Lymington Firewood stays on the cutting edge as New Forest locals Ed & Alice invest in new tech

A machine that creates seasoned firewood is now up and running in the New Forest.

Lymington Firewood, helmed by Ed Wallrock and Alice Shaw, is now home to the FuelWood – a system which cuts, splits, cleans and dries timber for use in fireplaces, log burners and fire pits.

Offcuts are used to power the drying process, which can turn damp ash into seasoned logs in five days, rather than a year.

Ed and Alice’s startup delivers within a 10-mile radius of Lymington and sells through farm shops and other outlets, capitalising on a recent boom in log burners.

“The machine is superb and has transformed the way logs are produced, making it quicker and simpler,” said Ed.

“The product at the end is logs of a correct size for the old coal fires you find across Lymington in people’s houses, and for wood burners.

“All the logs are kiln dried, and the heat is created by burning the offcuts. There really is no waste.

“Kiln dried wood has a very low moisture content, of 20 per cent or less, making it easier to ignite and producing a hotter, more efficient burn.

“It also burns more cleanly, producing less smoke, soot and tar build-up in chimneys. This reduces the risk of chimney fires and makes it better for indoor use.”

Lymington Firewood also produces sawdust for equine use and sources its wood from sustainable forests.

“This is our first sustainable season and demand is rising,” Ed added.

“We also anticipate demand in the summer months because of the increased use of firepits and fire-powered hot tubs.”