Forest Enterprise Scotland is stepping up its focus on native broadleaved trees in a long-term programme that aims to improve the quantity and quality of Scottish hardwood coming to market.
The move comes in recognition of the fact that Scotland’s national forest estate has a hardwood timber resource which is under-used, offering Forest Enterprise Scotland the chance to make more of what is already there.
Hardwoods can be used in a number of ways – as firewood, as a resilient, strong and beautiful construction material, and in the manufacture of high-value items in the wood turning, furniture and cabinet making sectors.
Programme Manager, Julia Garritt, said;
“Our traditional focus has been on growing conifers to sustain the softwood processing sector and up until very recently, native broadleaved trees have really only been seen as an amenity and environmental asset.
“They are what most people think of when they conjure images of wildlife and the countryside and it’s what people picture when they think of going for a relaxing walk in woodlands.
“However, broadleaved trees are also an economic resource that we haven’t made much of it in the past. By taking a more hands-on approach to managing broadleaves on the National Forest Estate we can improve the structure and appearance of woodlands, which will help make them more biodiverse places and more attractive places to visit.
“But just as importantly, it will improve the quality and quantity of hardwood that we can deliver to market, which makes it a 
low-cost opportunity to use what is already growing on the national forest estate.
“Managing broadleaves requires a totally different skill set so it’s also a great opportunity for us to broaden our knowledge base.”
Forest Enterprise Scotland’s main business will still be conifer production – the area of existing broadleaf woodland that will be brought under management over the next few years (14,000ha) is only about 3 per cent of the area of conifer woodland on the National Forest Estate.
