James Jones & Sons recently welcomed 60 forestry professionals to its new Durham sawmill as part of the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) National Study Tour 2026, showcasing the significant investment and innovation taking place in the UK's timber processing sector.
The two-day study tour, themed Forestry in the North of England – Innovation, Investment and Integrated Land Use, explored the important relationship between sustainable forest management, timber production and the future of the UK's forestry and wood processing industries.
Day one took delegates to Kielder Forest, where they explored how a forest originally planted for timber production has evolved into a leading example of modern forestry, balancing sustainable timber supply with tourism, recreation and biodiversity.
On day two, attention turned to the wood processing sector, with presentations from Max McLaughlan of EGGER UK, Rob MacKenna and David Leslie of James Jones & Sons. The discussions highlighted the importance of a secure, sustainable supply of UK timber to support investment, innovation and the long-term future of the UK wood processing industry.
Delegates then visited the new James Jones & Sons sawmill at Durham, where they were able to see first-hand the scale of investment and advanced technology being introduced to strengthen the UK's timber processing capabilities.
The visit provided a valuable opportunity to demonstrate the connection between productive forestry and a thriving domestic timber industry, reinforcing the importance of continued investment across the sector.
The visit was an excellent opportunity to engage with forestry professionals from across the industry and showcase James Jones & Sons' continued commitment to investing in the future of UK timber.