Mark B Page Chartered Forester

Why undertake timber measurement?

In other industries, buyers and sellers know what the deal is about, a known quantity.

For example: 0.5kg of sugar or the make and model of a car etc.

So, why should the forestry industry be any different?

In light of the value of UK timber there is pressure on buyers to be sure of the volume of the timber they intend purchase. Caveat emptor may be an ancient doctrine, but it is as true today as it was when first used.

How much timber is here? How much is it worth?

Sellers who wish to deal honourably with prospective purchasers, and build a good reputation will also benefit from pre-sale measurement, placing on the market a measured quantity of timber.

I offer the service to measure timber in the UK, using well established and recognised methods of gathering the information, approved by the UK state forest organisation, the Forestry Commission.

These are:
1. Sample plots
2. Abbreviated tariff
3. Full tariff

Since I started in business in 2001, I have undertaken the lay out and measurement of over 2000 sample plots, and tariffed over 200,000m³.

Measuring Scots Pine, Scottish Borders.

The tools of the trade are commonly used by foresters: clinometer, tapes and yield models, and I own Masser timber measuring callipers, operating UK Forestry Commission software.

Tools, including Masser electronic calipers, make data collection efficient.

However, where there may be no yield model for the timber species in question, or dubious systems, I use remote sensing to assess the volume of the standing trees. This is the Laserace hypsometer, which can measure trees which fit no known models, without felling.

Timber measurement is undertaken by myself. I hold £500,000 professional Indemnity insurance and individual jobs of higher value can be insured to higher values.

Please call for a discussion, or use the contact me page to email me.

Using the Laserace.