Lime, Pine, Poplar

An investigation into the properties and characteristics of our trees.

Lime

Lime wood is soft and light, white-yellow and finely textured. It is easy to work and often used in wood turning, carving and furniture making. Lime bark was traditionally used to make rope, and lime flowers were considered a valuable source of food for honey bees. The wood does not warp and is still used today to make sounding boards and piano keys. Limes can be coppiced and used for fuel, hop-poles, bean sticks, cups, ladles, bowls and even Morris-dancing sticks. The most common use of common lime is as an ornamental tree.

Pine

Timber Properties: Strong and dense type of softwood. Dry’s quickly.

Environmental considerations: Ants, birds, red squirrels, pine marten and Scottish wildcat are found to be living in Pine forests.

Timber Uses: Predominantly secondary structural uses and joinery.

Poplar

Poplar wood is fine textured, soft and almost white in colour. It is naturally springy and resistant to shock. Traditional uses included cart wheels and wagon bottoms. Because of its natural fire resistance it was often used for floorboards, especially in the days of paraffin lamps. Black poplar can be coppiced or pollarded and was therefore a popular source for thatching spars, bean sticks, clothes pegs and woven fruit baskets. Today, hybrid black poplar timber is used to make artificial limbs, wine cases, pallets, shelving, bowls and toys.