Built to last: Sowdens and Arbor Forest Products celebrate five years and a fitting ‘wood’ anniversary

East Yorkshire / North Lincolnshire, 2026 – Some anniversaries come with silver. Some with gold. But when a business rooted in timber reaches five years of partnership, the traditional wood anniversary feels particularly appropriate.

Marketing, creative and digital agency Sowden & Sowden, and the UK's largest independent timber importer and processor, Arbor Forest Products, are celebrating five years of collaboration. It is a partnership grounded in growth, innovation and shared Humber pride.

And in Arbor’s world, wood is not just symbolic. It means business.

Over the past five years, Sowdens has worked alongside Arbor to help shape and tell the story of this timber giant, operating from its 90-acre site in New Holland in North Lincolnshire.

Together, the five-year partnership has supported:

1. Repositioning of the Arbor brand, including the development of its vision, values and internal culture programme, supported by branded onboarding welcome packs that have transformed the company’s approach to recruitment, engagement and retention.

2. National PR campaigns around a £1 million investment in advanced timber treatment technology, positioning Arbor at the forefront of timber innovation and supporting the growth of offsite construction.

3. Development and launch of Arbor Edge, a specialist MDF mouldings brand supported by a distinctive sales toolkit and merchant engagement strategy, creating a powerful new business development platform to extend Arbor’s reach across the timber trade.

4. The launch of Wood & Slumber, a premium equine bedding brand backed by a £2 million investment in advanced baling and packaging technology.

5. The rollout and promotion of the unique Warehouse on Wheels logistics model, highlighting Arbor’s innovative nationwide distribution approach.

The collaboration has also included high-profile project storytelling, including the delivery of an unforgettable experience for Arbor Trex installers at Silverstone, demonstrating the performance and durability of Arbor’s timber products on one of the world’s most recognised sporting stages.

Polly Sowden, Managing Director and co-owner said:

“When we realised a fifth anniversary is traditionally the wood anniversary, we couldn’t resist it. Two Humber businesses. Five years of partnership. A whole lot of timber at the centre of it all.

But beyond the symbolism, what I’m most proud of is the substance behind it. We have supported Arbor through major investments, new brand launches, infrastructure expansion and national trade positioning. It’s not just about creative campaigns, it’s been about helping a business grow stronger, deeper and more resilient.”

Jason Ostler, Managing Director at Arbor Forest Products, said:

“Our partnership with Sowdens has helped us communicate some significant developments for the business, from major capital investment in treatment technology to the expansion of our port infrastructure and the launch of new products.

Clear communication plays an important role when you are investing at scale, growing your workforce and strengthening your position in the timber market. Over the past five years, Sowdens has helped us ensure those milestones are shared with the customers, partners and communities that matter to us.”

Marie Ennals, Marketing Manager at Arbor Forest Products, added:

“Wood is at the heart of everything we do, and over the past five years our partnership with Sowdens has helped us tell that story with clarity and confidence.

As a marketing team of one, it is so important for me to have a partner who feels like a genuine extension of the business. Sowdens has become exactly that. They understand Arbor, our ambitions and the detail of our industry, and they have been integral in helping us shape and share our story.”

Arbor’s recent £2 million investment into cutting-edge baling and packaging technology has enabled the launch of Wood & Slumber, a premium equine bedding brand produced from sustainably sourced by-product timber. The move reinforces the company’s zero-waste philosophy and long-term sustainability commitments.

For Sowden & Sowden, the milestone reflects a wider philosophy of partnerships built to last.

“We believe the best work happens when relationships have time to mature. Five years with Arbor. Over ten with Ron Dearing. Continued storytelling with City Health Care Partnership (CHCP). Over a decade with Hull York Medical School.

There is something fitting about celebrating a wood anniversary with a partnership that is both firmly rooted and still growing. We can’t wait to work on the next phase of Arbor’s growth story.”