Well our evening just got more interesting. After the storm last night we thought it hadn’t done any damage. Then this afternoon a strong gust of wind blew through the garden, so noisy, followed by a crashing sound and resulting in an enormous old ash tree falling down upon the lawn. It looks as if it might bring down another one with it. Ou french friend knows someone who would deal with it in return for the wood. Is this a good deal? I know it would be expensive to get it cut down and dealt with but I think we should be able to retain a bit of the wood for us to use as well. What does anyone else think?
That’s about standard for rural France.
If you have a chainsaw (and know how to use it) and and a trailer, you take care of fallers yourself.
If you don’t, but know someone who does, a share of the wood in return for their labour is part for the course.
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Be very careful if attempting to cut it up yourself. A fallen tree puts enormous tension into some of the branches with surprising results when that tension is released.
I cut a lot of wood when I first came to France and consider myself fortunate to have survived with all limbs intact. When dealing with fallen trees the deal was no charge but the cut wood was split 50%/50% with the owner
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Thanks to all for your views. We have no intention of cutting up this huge tree ourselves, or should I say my husband. He does not have a chainsaw and will never have one if I have any say in it.
We told our french friends about it and they know someone who will tackle it for his share of the wood. As it’s an ash tree the wood is desirable and doesn’t need a long time before it can be burnt. We are hoping to get some of the wood for ourselves but won’t argue about it if he gets the lion’s share. Think that sounds fair
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If you use wood, then go 50/50. If not, yes, let them have the wood for chopping it.
Ash will need to be seasoned for 1-2 years before burning.
A humidity tester (10€-20€) is a good investment. Wood for burning should be between 10% and 20% humidity, below 10% is too dry and won’t chuck out too much heat, over 20% humidity then it’s too damp and could cause sooting up.
I had half an oak tree fall a couple of years ago, it’s now dry enough to burn. This year I’ve had 2 more trees fall, so I’ve got free firewood for the next few years, woo hoo.
I bought a wood splitter this year. They are so much fun, it’s the best ‘bloke toy’ I’ve bought for ages!
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“I bought a wood splitter this year. They are so much fun, it’s the best ‘bloke toy’ I’ve bought for ages”
I’m considering getting one, which wood splitter did you go for, electric or petrol?
Our neighbour used to split our wood. He would turn up driving a tractor with a contraption on the back that was straight from the Heath Robinson playbook.
It was a large hydraulic cylinder with a pointed wedge welded to one end and operated by pulling on bits of twine connected to the hydraulics. When I asked him where the hydraulic ram came from, he said it once belonged to the landing gear of a Caravelle jet.
“Where on earth did you find such an unusual item?”
Gallic shrug and “in the local scrap yard”.
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If you’re thinking industrial amounts of wood, then thermique/pertol. I bought a Scheppach HL810 , it was easy to assemble. The electric motor splits up to 55cm long trunks at a force of 8 tonnes (allegedly), I’ve not had a problem splitting 50Øcm trunks.
Your local Brico store should have them in stock, otherwise on-line stores have them. Mine was cheaper in-store than online. Note, it must be transported upright, not flat.
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Thanks, exactly the kind of machine I was considering. I have various other Scheppach products, all good quality and lasting well.
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Presumably because the oil reservoir is not sealed for transport?
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Yes, it’s all hydrollocks (sic) if you ask me.
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Excellent advice - coming from the US and from NH living in the woods I used more wood from my 40 acres that I care to remember . I would suggest as a matter of legality ( professionally speaking) please get a contract in writing with both signatures stating terms and that If anything happens that he holds you harmless if any liability takes place such as that “ bounce back “ or he gets injured . You don’t need to get sued . Both of you can sign it and best to get it Notarized. Last note- check the wood for insect damage and stack it criss cross to dry faster or stack it in a covered area or use a large tarp and rope it down . Always check trees over your house every year . And those if need to be cut , please get a professional as it’s very dangerous work . Stay safe ! Lisa
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@LABuesser , do you have any qualifications to offer legal advice in France?
Finally had the man around to view what needs to be done with the fallen tree in order to cut it up and turned into logs. He has looked at the tree and also at all the other ash trees which will need to come down as they too have the’ maladie’ - before they come down on their own in another storm. Probably about 10 or 11 of them. His suggestion, as he has already retired is to do the wood when able and take it back to his place where he will cut it into the agreed lengths for our stove, store it and when we require more firewood to call him and he will deliver the required amount back to us. This seems to be OK with us as the amount of wood will be a very large amount to store and keep dry. I imagine à tree surgeon would charge an enormous price to do this amount of work. If he wants to sell some of it then that’s up to him.
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Don’t forget to get a notarised contract as advised by our friend Lisa above. 
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We try to work on trust, too. And 11 ash trees - you’ll need to be bequeathing the wood, I’d have thought.
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Probably right Porridge. Shall we include it in our wills? He’s such a nice old bloke we had some cider his friend makes. He sold it to a neighbour who was with us who promptly gave us half back. As it’s only 2 euros a bottle we Can all be generous. He also makes different flavoured Calvados which has thickish texture to it and served from a bottle kept in a freezer, like Vodka would be. Hick!
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I would be paying close attention to newly felled trees to look for evidence in the trunks of rot maladie etc before committing to a complete clearance of all the trees.
Thank you for reminding me, Chris. Were you out again for Sunday lunch?
Thanks for the reminder Corona we agreed with him regarding the trees with the maladie. It’s pretty obvious from looking at them. The one already on the ground hanging onto its stump, the stump shows it’s rotten and as dead as can be . Glad it came down whilst we were here. It has pushed over another couple of trees as well which are leaning against another dodgy looking one We have an awful lot of trees around our garden and a little wood opposite us too. Methinks that is where the Sanglier family live
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