Rubha Phoil

Our firewood in seasoned in round outdoor stacks (see how many you can find dotted about Rubha Phoil when you visit). Despite being uncovered the circulars stacks encourage air to flow round the split logs which helps them lose their internal moisture. Once it’s seasoned it’s stored in the woodshed to be dried before being burned. Dry wood burns far better, cleaner and more efficiently than wet wood.

Burning wood is a carbon neutral form on energy, as long as you plant new tress to replace the ones that have been felled. This means that the new trees absorb about the same amount of carbon that has been released by burning the wood. Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is one of the main “greenhouse gases” that are causing global warming. By generating as much of our energy as possible from carbon neutral sources we can limit the impact we are having on the planet.

We burn a mixture of wood that is taken from our woodland as well as scrap wood. As well as many native species we also burn Rhododendron wood. Rhododendron isn’t native to the UK – it was introduced in 18th Century as a ornamental plant and has since spread into the wild. It is considered an invasive species as it can cause damage to native woodlands and spreads easily both through it’s seeds and root systems – even a tiny twig can roots itself and grow a new plant. As some land owners are attempting to eradicate Rhododendron from their land there is usually a plentiful supply of Rhododendron logs to burn. It’s a good burning wood and the dry woody stems make great kindling.

The wood shed is built from mostly reclaimed and scrap wood, the pipe at the top allows the living roof to be watered in dry weather and the pipe at the bottom allows excessive rainwater to drain away. It is based on a design in Johan Van Lengen’s excellent book “The Barefoot Architect”.

An old poem….

Beech wood fires burn bright and clear,
If the logs are kept a year.
Oaken logs burn steadily,
If the wood is old and dry.
But ash dry or ash green,
Makes a fire fit for a queen.

Logs of birch wood burn too fast,
There’s a fire that will not last!
Chestnut’s only good , they say,
If for long it’s laid away.
But ash new or ash old
Is fit for a queen with a crown of gold!

Poplar makes a bitter smoke,
Fills your eyes and makes you choke!
It is by the Irish said,
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.
But ash green or ash brown
Is fit for a queen with a golden crown.

Elm wood burns like churchyard mould,
Even the very flames are cold.
Apple logs will fill your room,
With an incense -like perfume.
But ash wet or ash dry
For a queen to warm her slippers by!