Whats the Best Wood to Burn?

Dorset Log Stores is tucked away in a little wayward corner of the sleepy Blackmore Vale in the centre of Dorset, so you'd think that having lived here for just over a decade I'd know a bit more about the countryside than I do. Don't get me wrong here, I was born in the home counties, know the difference between a sheep and a cow and I am as green fingered as the next Alan Titmarsh, however when it comes to trees identification I find myself sadly lacking.

Luckily, the Bosses can spot a Horse Chestnut tree from a thousand paces and have been working, constructing and building with timber for over fourteen years. As such, they know a little bit more about trees than this humble office monkey. 

We have converted this great encyclopedia of knowledge into a help information page on what sort of wood is best for chopping and storing in your log store for the roaring fires in the cold winter months. 

Log Baskets

• APPLE  - Extremely hard stuff once seasoned. Apple wood burns with a gorgeous aroma and doesn't tend to spark or spit. 
• ASH -  One of the best woods for fuel producing lovely flames and great heat, even as green wood. The branches are often used as kindling. 
• BEECH - Very good firewood that produces both heat and flame. Can be known to spark and must be seasoned for a whole year.
• BIRCH - A good firewood producing a great fire. Burns quickly, even if unseasoned. The branches are often used for kindling. 
• CHERRY - Burns slowly without spitting and giving a pleasant smell, but must be seasoned well. 
• ELM - Needs a long seasoning due to its huge water content. When seasoned it burns slowly giving off a good heat. 
• HORSE CHESTNUT - Requires a long seasoning and spits a lot, however provides both a good flame and heat. 
• OAK - Excellent firewood. Burns slowly giving off plenty of heat. Best left to season for two years or can give off an acrid smell when burnt. 
• PINE - Good flame and scent but spits and leaves oily soot in the your chimney. 
• SYCAMORE - Good firewood burning well, but produces little heat. 
• WILLOW - Burns well if properly seasoned. 

Of course there are far more trees than this list and there is further information on the Dorset Log Stores Wood Burning Guide, which covers more trees that you might want to burn through the winter and importantly the ones that you will want to avoid. 

The Blackmore Vale

With the drawing in of the winter nights and the ever growing need to warm my toes of an evening against the roaring blaze of a crackling fire, I'd better start studying and learning the difference between a Elm and a Sycamore.

Thanks for Reading

James