Firewood permits - FC Wales

[deeps]

Hi, does anybody have any direct experience of obtaining firewood permits from the Forestry Commision in Wales - if so could you tell me the best way of setting about doing it ?

thanks

[Eric_Methven]

Not specifically in Wales, but I think it'll be the same most FC places.
Go directly to the wood/forest you'd like to collect from, go to the forest office and speak to the forest manager/head ranger. They can issue one directly to you.

Eric

[rancid badger]

Hi there,
again it may be different in Wales but things have changed around a bit up here in Kielder district, which includes Hamsterly, Kielder, Slaley, Chopwell and a host of smaller plantations, you now have to contact the Head Forester directly for a permit-at least this is what we have been told by the recreation manager. Eric's probably right; just contact the nearest office.
Seasons greetings
R.B.

[Graham B]

Please forgive my ignorance but what do firewood permits entitle you to and is there a cost.

[Eric_Methven]

There is a charge (I don't know what it is at the moment) and it entitles you to collect tops and tails from a designated area that has been felled. When the big machines go through and take out all the useful timber, they leave behind the tops and sometimes the stump pieces of the tree. These are normally just allowed to decompose back into the earth, but you are allowed to collect them for firewood. The FC will tell you where you can collect from, and set boundaries as other sections will have been allocated to other people. They are very much against chainsaw use as well. Even with my proper chainsaw license they wouldn't let me use mine unless I had £5M PLI. PLI for casual chainsaw use is stupidly expensive. They are fine with a bow saw though. I used to just throw big chunks into the back of the van and drive off their land and chainsaw it up in a nearby layby. Then I'd stack it neatly in the back of the van and go back and do the same again until the van was full.

Eric

[Graham B]

Thanks Eric unfortunately I am not aware of any FC land in Essex.

Graham B

[Eric_Methven]

Contact these people for firewood permits

Tangham Area Office
Forestry Commission
Tangham
Woodbridge
Suffolk IP12 3NF
tel: 01394 450214
fax: 01394 450179
email: east.fce@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

AREAS COVERED:
• Essex (except Uttlesford District) (Inc. Thurrock, Southend-on-Sea)
• South Norfolk
• Suffolk (except Forest Heath district)

The following areas are owned by or supported by the FC in Essex

Pages Wood, Upminster
Berwick Woods, Rainham
Folkes Lane Woodlands, Cranham
Thames Chase Forest Centre, Upminster
Harold Court Woods, Harold Court
Bonnets Wood, Upminster
Cely Woods, Aveley
Tylers Wood , Cranham
Mardyke Wood, South Ockendon

Contact the community ranger, Steven Leemoon, Thames Chase: 01708 641880 and see if he can give advice on firewood permits.

Hope this helps

Eric

[British Red]

Now thats handy Eric - any chance you know where I could find similar detais for Hants?

Red

[deeps]

Just to close the loop on this. Spoke to head office who were.......unhelpful. Not to be deterred, found the locally responsible bod who was most helpful and although the licences aren't issued in Wales any more, was happy to give me permission for my bit.

So result and no fee.