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Heartwood Forest appeal, St Albans

Our supporters helped us create the largest new native forest in England. Just a stone's throw from London, Heartwood Forest offers a place to escape without travelling far from the city.

Coppiced hornbeams and limes are found in Langley Wood - one of the four woods that make up Heartwood Forest.

Credit: Colin Varndell / WTML

Local people have helped plant thousands of trees here over the years.

Credit: Judith Parry / WTML

Harvest mice, Essex skipper butterflies and yellowhammers are just some of the animals to call the grassy areas home.

Credit: Amy Lewis / WTML

Barn owls are often seen hunting among the new trees and nest in boxes put up for them.

Credit: Jonathan Coombes / WTML

More than half a million trees have been planted at Heartwood Forest since 2008.

Credit: Judith Parry / WTML

Displays of bluebells bring the ancient woodland alive each spring.

Credit: Judith Parry / WTML

Be part of Heartwood's future

Heartwood came into our care in 2008. Since then, and with the help of volunteers, local people and supporters from around the UK, we've planted more than half a million trees here.

But it's an evolving landscape, and one that still needs your support.

Credit: Judith Parry / WTML

Trees for people

We aimed big, and in 2019 completed the planting of 600,000 trees thanks to a huge community effort. We've created a free, natural space for everyone to enjoy. The young forest offers an escape from city life. And it gives all the chance to reconnect with nature.

Heartwood Forest is the largest new native forest in England - planted by people, for people. 

Trees for wildlife

By planting trees here, we're transforming a site with little wildlife value into beautiful broadleaved woodland. It connects Heartwood's remnants of ancient and established woodland with the wider countryside and provides a protected home for a wealth of important wildlife.

You make our work possible

We can't do any of this without you. We have thousands more special woods like Heartwood, all over the UK, which we work tirelessly to care for and restore.

Your donation will help us keep woods open for people to enjoy and wildlife to thrive in, whatever you can give.

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Visit for yourself

A Woodland Trust Wood

Heartwood Forest

Sandridge

346.72 ha (856.75 acres)

Explore this wood

Blog

Woodland Walks with Adam Shaw - Heartwood, St Albans

Adam Shaw  •  28 May 2019

Adam Shaw hosts the new Woodland Trust podcast – Woodland Walks. Our debut episode explores the largest new native woodland in England, Heartwood Forest.