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Outdoor Christmas activities for families

Get out into nature this Christmas and enjoy some festive activities with your family on a woodland walk.

Danielle Wesley  •  13 Dec 2021

Blog

9 outdoor Easter activities for families

Get outdoors in the Easter holidays and enjoy our fun nature activities for kids - try nest building, go on a scavenger hunt and nibble on an Easter-themed picnic!

Danielle Wesley  •  04 Apr 2022

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13 Halloween nature crafts and activities for kids

Get set for spooky season with leaf ghosts, conker pumpkins, twig wands and a thrilling Halloween scavenger hunt!

Danielle Wesley  •  04 Oct 2023

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7 blossom crafts and activities for kids

Discover fun blossom crafts and activities to enjoy with your children this spring.

Danielle Wesley  •  11 Mar 2022

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Connect your pupils with nature

Increase nature connectedness to help youngsters thrive.

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Rainy day activities for kids: mud kitchens and pies

Don’t get stuck indoors when the weather’s wet. Try our rainy outdoor activities including mud kitchens, mud pies, leaf boats and puddle jumping.

Danielle Wesley  •  01 Apr 2019

Blog

Minibeast activities and crafts

Our arts and crafts are ideal for nature-loving kids. Make a butterfly symmetry painting, minibeast masks, rock bugs, ladybird potato stamps and more.

Danielle Wesley  •  10 Jun 2019

Blog

Summer holidays: outdoor activities for kids

Discover fun things to do at home and on days out with our outdoor activity guide for the summer holidays. Spot wildlife, try yoga, compete in the forest Olympics and much more.

Danielle Wesley  •  21 Jul 2022

Visiting woods

Woodland activities for children and families

Spot wildlife. Craft with nature. Go on scavenger hunts. We've got plenty of ideas to help families enjoy woods and the great outdoors all year round.

Blog

7 half-term ideas for families

Enjoy wildlife spotting, tree ID and nature crafts on a half-term hike in the woods.

Danielle Wesley  •  02 Feb 2023

Trees woods and wildlife

Trees and woods: at the heart of nature recovery

Healthy woods and trees are the beating heart of abundant, nature-rich habitats. Our new reports show the central role they must play in nature's recovery.

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Resources and activities for schools

All of our KS1, KS2 and KS3 resources can be found in Tree Tools for Schools – our online learning hub. Tried and tested by teachers, these activities include tree planting, wildlife identification, nature crafts and lots more.

Blog

How to make a nature trail for kids

Make your family’s woodland walks extra fun by following our top tips to create your own nature trail.

Danielle Wesley  •  15 Jul 2019

Blog

Stick crafts and activities for kids

Sticks have endless possibilities! From Poohsticks to twig towers and journey sticks to stick men, we've got plenty of ideas for your family to try on your next woodland walk.

Danielle Wesley  •  04 Nov 2019

Blog

10 camping activities for kids who love wildlife

Discover 10 wildlife-themed activities for kids and families to enjoy on a camping trip.

Danielle Wesley  •  02 Aug 2023

Event

Mindfulness in nature at Langley Vale Wood

Explore mindfulness in nature and find out how to support your wellbeing anywhere with our guided mindfulness walk.

Sat 11 Jul 2026  •  Langley Vale Wood, Langley Vale

Press centre

Children's author Michael Morpurgo backs project bringing city children into nature and farming

The Woodland Trust is working with Farms for City Children, a charity founded by Michael and Clare Morpurgo to connect city children with nature and farming.

Press centre

300,000 households given new access to nature, new study of Northern Forest shows

More than 300,000 households have been given access to nature they previously didn’t have, a new Northern Forest study shows.

Blog

8 great things we’ve done for nature in 2025

From rainforest rescues to woodland research and pine marten reintroductions, read all about the incredible things we’ve achieved for nature in 2025.

Charlotte Varela  •  15 Dec 2025

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Conker crafts and activities

Discover creative and fun ways to use conkers in autumn. From simple crafts to activities and games the whole family can enjoy together.

Danielle Wesley  •  23 Sept 2019

Blog

Ideas for an outdoor birthday party for kids

Plan an outdoor party for kids with our ideas for fun woodland games and activities, nature-themed party bags and animal cakes.

Danielle Wesley  •  15 May 2019

Blog

First signs of spring in UK nature: what to look for and why it matters

Discover when spring starts and the key signs to look for in nature, from frogspawn and blossom to bees and butterflies, plus why these changes matter.

