English Heritage (EH) hopes to persuade importers to source ‘high quality, slow-growing softwood’ from Norway especially to suit the needs of the heritage sector.
The organisation has been liaising with the Norwegian Department of Antiquities which believes a better developed European market for premium timber would ‘encourage a more reliable supply for building restoration and repair – as well as providing an alternative revenue stream to Norwegian farmers’.
John Fidler, head of building research and conservation at EH, was impressed by a sample of 200-year-old high sap, PEFC-compliant pine sent to him from Norway.
‘The timber was enormously resinous and incredibly naturally durable,’ he said. ‘It would be fantastic for all kinds of structural and other joinery.’
Mr Fidler said the sample had also won the approval of conservation wood carvers, like Dick Reid of York who had ‘the devil’s own time’ finding timber for heritage projects.
