I'm putting a list of timbers together for there usability on Fires any imput greatly received
Apple: Really good burns slow with good heat good for cooking
Oak: a good all rounder . Was told to fell trees in the summer for building and winter for burning the older the better for burning
Beech: . Burns relatively well but can spit out embers
Birch: This has good heat output but burns quickly. It will burn green
Blackthorn: Burns slowly, with lots of heat and little smoke.
Cedar: small flame, lots of heat a nice cooking timber
Ash: my favourite burning wood with steady flame and good heat . It will burn when green, but not as well as when dry.
Cherry: burns slow with good heat but really difficult to start better put on to a fire which is already going strong
Chestnut: I've found a small amount of heat not good for cooking at all
Douglas Fir: little flame or heat if it has to be used split larger logs and disregard the outer timber in my opinion avoid
Elder: I've never burnt this as old woodlore says to burn elder is to bring death to the forest ( no I don't walk under ladders either )
Hawthorn: Good firewood. Burns hot and for along time
Hazel: An excellent fast burning fuel but tends to burn up a bit faster than most other hard woods so large amounts are needed for continuous fire
Holly: A good firewood that will burn when green, It is fast burning with a lot of flame but not so much heat
Hornbeam: Burns almost as good as beech with a hot slow burning fire.
Horse Chestnut: a good flame and good heat but spits a lot.
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Laurel: Produces a brilliant flame only reasonable heat
Lilac: Thinner branches make good kindling, whilst the thicker burn well with a clear flame
Maple: A good all round firewood.
Thorn: One of the best firewoods. Burns slowly, with great heat and little smoke. But also needs to be cut in the winter to get best results
Pear: Burns with good heat, good scent and no spitting. Needs to be dried well
Pine species generally: (Including the dreaded Leylandii) Burns very well if the snap ,crackle and pop doesn't bother you
Plum: Wood provides good heat with a good flame
Rowan: A good firewood that burns hot and slow.
Rhododendron: Bigger branches burn well the older the better small bits ok for starting
.Sycamore: Burns with a good flame, with moderate heat. Useless green.
Sweet Chestnut: Burns when seasoned but tends to spit like crazy not a good open fire fuel .
Willow: A poor fire wood that must be dry to use. Even when seasoned, it burns slowly, with little flame. Apt to spark.
Alder: Burns very quick not much heat not worth the effort of collecting
laburnum : smoke that taints food and is best never used although he wood itself will unlikely effect you harvesting it would probably be unpleasant and the smoke is very unpleasant
Lime: A poor quality fuel with dull flame. Good for carving though! A bit of a waste to burn it.
Spruce: A poor firewood that burns too quickly and with too many sparks
Poplar: A terrible fuel that doesn't burn well and produces a black choking smoke
Elm: A bad wood for daytime fires in my opinion as smokes lick mad but a good sized piece of log on before bedding down for the night will still be embering in the morning
Walnut: Not worth the effort of collecting smells nice though
Yew: This burns slowly, with fierce heat. Another carving favourite.
I've added a few rhymes to help
"These hardwoods burn well and slowly, Ash, beech, hawthorn oak and holly. Softwoods flare up quick and fine, Birch, fir, hazel, larch and pine.
Elm and willow you'll regret, Chestnut green and sycamore wet"
Ash wood wet or ash wood dry, a King will warm his slippers by."
Beechwood fires are bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year
Chestnut only good they say
If for long it's laid away
Make a fire of elder tree
Death within your house will be
But ash new or ash old
Is fit for a Queen with a crown of gold
Oaken logs, if dry and old
Keep away the winters cold
Poplar gives a bitter smoke
Fills your eyes and makes you choke
Elmwood burns like churchyard mould
Even the very flames burn cold
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread
So it is in Ireland said
Applewood will scent the room
Pears wood smells like a flower in bloom
But Ashwood wet and Ashwood dry
A King may warm his slippers by.
Apple: Really good burns slow with good heat good for cooking
Oak: a good all rounder . Was told to fell trees in the summer for building and winter for burning the older the better for burning
Beech: . Burns relatively well but can spit out embers
Birch: This has good heat output but burns quickly. It will burn green
Blackthorn: Burns slowly, with lots of heat and little smoke.
Cedar: small flame, lots of heat a nice cooking timber
Ash: my favourite burning wood with steady flame and good heat . It will burn when green, but not as well as when dry.
Cherry: burns slow with good heat but really difficult to start better put on to a fire which is already going strong
Chestnut: I've found a small amount of heat not good for cooking at all
Douglas Fir: little flame or heat if it has to be used split larger logs and disregard the outer timber in my opinion avoid
Elder: I've never burnt this as old woodlore says to burn elder is to bring death to the forest ( no I don't walk under ladders either )
Hawthorn: Good firewood. Burns hot and for along time
Hazel: An excellent fast burning fuel but tends to burn up a bit faster than most other hard woods so large amounts are needed for continuous fire
Holly: A good firewood that will burn when green, It is fast burning with a lot of flame but not so much heat
Hornbeam: Burns almost as good as beech with a hot slow burning fire.
Horse Chestnut: a good flame and good heat but spits a lot.
.
Laurel: Produces a brilliant flame only reasonable heat
Lilac: Thinner branches make good kindling, whilst the thicker burn well with a clear flame
Maple: A good all round firewood.
Thorn: One of the best firewoods. Burns slowly, with great heat and little smoke. But also needs to be cut in the winter to get best results
Pear: Burns with good heat, good scent and no spitting. Needs to be dried well
Pine species generally: (Including the dreaded Leylandii) Burns very well if the snap ,crackle and pop doesn't bother you
Plum: Wood provides good heat with a good flame
Rowan: A good firewood that burns hot and slow.
Rhododendron: Bigger branches burn well the older the better small bits ok for starting
.Sycamore: Burns with a good flame, with moderate heat. Useless green.
Sweet Chestnut: Burns when seasoned but tends to spit like crazy not a good open fire fuel .
Willow: A poor fire wood that must be dry to use. Even when seasoned, it burns slowly, with little flame. Apt to spark.
Alder: Burns very quick not much heat not worth the effort of collecting
laburnum : smoke that taints food and is best never used although he wood itself will unlikely effect you harvesting it would probably be unpleasant and the smoke is very unpleasant
Lime: A poor quality fuel with dull flame. Good for carving though! A bit of a waste to burn it.
Spruce: A poor firewood that burns too quickly and with too many sparks
Poplar: A terrible fuel that doesn't burn well and produces a black choking smoke
Elm: A bad wood for daytime fires in my opinion as smokes lick mad but a good sized piece of log on before bedding down for the night will still be embering in the morning
Walnut: Not worth the effort of collecting smells nice though
Yew: This burns slowly, with fierce heat. Another carving favourite.
I've added a few rhymes to help
"These hardwoods burn well and slowly, Ash, beech, hawthorn oak and holly. Softwoods flare up quick and fine, Birch, fir, hazel, larch and pine.
Elm and willow you'll regret, Chestnut green and sycamore wet"
Ash wood wet or ash wood dry, a King will warm his slippers by."
Beechwood fires are bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year
Chestnut only good they say
If for long it's laid away
Make a fire of elder tree
Death within your house will be
But ash new or ash old
Is fit for a Queen with a crown of gold
Oaken logs, if dry and old
Keep away the winters cold
Poplar gives a bitter smoke
Fills your eyes and makes you choke
Elmwood burns like churchyard mould
Even the very flames burn cold
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread
So it is in Ireland said
Applewood will scent the room
Pears wood smells like a flower in bloom
But Ashwood wet and Ashwood dry
A King may warm his slippers by.
