Founded in 1994 by Peter Goodwin and Lewis Scott, Woodland Heritage strives to create a thriving UK wood culture to the benefit of our environment, welfare and economy. The charity champions the use of home-grown timber from sustainable, productive woodlands for the benefit of present and future generations.
A fine example of Woodland Heritage’s vital work is its new ‘Open Woods and Workshops’ initiative. Launched this June, the charity brought together over 600 visitors to workshops, sawmills and managed woodlands around the UK.
The workshop provided an immersive experience for visitors, who learned more about the importance of growing trees, not just planting them, and how homegrown timber can be used in the management of woodlands in the fight against climate change.
According to Woodland Heritage, 96% of visitors surveyed planned to take actions in their woodlands, workshops and homes following their visit to an Open Woods & Workshops event. Actions pledged included beginning to manage a woodland, or changing a woodland’s management to improve the timber it produces, as well as growing more trees, undertaking to use more homegrown timber, and encouraging friends, family and colleagues to learn more about growing trees and using wood.
Open Woods & Workshops attendees also recorded that the events made a significant positive impact on their wellbeing, and even just being a part of growing trees and using wood made just under 80% of people feel more optimistic about the future.
Amongst the visitors was Dr Ellie Chowns MP, Green Party MP for North Herefordshire, who visited Whitney Sawmill’s Open Day in her constituency. “I was delighted to visit Whitney Sawmill’s Open Day and see first‑hand the incredible work being done to manage our local woodlands sustainably,” she says.
“Homegrown timber is vital not only in mitigating climate change but also in supporting biodiversity, local jobs, and community wellbeing, and I sincerely hope events like Open Woods & Workshops inspire more people across North Herefordshire and the rest of the UK to get involved in looking after our trees, growing our timber resource, and passing on this knowledge to the next generation.”
The initiative is supported by Savills, whose Director, Mark Townsend, Head of Woodland Management and Arboriculture, added: “Working with landowners to manage their woods forms a key part of what we do as woodland consultants and as a nation, we do need to be better at managing our forests. A crucial part of this is what happens outside of the woodland, and the work Woodland Heritage does to promote and connect the whole supply chain is really amazing.”
Hosts, many not usually open to the public, included Angus Ross, Whitney Sawmills, The Duchy of Cornwall, Great Park, Alder and Sowdens Woods, Broomhill Woods, To The Root, Goodwood Estate, Witherslack Woodworks, Mowat & Co, James Wood, Williams & Cleal, Albion Timber, Treske, Gaze Burvill, The Architectural Association, North Eggardon Farm and John Makepeace Furniture.
Woodland Heritage’s Chief Executive, John Orchard, summarised: “Thank you to Open Woods & Workshop’s hosts, visitors and supporters for championing trees and timber!
‘’It’s wonderful to be able to show people what a well-managed woodland looks like, and what amazing spaces they are for biodiversity, climate, as well as beautiful timber. The value of showing rather than telling is enormous, and that is the opportunity that Open Woods & Workshops brings.
“The road ahead for our woodlands is far from certain, but it’s great to see that getting involved with Open Woods & Workshops can inspire people to take action, and to feel more hopeful about the future.”
Sign up now to hear about Open Woods & Workshops in 2026 at www.woodlandheritage.org/owaw
