Project Firewood processor and log deck, forestry trailer, and crane.
Release Date 20 December 2023
Issued by Northumberland Logs
Closing Date 31 December 2023
Northumberland logs invite you to tender for the following items of equipment:
Vreten 1000 timber trailer with 65-40N crane, half manual/half electric valve block, 500/50 tyres, road lights, drum brakes on one axle, steering drawbar, four timber bolsters and heavy-duty timber grapple.
Binderberger SSP 450 E automatic electric firewood processor, with sawdust extractor and 4.5m chain conveyor log deck
If all tenders could please be send to roise@northumberlandlogs.com prior to the deadline of the 31st of December 2023.
Northumberland logs supplies firewood across the North East from its base just west of Morpeth and recently has diversified into willow chip harvested from its own willow plantation, adding to its sustainable wood fuel business.
The business started by selling timber from felled roadside trees and in 8 years has grown to become one of the largest suppliers of Firewood in the North East. The firewood is certified under the government’s ‘Woodsure Ready to Burn’ assurance certification with all dumpy bags achieving moisture levels below 20%.
Northumberland Logs’ point of difference is its environmental credentials throughout the supply chain. From woodland creation, sourcing of local timber and labour to its unique drying process, environmental impact is at the heart of decision making at the timber yard.
Once the local timber has been delivered, it is left to season in the yard for over 12 months before being processed on 3 firewood production lines. The timber is then stacked in polytunnels which act as a solar kiln utilizing the natural sunlight reducing the moisture content to ensure a good clean burn.
James the owner of Northumberland Logs states, “Right from the beginning, I felt it was imperative to work with the environment, creating wholly new woodland in addition to the requirements for replanting felled woodland. Firewood is a bulky product, and transporting it creates a large carbon footprint. I therefore have a strict local sourcing policy and refuse to import wood from abroad. I feel that burning wood to dry wood is poor use of a natural resources when natural sunlight can be utilized in our specially designed polytunnels to do the same job.”
Northumberland Logs also has a newly expanded sawmill, creating a range of commercial and bespoke products from fencing materials to hardwood boards for carpentry projects. This utilizes the best of the locally sourced timber on site and provides a bespoke experience for local businesses.
Recently Northumberland Logs have diversified into willow chip which is harvested from its own willow coppices. The chip is then sold for biomass fuel as well as being processed into wood fuel briquettes to be sold as a sustainable alternative to coal through the company’s website.
Finally, the chip is also available both in bags and bulk to customers for garden projects. Willow chip have many benefits including controlling weed growth, retaining soil moisture, regulating soil temperature, and encouraging earth worm populations whilst also adding organic matter to the soil as it decomposes. Willows unique composition also contains Salicylic acid which has been found to play an important role in plant health and resistance against several plant pathogens.
James states “Before harvesting the willow I had no idea as to its amazing benefits. Not only is it an example of a sustainable fuel, regenerating every 3 years, but it is also a fantastic wildlife habitat year-round, supporting a vast range of creatures throughout all seasons. Most interestingly, is the plant immune system benefits, which is something we hope to trial and investigate more in our plantations.”
With the pressure of energy prices and the government’s environmental Net Zero targets, Northumberland Logs is working hard to provide a sustainable, affordable alternative to fossil fuels for its customers. Through planting wholly new woodland, drying logs in solar kilns and coppicing willow, Northumberland Logs its setting itself apart as the environmentally sustainable log supplier in the North East.
Funding: Northumberland Logs has received funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014 – 2020 for a project to purchase a sawmill and associated equipment to scale up the milled timber element of the business. The Rural Business Growth Service is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the North of Tyne Combined Authority.
Before you decide which wood is best it is vital it has the correct moisture content ie 20% or below, water does not burn well! look for woodsure acredited “ready to burn” suppliers.
Many of us use biomass boilers or wood stoves in our homes. But while some enjoy the look and the feel of the real fire in their home, to get the most out of your heating system you must use the correct wood for your needs.
From various wood stoves, log-fed biomass boilers, we discuss the best wood for different heating systems.
BEST WOOD FOR LOG-FED BIOMASS BOILERS
Log-fed biomass boilers can be one of the most cost-efficient ways to heat a home. This low carbon option is often cheaper than other heating options, and in some properties could benefit from the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
While to optimise your biomass boiler for your specific needs may differ, as a rule of thumb, one should look for larger hardwood logs, around “18.
Hardwood is produced slow-growing trees that lose their leaves in autumn, because of this, these logs have a greater density than faster-growing softwoods from evergreen trees, like pine. They have a higher British Thermal Unit energy potential, thus providing you with a longer burn. For a log-fed boiler owner, this means fewer refills and longer-lasting fire, especially useful over night for when you want piping hot water whilst waking up to a warm house.
BEST WOOD FOR SOLID FUEL STOVES
Solid fuel stoves are an efficient way to produce heat whether direct or with an incorporated boiler for hot water and radiators compared with an open fire. Today solid fuel wood stoves are highly efficient and can often heat the entire property if used correctly. The ‘high efficiency’ and ‘clean burn’ models can offer over 80% efficiency ( 80% heat goes into room and 20% up chimney), efficiency and can come with integral boilers, so hot water can be supplied as well.
