A BACKBARROW resident has swapped timber for wood chip, reflecting the growth in biomass boilers.

Jerry Boothroyd earned his living picking up and delivering timber throughout the Lake District.

However, he has now joined local wood fuel company, Forest Fuels, to deliver sustainable wood chip to customers to use in the biomass boilers.

"The wood fuel market has evolved so much over the past 10 years," Jerry said. "And it’s great to be part of an industry that has such a positive future ahead of it. It’s also reassuring to be working for Forest Fuels, as we’re a growing company that’s giving opportunities to local people."

Biomass boilers burn wood pellets, chips or logs to provide warmth in a single room or to power central heating and hot water boilers.

Jerry’s forestry background includes nine years carrying out estate maintenance on the Graythwaite Estate near Lake Windermere and for the National Park Authority, before a 25-year stint as a timber haulier for Gilbert Brown and Son.

"Biomass wood fuel is the sustainable alternative to oil and gas and much kinder to the environment," Jerry said. "All of the wood we use is from sustainably-managed forestry or a by-product from a saw mill.

"It means trees are continually being planted and there’s a never-ending supply of fuel. Not only that, but it provides job security for all those individuals and businesses in the local wood fuel supply chain, as the wood is all sourced within a close area and the market for it is growing."

Jerry’s new post is a result of Forest Fuels’ growth in the Lakes and throughout the whole of the North West.

"Jerry has tremendous local knowledge," said Peter Solly, Forest Fuels managing director. "Which – added to his forestry expertise and first-rate relationship with customers – makes him the perfect person to be delivering wood chip in The Lakes and beyond."