Forest Carbon develops the first ever grown in Britain partner woodland

The Grown in Britain initiative has announced the launch of its first partner woodland, a 55ha planting near Cranborne in Dorset. The new woodland project brings together industry and landowners to expand UK woodland cover, capture carbon and produce sustainable timber.

Grown in Britain was launched in 2013 and seeks to increase the use and supply of sustainably sourced UK timber. The new woodland marks a major milestone in the initiative and comes about as a result of voluntary carbon mitigation funding provided by Weston-Super-Mare based fuel distributor, BWOC.

The carbon woodland was developed and certified under the UK Woodland Carbon Code by Forest Carbon Ltd, with BWOC purchasing over 21,000 tonnes of carbon capture credits to help finance the project. BWOC has a long term programme of supporting UK woodland creation in recognition of its own and its customers’ carbon footprint. Located at Cranborne Estate, the new woodland has seen the planting of 123,000 native and coniferous trees and will be managed to encourage biodiversity and provide a source of high quality home-grown timber. Timber harvested at Cranborne for use in UK markets will support ongoing management of the woodland while highlighting its dual value – both as an environmental and economic asset.

Dougal Driver, Chief Executive of Grown in Britain, said; “Grown in Britain continues to gain momentum in the UK, and we’re delighted to be launching the initiative’s first ever partner woodland at Cranborne. Demand for high quality timber continues to increase and we’re seeing more and more big brands – and their customers – trying to source wood products from suppliers based in the UK. “To meet demand, we need to plant more woodland, and that’s exactly what is happening at Cranborne with help from Forest Carbon and carbon mitigation funding from BWOC. That’s good news for UK suppliers, the forest economy, wildlife and local people who enjoy spending time in our woods.”

BWOC’s Managing Director, Mark Wayne, said; “Cranborne is one of seven carbon woodlands we have supported and our staff and customers have responded incredibly well to this ongoing commitment. What we particularly liked about Cranborne was its productive element – the chance to contribute to creating a woodland that would be able to ensure its own permanence through the sustainable extraction of timber.”

Stephen Prior, Director of Forest Carbon, said: "We have been developing new woodlands in the UK for corporate carbon programmes for 8 years now, and wholly endorse the aims of the Grown In Britain campaign. We are pleased to be its carbon project delivery partner. We have been working with BWOC since 2010 and their forward thinking approach to business - voluntarily restoring the services that nature can offer the country - from carbon capture, to sustainable timber, to flood mitigation - is exemplary."