Wood for the Trees

About Us

Wood for the Trees is a series about the future of UK forests, from film-maker & outdoor educator Charly Le Marchant and Vastern Timber managing director Tom Barnes

A better future for our forests?

Series One was filmed 2019 - 2021.

Series Two launched in 2022.

Tom & Charly visit woodlands to meet experts to discuss the future for British trees, timber, woods and woodland.

They look at forest management and resilient woodlands; discuss how to value the health benefits of trees; consider "woodland culture" and small woodland management; find out about the research work of the Future Trees Trust. The series looks at agroforestry, sustainable forestry, biodiversity and the trees in a rewilding landscape.

Many thanks to all our guests for taking part.

Series Two animations by Robin Lane Roberts

Series One (2019-2022)

Ideas to help Britain's Forests Grow

A five minute film of expert suggestions to help our forests grow. In the run-up to COP26, hosted in the UK. we collated ideas from a range of perspectives to help our forests thrive.

Part Ten: Rewilding, regenerating the treescape

Part ten of 'Wood for the Trees' was filmed at the Knepp estate in West Sussex. Professor Alastair Driver, director of Rewilding Britain says "you don't need to plant here, trees will find their way." Film-maker Charly Le Marchant finds out how trees fit into the rewilding story.

Part Nine: Sustainable forestry, the need for nurture

Filmed in May 2021 at the Bathurst estate, with forest manager Graham Taylor MBE, of Pryor & Rickett. Generations of forest management at Bathurst has resulted in a productive woodland of exceptionally tall straight trees. Graham says that active woodland management boosts biodiversity, as well as delivering valuable timber.

Part Eight: Growing improved trees for timber and low carbon construction

Featuring the Future Trees Trust, this episode looks at research to find the best genetic materials and test seed sources for future forests. Dr Jo Clark explains the process of studying how families of trees grow in different settings, and selecting the genetic material for new trees that are most likely to grow and thrive.

Part Seven: Agroforestry, the benefits of growing trees on farms

We visit Vallis Veg, an eco-friendly smallholding in Somerset, and find out how planting trees has benefited their farmland. Chris and Cordelia have established an eco-farm and wild campsite on former agricultural land. Planting trees on their farm has provide multiple benefits, including providing a space for Shared Earth Learning forest school. Chris Smaje is the author of 'Small Farm Future'.

Part Six: Small Woodlands: Challenges and opportunities

At the Hillyfield Woodland farm, small woodland owner Doug King Smith explains some of the challenges in restoring small woodlands. Problems with diseases and pests and issues with the planning system have not been easy to deal with, but Hillyfield is now considered a "first class case study" in small woodland management.

Part Five: Recreating a Woodland Culture

Dr Gabriel Hemery of the Sylva Foundation discusses 'Woodland Culture' and how society relates to woods and woodland. He calls for all children to have access to Forest School and discusses the work going on at the Sylva Wood Foundation, to help people and trees grow together.

Part Four: Valuing the Health Benefits of Trees

Suzi Martineau, one of the founders of The Tree Conference, discusses the health benefits of being around trees. Tom Barnes asks how society could put a value on the benefits we feel from being surrounded by healthy trees and woodland.

Part Three: Resilient Woodland

At the Dartington estate, we talk to forester Jez Ralph, Director of Timber Strategies about the history of forestry in the UK, and what the term 'resilient woodland' means. He discusses the benefits of mixed planting, and how to create resilient woodlands in a changing climate.

Part Two: The importance of woodland management

Dougal Driver, CEO of Grown in Britain, talks about how British woodland can produce timber, "an amazing material" for low carbon construction, and he outlines the processes and benefits of woodland management.

Part One What's the future for our forests?

Tom Barnes is managing director and 4th generation owner of Vastern Timber, sawmills that specialise in processing British grown timber. He hopes future generations can continue to work with locally grown wood. Tom says UK woodlands are in peril, maybe at a tipping point, but there's an opportunity to captialise on the political will and public interest to 'plant more trees' and begin a period of great afforestation.

12 Ideas to Help Britain's Forests Grow

This film collates 12 suggestions, from the experts we met in series one. Produced for COP26 in 2021.

Films about the future of UK forests

New film: What is holding back woodland creation?

The story so far