This informative manual has been designed to provide guidance on the principal issues surrounding the use of timber in coastal and river engineering. For centuries timber has traditionally been used for the construction of a wide range of coastal and river structures including: groynes, jetties, lock gates, navigation aids and riverbank protection. It is an attractive choice of construction material because it is renewable, is easy to use, repair and recycle, has a high strength/weight ratio and is visually appealing.