Sweet chestnut still covers 7500ha of southern England. For centuries the wood was coppiced and used for fuel, fencing and hop poles. Now, many coppices have fallen into disuse as the decreasing number of low value uses mean they are no longer viable. The short lengths of the young timber, the structural weakness of older trees and the lack of a standard to assist with specification mean that sweet chestnut has not really been considered for use in architecture. But it is a seductive material. It shares the pale reticence of oak and despite being quick growing (its 30-year cycle is equivalent to a softwood), lasts incredibly well thanks to a surfeit of natural tannins that preserve it from wind and rain. It is also a stable timber, not as prone to expansion or contraction as some other woods.
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