rights to collect dead wood

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rights to collect dead wood
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Suzie

Joined: 10 Oct 2006
Posts: 206

Posted: Sun Nov 19, 06 5:20 pm Post subject: rights to collect dead wood

I know this is probably a very stupid / naive question but I honestly haven't got a clue.......
Can you legally collect dead wood for firewood from forests?

We went to view a place today which was in the heart Thetford forest, Norfolk which is owned by the foresty commision and I wondered if you would be able to do so. I've heard of commoners rights but am unsure as to whether these come with particular properties or apply to the public generally as "commoners".

Suzie

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Sun Nov 19, 06 5:27 pm Post subject:
I don;t know if it's true or no but a friend told me theres a bylaw that allows collection as long as you can remove it manualy. I would seek the permission of the landowner first regardlesss I think.

Suzie

Joined: 10 Oct 2006
Posts: 206

Posted: Sun Nov 19, 06 5:39 pm Post subject:
Thanks Tavascarow Guess that's only just common sense and good manners to ask landowner as you suggest. It's a shame really that the actual place we looked at turned out to be a no-go - I'd have had wood to last me several lifetimes Mind you, it would have taken several lifetimes too to "renovate" (estate agent's term) the building Suzie

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Sun Nov 19, 06 6:47 pm Post subject: Re: rights to collect dead wood

Suzie wrote:

The question, in this specific case, really comes down to whether or not the land you were considering purchasing had any rights over the adjoining or nearby forest. Such rights would go with the land (and house) you were looking at.
As to a right to gather firewood, unlikely IMHO. Those trees have owners!
People are generally realistic however
https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/4986236.stm

Gervase

Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 8655

Posted: Sun Nov 19, 06 7:42 pm Post subject:
In common land you often have the right to gather wood 'by hook or by crook'; in other words to take what can be pulled down without cutting or sawing. You'll need to check that with the commoners, though. On other lands you'll generally find the 'wooding rights' belong to someone.

gregreeve

Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Posts: 11
Location: Wiltshire

Posted: Mon Nov 20, 06 6:48 pm Post subject: Brushwood license
The forrestry commission does (or used to do) a brushwood license. Was only �15 or so and allowed you to take any pre-falled wood of no more than 2inches diameter.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46249
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Nov 20, 06 8:25 pm Post subject:
i wish i could have a stove for the winter . polite or invisable . or get it dropped off so as you dont disturb the shoot

Suzie

Joined: 10 Oct 2006
Posts: 206

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 06 5:05 pm Post subject:

Gregreeve wrote

Quote:

The forrestry commission does (or used to do) a brushwood license. Was only �15 or so and allowed you to take any pre-falled wood of no more than 2inches diameter

That would certainly be worthwhile taking out - I think Thetford forest covers 22000 acres or so

Just need to find a place now with a couple of acres, habitable, near woodland for under �250 000

Suzie

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 06 9:39 pm Post subject: Re: Brushwood license

gregreeve wrote:

The forrestry commission does (or used to do) a brushwood license. Was only �15 or so and allowed you to take any pre-falled wood of no more than 2inches diameter.

I phoned them up. Head office England, Cambridge.
They said, ask your local office... here's the number.

Phoned them, they said "Oh a 'Firewood Permit'... I don't think we do them any more. Which bit of woodland were you specifically interested in and I'll give you the forester's mobile?"

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46249
Location: yes

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 06 10:10 pm Post subject:
sounds good

jamsam

Joined: 21 Oct 2005
Posts: 2560
Location: erm....i dont know, its dark.

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 06 10:24 pm Post subject:
i was wondering about this..i saw a beautiful peice of oak in a woodland park, i think the terr had disease and was felled, but the peices were stacked up ready to be moved..i nearly 'wandered off' with it!!

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 06 9:00 am Post subject:
A large amount of wood is left on purpose these days for the multitude of animals that live and feed in it. I would certainly check with the owner first. One thing I've wondered is your right to collect wood from the side of the road, you often find quite large branches after a storm and it seems like you are doing the council a favour by collecting it.

MarkS

Joined: 01 Aug 2006
Posts: 2626

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 06 9:42 am Post subject:

My in-laws live in the ashdown forest and they get 'foresters rights' they pay something like �20/year and are allowed to cut down and remove trees which have been marked by the foresters.

Theres some dispute at the moment though because they are in one part of a converted mansion and there is debate about whether the rights apply to all the occupants or if there is one right for the entire estate.

skedone

Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Posts: 351
Location: essex inbetween a blue bit and a green bit

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 06 10:24 am Post subject:
i say just ask as i did and am glad i did now one of my local woods has a old wood mill in it and when the fell trees that pile the wood up in planks or fire blocks and there free to anyone i found out after asking now my mates fireplace has wood all the time its one a 2min walk from his front door

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 06 10:30 am Post subject:
May I take the opportunity to thank you guys for this topic? I knew none of this, its been most informative.

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