Small woodlands in Great Britain are a potential source of woodfuel for local heating, but there are difficulties identifying efficient harvesting systems. This Technical Note provides guidance on the selection of appropriate systems for small-scale harvesting operations. It considers four factors that influence the overall selection: i) woodland type and woodfuel product(s); ii) site and management constraints; iii) harvesting system options and iv) extraction machinery options. The guidance is based on a comprehensive series of case studies undertaken by Forest Research. A summary of the woodfuel production costs for the woodland types studied and a comparative summary of harvesting options are provided as tables.
