State of the UK's Woods and Trees 2025

Four years after our groundbreaking State of the UK's Woods and Trees report, we're once again putting woods and trees under the microscope to check up on their health and see what's changed. 

The 2021 report was the first to bring together a wide range of evidence on the state of the UK's native woods and trees. It served as a wake-up call: our woodlands are in poor condition, facing growing threats and woodland creation targets are not being met. 

Now, with the launch of State of the UK's Woods and Trees 2025, we bring together the latest evidence and analysis to support the urgent action needed to protect and restore woodlands across the UK – making them more resilient and better able to adapt to climate change. 

Here's an overview of what's changed since 2021 and the key findings, solutions and priority actions. 

What's changed since the last report? 

New pests reported 

Two new pests have been reported since the last report. In 2021, we highlighted 19 new serious introductions of pests and diseases since 1990. As this number increases, so does the threat to the health of our woods and trees. 

Worsening wildlife decline

Both woodland butterflies and birds have seen a larger decline compared to the first report. Woodland butterfly decline has increased from 41% to 47% (between 1990–2021) and bird decline has increased from 29% to 37% (between 1970–2021), according to the woodland bird index. 

Woodland creation targets missed 

Despite strong policy and funding focus, woodland creation targets are still not being met. However, there's been notable progress. Between 2020–2024, an average of 45% of annual targets were achieved. This marks a significant improvement from 2016–2020 when only 28% of targets were met. 

Key findings 

Our analysis has identified three significant findings about the state of the UK's woods and trees.

1. Woodland cover is increasing – but that tells us little about resilience 

The resilience of woodlands depends on their size, condition and connectivity. More, bigger, better and more joined up woods are far likelier to withstand change. 

In this report, we've assessed woodland cover and condition to understand how resilient our woodlands are. We've also spotlighted three of our woodland habitats:

• ancient and veteran trees – vital for nature recovery
• temperate rainforest – particularly vulnerable to climate change
• urban woods and trees – crucial for people’s health and wellbeing.

We can improve woodland resilience through more complex woodlands. That is, woods with varied structure (different ages of trees and a mixture of open space and closed canopy) and greater species diversity (including tree species, flora and fauna). This complexity can be achieved through appropriate management. 

2. Woodlands and trees provide vital benefits to people and wildlife

Woodlands deliver a range of benefits – often called ecosystem services – from supporting biodiversity to improving human wellbeing.

New research in the latest State of Woods and Trees report reveals that 90% of people experience wellbeing benefits from spending time in woodlands. However, access to woodlands offering the highest wellbeing benefits (based on biodiversity traits) is unequally distributed, with income-deprived areas having lower wellbeing-quality woodlands.

In fact, 26% of people in the UK have not visited a woodland in the last few years. Major barriers to people accessing woods include:

• travel distance
• availability and cost of transport
• poor physical health or disability
• personal safety concerns
• a perception that woodlands are not inclusive places for everyone. 

While woodland cover is increasing, biodiversity within these habitats continues to decline. Both woodland birds and butterflies have experienced larger declines since the first report. 

Beyond people and wildlife, woods also play a crucial role in regulating the climate. They act as carbon sinks and increase resilience to climate change. A key update in this report is how carbon stores are now measured. The latest data is much more accurate as it includes soil data, where the majority of carbon is stored. 

3. Our woods and trees face many threats

The resilience of the UK's woods and trees is under pressure from a growing number of threats. When multiple threats are combined, their impact is even greater as one threat can reduce the ability to withstand others. Climate change has a significant impact on making many of these threats worse, leaving woodlands increasingly vulnerable to damage. 

Among the most urgent concerns are introduced pests and pathogens. While the full impact is still being understood, just six out of the 121 pests and pathogens are estimated to cost the UK economy around £920 million per year. Alarmingly, two new pests have been reported since our 2021 report, adding to this growing problem. 

The latest report also explores newly highlighted threats not covered in our first report, including pollution, grey squirrels and extreme weather events. 

What are the solutions? 

While the current health of our woods and trees and the threats they face are concerning, we know what needs to happen. By implementing the right solutions, we can revitalise our woods, make them resilient to future threats and fight the nature and climate crises head on. 

At a glance, the solutions highlighted in the report include: 

• woodland creation
• better woodland management
• agroforestry
• ancient woodland restoration
• natural flood management.

Recommended policy actions

Expand and connect

Triple the current rate of woodland creation through quality and appropriate planting. Ensure all saplings used for planting are sourced and grown in the UK to strengthen biosecurity.

Enhance and protect

Ensure appropriate management, restoration and enforcement of protection for existing woods and trees. This will support nature recovery at scale and enhance people's lives. 

Improve the evidence

Complete and update inventories of ancient woods and trees, regularly assess important wildlife sites, fill any identified evidence gaps and use adaptive management, and systematically monitor woods and trees. 

Invest in the future

Create more and better woods and trees, support landowners and managers through appropriate grant systems and invest in upskilling a green workforce.

Explore detailed recommended policy actions for each UK nation: 

• England
• Northern Ireland
• Scotland
• Wales (also available in Welsh)

State of the UK's Woods and Trees 2025 was made possible thanks to funding raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery.