'stock' woodburner manual that says " only burn sub 20% MC hardwood in your woodburner" and decided that this must be what the English population should be burning. So what's the plan ? : A Import container loads of kiln dried from Russia ? B Import container loads of kiln dried from Latvia and neighbouring countries ? C Roll out more taxpayer funded RHI subsidies to individuals to kiln dry in England ? The plan being to save the planet from global warming. I see no evidence based data to quantify the 20% MC threshold. I don't think I have missed anything.