Wild Wild Woods / ‘Wood Wide Web’

In recent years, the secret world of trees has begun to be laid bare to us in all its glory. 2017 saw national treasure, Judi Dench present a documentary Judi Dench: My Passion for Trees on the BBC.

It ended with an interview with a fungi expert who laid bare the world of trees to Judi. She was shown everything going on under the surface, between the roots of trees, and was dazzled to discover how connected trees are to one another.

Through an underground network of fungi, trees in a forest are all connected by a web of these organisms that swap nutrients in order to keep the whole of the wood alive. For Judi Dench, this was proof that, “trees aren’t just trees, they are a real community that help each other, humans and the planet.”

Mapping the network

Further work has been conducted on finding out a lot more about this underground network of fungi and microbes that connect trees to each other.

Scientists have now mapped the network, creating a database of more than 28,000 species across 70 countries. It is the first global map of “mycorrhizal fungi networks” ever to be produced and has revealed that the ‘wood wide web’ contains fungi, organisms and bacteria that date back more than 500 million years.

More astonishingly, however, than the age of some of the organisms and fungi is the fact that there is evidence of the fungi existing in, “subtle symbiosis with plants, bringing about not infection but connection”. The discovery started years ago in 2012 by undertaking the mammoth challenge of documenting where trees live.

Due to the contributions of government agencies and scientists he was able to use the data given (the location and sizes of trees) to reveal in 2015 that the earth has about 3 trillion trees.

This discovery inspired Stanford University biologist Kabir Peay to contact Crowther recommending that the same approach be taken to the web of underground organisms connecting forest trees. From there, they were able to identify not just the symbiotic connection at work in the ‘wood-wide web’, but how climate change is affecting it.

Climate change impacts

The different types of fungi do different things. EM fungi is more common in temperate forests and stores more carbon in the soil. AM fungi, more prevalent in the tropics, releases carbon back into the atmosphere more quickly. The web has revealed that 60% of trees are connected to EM fungi, and worryingly these fungi are more susceptible to climate change.

As the global climate rises due to global warming, those trees will be replaced by species favouring AM fungi, which will then release more carbon back into the atmosphere. This will then accelerate the climate change process further.

There is still important work to be done on the discoveries being made in this area, but we should take this breakthrough as another important caution about the need to take positive steps to protect the planet and our environment now.

As a dedicated sustainable timber importer and supplier, we are passionate about making positive steps to help protect the ecosystem and our planet and can deliver FSC® cladding and decking nationwide. To find out more about what we do, call us on 0345 638 1340.

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How trees are connected

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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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.

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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.

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

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

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

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