M&M Timber Co Ltd is investing £100,000 in its Clows Top sawmills near Kidderminster as it looks to capitalise on the growing popularity of machined round timber.

The company, which specialises in landscape and gardening timber, is heading up a “determined sales drive” into the independent garden centre industry and aims to grow business by 25% over the next 12 months.

M&M has just bought a fourth production line and is looking to buy additional cross-cutting and splitting equipment, while up to 20 jobs are to be created in production and administration. IT systems will also be introduced to streamline the firm’s marketing drive.

The company said it experienced a surge of enquiries at the GLEE show in September, with the natural look of its machined round timber being hailed as a refreshing alternative to traditional square-cut timber.

National sales manager Ian Rickhuss said: “Today’s customers are looking for an all together more natural look for their gardens and we are ready to meet that demand.”

A “substantial” order for garden products from the Wyevale garden centre chain marks the company’s biggest success yet in its sales push into the garden leisure market.

M&M’s customer base already includes local authorities, landscape architects, property developers and the leisure industry in general.

Earlier this year managing director Nigel Poyner bought the M&M Timber business, together with his father George Poyner, formerly Forest Garden chairman, and finance director David Price.