The state spends millions annually removing cherry laurel (invasive shrub) from our native woodlands. The biomass is chipped and left on the forest floor.

In 2022 we used hand saws to remove an infestation from a woodland in Meath and converted the biomass to firewood. We collected >20-tonnes of firewood by hand. It was good craic too.

Imagine this: there is an energy crisis, and we have too much firewood.

This is a proof of concept; we can save our forests and provide a (temporary) alternative to peat and firewood imports.

Here is our blog explaining what we do and how to get involved (6-min read).

[https://gaelicwoodlandproject.com/updates/the-dangers-of-invasive-species/](https://gaelicwoodlandproject.com/updates/the-dangers-of-invasive-species/)

26 comments

  5. How many people to collect the 20 tonnes. This isn’t an insane idea if could be collected at scale. Fire up the peat stations ay, they were scheduled to be reconditioned to burn biomass. Anything that can burn peat which is messy can burn a lot of other things I think.

  6. If you are going to burn, then why not do this?

    why Ireland does not approve the Shannon LNG is beyond me. It is much cleaner and wil a steady supply of gas would allow for more electric cars reducing emissions and give a second supply of NG.

  8. Great initiative, fair play to your group.

    Any idea on what tonnage is cut by state funds and others each year? Would that even be enough to power a peat/bio mass power station for even a week?

    What are the estimates on cherry laurel tonnage out there?

  9. Wood chip and other biofuels available here don’t the calorific density to make it worth while.
    You’d have to be burning 100kg/s to get the equivalent amount of heat from even say peat (which was burnt at nearly 50% moisture content at 50kg/s in the old peat stations).
    There’d be a line of trucks burning diesel conveying back and over the country trying to keep boilers fed for little return.
    There were studies done on palm kernels shells as they had a relatively high calorific density and even these were found to be uneconomical.

    Even the 20tonne you mentioned in the post would feed the 150MW station in Shannonbridge at a very optimistic rate of 50kg/s for about 6 to 7 minutes

  10. I agree that the most sensible and feasible method for controlling invasives is to use them.

    My only concern would be biosecurity. Are you ensuring your boots and tools are free from seeds and debris?

  14. Phew, for a minute there I thought you were going to suggest burning Grey Squirrels.

    Maybe we could round them up and put them on little treadmills connected to a dynamo or something?

  17. I have always wondered about the feasibility of doing this with chainsaws and Rhododendron near me. I know its toxic to burn in enclosed spaces, but I wonder for even use in wood gasification is it economically feasible, I think not unfortunately. Although using it for biochar is still decent.

  20. Fair play to yee!

    How would one go about identifying another patch of laurel?Is there anything higher resolution than the NPWS map?

    This could be a great way of getting people off the bogs. Exchange turbary rights for cherry laurel rights!

  23. Doubt it could be scaled up to commercial levels but can certainly see it helping to raise funds for buying land to plant new forests, great initiative! Would like to get involved

  24. Seems a bit pointless if their selling it up the road. e.g……

    Ways to Buy Cherry Laurel Hedging at Hylands Nursery

    There are three different ways you can buy laurel
    Pots or containers:
    Laurel in pots can be planted all year round and can be any size, from a plant in a 9cm pot to a plant in a 100litre tub. Their root is settled into the pot and the plant has been actively growing in the pot thus it is well established. A plant in a pot can be sown all year round. As it is established in the pot, there is little disturbance to the plant when planted into the ground so it is more likely to grow. It is seldom that a plant in a pot fails unless the watering conditions haven’t been correct. It will need to be watered in well when initially planted. If planted during a hot time or in the summer, it may need to be watered a few times a week until they get established in the ground.

    Root balled:
    Root balled plants are larger plants that come in a root wrap of hessian. You leave this hessian on when planting. You only plant these plants when the plant is dormant or has stopped growing for the winter. They are planted from October/November to April/May depending on what the season is like i.e. if the spring is early or not, or if the autumn is very dry.

    Bare rooted:
    There are plants that have no soil on their roots. They are usually small, single stemmed plants. It is important when you get these plants that you keep the roots moist and don’t let the roots dry out. You should keep them in the bag or heal the roots into sand or soil until you are ready to plant them. You should try to have the ground ready before you get them, and plant them as soon as you get them so they have a good chance of success. They should be planted between November and March but the earlier in the winter the better as it gives the roots a chance to settle in before the growth starts.

  25. Lovely logical idea .Unfortunately we’re talking about Ireland. A country that exports thousands of tonnes of peat to Japan and Australia for them to burn while simultaneously restricting its usage here.

    There’s no room for your logic here i’m afraid…

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