In 2020, the Environment Agency choose to replace hardwood fenders with Accoya wood, a more sustainable material that supports bio-diversity. An article was written all about the the project and why Accoya wood was chosen. You can read this here.

Now one year on the fender was inspected to assess the durability of the wood, the integrity of the lamination bonds and the degree of colonisation by seaweeds and other marine life.

The results were very positive in all respects. There was no sign of any deterioration in the wood or of delamination and the level of colonisation was at least as good as on the reclaimed hardwood fenders to which it is being compared.

It is of course early days in the trial but the results after only one year have given the Environment Agency the confidence to consider Accoya for more applications.