The 30 million European viewers of the Discovery Home and Leisure channel are now able to hone their woodworking skills thanks to Cutting Edge Woodworker, a 15-part series made by i2i Television and presented by craftsman/designer Paul Bradburn.

In each of the programmes, being screened throughout the autumn and winter (Wednesdays, 9pm), Mr Bradburn builds a different piece of furniture, all of which feature American hardwood.

The series also includes footage of visits to two hardwood distributors, C Blumsom Ltd, at its new Timber Centre and machining plant in London and John Boddy Timber Ltd.

Blumsom was chosen for its ability to supply small quantities of prime sawn hardwood and machined timbers, selected to any cutting list, and bespoke profiles. It also supplied several of the American hardwood species featured in the series, as did John Boddy Timber.

The day’s filming at the latter’s Boroughbridge yard and sawmill included an extensive interview with managing director Frank Boddy who described the characteristics and working properties of American hardwoods and their environmental acceptability.

Elsewhere in the series, an in-depth discussion with David Venables, European director of the American Hardwood Export Council, continues the theme.

As AHEC explained: “The purpose of this series is to bring to a mass TV audience the idea of fine hardwood furniture-making so those would-be furniture makers, or indeed those just looking to purchase good furniture, could understand a little more about the complexities of the construction, design, materials and finishes that make up a piece of fine furniture.

“The programme had to be interesting enough to capture most people’s imagination, yet not too technically daunting to turn people off.”

Environmental message

One of the aims of the series is to educate viewers on the environmental merits of using timber. “There is still ignorance about wood – especially hardwood,” said AHEC. “There is still plenty of misunderstanding about forest regeneration schemes and a commonly held view that it is better not to use timber, thereby conserving it. Nothing could be further from the truth – not to use it would be to lose it. Give forests a value and they will be protected. By educating consumers as to the sustainability of temperate hardwoods like American oak, ash and cherry, perceptions may be changed.”

The range of timber used in Cutting Edge Woodworker includes the popular lighter coloured timbers like white ash, white oak and hard white maple, as well as red/brown shades of cherry and the darker, “more sophisticated” walnut.

The programme unveils many of the processes used in the industry, providing an insight into construction techniques.

Another aspiration of the programme makers is that it will encourage a new interest for “furniture of the moment” among younger people.

“The fact that wood is being featured prominently on TV provides an invaluable link between the timber trade and its consumer audience.

“Furniture manufacturing has much to offer people and isn’t the dull, dusty process of years gone by,” said AHEC. “Legislation and dust extraction systems have seen to it that people now work in cleaner environments, be it in one-man designer studios, as in Paul’s case, or in the most modern workplaces making mass production furniture.

Wide opportunities

“In addition, there are wide opportunities for people interested in furniture making as computers become as much part of the furniture industry as anywhere else.

“The programme will have succeeded if it generates interest either among people eager to make, or buy, real hardwood furniture for the home, or indeed among those seeking a career in one of the largest industries in the world.”