Tree Reuse: Sustainable urban timber

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Urban forestry: urban timber – a new frontier in silviculture?

Since 2016, we’ve been collaborating with Lantern Environmental to help developers and councils across urban centres reimagine what urban forestry can be. One key question we ask is: What happens when trees come down?

Normally they get 'disappeared' one way or another either chipped, landfilled, turned to firewood, or dumped. But we believe there's a better way. One that honours the life of the tree, makes practical use of the timber, and supports the local community.

So, how does it work?

Our first goal is always to keep the trees where they are. We work closely with architects and developers to explore how existing trees can be retained and integrated into the new landscape—a fresh approach to urban silviculture.

If removal is unavoidable, we apply our own innovative urban tree inventory system to estimate volumes of sawn timber we can recover from open-grown trees.

Once felling is decided, we provide detailed guidance to tree surgeons on how to fell and stack the timber for optimal use. The wood is then transported to a local mill for conversion and drying. From there, the real transformation begins.

We collaborate with architects and developers to determine how best to use the timber, commissioning pieces that speak to both place and community.

Think:

• Bookcases, benches, and picnic tables for parks and public spaces

• Bespoke signage and seating

• Community carving sessions and school craft projects

• Habitat enhancements and art installations

All made from trees that once stood just metres away. Even the offcuts and branch wood find a second life—used in school technology classes, spoon carving workshops, habitat creation, and more.

What we've learned

Urban trees, especially those grown in the open, can produce timber of exceptional quality. More than that, we’ve seen firsthand how communities can be energised by the idea that they’re living within an urban forest, one that they can actively shape and benefit from.

Urban forestry, we’ve come to realise, isn’t just necessary; it’s compelling, it’s creative, it’s a new and exciting chapter in the story of silviculture.

Our journey has taken us from Lendlease developments at Elephant Park and Silvertown, to projects with Network Rail, Cardiff City Council, and Lesnes Abbey Woods. Each site, each tree, each community tells a different story—but all share the same belief: there’s real value in our urban forests.