Truly epic forests and woodlands to visit around the world

If you are a wanderlust traveler who loves to surround yourself with the beauty of nature, you will feel right at home in the world’s most beautiful forests. Bursting with incredible life and providing a serene space in which to get in touch with the planet, it doesn’t get much better than a woodland hike! Add these epic forests to your bucket list and let nature guide you through the world.

The Takayna/Tarkine Forest

In Australia’s Tasmania, you can travel back in time in the Takayna/Tarkine woodlands to witness how the Earth looked 300 million years ago. This ancient land of ethereal forest consists  of waterfalls, rivers, caves and plenty of gorgeous tree species. See if you can spot the 3000-year-old Huon pines, the second oldest tree species on Earth!

Yakushima Forest

In Japan, Yakusugi trees rise tall and mighty from the moss-covered ground in the Yakushima forest. This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful wooded areas in the world, making it a must for every nature lover to tread gently through. In fact, in the 17th century, it was considered so breathtaking that the royalty of the time recreated the landscape in their own garden on the mainland. Nothing, however, can quite emanate the fairy-tale landscape of the real thing.

The Amazon Rainforest

How can we talk about forests without mentioning the Amazon? With an awe-inspiring range of wildlife calling this humid, lush environment home, it is a hub of biodiversity. In fact, 10% of all the world’s species live here! Take in the tropics and come face to face with one of the planet’s most incredible natural wonders.

Avenue of the Baobabs

Go back hundreds of years, and the now ancient trees that stand in the Avenue of the Baobabs were part of an incredible tropical forest. Deforestation, unfortunately, has led to most of the trees now beening lost, and now only around twenty of the unique Baobab species remain here, standing proud and tall on the sides of the famous dirt road.

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest

Head up to the highlands of California to discover some of the oldest trees on Earth at the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest which is still teeming with life You can trace your hand along the bark of trees which have stood for thousands of years, watching an ever-changing world grow around them and now witnessing you, the wanderlust traveller. Be sure to look out for Methuselah, a 4,841-year-old tree that is protected within the woods!

Crooked Forest

In Poland is an incredible man-made forest that’s shrouded in mystery: the Crooked Forest. The woodlands are full of very strangely curved and crooked pine trees that remain a curiosity: no one knows why or how they were made! Some think they were planted purposefully like this to build ships, others wonder if they were crushed by tanks in the Second World War and have adapted to their new shape. Whatever the reason, it truly is a spectacle!

Learn More About Tree Species With EcoChoice

At EcoChoice, we love exploring beautiful forests and coming face to face with rare tree species. As sustainable timber experts, it is an activity from which we cannot tire! If you would like to know more about the trees you are seeing when you visit these incredible forests, be sure to check out our tree species guide on our website.

Images: dugdaxtrabantosAl ToworldclassphotoVaclav SebekKris Wiktor / Shutterstock.com

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Epic forest and woodlands

Ask Joe! Expert industry advice

Unsure which timer is best for your project?

Our timber experts have years of experience and will be able to match the perfect species to your project, as well as provide a quote for sustainable timber at highly competitive prices.

Frequently asked questions

Do you supply timber for domestic uses?

Yes, we supply timber for domestic applications as well as commercial and public constructions. From garden decking to shed cladding, we will be happy to supply smaller deliveries for home use.

Is your timber FSC-certified?

Yes, all timber we supply is FSC or PEFC certified and sourced from independently verified responsibly managed forests. If we can’t find your request in FSC/PEFC certified timber we’ll suggest an alternative that is certified or clearly note that the offer is minimum EUTR.

Where does EcoChoice deliver to?

EcoChoice delivers to construction sites, warehouses and homes across the UK, as long as there’s access and unloading for our trucks.

What are the best timber species for exterior use?

There are many different timber species suitable for exterior use and which is the best for your project depends on your requirements. In general, though, we recommend EkkiGreenheartOpepe and Oak for heavier civil/marine uses. For intermediary external use such as decking, where the timber needs to be both strong and durable but not on the same level as civil engineering (bridgespiling, etc) we usually supply CumaruIpe, Jatoba, and Balau. And for the lighter exterior use where the timber is non-structural such as cladding, we deliver CedarLarchThermowood and others.

Which timber is the most durable?

