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Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

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

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 05 12:06 pm Post subject: Tree growing times

Does anyone know where I can get some information on tree growing times from? The main details I'm after are how long it would take from planting a 1 year old seedling to a first coppice for firewood & charcoal (assuming average quality soil and conditions), so about a 2 inch diameter.

I know it would depend on the trees planted but I would be looking to coppice for fire wood so I would be looking at trees like ash. I have seen a hybrid poplar available that can grow 18 foot a year, but I'm not sure if they are suitable for coppice or firewood (I vaguely remember poplar wood doesn't give off a great deal of heat).

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 05 12:11 pm Post subject:
Speak to martin crawford at: www.agroforestry.co.uk

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

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

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 05 12:12 pm Post subject:
I'll have a chat, has anyone asked for an article from them?

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 05 12:14 pm Post subject:
Several times, he's busy at the moment, but will think about it when he's got a mo.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 05 12:14 pm Post subject:
Tell him where you heard about him

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 05 12:17 pm Post subject:
I can strongly recommend the book "Tree Planting & Aftercare" edited by Elizabeth Agate and published by the BTCV. ISBN 0 946752 25 7. Very clearly written, with loads of information about planning, what to plant and where, rotations, when to harvest, etc, etc.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 05 6:05 pm Post subject:
Try John seymour - someones borrowed mine, but i vaguely recall something about it. In spain they use spanish oak for the brick factory as it grew fast and produced lots of heat when burned - but i'd guess you're after a local species?

judyofthewoods

Joined: 29 Jan 2005
Posts: 804
Location: Pembrokeshire

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 05 8:34 pm Post subject:

Ash is the best, it is relatively fast growing, and has a relatively low water content. It splits easily, smells lovely and burns at just the right rate. Oak is the timber equivalent to anthracite, you need a less dense wood to get the flames for oak to catch, difficult to burn on its own. It will take ten years plus for the young tree to be big enough to cut down the first time, but once you have a more mature root, the stool will produce several shoots after the cutting and the anual increment will be greater. Not sure about rotation length, will have to dig out the books (most things are in boxes stored away), but would tink its in the 15-20 year range for a 3"-4" log. Willow grows fast, but also burns fast, and has a high water content, which needs longer drying, and the great bulk for its BTUs hoggs space unnecessarily, not to mention the smell of stale urin you can get from it.

Lloyd

Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 05 9:32 pm Post subject:
Seedlings of what?...For coppicing, Willow is VERY quick, if not in competition with other stuff, even grass. After year one, cut to ground level, and then the poles will all spring up. If you run two patches, alternate them on a one and two year coupe, so that you have something to harvest every year.

Lloyd

Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 05 9:34 pm Post subject:
If doing it for income, Hazel products cost a fortune!!...Just been searching on hazel, in Google!

organic john

Joined: 27 Jan 2005
Posts: 95
Location: Raunds, Northants

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 05 6:34 pm Post subject:
if you want hazel i got loads of it 3 acres if your interested??

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 05 6:38 pm Post subject:
I know you'll probably think this is a daft question, Madman, but what sort of things do you get in hazel? (I don't know the difference between willow and hazel, or do I is hazel normally a copper colour) Sorry for being a dunce on this subject!!

Lloyd

Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 05 6:45 pm Post subject:

organic john wrote:

if you want hazel i got loads of it 3 acres if your interested??

Get coppicing, John!!

Lloyd

Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 05 6:47 pm Post subject:

Gertie wrote:

I know you'll probably think this is a daft question, Madman, but what sort of things do you get in hazel?

Mainly garden stuff, fence hurdles, archways, woven garden furniture, baskets, trugs, etc.

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Fri Mar 11, 05 4:42 pm Post subject:
Sounds a good way of making a bit of money, John! I'll second Madman - get coppicing!!!!!!!

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