Urban trees repurposed for agricultural use in cities

In the quaint village of Bulphan, Essex, the timber warehouse of Fallen & Felled stands as a testament to the company's mission. The main image for this article captures Bruce Saunders, co-founder of Fallen & Felled, amidst the bustling warehouse.

Fallen & Felled, a London-based timber company, specialises in urban tree timber. Each year, approximately 1000 usable trees are felled in and around London, including oak, London plane, ash, and sycamore. Instead of going to waste, these trees find new life as unique pieces of furniture.

Bruce Saunders, a furniture maker, found it peculiar that urban trees had no value once they were felled. His first act of arboreal salvage came approximately a decade ago when he rescued a London plane tree that was being chopped near his home. This sparked the idea for Fallen & Felled.

Patrick Welsh, a marketing guru, joined the team in 2020, and together they have transformed the company into a beacon of sustainability. Fallen & Felled's timber has been used in various projects, from award-winning fine furniture crafted by Sebastian Cox to the interiors of a Soho jeans store, a local bakery, and a consulting firm, all within a mile of where the tree originally fell.

The company's commitment to sustainability is evident in their operations. Less than one-third of CO2 emissions are used by Fallen & Felled, compared to what they save. This is a stark contrast to the fact that 90% of the hardwood sold in the UK is imported.

One unique aspect of Fallen & Felled's products is the history they carry. British-grown tulip poplar wood from Chartwell Farm in Kent, once part of Winston Churchill's estate, is used by the company. In 2023, Fallen & Felled rescued 120 city trees, preventing around 122 tonnes of carbon from entering the atmosphere.

Even the most ordinary pieces of timber can hold extraordinary stories. One slab of timber destined to be a kitchen counter was stained grey by wartime bomb shrapnel, and the client was delighted by the discovery.

As Fallen & Felled prepares to move from their current base in Walthamstow to a railway arch in Camden, they symbolise a homecoming. The move marks a new chapter for the company, continuing their mission to transform urban trees that would otherwise be wasted into beautiful, sustainable furniture.

Photography for this article was done by Beth MacInnes. The unruly teenager-like quality of urban timber, growing faster than forestry wood and having more color, known as flaming, adds to its unique charm. Fallen & Felled sells wood with a story, often with a history that spans hundreds of years. The company is a shining example of how sustainability and craftsmanship can go hand in hand.