South Devon Logs
FAQsSouth Devon Logs
Firewood Q&As
All you need to know about storing and burning firewood
Do you deliver?
We deliver firewood across south Devon. Please see our delivery page for more information
Why I have withdrawn from the Ready to Burn Scheme
I have decided to not continue with my registration to the ‘Ready to Burn’ scheme that is administered by Woodsure. In the two years that I have been a member I have concluded that it is not fit for purpose. Every year I pay £300 to have an annual audit, the last of which was conducted via a video call. They offer nothing of use to my business and simply add to ever increasing costs that I do not wish to pass onto the customer.
DEFRA have overall responsibility for the scheme and have outsourced this administration to Woodsure who are a ‘not for profit’. Substitute the word profit for surplus and they continue to operate like most companies.
Trading Standards are responsible for monitoring and enforcement of the scheme. When I contacted Trading Standards at Devon County Council they were not aware that it was their role in this process. I have received a subsequent email after they looked it up outlining their role.
According to the ‘Ready to Burn’ website there are four organisations accredited and legally compliant with selling firewood in South Devon. I know of ten people selling firewood within a 15 minute drive of me.
Unless a level playing field is created by all firewood sellers being accredited, I am not willing to keep funding a quango that is ineffective.
I will continue to maintain the high standards of firewood supply in relation to sustainable wood, moisture content levels and delivery that I had prior to registration and continued during registration.
I hope Trading Standards contact me and all other non compliant firewood sellers. It is at this point I will know that the scheme is fit for purpose and rejoin.
Many thanks - Nik
View the Ready to Burn website
What is Seasoning Wood?
The process of seasoning reduces the moisture content of wood to a suitable level, (normally around 10% - 20%). This can be tested using a moisture meter which will give an approximate reading.
It is essential that the logs are split before the seasoning process to increase the surface area of the logs and therefore allow the moisture (sap) to escape.
Trees that are processed during the summer will have greater amounts of sap in them so will require a longer seasoning time. We predominantly work during the winter when the sap has dropped.
How long should logs be seasoned for?
A minimum of one summer i.e. April to September, although ideally 12 months or longer. Most of the logs that we sell are from trees that have blown over within the last 3 years. This means there’s less sap (moisture) in them before we process them.
After being sawn and split our logs are then stacked and dried for around 12 months.
What is the best wood to burn?
It’s ‘horses for courses’ really as the poem below very aptly shows. In summary, all dry wood will burn. It is also possible to burn softwood logs but they will need to be well seasoned.
Can I store my logs outside?
Yes. The moisture in the wood is best removed by allowing the wind to blow through your log pile. This has a greater drying effect than just keeping the rain off.
We store our logs in a long open-fronted barn at the top of a hill that allows the wind to blow through the wall removing moisture.
The logs should be transferred inside 24 hours prior to burning to allow any moisture on the surface to dry off.
The Firewood Poem
The “Firewood Poem” is believed to have written around 1922 by Lady Celia Congreve.
Beechwood fires are bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year,
Chestnut's only good they say,
If for logs 'tis laid away.
Make a fire of Elder tree,
Death within your house will be;
But ash new or ash old,
Is fit for a queen with crown of gold
Birch and fir logs burn too fast
Blaze up bright and do not last.
It is by the Irish said
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.
Elm wood burns like churchyard mould,
E'en the very flames are cold
But ash green or ash brown
Is fit for a queen with golden crown
Poplar gives a bitter smoke,
Fills your eyes and makes you choke.
Apple wood will scent your room
Pear wood smells like flowers in bloom.
Oaken logs, if dry and old
keep away the winter's cold.
But ash wet or ash dry
a king shall warm his slippers by.
ALL ENQUIRIES
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email Nik at info@southdevonlogs.co.uk
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send a text message to 0797 959 4854