Throughout 2021, we’ve pledged to plant a native British tree at a nearby Cornish farm for every online order. Through our support for the Field to Forest Foundation, we are aiming to plant 1,000 trees over the year. That means that, when you place an online order for our decking, you will not only create a beautiful outdoor space of your own but will also help to establish a beautiful new British woodland.

Our sponsorship will fund new woodland, featuring around 25 native species, on both pasture and wetland on the 260-acre farm. It will include well-loved varieties, such as oak, birch, rowan, silver birch and cherry, as well as lesser-known species, such as hornbeam and sea buckthorn. The woodland sponsored by Gripsure is being created at Clowance Farm on the River Hayle in Cornwall. It will eventually become home to a diverse mix of wildlife, including a pair of beavers.

Supporting the growth of native plants and wildflowers, the woodland will create a haven for a range of birds, bees and other pollinators. It also has the potential to capture and store more than 500 tonnes of atmospheric carbon dioxide. This process, known as sequestering carbon, is important for reducing climate change.

Once part of the historic Clowance Estate, Clowance Farm is situated in a valley between Helston and Gwithian. New owners, Ellie and Simon Morris, bought Clowance Farm in 2020, with the vision of creating a farm that not only produces food but also has a positive impact on the environment.

When the trees are established, Ellie and Simon will introduce a pair of beavers to wet woodland on the farm. Sometimes called ‘nature’s engineers’, beavers can play a vital role in regenerating the land. On Woodland Valley Farm, which is also supported by the Field to Forest Foundation, beavers have built dams, which are cleaning up the river and managing water flow, creating a habitat for a range of rare fish, birds and insects.

Established in 2019, the Field to Forest Foundation is a community interest company that supports British farmers to create woodland. Founder Zennor Pascoe first started the project on her family farm in Cornwall. Recognising that it is not always financially viable for farmers to create woodland, the foundation enables businesses to sponsor tree planting on local farms and offers carbon audits to businesses.

Zennor Pascoe of the Field to Forest Foundation said: “I can’t emphasise enough how much Gripsure’s sponsorship means to us. We have been garnering support from local businesses over the last few months, but to get such a high profile company on board is a major step forward for the foundation. By supporting Field to Forest, Gripsure has made a really strong statement about the company’s commitment to the environment and sustainability. It is particularly special that they have chosen to support a local project, which will have a real impact here in Cornwall. It’s been a very challenging year for businesses, so we particularly appreciate their support now. Over the coming years, the woodland they have sponsored at Clowance Farm will become an important habitat for a range of plant and animal species.”

Gripsure’s support for the Field to Forest Foundation is our latest environmental initiative and is part of our wider commitment to sustainability. All timber used in Gripsure’s range of non-slip decking comes from sustainable forests, certified under the industry flagship standards of FSC and PEFC. Moreover, we recently donated bamboo decking to support a rewilding project run by Edinburgh Zoo and are working towards achieving the ISO 14001 environmental certification.

Gripsure Managing Director Mike Nicholson said: “The Field to Forest Foundation embodies our values and ambitions around conservation and the environment. As a company that works with timber, it is vital that we have a stance on sustainability and we take our commitment very seriously indeed. Whether they are buying decking for a commercial project or for their own back garden, our customers are increasingly interested in our environmental ethos. While we are involved in a range of projects, all of which help us to have a positive impact on the environment, getting behind Field to Forest is a way for us to make a real difference at a local level. We are very excited to see how these native British trees establish at Clowance Farm and are especially intrigued to hear how the beavers – nature’s engineers – help to create a habitat for other species on the farm.”

Earth Runs is an organisation based on two passions; promoting exercise as a positive action for the body and mind, and the environment. They have combined the two and now arrange virtual races for people to enter from anywhere in the world! Each completed race earns a number of trees which they plant in areas depleted by deforestation in a bid to reverse this damage and recreating habitats for thousands of species. To date they have planted over 3000 trees.

We’re proud to share that as a team we achieved:

• 40.3 miles
• 39 trees planted
• 10,192 living creatures supported
• enough oxygen for 52 humans

We were over the moon to receive these sustainable medals for our efforts, which are plastic-free, fully biodegradable and packed full of wildflower seeds, making it a bee-friendly addition to the garden.

Since completing the virtual race, we’ve taken a moment to think about how we could continue to have a positive impact on the environment on a more regular basis. As we are in the business of “wood” we’ve decided what better way is there to thank our customers and give something back than by planting even more trees?! We’re excited to announce that we will be planting a tree for every online order from January 1st 2021.

Keep your eyes peeled for more details coming soon!

Dartmoor Zoo, people of we owned a zoo, is located just outside of Plymouth and is home to an array of species, from jaguars to corn snakes. Earlier this year, during the first lockdown, a new enclosure was built to welcome home three new male geladas (a type of monkey). The three males, Bruno (aged 14), Kwame (aged 7 and Bruno’s son) and Soloman (aged 6 and Bruno’s nephew), were already living together at another zoo and are part of the international breeding program for their species.

Since arriving, they have been settling into their new enclosure which has been renovated especially for them to include heating, new lighting, and lots of branches for climbing and enrichment.

The non-slip decking has provided a safe walkway and viewing platform for visitors to say hello to these new faces, whilst maintaining safe access for the staff to reach and provide care for the animals throughout the year. A range of our softwood decking profiles were used to create a rampway making it accessible for buggies and wheelchairs too.

