Status: 15.01.2024, 19:03 PM
By: Laura Wittstruck
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From branches and twigs to whole trunks: In the forest, you can find and collect plenty of firewood for the wood-burning stove. But is this actually legal?
A crackling fire in the fireplace or at the fireplace in the garden - it doesn't get much cosier than that. In addition, there are rising oil and gas prices, which make heating with wood attractive. In the forest, broken branches and twigs are often just lying around: but can you take them with you and what is the best way to process them?
Can I collect wood in the forest?
Simply getting the firewood from the forest sounds like a cost-effective idea at first. However, it is not allowed – at least not without a so-called wood collection note. If this is not available, there is a risk of a high fine. Collectors can obtain the certificate from their municipality. According to agrarheute.de, the permit costs between five and thirty euros. Even then, however, the following applies:
- Picking firewood is only allowed in public forests, not in private ones.
- Collectors must adhere to the designated areas in the certificate.
- Wood may only be collected – if you want to cut down a tree, you must first obtain permission from the forestry office. This assigns you a tree. A chainsaw license is also necessary.
In the forest, wood is just lying around: simply taking it with you without a wood collection slip is illegal. © Binikins/Imago
How to make your own firewood: the basics
Once you have found a suitable trunk or branch, you still have to shape and shape them into the right shape and size – and preferably immediately. Otherwise, there is a risk that the freshly felled wood will start to rot from the inside and burn less well. The best period for this work is winter until the first rays of spring. This is because the crevices are particularly easy to split when they are frozen. From the forest directly to the oven – that doesn't work. Freshly felled wood has a water content of about 50 percent. In the case of firewood, this should be between 15 and a maximum of 20 percent. According to agrarheute.de, the crevices have to dry for between five and nine months – under ideal conditions.
Finding the right chopping stick
If you split your own wood, you need a sharp splitting axe (promotional link) or a splitting axe or hammer as well as a suitable chopping stick. This refers to a block of wood that serves as a base during wood chopping. This should not reach higher than your knee. It is optimal if the piece of wood to be split on the chopping stick in an upright position reaches about to the hips. This way, the axe hits it with maximum force and there is less risk of back problems.