A special focus of the Australian Timber Design Awards for 2008 will be the Best Use of Cypress Award. Funded by the NSW Dept. of Primary Industries, this award has been created to encourage and to highlight the creative use of this wonderful native timber in Australian architecture and design.

Why this focus on Cypress? Cypress is, first of all, particularly attractive to designers and builders:

• Cypress heartwood is naturally resistant to termites - no chemical treatments needed
• Cypress is a beautiful timber - golden brown with tight knots and attractive highlights
• The strength and durability of Cypress make it perfect both for decorative and for structural applications

Cypress is, moreover, the right choice for the environment. It is sustainably grown in forests in NSW and Queensland and as a fast-growing native should form an essential part of any Australian carbon sequestration strategy.

We can't get the message out without your help: send in those entry forms for the 2008 Australian Timber Design Awards, and be sure to consider entering the Best Use of Cypress award!