Wood is an intrinsic part of human history. Hardwoods like oak, mahogany, maple, beech and teak provided us with early tools, shelters, buildings, transport and sources of heat.

It was the material of choice for thousands of years, but the popularisation of plastic in the 1950s saw the synthetic replace the natural for countless applications. Suddenly, everything from furniture to garden tools were being manufactured from plastic, to the detriment of the environment. A return to hardwood now means a return to renewables, and while there are undoubtedly conservation concerns to keep in mind, in this case, a step backwards is progress.