Uniting in a shared vision: supporting the Woodland Trust in preserving ancient UK woodlands

Part of being a responsible organisation is ensuring we care not only for our colleagues and our customers, but for our communities and the planet too. That’s why we’re proud that E.ON Next is working with the Woodland Trust to help preserve the UK’s ancient woodlands for future generations.

For every customer who signs up to a fixed term tariff with E.ON Next, we automatically make a one-off donation to the Woodland Trust, at no extra cost to the customer. And E.ON Next has made a commitment to donating at least £500,000 through the partnership.

We spoke to Diane Richens, Corporate Fundraiser for the Woodland Trust, about the history of the charity, its current challenges and what’s coming next. And why partnerships like the one with E.ON Next are so important.

Can you tell us a bit about the Woodland Trust – how and why was it formed and what are its main aims? 

We’re the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity. Kenneth Watkins OBE founded the Trust in 1972 to address the decline of our woods over the last century. Our vision is a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature. We protect irreplaceable habitat so we can prevent nature loss ensuring a healthier future for everyone.

The Trust stands up for woodland and habitat restoration throughout the UK. Through our conservation work we bring damaged ancient woods back to life and restore ecosystems. We create native woods and plant trees to benefit nature, climate and people, now and for the future.

The Woodland Trust believes that all people should benefit from trees, whatever their background, identity, ability or circumstance.

What would you say have been the Woodland Trust’s main achievements so far? 

We’re in it for the long haul. Our people and supporters are our greatest strengths. With the support of over 500,000 members and supporters, our corporate partners, and the wider public, we now own and care for more than 1,000 woods across the UK covering more than 30,000 hectares. This includes a mix of ancient semi-natural woodland, as well as non-native plantations on ancient woodland sites that we’re restoring. We’ve planted more than 68.5 million trees and aim to plant 50 million more in the next five years. 

Rainforests are one of the most biodiverse habitats in the UK and we care for special rainforest sites across the UK’s western seaboard. Our work to protect the UK’s temperate rainforests is just one example of the vital conservation work we are doing every day to protect, enhance and restore the UK’s native woodland for the benefit of wildlife and people.

We want to make sure everyone in the UK has the chance to plant a tree. Through our Community Tree Pack scheme, offering free trees to schools and community groups, we’ve worked with thousands of people who are actively planting in their local communities. Together, we’ll get more trees in the ground.

What are the main challenges you face? 

Threats to woodland, wildlife and the wider environment are growing. Our trees and woods face a challenging combination of pressures, from humans, pests and diseases. Hundreds of ancient woods are threatened by development. Ancient woods and trees in particular are some of our most valuable natural assets. They are irreplaceable and home to many vulnerable and threatened species.

The Woodland Trust’s State of the UK’s Woods & Trees report shows that as well as being the least wooded country in Europe, only 7% of what we have left is in good ecological condition. We believe there should be no further loss of ancient woodland and ancient trees.

Do you feel people’s attitudes towards woodland, nature and conservation in their local communities has changed over recent years and if so, how?

I do think the way we perceive woodland, nature and conservation has changed in recent years. The pandemic made many people more aware of the importance of green spaces and created a stronger desire to protect them. We became more connected to natural spaces, but it also highlighted the inequalities in access to nature, prompting a desire and a need to do more.

It’s a privilege for me to work for an organisation that can help, and which allows me to work with partners like E.ON Next who want to join us in addressing these challenges.

Why do you think corporate partnerships are important to the Woodland Trust? 

As much as people and the planet need nature, so do businesses. There is no business or a healthy economy without it. Trees are now considered to be one of the key solutions to the climate crisis and, as the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity, we understand our role in addressing this.

Our society and the nature we depend on needs strong partnerships which can unlock the funding needed to make positive impacts at scale and address the crises we now face. Strong partnerships with huge potential, like the one we have with E.ON Next, provide essential funding that helps us to plant more trees, protect ancient woodland and restore natural habitats.

But it doesn’t stop there. E.ON Next are not only committed to supporting the UK’s woods and trees, but as such a well-known organisation, they amplify our voice, raising awareness with their customers how important this work is. By reaching a far wider audience, E.ON Next are allowing us to educate, inspire and enable people to engage with our work and really show how their individual support and actions can help make a difference.

Can you describe how the partnership with E.ON Next came about and what is special about this initiative? 

E.ON Next are committed to sustainability and wanted to talk to us about how we could work together, in partnership, to help restore the UK’s ancient woodland.

It began with a walk through one of our irreplaceable ancient woodlands at Martinshaw Wood in Leicestershire, where we showcased the vital importance of our work and the lasting impact their support can make. Ancient woodland covers just 2.5% of the UK and cannot be recreated once lost. These remarkable ecosystems – home to living legends in the form of ancient trees – are the richest and most complex terrestrial habitats we have.

Martinshaw Wood was the perfect place to demonstrate the rich tapestry of ancient woodland and the impact and importance of restoring our ancient woods. A vast and picturesque site, steeped in history, Martinshaw might be one of the woods mentioned in the Domesday Book and features what was potentially an Iron Age enclosure. The Woodland Trust purchased the site in 1986 and we have been restoring it to its former glory ever since.

Whilst demonstrating Martinshaw’s incredible array of ancient trees, diverse wildlife and rich habitats to our partners at E.ON Next, we also had the opportunity to witness their passion and commitment to restoring these precious, ancient sites.

By partnering with E.ON Next,  we are uniting in a shared vision: a future where woods and trees thrive for both people and nature. Working alongside those who are as passionate and committed as we are makes this collaboration truly special.  And I think what is especially exciting for me about this partnership is the potential for it to grow intro a truly strategic partnership, that will allow us to focus funds where they’re needed most in our conservation work, for the greatest impact for people and wildlife.

Do you have any advice for other organisations looking to partner with the Woodland Trust? 

Talk to us! Come and see for yourselves the tangible difference you can make to our natural environment, wildlife and people. I’m convinced you’ll feel inspired and assured that you can make a lasting difference for our planet and people.

We pride ourselves on the strategic relationships we forge with our partners, some of whom have been working with us for more than 20 years. Our partners are as committed as we are to tackling the climate and nature crisis with sustainable, long-term initiatives and ensuring a positive impact on people’s health and wellbeing.

Please describe the Woodland Trust in three words. 

Optimistic, passionate, determined.

About E.ON Next and the Woodland Trust

E.ON Next automatically makes a one-off donation to the Woodland Trust on behalf of every customer who signs up to a fixed term tariff, at no extra cost to the customer. And E.ON Next has committed to donating at least £500,000 to the Woodland Trust through the partnership.

To find out more about the partnership between E.ON Next and the Woodland Trust, visit: eonnext.com/woodland-trust

The Woodland Trust is a charity registered in England and Wales (No. 294344) and in Scotland (No. SC038885). 

Photo credits: Richard Faulks / WTML