Firewood funding

A Northumberland businessman has received funding to build a large-scale processing yard for biomass and firewood markets.

Rowland Webster received £17,200 for his Unthank Estate in Haltwhistle from One North East’s Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) bioeNErgy Assessment Panel.

Webster plans to use the funding to transform his business into a large-scale firewood processing yard that will be able to eventually supply up to 538 tonnes into firewood markets by the end of 2012, by which time he hopes to explore the wholesale market.

Ben Hoskyns-Abrahall of Smiths Gore, agent to the Unthank Estate, said: ‘We have run a satellite business for two years that has proved the market, but this funding will buy state-of-the-art equipment that will increase production and handling facilities. Firewood quality will improve with a good drying system and stock carrying capacity.

‘This business will provide an outlet for thinnings from our 600 acres of woods, which urgently need attention. Thinning has been uneconomical for some years because there has been no market for small roundwood,’ he added.