When you’re on a woodland walk, it’s not uncommon to spot a piece of wood or a great pile of logs on the ground that you think would be perfect for your fire. But should you bring any home? And for that matter, is it legal to chop down trees anyway?
Is removing firewood legal?
Everything within a wood, including fallen branches and logs, is the property of the woodland owner. This means removing logs from a wood without consent is considered theft. Make sure you have the consent of the wood owner before you remove any wood.
As well as needing consent, be mindful of what you pick up. Though bits of wood may look abandoned, they provide a valuable service to the ecosystem.
Deadwood habitats
At the Woodland Trust, we leave logs in our woods to provide deadwood for life. Decaying wood is an essential part of the woodland habitat. It provides a home for lots of species that cannot otherwise survive, as well as recycling nutrients back into the soil.
Next time you’re on a walk, get close to some deadwood and see what you can spot. You might see holes drilled by insects, lots of mosses, tiny fungi, or even a stag beetle, the larvae of which feed on dead and decaying wood. Each log is valuable; even different species of tree produce unique habitats.
Discover species that thrive on deadwood
Trees woods and wildlife
Deadwood
Dead and decaying wood is one of any woodland's most important microhabitats. Learn more about why we need more of it, as well as the rare and endangered beetles, colourful fungi and other threatened wildlife that relies on it.
Trees woods and wildlife
Fungi and lichens
A dazzling array of shapes, sizes and colours. Find out about fungi and lichens, from ancient taboos to magic and medicine.
Trees woods and wildlife
Beetles
Get the lowdown on woodland beetles that rely on trees and the woodland ecosystem, from decaying wood to dead animals.
Trees woods and wildlife
Mosses
Ancient and damp, mosses are part of a group of plants known as bryophytes.There are over 1,000 in the UK, and some have global significance.
Journal
Wood Wise – life in deadwood
PDF (4.01 MB)
Journal
Wood Wise – beguiling beetles
PDF (4.85 MB)
Grow your own wood fuel
Buy trees from our online shop to produce your own firewood supply!
Part of a community group? You can apply for a working wood pack through our free trees for schools and communities scheme.
Buy British trees from our shop
We have single trees and tree packs to meet your needs, from wildlife to woodfuel. Delivery is free.
