Making Woods Work

To date, over 7 million trees have been planted in The National Forest. However, The National Forest is more than planting trees – the Forest must demonstrate social, environmental and economic sustainability. Economic sustainability will arise from the development of a sustainable forest-based industry (such as firewood suppliers, craft businesses, saw mills etc) as well as the broader regeneration of the local economy. This will ensure that the Forest helps to pay for itself and stimulates new enterprises.

In the context of the woodlands in the forest, sustainability means that trees can be felled and made into a wide variety of products. Indeed, woodland management (such as the periodic felling of trees) has benefits for nature conservation and people's enjoyment of woods.

Before The National Forest was created in 1995 there were only a handful of woodland based businesses working in and around the Forest. There are now a huge range of companies that offer a range of services and a number of companies that make and/or sell a huge range of woodland products. The nature of forestry work means that many forestry firms create and manage woodlands and make a range of wooden products. For more information see 'Woodland Services and Products'.

The work into the woodland economy, which seeks to encourage new and existing forest based businesses to grow, will directly help to raise the sustainable use of woodlands, create jobs and help to ensure the long-term health and vitality of the woods.