December 20, 2019

Wood for the Trees: the future for our forests

Our woodlands are at a critical moment in time, many experts say a tipping point. At 13% we have one of the lowest levels of woodland cover in Europe. The native trees that we do have face numerous threats including drought, pests and pathogens. And tree planting rates are pitifully low. 

However I believe and hope that 2020 will be an important year when planting trees to tackle climate change becomes a political priority. 

This could be a golden opportunity , and potentially the beginning of the greatest period of afforestation that Britain has ever seen. But, and there are always buts, the future for our landscape and woodlands is far from clear. There are many different groups with differing visions for what woodlands and forests should be, who should pay for them and how we humans should use them. 

So next year we are embarking on a project to make 12 short films looking at the future of our woodlands and forests.

We want to learn more about the UK’s plans for tree planting, and we hope to understand how we can work together to maximise the potential social, ecological and economic benefits of our woodlands for the future. So we’re working with activist filmmakers Charly Le Marchant and Angelfish films, and and together we will be talking to experts in forest management, rewilding, timber production, carbon capture, architecture and anyone else we can find who holds the pieces to the puzzle.

We’re proud of our history in the timber trade and we firmly believe there’s a positive future for using British grown timber in the built environment.

For three generations, Vastern Timber has transformed timber from our local woodlands, and we hope future generations can continue with this tradition. Our hope is that by joining the conversation about what we as a nation want from our forests, we can help ensure a brighter future for British trees and timber. 

Our first film will be posted later this month, and we hope you’ll follow our journey and join the conversation.

Connect with Tom Barnes on Twitter at @TomBarnesWood