We are pleased to publish Sylva Foundation’s Annual Report for 2025–26, reflecting on a year of practical achievement and looking ahead to an exciting new chapter for the charity.
Throughout the year, our work remained focused on two closely connected ambitions: better stewardship of Britain’s forests and greater use and appreciation of home-grown timber. As an independent charity, Sylva works to turn knowledge into action through research, digital tools, education, collaboration and advocacy.
Understanding Britain’s woodlands
One of the year’s highlights was the 2025 British Woodlands Survey. Nearly 500 people contributed, representing 1.3 million hectares of woodland and providing valuable evidence about the experiences, concerns and priorities of those caring for Britain’s forests. This completed a unique ten-year series of surveys, helping us understand how woodland management has changed and how land managers are responding to growing pressures from climate change, pests, diseases, deer and grey squirrels.
We also continued to develop myForest, our free digital platform supporting sustainable woodland management, and expanded Forest Lab, which brings woodland owners and scientists together to gather evidence from privately owned woodlands.
Supporting skills and a stronger wood culture
Our Wood School continued to broaden access to woodworking and help people develop practical skills, confidence and routes into employment, further training and professional practice.
At the Sylva Wood Centre, we supported a thriving community of wood-based businesses and continued to demonstrate the potential of local timber, skilled making and collaborative enterprise. This work is central to our ambition to strengthen the connections between resilient forests, skilled people and thriving markets for home-grown wood.
A strong foundation for the future
Sylva generated income of £863,806 during the year and recorded a surplus of £31,888. This provides a sound foundation, although we remain mindful of the need to manage unrestricted income, liquidity and future commitments carefully.
The year also marked the conclusion of our 2021–26 strategy and the development of an ambitious new strategy for 2026–31. It will connect our work across research, woodland stewardship, education and enterprise more closely, enabling Sylva to provide increasingly targeted support and help strengthen the entire home-grown woodchain.
We enter this next phase with optimism, a clear sense of purpose and a renewed commitment to practical action. None of the year’s achievements would have been possible without our staff, trustees, volunteers, partners, funders, donors, learners and the businesses and individuals who make up the Wood Centre community.
Thank you to everyone who has supported our work.
