So, how much (roughly) ) is "a drink"?

Just re-read your original message... as long as he can have any wood suitable for his open fire....
Will he expect you to deal with the messy bits???
?

This scenario has all the potential for a classic falling-out.
1. Make him state clearly what he wants in lieu of payment before he starts.
2. As ns says, be clear about who’s going to deal with the wood that he doesn’t want. I wouldn’t have thought hedge trimmings were much use for wood stoves.

What is a fair payment is dependent on how long it will take him.

It really does depend how long it takes, and how much wood he gets out of it. I’d have a go at pinning him down.

I’d opt for a nice bottle of wine (or 2).

I looked up 'going rate for odd job man' and it was £20-£30 per hour, with the higher end likely in London. That was mybuilder.com and dated 2020. Hope that's helpful.

I pay my gardener £20 and he does everything in an hour. I would be inclined to think if it was a neighbourly thing it would be less than this. Otherwise you may just as well hire a gardener! A nice bottle of wine should suffice.

£20 is a fair price, as after all, he’ll be getting the wood for free...which would have cost him had he’d gone out to buy some.

Maybe just casually ask what is the tipple of choice. Whiskey would be a waste of money here, but wine ...... !

I would ask him what his tipple is. If it's a spirit just get one bottle, if it's beer make sure you know what sort as there is so much variety. Then, I would get maybe a dozen cans/bottles and some snacks, nuts, crisps etc and make a nice hamper out of it. He can enjoy it with his bubble of drinking mates. You do have to bear in mind that his equipment has to be purchased and maintained so a couple of quid wouldn't really be fair.

Perhaps he wants you to take him out for a drink!

£20 sounds reasonable. I have never heard of £20 being referred to as "a drink".

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Find out what beer he likes and buy him a case ( approx £20-£25). Think it’s worth that. If he prefers wine ...3/4 bottles. Whiskey ... bottle of malt!

It’s definitely money not cans of beer. It depends how long it will take him if it’s about an hour I’d say £20, if it’s all morning I’d say £40 whole day £100. That’s what my sil gets when he does these sort of jobs to help out neighbours and asks for a drink. It’s just a phrase, it doesn’t actually mean a drink, as some are saying.

Yes, £20 seems reasonable.

Please check if he will be removing all the offcuts!

I think £20 is a nice drink. I wouldn't give any more than that.