Guide-IrishHardwoods.pdf

GUIDE TO IRISH HARDWOODS

Gordon Knaggs and Stella Xenopoulou

with contributions from Seamus Heaney and Gavin Munro

COFORD, National Council for Forest Research and Development

Agriculture Building

Belfield, Dublin 4

Ireland

Tel: + 353 1 7167700

Fax: + 353 1 7161180

First published in 2004 by COFORD, National Council for Forest Research and Development, Belfield, Dublin 4,

Ireland.

form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying recording or otherwise,

without prior permission in writing from COFORD.

ISBN 1 902696 31 X

Title: Guide to Irish Hardwoods

Authors : Gordon Knaggs and Stella Xenopoulou

Citation: Knaggs, G. and Xenopoulou, S. 2004. Guide to Irish Hardwoods. COFORD, Dublin.

The views and opinions expressed in this publication belong to the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect those

of COFORD.

Contents

Foreword

Timber drying schedules

Species notes:

Alder

Ash

Beech

Birch

Cherry

Elm

Oak

Poplar

Spanish chestnut

Sycamore

Walnut

Ye w

Other native species

Log conversion

A guide to the marketing of hardwoods

Bibliography and webography

Foreword

The Irish hardwood resource is very limited, with about 20,000 cubic metres of roundwood

harvested each year in Ireland. However, the use of Irish hardwoods has grown considerably

over the past decade. New processors and designers have entered and energised the market,

and advocates such as Duncan Stewart have opened our eyes to the potential of native

hardwoods. As a result, more and more architects and designers are keen to specify Irish

hardwoods in applications as diverse as cladding, flooring and furniture.

To further develop the existing market and learn more about the needs of users of home-

grown hardwoods, COFORD funded a study of the supply, procurement and use of Irish

hardwoods under the Operational Programme for Agriculture Rural Development and

Forestry. The results of this work led to the development of this Guide to Irish Hardwoods.

A sister publication, Market review and technical performance of Irish Hardwoods , based

directly on the project, is also being issued at this time.

The guide is the first comprehensive compliation of the properties, conversion and use of

Irish hardwoods. It outlines the primary conversion steps and subsequent drying and storage

of sawn timber. The strength and working properties are described, based on Irish research

both in the COFORD project and work carried out by Enterprise Ireland’s predecessors.

Each species is presented in a stand-alone format which will be useful for those engaged in

processing or finishing a particular species.

The guide is supported on the COFORD website by a searchable database of users and

suppliers of home-grown hardwoods. This can be queried to ascertain suppliers and users of

particular species and products in any region of the country.

By end of the decade close on 40,000 hectares - 100,000 acres - of young broadleaved

plantations will have been established. This publication shows the potential market and the

need for high quality at all stages in the production chain. Developments such as the Native

Woodlands Scheme should result in an increase in the sustainable production of native

hardwoods in the shorter term as areas are opened up to encourage regeneration. There is

also a considerable area of broadleaf woodland in private ownership that has the potential

to increase hardwood supply. The guide contains some valuable advice for these landowners

on the marketing of hardwoods and how to maximise returns.

We commend the authors and their collaborators on this timely, well researched publication.

It will become a valuable reference source for all those involved and interested in Irish

hardwoods – be they growers, sawmillers or specifiers.

David Nevins

Eugene Hendrick

Chairman

Director

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