Everyone loves a wood fire. They're romantic, comforting and warming. If you choose the right fuel they're also a green and sustainable option. But if you're a log fire newbie, how do you know what not to burn? Green wood Tip: buy a moisture meter and ensure your firewood is seasoned to below 21% moisture. If you make the mistake of burning logs that haven't been properly dried and seasoned, you'll soon know about it. They're difficult to light because they're still full of water, and they burn horribly throwing out plenty of smoke and particulates. Hardly very green. Tip...

If you live in a built-up area, you may believe that you can’t use coal due to smoke control regulations. While you can't use old-fashioned coal, you can use smokeless coal.  Furthermore. there are steps you can take to ensure that you do not produce too much smoke when you burn coal. We’ve listed these steps in today’s blog entry, in order to help you reduce smoke from your stove or fireplace. By following these steps, you can ensure that your stove produces minimal quantities of smoke and can be used in  built-up areas. 1. Don’t overload coal Don't overload the...

Wood-burning stoves are a useful addition to many homes and have risen dramatically in popularity during the last decade. Not only do they look attractive and increase the retail value of your property, they also provide a cheap and efficient way of heating your whole house. Here are a few tips to ensure your wood-burner is as energy efficient as possible, enabling you to get the most heat for your money and cut down on your energy bills. Check the seals Use the paper test to test your woodstove seals every 3 months. The seals on your wood burner should...

Our series of articles looking at the various species of tree that can be used as firewood continues with a British favourite: the mighty oak. The English oak (Quercus robur) is well known and popular, arguably having achieved the status of a national emblem. Oak forests have a very high value for wildlife, supporting more species than any of our other native trees. Their leaves, catkin flowers and acorns provide a lot of food opportunities, and crevices in the bark allow many creatures to set up home. Fallen oak leaves provide a rich soil environment, in which many invertebrates like...

You probably think of firewood logs and coal as completely separate fuels. However, it is possible to burn them together. That’s right: you can burn coal and logs in your fireplace simultaneously. But why might you opt to combine these two fuels? The best of both worlds Coal and logs combined — the best of both worlds Burning coal and wood simultaneously allows you to get the best of both worlds. Coal lasts longer and produces more heat than logs, but logs have a more pleasant aroma and look far better in your wood burner. By using the two fuels...