Cedar
A tree native to mountainous regions from North America to Asia, cedar is known for its strong properties. There are many species of cedar but western red is commonly used for gardening purposes.
Pros
Cons
- Whilst native to areas outside of the UK, the species was introduced to Britain, planted in the UK for timber. British red cedar wood will be locally sourced and reduce emissions in terms of transport.
- Whilst some species of cedar are endanger, the western red cedar in Britain is not.
- The wood is durable and naturally resistant to fungi, due to natural preservatives.
- Cedar woods can be found FSC certified.
- The wood is usually reasonably priced.
- Imported red cedar tends to be more durable than locally sourced, but not by too much. Imports will also have more impact on the environment due to the amount they will travel.
- Cedar imported from non-certified sources and from abroad may have further environmental impacts, threatening habitats along with indigenous cultures.
Douglas-fir
Douglas-Fir
Part of the pine family, it is native to North America but planted and used in Europe, especially due to its durability. Its natural colour is brown with hints of red or yellow.
Pros
Cons
- Douglas-fir is a fairly durable, not too expensive, non endangered wood. (ref)
- Plantations exist in the UK and Europe, and are routinely replenished helping maintain sustainability, (ref) the local sourcing will also reduce travel impacts on the environment.
- Its resistance to pests and drought may also be useful for the future. As the climate becomes hotter, Douglas-fir could continue to grow (ref) where other trees could perish in the drier and hotter conditions.
- It has a high growth and fertility rate. (ref)
- Douglas-fir can be FSC certified. (ref)
- It can be imported from further afield than Europe which will add to the energy and fuel used to obtain the timber.
- Sources that are not certified and outside of Europe may be less reliable in terms of sustainability. (ref)
- It can be pressure treated. See Pine.
- Plantations of Pine (Douglas-Fir) can affect the biodiversity of an area. (ref)
Douglas-fir Summary
A fairly durable wood, and part of the Pine family, it is a fast growing tree, meaning it can be harvested quickly, providing profits for plantation but also ensuring there is a sustainable supply of timber to meet the demand in the future, many plantations can be found in the UK and EU. The local sourcing reduces the woods carbon footprint and third party certification can help ensure sustainable timber. However, like Pine, it can be treated which may have environmental issues. Locally sourced Cedar wood can be seen as an alternative to Pine woods.
