By Diana Waldron (with valuable contributions from the WkW Team)
Locally grown timber is vital to construction’s low-carbon future — but outdated myths still stand in the way, clouding judgement and delaying vital progress.
In an era where climate change mitigation demands urgent action, the materials we choose for construction matter more than ever. Yet myths about timber continue to shape design and construction decisions in ways that are often outdated or inaccurate. Some myths discourage the use of wood even where it is the best solution; others encourage its use where caution is still needed. At Woodknowledge Wales, we believe it is time for the construction, forestry, and policy sectors to separate fact from fiction and recognise that locally sourced timber isn’t just a “nice to have” — it’s a vital tool for a sustainable, resilient future.
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Ahead of WoodBUILD 2025, we are collecting insights from across the industry to better understand the most persistent myths. Please take a few minutes to contribute your views via our short survey.
Beyond the building site: Myths across the wood value chain
The myths we encounter span every stage of the timber journey — from biodiversity impacts in forests, to the properties of different species, to the technical realities of designing with wood. Below, we highlight and challenge some of the most common misconceptions.
Myth 1: “Locally Grown Timber Is Poor Quality and Unsuitable for Construction”
The perception that Welsh and British-grown softwoods are inferior lingers stubbornly, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Species such as Douglas fir and Sitka spruce, cultivated in Wales’ temperate climate, deliver timber with comparable — and often superior — structural properties to their imported counterparts. Thanks to advanced silviculture, consistent growth rates, and improved grading techniques, Welsh-grown timber can now meet stringent structural standards. Large-diameter Douglas fir, grown in North Wales, matches high-grade imported timbers both in stiffness and durability. Misunderstandings often stem not from the timber itself, but from historic supply chain biases and a lack of targeted product development (Read more here and here).
Myth 2: “Plantations Are Biodiversity Deserts”
Plantation forestry is frequently accused of creating lifeless monocultures. In reality, properly managed plantations can complement and even enhance biodiversity. Studies show that plantations offer valuable habitats during different growth stages, and that landscape-scale planning — integrating productive stands with native woodlands — promotes ecological richness. This also includes the potential to implement Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) and other types of productive plantation forestry. Plantation forests often provide refuge for wildlife that struggles in intensively farmed landscapes. Furthermore, design interventions, such as integrating native buffers and varying species and stand ages, strengthen ecological benefits (Read more here).
Myth 3: “Monoculture Plantations Are Inherently Bad”
The word “monoculture” evokes strong emotions — yet monocultures underpin most of our modern food systems. Criticising forestry while accepting single-species fields of wheat, barley or rapeseed reveals an inconsistency in land-use ethics. In forestry, plantation size, age diversity, and landscape mosaics matter significantly. Wales’ small plantation sizes (averaging around 17 acres) and patchwork field patterns naturally counter the risks of large-scale monocultures. A more honest framing would highlight that sustainable timber production, carefully scaled and planned, supports both climate goals and biodiversity (Read more here and here).
Myth 4: “Only Native Broadleaves Help Climate and Nature”
There is a powerful emotional appeal in promoting native broadleaf planting. However, fast-growing conifers like Sitka spruce offer unrivalled short- and medium-term carbon capture rates. The reality is nuanced: we need both — broadleaf woodlands for biodiversity and resilience, and productive conifer plantations to replace carbon-intensive materials in construction and to meet timber demand. Pragmatism, not purism, must guide future afforestation strategies (Read more here).
Myth 5: “Timber Buildings Are Risky and Hard to Insure”
Concerns over fire safety, moisture risks and regulatory barriers in timber construction often stem from outdated knowledge. Modern engineered timber systems — including mass timber products like CLT (cross-laminated timber) — achieve outstanding fire performance, airtightness and thermal insulation. Moreover, the Future Homes Standard (2025) and increasing embodied carbon requirements make timber the standout solution for low-carbon buildings. Barriers such as finding contractors or structural engineers familiar with timber systems are real, but diminishing rapidly as the knowledge and capacity within the sector expand (Read more here and here).
Myth 6: “The UK Cannot Produce Enough Good Timber — Imports Are Necessary”
Despite being the second-largest timber importer globally after China, the UK has vast untapped forestry potential. Forest cover in Wales, for example, is just 14%, compared to a European average of 37%. Strategic investment in planting, local processing, and design-led demand could dramatically shift this balance. Using more home-grown timber would boost rural economies, reduce embodied emissions from long-haul imports, and build resilience into our domestic supply chains (Read more here and here).
Looking Forward: Building Industry Resilience
Locally grown and sustainably managed timber offers a credible pathway to a low-carbon, high-performance built environment. Busting outdated myths is crucial to unlocking this potential and strengthening the resilience of our forestry and construction sectors in a changing world.
Join the Conversation at WoodBUILD 2025
We will dive deeper into these myths — and how to move beyond them — in a dedicated myth-busting session for architects and designers at WoodBUILD 2025. This session has been co-curated by WkW, CIBSE, IstructE and RIBA. Don’t miss the opportunity to challenge assumptions, share insights and help shape a more resilient future for our industry.
Find out more about WoodBUILD 2025 | Register here for WoodBUILD 2025
