## Forestry Statistics 2019

A compendium of statistics about woodland, forestry and primary wood processing in the United Kingdom Release date: 
26 September 2019 
Coverage: 
United Kingdom Coverage: 
Country (where possible) 

Issued by:  
Forest Research 231 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, EH12 7AT 
Enquiries:    
Robert Stagg 0300 067 5238 statistics@forestresearch.gov.uk  
Statistician: 
Sheila Ward 0300 067 5236 
Website:    
www.forestresearch.gov.uk/statistics/ 

## Contents

Introduction ........................................................................................... 5 
Chapter 1: Woodland Area and Planting 
..................................................... 8 
Introduction ........................................................................................ 8 Key findings ........................................................................................ 9 
1.1 Woodland Area 
.............................................................................. 
10 
1.2 Certified woodland area 
.................................................................. 
16 
1.3 Land use 
....................................................................................... 
18 
1.4 National Forest Inventory ............................................................... 
20 
1.5 Area of Farm Woodland .................................................................. 
37 
1.6 New planting and publicly funded restocking ..................................... 
39 
1.7 Felling 
.......................................................................................... 
52 
Chapter 2: UK-Grown Timber .................................................................. 
57 
Introduction ....................................................................................... 
57 
Key findings ....................................................................................... 
58 
2.1 Wood production ........................................................................... 
59 
2.2 Deliveries of UK-grown roundwood................................................... 
68 
2.3 Sawmills - All Mills ......................................................................... 
73 
2.4 Sawmills - Larger Mills 
.................................................................... 
82 
2.5 Pulp & paper ................................................................................. 
90 
2.6 Wood-based panels 
........................................................................ 
93 
2.7 Miscellaneous products 
................................................................... 
98 
2.8 Exports 
....................................................................................... 
101 
2.9 Certification ................................................................................ 
102 
2.10 Woodfuel and pellets .................................................................. 
105 
Chapter 3: Trade ................................................................................. 
110 
Introduction ..................................................................................... 
110 
Key findings ..................................................................................... 
111 
3.1 Apparent consumption of wood in the UK 
........................................ 
112 
3.2 Apparent consumption of wood products in the UK 
........................... 
115 
3.3 Flow of recovered paper ............................................................... 
117 
 
3.4 UK import quantities by product .................................................... 
118 
3.5 UK export quantities by product..................................................... 
120 
3.6 UK import values by product ......................................................... 
122 
3.7 UK export values by product ......................................................... 
124 
3.8 Origin of wood imports ................................................................. 
126 
Chapter 4: Carbon ............................................................................... 
129 
Introduction ..................................................................................... 
129 
Key findings ..................................................................................... 
130 
4.1 Forest carbon stock 
...................................................................... 
131 
4.2 Woodland Carbon Code ................................................................ 
132 
4.3 Public Opinion of Forestry - climate change 
..................................... 
136 
Chapter 5: Environment 
........................................................................ 
138 
Introduction ..................................................................................... 
138 
Key findings ..................................................................................... 
138 
5.1 Populations of wild birds ............................................................... 
139 
5.2 Public Opinion of Forestry - tree health 
........................................... 
142 
5.3 Woodland Fires 
............................................................................ 
145 
Chapter 6: Social ................................................................................. 
147 
Introduction ..................................................................................... 
147 
Key findings ..................................................................................... 
148 
6.1 Visits to woodland - household surveys .......................................... 
149 
6.1.2 Wales 
...................................................................................... 
152 
6.2 Visits to woodland - on-site surveys 
............................................... 
157 
Chapter 7: Employment & Businesses 
..................................................... 
161 
Introduction ..................................................................................... 
161 
Key findings ..................................................................................... 
162 
7.1 Employment: Annual Business Survey (ABS) 
................................... 
163 
7.2 Employment in primary wood processing ........................................ 
164 
7.3 Health & safety 
............................................................................ 
164 
7.4 Establishments in the primary wood processing industries ................ 
167 
7.5 VAT and/or PAYE registered businesses .......................................... 
168 
Chapter 8: Finance & Prices 
................................................................... 
169 

## Introduction

Forestry Statistics is a compilation of statistics on woodland, forestry and primary wood processing in the UK. Where possible, statistical information in this publication covers the whole of the United Kingdom, and is broken down to give figures for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.  However, there are some topics for which data are currently only available for some parts of the UK, and these tables are labelled accordingly. The tables within each chapter (including data for charts), along with longer time series (for some topics) are available to download in spreadsheet format from the Statistics Data Downloads page at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/toolsand-resources/statistics/data-downloads/.  Further information on data sources and methodology are provided in the Sources chapter. Selected statistics from this publication are provided in "Forestry Facts and Figures 2019", available at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-andresources/statistics/forestry-statistics/. We also publish a range of other Official Statistics, available at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/statistics/.  

