importing logs / firewood

[james_77]

A business I have considered setting up would be buying wholesale firewood logs and re-selling to my local area. I believe from what I have heard in the past that a lot of bulk fire wood is imported from eastern Europe. Does anybody have any experience or information they may be able offer around this area. I expect various licenses from the environment agency are probably required (a christmas tree importer told me this). I guess Brexit may change things, but can we stick with how things are now.

To be clear I am looking at finding a reliable source where I can bulk buy, not some local tree surgeon.

 

[bodgitt&scarperLTD]

Ask here:

www.arbtalk.co.uk

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

Currently, more timber is purchased from within the UK, rather than from Europe as it was in the past due to the weakness of the pound.
I reckon as @bodgitt&scarperLTD mentions, you will get a more definitive answer over on Arbtalk (I've got an account there too - very decent group of people).

I do funding for things like Firewood processors, so while I don't actually get my hands too dirty in the field, I guess I know a bit about the industry.
Supplying firewood to domestic buyers can be long and unsociable hours, hard work and frustrating (as dealing with "the public" often is), but there is clearly a market there. Prices at the roadside for UK timber are quite high at the moment, and of course that's good for the forestry industry and the contractors who are cutting it and pulling it out, but it means the downstream buyers obviously have to pay more.

If you're looking for a good source, a local tree surgeon might actually be a good place to start as you build up a client base, but really you're looking to get further up the chain eventually and so you need to find someone closer to the forest.

 

[james_77]

Currently, more timber is purchased from within the UK, rather than from Europe as it was in the past due to the weakness of the pound.

Interesting, where did you get this information from please.

I will say that I will start reading arbtalk, although it seems more aimed at arborists, but I am still interested in hearing from anyone who knows about importing organic stuff from Europe.

Does anyone run a garden center or similar, where are you getting your wood from?

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

Interesting, where did you get this information from please.

Heard it first from a forestry contractor who cuts down trees for a living.
Confirmed it by speaking to the rest of my contacts in the forestry industry.
Further confirmation when I saw the most recent UK Forest Market Report by Tilhill in Forest Machine magazine two month ago.
Where are you based? Have a look on the FISA site maybe and find a local timber agent. You're right in saying that Arbtalk is more aimed at arborists, but there's also a lot of people on there who do exactly what you are proposing.

 

[james_77]

Thanks Gordon, that all sounds useful.

UK Forest Market Report by Tilhill in Forest Machine magazine, sounds like I need to find this publication! Was it paper or online?

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

UK Forest Market Report by Tilhill in Forest Machine magazine, sounds like I need to find this publication! Was it paper or online?

Paper only as far as I know. You might be able to find it somewhere online, but I've just dug out the magazine and could send it to you if you like?

 

[james_77]

Hi Gordon, Let me have a dig around for it. If I cant find it I would be very grateful for your offer.

Why the interest in forestry?

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

Hi Gordon, Let me have a dig around for it. If I cant find it I would be very grateful for your offer.

Why the interest in forestry?

If you want me to send it to you just PM me an address and it would be no problem whatsoever.

I'm very interested in forestry since I started doing funding for forestry and arboriculture machinery, and I have a tendency to become obsessed with things and I then made the mistake of starting watching youtube videos of forestry harvesters. This then heightened the obsession because they are incredible. Now with doing the funding for guys purchasing the stuff, I get to see it up close....

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

Hi Gordon, Let me have a dig around for it

Found a link...
https://www.johnclegg.co.uk/forest-asset-management/uk-forest-market-report/

 

[james_77]

I watch a lot of videos too, for all kinds of machinery! I found the mag, online. I will register.
https://www.forestmachinemagazine.com/

I am glad I asked the question, as I feel a little bit further now. Give me some time to digest this info, I will PM you anyway to see if you have any other links or contacts.

Please - if anyone has anything to say about importing or bulk purchasing logs please get in touch.

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

I will PM you anyway to see if you have any other links or contacts.

Absolutely - I have a few! Depending on where you are based I may be able to put you in touch with certain people.