Built by Nature: Sharing value chain stories to facilitate change

Summary Description:

If we are to seriously increase woodland management in the UK and homegrown timber into construction, increasing the volumes of carbon stored in the built environment, cross-industry knowledge sharing and open discussion is vital. We will use the creation of richly visual and compelling media (video, animation, writing, narration) to act as a catalyst to join up stakeholders to discuss current issues, techniques, and innovations. This project will bring lessons from across Europe in forest management and construction to UK specific contexts through its matching with Built by Nature (BbN) funding. The media will act as a vehicle to spark deeper debate and forward-looking panel discussions on the current and future possibilities of UK timber in construction and resilient woodland management practices. Support from SFT will extend this work and enable a number of podcasts based on the above to be developed.

Project Outcomes:

1. Successful Media Production: High-quality media content, including videos, podcasts, and written articles, was created and shared across a bespoke multimedia platform, reaching industry professionals and the public. Subtitles and translations on videos expanded accessibility, ensuring diverse audiences could engage with the material.

2. Facilitated Cross-Sector Connections: The initiative fostered meaningful networking opportunities among stakeholders in forestry, construction, and academia, enabling cross-disciplinary dialogue and collaboration.

3. Industry Engagement and Validation: Events, such as the "Future of Timber" screening and panel discussion, received positive feedback, with 92% of attendees f inding the content relevant to their work, studies, or interests. High participation in online discussions and live events demonstrate the project’s relevance and impact.

4. Broadened Public Awareness: Engagement metrics highlighted increased interaction, such as a 315% rise in Instagram content interactions and a significant surge in follower engagement on LinkedIn and other platforms. Interest from professionals in the United States indicates the themes resonate beyond the UK and Europe.

5. Shifted Industry Perspectives: Stakeholder feedback revealed that the content challenged traditional perceptions, encouraging reflection on sustainable practices and collaboration between professions.