Durability Class 1 timbers are the most durable. This of course depends on the use (hazard) class they’ll be in service for. For direct ground and water contact such as sleepers, fenders, marine piling, etc, Ekki and Greenheart are known to be the most durable timbers available. For decking and cladding where there’s no direct ground contact (use class 3) there’s a much wider range of timbers such Larch, Cedar, Thermo modified Pine or Ash and others.

What’s the best timber for internal cladding?

Internal cladding, where your timber is not in ground and not exposed to the elements can be classed as either use-class 1 or 2 – in which case most timbers will meet this durability criteria. That is not to say they’ll be the best, since internal environments have lower humidity (moisture) levels than outside. So in these cases, it’s best to go for a kiln-dried timber cladding board as these are more stable and delivered already in lower MC (moisture content) than the usual fresh sawn timbers sent to external applications. A word of caution – as timber reacts to variations in moisture, it’s best to avoid cladding any areas inside your bathroom.

How can I make decking less slippery?

The first thing is to ensure your deck boards are kept clean from leaves and other debris which will, over time, cover the surface and make it more slippery. Grooved boards can be used to improve grip if installed and used perpendicular to traffic, so especially useful in narrow passages and footbridges. Lastly, you can add our Grip-Choice strips: these are a mix of epoxy with aggregates that add gripping ridges to your deck area. Gripchoice is an easy way to make decking less slippery and safer, especially over large areas or where there’s high traffic. We can pre-install Grip-Choice strips for your decking before delivery or ship the strips separately to add to your existing deck’s grooves as a retro-fit solution.

What wood machining services do you offer?

We can offer planing, sawing, drilling and profiling of rough-sawn wood to any profile you require: from handrails to large port fenders.

Can you supply pre-drilled timber?

Yes, we will be happy to provide pre-drilled timber which is tailored to your needs for quick installation, thus saving you valuable time on site.

What cladding profiles do you supply?

We provide a wide range of cladding profiles, including tongue and groove, featheredge and shiplap. You can check the standard profiles here – but we can also match or custom make profiles to suit your specific needs.

Does timber change colour?

Yes, timber is well-known for changing colour over time. Some species can darken quickly right after installation, and like most untreated wood will eventually weather to a beautiful silver-grey. Interior timber is less likely to change colour (depending on conditions), and timber can be stained, painted or treated with UV-resistant oils to reduce colour change.

Do I need to treat exterior timber?

Some timbers such as Oak and Ekki, can withstand the strains of exterior use without any treatment. However, to extend the lifespan and maintain the aesthetic of your wood, we do recommend treating your timber with stains and oils. Pre-treated timber, such as ThermoWood and OrganoWood, are low-maintenance options which are more durable, but can have their life service extended by applying a clean and stain maintenance schedule.

Do I need to treat interior timber?

Depends on what area the timber is being used. For floor joists and timber rafters, it is common to see timber treated, or least very well kiln-dried. Other uses such as flooring may benefit from varnishing while internal timber cladding for decorative purposes shouldn’t require any treatment other than if you want to change its colour with different types of stains or oils.

Where are you based?

We’re based in Cambridge, UK, and coordinate multiple sawmills all over the world to manufacture your order. We then organise delivery with a range of hauliers so that your orders gets to your site on time.

What are the usual decking sizes?

Timber decking is usually 21x140mm or similar. For heavier applications where there’s more load and traffic, we deliver 35 or 45mm thick boards (such as Hastings Pier). Narrower boards are also possible: 95-90mm is a standard width – but we can manufacture whatever size you require.

What are the usual cladding sizes?

Typical cladding section sizes are 18×95 and 18x145mm although we can always custom make a section to suit your project’s design requirements. That includes waney edge boards in Oak or Chestnut as well as extra wide 195mm boards.

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Good quality, great service, fast delivery!

5

Marinella Li

Always helpful! One of our valued TDCA DeckMark and CladMark accredited supplier members which means their quality procedures are routinely audited and stand up to scrutiny giving you extra peace of mind.

5

Janet Sycamore

Having needed the supply of cladding, decking boards and other specified timbers through out the year Eco choice have been very helpful in sourcing the specified timbers and quantities required at a very competitive price.

5

Tim Saunders

Great quality, service and price. A pleasure to deal with. I would highly recommend Eco Choice.

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Emma Hurrell

Fantastic company- Mike and the team are the best in the business- worked with them for many years.

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Always reliable and quality products, easy to deal with company.

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Always reliable and quality products, easy to deal with company.

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  • 9 years ago

Wonderful guys!

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