TRIALS growing willow and poplar coppice have been extended for a further three years.

Forest Research has been monitoring a site at Thorpe Thewles for seven years as part of research into using wood as a source of energy.

The coppice is cut every three years and the second harvest showed improved yields from the 16 clones of both poplar and willow.

Mr Ian Blair, who is in charge of eight similar sites, said the results were so positive that it had been decided to continue the project so that another harvest could be taken.

"We are looking at the health and yields, trying to breed better clones for farmers to grow," he said.

The trees on the site, one of 60 in the UK, are cut back and the wood chipped on site.

Last week, Mr Robin Twizell of RMD Agriculture was collecting the chippings to carry out tests. He has established a company which is trying to kick-start the growth of wood as an energy crop.

Interest has been expressed for several years but it has failed to take off because farmers are not convinced there is enough demand and those who would use it can't do so because there is insufficient supply.

Durham County Council is one authority which has shown interest and Mr Twizell is testing the wood chips with a view to supplying them for use in a converted coal burner at Ferryhill comprehensive school.

The school has two other gas-run boilers but is interested in wood as an alternative.

Mr Twizell believes there is tremendous potential for both large and small customers. He believes some larger outfits could even have three burners - oil, gas and wood - and then check the next month's prices to decide which to use.

Wood could also be a good cheap standby fuel if there was an interruption to the normal supply.

In Scandinavian countries wood has been a source of fuel and heating for many years on a very localised basis.

As an example of that, Mr Twizell said the wood from the coppice at Thorpe Thewles could be used as fuel for a wood burner in the village hall.