The Wentwood Timber Project, supported by Monmouthshire County Council, was described as “remarkable” by members of the Royal Forestry Society of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, who recently visited the project workshop.
Members were shown how locally-grown timber, including oak, ash, beech, chestnut and sycamore, is sawn and dried before being supplied to joinery manufacturers. The project is run as a social enterprise, training the long-term unemployed in the manufacture of wood products.
“Hardwood timber from woodlands in Monmouthshire used to be sent for pulping at the now closed Sudbrook Paper Mill, or simply cut up into firewood,” said Monmouthshire Coed Cymru officer Tudor Morgan.
“Now it is being used to create new businesses and markets for locally produced wood, through being able to provide a continuous supply of graded timber at a competitive price.”