"What wood is good for burning, either in an open fire or in a stove?" a friend asks. Answer: almost any tree will give you good fuel, but in some cases it needs to be stored longer than others. And don't fell good trees. Use old wood or thinnings where possible. There is a saying that ash can be burned almost fresh from felling. Try it. Like all others it performs better when stacked for a year or two. (One man's experience). In the age of central heating is there really a need for open fires, except for the friendly look of it? Well, if you have been away for the weekend, say, then turn on the heating again, you will still find that the first genuine warmth comes from a fire, lit instantly. It can throw a warm look, and, more importantly, its actual heat, right across the room in a very short time. At the time of one of the many oil crises about 20 years ago, a friend put down 400 ash trees - quick growers, for the next bad times. He's going to keep them, though they are now prime fuel.
For, between several years supply of logs which came from an old, rotting sycamore (a giant tree) which had to come down because it stood at the roadside, and thinnings where trees had been too closely planted and had to be taken out, he hasn't had to use the ash. Except, that is, for the smaller branches shed by them as they grew. They, too, may be too closely planted and lower branches tend to be shed naturally and make first-rate kindling. There are so many arguments about the burning qualities of various logs. Elm, say some, is worst of all. But we don't have many now. Beech is highly rated, oak when well matured, ash of course, again not fresh. Then alder. Pines can be too resiny. Elder if you get it big enough.
Hawthorn is one of the great finds. If you are lucky enough to have hawthorns which have been allowed to grow to full tree dimensions, the wood is a treasure for keeping your fire in overnight. You need a log about six inches thick and, say, eight long. Last thing at night put it on the glowing ashes or remains of your fire before going to bed. In the morning it will still be glowing on the underside at least. A few puffs of the bellows and you are off. The children regard bellows as a sort of stone age piece of technology and can't have too much of it. Delightedly: "Look you've had enough of it. My turn now." Another says: "No, it's mine. You had it yesterday for hours." And so on.