From Field to Fireplace: Choosing the Ideal Native Irish Tree for Sustainable Firewood
I’ve been growing native Irish trees for seven years and as they have started to get established, my thoughts have ineviatibly turned to when will I chop them down and what will I do with them? They were planted primarily with privacy in mind and with an acceptance that more would fail than would be successful which has not been the case. With this success having gone straight to my head I’m now looking at what to plant next? From the majestic oak to clahing ash, I’ve been looking into the characteristics of each tree and hopefully this can help you choose the ideal species for your specific needs. With a focus on sustainability and environmental impact, I’m aiming to reap the benefits of using native Irish trees as a renewable energy source.
Why choose native Irish trees?
Opting to plant native Irish trees supports the local ecosystem and wider environment. By choosing native trees, you contribute to the preservation of biodiversity and help maintain the delicate balance of the Irish landscape. These trees have evolved over centuries to thrive in the Irish climate, making them an ideal choice for firewood. As we find ourselves at a point when Ireland is the least wooded country in Europe, it’s more important than ever to plant something today that may still be around long after myself.
From an entirely practical standpoint Irish trees are better adapted to withstand harsh weather conditions, pests, and local diseases. Which should, fingers crossed, translate into a more reliable and consistent supply of firewood. Additionally, I intend to propogate as many of these as I can myself, so I can be economically and environmentally sustainable .
Which native Irish trees are most suitable for firewood?
According to the Tree Council of ireland Ireland has 28 native tree species, I’ve whittled these down to a set of options based on your own conditions;
Ash as a sustainable firewood option
The ash tree Fraxinus excelsior burns well and produces a steady heat output. Ash firewood has a low moisture content, resulting in cleaner and more efficient combustion and is easy enough to split, which can’t be underrated.
However, due to the threat of the ash dieback disease I’m happy to disregard this an option and would advis you to do the same. Though I’ve heard anecdotal evidence that this disease is no longer spreading Ireland, I’d rather be safe than sorry.
Birch as a sustainable firewood option
The birch tree Betula pendula is a popular choice for firewood due to its abundance and fast growth rate. Birch firewood burns quickly and produces a bright blue flame, making it ideal for starting fires and also emits a pleasant scent when burned. Both Silver & Downy Birch are native Irish species, as I’ll be growing in relatively wet conditions, Downey is likely to be a more successful choice. For those of you with well drained land Silver Birch could be a great option as a sustainable fuel source and would be an attractive landscape feature.
Oak (Sessile) as a sustainable firewood option
The oak tree Quercus petraea is a staple of the Irish landscape and has been traditionally used for firewood & furntiture making. Known for its durability, oak firewood burns slowly and produces a high heat output. If you are looking to plant trees for the future aswell as the fireplace, then oak is the perfect choice. If we had more room, we’d have more oak trees, nonetheless it’s a great option as a native firewood. I’m not sure if it’s the exposed nature of our site but oaks just haven’t thrived like some other species. There are 6 year old oaks out there barely five feet tall, yet most will tell you an oak will grow 3ft per year.
Alder as a sustainable firewood option
The alder tree Alnus glutinosa is ubiquitous in Ireland but potentially down to its reputation for thriving in wet areas, it’s rarley seen as viable firewood. It’s timber is associated primarily with turning but once was used in bridge construction and famed for clog making. Beyond it’s rapid growth rate, up to a metre a year, the Alder acts as a nitrogen fixer improving soil quality.
In conclusion
These are by no means the only native species suitable for firewood or coppicing operation. Hazel, Beech & Willow are all great potential alternatives, indeed the only reason I’ve not considered Willow is we have it growing in such abundance already. For the all round combination of burn quality, growth rate & ease of harvesting I see a combination of Alder and Downy Birch as the easiest to maintain and practical sustainable source of native irish firewood,