"Ken" wrote in message
...
Hi Everyone
Can anyone tell me what kind of trees I should plant for regular
coppicing for burning on a woodburning stove? I want something that
will burn well, but not take donkey's years to grow (I'm a bit of an
old donkey to start with!)

Our soil is poor, acid and stony.

TIA

Joan in Ayrshire
remove 'spam' from email to reply

Hazel Birch Poplar and Willows will tolerate poor soils and were trees of
choice for the coppices of the past and the biosmass projects of today.
Derek

In article ,
"Derek" writes:
| "Ken" wrote in message
| ...
|
| Can anyone tell me what kind of trees I should plant for regular
| coppicing for burning on a woodburning stove? I want something that
| will burn well, but not take donkey's years to grow (I'm a bit of an
| old donkey to start with!)
|
| Our soil is poor, acid and stony.
|
| Hazel Birch Poplar and Willows will tolerate poor soils and were trees of
| choice for the coppices of the past and the biosmass projects of today.

Not really. My understanding is that birch is one of the few native
deciduous trees that doesn't coppice well, and poplars were not
traditionally coppiced. All of those except hazel and, to a lesser
extent, birch are 'pulpwoods' and do not burn well. Hazel will just
about tolerate poor soils, but grows well only on very rich ones.

Birch is a good bet, but might involve a different management; i.e.
growing a mixture of ages, and removing the 'mature' trees for fuel.
But even that won't grow fast on that soil.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
...

In article ,
"Derek" writes:
| "Ken" wrote in message
| ...
|
| Can anyone tell me what kind of trees I should plant for regular
| coppicing for burning on a woodburning stove? I want something that
| will burn well, but not take donkey's years to grow (I'm a bit of an
| old donkey to start with!)
|
| Our soil is poor, acid and stony.
|
| Hazel Birch Poplar and Willows will tolerate poor soils and were trees
of
| choice for the coppices of the past and the biosmass projects of today.

Not really. My understanding is that birch is one of the few native
deciduous trees that doesn't coppice well, and poplars were not
traditionally coppiced. All of those except hazel and, to a lesser
extent, birch are 'pulpwoods' and do not burn well. Hazel will just
about tolerate poor soils, but grows well only on very rich ones.

Birch is a good bet, but might involve a different management; i.e.
growing a mixture of ages, and removing the 'mature' trees for fuel.
But even that won't grow fast on that soil.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

According to the Forestry Commission poplar are now regarded as one
of the short rotation (2/3yrs) biomass candidates yields approximate to
willows http://www.forestry.gov.uk/src which I guess is pretty close to
whats required Birch has long been coppiced for the production of charcoal
as a colonising species often the first to grow successfully on burnt or
previously flooded or developed ground so could be the best bet if the
gorund is really rocky with thin sandy soils , as you say will need drying.
whatever species is planted tho' for the coppicing to persist they will
need an input of nutrients over time I'd stick my neck out and say the hazel
will largely depend on variety I have seen them growing in some very
inhospitable places though its possible they were established at a time when
the ground was more fertile. Cuttings ( or suckers if no one is looking )
don't cost much so they must be worth a try. I missed out this year when
contractors levelled the hazels at work while the nuts were just coming ripe
too :-(
Derek

In article ,
"Derek" writes:
|
| According to the Forestry Commission poplar are now regarded as one
| of the short rotation (2/3yrs) biomass candidates ...

Poplar is another pulpwood, and doesn't burn much better than willow.
It also is a tree of alluvial plains, and doesn't do well on stony,
poor hillsides.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

In message , Nick Maclaren
writes

In article ,
"Derek" writes:
|
| According to the Forestry Commission poplar are now regarded as one
| of the short rotation (2/3yrs) biomass candidates ...

Poplar is another pulpwood, and doesn't burn much better than willow.
It also is a tree of alluvial plains, and doesn't do well on stony,
poor hillsides.

What about aspen? (I don't know about the European form, but the
American species should be coppiceable.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

In article ,
Stewart Robert Hinsley writes:
|
| Poplar is another pulpwood, and doesn't burn much better than willow.
| It also is a tree of alluvial plains, and doesn't do well on stony,
| poor hillsides.
|
| What about aspen? (I don't know about the European form, but the
| American species should be coppiceable.

It would definitely seem worth trying.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On 28 Apr, 10:16, (Nick Maclaren) wrote:
In article ,
Stewart Robert Hinsley writes:
|
| Poplar is another pulpwood, and doesn't burn much better than willow.
| It also is a tree of alluvial plains, and doesn't do well on stony,
| poor hillsides.
|
| What about aspen? (I don't know about the European form, but the
| American species should be coppiceable.

It would definitely seem worth trying.

Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

WOOD HEAT


Beech wood fires are bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year.
Chestnuts only good, they say
If for long its laid away.
But ash wood new or ash wood old
Is fit for a queen with a crown of gold.
Birch and fir logs burn too fast,
Blaze up bright and do not last.
Is by the Irish said
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.
Elm wood burns like churchyard mould -
Even the very flames are cold;
But ash wood green and ash wood brown
Is fit for a queen with a golden crown.
Poplar gives a bitter smoke,
Fills your eyes and makes you choke.
Apple wood will scent your room
With an incense like perfume.
Oaken logs if dry and old
Keep away the winter cold.
But ash wood wet and ash wood dry
A king shall warm his slippers by.

Oak logs will warm you well,
If they're warm and dry.
Larch logs of pine wood smell
But sparks will fly.
Beech logs for Christmas time;
Yew logs heat well.
Scotch logs its a crime
For anyone to sell.
Birch logs will burn too fast,
Chestnut scarce at all.
Hawthorn logs are good to last,
If cut in the fall.
Holly logs will burn like wax,
You should burn them green.
Elm logs like smouldering flax;
No flames to be seen.
Pear logs and apple logs,
They will scent your room.
Cherry logs across the dogs
Smell like flowers in bloom.
But ash logs all smooth and gray,
Burn them green or old,
Buy up all that come you way,
They're worth their weight in gold.


From Tree farm by John Estabrook

David Hill
Abacus Nurseries