Grown in Britain

16/10/2026

Coming up this November via Woodknowledge Wales, Making the Grade is a four-day practical course in visual strength grading of softwood, delivered by CATG at Down to Earth Project in Swansea.

The course explores the skills needed to assess the quality and strength of timber – from species identification and moisture readings to knot plots, grading, storage and record keeping. It’s practical knowledge that can help open up opportunities to use lesser-known species and reclaimed timber, while giving those working with wood a better understanding of the material in front of them. On successful completion of the assessment, delegates will be able to visually grade softwood to BS 4978.

📅 9-12 November 2026
📍 Down to Earth Project, Little Bryn Gwyn, Swansea
💷 £900 including VAT - businesses based in Wales may be eligible to reclaim 50% of the course cost.

Architects, structural engineers and others involved in the design process can also attend the first day free of charge, subject to spaces being available.
Full payment is due by Friday 30 October, so there’s still time to secure your place. Find out more and book here: https://woodknowledge.wales/visual-timber-grading-course-2/

Come and discover the hidden wood scientist in you! Why? If you’re using wood in any of your projects, then grading is what enables you to do so. Somebody somewhere in the supply chain has to assess the ‘quality’ and strength of the piece of timber that will be coming your way. This course giv...

14/10/2026

Have you used i-Tree Eco?

Forest Research would like to hear from people and organisations who have been involved in an i-Tree Eco project, or have used its data or findings to help inform urban forest management. i-Tree Eco helps assess the structure and value of our urban forests, including benefits such as carbon sequestration, improved air quality and reduced flooding. Its findings can also help inform tree planting and management, urban planning and investment in trees.

Now, Forest Research is looking at the wider impact these projects have had across the UK – from influencing policy and management to building knowledge, strengthening collaboration and changing attitudes towards urban trees. If you’ve been involved in an i-Tree Eco project or have used the findings in your work, they would like to hear about your experience.

The survey is open until 31 October 2026.

🔗 Complete it here: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/news/have-you-used-i-tree-eco-forest-research-wants-to-hear-from-you/

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12/10/2026

A look back at the National Forestry Conference 2026, and what a fantastic day it was!

From thought-provoking talks and lively discussions to catching up with familiar faces and making new connections, it was wonderful to see so many people from across the forestry, woodland management and timber sectors come together at Newbury Racecourse. This year's theme, Commerciality through Connectivity, gave us plenty to talk about, with important conversations around the challenges, opportunities and future of our woods and forests.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us, our brilliant speakers, sponsors, exhibitors and all those who worked behind the scenes to make the day possible. And of course, to our co-organisers, The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and Forestry Commission, for another great year of working together.

11/10/2026

Have you joined in with yet?

We’ve loved seeing Grown in Britain Week popping up across our feeds this week – and there’s still time to get involved.
If you’re a Grown in Britain certificate holder, show us what Grown in Britain looks like where you are.

📸 Take a photo of your Grown in Britain-certified product, place of work or team
📱 Share it on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram
🌳 Use so we can find it

We’ll be picking one person at random from everyone who posts using the hashtag to receive their very own Team GiB hoodie.

You’ve got until the end of Grown in Britain Week to join in!

11/10/2026

WE ARE GROWN IN BRITAIN | Nuthatch Creations

“Know where your tree grew.”

For husband-and-wife team Matt and Lara of Nuthatch Creations, those four words sit at the heart of everything they do. Based in Bromyard, Herefordshire, Nuthatch Creations makes handcrafted furniture from UK grown timber, combining Matt’s craftsmanship and Lara’s artistry with a belief that beautiful furniture should retain a connection to the tree and landscape it came from. That makes provenance an important part of every piece they create – and becoming Grown in Britain certified was a natural extension of their commitment to UK timber and traceability.
But their story doesn’t begin and end in the workshop.
Behind every piece are the woodlands, growers, foresters, sawmills and timber suppliers that make their work possible – a community of people connected by the journey of timber from tree to finished piece.

As we celebrate People and Community this Grown in Britain Week, Nuthatch Creations is a wonderful reminder of the people, skills and stories behind homegrown timber. From woodland to home, every piece has a story.

10/10/2026

Yesterday, we joined RIBA Herefordshire at Whitney Sawmills for HOMEGROWN – an afternoon exploring the journey of homegrown timber and the connections needed to get more of it into use.

The visit brought architects and building professionals closer to the start of the timber supply chain, with a chance to see the sawmill in action and explore the relationship between woodland management, timber production and the materials ultimately specified for our buildings. Alongside a tour of the sawmill and woodland, Grown in Britain joined Whitney Sawmills and Woodland Heritage to share perspectives on provenance, certification and the opportunities for making greater use of locally grown timber. For those specifying timber, understanding where it comes from – and the people, processes and woodland management behind it – can help inform choices further down the line.

A great afternoon of conversations, questions and connections, and a fitting event to be part of Grown in Britain Week 2026.
Thank you to RIBA Herefordshire, Whitney Sawmills and Woodland Heritage for bringing everyone together.

10/10/2026

As we head towards the end of Grown in Britain Week, here’s a lovely example of homegrown timber finding a place in the wider community.

These beautiful wooden pledge plaques have recently arrived at Surbiton High Girls’ Prep School, where they’re now being installed around the school.
The plaques were created by Robert from Ingrained Culture, Wooden Sign Maker. with the project brought together at the school by David Williams, Deputy Head for Pupil Well-being. There’s something particularly special about seeing timber used in this way – taking something grown here in Britain and turning it into something that will become part of everyday school life.

David sent us these first photos after the plaques were put in place, and we think they look fantastic.

A big thank you to David and Robert for sharing the project with us, and for giving us another glimpse of what the Grown in Britain community can look like.

09/10/2026

Trust is at the heart of certification. But what does trustworthy assurance look like when an annual audit can only ever provide a snapshot in time?

For , we spoke to Rob Chester, co-founder and CEO of Supply Chain In-Sites (SCI), about our partnership, the changing world of certification and why greater visibility can help build greater trust. It’s a partnership that now spans a number of Grown in Britain schemes – from the Biogenic Stored Carbon Quotient (BSCQ) to our latest work on British Quality Wild Venison (BQWV).

The new BQWV producer app is one example of that thinking in practice. Instead of evidence being gathered predominantly at one point in time, producers can capture what they’re already doing as part of their normal work over days, weeks and months. That evidence can then be independently reviewed against the requirements of the scheme. As Rob puts it:

“If you want to be trusted, you have to be more transparent and more visible, and keep stretching your programme to do more.”
We also talk about why good assurance needs to be rigorous and efficient, the value certification can create beyond the certificate itself, and where Rob sees the partnership heading next.

A fitting conversation for a Grown in Britain Week centred on Commerciality through Connectivity. You can read the full interview here: https://www.growninbritain.org/seeing-is-believing-how-grown-in-britain-and-sci-are-rethinking-assurance/

09/10/2026

I AM GROWN IN BRITAIN | WoodBlocX

For Grown in Britain Week, we’re celebrating the connections between our homegrown timber resource and the businesses, products and places it helps to create. Grown in Britain certificate holder WoodBlocX manufactures its modular timber system in the Scottish Highlands using locally sourced Scottish pine.
The system can be used to create raised beds, planters, retaining walls, seating and bespoke landscape features for commercial projects – like the finished scheme pictured here.

Designed for landscape architects, designers, contractors and developers, WoodBlocX combines a flexible modular system with a dedicated design service and straightforward installation.

It’s a great example of this year’s ‘Commerciality through Connectivity’ theme in action – connecting locally sourced timber and UK manufacturing with landscapes and spaces designed to be used and enjoyed.