12 Feb 2019
Britain is set to take a further battering, with Storm Erik having swept into the UK and Ireland earlier this week. Gusts of up to 70mph are expected tonight (08/02/2019) with the Met Office extending a yellow weather warning until Saturday¹.
With parks, roads and train lines strewn with fallen branches or whole trees blocking our paths in places, it may seem sensible to head outside and start collecting wood debris for fires and wood burners, however the majority of us may not be aware that doing so is actually illegal…
Contrary to popular belief, all trees in the UK are owned, meaning the seemingly harmless act of taking wood for free could land you in court for theft.
Phil Wood, UK & Ireland Country Manager for wood burning stove company, Contura, gives his advice for sourcing wood legally:
“Collecting fallen wood thanks to the blustery weather may seem like a harmless endeavour, but it's important to know that this is not free wood.
“If you see wood on the ground, whether in woodland, in a park, on the roadside or even just on the streets near your home, this belongs to the land owner. To remove it is in fact stealing if you don't have the owner's permission to do so.
“The majority of public-owned woods belong to the Forestry Commission² and many people do not realise that helping themselves to wood is an offence, regardless of whether this was caused by strong winds or not. The most serious outcome is the risk of arrest and a potential court case.
“Rules do not apply across all of the UK. For example, an old bylaw for Epping Forest states that visitors may take fallen wood as long as it does not exceed the stated amount of no more than 12kg of loose or dead wood and no more than 5cm in diameter and 91cm in length.
“Cases like Epping Forest are very few and far between though, and with very good reason. Taking wood for free has a negative effect on the livelihoods of woodland trusts, charities, conservationists and tree surgeons; the majority of whom rely on wood sales for vital income, with members of the public unwittingly buying stolen wood.
“The simplest way to avoid any issues is to contact the landowner to check if you can take or purchase wood found on their land. It's also possible, for a small fee, to obtain a licence from the Forestry Commission that allows you to legitimately collect wood.
But if you're ever in doubt, continue to purchase your timber legally from verified wood merchants. Try to ensure the supplier is local, to minimise the environmental impact of transporting the wood, and that the wood is sustainably sourced from managed or coppiced forests.”
Contura's tips for sourcing and getting the best from your firewood:
1. Purchase from merchants that source wood sustainably from locally managed or coppiced forests to be assured of your wood's origin.
2. Buy good-quality kiln-dried wood or logs (also known as “ready to burn”) as the moisture content will be below 20%. This helps ensure the most efficient burn.
3. Species such as ash, beech or birch burn particularly well and are available in bags, making them very convenient to store.
4. Use a wood burner as opposed to open fire for maximum heat efficiency. 80% of the heat generated by a wood burning stove is radiated and convected into the room, compared to only 20% with traditional fireplaces.
5. Wood burning stoves also require less wood as a couple of logs will burn for up to an hour, compared to 15 minutes on a traditional open fireplace, meaning you use less logs and get the optimum energy out of every one used.
6. It's also worth purchasing plenty of kindling and natural, non-petrol based firelighters, as this is really handy to get the fire started without the need for dangerous flammable liquids.
For more information, visit www.contura.eu
-ENDS-
¹ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/news/releases/2019/storm-erik
Notes to editors:
- Rooster PR will coordinate comment, interview and profile opportunities for Contura UK Country Manager, Phil Wood. The Contura PR team will also arrange visits to the nearest Contura Design Centre dealerships or the Contura showroom in Doncaster to see the product range.
- Sources detailed in footnotes.
For further press information:
Elsa Findlay | Jo Kendall | Julie Aguilera
Rooster PR
T: +44 (0)20 3440 8930
About Contura:
Contura is Europe's leading manufacturer of wood burning stoves, offering an extensive range of classic and contemporary wood burners; from traditional insert stoves suitable for existing fireplaces, to freestanding statement models made with innovative materials such as soapstone.
Starting at £1,295, Contura stoves are premium yet affordable. Award winning, timeless Swedish design means the products complement or enhance any style of home, whilst also offering outstanding performance, maximum efficiency, practicality and ease of use.
Designed and assembled at the factory located in Markaryd, Sweden, and manufactured to the highest standards, Contura stoves are highly energy efficient, offering powerful convection, superior combustion technology and clean burning systems. Currently, 95% of Contura stoves are DEFRA Clean Air Act exempt and thus approved for use in Smoke Control Areas.
Contura stoves can be purchased through a network of 165 independent retailers nationwide.
Contura is part of the NIBE group, a Swedish manufacturing company producing world class solutions in sustainable energy across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.
Contura is a founding member of the Stove Industry Alliance (SIA) in the UK.
For more information please visit www.contura.eu