25 Nov WoodBuild2025
WoodBUILD 2025:
Showcasing innovation from forest to home
This June, the coastal town of Llandudno hosted WoodBUILD 2025, a two-day conference and exhibition that brought together over 180 delegates from across the UK and Europe. Organised by Woodknowledge Wales, the event has become the leading forum for exploring how forestry and timber can drive climate resilience, affordable housing and a thriving low-carbon economy.
What sets WoodBUILD apart is its whole-system perspective. The event links forest management with low-carbon design, bringing together foresters, architects, engineers, policymakers and educators to share knowledge and accelerate change. Since its launch in 2017, WoodBUILD has grown from a regional gathering into a UK-wide platform. In 2025, it was held under the theme “Connecting knowledge to action – scaling timber’s role in transformation.”
The exhibition: a place to connect and collaborate
At the heart of WoodBUILD lies its exhibition, which transforms the venue into a space where ideas meet practice. This year, exhibitors ranged from technology providers and insulation specialists to housing associations, universities and timber processors. Together they demonstrated how sustainable materials, advanced design and forest stewardship can work hand in hand.
The exhibition floor was more than a showcase of products: it was a meeting ground for collaboration. Delegates circulated through the exhibition space, between plenary sessions and workshops, where refreshments and networking were deliberately hosted among the stands. This created a natural flow of conversation and exchange.
Sponsors including FSC, PEFC, Saint-Gobain and SO Modular joined a wide range of exhibitors, from Celtic Offsite and Lowfield Timber Frames to innovators in woodfibre insulation and digital visualisation. The breadth of participation illustrated the momentum behind timber as a mainstream construction material and its growing role in national decarbonisation strategies.
Baden-Württemberg represented at WoodBUILD
Among the international contributors was Sabine Groeneveld, representing the State of Baden-Württemberg, who brought a European perspective to the exhibition. Baden-Württemberg is known for its strong tradition of sustainable forestry and timber innovation, and its presence in Llandudno underlined the value of cross-border exchange.
“Baden-Württemberg’s participation allowed delegates to learn more about how regions beyond the UK are supporting forest industries while balancing biodiversity, climate and economic goals. The conversations sparked interest in Baden-Württemberg’s approaches to both policy and practice, reinforcing the importance of sharing knowledge internationally,”
said Gary Newman, CEO, Woodknowledge Wales.
Newman continued, “In a conference that repeatedly emphasises the need to strengthen value chains and reduce dependence on imported materials, Baden-Württemberg’s presence was a reminder that Europe faces common challenges and opportunities. Whether discussing silviculture, sawmilling or building design, delegates found clear overlaps in ambition.”
Exhibition links to the wider programme
The exhibition was interwoven with the WoodBUILD programme. Delegates attending sessions on embodied carbon, regenerative materials or sustainable schools could immediately continue the conversation with exhibitors working in those fields. For example, discussions on woodfibre insulation or digital tools for low-carbon design could be grounded in practical demonstrations at the stands.
This integration between conference and exhibition was intentional: the organisers wanted WoodBUILD to be a place where knowledge is not only exchanged but also tested and applied. Exhibitors, including the State of Baden-Württemberg, played a central role in turning concepts into tangible examples.
Looking forward
The 2025 exhibition demonstrated the vitality of the timber sector and its ability to innovate across the whole value chain. From local sawmills and modular housing systems to global certification schemes and international partnerships, the exhibition space embodied the spirit of connection that defines WoodBUILD. For exhibitors, the value was evident: not only in showcasing their work, but in the conversations that will continue long after the conference closed.
WoodBUILD will return in 2026, at the University of South Wales’ Trefforest Campus on 30 June and 1 July 2026, continuing its mission to unite forestry and construction in shaping a sustainable future. The presence of Baden-Württemberg at this year’s exhibition is a strong signal that this conversation is global—and that solutions will be forged through shared knowledge and collaboration.
For further updates on WoodBUILD 2026, please subscribe to the Woodknowledge Wales’ newsletter