fatharrywhite

I just heard about this today, it might be ok for people working for the council or Forestry Commission employees who don't get out of the van if it's raining but for some self-employed this could put them out of business. Health & Safety have always been a pain but now they want my money as well, I am beginning to despise these people it's no wonder everybody hates them.

Timber or decent firewood I could understand but the guy I worked for was only getting small stuff. Like I said it's ok doing bits & pieces for private landowners but in my experience the FC are tight enough as it is.

You might be ok doing this in a small way that's not going to break the bank for private landowners but going to the Forestry Commission & saying you'll work for firewood might be setting a dangerous precedent.

Some people work that way, I was working for someone this year who cleaned up sites for the Forestry Commission just for the firewood & coppice material etc. The problem is if you spend a lot of time in there you won't see a return for 18 months & you have to sell the firewood.

As far as the cost goes it depends what route you take, a big Forest or Landscaping company might charge you much more than is being quoted here. By employing the labour directly you are cutting out a few of the middle men but then as has been mentioned you have to get someone who isn't going to make a balls up of it.

If you planted some Oak or Ash in there with a view to it becoming woodland I would have thought you could get a grant. What's the Alder for?

Assuming that you're getting a grant for this the Forestry Commission look for a density of around 2,500 per hectare so if you have 10 acres that's about 10,000 plants. You don't say where you are in the country but I could do the job for 60p a tree- can supply references by pm if you're interested.

What does the job involve?

Am an experienced cutter with more of a forestry background (NPTC 30 & 31) based in Stirling. Am doing other work just at the minute but would be interested in helping out if you were able to give me a few days notice.