Ash
2-4 usd/kgAsh is prized for its lightness, strength and toughness – the Vikings considered it the “king of trees”. As well as everyday furniture and interior applications, it is used in sports equipment and hand tools. It resists splitting, and maintains its strength after bending, so is useful in these kind of demanding applications. In the past, it was used in the construction of light aircraft, automobiles and bicycles. As a thermally modified timber (TMT), it is suitable for use outdoors, such as cladding and decking.
It is sustainable hardwood available from certified and well-managed forests. Unfortunately, ash trees are being killed off by a combination of ash dieback (a fungal disease) and invasive insects (emerald ash borer). The species is in decline and the effects of the fungus and the beetle are spreading quickly. While there has been some resistance and some trees are surviving, the future of the species is not certain.