If you’d like to meet them for yourselves, the zoo is re-opening today (Friday 4th December) with restrictions in place. Check out their website for more details. They will also be running special Christmas evenings offering visitors the special chance to immerse themselves in a wild wonderland of light and create magical memories following their enchanting trails around the zoo.

The WPA is a not for profit trade association sharing a vision with its members to champion the use of timber as a building material, something we feel passionately about here at Gripsure. Now in their sixth year, the Awards have become a popular annual event which showcases wood protection technology as a relevant and vital part of the timber industry.

We are thrilled to announce that we have been shortlisted as a finalist for TWO our of the five categories at this year’s Wood Protection Association awards! These nominations are for the ‘Innovation’ and ‘Wood Protection Project of the Year’ categories for our work on Bristol Zoo Gardens’s Bear Wood Project. This project saw over 17,000 linear metres of our non-slip decking being used for their immersive boardwalk, which included bespoke infographics to enhance the customer journey and aid storytelling.

To ensure the safety of all participants, the event will now take place virtually via a Zoom awards ceremony on 15th October 2020 at 1pm. The event will include a review of the shortlisted nominations in each category before announcing the winners live.

Collaborating with Chadwick Dryer Clarke Architects and the Accsys Group, Gripsure supplied innovative non-slip graphic panels, that help tell the story of how plants left the water for life on land, and grew into the 400,000 species we know today.

The new awards, run by the prestigious Architects’ Journal, celebrate the working relationships between UK architects and suppliers on projects which have enhanced or exceeded the brief. Gripsure developed a number of prototypes for Chadwick Dryer Clarke before settling on the final design that exceeded the architects design aspirations as well as delivering a very high slip resistance.

In addition to the graphic panels, Gripsure supplied over 1,300 linear metres of non-slip Accoya decking, which was laid in an original diagonal pattern. The project is a great example of creative use of landscaping materials and demonstrates how manufacturers work with architects to exceed client and project expectations.

If you have a project that you think would be enhanced with bespoke graphic designs take a look at Gripsure Graphics.

Jo, alongside her husband and a group of friends, walked a staggering 100km (62 miles) in 28 hours non-stop. Raising over £1,500 for Ehlers-Danlos Support UK in the process. The route started at London’s Putney Bridge stretching along the Thames riverside through the dark of night to finish at Henley the following day.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a largely unknown condition that affects the body’s connective tissue. It can lead to regular joint dislocations and, as there is no cure, the condition can only be eased by pain management. EDS UK works to improve the quality of life for people living with EDS, raising awareness and providing support as part of a growing community.

Talking about the challenge Jo said “It was definitely the hardest challenge we have ever attempted but I feel so proud of our achievement. The generous sponsorship and messages of support kept us going through the night. A couple of days of pain and discomfort is nothing compared to what an EDS sufferer has to live with every day!”

In just three weeks we will be heading to Timber Expo to showcase our range of non-slip decking products. The show takes place from the 9th – 11th of October at the NEC in Birmingham and is part of UK Construction Week.

With the launch of two new products, Gripsure has expanded their range of traditional non-slip timber decking to include Gripsure Accoya^®, a modified timber decking, and Gripsure Ecodek a composite decking solution. Both products will be featured at this year’s show on stand T320 and will be part of UK Construction Week’s Innovation Trail. If you have any non-slip decking requirements or are looking to add non-slip decking to your product offering you can book a meeting with a member of the Gripsure team here.

Timber Expo is the UK’s only dedicated timber trade show covering a wide range of timber applications. Timber frame, engineered timber products, cladding, decking, fixings and fastenings and much more. If you are interested in attending this year’s show you can register for your free ticket here.

Hello, my name is Tom and I have recently joined the Gripsure team as National Technical Sales Manager. With my first week under my belt, I now look forward to working with my colleagues and introducing our products to potential clients, specifiers and contractors in the months to come.

Since graduating from York university ten years ago, I have forged my career in the timber and construction industries respectively. I have taken on a variety of roles, predominantly liaising with merchants, contractors and architects, to secure contracts for large commercial projects nationwide. During my time in the timber industry, I have been fortunate enough to visit forests and mills in Norway and Sweden. This has given me a great insight into the journey that each deck board takes; from being harvested in the forest to producing and installing the final product.

I have been getting myself familiar with all the fantastic products that Gripsure offer. By offering non-slip solutions in softwoods, hardwoods, modified timbers and composites, we really do have all bases covered and I look forward to discussing upcoming projects with interested parties.

During my visit to St Austell, I had a tour of the production facilities as well as the office. I am impressed with the quality measures in place and the desire to keep improving the processes to offer best in class quality and service. As the company has grown, Gripsure have put in place the structures required to service orders of various products and quantities quickly, efficiently and to the highest standards. With customer service at the heart of the business, the team make sure they can be as flexible as possible to service our customer’s requirements. Whether it’s a few lengths to finish a project off or a full load of deck boards for a major project, the Gripsure team go above and beyond.

The internal team are very passionate and knowledgeable about our offering. Many have been with the company since its inception, which speaks highly of the culture that has been created within the business. With the majority of quotations serviced the same day and 95% of the UK able to receive delivery of stocked items the following day, customers are sure to be happy with such an effective, quality service.

I join Gripsure at an exciting time for the business with ambitious growth plans for the years ahead. Our sales team covering the whole of the UK have done a fantastic job in growing and supporting our merchant network. They have also done incredible work with a variety of end users and contractors to offer a safe and durable product offering.

I look forward to contributing to the future success of Gripsure and if you would like to know more about our products or have an upcoming project that you would like to discuss further, feel free to get in touch with me at tom@gripsure.co.uk.