Get ‘fired up’ about British woodlands this winter

Story published 25.09.08

When the weather turns wintry, a real log fire is guaranteed to bring a warm glow into your home. BioRegional’s HomeGrown® Firewood and Kindling offers carbon-neutral, high quality wood that won’t spit or smoke. Real fire lovers can be happy in the knowledge that these products come from sustainably managed forests, help boost British wildlife and support the rural economy. No other fuel does so much good!

Sarah Mooney, BioRegional’s Firewood Manager said,
”The market is flooded with poor quality, unseasoned firewood harvested from softwood trees such as pine which burn too quickly, spit, smoke and clog up chimney flues. Our producers use the best firewood species, such as oak and ash, which are easy to light and burn steadily. We naturally dry our hardwood logs to give our customers the best possible ‘seasoned’ products for their fire.” She also announced, “We have just launched our new website – www.bioregionalhomegrown.co.uk – to tell you more about our quality wood products and the great people who make them! Visit the site and let us know what you think!”

Wildlife fans will be happy to know that BioRegional HomeGrown wood products come from traditional UK woodlands whose environmentally friendly management by selective thinning and coppicing ensures that woodland flowers, birds and butterflies such as the threatened pearl-bordered fritillary can thrive. All the wood is independently certified by The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) so you can be sure the woodlands are well-managed, meeting strict international environmental and social standards.

Dr Martin Warren, Chief Executive of Butterfly Conservation supports BioRegional, he commented:
“Butterflies need our help and buying firewood from BioRegional is a great way to warm your home and boost local butterfly numbers. Butterflies and other wildlife thrive on active woodland management so your choice in firewood can make a real difference to conservation.”

Rural employment is also given a boost through BioRegional’s HomeGrown Firewood and Kindling. BioRegional’s network of 25 woodland producers act together as one supplier, making them an attractive proposition to national retailers such as B&Q4 who find it easier to deal with larger, multi-product companies. BioRegional’s producers are also able to deliver direct to their most local B&Q stores, reducing transport distances and CO2 emissions.

Consumers in designated Smoke Control Areas (SCAs) can find appropriate appliances which are exempt when using seasoned firewood by visiting www.uksmokecontrolareas.co.uk/appliances.php.

Rob Dewbury, Assistant Buyer for heating at B&Q commented:
"With climate change high on everybody's agenda, we are continually looking for ways to minimise our impact on the environment and offer our customers solutions that will lessen their own carbon footprint.

At B&Q we've had a timber policy in place for over two decades that means we only use timber from forests that are well managed and sustainable. Working with BioRegional, who are supplying us with firewood and kindling, means people are purchasing a locally sourced product so it hasn't traveled many miles to reach our store. This wood and kindling, like our other wood products in store, is also ethically sourced, so people can buy with the knowledge that the firewood they are buying is not damaging the environment and that the forest it was taken from will continue to thrive"