WYE Valley based Walford Timber is raising a glass as it celebrates 80 years of success and innovation as a family-run business, established at the end of the Second World War.

The award-winning, independent firm opened its doors in 1945 and operates its main site in Walford.

It has become one of the UK’s leading independent manufacturers and suppliers of fencing and timber products. In addition, the business has pioneered many of the industry’s leading-edge techniques, which have gone on to become best practice standards, such as their proprietary wood incising technique for improved preservative uptake – now the industry norm.

Since being founded by Herbert Smith eight decades ago, the multi-generational business has grown significantly to open Cheltenham Fencing and Landscaping Supplies in 2004, and o acquire G & M.B. Manning in Chesham, Buckinghamshire in 2017, also a long-established family business.

The business is still owned and run by the Smith family from the local head office site at Walford. The company has a wide customer base including consumers, land owners, fencing contractors and installers throughout Herefordshire, the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire, and South Wales.

George Smith, managing director said: “We are immensely proud of our heritage and family legacy; what’s been key to our success is offering a personal service.

“We’ve tried to keep everything as consistent as we can to offer the same high-quality service, support and products as our long-serving customers have been used to seeing.

As part of the 80-year celebrations, the business is rebranding its two regional branches to unify under the Walford Timber brand. By unifying the trading names, Walford Timber hopes to simplify its messaging, build on its shared identity, and celebrate the amazing heritage of this company. It’s a very exciting time for the business and everyone involved in it.