Broadleaf species make up almost 29% of our stocked forest area. There is now potential to reduce reliance on imports (50,000m3 of sawn/tropical hardwood in 2017) through advances made in hardwood processing and in the development of innovative uses for small and large-sized sawn hardwoods.

Research into potential end uses is ongoing. The COFORD-funded EARTH project has investigated the added-value uses for hardwood thinnings, and outputs will include a grading system for sorting into different end use classes. This is a collaboration between the NUI Galway and Teagasc.

A Teagasc-funded project, partnered with GMIT Letterfrack, is working on establishing the characteristics, properties and utilisation potential of small-diameter (20–30cm) Irish-grown alder, with the aim of supporting woodland owners and small enterprises to develop new markets. Letterfrack is the centre of excellence for furniture design and wood technology, offering advanced courses in furniture design, wood technology and teacher education.

Forest owners and markets

A number of private broadleaf owners are also exploring hardwood markets. Jonathan Sykes, who owns 22ha of mixed broadleaves in Limerick, recently invested in a band saw for on-farm processing of homegrown timber. He has processed local oak for the refurbishment of a medieval tower, which is a key part of a thriving eco-tourism business. He also supports the Hardwood-Focus (HF) project, an initiative from the Limerick Tipperary Woodland Owners (LTWO). The project, facilitated by Teagasc Forestry Development and funded by the Department of Agriculture, aims to explore intermediate hardwoods markets.

Lawderdale Furniture and Crafts Ltd is a small, family-run furniture manufacturing business, established in 1984 by the Van der Laans in Ballinamore, Co Leitrim. Using a collaborative approach, family members apply their unique talents and knowledge to produce a range of handcrafted practical furniture and occasional pieces. The timber is sourced from the family’s own woodlands which include a range of broadleaf and conifer species. The Van der Laans have their own sawmill as well as timber drying and stacking areas.

Mark Donnelly is an enterprising forester based in Ballincollig, Co Cork. Having spent 20 years in Wales specialising in hardwood management, Mark moved to Ireland and began diversifying into the product side of the business.

He runs a small-scale operation that fits well into a business model with a focus on sourcing sustainably grown local timber within 30 miles of the workshop. The model is also suited to working with environmentally sensitive woodland management, including Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF).

Ash, sycamore, beech and oak are all available locally, along with lesser known species such as fruit woods – arbutus and acacia.

Mark carries out wood commissions and supplies cabinet makers, craft workers and schools for students working in wood. His commissioned work includes contemporary furniture, traditional oak timber-framed buildings, and even specialist wheelwrighting and construction of ash frames for coach-built vintage cars. “It’s all about finding niches to add value to the hardwood raw material,” he says.

“Interest in craft skills including woodworking is growing and we are running workshop training weekends for green woodworking in conjunction with the local Benchspace initiative.”