Simon Smith’s scientific contributions

The article reflects on the value of the UK forests for timber production and the need to overcome the negative image of tree felling. Despite testing times for UK construction, the future predicts significant development. The latest UN population trends predict that the UK population will continue to grow, potentially increasing from 63m to 73m by 2050, overtaking Germany to become Western Europe's largest population. Primary UK softwood species are Sitka spruce and Scots pine, with significant other species including larch, Douglas fir, Lodgepole pine and Corsican pine. The balance between UK hardwood species is more even, with oak, birch and ash being the most abundant. A number of UK groups are researching the use of home grown timber for construction. Work at Edinburgh Napier University is providing useful data on Sitka spruce for various applications including cross laminated timber. BRE, Bath University and Cambridge University are all working with wood, looking at a diverse set of study areas from nonmetallic connectors to polymer modification.