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.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
Fast growing in nature, Eucalyptus is native to Australia, but can now be found all over the world. Its wood can vary in colour, from a cream to a reddish brown hue. In terms of outside capabilities, the wood can be used from furniture to fencing. There are many different species of Eucalyptus, but they are all branded under the one name, which makes it hard to make sweeping statements about the wood.
Pros
Cons
Cons
- It is possible to obtain FSC certified wood, meaning it was grown sustainably, most likely on a plantation. (ref)
- Eucalyptus is a moderately priced and a somewhat durable wood. (ref)
- It is a fast growing wood, (ref) which is perfect for plantations as it can be harvested and replanted quickly, ensuring sustainability of the wood itself.
- Eucalyptus will most likely need to be imported in, which means there will be an energy costs to get it into the UK. The origin of the wood will impact how much energy was needed to obtain the wood.
- There are claims the Eucalyptus takes in a lot of water compared to other trees, which can be an issue for water management, along with the sustainability of the areas it comes from. (ref), (ref)
Eucalyptus Summary
Most information regarding Eucalyptus online focused on its role in biomass, with little on gardening uses, from the data found, however, Eucalyptus can be seen as a somewhat durable wood. Its fast growing nature means 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. However, Eucalyptus may not be environmentally sustainable, as the trees can soak up a lot of water, which is a limited resource, and to transport the wood from abroad can use a lot of energy and potentially emit CO2 into the atmosphere. Sourcing Eucalyptus from third party certifiers such as the FSC can ensure a more sustainable forest and plantation management strategy and ensures the wood used in the garden is more environmentally friendly. Cedar, Acacia or even Bamboo and Douglas-fir can be alternates for Eucalyptus.
