Timber trials

Freshwater and marine construction work typically involves the use of a small number of tried and tested timbers such as Greenheart, Ekki and Opepe.

But this reliance on a select few types of wood puts pressure on supplies and a strain on the environment.

By providing information on the properties of less regularly used but promising hardwoods, The Environment Agency, working with HR Wallingford and Trada Technology, hopes to encourage the use of a wider range of timber in construction such as Basralocus, Dahoma and Cloeziana.

Mark Yeomans, head of procurement at the Environment Agency, said: 'Together with our project partners we are thoroughly testing a range of lesser known hardwoods that may be suitable alternatives to more popular species which could become scarce if over-exploited. This means looking at the wide ranging factors that affect performance, such as engineering properties and abrasion resistance - for example, the effects of pebble and tide action on the timber.'