Promoting the Use of British Timber.
In order to reduce unnecessary foreign imports and support our own native woodlands, it’s imperative that we actively value homegrown timber – always procuring sustainable timber, but also prioritising British-Grown supplies whenever possible.
To drive demand for British-Grown timber even further and open up new markets, we undertake extensive research & development with industry colleagues to explore and expand the potential value of of British timber – particularly for species that are currently under-used or under-valued.
Exploring New Possibilities – from handles to housing and beyond!
Currently we are carrying out research into expanding the uses of homegrown Ash, Sweet Chestnut, Oak and Beech, with some exciting possibilities emerging!
- We’re working to integrate certified homegrown timber into contemporary architecture in a project working with Agile Property and Homes Ltd. Agile designs, makes and delivers safe, civil, low carbon, affordable, modular homes using a ‘fabric first’ approach of sustainable biogenic materials using timber and straw, for people in housing need.
- We’re bringing homegrown timber back into the home in a project that will deliver a new supply chain for ash boards and ash plywood to develop a range of GiB furniture with ercol, the iconic British furniture brand. A family- run business established over 100 years ago in Buckinghamshire, the name ercol is synonymous with its signature mid-century collections as well as an award-winning portfolio of contemporary ranges crafted for modern living. The company remains true to founder Lucian Ercolani’s principles, which unites each piece; that it should be well designed and beautifully made. 2023 will see the first GiB timber being used to craft chairs and tables at ercol in a fitting tribute to our beleaguered ash trees.
- We are delighted to be working with GiB certificate holders, The National Trust (NT) in the north-west and West Midlands to engage local woodland owners and processors, to maximise the use of home- grown timber on the NT estate. Starting with fencing in year one and expanding into tables, benches, recycling bins and the like, the NT will provide a ready market for local timber species such as sweet chestnut, larch and Douglas fir.
- We’re working with London Metropolitan University to build a Home Grown House with GiB hardwoods Sweet Chestnut and Ash on the Birling Estate in Kent. Making use of the Forestry Commission Innovation Fund, this project is designing a structure and set of components that can be replicated at scale using currently under-utilised hardwood resources that are readily available, particularly in the south east.
Read our report on the Home Grown Cabin that has already been built through this project here. - We also have a long term research programme with the Wood Protection Association to look at how UK softwood fencing performs when treated with different ‘modes’ and ’safe’ preservatives. This is on two plots on England and Scotland. The results will improve and guide the use of home grown timber for the fencing market.
- We are also a partner in an extensive non plastic eco friendly tree shelter experiment on a number of sites across the country, aimed at dramatically reducing the environmental (plastic) impact of large-scale tree planting in new woodland creation schemes.
- Finally our partnership with Vastern Timber resulted in the development of thermally modified timber (TMT), the success of which has now lead to Vastern investing in a new soon to be opened, Thermal Modification plant. This plant will create higher value markets for several hardwoods such as Ash, Sycamore, Lime and Poplar which are naturally non-durable but become much more durable and weather-resistant with thermal modification! What’s even better is that the plant will harness solar power to reduce the carbon footprint of the TMT produced.
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