TWO TYPES OF SOLID FUEL STOVES
Mutlti fuel and wood burning stoves are the two types of solid fuel stove.
Multi fuel stoves can burn wood, smokeless fuel and coal. They have an air intake from below very often the stove will have a grate for fuel to sit on, making them ideal for use with coal.
Wood burning stoves are designed for burning wood only wood burns best when sitting on a bed of ash, with air circulating from the top
As with biomass boilers, the best type of wood to use with multi-fuel stove is hardwood although softwood also works very well, it just burns quicker.Softwood can be useful for lighting the fire and getting up to temperature (ideally 500 0c) quickly due to it being less dense. A rule of thumb is soft wood can burn between 25% and 30% quicker, this is refelected in the price, you just need to put more on the stove!
We might be experiencing unusually warm weather at present but be aware this can come with a sting in the tail and the sting being cold weather, so make sure you have prepared your stove or fire for the cold winter weather.
No doubt you will have already had your chimney swept, the summer is an ideal time when it’s not being used, but if you haven’t got it swept as soon as possible. Ideally it should be swept annually although the national association of Chimney sweeps recommend it being swept for every 3 months of use when burning coal and or wood. To find a qualified sweep look up on nacs.org.uk/find-sweep.
How does your stove look, give it the once over before lighting it. If you don’t feel experienced enough get in a stove installation firm. Common issues can be the rope seals which after use can become flattened letting in too much air making everything burn very quickly. New rope and adhesive can be easily purchased on line. A further issue can be firebricks inside the firebox, again they can be easily replaced, and you will find them online. If you want to give your stove a fresh look use some heat resistant paint such as Stovax Thermolac, it comes in a range of colours.
Most importantly burn the right fuel. Firstly check you’re not in a smoke control area, this can result in a fine if you burn traditional fuel unless it’s on a DEFRA exempt stove. If you are not in a smoke control zone still take great care to burn the right fuel, this ultimately better for your wallet and the environment. Burning wet wood is bad in all ways, consider the amount of energy required to burn of water, the fire then burns cooler, slower with more smoke and lethal particulates which harm the environment. Look for the “Ready to Burn” logo, this ensures your supplier is supplying firewood at or below 20% moisture content. This firewood can either be Kiln dried or naturally seasoned. Some things to be aware of are that Kiln dried firewood can be up to 50% more expensive when compared with naturally seasoned whilst also being imported from Eastern Europe. It isn’t bad and does a good job but why pay more when a naturally seasoned and dried product can do the same job.
Finally burn your fire with a good flame, if your stove is showing a dull orange flame with smoke on the glass it is being starved of oxygen and potentially giving off a cocktail of pollutants i.e. benzene, formaldehyde and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. It is now a legal requirement to have a CO alarm fitted. Ideally a stove should burn at around the 500 degree centigrade level, this can be seen by attaching a thermometer to the outside of your stove, they can be found on line and at retail outlets selling stoves. Make
Above all once you have gone to all the effort of making sure all is right enjoy it there is nothing better than enjoying a room filled with warmth from a stove with its glowing fire giving off that warm atmosphere. Time for a drink after a long hard day!
WOODSURE READY TO BURN
We have just been awarded the Woodsure Ready to Burn certification. This confirms all the hard work, planning and effort we have been putting into ensuring we only supply, the best logs and service, with a moisture content of 20% or below has paid off and been recognised.
Northumberland Logs has evolved over the last 8 years, from a small log supplier which started as an experiment, selling firewood from waste timber and fallen trees to the business we are now. We make it our priority to sell a high quality consistent firewood which is at or below 20% moisture content from a sustainable source from the North East of England and very often from our own woodland, delivering within the week from receiving the order.
As a business we also appreciate the benefits of trees and as a result will have planted up to 150 000 trees over a 3 year period, creating wholly new woodland making us fully sustainable. This is in conjunction with the replanting all of our woodland which has been clear felled is benefiting the environment.
WHAT IS WOODSURE READY TO BURN
This is a recognised industry standard which aims to improve the quality of woodfuel throughout the UK. Wherever you see the Woodsure Ready to Burn certification mark and logo, you can be confident that your woodfuel supplier has been independently checked and audited to make sure their products are of the highest quality – and sustainably sourced. A not-for-profit organisation, Woodsure is backed by Defra, HETAS and the Stove Industry Alliance.
DRIED LOGS – BETTER FOR YOU, BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
Not all firewood logs are ready to burn. Freshly felled trees in mid winter vary from around 35% in ash up to 50 to 65% in trees like alder, willow, and elm. Even logs stored for some time can contain too much moisture as result of damp or humid air. Wind is our friend, hence why at Northumberland Logs we are sited in a draughty spot which helps to remove the moisture from our logs naturally aiding the seasoning.
Modern wood-burning stoves are simply not designed to burn damp logs. Burning damp logs is a false economy, water doesn’t burn.
WHY SHOULD NORTHUMBERLAND LOGS BE YOUR SUPPLIER.
Excellent naturally seasoned logs at or below 20% moisture content.
Excellent value for money, our logs consistently perform as well and sometimes better than more expensive options
Excellent service. All deliveries last year were made despite the snow and wintery conditions.
We take sustainability seriously, hence why we are planting up wholly new woodland
Help the environment burn dry logs, help your wallet and buy Northumberland Logs