Charlie Mellor  •  20 Mar 2026

Press centre

Young nature enthusiasts let creativity shine at Maldwyn 2024 Urdd Eisteddfod

Coed Cadw, the Woodland Trust in Wales, has announced the winners of its ‘Getting Creative With Nature’ Key Stage 2 competition, held in collaboration with the Urdd.

Journal

Wood Wise – nature-positive economy

Read the summer 2023 issue of Wood Wise, which explores the new narrative of a nature-positive economy.

PDF  (8.89 MB)

Journal

Wood Wise – nature inspires education

The autumn 2017 issue of Wood Wise focuses on how connecting with nature can educate and inspire the environmental guardians and conservationists of the future.

PDF  (1.87 MB)

Policy paper

Funding nature recovery in England

Creating a healthy, resilient natural environment will require billions of pounds of investment. We outline what needs to happen to fund nature recovery in England.

PDF  (1.64 MB)

Journal

Wood Wise – nature recovery at scale

Read the autumn 2022 issue of Wood Wise, which explores how we can drive nature recovery on a landscape scale.

PDF  (5.81 MB)

Press centre

Research shows only 12% of local authorities have an action plan for nature recovery

The Woodland Trust is urging local authorities to declare a nature emergency and take steps to restore severely depleted wildlife and green spaces in their communities.

Policy paper

Trees and woods: at the heart of nature recovery in Wales

This report shows the central role that native natural and semi-natural woods and trees must play in restoring nature in Wales, and how the government and local authorities can help. The report is also available in Welsh.

PDF  (18.56 MB)

Policy paper

Trees and woods: at the heart of nature recovery in Scotland

This report shows the central role that native woods and trees must play in restoring nature in Scotland, and how the government and local authorities can help.

PDF  (3.03 MB)

Press centre

Spot spring’s vital signs and help the Woodland Trust record the impact of climate change on nature

The Woodland Trust is urging people to get outside and spot vital signs of spring to help monitor potentially “disastrous” effects of climate change on nature, before its campaign ends on Easter Monday.

Policy paper

Trees and woods: at the heart of nature recovery in England

This report shows the central role that native natural and semi-natural woods and trees must play in restoring nature, and how the government and local authorities can embed nature's recovery in local plans.

PDF  (4.96 MB)

Event

Mindfulness in nature at Langley Vale Wood

Explore mindfulness in nature and find out how to support your wellbeing anywhere with our guided mindfulness walk.

Sat 26 Sept 2026  •  Langley Vale Wood, Langley Vale

Policy paper

Trees and woods: at the heart of nature recovery in Northern Ireland

This report outlines the critical role that native natural and semi-natural woods and trees must play in restoring nature, and how the government and local authorities can ensure nature’s recovery is embedded in local plans.

PDF  (2.58 MB)

Press centre

Faughan Valley Woodlands officially opens unveiling a haven for nature and people

Small fragmented woodlands along and across the River Faughan have been connected to benefit people, nature and climate in Northern Ireland.

Climate change

How does climate change affect timings in nature?

For nature to thrive, timing is everything. But seasonal events are happening earlier, with disastrous knock-on effects for native wildlife. Find out how you can help.

Video

Free trees help kickstart ambitious school nature project

Pupils at St Christopher's Secondary School planted free trees in the first phase of their project to turn the school field into a place that grows food, shelters wildlife and brings nature to the local area in Lincoln.

00:01:52

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Improve wellbeing in school

Use the power of nature to boost the health of your students.

Blog

Christmas nature quiz

Test your knowledge of the plants and animals connected with our festive traditions.

Charlie Mellor  •  11 Dec 2024

Blog

7 signs of winter in nature

Winter is a magical time, with crisp mornings and chilly starlit evenings. Discover when winter really starts and some of the best signs to look and listen out for.

Charlie Mellor  •  26 Nov 2021

Position statement

Trees and peat in the nature and climate crises - the Woodland Trust's view

We're taking steps to ensure we protect and prevent the degradation of valuable peatlands for the climate and nature recovery.

PDF  (2.04 MB)

Blog

Top 10 nature gifts for kids

Nurture a love of nature from an early age with our specially selected range of gifts. From tots to teens, messy to mindful, indoors or out, our green gift guide has something for all the kids on your list.

