our process

We use locally-sourced timber, harvested with ecological and regenerative forestry practices. Our processes minimize waste and emphasize the health of ecosystems. See our manifesto on timber use and our other efforts to help British woodlands.

Our first priority will always be to propose using timber that naturally needs to be harvested. This might be because it is diseased, or has blown down, or is available for some other unavoidable reason.

The local sawmills that supply us know that we look for this information when we buy. If your project requires volumes of timber that go beyond our ability to source locally, then we can guarantee that the timber we use will be British timber, as we do not use any imported wood, and we will check the provenance against our principles as far as is possible.

If sheet materials are necessary for your project, we will use the manufacturer closest to our location at the point of ordering. This will be plywood or OSB3, we do not make goods using MDF or other more toxic materials.

Our operation was born from Al Tempest’s (our founder’s) experience in woodlands and forestry. He travelled across the world researching eco-forestry models before establishing a not-for-profit; The Woodland Presents CIC, from which Woodlab was born.

Many other outfits will say that they use local British timber to make their timber goods (which is great). The difference is that we use timber goods, as a means to help British woodlands. For us the forest is the primary product, not the furniture.

We have a 12-acre woodland that we manage, which currently has much diseased Larch and Ash, which has been certified to ‘Grown in Britain’ timber standards. We have planted thousands of trees since we founded, and manage the woodlands to the highest eco-forestry standards.

Our workshop was born from a project to see if we could make a house exclusively from local timber, and we came pretty close. We take clients there from time-to-time to show what is possible.
The workshop waste is turned into compost which we either grow food with or return back to the woodland to fertilise more biodiversity. It will soon be solar-powered too.

Al and our team also spend their free time working for not-for-profits, which continue to advocate for the means to regenerate our woodland and forest systems.

Our founder Al was personally taught about eco-forestry from 3 main teachers:

Jim Drescher
Jason Rutledge
Iliff Simey

We share our sustainability journey and practices on our website, social media, and through our newsletter. We also host workshops and talks on sustainable living and eco-forestry.

Absolutely, our 1-to-1 teaching sessions are a brilliant way to get the piece of furniture you want, and to learn a ton of woodworking skills and knowledge along the way.

Learning with us is often not more time efficient than us making the piece for you, but you can’t put a price on the fulfilment that can result from your investment. Our 1-to-1 tuitions starts from £450 per day, get in touch to find out more, or see our group classes for a cheaper, more social route to your furniture.

Our design team is here to help! We can guide you through inspiration, sketches and examples, to help clarify your vision and create a piece that perfectly suits your space.

Absolutely! Our bespoke approach means every piece can be tailored to your specific dimensions, style preferences, and functional needs.

Yes, we encourage clients to be involved in selecting materials. We offer a variety of sustainably-sourced woods and finishes to choose from.

Costs are based on the complexity of the design, the materials selected, and the time required to craft your piece. We provide a rough estimate after the initial consultation, then work through a detailed design and costing phase before we start making.

We typically require a deposit to begin work, with staged payments during the making process and the balance due upon completion. Payment plans can be discussed on a case-by-case basis.

Timelines vary based on the project’s complexity and our current queue. We’ll provide an estimated schedule during the design-approval phase.

Yes, we offer delivery and, if necessary, professional installation to ensure your piece is perfectly placed and set up in your home.

We provide specific aftercare advice for each piece, including cleaning and maintenance tips to preserve the beauty and durability of your furniture.

We offer a 12-month guarantee on workmanship, covering any potential issues in materials or construction under normal use conditions.

Please see our terms and conditions page for more info.