It all started around twenty years ago. Company founder and director Mike Gardner had just graduated from Edinburgh University with a degree in Ecological Sciences and, knowing the importance of trees and forests to our island ecology and human condition, was keen to use woodland management to conserve habitats and ecology in the south west. 

Having been brought up in Devon and spending much of his youth on Dartmoor -with all its wooded fringes- woodlands and their associated wildlife had always been important to Mike. The importance of trees and forests and how many benefits could be achieved from the sustainable maintenance of woodland, became even more obvious to mike during his time at Edinburgh -especially in the deer and sheep ravaged landscapes of Scotland. During this time Mike was lucky enough to be part of a movement, proactively promoting an ecological woodland and timber culture. Some of his fellow tutors and peers were involved in the founding of the John Muir Trust for wild places, Trees for life taking its first formative steps, Lothian Trees and Timber milling local timbers, Tim Stead producing beautiful and functional furniture and art out of local timber and much more.

Keen to get hands on experience working in the woods –and following a fortuitous meeting in a pub at a horse fair he – ended up in Cumbria managing various coppice woodlands for a wide range of high quality products as well as running Lakeland Charcoal for a couple of years alongside Walter Lloyd. Mike was also lucky enough to working closely with and draw on the great knowledge generously given by Bill Hoganth (Bill Hogarth Memorial apprenticeships), during this time.

Finally mike decided to return to his homeland in Devon, and for the last 20 years he has been based in the Teign Valley gradually working to turn Sawmills Devon into what it is today. Over our years here in Devon we have been managing woodlands, harvesting timber, milling timber (initially with various mobile mills) as well as designing and building many timber buildings with teams of quality carpenters.  As money was saved, machinery upgraded and a yard developed, the business now concentrates on Forestry, sustainable woodland Management of various local woodlands.