"Pile a lot of damp stuff on it and a bit of plastic and then set it alight." 😆
Maybe Elderberry could go into niche mushroom production (?). I'm not sure you'd need much wood bulk for that, though. If the branches are bendy, perhaps there is a market - willow, hazel, hedging?
Wood will break down naturally but if you haven't got donkey's years to wait the best way is to make it into the smallest pieces you can - as with a shredder, and leave it outdoors in the rain and cold in a heap. I have found that it is useful to mix it up once or twice, to prevent dry bits, then I usually mix it in with my ordinary compost about 6 months before both are ready to be used. It's handy to have space so that you are not always worrying about where the next lot will go.
My shredder was, at the time, a very considered purchase. I've had it nearly 20 years and I wouldn't be without it. 1 trailer load of willow trimmings/brambles/prunings will shred into a few buckets. 10 mile round trip to the RC, absolute minimum of 30mins due to old biddys faffing at the recycle centre.... I could go on. Worth it's weight in gold!
I share your problem. Currently burn. I have a chipper but it only takes modest thicknesses and needs ultra straight canes which you'll appreciate is not typical garden wood. Plus takes ages to prepare for shredded and constantly gets blocked as you push the boundaries with not entirely straight items.
Need a tractor with pto and proper shredder.....or just burn it after taking kindling.
Thanks for all the replies, I've been searching online for ideas too, and I might try turning it into a sculpture. I mean, it's already a pile, so it's halfway there.
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Maybe Elderberry could go into niche mushroom production (?). I'm not sure you'd need much wood bulk for that, though. If the branches are bendy, perhaps there is a market - willow, hazel, hedging?
Need a tractor with pto and proper shredder.....or just burn it after taking kindling.
Well that was handy!