National Expert-Based Assessments: UK

This report provides a national expert-based assessment of forest restoration in the United Kingdom, documenting the development of restoration approaches, objectives and outcomes over time. It examines the historical condition and extent of UK woodlands and the main drivers that have shaped their development, including afforestation, timber production, changes in land use and the increasing recognition of the ecological value of native and ancient woodlands.

The report reviews forest restoration across two broad periods. The first covers the period before 1990, when restoration was largely focused on rebuilding woodland cover and securing timber supplies, alongside the gradual development of woodland conservation measures. The second considers developments from around 1990 onwards, when restoration increasingly incorporated biodiversity conservation, the improvement of woodland condition, restoration of priority habitats, habitat connectivity, natural regeneration, rewilding and the restoration of natural processes.

It describes the principal policies, programmes and practical measures used to restore and protect woodland, including woodland creation, conservation designations, management of ancient and semi-natural woodland, restoration of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites, removal of invasive species, enhancement of deadwood and natural regeneration, and landscape-scale restoration initiatives. The report also considers the roles of public and private woodland ownership, funding, monitoring and certification.

The assessment evaluates the results, successes and challenges of forest restoration in the UK, including changes in woodland cover and the ecological condition of woodlands. It identifies progress alongside persistent challenges such as limited woodland expansion, the condition and continued threats to ancient woodland, invasive species, grazing pressure, inappropriate management and constraints on funding and implementation.