Can I clear my wood without getting a permit?

[Headers]

We have a small deciduous wood. Pines behind it, vines to the side. A big oak tree fell down last year and we wondered if we could get it out for firewood. Had a very nice guy come to have a look. He said it is viable but we need to clear a path out avoiding a steep slope.
My research begins. Getting anyone interested in doing this is going to be tricky. Apparently depending on the size of the works (measured in cubic metres!!!) we need all sorts of pre declarations, health and safety stuff.
I reckon it’s going to take upwards of a year to get this going if I can be bothered.
I’m nervous of using local bûcherons most of whom seem to be permanently under the influence, not insured and quite old. There was a local guy killed last year when a tree he was felling crushed him to death so I’m very wary.

[Bayleaf]

Jeez, you'd think you could do what you want with your own woodland, without having to apply to all and sundry for permission! In the past, if we've wanted to clear a path through a bit of woodland, Mr Bayleaf would go in with tractor and topper and he'd soon make a path unless it was more trees in the way. He did have to do most of it in reverse mind! (Maybe that's why he has so many back problems now ....)

I guess this is where a trusty horse with pulling chains would come in handy - chop the tree up in situe, and get the trunk dragged out.

Sorry, not much of a helpful response!

[Lori]

How sad you can't do this without all kinds of permits. Could you do it as smaller jobs - spreading out the overall project - in order to avoid the permit requirement?

From my experience, it isn't just the bûcherons who seem to be permanently under the influence. There've been a number of different ouvriers who have shown up chez nous clearly over the limit..

[Blaze]

You could ask your Mairie for advice, not that Maries know everything. But this sort of thing should be within their scope and they may be able to recommend someone who'd do the job. Otherwise, ask a local paysagiste, or even the pompiers !

[Headers]

Thankyou all for chipping in! Haha.

It’s not a job that can be done piecemeal because the ronces and young trees grow so quickly.
I have asked the mairie about finding enterprises before. They’re less than helpful. I think it’s because when things go wrong they don’t want any blame going their way.
I suppose I could go and ask the local circus if I could borrow an elephant!

All the regulations are in place to protect the forêts and of course the workers.
It all seemed so simple when we first thought about it. We didn’t know what we didn’t know. Now we know what we don’t want to know.

[Lori]

At least you know.

[L Austin France]

Does this apply every time you take a tree down for firewood?
I've cut down probably 80 chestnut trees around our field & a good 50 huge leylandi bordering the road, asked nobody for permission & burnt the branches 'on site' with zilcho problems.

[Headers]

Does this apply every time you take a tree down for firewood?
I've cut down probably 80 chestnut trees around our field & a good 50 huge leylandi bordering the road, asked nobody for permission & burnt the branches 'on site' with zilcho problems.

our problem is that our wood backs on to a pine plantation. We need a big machine to get in to the wood for access. As far as I can understand it, to get a big machine you need a plan submitted H&S etc etc because of the risk to the plantation and the operator. If it was one tree it wouldn’t be a problem but because of the slope and access difficulties we need a big solution.

[Nomoss]

We had a very large eucalyptus in our front garden, which was showing serious rot at the base, taken down by a local company specialising in élagage and débroussaillage for €350.
The man who did the job was very professional. He used climbing equipment get near the top, and cut it down bit by bit, carefully lowering the heavier limbs with more tackle. He then cut all the wood into manageable pieces and removed them. We don't have any means to burn wood, so it was of no use to us.
As I said, it was a big tree, and I think someone with similar ability could access and make short work of your oak tree for less money and trouble than getting a permit and hiring heavy equipment.
I already knew of the company as we often pass it, but I see they are listed on 123 Devis https://www.123devis.com/d/11/sarl-solar-cover--804274/
Maybe you can use the same service to find someone near you.

[L Austin France]

He used climbing equipment get near the top, and cut it down bit by bit, carefully lowering the heavier limbs with more tackle.

According to the OP, it's a fallen tree already on the deck.