The North Yorkshire Sustainable Woodlands Project was a three year project funded by North Yorkshire County Council Single Regeneration Budget, Forestry Commission England and other public and private match funding partners. The project involved the sustainable management and certification of small woodlands and the development of the associated timber supply chain and forest based and timber using businesses.
The project had the aims of developing markets for timber in North Yorkshire, especially markets for certified timber, to strengthen the timber industry and to increase it’s profile. These aims were realized through a series of information, advice and guidance to project beneficiaries and the provision of expertise in sustainable forest management, certification and business support.
The project achieved the following: certification of almost 3,000 ha of woodland, 58 businesses received support, 15 new jobs were created and a further 23 jobs were safeguarded in the timber chain in the sub-region with businesses taking advantage of 50 training days. In addition to this, the project assisted businesses to access in the region of £120,000 of funding through external grant schemes such as DEFRA ERDP schemes and local Sustainable Development Funds. The project was also successful in facilitating the creation of two co-operatives and a joint hardwood furniture marketing initiative.
