LJR Forestry

TheBody

Hi all,

Like many, my sitka forest was flattened during storm Éowyn. The local timber harvester reckons that the value of timber has collapsed at the mill. He said he has recently taken a chance to sell timber to LJR forestry for export. He is suggesting that that would be the best course of action for my forest.

The thing is that the local harvester say LJR are still unproven in that they are new to the Irish market and he is yet to see any money from them. I guess the concern is that they take the timber and bugger off.

So, my question is, do any of ye have any experience with LJR? What do ye think of them and did ye get paid quickly?

timfromtang

Well…… Visited their website, all looks good. Filled out their form to request a forest assessment, it did not go through and kept coming back with an error. So sent an email to info@ljrforestry.ie, the email bounced straight back to me, So tried to telephone the number provided +353 87 239 2252 and Got a recorded message to say this number is not available.

So….

The signs are not too good i'd say.

Tim

TheBody

Thanks for that Tim. Sadly, that's not what I had hoped to read!!

timfromtang

Trioed again today, this time the website worked, they promise a 24 hour response time, watch this space, all may not be lost.

Toim

TheBody

Thanks Tim. I'm keen to read what you find out.

Have you timber to sell to them?

con747

The company was registered in April and the CEO is Lee Johnston Jnr from Canada. An article here about them but like all new companies there's a risk. I'm not in the game so I just had a look about them.

https://www.anglocelt.ie/2025/06/14/new-forestry-company-to-tackle-ash-dieback-problem/

timfromtang

Thanks for asking,

I'm pulling my hair out a bit after the damage from the storm.

There's 40.85 Ha of woodland here, all damaged to a greater or lesser extent by the storm. Thankfully because of the diversity of planting schemes some sections fared much better than others and there are lessons to be learned and applied come replanting time.

There's 3.8 Ha of Norway Spruce planted 1996 and blown by Eowyn 2025 completely flattened, rootballs still attached so still alive for the moment. I had been hoping to harvest this crop in about 12 years to help me to retire, seems thats off the menu now. Hopefully there will still be a few pound left over after replanting costs have been covered.

I'm centrally located in the country just east of the middle of lough ree. (hint tang is a real place)

There's also a good step of 2001 planted Ash dieback infected ash, It's a mixed ash/sycamore stand (Unfortunately when thinned in 2013 the ash was favoured and kept where possible as the more valuable component of the mix). Along with a few remaining blocks of pure ash part of the 1996 planting.

I'm less keen on selling the Ash as I can dispose of it profitably locally but would hope that he would harvest it for me whilst he is here for a reasonable cost.

Tim

TheBody

Thanks for the info Tim.

I have a much smaller operation than you. I had around 2.5 hectares of ash clear felled due to dieback in the spring. It was around 22 years old and essentially worthless. Pure rotten. Then Éowyn flattened around 2 hectares of sitka. Again, around 22 years old. The place looks like a bomb hit it. A depressing sight.

TheBody

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123587744#Comment_123587744

Thanks Con. Yes, they look great on paper but time will tell. My forester said he'd do some investigating on them. He knows some people that sold timber to them, so it will be interesting to hear how they got on.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123587928#Comment_123587928

Only open 2 months so they might have a 90 day payout to give them wriggle room but it needs to be gone into with your eyes wide open!

TheBody

Hi Tim,

Any update from LJR Forestry?

timfromtang

No luck in getting in contact with them.

Tim

timfromtang

when i just called the number on the website i got some unfortunate woman who said she thinks their number has changed, signs not good all around.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123620783#Comment_123620783

On the website the numbers gone as well.

Contact

• Email: info@ljrforestry.ie
• Phone: +353 XXX XXXX

Edit

I missed the mobile number it's still there, the landline one is gone

Phone

+353 87 239 2252

TheBody

Thanks Tim. Not what I’d hope to hear.

tabby aspreme

Saw this today but I couldn't read it all as I'm not a subscriber

Screenshot_2025-07-15-10-04-11-44_a23b203fd3aafc6dcb84e438dda678b6.jpg

TheBody

Thanks for that. Very useful information.

$kilkenny

Chatting to a friend of mine today, he has had major issues getting paid from this guy. He isn't a land owner, he's a forester that would have sold LJR timber over the last couple of months. Can't get money out of him.

Avoid like the plague he says.

Maybe different for other people dealing direct.

TheBody

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123656919#Comment_123656919

Thanks for the info. Sounds like I'm better off taking the hit and selling to the established mills in Ireland so.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123657364#Comment_123657364

Unless they will buy for cash it would be the way to go I reckon.

$kilkenny

I wouldn't necessarily say only go with the mills. There are other management companies exporting timber aswell.

I would price around and see what options come up. Especially for sawlog and pallet prices.

At the moment, the sawmills are rammed with timber and can't take anymore. It usually happens this time of year anyway with the 2 weeks for their summer holidays. This usually becomes a month of no timber moving into a sawmill so your left loosing even more money as its cut and on the side of the road as it dries out.

If it my own forestry, I'd be waiting til the middle of the winter and try keep as much weight on it and hopefully the mills will be a little less stocked.

As far as I'm aware, the mills have too much timber now and don't really want it. But they are happy to cut it and leave it on the side of the road drying out for when they want it. Export is still a good option, just need to find the right company.

NicMcDer

If anyone would like to share their experience with the recovery of storm-felled timber and companies you have dealt with e.g. LJR you can contact me at the Anglo Celt 0494331100 or nicole.mcdermott@anglocelt.ie

Many thanks, Nicole

Joebobs

Still waiting to hear when my felled trees will be cut and taken, what's the general prices? for spruce damaged now well into this clearup that's happening

Any success stories here?

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123714969#Comment_123714969

If you mean about LJR it might be best to use the details in the post before your 1 and see if they have any updated information on them or others.

TheBody

Was talking to my local harvester today. He had sold timber to LJR but like $kilkenny said, couldn't get any money out of them.

He since has found an exporter that will pay by the cubic meter before the timber leaves the forest and is shipping it to China.

timfromtang

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123715510#Comment_123715510

Great news to hear other exporters are buying. Any chance you could share details.

tim

TheBody

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123715996#Comment_123715996

I'm afraid I don't know much more. He just mentioned that we will get about 75% the value of the timber this way compared to pre-storm Eowyn but it is better than what the mills will offer. He said the mills are full of timber and are not looking for more.

NicMcDer

There is an article in the Anglo Celt with an update on LJR's whereabout/practices

anglocelt - forest owners fell for LJR

Feel free to contact the Celt if you want to add to the investigation

Screenshot_20250826_103827_Drive.jpg

timfromtang

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123768446#Comment_123768446

https://www.anglocelt.ie/2025/08/29/forest-owners-fell-for-ljr/

Link to the article for those who want a read.

It would seem initial suspicions of too good to be true were correct, I wonder if mr LJR has lovely light blue Conman's eyes?

Tim