If you are thinking of creating something made out of wood for indoors or outdoors this summer, have you considered using recycled wood? Whilst a visit to a local DIY shop or builders’ merchants can provide you with new wood, just stop for a moment and think – wouldn’t a piece of wood which has been used for something else, which has character and history from its previous life, be a more interesting solution?
A visit to Oxford Wood Recycling based in Suffolk Way, just off the Drayton Road in Abingdon could get your creative ideas flowing. They have an eclectic mix of wood which has been collected from a wide range of locations around Oxfordshire. From wooden pallets to cable reels – great for making garden tables with, to scaffolding planks to the more interesting pieces of aged hardwood. These can include old gates posts, staircase newel posts, to pieces of rough edge hardwood timber. For anyone who loves being creative, you will certainly find something of interest to work with. You can also purchase metal hairpin legs, perfect for creating your own tables with a contemporary twist.
What is also great is that it is not just reclaimed wood that you can buy. OWR also sell all grades of sandpaper, available to buy by the metre, from P60 to superfine P320. Being able to buy small quantities for specific purposes is really helpful. If you are looking to make a set of shelves, you can choose from a wide range of cast iron brackets and coat hooks if you are making a shelf to hang coats on. If you are looking for a natural based sustainable coating, you can buy OSMO products which are 100% environmentally friendly, suitable for use indoors and out.
Within their showroom there is a display with the most amazing wood lighting fitting which has been made from a circle of wood with lights hanging down – absolutely fantastic in the right setting. Buying unusual gifts for anyone who loves wood is simple too as you will find a range of wooden chopping boards, light pulls, garden dibbers, hand turned wands for Harry Potter fans, half barrels ideal for planting up with summer plants and wooden planting labels. If you use SESI products, OWR holds a wide range of refills all eco-friendly.
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Due to the fact that OWR arrange paid for collections (which are significantly less expensive than hiring a skip), collecting wooden items each weekday, you will never be sure what you may find so it is worth just quickly visiting to see what is available.
If you are thinking of tackling a project made out of wood, the staff at OWR are really helpful. They will advise on what is best to use and what tools you may need to undertake making the item. For some people who do not have an extensive workshop, you may be left thinking you are going to have to invest in a sander, wood plane or even circular saw to undertake a one off project. OWR can help there too as they have recently established a Library of Tools. You will need to register on their website. Following registration, you can find the item you require which you can hire for a week, pay securely for it online and collect the item from OWR. All the tools available for hire are checked over when they are returned to ensure that they are always fit for use and ready for you to get started with on your project. If anyone has tools in working order they no longer use, they would be gratefully received to add to the Library.
OWR works with a number of businesses, and they have great ideas for anyone wanting to undertake a commercial landscape project involving wood. They have recently worked with a team at Harwell Campus to build a boardwalk to improve accessibility for The European Space Agency’s exhibition ‘Spacescapes: postcards from our solar system.’ This fabulous boardwalk, made from 2000 reclaimed pallet bearers, runs through the middle of the exhibition with offshoots to each plinth and viewing platforms, enabling people to read all the panels. In 2023, they were also commissioned by Article Design Studio to create eight mobile planters for use at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, along with providing 165m2 of sanded pallet wood. This wood was used to deck out the refreshment kiosks with a range of beautiful designs. The planters will continue to be used for many years at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
If when you trade with Oxford Wood Recycling you think you are dealing with an ordinary timber supplier with sustainable credentials, you are not. This organisation, which is a registered charity, has the vision of “We live and work in a community where there are no barriers to employment and there is zero waste.”
Since they introduced their Wood to Work programme, enabling people with a disability or significant disadvantage who have faced barriers to working, they have helped by providing expert support towards helping these people achieve general, sustainable, paid employment in the community. The programme is free to job seekers and includes the opportunity to gain practical work experience across many disciplines within their social enterprise. Individuals are given tailed support from an experienced Senior Employment Coach and an experienced Employment Support Worker, together with active support with finding and gaining suitable employment. Launched in October 2021, 28 people have participated in the Wood to Work programme, 16 are currently on the programme, 15 people have moved on to paid work and 24 Oxfordshire organisations have engaged with Wood to Work. One of the people who completed the Wood to Work programme has since taken up a career in the catering industry which he absolutely loves and would have been unlikely to have had the opportunity to do so without the support of OWR.
With the continued support of people within the community buying and recycling items through this charitable organisation, and businesses engaging with them to buy materials and commission items, even more people can be offered the opportunity to transform their lives.
OWR are open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4.30pm and Saturday from 9am to 3pm. If you buy items which are too large for your vehicle, they can arrange delivery for a nominal fee. Deliveries are available within a 30 mile distance of Abingdon.To find out more about the goods and services Oxford Wood Recycling offer, including the various courses they run from time to time, visit oxfordwoodrecycling.org.uk.
