NEEPS

davyravy · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 11:53 am Post subject: Small scale willow coppicing

Hi,
I'm looking into starting willow short rotation coppicing to provide fuel for my domestic heating etc. Does anyone know of any groups of small scale growers set up to share equipment / experience etc?
David

Smooth Hound · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 1:01 pm Post subject:

dont know of any groups, but ive been doing this for a few yrs now, and i always love a chat

Smooth Hound · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 1:02 pm Post subject:

if you need any cuttings later on, then let me know, osier this is.

Smooth Hound · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 1:04 pm Post subject:

in exchange for some chutney or something

Smooth Hound · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 1:09 pm Post subject:

just noticed your new to the site, so welcome

Cockadoodledoo · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 3:45 pm Post subject:

Welcome from me too - I will also have lots of cuttings too
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davyravy · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 4:52 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the replies. Very early days thinking about this so am trying to find out the pitfalls etc. before taking the plunge. Been toying with the idea of wood pellets but the installation cost and difficulty keeping pellets dry enough are putting me off. I think we will end up with a woodburning stove to heat the house with an oil boiler for back up.

Can either of you advise on getting started with willow?
Do you have a rotation going so you can harvest every year?
What varieties do you use?
What sort of area do you need to get sufficient supply? (4 bedrrom house) - I could go back to basics to work this out, but if anyone has done the calculation already!

Any and all advice welcome
David

aritchie71 · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 6:12 pm Post subject:

i will be watching this one with great interest, i have a lot of willow here, but none of it has ever been coppiced so this year i am going to coppice a lot of it and use the cuttings to make a hedge and do some live willow work, but i am also intersted in using it for fuel for the rayburn!
Welcome on board davyravy!
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Smooth Hound · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 7:18 pm Post subject:

ill be doing alot of live willow heging this winter and ill pu t pics

are you in the aberdeenshire area , if so you are more than welcome to come and see, at the moment i have 5 long rows a fraction over a m apparte, in 3 of the rows i have them 6 inches apart, in the other 2 ive got them a ft apart, ill let you know which is best as time goes on, i presume youve got a few yrs

im not growing for fuel though, although if it carries on a it is , i may have no choice

the price of coal, itll be that or freeze. im growing mine for my own hedging, and i have some live willow work in mind.

Maria · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 12:02 am Post subject:

Just made a batch of green tom chutney....any good SH? It's my first bash at preserving...and not too bad...OH say's it'll be tasty on burgers. I've been eating it by the spoonful...but that's prob just because I'm so thrilled with my first bash at beefy toms (even if they are still green!)...and my first chutney attempt. 8)

Oooops. Willow. Please please count me in. Would love to learn more about coppice and living willow. Have read heaps...now need to put it into practice. I have a fully grown willow at the bottom of the garden...think it's salix brittaxia (sorry can't spell for toffee), has red stems in winter!! Was thinking of taking cuttings from this...the ones I can reach...and planting some.

Will also be watching with much interest.