Policy and influence

Press Release

Huge win for Tullynagardy Wood

A decision to block housing plans, preventing destruction of Tullynagardy Wood in Newtownards, has been welcomed by the Woodland Trust Northern Ireland.

Michelle McCaughtry  •  15 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

Wales' 'tree deserts' leave communities exposed to pollution, heat and poor health

Research by Coed Cadw, the Woodland Trust in Wales, reveals stark inequalities in access to the benefits urban trees provide.

The Woodland Trust  •  22 May 2026

Press Release

What the Scottish election results mean for woods, trees and nature

Over the last year, the Woodland Trust Scotland policy and advocacy team has met with every major party standing for election to the Scottish Parliament to identify shared priorities and offer evidence-led policy suggestions, set out in our Mair Trees Please manifesto.     

Simon Ritchie  •  21 May 2026

Press Release

UK ‘tree deserts’ leave millions exposed to pollution, heat and poor health

Millions of people in UK towns and cities are living in 'tree deserts' where communities are more exposed to poorer health outcomes, air pollution and rising temperatures.

Owen Phillips  •  14 May 2026

Press Release

Trees in the Scottish economy

Scotland’s economy ultimately depends on the health of its natural environment. From farming and crofting to forestry, tourism and rural enterprise, thriving landscapes underpin livelihoods across the country – and trees sit at the heart of that relationship.

Kate Fry  •  23 Apr 2026

Press Release

Tree equity in Scotland’s towns and cities

We believe that everyone, irrespective of background or circumstances, should have fair access to the benefits of trees. That's why we're calling on the next government to help deliver a bigger, better and fairer urban forest.

Anna Perks  •  16 Apr 2026

Press Release

Fight the threats to Scotland’s native woods and trees

We advocate and work for the protection of Scotland’s precious native trees and ancient woodlands. What can the next Scottish Parliament do to make that protection stronger?

Simon Ritchie  •  09 Apr 2026

Press Release

Save Scotland's rainforests

Scotland’s rainforest is bursting with a unique variety of flora and fauna. It is a habitat like no other, yet for many years it has come under sustained pressure from human activity.

Simon Ritchie  •  07 Apr 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

1.7+ million trees planted on crofts 

A scheme to help crofters create native woods has planted over 1.7 million trees in the last decade and established forestry as part of the crofting landscape. 

George Anderson  •  24 Mar 2026

Press Release

Northern Ireland must increase tree planting urgently

The State of Woods and Trees 2025: Northern Ireland report reveals that Northern Ireland not only has the lowest woodland cover in the UK and Ireland, but is also failing to meet its own tree planting targets.

Michelle McCaughtry  •  14 Oct 2025

Press Release

Domestic tree production essential to hit climate and nature targets

The Government’s climate change and biodiversity targets will not be met without greater support for domestic tree production, according to a new report.

The Woodland Trust  •  14 Oct 2025

Press Release

Integrating trees on Scotland’s farms and crofts

Woodland Trust Scotland and the National Farmers Union Scotland have jointly written to the Scottish Government calling for farmers and crofters to be given more support to integrate native trees on their land. 

Simon Ritchie  •  03 Oct 2025

Press Release

Woodland Trust Scotland takes aim at health inequalities with trees targeted by neighbourhood

Woodland Trust Scotland has announced plans to target urban planting at neighbourhoods where trees have greatest potential to boost human health and wellbeing.

George Anderson  •  19 Sept 2025

Press Release

Coed Cadw welcomes launch of Wales' Sustainable Farming Scheme

Coed Cadw has expressed cautious optimism at the upcoming launch of the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme, describing it as a necessary first step towards a just transition for the people of Wales.

Llinos Humphreys  •  16 Jul 2025

Press Release

Coed Cadw yn croesawu lansiad cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy cymru

Mae Coed Cadw, y Woodland Trust yng Nghymru, wedi mynegi optimistiaeth ofalus ynghylch lansiad Cynllun Ffermio Cynaliadwy (CFfC) Llywodraeth Cymru sydd ar ddod, gan ei ddisgrifio fel cam cyntaf angenrheidiol mewn taith llawer hirach tuag at drawsnewidiad cyfiawn i bobl Cymru.

Llinos Humphreys  •  16 Jul 2025

Press Release

Woodland Trust chief executive's statement on State of UK Climate Report

Darren Moorcroft, Woodland Trust chief executive, has made a statement in response to the Met Office’s State of UK Climate Report, which the Energy Secretary has labelled a “stark warning” to take action on climate and nature.

Darren Moorcroft  •  14 Jul 2025

Press Release

Root of the problem: underfunding, underdelivering

This year’s woodland creation figures for Scotland are deeply disappointing. The numbers reflect not just a missed target, but another missed opportunity.

Sarah Madden  •  04 Jul 2025

Press Release

Wildlife declining in UK woods despite more tree cover, major new report reveals 

The State of the UK’s Woods and Trees 2025 report has revealed that the quantity and variety of woodland wildlife is plummeting, despite a marginal rise in tree cover.

The Woodland Trust  •  10 Jun 2025