## Organisational Change

From 1 April 2019, the Forestry Commission's functions in Scotland transferred to Scottish Forestry and to Forestry and Land Scotland.  At the same time, "Forest Enterprise England" was renamed "Forestry England" and remains an agency of the Forestry Commission. The Forestry Commission's functions in Wales transferred to the Welsh Government and to Natural Resources Wales on 1 April 2013. We have used current organisation names throughout this publication, rather than the names of the organisations that existed at the time to which the data refer.  

## Statistical Release Practices

We aim to release statistics as soon as they are available. All of our National Statistics and other Official Statistics publications are available on our website www.forestresearch.gov.uk/statistics/.  Release dates are published on our 
 
website for the year ahead. Publications are made available at 9.30 am on the day of release.  

## Statistical Revisions Policy

Revisions to statistics can occur when further data become available or errors are corrected.  We will normally revise statistics when the figures next appear in any publication.  However, if the revision is significant (i.e. resulting in a major change to the published figures), a note showing the revisions will be published as soon as possible on the Forest Research website and distributed to all known recipients.  In addition, the web versions of any current publications affected will be revised.  See our full revisions policy at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/documents/4355/FCrevisions.pdf for further information.  

## Quality

Summary information on quality is available in the Sources chapter of this publication. More details are provided in quality reports for individual topics, available at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/aboutour-statistics/code-of-practice/quality-of-official-statistics/.  

## Review Of Forestry Statistics

We are currently reviewing Forestry Statistics, to ensure that it meets the needs of users.  Please tell us your views by completing the online survey at www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/NWXKV/ by 31 December 2019.  

## National Statistics Status

National Statistics status means that our statistics meet the highest standards of trustworthiness, quality and public value, and it is our responsibility to maintain compliance with these standards. The continued designation of these statistics (Forestry Statistics and Forestry Facts & Figures) as National Statistics was confirmed in March 2012 following 
 
an assessment by the UK Statistics Authority (now the Office for Statistics Regulation) against the Code of Practice for Statistics. Since the latest assessment of these statistics in 2012, we have made improvements including: 

- Expansion of content to cover data on additional topics, including felling, 
public opinion on tree health and woodland fires. 
- The addition of key findings at the start of each chapter, to provide users 
with a brief overview of the statistics. 
- Provision of more detailed information on the methodology used, 
particularly in relation to the estimation of woodland area. 

## Chapter 1: Woodland Area And Planting Introduction

This chapter contains statistics on: 

- 
UK woodland area;  
- 
certified woodland area;  
- 
areas of new planting and restocking; and  
- 
felling. 
Estimates for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are included in addition to UK totals. International comparisons are provided in the International Forestry chapter. Further information on the data sources and methodology used to compile the figures is provided in the Sources chapter. Figures on woodland area and certified woodland area at March 2019 and on new planting and restocking for the period 2018-19 were previously published in "Provisional Woodland Statistics: 2019 edition", released on 13 June 2019, and have not been revised. Some figures for Statutory Plant Health Notices in previous years have been revised from those previously published. For further details on revisions, see the Woodland Areas and Planting: Felling section of the Sources chapter. A copy of all woodland area and planting tables, along with longer time series (where available) can be accessed in spreadsheet format from the Data Downloads web page at https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-andresources/statistics/data-downloads/. 


The main findings are: 

- The area of woodland in the UK at 31 March 2019 is estimated 
to be 3.19 million hectares. This represents 13% of the total land area in the UK, 10% in England, 15% in Wales, 19% in Scotland and 8% in Northern Ireland.  
- Of the total UK woodland area, 0.86 million hectares (27%) is 
owned or managed by Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales or the Forest Service (in Northern Ireland).  
- The total certified woodland area in the UK at 31 March 2019 is 
1.40 million hectares, including all Forestry England/Forestry and Land Scotland1/Natural Resources Wales/Forest Service woodland. Overall, 44% of the UK woodland area is certified.  
- Thirteen thousand hectares of new woodland were created in 
the UK in 2018-19, with conifers accounting for 60% of this area.  
 A total of 842 sites were served with a Statutory Plant Health Notice in 2018- 19, requiring a total of 3.8 thousand hectares of woodland to be felled.  (This excludes areas felled within the Phytophthora ramorum management zone in south west Scotland, where a Statutory Plant Health Notice is not required). 


