Overview
The Woodland Trust is the UK's largest charity dedicated to woods and trees. Established in 1972, it is registered in England and Wales (No. 294344) and in Scotland (No. SC038885), and is headquartered in Grantham, Lincolnshire.
Its vision is a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature. With around 500,000 members and supporters, it is one of the biggest voices for native woodland in the country, combining land ownership, restoration, campaigning and public engagement.
What the Woodland Trust Does
The charity's work falls into three broad areas: protecting ancient woodland from threats such as development and tree disease, restoring damaged ancient woodland planted with conifers, and creating new native woodland to expand the UK's tree cover.
In its 2024-25 year it acquired 581 hectares of new woodland, fought around 200 planning battles to defend threatened woods and worked with farmers on agroforestry. It also runs the UK's largest citizen science tree records, including the Ancient Tree Inventory and Nature's Calendar.
Rewilding Connections
While the Woodland Trust describes itself as a conservation rather than a rewilding charity, the overlap is substantial. It champions natural regeneration alongside planting, protects the ancient and veteran trees that anchor wild ecosystems, and campaigns to save the Atlantic oakwoods that form part of Britain's rare temperate rainforest.
It is also directly involved in species recovery. In 2024-25 it supported the reintroduction of pine martens to the Dart Valley in Devon, part of a wider effort to restore missing mammals to British woodland.
Visiting & Getting Involved
Every Woodland Trust wood is free to visit, and the charity's find-a-wood tool makes it easy to discover sites near you. Membership starts from a small monthly donation and directly funds land acquisition and restoration.
Beyond joining, you can volunteer at local woods, record ancient trees for the Ancient Tree Inventory, or take part in campaigns. Visit woodlandtrust.org.uk to find your nearest wood, become a member or explore volunteering.
Further Resources
Watch
Ancient Woodland Restoration at Fingle Woods | Woodland Trust
How the Woodland Trust is restoring one of its largest ancient woodland sites in Devon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Woodland Trust?
The Woodland Trust is the UK's largest woodland conservation charity. Founded in 1972, it looks after more than 1,000 woods across the UK, all free to visit, and has around 500,000 members and supporters.
Is the Woodland Trust a rewilding charity?
The Woodland Trust describes itself as a woodland conservation charity rather than a rewilding organisation, but much of its work overlaps with rewilding. It restores ancient woodland, lets native woods regenerate, reintroduces species such as pine martens and campaigns for large-scale native tree cover across the UK.
Can you visit Woodland Trust woods?
Yes. The Woodland Trust's woods are open to the public free of charge, all year round. Its website includes a 'find a wood' search tool covering more than 1,000 sites across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
How is the Woodland Trust funded?
The Woodland Trust is funded mainly by its members and supporters through donations, legacies and membership subscriptions. In the year to May 2025 it devoted a record £82.6 million to restoring and protecting the UK's woods and trees.
Continue Reading
Ancient Woodland
Why ancient woodland is irreplaceable and how it can be brought back into recovery.
Celtic Rainforest
The rare temperate rainforest of Britain's western seaboard and the work to save it.
Pine Marten
The return of one of Britain's rarest mammals, including reintroductions led by the Woodland Trust.
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