Charlie Mellor  •  28 Oct 2025

Christmas

Christmas

Our activities, top tips and gifts have got you covered this Christmas, from eco-friendly present ideas and our favourite winter walks to last minute virtual gifts and recycling after the big day.

Protecting trees and woods

Government’s nature recovery plans in England fall short

Government plans to halt nature’s decline in England by 2030 don't go far enough. We need more meaningful action to save our wildlife and environment.

Protecting trees and woods

Urge the Senedd to restore nature with trees on farms

Our Ten Asks for Trees would boost the Sustainable Farming Scheme’s impact for Wales’ people and landscape. Urge the Senedd to make them happen.

Blog

8 steps to achieving long-term mindfulness with woods and trees

Explore some woodland activities that you can take part in to gain positive health benefits.

Julia Lock  •  22 Mar 2022

Protecting trees and woods

Don't let Government ditch its environment protection promise

After months of uncertainty about Government’s commitment to protect and restore nature, we still need answers. Abandoning nature is not an option.

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50th Birthday Appeal

Donate to the most urgent and important appeal we have ever launched and help us take the fight for nature and climate to a new level.  

Visiting woods

Things to do in the woods

Go on an adventure. Get closer to nature. Uncover history. Discover ways to explore the UK's woods whatever the season. 

Press centre

Giant boost for nature in Yorkshire Dales as charity plans huge native woodland

One of the boldest projects in the English uplands is about to start with the first trees to go in the ground at Snaizeholme in the Yorkshire Dales.

Press centre

Team assembles to upskill the west coast to save Scotland’s rainforest

A team of nature conservationists have come together to develop a skill-boosting programme equipping local people to earn a living saving Scotland’s rainforest.

Blog

10 ways to help wildlife in winter

Wildlife will appreciate a helping hand in winter. From practical outdoor activities to the comfort of your armchair, check out our ten top tips to make a difference this season.

Charlie Mellor  •  07 Dec 2023

Press centre

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.     

Press centre

Nature, art and youth vision unite with new mural at Brynau Farm

A once unremarkable concrete wall has been transformed into a stunning work of art thanks to a collaboration between Coed Cadw (the Woodland Trust in Wales) and Swansea College of Art.

Press centre

Land Use Framework – can we make it work for nature?

Progress has finally been made on a Land Use Framework for England, with Defra publishing a version for consultation.

Protecting trees and woods

Scotland's nature needs help to recover and thrive

We need a robust delivery strategy for biodiversity in Scotland.

Protecting trees and woods

Planning and Infrastructure Act must protect nature

Government plans could leave woods, trees and other important habitats vulnerable to destruction for development if we don’t speak up. 

Press centre

Volunteers collect over 11m rare seeds for nature restoration work in Scotland

The project launched in 2023 with an initial target of collecting one million seeds. A 100 dedicated volunteers have collected the rare and precious seeds by hand from remote locations – enabling an estimated 7.8 million trees to be grown for woodland restoration projects in Scotland.

Protecting trees and woods

Nature’s recovery depends on better funding for native woodland

We need a Forestry Grant Scheme that reverses native woodland decline to help nature, climate and communities.

Protecting trees and woods

Tree cover target leaves room for improvement

We need well-connected woodlands, rich in native trees that fight climate change and help nature to recover.

Video

Woodland Creation: nature-based solutions

Find out how the Woodland Trust Northern Ireland woodland creation team is working with landowners to create new woods in the Faughan Valley.

00:03:08

About us

We protect

We fight to protect woods and trees, preventing the loss of irreplaceable habitat, nature and carbon stores for a healthier future for everyone.

About us

We create

We create quality native woods and plant native trees to benefit nature, climate and people now and for the future.

Policy paper

Farming for the future: agroforestry benefits for nature and climate

This report assesses the benefits of agroforestry on a large scale on farmland in England. It considers how agroforestry systems are already being deployed, and sets out recommendations on how to increase the number of trees in our agricultural environment and make changes in land use a reality.

PDF  (5.19 MB)

Protecting trees and woods

All-Party Parliamentary Group for Woods and Trees

The APPG meets several times a year to discuss steps to protect, restore and expand woods and trees in a time of climate and nature crises.  

Policy paper

Our conservation principles and approach

A policy paper outlining the Woodland Trust’s six key principles for conservation in our own woods, when we work with others, and across all our activities.

PDF  (2.67 MB)

Press centre

Former golf course becomes wooded haven for wildlife

A former golf course in north Cheshire is to be transformed by the Woodland Trust into a haven for nature and a wild place for communities to visit for years to come.

