Posted by Robert Hill on February 09, 2009 at 21:33:24 user eclrh.
In Reply to: Re: Four firs that used to be in a wood posted by Mike Field on February 07, 2009 at 12:04:12:
Traditionally, the best timber for a mast has always been Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) which is native to north-western America (US and Canada) -- now unfortunately becoming so hard to get that most builders seem to settle for oregon (Douglas fir.)
Plenty of sitka spruce in Britain. It's the main species planted by the Forestry Commission. Though the FC had not been in existence for long at the time of Swallowdale.