Timber Talks – News from the sawmill – discover what we are up to.
Cedar Shingles vs. Larch Hand Split Shakes
In recent years, Western Red Cedar Blue Label shingles have more than doubled in price - they are now so expensive to use and many are looking for alternatives. In September 2013, a bundle of cedar shingles were selling
Timber Measurer vs: Tally man: What’s the Difference?
It's long been a tradition in the timber trade to rely on the skills of the yard operatives. Many years ago, working in Nottingham, one yard had female tally women who were exceptional with quick mental maths. The term
Douglas Fir: Beneficial and Beautiful
The Douglas Fir is often associated with the gorgeous views of the British Columbia or west-coast of North America. But having thrived in the rainy UK, Douglas Fir provides far more than just beauty, having become extremely beneficial in the timber trade
From Honeymoon to Church: Red Oak in Hampshire
Back at the dawn of the Twentieth Century, Major F H Jervoise, a keen forester, was on his honeymoon and collected acorns from a stand of Red Oak (Quercus Rubra) from the Northern-East coast of North America. In 1905,
How the Russia-Ukraine War impacts the Timber Trade
It's been over a month since Russia invaded Ukraine and over the past 5 weeks we've rightly focused on solidarity with and support for the people of Ukraine, as have many of us around the World. As the war
Everything You Need to Know about Spanish Chestnut
Spanish Chestnut or Castanea Sativa (not to be confused with the Horse chestnut conker tree which has little commercial value). Oddly, this timber is a member of the Beech family [Fagaceae] and has been present since some time after
UKRAINE SUNFLOWER AID – Support for Refugees
None of you can have avoided seeing the appalling events that are happening in the Ukraine. With thousands of Ukrainian people displaced, many made homeless, having to leave their homes with very few personal belongings. Something we, in the
Beechwood: A Quick Snapshot into a Popular Hardwood
A true native of the English countryside is Beech Wood or Fagus Sylvatica. It surrounds us, with plenty of beech wood planted between the 1940s and 1960s in expectation of the booming furniture trade. Though beech wood is widely used for furniture,
5 Must-Know Facts on the Properties of Ash Wood
Ash is a very useful timber which has been in use in the UK from pre-iron age. Indeed, in British folklore, the ash tree was said to provide healing properties and ash sap was frequently given to newborn babies
COP26: Opinion at WL West & Sons
By Simon Smith COP26 has hit the headlines in the past few weeks, and rightly so - our planet is in jeopardy from industrialisation, globalism and the need for land at the cost of forests. 196 world leaders, who
The Impact of Log Shortages in 2022
By Simon Smith Our French buyer Florence Duval has just returned from France this week. Florence has been finding new mills for us to buy from and her search has widened because of the difficulties in getting supply now back
Timber is one of the most precious renewable resource we have
By Simon Smith Positive steps towards a sustainable future! With the UN's latest climate report stating “a code red for humanityâ€, we believe sustainability is now more important than ever, and it's critical we play our part in taking positive action