Why should Grown in Britain’s fourth birthday bring you better business? It seems unlikely I know, but bear with me.

We’re the marketing campaign for British-grown timber, established in 2013 before Brexit was a business consideration. Major contractors have signed a timber preference statement in favour of timber that’s assured as Grown in Britain. We have producers of British timber as part of our licensed supply chain. So on our fourth birthday we’re more than ready for you to join us, connect up the supply chain, and celebrate the benefits of doing so.

There’s a groundswell of support for British-grown timber. Architects and builders are specifying it up and down the country. Are you getting your share of that business? British-grown timber in merchant yards is ‘commodity’ products like carcassing. Yet there are other options for higher value products. If you’re not sure about alternative species, Grown in Britain can help. We’ve just entered a strategic partnership with the Builders Merchants Federation and are making new literature and information available to its merchant members.

We’ve also undertaken research to provide merchants with new products to capitalise on market opportunities. A joint project between Grown in Britain, the BRE and wood supplier Vastern Timber, led to the development of timber cladding made from under-utilised British species. Brimstone cladding won the timber industry’s Innovation Award last year. We’re also connecting builders’ merchants into other markets, working closely with the joiners of the British Woodworking Federation and their ‘Made in Britain’ campaign.

With some 18,000 followers on Twitter, Grown in Britain tweets regularly, reaching an audience of over a million. We’re working hard to enthuse and enlighten people and drive them to your branches. When they get there, how will you show them what’s British? You can gain a Grown in Britain licence so you can use our logo, and you can join us for Grown in Britain Week, 9 to 15 October. We also need your help. We’d appreciate your views in our first annual survey. You can play your part in giving our forests and woodlands a sustainable future by copying this link into your browser: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/38HCDNM.

Dougal Driver, Chief Executive Officer, Grown in Britain.