Ancient woodland and ancient trees

Press Release

The death of the Major Oak

Ed Pyne, senior conservation adviser at the Woodland Trust, responds to the news that the Major Oak has died. 

Kate John  •  18 Jun 2026

Press Release

Update on the felling of the Whitewebbs Oak

Enfield Council has settled its legal case with Mitchells & Butlers over the felling of the ancient Whitewebbs Oak tree in North London. Read the Woodland Trust’s response.

Kate John  •  11 Jun 2026

Press Release

Forgotten Forests come to light at RHS Chelsea Flower Show

The Forgotten Forests Garden showcases our vital work to restore precious ancient woodland ecosystems currently lost under conifer plantations.  

Rosa Johnston-Flint  •  19 May 2026

Press Release

Expand Scotland’s native woodland

Scotland’s native woodlands are one of our greatest national assets. Yet, despite their importance, efforts to create new woodland are simply too slow. We're calling on the Scottish Government to change that.

Kate Fry  •  31 Mar 2026

Press Release

UK’s ‘Forgotten Forests’ to be brought to life at Chelsea

A garden created by the Woodland Trust for this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show will expose the crisis facing the UK’s ancient woodlands.

Owen Phillips  •  06 Jan 2026

Press Release

Dawn of the Frankenstein trees

Monstrous experiments to raise the dead are taking place at the Woodland Trust's site Yonder Oak in Devon, to boost conservation efforts. 

Kate John  •  28 Oct 2025

Press Release

Inspiring ‘cultural trees’ shortlisted for Tree of the Year 2025

From a cedar that The Beatles climbed to an oak from a Virginia Woolf poem, discover the cultural trees shortlisted for Tree of the Year 2025.

Rosa Johnston-Flint  •  11 Jul 2025

Press Release

Woodland Trust expresses shock at London ancient oak tree felling

Police are looking into the mysterious felling of one of London’s largest and most significant ancient trees at Whitewebbs Park in Enfield.

Owen Phillips  •  15 Apr 2025

Press Release

The Woodland Trust’s Mourne Park is awarded £2.5 million windfall from the National Lottery Heritage Fund

Mourne Park is set to reopen following damage from Storms Darragh and Éowyn, with a significant financial windfall from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Glynis Watt  •  06 Feb 2025

Press Release

Crunch time for trees as petition calling for new protection laws is handed in

A petition calling for stronger laws to protect iconic trees has been handed to the government, the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity has confirmed.

Owen Phillips  •  27 Nov 2024