Recycled wood trials to show potential of woodchip

Three local authorities – Cornwall county council, Rugby borough council and Redditch borough council – are among the organisations to run trials.

Private sector companies involved in the trials include composting specialists ADAS and Birmingham-based wood reprocessors Giffords.

Market development organisation WRAP wants to demonstrate the commercial performance of recycled woodchip with the projects, which should use around 500 tonnes of the material in total.

The trials aim to increase awareness of the benefits of using recycled wood as a mulch, or in producing surfacing material for pathways and playgrounds. Ultimately, WRAP wants to build confidence among potential users.

Projects
The five trials include:

• Cornwall county council – surfacing material for two bridleway/footpath/cycle routes. This trial will test the performance of different depths, ability to slow down traffic, slope stability and will compare performance and commercial benefits with virgin woodchip.
• Rugby borough council – surfacing for footpaths and cycleways through a large open space near housing as part of a community partnership called the Bluebell project. Recycled wood will be compared with self-generated tree chippings.
• Redditch borough council – surfacing for footpaths and will also use 50 reclaimed oak posts and a reclaimed wood knee rail as part of an open space regeneration project called Oakenshaw Spinney.
• Adas/Tal Goed Nurseries – mulch will be used on a four-acre site used for Christmas tree planting and soft fruit trees. The trial will demonstrate use of colour, slope stability and weed suppression. It will also compare performance with other loose surfacing materials.
• Giffords and Persimmon Homes – surfacing material and mulch are to be used at a range of show homes in the West Midlands for Persimmon Homes. It will demonstrate use of colour, slope stability and weed suppression.

Julia Turner, material development manager for wood at WRAP, explained: “In the last few years more organisations have started to use the material and an increasing number of suppliers are entering the market. Nevertheless, we need to build on this and demonstrate how the product can be used as an effective and versatile solution in a variety of landscaping applications.”