Welsh minister for rural affairs Elin Jones has visited Carmarthenshire-based Teifi Timber Products Ltd to learn about the value of the timber and wood products industries to Wales.
The visit, organised by the UK Forest Products Association (UKFPA), included a guided tour of Teifi’s sawmill and manufacturing facility in Llanllwni and enabled UKFPA to discuss forest policy, climate change and the emergence of the wood-fuel sector as a competitor for wood supplies with the minister.
“The opportunity to show the minister a first class example of a progressive family-run sawmilling, timber merchanting and manufacturing business with an impressive record of investment in rural Wales has been invaluable,” said UKFPA executive director David Sulman.
“We were pleased to be able to discuss industry concerns about wood supply, forest policy and other topical issues with the minister and we look forward to continuing these discussions.”
Mr Sulman added that opening up dialogue between industry and the Welsh Assembly government was essential to increasing knowledge of the sector as production levels from Forestry Commission Wales are being reduced from one million m3 to around 770,000m3.
UKFPA Wales and Midlands regional group chairman Phil Wilkinson reiterated this, saying that it was important the Welsh timber industry was ensured continuity of supply and commercial conifer planting was increased to support the sector.
