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Balcombe
Estate Sawmill: What can you expect from local sawmills and timber
merchants? In the first of our series exploring millers and merchants
processing and selling local timber in the South East, WoodNet visits
Balcombe Estate Sawmill.
Balcombe Estate Sawmill is tucked away amongst tree-laden valleys just
north of Haywards Heath near the East Sussex/West Sussex border.
Balcombe estate includes just under 1500 acres of mixed woodland (55%
broadleaved), sustainably managed by Head Forester, Jamie Kirkman.
Timber is grown both for their sawmill and for selling in the round to
local markets (from planking grade to fencing grade, green and
air-dried).
Timber can be milled to your specific requirements and is not cut
to predetermined thicknesses. Their
existing rack bench has a milling depth of 26" and milling length
of 26’. They have just
bought a new horizontal sawmill that will cut trees up to 6’ diameter
and up to 60’ in length and a 24" planer thicknesser, with a
tongue and groove attachment. These
will both be onsite by the end of March 2002. They also have a facility
for soft-wood preservative treatment. Jamie would like to hear from
makers with a view to developing a stock of sawn timber cut in line with
makers’ requirements.
Their main products are oak beams, fencing and air-dried planks.
They have contracts as far afield as Oxfordshire and Hampton
Court. The Estate also
produces Christmas trees, softwood thinnings, woodchips, chestnut
(mostly used on the estate) and logs. They will buy timber in from
elsewhere and recently bought a mixed parcel from tree surgeons
including approximately 50% oak.
If you are looking for air-dried
English timber sawn to your specific requirements or have round timber
to sell or mill, Balcombe Estate Sawmill offers a very friendly and
flexible service.
Jamie Kirkman, Head Forester, Balcombe Estate Sawmill.
Tel: 01444 811446
Mob: 07887 868248
Email: jamie.woodcutter@virgin.net
If you run a sawmill (mobile or static) and sell local timber we would
like to include you in this series. Please contact Jenny Martin,
Tel: 01580 879552, email: jenny.martin@eastsussexcc.gov.uk
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