gathering firewood

[Annpan]

Does anyone know what the law is on this? In Scotland more specifically.

We have seen some logs lying about a trackside, they were lying all over the place on top of bushes and stuff, a bit of a mess. It look like either the area had been cleared or the stuff had been dumped. We are 90% sure it is managed by the local council... its not a park, it's just a wee bit of trees with a 'no dumping' sign up beside it.

Having read scare stories about people getting life imprisonment for picking up firewood and the like, we just wanted to know if it is OK to pick this stuff up?

[Wombat]

It's only illegal if you get sprung

Nev

[the.fee.fairy]

What kind of trackside?

At Hatfield forest, they leave the logs by the side of the rides to create a barrier, and an ecosystem for the mini beasts.

Is it managed?

There was a discussion about this a while ago, I'll see if i can find it.

Edited to Add:

Here:

http://www.selfsufficientish.com/forum/ ... php?t=3378

[Jack]

Gidday

Race track??

[Annpan]

No.... not race track, just a sort of single track road, quiet and seemingly unused.

We took another drive around the area at the weekend and... it is definately NOT managed, there are pylons all over the place and it is near a huge substation. The feilds around are neglected, we think that it is possible that it will be cleared for a wind farm, it is actually quite spooky driving through it.

We are now sure that the logs that we found are remenants of some woodland control to keep the trees to a safe hight under the pylons... JohnM is going back today to pick up the rest of it...

It seems, through other research that I have done, that it is only illegal under 'theft' laws. In Scotland there are no trespassing laws, so really it is only breaking the law if you are taking something that is of value to the rightful owner... which I reckon logs, felled for saftey reasons and left (at least over summer - they are quite dry) are not of value to whoever the rightful owner may be. (either the council or Scottish Power) The exceptions to this are on managed woodland (forestry commision/ national trust, etc) where you need a licence.

Anyway, we are risking it. It's certainly not criminal, worst case senario is a fine... but that is absolutely worst case senario.

[snapdragon]

ah Heck Annpan you're doing a community service and tidying the area for walkers and cyclists

[Annpan]