The National Forest Company

Analysis

The National Forest Company is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Derbyshire. It was registered in April 2016, 10 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, the advancement of health or saving of lives and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02991970). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending March 2026, The National Forest Company reported income of £11.2m and spending of £10.4m, spending 93% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2022 to March 2026, income grew from £5.8m to £11.2m (+92%), an average of +18% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 110%. Over the whole period it spent 83% of the income it received.

Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, The National Forest Company sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Tonbridge and Malling Leisure Trust (£11.2m), Fire Fighters Charity (£11.2m) and The Field Lane Foundation (£11.2m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 84% and charitable activities 15%. Charitable activities took 92% of spending and raising funds 7.1%. Grants to other organisations totalled £1.9m. Reserves of £1.5m would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 42 people.