Commercial forests in the UK, which are planted to supply the demand for the
construction industry, are limited in species of tree. Spruce, pine and larch make up
the majority of UK stock. This is causing unhealthy monoculture forests. Architects
and other members of the construction industry should be increasingly aware about
the choices we make when specifying timbers. The choice can play an important role
in addressing the combined challenges of; supplying sustainable buildings, climate
change, supporting our local ecosystems as well as balancing social and economic
factors.
So much of today’s discussions about timber buildings involves cost, speed of
delivery, lifespan, aesthetics and performance. Very little thought is given to the
choice of timber, its specific characteristics, origin and the role that the tree may
have played in our forests ecosystem.
Major forest organisations are actively looking to plant a more diverse range of trees
in order to create more resilient forests. These actions follow the threats caused by
tree diseases and climate change. The next step is to find uses for these alternative
timbers and how these trees can be selected for use in the construction industry.
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