Sweet Chestnut

We usually source our sweet chestnut wood slabs from trees felled due to disease, storm damage, or those that have outgrown their intended space. In England, sweet chestnut trees are found in woodlands or forests, in parks, in public or private gardens, on village greens and along roadsides.

Wood slabs from a sweet chestnut tree can be crafted into beautiful pieces of furniture, such as table tops, countertops, benches and shelving. The attractive grain patterns of sweet chestnut wood, with its pale to golden brown colour, make it the perfect choice for both traditional and modern designs.

The unique patterns and colours of sweet chestnut wood make it ideal for crafting serving trays, cutting boards and picture frames. Live edge chestnut wood can be used to create stunning interior design elements, such as wall panelling, doors and fire place mantels.

Because sweet chestnut is so workable and durable, it is often used by woodcarvers and sculptors to create intricate art pieces and wooden sculptures. It can also be used for smaller projects, such as jewellery boxes, coasters and pen blanks.

Sweet chestnut wood is beautiful and versatile and its unique characteristics make it an excellent choice for those looking for something a little more distinctive. Browse our customer projects for some inspiration.

Customer Projects

Sweet chestnut wood slabs have attractive grain patterns and are pale to golden-brown in colour that can darken with age and exposure to light. To enhance its natural beauty and protect it from moisture and wear, we recommend you use a wood stain, oil or varnish. The wood may require additional protection if used for outdoor projects.

Specialist kiln drying is vital to ensure the durability of our sweet chestnut wood slabs. Once the timber is properly dried and seasoned, sweet chestnut wood is relatively easy to work with, using both hand and machine tools. It tends to have minimal warping, shrinking or swelling, especially when used indoors. Live edge chestnut wood is relatively lightweight compared to some other hardwoods, which can make it easier to transport and work with.

For a full list of the characteristics of sycamore live edge slabs and their uses, please refer to our guide on what wood should I use for my project. 

For more information on how to prepare your wood, how to protect your wood, how to store your wood, and how to care for your wood, please refer to our informative guides.

Visit our online shop to see our range of live edge chestnut wood that we currently have in stock.

Shop Sweet Chestnut Timber Species Guide