If you go into the woods today...

You're in for a big surprise!  I was!  This month's featured product is timber.  And not just any timber but English Timber from the excellent local company English Woodland Timber.

A little background first.  English Woodland Timber saved Build4's bacon when they sent up a load of cut-to-size English Oak cladding for the completion of one of our installations just days before the centre was due to launch. 

English Oak Cladding (on the left)

For that, we are eternally grateful.  And the product is so beautiful, I invited myself over to see what else they had hidden away at their sawmills tucked away in the scenic South Downs of West Sussex. 

One snowy Wednesday I drove through the downs and this is what I saw...

The View from English Woodland Timber

English Woodland Timber is located in the most picturesque of settings, some might say that it is entirely appropriate for a business dedicated to a natural building material like timber.  The only neighbours seem to be those of the web footed variety...

The neighbours popped by for a winter walk

Sarah Farmer very kindly showed me around the place.  We started inside (since it was -3C outside) in the timber demonstration centre.  EWT received some funding from SEEDA to put together a demonstration centre showcasing different varieties of English Timber...

Hand drawn oak pegs

English timber Mock-Up

You can almost imagine what the tree looked like...

British Elm

Despite the cold, I was dying to get outside and have a look around the yard because that's where the story of the timber actually began.

It all starts with a tree...or at least with cutting down a tree...

The raw material

As a matter of interest, Sarah pointed out that this particular log's bark is indicative of a 'disease' that produces the most spectacular effect on the inside.  It is called Pippy and when the timber is sawn, the inside looks like this:

Talk about the character of timber!  Why would you use any other product?

The yard is full of the timber that has been sawn and is in the process of seasoning.  All of English Woodland's Timber has chain of custody attached to it and the system is so good that in most cases, you can pick up a tagged plank to find out exactly where that timber came from and who grew it.  It makes the whole experience feel more personal! 

Here are some of my snaps from the yard...

Wondering how they make the logs look like that?  Check this out...

This is one of their saws...

And this is another.  Check out that blade!

Once the logs are sawn, they go outside to season.  Interestingly, the seasoning process carries on and the logs dry out despite any weather they are exposed to.  They are then sent into the kiln which on a day like this was a dream at a sauna like temperature.  In reality, the kiln is brought up to 56C over the course of 2 weeks and then brought back down to the outdoor temperature.  Whatever the kiln temperature was that day, it felt like paradise compared to the great outdoors!

And once the timber is dried and ready to sell, it goes into the warehouse where people can come along and choose what they want.  EWT's customers are varied and so is their timber selection.  They have joiners/carpenters/furniture makers and many others who come along to buy their locally sourced high quality timber of many different varieties. 

On the day of my visit, Peter was busy with a cutting list for a furniture maker who was building a chest of drawers.  The craftsman had left a list of dimensions he needed and Peter was meticulously going through planks looking for the best place to cut the pieces from. 

The blue chalk marks are where Peter has marked out the best cuts for the customers needs

This man knows how to dress for the weather.  I love his hat!

I asked Peter where he learned to do this very detailed job.

I'm self taught, he replied.  I've been doing this for over 25 years.

Peter is not the only craftsmen at EWT.  I also met Philip who, in his spare time, has been helping kit out this building for a staff tea hut...

Just an average, run of the mill container right...?



Not quite run of the mill as you or I would think about it but certainly run from EWT's mill...

This floor was made from timber off-cuts from the mill



Philip is the man behind this 'warts and all' stunning floor (also note the framework for sofa's to relax on...).  If you want to learn a bit more about how this was made, go here.  It's definitely worth a read!

It's a rare treat for me to get out and visit the producers of eco-materials that we are showcasing at Build4.  Despite the cold day, this was a real highlight to my week.  The people at EWT are incredibly friendly and knowledgable but more than that, they know their products inside and out.  The difference between their timber and the timber you buy at a general builder's merchant is like the difference between night and day!

If your project needs special timber, ring them up and discuss your needs.  Odds are they will have exactly what you're looking for and it will be locally sourced to boot! 

Contact details here:
01730 816941
sales@englishwoodlandstimber.co.uk
http://www.englishwoodlandstimber.co.uk/

Thank you to all at EWT for making me so welcome!

Best wishes,