• Tree encompassed Luton Hoo in 1887.

We are in a position to announce impending important developments on the part of an old-established local firm in conjunction with the Government scheme for the substitution of English for foreign timber, and at the same time to state that the scheme which Messrs Henry Brown & Sons are developing in this area has been very materially helped by the patriotic action of Lady Wernher in voluntarily releasing for war work any timber on her Luton Hoo estate which is suitable for war requirements.

Lady Wernher has been so active and generous in every direction in the prosecution of the war and in her co-operation for the best interests of the country in its struggle that it is not at all surprising to find her taking a lead in another scheme in which she is undoubtedly largely able to help. The details have been arranged by her agent, Mr James Baker.

The counties of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, we believe, are grouped as the second biggest district in the United Kingdom so far as the quantity of timber available is concerned, and the Luton Hoo Estate with its well timbered park and many outlying woods will provide a useful supply of finely matured trees for the feller.

The scheme, so far as this district is concerned, has been afoot since February last, when the Premier spoke on the necessity for reducing tonnage. Mr Arthur Brown immediately saw the possibilities of saving shipping if the timber resources at home could be utilised, and set to work to obtain quotations for the machinery necessary to adapt the logs quickly to war requirements. It is expected that developments will now be rapid and that a few weeks will see extensive additions at the Bute Saw Mills [Dunstable Road].

The timber handled by Messrs Henry Brown & Son was almost wholly imported. Now the prospects are that the position will be entirely reversed, and that 90 to 95 per cent of the trade will be in English grown - in fact Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire - timber.

The existing log plant of the firm is already working at the fullest pressure, for during the past two months 26 Crown fellers from Windsor Great Park have been at work for the firm on the Hoo Estate, and they have already cut down 5,000 or 6,000 fir trees, all of which are being dealt with at the Bute Mills.

Mr Brown informs us that the elms, which are so prolific is this district, provide a very useful class of wood for munition requirements, and we hear that Mrs Crawley has allowed a considerable quantity of oak on the Stockwood Estate to be utilised.

[Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: August 18th, 1917]