Large amount Coppiced hedgerows for Biomass-- Value???

[LAMBCHOPS]

We have a very large amount of overgrown reasonable straight wood coppiced off in Mid Wales / Border area.Is there a market for it to be shredded into Biomass Fuel. Can send pics/details if required

 

[beefandsleep]

Is there a machine that can cut and chip hedges directly and blow into a trailer? That would be a great way to manage hedges, they could be cut on a 5 year rotation, great for the birds, and produce a worthwhile product instead of being a cost.

 

[LAMBCHOPS]

Is there a machine that can cut and chip hedges directly and blow into a trailer? That would be a great way to manage hedges, they could be cut on a 5 year rotation, great for the birds, and produce a worthwhile product instead of being a cost.

Think there is . Just feel its a waste to push up and burn such a good resource as wood is getting shorter in supply. We have not got the time to chip just wandering if there is a market or need for the wood for biomass.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

It’s not going to be the best quality so not going anywhere but power stations I guess.

£10 / ton around here I would say

 

[wilber]

PM sent.

 

[Farmersdaughter]

Is there a machine that can cut and chip hedges directly and blow into a trailer? That would be a great way to manage hedges, they could be cut on a 5 year rotation, great for the birds, and produce a worthwhile product instead of being a cost.

Would be very interested if there was such a machine. We have very big hedges that have not been cut for over 15 years. They are too big now and would like to reduce them. There is a lot of biomass there and ideally I would like to try composing with the slurry from the dairy to add organic matter to land. Allowing hedges to grow bigger and havesting there biomass is something that could be useful on a lot of farms if the right machinery is available. It would also benefit the wildlife compared to hedges that are constantly bashed by standard hedge cutters.

 

[Exfarmer]

Would be very interested if there was such a machine. We have very big hedges that have not been cut for over 15 years. They are too big now and would like to reduce them. There is a lot of biomass there and ideally I would like to try composing with the slurry from the dairy to add organic matter to land. Allowing hedges to grow bigger and havesting there biomass is something that could be useful on a lot of farms if the right machinery is available. It would also benefit the wildlife compared to hedges that are constantly bashed by standard hedge cutters.

I think their is enough controversy coppicing large older hedges now! For all the twonks who want extended cutting periods , Joe Public wants too see nice tidy hedges trimmed up regularly, not the skeletons that appear after a few years of growth, are hacked back to the hedge line

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Hedge clippings chipped fine would be worth £6 / ton round here.

Can’t ever see it being viable.

 

[kill]

We have a very large amount of overgrown reasonable straight wood coppiced off in Mid Wales / Border area.Is there a market for it to be shredded into Biomass Fuel. Can send pics/details if required

Totally useless unless dried as chopped green wood in large amounts will self combust.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Totally useless unless dried as chopped green wood in large amounts will self combust.

why do you say that? Plenty will take chip for a few £ / ton. If its dried then it has a value to some but not many boilers - your average chip boiler will not want hedgerow clippings! they like the centre of each log with no bark / leaf / twig content and the perfect shape with no fines or long thin bits, or big bits...

someone with a batch boiler will burn it dry though.

 

[kill]

Even in smaller quantities the green wood will warm and go mouldy. Only real way of dealing with it properly is to dry and season pre chipping but who wants it littered across their fields???? Not me anyhow

 

[renewablejohn]

Is there a machine that can cut and chip hedges directly and blow into a trailer? That would be a great way to manage hedges, they could be cut on a 5 year rotation, great for the birds, and produce a worthwhile product instead of being a cost.

Hemos flail mower

 

[Goweresque]

I've been slowly getting hedges back into order for nearly 10 years here, I cut the larger diameter stuff out to sell for logs and burnt the rest:

Every time I have a bonfire I think its such a shame all that heat is being wasted, but there just doesn't seem to be a way of making it financially viable to use it for something.

 

[Farmersdaughter]

Do you know anyone in UK who has one?

 

[Farmersdaughter]

Do you know any one in UK who has one?

 

[Clive]

I've been slowly getting hedges back into order for nearly 10 years here, I cut the larger diameter stuff out to sell for logs and burnt the rest:
View attachment 745490
Every time I have a bonfire I think its such a shame all that heat is being wasted, but there just doesn't seem to be a way of making it financially viable to use it for something.

Nooooo ! That’s carbon your burning

Compost and spread it !

It amazes me that as farmers we often can’t see we have the perfect mechanism to turn “waste” into something “financially viable” when I see a fire like that I juts see a big heap of really rich soil being thrown away

 

[ShooTa]

or Biochar!!

 

[renewablejohn]

Do you know any one in UK who has one?

They have been on demo in the UK as an alternative to controlled burning of heather. Problem is a Swan Vesta is far cheaper. Not heard of anyone actually buying one.

 

[Goweresque]

Nooooo ! That’s carbon your burning

Compost and spread it !

It amazes me that as farmers we often can’t see we have the perfect mechanism to turn “waste” into something “financially viable” when I see a fire like that I juts see a big heap of really rich soil being thrown away

And composting and spreading is free now is it? As opposed to a hour or two on the telehandler and a box of Swan Vestas?

 

[Clive]

And composting and spreading is free now is it? As opposed to a hour or two on the telehandler and a box of Swan Vestas?

if you can afford to burn the very stuff you sell (carbon) then carry on