I went to an event recently about how to set up a community firewood group. You basically need a land owner/ farmer who has hedgerows or woodland that a community group could manage and harvest, and a group of people who would like firewood for their stoves and are prepared to help from time to time. Hedgework usually starts after leaf fall in November and must be finished by the end of February when birds start nesting. The group would need a person skilled in the use of a chainsaw and someone able to lay hedges. Apart from those skills, almost anyone can get involved in sawing up logs and kindling with hand tools.

The event took place on a farm which had 10 kilometres of hedgerow. The farm is managed with wildlife in mind and many of the hedges had not been cut for 10 or more years. It was really surprising to see how much wood was produced from such overgrown hedges. In fact before the 1950's most hedges were laid or coppiced every 15 years or so with the wood being used for cooking or heating. Most of this "free" fuel is now going to waste as tractor mounted cutters keep hedgerows tidy each year. 

If you might be interested in setting up a community firewood group either as a farmer or wood owner or as a person wanting firewood, please contact me.