A guide to timber products & services.

UK tree surgeons offer timber products and services beyond just felling — converted firewood, woodchip mulch, structural timber, sawn boards, and craft timber pieces. Pricing varies enormously by species, condition, and processing: £60–£300 per cubic metre for typical firewood; £200–£800 for sawn structural pieces; £500–£3,000+ for craft-quality slabs from rare species.

Most homeowners encounter this when a tree on their property is felled — the tree surgeon may offer to leave timber as logs (firewood), woodchip the brash (mulch), or take quality boles to a local sawmill for sawing. The economic logic is often that good-quality timber has resale value that offsets felling costs.

Common UK timber products from tree surgery

What's typically offered after a tree is felled

• Logs left on site — for the homeowner to use as firewood. Saves the tree surgeon disposal cost.
• Logs taken away — to be sold by the tree surgeon.
• Woodchip on driveway — for mulching gardens or as ground cover.
• Sawmilling — for valuable timber (oak, walnut, ash), some tree surgeons coordinate with local sawmills.
• Waste disposal — branches and unusable wood disposed of at green waste facility.

Things people often miss

• Seasoning matters for firewood — newly felled wood needs 12-24 months drying before burning. "Wet wood" creates creosote in chimneys.
• Hardwood vs softwood for fire — hardwoods (oak, ash, beech) burn longer and hotter, more economical. Softwoods (pine, fir) light easily but burn fast, more soot.
• Storm-felled timber — particularly valuable to woodworkers / sawmillers. Don't dispose without checking value.
• Tree Preservation Orders — some trees are protected; works require council consent. Tree surgeon should check first.
• Wildlife in trees — birds, bats, squirrels. Ecological survey may be needed for protected species before felling.
• Insurance — homeowner / tree surgeon liability for damage during felling. Confirm tree surgeon has £5m+ public liability.
• Disposal of brash — small branches and twigs typically chipped on site. Don't compost in normal compost — too tough and woody.

Frequently asked questions

Want a local pro to handle this? A qualified tree surgeon (NPTC / CITB / ARB Approved Contractor) handles felling and processing. For valuable timber, ask about coordinating with a local sawmill. The Forestry Commission and Arboricultural Association maintain directories of qualified specialists.