EGGER has invited Richard Stanford, the new chief executive of the Forestry Commission (FC) to tour the Hexham plant in the northeast of England as a commitment to their robust partnership over tree planting and wood processing.
The Hexham site produces chipboards for EGGER since 1984, and it takes timber from Kielder Forest, which is managed by Forestry England.
“There is a powerful and historic link between Kielder, England’s largest forest, and our Hexham site and we are committed to continuing that partnership,” said Mike Yerbury, director of Forestry at EGGER. “EGGER needs a consistent and significant supply of wood to make our products and our aim is to source that from local, sustainably-managed forests.
“This is why we want to continue working with Forestry Commission, along with others in the forestry and wood industry, to ensure a strong future timber supply in the region. Kielder has been the northeast ‘timber basket’ for many decades and we would like to see that complemented with the establishment of further areas of new woodland creation which will bring a diversity of benefits for the communities in the region.”
Yerbury also highlighted the environmental and sustainability concerns behind this partnership: “We are fully supportive of a wide variety of forest and woodlands being created, based on the mantra ‘right tree in the right place for the right reason’ – but this needs to include forests planted for timber production.
“However, it is not about either-or decisions; timber-producing forests can also deliver habitats for wildlife, places for people and benefits for climate change. It’s a win-win-win situation for the environment, economy and society.”
Stanford commented as well: “Manufacturing sites like this are significant rural employers and a crucial part of the forestry and wood supply chain in the north-east.
“The UK is the second largest importer of timber in the world, with 80% of timber and timber products coming from abroad. The Forestry Commission is working with landowners and stakeholders to try to reduce this reliance on imports. At the same time, companies like EGGER are working hard to increase the amount of recycled wood in their products.”
Source: Timber Trade Journal
