June 2024
This update has been prepared by David Hedges, our Head of Housing and the Home-Grown Homes project manager.
Read previous Project Updates:
Meet the team in person
All of the Woodknowledge Wales team will be at WoodBUILD in Swansea at the beginning of July – come and meet us. We’ve been working on putting together a programme of plenary speakers and breakout session presenters with a focus on much of our project work in Phase two of the Project. These will include a focus on forest management, inspiring young people to work in the forest industries, natural fibre insulation, best practice in the use of home-grown timber, building standards, the circular economy and school construction, embodied carbon and footprint assessment tools and the Gwynfaen Project. There will also be an opportunity to hear about the content of Wales’ forthcoming Timber Industrial Strategy. For a detailed programme and to book, please visit our event page.
Timber Industrial Strategy consultation is approaching
The Strategy is now expected to be published for consultation in the autumn subject to final sign-off. We have been completing case studies on the timber supply chain, from growing trees, through processing and advanced timber manufacturing, to the use of timber and timber products on construction projects. They will support the work Welsh Government is doing on its strategy and illustrate some of the opportunities that the Timber Industrial Strategy will help to unlock.
Collaborative connections to meet tree planting targets
We’re finalising details with Bangor University and a specialist consultancy to help take forward one of our project tasks, which is to look at how tree planting on farms could be scaled-up. The task will explore the potential to enable farms to trade obligations to reach targets for tree planting. An engagement exercise, including surveys and workshops with stakeholders, will aim to assess interest and a willingness to participate in a collaboration. If implemented, this proposed initiative would reduce management costs and improve ecosystem service provision through benefits of scale.
Project passes muster
The second independent review of the project was completed in May and we’re working on a number of recommendations to improve reporting, communication and risk management as a result. There are a number of recommendations on the role, function and membership of the Steering Group which will be considered at the next meeting at the end of June.
