The humble log burner has long been a staple of country homes, but under Prime Minister Andy Burnham's new government, it is once again at the centre of an increasingly heated environmental debate.
Ministers are expected to press ahead with proposals for tougher rules on wood-burning stoves, including stricter emissions limits for new appliances, warning labels and higher fines of up to £2,000 for businesses selling wet wood.
However, homeowners with existing log burners have been assured they will not be required to remove or replace them.
The proposals form part of the government's Environmental Improvement Plan and wider efforts to cut exposure to harmful fine particulate pollution (PM2.5), with a target to reduce exposure by almost a third by 2030.
A government spokesperson told Country Living: "We are committed to improving air quality to benefit public health, the environment and the economy. As part of this drive, we have recently consulted on proposals to limit emissions from all new wood burning stoves.
"It is important to note that our proposed policies will not require anyone to remove or replace their existing appliance."
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Instead, the proposed emissions limits would apply only to new wood-burning stoves placed on the market, not the millions of appliances already installed in homes across the UK.
Alongside reforms to industrial emissions, the consultation considers increased penalties for selling wet wood and clearer health warning labels.
Ministers say they are now analysing responses before deciding whether to introduce the measures, adding that any final decisions will balance costs for households and businesses while remaining grounded in evidence.
The government says domestic burning remains one of the UK's largest sources of fine particulate emissions, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and are linked to a range of health problems.
Officials argue that tighter standards for new appliances will help improve air quality over time, while stressing that the consultation does not amount to a ban on wood-burning stoves.
Calvin May, head of technical & certification at HETAS, welcomed tougher emissions standards for new appliances, but questioned how quickly they would make a difference.
"A wood burner isn't a fashion accessory you swap out each season – stoves can sit in a home for 15 years or more," he said. "Tightening smoke limits for new log burners is welcome, but this is going to take over a decade to filter through to most homes.
"If the government wants cleaner air sooner, it needs a serious plan for the open fires and outdated stoves in homes right now – not the advanced ones coming onto the market. Until there is a proper plan for these, this proposal is only a partial fix."
Country Living has reached out to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs to see if there are any plans for open fires and outdated stoves and will update this piece accordingly.
You'll find more information on this topic at Environmental Improvement Plan.
Maddy is the Homes Writer at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she can be found writing about the latest interiors news and collating inspiring trend edits. She has previously worked for Good Housekeeping, Prima and Red, and has an MA in Classics and Ancient History from the University of Manchester and a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia, where she was the editor-in-chief of the student newspaper.
