Logs, dry seasoned logs, hardwood logs, firewood, coals, wood fuels, kindling

Useful Wood Fuel Facts




Grange Wood Fuels has spent many years researching wood fuels and which is the best timbers for fuels ? we have chosen to use Hardwoods such as Ash which has a very low moisture content, produces excellent heat with a nice flame and lasts reasonably well and can be burned both unseasoned and seasoned. Beech is a good fire wood giving both good heat and flame it can occasionally give off a few sparks and Sycamore and have recently introduced a well seasoned (2 years min) Larch which is a soft wood but make a very efficient fuels when used on closed appliances. We have search various literature and have found they vary content in their and readability after visiting the APF forestry show 2006 we came across the literature produced by the Forestry Commission which proves to be very informative and so have decided to provide a link rather than extract information form it ? I do hope you find it as informative as
we have done.

In Brief some of the benefits of using wood fuel are

  • Burning logs is carbon neutral as the tree absorbs as much carbon dioxide in its growing life as is gives off during the burning process or rotting down naturally
  • Net carbon emissions can be reduced compared to fossil fuels
  • Switching to wood fuel can reduce fuel bills
  • So long as forests are sustainably managed wood fuels are a renewable source of energy
  • Wood fuels create and sustain rural jobs

    		•  Logs, dry seasoned logs, hardwood logs, firewood, coals, wood fuels, kindling

    Storing Your WoodKeep a small amount of logs indoors for daily use to house dry your logs any rain water that has come into contact with your logs can easily be dried off in this way.
    Please keep the bulk of your firewood outdoors to further continue the seasoning process
    For the best seasoned logs - air circulation is very important as this enables the wood to stay dry reducing the risk of logs reabsorbing of moisture from the atmosphere.
    Ideal storage spot for your firewood is in a specialist wood store or an open ended shed, if logs are against a solid wall allow air to circulate around them to stop them rotting
    Cover the logs store with a protective cover during severe weather conditions and remember to remove it when the weather improves so that the sun can dry the wood and remove any moisture that may have seeped through. Protecting the top layer of logs is important to stop rain running down through the stack.
    Stack the largest pieces of wood at the bottom of the pile in level rows and make sure weight is balanced evenly across the storage unit to prevent tipping or an avalanche.
    Remember if you have storage its best to stock up your stores in summer to burn in the winter. This way you will ensure a steady supply of seasoned logs for your home.



  • It is best to stack your firewood outside where the air can circulate and best to store off moist ground so it cannot absorb more moisture from the ground. Pallets and treated fence posts make suitable foundations
  • If you are storing it inside or in a garage or shed - where possible open a window or when safe to do so open the windows and doors to let the air circulate around the logs.
  • Stack with bark side down otherwise the bark will act as a lid and stop the moisture from evaporating and the risk from mould will increase. Have small gaps between the wood to again allow the air to circulate and then top the stack off with the logs with the bark side up - so they act as tiles to allow the rainwater to run off. The more of the surface area which is exposed to the air the more rapid the drying process
  • You can put some sort of water proof covering over the top logs to stop the rain water running down through the logs but do not cover the sides as this will only retain moisture, place a few heavy logs on the top to stop it blowing off

  • Keep near to house so you do not have to go too far too fill your log basket
  • You can rotate your logs so you bring an amount indoors to gently warm up the logs and further still evaporate any moisture and after a couple of day then place them in the basket next to the fire - then fill you indoors store up and so on
  • If all of the above are adhered to you will find you have an excellent fuels to keep you warm - if rain water does penetrate your logs don't worry follow the above advise and you will soon have dry logs again




    Firewood poem

    Beech logs burn bright and clear
    If logs are kept for a year

    Chestnut is only goof they say
    If for long it's laid away

    But ash new or ash old
    Is fit for a queen with a crown of gold

    Birch and fir log burn fast
    Blaze up bright and do not last

    Elmwood burns like churchyard mould
    Even the flames are very cold

    Poplar give a bitter smoke
    Fills your eyes and makes you choke

    Applewood will scent the room
    With an incense like perfume

    Oaken logs if dry an old
    Keep away the winters cold

    But Ash wet or Ash dry
    A King shall warm his slippers by


    one last thing to make sure your happy--dry that willow or it will burn like a wet nappy
    (added by David 19th July 2008)

    Feel free to send in your own!


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