Brothers Matt and Joe Bower grew up in the Shropshire countryside, where their father worked as a gamekeeper on a local country estate. With forestry and woodland management part of their surroundings from an early age, they developed a strong connection to the landscape and the timber it produces.
JM Bower began when Matt trained in forestry and chainsaw work before taking on the management of neglected woodland on the estate. Joe, who was working in landscaping at the time, soon joined him and together they began investing in machinery and taking on larger forestry projects across the region.
In 2020, the brothers purchased their first portable sawmill, allowing them to turn timber from the woodlands they managed into useful, high-quality products. This developed further in 2022 with investment in larger sawmilling equipment and the expansion of the business into what it is today.
Today, JM Bower brings forestry, sawmilling and craftsmanship together under one roof. We manage and harvest British woodlands, mill the timber at our Shropshire sawmill and supply it for construction, cladding and landscaping. We also take selected timber a step further in our own workshop, using it to build our cabins, saunas and bespoke timber products — giving us control of the material from the forest through to the finished product.
From forest to finish.
Our forestry work combines modern machinery with traditional skills. Mechanised harvesting allows us to work safely and efficiently at scale, while skilled hand felling remains an important part of what we do.
Every woodland is different. Terrain, access, tree size and the surrounding environment all influence how a site should be managed. Where machinery isn’t suitable, our experienced team can selectively fell and extract timber with greater control and minimal impact on the surrounding woodland.
By combining the two approaches, we can choose the right method for each site — working efficiently while taking care of the woodland we’re there to manage.
Having grown up in the area, Joe and Matt have a real passion for the Shropshire countryside and are committed to doing their part to look after it. Through considered woodland management and careful planning, they aim not only to protect the local landscape, but to enhance it for the future.
The brothers’ focus on sustainability goes hand in hand with their belief that forestry and local commerce can work together. By managing woodlands responsibly and making better use of the timber they produce, they aim to create value locally while supporting the long-term health of our woodlands.
Joe and Matt also see huge potential for British-grown timber. Shropshire and the surrounding counties have an abundance of woodland resources, much of which is currently underused. By managing these woodlands and turning their timber into high-quality British products, JM Bower aims to support the local economy, reduce reliance on imported timber and demonstrate what can be achieved with the resources growing around us.
Co-Founder & Director
Co-Founder & Director
Workshop Manager
Forestry & Sawmill Apprentice
Headquarters
2 Deepwood Farm
Lower Wood Road
Ludlow
SY8 2JQ
Contact
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