Collars

The Douglas Fir (or Oregon Pine) graces many of the slopes of Northwest America, in addition to being well represented across the globe in recent times. Douglas Fir, or Pseudotsuga menziesii, is named for two Scottish explorers and botanists: Archibald Menzies was the first Western naturalist to encounter the tree on Canada's Vancouver Island in 1791, and subsequently taxonomised it, and David Douglas later introduced the tree into cultivation: trees grown from the first seeds he sent home to Britain in 1828 are still standing. The Douglas Fir can grow to heights of 100 metres, and its growth rate is startlingly fast: a tree planted in a British landscaped garden around 80 years ago is now in excess of 175 feet high, and still a young tree. Interestingly, although the tree's common names identify it as a fir or pine, it is neither: it's now recognised as a distinct species.

Douglas Firs have long been recognised as ideal trees for cultivation: the trunk grows exceptionally straight and true with only a slight taper, the lower branches dying back as the tree's crown grows higher, providing a lengthy expanse of useful timber. For this reason, it is very frequently encountered as a plantation tree across North America and North Europe.

Timber from the Douglas Fir is robust and fine-grained, making it slightly stronger - although heavier - than Sitka Spruce. It seasons well, even when it's used in constructions during its 'green phase', and has a long tradition of use in building and spar construction, where its excellent ratings under stress and compression make it ideal.