FORESTRY CERTIFICATION

Currently a significant number of timber purchasers in Britain, including a high proportion of High Street furniture retailers and DIY stores, source their timber from forests that are certified as sustainably managed. This number is likely to increase.

Certification can be obtained from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and is also available through the UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS). The certification process requires a high standard of woodland management which also includes social and environmental responsibilities e.g. compliance with health and safety procedures, biodiversity, provision of wildlife habitats.

The protocol is not dissimilar to the guidelines currently in use throughout the UK for the various forestry grant schemes. It follows that any well-managed commercial plantation in the UK should be already on the road towards qualification.

For those woods with timber at or approaching harvesting age, Highfield Forestry is in a position to provide all necessary documentation to enable our owners to obtain certification if needed. We reached the required standards in February 2006 and our certification number is SGS-FM/COC-2512.