UK birch is suitable for various applications and could rival imported timber if managed properly according to TRADA Technology research.
Funded by the Forestry Commission, Scottish Forestry Trust and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, TRADA found birch can be used for furniture framing, flooring for ‘light and pedestrian traffic’ and glulam for interior construction.
Birch from five sites in Scotland, one in England and one in Wales was used in the study which measured static bending, cleavage, hardness and density.
There are around 60,000ha of birch forest in both England and Scotland and some 7,000ha in Wales and the investigation concludes that an average yield of 42% is feasible for logs of 30cm diameter. In Scotland alone, this could mean an annual yield of 22,500m³ of sawn birch.
A TRADA information sheet summarises the results of the research and aims to ‘help increase user confidence in specifying home-grown birch – and to encourage timber growers actively to manage the birch resource’. For a copy contact 01494 569600.
