STORM WORN TIMBER IN THE PRESS   WHITSTABLE TIMES part of the Kent Messenger Group 17th June 2004   Sea-defence leftovers put to creative use.   Exotic rainforest woods that defended our coastline for half a century are being recycled - thanks to a Herne Bay craftsman. Nick Covell, of Storm-worn Timber, has come up with an environmentally friendly way of re-using the wooden groynes which once protected the beaches of Whitstable. The discarded hardwood timber, mainly cut from ecki, selangau batu and green-heart trees from tropical rainforests, is now being given a second lease of life as garden furniture. Workmen started pulling up the groynes earlier this year as part of a new £2 million coastal defence project at Long Rock, Tankerton. So Nick, nipped in quick to see if he could wangle the wood. To his delight the workmen agreed to let him have the groynes - which had been installed after the 1953 floods. Otherwise, they said the sea-scarred timber would have been thrown into landfill tips because it had been classified as "unusable". When the timbers were first installed, conservation was not such an issue as it is today. Now use of some of the types of wood is no longer deemed appropriate. The county council, for instance, will only use green-heart for sea defences because it comes from sustainable forests. Once Nick was given clearance for his scheme he set about making a series of early morning raids on the beach to collect the timber. He said: "For me, rummaging around the beach among battered hardwoods was like exploring Aladdin's cave. The more barnacles and seaweed I found growing on the wood, the better I liked it". He then loaded it into the back of his Land Rover and drove to his workshop where he converts it into patio furniture and strange artefacts. He said: "In this day and age when almost everything is mass produced it is difficult to come across something as unique as these pieces of wood. They all have so much history attached to them. They are not suitable for interior furniture but they make ideal items with plenty of character for outside the house". Each has been hand picked and trimmed and can be finished with a jet wash, a sandblast or left in its natural state. Nick added: "I think they sit well with other natural landscaping products like stone, shingle, shells and slate. They give a garden all round interest and are ideal for placing pots of long grasses or dwarf palms on top. I am always happy to discuss people's ideal for special designs if they want something particular for their garden".

© 2004 Storm Worn Timber

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