ForestHarvest: non-timber forest products in Scotland

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The Scottish Working Woods label

A new label for Scottish woodland products

The Scottish Working Woods label guarantees that products carrying it are made in Scotland, by producers based in Scotland, from woodland materials grown, harvested and processed in Scotland.

The emphasis of the label is to highlight small producers supplying quality products in ways which benefit the environment and rural communities. In this way many small businesses together can create a recognised and valued brand, raising the profile of their products.

This is an independent product label, owned and managed by a consortium of trade associations in Scotland. It was launched at Touchwood / Scottish Woodfair in Dingwall in June 2007, with the support of Scottish Enterprise and Forestry Commission Scotland.

See the Scottish Working Woods website for more information.

Download a full colour flyer about the label here (PDF file, 732 KB).

Can wild harvests businesses use the label?

Many of Scotland's wild harvests come from woodlands, and come under the definition of "non-timber forest products" (NTFPs), so people using them are potentially eligible to use the Scottish Working Woods label. However, the scheme is designed to be administered through existing trade associatons - this is to keep bureaucracy, and therefore costs, to a minimum. Only members of those trade associations can apply to use the label.

One type of product that comes under our current definition of "wild harvests" is wooden items made from branches and other pieces of wood which are outwith what is usually seen as a valuable timber crop. Craftspeople making this kind of craftwork may be able to access the label through becoming associate members of the Scottish Furniture Makers Association.

Other wild harvests businesses might in future be able to use the label if relevant existing organisations - such as groups of basketmakers and greenwoodworkers - became involved in the label scheme, but as yet none have done so. The other possiblity is that a collective of wild harvests businesses could get together, creating an umbrella group to represent all of the diverse range of businesses involved. All such businesses are currently being invited to explore this possibility - see the next page in this section.

In the meantime, Reforesting Scotland was consulted about NTFP issues during the development of the Scottish Working Woods label, and continues to be involved in lieu of any direct representation from NTFP businesses - so we're well placed to answer any questions you have about the scheme. If you're interested in using the label, please do get in touch.

Next in this section: A Wild Harvests trade association?