The timber collection consists of approximately 5400 samples of wood and the damaged wood collection consists of around 500 samples. These collections started as teaching aids and both are amongst the best collections in the UK.
There are 2250 species from 864 different genera from all parts of the world in the timber collection, with timbers from tropical Africa, some parts of South America, and southern regions of Asia particularly well represented. The damaged wood collection relates to insect damage and damage that occurs naturally in trees or in processed timber.
The timber collection is kept in glass fronted cupboards on the landing of the 2nd floor of the Thoday Building. Part of the damaged wood collection is on display in one of the lecture rooms in the Thoday Building.