1159 Melton Road, Syston,
Leicester, LE7 2JS

Here’s a variety of wood types I’ve used and what I’d recommend (or not recommend) about them:

  • Alder: Poor in heat and does not last very long
  • Apple: Splendid it burns slowly and steadily when dry, with little flame but good heat. The sent is pleasing
  • Ash: Best burning wood. Has both flame and heat, it will burn when green though not best as well as when it is dry
  • Beech: Fair when green. If it has a fault, it is apt to shoot embers a long way
  • Birch: The heat is good, but it burns quickly. The smell is pleasant
  • Cedar: Good when dry. Full of snap and crackle. it gives a little flame but not much heat. The scent is beautiful
  • Cherry: Burns slowly with good heat. Another wood with the advantage of scent
  • Chestnut: Mediocre. Apt to shoot embers. Small flame and heating power
  • Doulas Fir: Poor. Little flame or heat
  • Elder: Very smoky and quick burner with not much heat
  • Elm: Commonly offered for sale. To burn well it needs to be kept for two years. Even then it will smoke. Vary variable fuel
  • Hazle: Good
  • Holly: Good, will bun when green, but best when kept a season
  • Hornbeam: Almost as good as beech
  • Laburnum: Totally poisonous tree. Never burn this wood
  • Laurel: Has brilliant flame
  • Lime: Poor, burns with dull flame
  • Maple: Good
  • Oak: Sparce in flame and the smoke is acrid, but dry old oak is excellent for heat, burning slowly and steadily until the whole log collapses into cigar-like ash
  • Pear: A good heat and a good scent
  • Pine: Burns with a splendid flame but apt to spit. The resinous Weymouth pine has a lovely scent and a cheerful blue flame
  • Plane: Burns pleasantly but is apt to throw sparks if very dry
  • Plum: Good heat and aromatic
  • Poplar: Truly awful
  • Rhododendron: The thick old stems being very tough to burn well
  • Robinia (Acacia): Burns slowly with good heat but with acrid smoke
  • Spruce: Burns to quickly and with too many sparks
  • Sycamore: Burns with a good flame with moderate heat. Useless green
  • Thorn: One of the best woods. Burns slowly with great heat and little smoke
  • Walnut: Good and also has a nice scent aromatic wood.
  • Willow: Poor it must be dry to use and then it burns slowly with little flame apt to spark
  • Yew: Among the best. Burns slowly with fierce heat and the scent is pleasant

 

– William Evans