Ash Trees
Ash trees are tall with an airy, domed canopy that allows for under storey growth, even in very large trees. They are often covered in lichen (and stripey snails), growing to around 100 feet in the right conditions. When young the bark is a smooth, pale grey which develops into a grey / brown with thick bark and deep fissures. Saplings have strong, straight grained springy stems, for this reason Ash trees were a favourite for coppicing.
Ash trees are one of our best and most common trees but are widely under threat from Ash dieback. Ash die back is a disease caused by a fungus, it kills small trees and causes crown die back in older trees with a loss of foliage. Unfortunately this can make large trees dangerous. The current approach is to try and manage this risk rather than a wholesale felling of Ash trees in the hope that the species develops / evolves an immunity to it. Famously indestructible and a fierce ability to recover, we hope that this turns out to be successful. Myths and folk lore about the Ash tree are always about healing and survival.
Not to be confused with Rowan (red berries, smaller serrated leaves), the Ash tree's leaves are long ovals with a point, large and in opposite pairs, it's lucky to find an even number of pairs. In the winter you will see the jet black buds. They often grow in large groups and can be very funny shapes from bad pruning and abandoned coppicing.
Ash timber
Ash is a timber mostly used for fine furniture, especially curved pieces as it bends easily. It has an amazingly straight grain and although not durable outside it finishes extremely well. The colour of Ash timber varies from a straw colour to a darker olive colour (Ash is a member of the Olive family) in the heartwood of older trees, it can also develop excellent burr figure which looks amazing if captured in a board but even better as a wood turning bowl blank.
It is also used for snooker and pool cues, shafts for tools and many more specialist products where a strong, springy timber is required.
As a fuel we would say that Ash is about the best all round firewood we sell. It burns easily for a decent length of time with a bright flame. It also dries easily having a naturally low moisture content. It also makes a pretty good BBQ charcoal, we normally mix it with denser species in the kiln.
Ash is a good all rounder for smoking meat and fish, it's relatively light and can be used to temper down stronger species. It is excellent for pizza ovens burning hot very quickly with a neutral smoky taste and colouring.
