Despite wide recognition of their value, plantation forests are critically misunderstood and undervalued in Wales. Plantation forests comprise around 7% of the planet’s forest area whilst sustainably supplying over 50% of industrial roundwood. This report looks at myths and tropes around home-grown timber and considers research results from wood science and socio-economic aspects across planting, […]
Manufacturing
More and Better Home-Grown Timber—The role for a consolidator
What might a business plan for the supply of home-grown timber to the Welsh housing sector look like, if it is to be closely integrated with the ownership and management of the timber resource in Wales? Additional capacity in the sector has been identified in three key areas: secondary processing capacity; in undermanaged forestry and […]
More and Better Home-Grown Timber—The financial case for existing landowners to plant woodland
From the TV presenters of Countryfile to the ever-escalating claims of political parties in the last UK elections, it seems everyone wants to plant more trees. Reasons vary from carbon capture, amenity, and biodiversity to production of usable timber, as do levels of ambition. Amongst the most widely quoted targets, The Committee on Climate Change […]
Home-Grown Homes Project—A study for improving the Timber Construction Supply Industry in Wales
The purpose of the Home-Grown Homes project has been to identify and test out interventions that could have a transformative impact on the Welsh timber construction supply chain and on the delivery of low carbon social housing in Wales. Housing, timber manufacturing and forestry are distinct areas of activity. This project is an exploration of […]
Making the Right Choices—A Guide to Improving the Build Quality of New Build Timber Frame Social Housing
Making the right decisions for the benefit of a building’s long term performance and user experience can be compromised by cost, lack of experience, and poor understanding of timber frame construction. This guide aims to highlight some of the key points to consider along the pathway of designing, constructing and maintaining timber frame housing. These […]
Embodied Carbon Guidance for Welsh Social Housing Developers, their design teams, contractors and suppliers
This guidance has been written for those wanting to both increase their knowledge of Embodied Carbon in the housing sector and to understand how to reduce it.
WoodBUILD 2020 Autumn Series – Podcasts
Podcasts in our 2020 autumn series include the following themes: Our Future Forests, Future Homes and how we build (or make them), Better performing homes and the foundational economy. Discussants are Jo O’Hara, John Healey, Jasper Meade, Neil Sutherland, Fionn Stevenson, Rob Wheaton, Debbie Green and Steve Cranston.
Mandatory quality standards for new homes – WKW response
Woodknowledge Wales have responded to a Welsh Government consultation on “Mandatory quality standards for new homes” which closed on 31 October 2020. Key targets Woodknowledge Wales propose are need are: A target for upfront carbon from April 2023. We propose 300kgCO2e/m2. A target for embodied carbon from April 2023. We propose 400kgCO2e/m2. A space heating […]
Google Map highlights exemplar timber housing projects in Wales
Find exemplar timber housing projects we have worked with over the past few years. Explore information on construction, innovative products, use of home-grown timber and Welsh manufacturing, carbon impact and building performance.
Wood Fibre Insulation in the UK
A relatively old report written in 2013 on wood fibre insulation in the UK authored by our now Chief Executive, Gary Newman, when acting as an independent consultant for Forestry Commission Scotland and Woodknowledge Wales. The report was never published but we consider it highly relevant to today’s discussions about how Wales can become a […]
