Wigan businessman rises from the ashes to bring Treecycle 2020 back after devastating fire

A Wigan businessman who thought he had lost his business for good following a devastating workshop fire has decided to start again, bringing his portable sawmilling business, Treecycle 2020, back to life. 

Keith Irwen, who lives in Wigan, initially announced that Treecycle 2020 would cease trading after the fire destroyed the business's equipment, his personal tools and a canal boat he had been working on as a personal project. 

Faced with the scale of the damage, Keith could see no realistic way for the business to continue. 

But after several difficult weeks, plenty of thought and an incredible response from customers, friends, suppliers and supporters, he has decided the Treecycle story isn't over yet. 

The fire was a huge blow to a business Keith has built around something he is genuinely passionate about making better use of local timber and giving felled and fallen trees a new purpose. 

Through Treecycle's portable sawmilling service, Keith works with landowners, estates, parks, businesses and homeowners, taking the sawmill directly to customers and transforming timber that may otherwise have gone to waste into something useful and long-lasting. 

Walking away from that wasn't an easy prospect. Keith said: 

“When I saw the damage after the fire, I genuinely thought that was it. At the time, ceasing trading felt like the only option available to me. 

“The last few weeks haven't been easy. There has been a lot to work through and some really difficult decisions to make, but the more I thought about walking away, the more I realised I wasn't ready to give up on Treecycle.” 

One thing Keith hadn't anticipated was the level of support he would receive after announcing the closure. Messages, phone calls, offers of practical help and words of encouragement came from customers, suppliers, friends and people who had followed his Treecycle journey. 

Keith added: 

“The response has been incredible. I've had so many people get in touch, offer to help or simply tell me that I shouldn't give up. 

“When something like this happens, you realise just how important the people around you are. I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported me and helped me believe there could still be a way forward.” 

That support, combined with Keith's determination to rebuild, eventually led to a change of plan. 

Reopening doesn't mean everything will immediately return to how it was before the fire. There is still work to do and Treecycle may operate a little differently while Keith rebuilds, but the purpose behind the business remains unchanged. 

Keith will once again take his portable sawmill directly to customers, helping them turn felled and fallen trees into usable timber, reducing waste and keeping more locally grown timber in use. 

For Keith, there is something particularly fitting about rebuilding a business whose entire ethos is based around seeing potential in something that might otherwise be written off. 

He said: 

“Treecycle has always been about looking at something and seeing the value that's still there, giving it another purpose rather than letting it go to waste. I suppose that's quite appropriate for where I find myself now! There are still challenges ahead, but I'm looking forward to getting the saw running again and getting back to doing what I love. It's been a tough few weeks, but Treecycle is rising from the ashes. Now it's time to make some sawdust.” 

Treecycle 2020 is now welcoming enquiries from existing and new customers about portable sawmilling, timber sales and future projects.