Vastern Timber backs final year of key oak genetics research

Vastern Timber is supporting the final year of Eamonn Cooper’s PhD, helping Future Trees Trust complete an important phase of research into the genetic diversity and resilience of British and Irish oak. Eamonn is based at Trinity College Dublin, where his work focuses on understanding how our oak populations vary, how they are related and what this means for producing reliable, well‑adapted planting stock for future woodlands. 

This sponsorship enables Future Trees Trust to complete the final analyses needed to strengthen the UK’s supply of well‑characterised, diverse oak for forestry. As one of the UK’s leading specialist sawmills supplying home‑grown hardwoods, Vastern Timber understands the importance of dependable, high‑quality planting material for future timber production. Their renewed support helps ensure this research is finished to the standard required by the forestry and nursery sectors.

“This support from Vastern Timber is enormously valued. They understand that the future of British hardwoods depends on rigorous, long‑term research, and they have backed that belief over many years. Eamonn’s work will help improve the reliability and resilience of the oak we supply to the forestry sector, and Vastern Timber’s contribution helps make that possible.”