Ash trees

[Jellyfarm]

We have about an acre of ash trees forming 95% of a small wood. presumably in the next few years these will succumb to ash die back and they will have to come down.
Will it be best to fell them before they die or wait?
What should we do with them? What is most profitable?
Ideas include,( but I'm sure there are better ones!) - use for rhi in woodchip boiler, but wouldn't last that long would they? or maybe log cabin(s) as on another thread.
All ideas greatfully received.

J

 

[llamedos]

they may also be ones that survive and be immune to ADB if so will be a good source of resistant saplings

 

[Kidds]

Firewood is probably at least as profitable as anything.
Advice is to leave them be rather than fell in case it gets there. Was last time I looked anyway.

Very big demand for hardwood firewood so you would easy sell the timber.

 

[reb1952]

Would the quality of the timber be affected if you did want to use it for anything other than firewood on trees killed by ADB?

Although ash is a good strong wood form making various things, I expect they are niche markets compared to firewood.

 

[renewablejohn]

Think you may find it happening sooner than you think. My Ash planted a decade ago as part of a woodland grant scheme shows signs of the disease. Obviously need to replace but difficult knowing what to replace with.

 

[Jellyfarm]

This plantation is about 100 years old, we believe from records, so maybe it will take a little longer to succumb, but this is why I am asking now to try and make a plan!
Is there any restriction on selling/moving timber from infected trees?

J

 

[Henarar]

probably letting them die stood up and dry stood up would be better if you want them for logs look how well dead elm burns

 

[jas]

old ash trees will get the disease but it won't kill them completely.i would leave as is for now.not sure how the disease would affect the structure of the timber though. ash is no good as an external timber(windows,doors etc.)as it won't withstand continual weathering- very strong timber though and used to make allsorts from sledges to furniture( i made my kitchen out of some ). can be bent by steam. also great firewood. i would say if you felled them all,the most profitable would be to mill the best in to joinery sizes and log the rubbish

 

[Mattch]

I would coppice the ash to give a continual supply of firewood and extend the life of the trees, assuming die back does not become an issue. You will need a felling licence from the forestry commission before starting any work, who will also advise you on management.

 

[jas]

its largely the forestry commissions fault that we have been importing saplings with dieback, i wouldn't bother asking them for too much advice on management

 

[Mattch]

I had been told it was a plant nursery that imported the trees. Unfortunately it is the one that I had been buying trees from. Ash we planted about 5 years ago is looking very poor but in general ash appears to be struggling this year although not convinced its due to die back - yet.

 

[jas]

the nurseries have been importing the infected trees,but the commission new about the disease for years and failed to push for an import ban-until last year when all hell broke loose and they were running round like headless chickens ,busily slamming the stable door 5 years after the horse had gone! ash is always later than everything else coming into leaf ,another week or so and it will look much healthier

 

[renewablejohn]

I would coppice the ash to give a continual supply of firewood and extend the life of the trees, assuming die back does not become an issue. You will need a felling licence from the forestry commission before starting any work, who will also advise you on management.

You dont always need a felling licence so long as you stick with the annual felling limits

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/treefellingaugust.pdf/$FILE/treefellingaugust.pdf

 

[Jellyfarm]

Yes, our ash very late to come into leaf this year, but as far as we can tell, not much sign of the die back yet, although we do have some seemingly dead branches etc.
How do you coppice ash?

J

 

[jas]

to coppice you would cut down the trees,leaving the rootstock to put up fresh shoots,when the shoots reach the size you require,you would go through the process again.

 

[Y Fan Wen]

If you cut everything down you will also be getting rid of any possibly resistant strains that might be resident in the country.
Leave them alone and see what happens.

 

[Desangosse Ltd]

I have an Ash tree in my garden with ADB - what are my obligations regards this - I have reported to the forestry commission.

 

[bakerboy]

Has anything happened regarding your ash trees? I'm assuming your leaving them untill something happens to them? If you did considering felling them I could put out some feelers, where abouts are you? I'm in the cabinet making/furniture restoration trade and selling the I would think would be fairly profitable. Ash has many good uses in our trade aswell as the classic/vintage car scene as quite a lot of vintage cars have ash frames, as it has a certain amount of spring/flex to it allowing for the car to move around and the body to flex with it and not smash in itself to pieces! Just a thought

 

[tanker]

I was about to start a new thread but here would be suitable,I posted on the old forum but didn't get much response but there is a market for ash in Ireland to make the hurls the players use in hurling.I have a link with a family who run a sawmills in Tipperary who process the ash and then the hurl makers deal with them.I gather that there are a few boys who travel around looking for suitable wood(the bottom 4-5' of a free standing well grown tree and not too hard to transport)..I can only speak for the 2 brothers I know in that they're genuine and have dealt with quite a few farms here over for several years.They're always asking if I know of any and they don't mind travelling for the right stuff.They have to take precautions for dieback these last two years.I won't talk financials on the open forum other than they pay cash on the day.I have no involvement other than a contact and the occasional beer voucher but if anyone thinks they might be interested I can help make a connection..

 

[Desangosse Ltd]

Has anything happened regarding your ash trees? I'm assuming your leaving them untill something happens to them? If you did considering felling them I could put out some feelers, where abouts are you? I'm in the cabinet making/furniture restoration trade and selling the I would think would be fairly profitable. Ash has many good uses in our trade aswell as the classic/vintage car scene as quite a lot of vintage cars have ash frames, as it has a certain amount of spring/flex to it allowing for the car to move around and the body to flex with it and not smash in itself to pieces! Just a thought

I'm in Cambridgeshire, you are very welcome to come and fell it and take it away for free