Rob_the_Sparky

TBH I don't see what is so hard about lighting a fire that makes folks so desperate to keep fires in overnight. Yes smouldering a fire will keep it in but with wood on the fire it will also lead to flammable deposits in the chimney so why do it? It also seems to vary from wood burner to wood burner. My father had an 8kW Clearview in his previous houses and that (I guess due to the larger fire box?) would burn longer than the 5kW ones we both now have. Without smouldering, a large hardwood log on the fire will result in hot embers in the ash in the morning if put on late and getting up early but generally I can't be bothered. Just light it first thing with a still not cold fire/chimney...

See all the other threads on teh subject: stock answer, get yourself on teh tip site + contact locals. Make it worth while for the people dropping logs and you may get a good reaction, asking for free stuff may not go down so well, although if you are lucky it may happen but depends on circumstances. Has to be worthwhile for both parties.

Get yourself on the tipsite and maybe contact traders locally.

Quote from the BBC: "Restrictions on the use of wood burners and open fires in homes and businesses will be introduced for the whole of Reading borough from the start of December." You look at the Reading council pages ( " What you can burn if you live inside a SCA For residents In a smoke control area you can only burn fuel on the list of authorised fuels, or any of the following ‘smokeless’ fuels, unless you’re using a Defra approved appliance: anthracite semi-anthracite gas low volatile steam coal Unauthorised fuels, such as wood must be properly seasoned, and can only be burned in exempt appliances. When purchasing wood, look for the ‘Ready to Burn’ logo as a guarantee of good quality dry wood." You look at that list of exempt appliances and and it is huge and includes MANY MANY wood burners (for England at least, different lists for Ireland, Wales and Scotland) so in fact the limitation on burning wood in these areas in a woodburner (or multifuel burner) is not really applicable to a lot of woodburners despite the slightly scary headlines. Links: Wood burners: Smoke fines to be introduced to Reading in December WWW.BBC.CO.UK Reading Borough Council say fines for breaching the restrictions would be between £175 and £300. Smoke Control Areas - Reading Borough Council WWW.READING.GOV.UK Reading Borough Council

so you got a second hand high quality stove that was a bit rough. Old design but it was quality at the time. Different from getting a rough second hand stove that was not high quality when new. Good points made above about installation though and each to their own IMHO but you need to know what you might hit to make an informed decision. If I were looking second hand I'd want to know it was a quality stove when it was new...

Putin will not risk looking weak domestically, you can hide a huge amount from your population but withdrawing after suffering huge losses for no gain, even in Putin's Russia, would not go down well. Hence. I see no likelihood of him withdrawing anytime soon.

Does anyone still use CB radios? That sounds like what you want (unless you are after location services as well but you can get that from the phone GPS already). Decent range and always used to have an emergency channel to use. Been MANY MANY years since I used it though so no idea if it is still well used. E.g. Hand Held CB WWW.KCB.CO.UK Hand-held walkie talkie type CBs, battery powered.

Best to try adding yourself to the tip site or contacting local firms.

If you talk to paving companies you can get something similar (smaller) for nothing as the Indian paving stone that is quite commonly used is delivered in them. Made of hardwood as well (rough bits but still) if they are the same as the ones I got. They were a bit small for my tastes but free is free

and getting IBCs into a back garden might not be so easy for home owners. I built something a bit more permanent using secondhand (free) fence posts (just cut off the rotten bit that was in the ground) and old pallet wood + some wood stain. Couple of blocks of concrete to keep it off the ground to stop it rotting and you have a structure that can survive many years. The above is quick and simple, if you put the base on something to keep it off the floor then the air flow is better and the base will last longer, although you may not be that bothered. Interesting alternative.

Errm, Ledbury is not in the North

I use loopers on mine (ratcheting anvil type) for heavy stuff and just a boggo electric hedge trimmer for general tidy. Used to use secateurs but for the difference in time I can put up with some sliced leaves! The hedge trimmer is no match for woody bits but if done regularly (e.g. annually) that is not a problem. Although clearly I do not always manage that, hence the use of loppers! Don't know if the OP is commercial or a home owner so unclear what best would be in his case. (I'm home owner)

I would think it would have to be but best for the OP to confirm

and/or talk to your local tree surgeons

and ask them directly, just don't ask for it for free. Everyone has a crust to make. You might be offered it for minimal cost but don't ask for it, just remember the deal has to work both ways.