
British Elm (pictured).
Elm is undoubtedly the most beautiful timber grown in our native forests. Its colour can range from dark purple to light green, with various hues of silver and brown in between. The grain can be wild and full of character and the boards will contain various knots and burr clusters (cat’s paws), all creating a stunning finished surface. Although elm is now largely extinct in the British Isles due to Dutch Elm disease, some of the remaining trees are selectively felled (usually due to potential of the tree catching the disease) or fall naturally. Potential for the replanting of resistant strains of the species gives hope to the future of this stunning timber.