UK Woodlands Worth £276 Billion as Natural Capital Accounts Reveal Economic Value of Trees

The Office for National Statistics has released comprehensive natural capital accounts for UK woodlands, providing the most detailed assessment to date of how Britain’s forests and trees contribute economically and socially to the nation. The 2025 accounts reveal that English woodlands alone were valued at £276.1 billion in 2022 (at 2023 prices), demonstrating the substantial financial contribution of natural woodland assets to the wider economy.

Natural capital accounts quantify the economic value of environmental assets—in this case, woodlands—by measuring both their physical extent and the ecosystem services they provide. These services range from carbon sequestration and water filtration to recreational benefits and biodiversity support. By placing financial values on these services, the ONS provides policymakers and economists with data to inform decisions about land use, conservation spending, and environmental regulation.

One of the most significant findings is the substantial increase in UK woodland coverage over recent decades. Between 1990 and 2024, the area of woodland expanded from 2.5 million hectares (representing 10% of total UK land area) to 3.3 million hectares (now 13% of land). This 32% increase reflects decades of government forest policy and private sector planting initiatives aimed at expanding tree cover and meeting climate commitments.

The latest planting figures show momentum is continuing. During 2024-25, approximately 16,000 hectares of newly created woodland were reported across the UK, alongside 16,000 hectares of publicly funded woodland restocking. In England specifically, new planting is accelerating, with 1,612 hectares established in the first half of 2025-26, compared to 1,324 hectares in the same period the previous year.

The accounts also document improvements in woodland management standards. At 31 March 2025, the UK had 1.44 million hectares of certified woodland—representing 44% of total woodland area. Certification ensures woodlands are managed sustainably according to recognised environmental and social standards. In England, 57% of all woodland (755,000 hectares) was considered sustainably managed as of September 2025.

Certification levels vary considerably across the UK nations. Scotland leads with 60% of its woodland certified, followed by Northern Ireland at 56%, Wales at 48%, and England at 23%. These variations reflect different forest management histories, public ownership structures, and investment in woodland certification programmes.

Woodlands play a vital role in the UK’s climate commitments by sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The Woodland Carbon Code—a voluntary standard for woodland creation projects—has registered 762 validated projects across the UK. These projects are projected to sequester 13.0 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over their lifetime of up to 100 years, equivalent to approximately 1.8 tonnes per hectare annually. Scotland accounts for the majority of this sequestration capacity (10.8 million tonnes), followed by England (1.6 million tonnes), Wales (548,000 tonnes), and Northern Ireland (70,000 tonnes).

Beyond carbon storage, the natural capital accounts measure multiple ecosystem services. According to the 2025 accounts, recreation and health benefits from woodland visits represent significant asset values, with woodland habitats providing mental health benefits, physical activity opportunities, and community wellbeing gains. Woodlands also improve water quality, reduce flooding risk, support biodiversity, and provide timber and other materials for economic activity.

These accounts provide crucial evidence for environmental and economic policymaking. The £276 billion valuation of England’s woodlands demonstrates that tree cover constitutes a substantial natural asset, comparable in scale to significant manufactured infrastructure. This valuation supports arguments for investment in forestry and land management as part of broader economic strategy.

The data also highlights the interdependence between environmental goals and economic activity. Sustainable woodland management can simultaneously deliver climate benefits, recreational value, biodiversity conservation, and timber production—multiple benefits from single land-use decisions.

For Kent residents and businesses, these natural capital accounts have practical relevance. Kent’s strategic importance as a transport and trade hub—with major ports at Dover and Folkestone, and HS1 rail links connecting the county to London and Europe—means environmental management directly affects local air and water quality. Expanding woodland cover across Kent and the South East can support regional climate adaptation, improve public health through increased access to green space, and enhance the county’s landscape value for residents and tourism.

Additionally, with climate change increasingly affecting weather patterns and flooding risk in low-lying areas like Kent, the flood-mitigation benefits of woodland expansion offer concrete local protection. As the UK Government continues to pursue afforestation targets, Kent communities and landowners may benefit from grant schemes supporting woodland creation and management, presenting opportunities for diversified land use and long-term environmental investment.

Key Takeaways

• UK woodland coverage has expanded from 2.5 million hectares in 1990 to 3.3 million hectares in 2024, increasing from 10% to 13% of total land area
• English woodlands were valued at £276.1 billion in natural capital assets in 2022, reflecting their economic contribution through ecosystem services
• Woodland carbon sequestration projects are projected to store 13 million tonnes of CO2 over their lifetime, supporting UK climate commitments
• 44% of UK woodland is now certified as sustainably managed, with continued momentum in new planting and forestry investment across all four nations