Press centre

Woodland Trust report: £1 billion to save England’s 'forgotten woods and wildlife'

The Woodland Trust has produced and costed a £1 billion five-year plan to rescue nature in England’s threatened ancient woods.

Protecting trees and woods

Contact your MP for help to protect trees and woods

Your MP in Westminster might be able to help if you’re trying to save local woods and trees or if you’re concerned about a national issue affecting nature.

About us

Reconnecting Grantham to its historic landscape

We've worked with the National Trust, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, to link Londonthorpe Woods and Bellmount, the eastern part of the Belton House estate. The project has united accessible green space on the edge of Grantham to help more people experience nature on their doorstep.

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Let's keep talking

Say yes to a world where woods and trees thrive for nature and people.

Visiting woods

Woodland Walks podcast

Explore our incredible woods with host Adam Shaw as he chats to the dedicated people behind these special places and meets nature-loving celebrities.

Press centre

Farming with trees is key to net zero, new research shows

A new Woodland Trust report shows how increasing agroforestry – farming with trees - in England is essential to meet nature and climate targets

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Mourne Park appeal, Northern Ireland

Help keep Mourne Park thriving for nature and people – an irreplaceable ancient woodland in Northern Ireland now open for all to explore. We’ve secured this precious land, and we need you to help us to protect it for future generations.

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Trees for Tom

Captain Sir Tom Moore united and inspired the nation. By planting trees with the Trust, his family honoured his love of nature and helped create a brighter future. And you paid tribute by donating.

Press centre

Budget Day 2024: what Holyrood should do for woods and trees

If Scotland is to meet its climate goals and restore nature to a thriving condition, we need more native trees and woods, and we need them in good condition.

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Endangered wildlife appeal

Nature needs help. Please make a donation to support our life-changing work to plant trees, restore habitats and protect the UK's woodland. Together, we can give wildlife a future.

Video

A new wood full of potential for business and nature

In 2021, Chelsea Wills and Phil Johncock planted a spectacular six-acre nature reserve above Lee Bay, North Devon with MOREwoods. Just three years later, they're holding woodland yoga sessions and have plans to coppice trees for their artisan woodworking business.

00:04:00

Support us

Celebrating 30 years of Woodland Trust Northern Ireland

Over the course of three decades, we’ve planted millions of trees and increased native woodland cover in Northern Ireland. But we still need your support to help people and nature here thrive.

About us

Our vision for Scotland

We're working to create a Scotland where woods and trees thrive for people and nature. Find out what this means in practice, how we are making it happen on our land and with our partners, and how we can help you.

Blog

10 eco-friendly New Year's resolutions

Whether you’re making a small commitment or a big change, here are 10 ways to do your bit for nature with an eco-friendly New Year's resolution.

Charlie Mellor  •  23 Dec 2021

Video

Dave Gurnett, mid Wales partner of the Woodland Trust

Dave Gurnett explains how the Woodland Trust has been a good partner and how working with a trusted individual on the ground is important to achieve conservation and nature recovery at scale.

00:01:17

Partnerships

L'Occitane

A partnership that's helping restore native woodland, improve climate resilience and create nature-rich spaces for future generations.

Support us

The power of trees - KS3 assembly

Inspire secondary students with this presentation about the incredible way trees benefit people and the planet. This assembly can also support your school's tree-planting activities.

Policy paper

Emergency Tree Plan for the UK

How to increase tree cover and address the nature and climate emergency. We set out key recommendations for the UK's national and local governments.

PDF  (9.63 MB)

Partnerships

Aviva

We’re working with Aviva to deliver nature-based solutions to climate change across the UK.

About us

Our strategy

Our vision is optimistic: a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature. Find out how we plan to achieve this over the next decade.

Blog

Winter wildlife watching: what, where and when to spot

The winter weather might be frightful, but nature is always delightful. Here are our top tips on what wildlife to look out for, where and when on your winter walks.

Rory Morrow  •  13 Jan 2025

Plant trees

Natural regeneration

The UK needs more trees. We plant millions of native trees every year, but planting is just one way to help the UK's woodlands expand. Allowing nature to take its course is also an effective and efficient method of getting more trees in the ground.

Journal

Wood Wise - trees for good

Read the spring 2020 issue of Wood Wise, all about how trees can simultaneously tackle the climate and nature emergencies.

PDF  (3.05 MB)