Frequently asked questions about gifts in wills

How will my gift be used?

If you choose to kindly leave a gift in your will to the Woodland Trust, you can rest assured that it will be received gratefully and spent wisely, where it will make a real difference for the health of woods, trees, wildlife and people. Currently, well over 80p in every pound goes directly to our cause.

We are extremely thankful for all gifts in wills. Those without restrictions are particularly vital as they enable us to act where most urgently needed.

Your will is all about ensuring your wishes really count and you can restrict your legacy to whatever you want - a particular region, wood or activity, for example. If you have something very specific in mind, please do get in touch to talk it through before making your will.

Can you provide legal advice about the wording of my will?

We are sorry but unfortunately the Woodland Trust is unable to offer any legal or financial advice and we strongly recommend you obtain your own independent professional advice. We hope you can appreciate that your will must be exactly that – yours – and not influenced in any way.

Your will should accurately reflect exactly what you want to happen. A will is a legal document and, quite rightly, any conditions within need to be met before the legacy would be released. Just let your legal adviser know exactly what you want and they will ensure that your wishes are clearly expressed.

I don’t have much. Is there a minimum I can leave?

We are very grateful for each and every gift. Even the smallest gifts can make a real impact – just think what planting a single tree can do – and of course together, all gifts really add up and enable us to make a powerful difference.

How do you record and acknowledge legacy gifts?

Every kind individual who has chosen to remember our work in their will is acknowledged in our remembrance books displayed in our central office. We are happy to consider individual wishes regarding acknowledgement.

With permission, we are keen to share stories via our website, newsletters and other communications about what gifts have helped achieve, including precious wildlife habitats created, rescued and restored, trees and new woodlands planted and advances made in the fight against pests and diseases.

We will only ever mention the specific value of the gift with explicit permission and respect all requests for anonymity.

Can trees or woodland be dedicated in my will?

Yes, absolutely. Trees and woodland are a wonderful living legacy. We offer dedications from a single tree to quarter acres and full acres across the UK in carefully selected woods. Please note that as we want our woodland to be as natural as possible, these are not marked in any way. If you would like a dedication which carries a personalised plaque, you can dedicate an acre with a bench or post.

Please bear in mind that trees and woodland are only dedicated once and are of course limited, therefore we cannot guarantee that a particular wood or area within it will be available in the future. Also, as you would expect, the suggested donation levels for dedications will change over time. Current information is available on our website as a guide only.

Please ensure that your wishes regarding location and type of dedication are clearly described within your will.

Can I talk to you about leaving a gift in my will?

Absolutely. Our gifts in wills team would be very happy to talk with you.

If you have any questions or simply wish to chat in confidence about legacy giving, please get in touch.

Call us on

0330 333 3300

Email us at

giftsinwills@woodlandtrust.org.uk

Or write to

Gifts in Wills team
The Woodland Trust
Kempton Way
Grantham
Lincolnshire
NG31 6LL

If you are interested in a particular region, do please let us know and we will ensure you are contacted by the relevant regionally-based gifts in wills officer.

How do I choose a professional adviser to draft my will?

The Law Society can provide a list of local solicitors.

I live in Scotland. Are there different rules?

There are some important differences between the laws regarding wills in Scotland. If you live in Scotland or have assets in Scotland, then we encourage you to seek the advice of a legal adviser who understands Scottish probate law. Do not worry, there is no need to have two wills, but you will need to understand certain differences; such as the way your will is signed, or rights concerning children, the status of cohabitating couples and generally provisions around changes in domestic circumstances.

I live abroad. Are there any legal implications on leaving a gift in my will?

Each country has its own rules about how to create a valid legacy and its tax implications. As the laws and regulations vary so widely, we strongly recommend you consult independent professional legal and financial advisers.

Do you allow ashes to be scattered in your woods?

We completely understand why family and friends may wish to scatter ashes in our beautiful woods. However, there are very important environmental reasons to be mindful of where ashes are scattered in woodland and unfortunately, not all our woods are suitable. We can help you find the perfect resting place which won’t harm vulnerable habitats. 

Do you need to know that I’m leaving a gift in my will to the Woodland Trust?

If you are happy to do so, we would be very grateful if you would let us know. Being aware of your kind intentions helps us communicate with you better and we would like to thank you for your generous gesture. However, please be assured that letting us know that you are considering, or have included, the Woodland Trust in your will is not legally binding in any way.

Call us on

0330 333 3300

Email us at

giftsinwills@woodlandtrust.org.uk

Or write to

Gifts in Wills team
The Woodland Trust
Kempton Way
Grantham
Lincolnshire
NG31 6LL

Can you be my executor?

The Trust would certainly be willing to be your executor and is privileged to be thought of in such a high regard.

However, we would be remiss if we did not encourage everyone to appoint executors they know well where possible. These could be professional advisers, family or friends, or a combination. In our experience, such executors are often better positioned to deal with immediate wishes, especially around funeral arrangements.

We would also like to let you know that when appointed as an executor, the Trust always instructs a local firm of solicitors to undertake the role on its behalf. Executorship is often complex and technical, and unfortunately we don't have the expert resources required in-house. Please be assured we very carefully consider the firms we use for this purpose.

This does mean that there will be a cost associated with undertaking executorship, which will come from the estate, but we do our utmost to keep these costs to a minimum. If you are happy with these arrangements and still wish to appoint the Trust as executors, we would be grateful if you could please let us know.

Can I leave my pension in my will?

Upon death, the whole value of the pension scheme becomes payable to nominated beneficiary/beneficiaries in the expression of wish form. Should you wish to do so, you can nominate the Woodland Trust to receive a percentage of the funds remaining in your pension. The pension company will release the funds according to your nominations in due course.

Please note that from April 2027, pensions will fall into the scope of inheritance tax and the value of pension pots will be added to the total value of other assets. If they are above the inheritance tax threshold of £325,000, aside from other exemptions, they’ll be taxed in the same way.

Will leaving a legacy help me avoid inheritance tax?

Inheritance tax is a 40% tax applied on your estate after death. The first £325,000 of your estate is tax free and gifts to a registered charity like the Woodland Trust are exempt transfers. This means that inheritance tax is not payable on anything you leave to charity and it won’t count towards the total taxable value of your estate. You can also cut the inheritance tax rate on the rest of your estate from 40% to 36% if you leave at least 10% of your net estate to charity. There are also a number of exemptions and reliefs available to minimise the inheritance tax burden, including the residence nil-rate band of £175,000 which can be claimed if eligible.

Please note that tax rates and regulations do change. The above was correct as of October 2024. We strongly recommend that you seek professional independent advice.

Do you offer a free will service?

We do have limited free will offers. If you wish to know more about these, please contact us:

Call us on

0330 333 3300

Email us at

giftsinwills@woodlandtrust.org.uk

Or write to

Gifts in Wills team
The Woodland Trust
Kempton Way
Grantham
Lincolnshire
NG31 6LL