Promoting our homegrown timber

Can homegrown timber help to address the timber supply issues we could be facing as demand for timber grows? We asked a number of merchants and suppliers for their thoughts.

The construction industry is increasingly seeking more sustainable, low-carbon building materials as it moves towards a net-zero environment.

With timber’s status as a low-carbon building material already well established, attention is turning to whether sufficient supplies will be available as building starts increase and demand grows, and if homegrown timber can step up to fill any gaps.

The 2024 UK Forest Market Report, produced by BSW Group’s Tillhill Forestry and Goldcrest Land & Forestry Group, says the UK forestry market remains strong, driven by demand for high-quality assets, stable timber prices, wider natural capital projects and a positive medium-term outlook for wood being used as a substitute for high carbon materials. Nevertheless, the report highlights species diversity as key to its success in the future.

80,000 Hours

That’s a remarkable amount of work hours for a single machine, the Norcar 600 owned by Erkki Rinne is taken well care of, it even has the original Diesel engine.
Kieran Anders Forestry

Kieran Anders is a forestry contractor working in the lake district. His work involves hand cutting and extracting timber using a skidder and tractor-trailer forwarder.
Promoting safety in the workplace

It is not possible to eliminate chain shot, but there are simple steps that can be taken to reduce the risk.
Glasfryn Fencing and Sawmill

Arwel takes great pride in the fact that the mill has no waste whatsoever, “the peelings are used for children’s playgrounds, gardens and for farm animals in barns in the winter and the sawdust has multiple uses in gardens and farms as well.
Keeping Timber Hauliers Safe

Timber hauliers need to encourage young blood in, and also look after the hauliers we have, we need make the sector a safe and positive place to work.

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The report provides a comprehensive overview of the UK forestry sector, detailing key financial trends, regional insights and emerging investment opportunities. In 2024, £95.4 million of forestry was listed for sale in the UK, with Scotland continuing to dominate with a 79% market share.

The volume of land available for sale in Scotland dropped by 40% to 1,600ha, as availability of land suitable for commercial forestry continued to tighten despite sustained demand. Pricing for land has stabilised, however, at around £10,000 per gross hectare.

Meanwhile, planting land listed in England increased 92% to 1,600ha, and averaged £14,500 per gross hectare (13% down). In Wales, planting land also increased by 92%, to 1,300ha, with the average at £16,800 per gross hectare (26% up).

Good silviculture will be key to the future of the sector, the report said. While Sitka spruce remains dominant, the industry is facing increasing environmental pressures, including droughts, pests, and climate change, with experts stressing the need for species diversity and improved silviculture practices to ensure long-term resilience.

Overall the report found the UK timber market remains stable, underpinned by a healthy appetite for small roundwood and pallet wood.

Xander Mahony, Head of Forestry Investment at Tilhill Forestry, said: “This year’s report shows a resilient yet evolving UK forestry sector where, despite investor caution, there is strong demand for quality assets. Stable timber prices, recovering interest in natural capital projects, and the rise of biodiversity regulations are driving growth.”

The full Forest Market Report is online here.

Offering environmental benefits

For timber and builders’ merchants it’s important to stock a variety of both homegrown and imported timbers, depending on the needs of their specific customer profile.

Travis Perkins’ Group Category Director – Timber & Kitchens, Rosie Wise, says: “At Travis Perkins we want to ensure we are promoting the multiple benefits of using homegrown

timber, including reduced transportation, lower costs and boosting the UK economy.

“Between 2023 and 2024 we have driven growth on Canadian Lumber Standard (CLS) timber sourced in the UK from 10% to 40%. This is against the general backdrop that 81% of timber consumed in the UK is imported, according to a House of Commons Committee report. It means the end-user benefits from a competitively priced CLS product that is still a C16 strength grade. This move has reduced the distance the product travels from supplier to branch, improving lead times.

“To continue driving participation, we need to educate users across the industry on the benefits of homegrown timber and the differences between C16 and C24 strength grades.”

James Latham, meanwhile, said it has seen a move towards more durable and sustainable products being requested. “We’ve seen a move towards products with more longevity that are fit for purpose, such as thermally modified thermowood or Accoya acetylated cladding.

“Customer demand is for longer lasting options that don’t need replacing as regularly and an awareness of the carbon impact of cement based products is driving a move towards sustainable, but long lasting alternatives.

“Awareness of sustainability is beginning to gain momentum, with increasing demand for responsibly sourced and environmentally sound products that boast strong chain of custody credentials – especially from merchant chains.”

Make it easier to purchase

Dave West, Joint Managing Director of WL West, said homegrown timber must be simpler to purchase to better complete with imports.

“The UK still has the archaic method of auctions or sealed bids as and when parcels of timber come up for sale. You have no idea if you will win the bid or not, and so you can waste a lot of time for no gain, though there are local agreements between some mills and landowners where they will sell direct.

“In France, for example, we can be selective in which logs we choose, we will know the price we are paying per m³ and so can plan accordingly. I have also recently seen parcels of timber being auctioned in such large lots that only a small number of companies would have the cashflow to purchase them. Sadly, there are not many log merchants left in the UK that can purchase a parcel and sort into grades for resale.”

Despite the fact that the majority of timber used in the UK is imported, homegrown timbers do remain popular.

Oak is commonly stocked by merchants, along with Ash, Sycamore, Beech and Chestnut, which are commonly used in joinery and furniture production.

Dave continued: “Sadly, the variety of homegrown species being used has declined. We should be using more Sycamore and Beech, while species like Walnut, London Plane and Elm are more opportunistic and rarely come as a full parcel.

More education needed

Homegrown timber’s availability was also a hot topic at the TDUK Global Market Conference in November, where Mike Glennon, Joint Managing Director of Glennon Brothers, explored the differences between the Irish and UK markets. He noted that the Irish government has invested in reports looking at forestry and timber opportunities, and is now looking at how to educate people to use more homegrown timber.

“I think there is a realisation that we need to educate people to use more timber,” he said. “We’re probably starting from a better position than in the UK, because currently homegrown timber on the island of Ireland is probably two-thirds market share. So people are used to stocking homegrown timber right throughout the country and there isn’t this divide that you see in in the UK. There are very few provincial towns in Ireland where there isn’t homegrown timber being sold. The challenge for us will be to try and penetrate some of the areas, like roof trusses and timber frame home manufacture.”

Graham Blyth, Sales Director at James Jones & Sons agreed there needed to be an education programme, but said it shouldn’t just be targeted at merchants. “It’s about educating the whole supply chain; architects, designers and specifiers – tackling it in a merchant’s is too late,” he explained.

“If the plan specifies C24, for example, that’s what the merchant will respond to. But my question would be, can you use C16. Specify C16 and encourage the use of British timber, and if only specify C24 if you need the bells and whistles. But if you continue to only specify C24 you will see an erosion of the C16 marketplace and that worries me. I’m not saying exclude C24, but don’t just jump to C24 unless you need to.”