Find out more information about Heartwood Forest, the Woodland Trust's biggest ever project.
We have now raised over £4 million for this fantastic site but still have a way to go to make our vision a reality - below is why the site is so important:
Size matters - big is beautiful!
At 858 acres* this site is our biggest challenge yet.
- It's big for wildlife
- It's big for people
- It's very big for the Woodland Trust
Located near Sandridge just three miles north of St Albans in Hertfordshire, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform the site into the largest new continuous native forest in England.
Incredibly, it takes just 12 years to turn bare land into flourishing native woodland, complete with a diverse range of wildlife and towering trees.
The site contains four small remnants (44 acres) of precious ancient woodland, our equivalent of the rainforest, which now sadly makes up only two per cent of UK landcover.
Why?
Why it’s BIG for wildlife
Large areas of woodland are better than small fragments in helping species adapt in the face of climate change. This site will be the flagship in an unprecedented national tree planting campaign.
Why it’s BIG for people
Getting out and active in woodland is great way for adults and children to connect with nature. Over 2 million people live within 15 miles of the site which can be accessed via public transport, and we want everyone to come and take part.
Why it's BIG for the Trust
This is the Trust's most exciting and ambitious tree planting opportunity in England, creating the largest new native forest for millions of people to enjoy for free, forever.
Located within the London Greenbelt, a Biodiversity Priority Area and within the Chilterns ancient woodland concentration, this land near Sandridge is an unmissable large-scale tree planting opportunity.
Ancient woodland at Heartwood Forest
There are three pockets of ancient woodland on the site. Ancient Woodland are not just places of timeless beauty and tranquillity but by being continuously planted since 1600AD, ancient woodland offer stable, natural conditions for wildlife. In fact they are home to more threatened species than any other habitat in the UK making them a valuable resource that need protecting.
*347 hectares