The beginning of 2025 has seen some positive developments for forestry, and our industry has seen the release of a key annual report. Woodland creation is essential for the UK to meet its targets – both for forest coverage goals and to help us continue to meet our emission reduction targets. The new initiatives and the widespread support they have received across industry are a welcome step forward to drive change in the UK, and something we here at Woodsure wholeheartedly support. February also saw the release of Defra’s annual emissions report, which we shared with you when it was published, but keep reading for more information or if you missed the initial news. 

Over the coming month, we will be launching the Woodsure Hub. Here, you will be able to manage your business listing on the Woodsure website and easily pay for your annual certification on the scheme. We will be focusing the sending of login details to those businesses with upcoming renewals, so look out for emails from us with your login details and instructions. 

A new Tree Planting Taskforce was launched late last year with the aim of overseeing tree-planting across the UK in a united, expert-led way. The first mission the Taskforce face is to find new, innovative ways to push forward the UK’s tree planting targets. Forestry ministers from the four nations chair this new Taskforce, and I look forward to seeing their work across the UK alongside key delivery partners. 

In similar news, the future for forestry is beginning to look a little bit brighter with the recent announcement of the Western Forest. This is the first of three planned national forests to be created across the UK, and a great initiative to help us meet our woodland coverage targets. Let us not forget that the UK is one of the least-covered nations across Europe, with an average coverage of just 13.5%. Find out more about the Western Forest and how it can help us meet our planting targets in our article. 

Defra’s annual emissions report was published earlier this year, and this year’s estimates have highlighted the brilliant progress the wood fuel industry has continued to make. The figures show domestic combustion emissions (something that, by government definition, encompasses a wide range of both regulated and unregulated practices) have fallen below road transport emissions, with a significant improvement on the year prior. Delve into the details in our news article, and read more about how we can continue to make positive progress. 

An expert-led review was recently published by Defra, following three years of research. The publication is a comprehensive review on how the UK communicates air quality information and how things can be improved, utilising our state-of-the-art monitoring capabilities, covering a wide range of causes of poor air quality, and the impact it can have on the public. The way air quality information is shared, communicated, and explained are critiqued, and some suggestions provided in this report mirror efforts we regularly make across industry. Our deep dive reveals more, and we will continue our work, alongside our sister company HETAS, to drive accessible, understandable education across our sector. 

The confirmed sightings of Ips typographus last Summer on Sitka spruce have prompted scientific research, confirming warnings from the wider forestry industry: the pest will feed on fallen spruce just as readily as it will feed on Norway spruce. Read here to find out what this means for British forestry and what the government is advising to prevent the spread. 

Earlier this March we celebrated International Women’s Day, this time speaking with women from across the wood fuel industry to find out what this year’s theme of ‘Accelerating Action’ means to them. Our sister company, HETAS, also spoke to some incredible women from the solid fuel and biomass industry to learn more. It’s excellent that women across our industry feel empowered, and the Woodsure team celebrated again using the brilliant resources from the IWD website. 

There has also been more successful news for compliance, with an individual and their company prosecuted after they illegally felled a large area of protected woodlands. It is essential that we, alongside the wider forestry industry, encourage compliance and follow the relevant guidelines and legislation. The Forestry Commission’s investigation ensured woodlands across the UK can continue to be protected and the best behaviours are encouraged.