15/10/2026
I was asked just the other day by a fellow boater if it's ok to just take logs when they see fallen trees. I have always taken logs that have been left by the CRT, as it's generally accepted between boaters that this is ok, but I didn't know the specific answer to his question.
Below is what I have Googled. I do know that it is illegal to take logs from Cannock Chase (and probably all of our Forestry Commission land) as the Forestry Commission like to let tress and logs rot naturally to aid bugs and wildlife (I was told this by a ranger) although they do sell logs too I believe..
Here is what I've googled:
You cannot legally take logs from fallen trees without the explicit permission of the landowner, as doing so is considered theft under UK law.
Key Legal Rules
• All Wood is Owned: Every tree, fallen trunk, branch, and twig in the UK belongs to someone, whether the land is private, public, owned by the local council, or managed by bodies like Forestry England.
• Theft Act 1968: Taking wood without consent from the owner is classified as theft.
• Rare Exceptions: A very small number of locations (such as parts of Epping Forest) have specific local bylaws or permit systems, like brushwood permits from Forestry England, which restrict what you can take (usually small deadwood under 7.5cm in diameter carried strictly by hand without tools).
• Environmental Value: Fallen deadwood is a vital habitat for insects, fungi, and birds, and it recycles nutrients back into the soil.
How to Source Wood Legally
• Ask the Landowner: If a tree falls on or near private land, contact the owner or local authority to ask if you can take or buy the wood.
• Local Tree Surgeons: Reach out to local arborists or sawmills who often have excess timber or waste wood they are happy to sell or give away cheaply.
• Check Certification: If you buy wood in quantities under 2m³ for domestic burning in England, it must comply with the Ready to Burn standards to ensure moisture is 20% or lower.
So the quick answer is probably no, but I do know that you cannot burn wet logs.. How and where do you source your logs? Supermarket ones are usually nice and dry, but they can cost a lot of money, specifically for people with log only stoves, like me!
