The Woodland Trust

Analysis

The Woodland Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Grantham. It was registered in May 1986, 40 years ago. Its declared purposes cover environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under environment and conservation. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01982873). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides buildings/facilities/open space.

In the financial year ending May 2025, The Woodland Trust reported income of £89.4m and spending of £72.4m, spending 81% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from May 2021 to May 2025, income grew from £87.5m to £89.4m (+2.2%), an average of +0.5% a year. Over the whole period it spent 84% of the income it received.

Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, The Woodland Trust sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include WWF - UK (£89.3m), The Royal Parks [limited] (£109.9m) and Bre Trust (£64.8m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 72%, charitable activities 22%, trading 3.8% and investments 2.2%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £24.1m. Charitable activities took 84% of spending and raising funds 15%. Reserves of £41.8m would cover about 7 months of spending at that rate. It employed 568 people.