The first meeting of the South of Scotland Sawmillers Forum has been held at Barony College, near Dumfries.
The aim is to raise interest in new developments within the industry and advise Scottish Enterprise on the needs of the sector.
More than 30 industry representatives attended the inaugural event which has been established through sponsorship from Scottish Enterprise and the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway Forestry Action Groups.
It is hoped the forum will become self-sustaining and provide a platform for topics of interest to sawmillers and wood processors to be discussed. Leading industry figures will be invited to speak at meetings and visits will be organised to show members industry best practice.
Speakers at the first meeting were Alan Massey, forestry executive at Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway, Dr Vahik Enjily of BRE, Chris Morgan of Gaia Architects, Geoff Freedman of the Forestry Commission and Gordon Hill of Barony College.
Roger Hay, chairman of the Forestry Action Group, said: “This was a great start to what we hope will become a very proactive industry body. We now look forward to the forum’s next meeting and the field trip to Ireland later this year.”
