FEATURE HOMEGROWN TIMBER
More Native Trees Required
A meeting in February of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Forestry and Tree Planting heard that timber grown in the UK is perfectly good to use in construction and has a big part to play in renovating properties as well as building new homes.
R
eported on by Confor, the
need all this wood and much more besides. Only
to make a solid link between tree planting,
discussion focused on how the
about 20% of our demand (for wood products) is
woodland management and wood use, saying:
use of wood must increase
met by homegrown timber.”
“Demand for wood is increasing, exponentially,
significantly if the UK is to meet
Dr Ridley-Ellis stressed that total timber
but are politicians and civil servants building
its climate change targets and produce more
self-sufficiency in the UK was an unrealistic goal,
this into policy-making? Are they advocating
homegrown wood. Currently, the UK only
adding: “Even if we met our current planting
the urgent need for increasing sustainable
produces about 20% of the wood it uses, with
targets and planted entirely productive conifer
wood production in tandem with sustainable
80% imported.
species, we would still not be self-sufficient
food production? The need to plant productive
for 200 years – and that’s where we are now,
woodlands now and restock those that have
head of public affairs for CEI-Bois and EOS
not taking into account growing demand.
been harvested. The language around the next
(the European woodworking and sawmilling
Fundamentally, timber is renewable and, on the
round of land use support would suggest not. In
industries), began the meeting by outlining the
face of it, plentiful, but we can forget about the
the race to plant we need to change perceptions,
global perspective, saying: “If we house the
reality on the supply side. Renewable is not the
change language, it’s not tree planting we should
world’s fast-growing population using these
same as infinite.
be promoting, it’s tree establishment. We need
Paul Brannen, a former MEP and now
traditional materials (cement, steel, brick and
“The trees we plant now will not be used
to plant with a purpose.”
block), there is no way we will meet global
for decades and will set the standard for future
climate targets. The only material we know that
generations. Trees grown here are suitable
and Tree Planting, added: “It’s so vital to set
we can substitute for them is wood. Can we
for much of our construction as long as we do
a clear pathway to plant more trees, manage
use wood products in what the EU is calling the
not over-specify. We need to use what is good
more woods and use more homegrown timber
‘renovation wave? This is important because the
enough, not better than it needs to be.”
in the year that COP26 comes to the UK and
Ben Lake MP, chair of the APPG on Forestry
Jasper Meade, director of PYC Group in
focuses all our minds on our global climate
Powys, Wales, who has been working with wood
challenge. The Climate Change Committee
wood fibre for lagging lofts and wooden window
for 30 years, said demand for wood was growing
has recommended to the UK Government that
frames instead of plastic and metal ones. Actions
fast, with much greater interest from councils
from 2025 at the latest, all new homes in the
like this could create a ‘second carbon sink’ in
and housing associations and has created major
UK should be timber-framed. This is a massive
the built environment, after the first sink in an
supply challenges. “There are difficulties in
ask and the biggest question is where is all that
expanded area of new forests.
procuring Welsh timber: one has to really plan
wood going to come from?”
UK has the oldest housing stock in Europe.” This could include the mass use of both
Dr Dan Ridley-Ellis, head of the Centre for
ahead and the credit terms are not always
Lake said he would write to Minister for
Wood Science at Edinburgh Napier University,
favourable,” he said. “We want to be able to
Forestry Lord Goldsmith setting out what
said it was important to remember that wood
source timber from our own country because
the APPG had discussed and asking for his
had many uses – as well as high-profile timber
that is sensible and sustainable. The situation is
views on how the Government plans take into
housing, there was a need for fencing, pallets,
changing, but we have had shocking difficulties
consideration greatly increased demand for
energy and the retro-fitting of properties. The
getting timber since Brexit, with prices shooting
timber.
UK currently produces about 10-12 million cubic
up about 25%.”
metres of wood every year. “When we talk about building with timber, we need to remember we
Timber Trader UK Magazine
Caroline Ayre, national manager for England for Confor, asked why it seemed such a challenge Spring 2021
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