im just having a stab in the dark hear but i believe its the fungi you get on living would you realy have to worry about . fungi on dead wood especialy under bark wear its nice and damp and protected is mother natures way of putting the old woods nutriants back into the system . saying that i would just a precautionry deed wash my hands after handling it strate away . better safe than sorry but im sure your safe and sure someone who knows better will let you know soon enough .

Not sure what it is, but, as Nosey above says, moulds and fungi are part of the breakdown system on dead plant material. On the other hand, there is a problem with Larch currently (and other trees) with phytophthera ramorum and kernoviae - this problem is so serious that the Forestry Commission, in some parts of the country, has recommended methods for disposing of the wood from trees with the disease. One of those areas was parts of Cornwall. Check with your log supplier where the wood came from, whether the trees were diseased or not, and if you're concerned, contact the Forestry Commission or the RHS for more information as to whether your blue mould is related to phytophthera or not.

Thank you both. Bamboo, that is what I was worried about, and I'm in a difficult position because the man who supplies my logs is a nice bloke but he works alone and I wouldn't think makes a great deal of money. I don't want to get him into trouble - but I do sometimes wonder where he gets his wood from. I think I'll go round and see him! I've just had a look at the Forestry Commission website. It's hard to know what this mould is because the pictures on the website are of trees, not logs. Hmm

Yes, exactly - I tried to find out whether they might be connected by looking at various pictures, but I suspect its probably easiest to talk to somebody about it. All details online just talk about the appearance and effects of the fungus on live trees.

Thanks again. I've rung the Forestry Commission & left a message. I do belong to the RHS, so if I don't hear back from the FC will try them.I would hate to think that I might be infecting the trees in the little park at the back here!

Also I would be a bit wary about burning pine type wood as I've been told it can leave a tarry deposit in the chimney and you might eventually risk a chimney fire.m Has anybody any further info on this please?

That's surprising! Unseasoned stuff is a lot harder to burn too, especially in an open fire which is what we have. (Just for pleasure normally but essential just now at the central heating isn't working, alas.

You're right about pine, Steragram - the chimney sweep at my last house told us the lining of the chimney had been wrecked by the previous inhabitants burning pine logs - he could tell by the deposits, apparently.

Dear All
I finally heard from the forestry commission and they said that the phytophthera ramorum only grows on live wood, so it wouldn't occur on logs after cutting. I am much relieved! Though also cross that clearly the logs weren't seasoned as I had been told! Anyway, thank you all for your input.

Well I'm confused - certainly I know that it continues to exist in wood that's infected when its alive, and isn't that what you wanted to know, really? Whether it might have been infected wood to start with? I don't think any of us thought it might have been something that occurred after felling....

tilt lol