WEBSITE PROMOTES ARGYLL WOODWORKERS

Argyll's timber and high quality wooden products are being promoted to audiences all over the world through a new website.

The products range from raw timber and outdoor furniture through to exquisite carvings of animals or turned objects and high quality furniture. In total, the work of eight woodworkers and craftsmen from Argyll are featured on the website.

All the wood workers involved in the website were previously part of the Woods Work pilot rural development project which aimed to create forest based jobs in fragile rural economies. The funding for the projects came from Forestry Commission Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise, with half of the website funded by WHELK.

Cameron Maxwell, Rural Development Advisor for Forestry Commission Scotland said:

"The Woods Work project ran for three years across community woodlands in Sutherland and Argyll. Its aim was to demonstrate how local forestry can have a positive impact on sustainable rural development and maximise economic benefits for communities. One of the outputs in Argyll was to showcase the excellent work of local craftsmen and timber workers through a one stop shop and the new website does this very well."

Many of the wood workers live in some of the more remote areas of Argyll where passing trade isn't frequent. Many of the craftsmen rely heavily on word of mouth and have to let their high quality products speak for themselves.

The website gives members of the public across Scotland and far beyond a better chance to see the products on offer and get the opportunity to own some beautiful craftsmanship from Argyll.

Derek Farrar, of Fynewood in Torinturk added:

"This website gives us an excellent opportunity to engage in a 'joint marketing' showcase explaining what we do and bringing our products and services to a worldwide market, 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Our unique rural location, whilst being a huge inspiration to our creativity, can make access to markets more difficult, so the website is of great benefit to help overcome this."

The website can be found at www.argyllwood.co.uk.