I got a nice load of free firewood today… if you count several hours labour as free. That’s not a problem but just an observation. Today Jane and I joined a group working in Donington le Heath doing some hazel coppicing. We worked from about 10:30 – 2:30pm with a couple of breaks sawing down hazel trees to near the ground, piling up what was removed to form ‘brash’ (piles of wood that can shelter invertebrates and larger animals while they slowly decompose). Not all the wood went into brash though – each volunteer had the opportunity to come away with a decent load of wood.

That isn’t really free. We had to pay for the car journey there and back (petrol and a contribution towards wear and tear). We spend several hours working, which would be a fair chunk even at minimum wage levels. And, before we actually stick it in the log burner, we’ve got more work to do using our own tools and storage to get it cut, split and dried out.

“Free” might not be strictly accurate although I suppose you could also figure in the benefits of exploring a new area, making some new contacts and getting a (not inconsiderable) level of exercise in the fresh air. Let’s mark that one down not as free but certainly as worthwhile.