On Feb 7, 8:54*pm, Tabby wrote:

I had some no good wood to burn once, and it wouldnt stay alight at
all. Think it was elder.

The only UK wood that burns worse than willow, and it smells nasty
too.

What worked was to create an outer perimeter
of it around the edges of the grate, then build a fire with good wood
in the centre. Gradually the elder all got burnt.

What you mean is that you built a wooden fireplace hearth out of
elder, and it lasted for quite a while.