## 1.1 Woodland Area

Woodland is defined in UK forestry statistics as land under stands of trees with a canopy cover of at least 20% (25% in Northern Ireland), or having the potential to achieve this. The definition relates to land use, rather than land cover, so integral open space and felled areas that are awaiting restocking are included as woodland. Further information, including how this UK definition compares with the international definition of woodland, is provided in the Sources chapter. Statistics on woodland area are used to inform government policy and resource allocation, to provide context to UK forestry and land management issues and are reported to international organisations. They are also used in the compilation of natural capital accounts. Increases in woodland area result from the creation of new woodland. This can be achieved through new planting or by natural colonisation of trees on land near existing woodland. Further information is available in the section on New Planting. Decreases in woodland area result from the conversion of woodland to other land uses. Regulatory approval is usually required before trees can be felled. Felling approval will normally require the area to be restocked, but there are some cases in which trees may be permanently removed, generally for environmental reasons. The permanent removal of trees may also be authorised under planning regulations, to enable development. Most public sector woodland is managed by Forestry England (FE), Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the Forest Service (FS) in Northern Ireland. Other public sector woodland (e.g. owned by local authorities) is included with privately owned woodland as "private sector" in this release. The Natural Resources Wales woodland areas and land areas shown in this release relate to areas previously owned or managed by Forestry Commission Wales. They exclude any areas previously owned or managed by other parts of Natural Resources Wales, such as the former Environment Agency in Wales and the former Countryside Council for Wales. 


## 1.1.1 Area Of Woodland: 2019

The area of woodland in the UK at 31 March 2019 is estimated to be 3.19 million hectares (Table 1.1). Of this total, 1.5 million hectares (46%) is in Scotland, 1.3 million hectares (41%) is in England, 0.3 million hectares (10%) is in Wales and 0.1 million hectares (4%) is in Northern Ireland. Conifers account for around one half (51%) of the UK woodland area, although this proportion varies from around one quarter (26%) in England to around three quarters (74%) in Scotland. 


thousand hectares 
Forest type and 
ownership1,2 
England 
Wales Scotland 
NI 
UK 
Conifers 

  FE/FLS/NRW/FS  
151 
98 
428 
56 
732 
   Private sector  
189 
54 
645 
11 
899 
   Total 
340 
152 
1 072 
67 
1 631 
Broadleaves 

  FE/FLS/NRW/FS  
64 
19 
41 
7 
131 
   Private sector  
904 
138 
343 
40 
1 426 
   Total 
968 
158 
385 
46 
1 557 
Total 

  FE/FLS/NRW/FS  
215 
117 
469 
62 
863 
   Private sector  
1 093 
192 
988 
51 
2 325 
   Total 
1 308 
309 
1 457 
113 
3 187 

 
Source: Forestry Commission, Forestry England, Scottish Forestry, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, National Forest Inventory. Notes: 
1. FE: Forestry England, FLS: Forestry and Land Scotland, NRW: Natural Resources Wales, FS: Forest 

Service (Northern Ireland). NRW estimates only relate to woodland formerly owned/managed by FC Wales. 
2. Private sector: all other woodland. Includes woodland previously owned/managed by the Countryside 
Council for Wales and the Environment Agency in Wales, other publicly owned woodland (e.g. owned by local authorities) and privately-owned woodland. 
3. Figures for England, Wales and Scotland are based on data obtained from the National Forest 
Inventory (NFI) and adjusted for new planting, but at present no adjustment is made for woodland recently converted to another land use. Further information on how the figures have been estimated is available in the Sources chapter. 
4. Figures for Northern Ireland are obtained from the Northern Ireland Draft Woodland Register. 5. Broadleaves include coppice and coppice with standards. 

## 1.1.2 Area Of Woodland: Changes Over Time

The 3.19 million hectares of woodland in the UK in 2019 represents 13% of the total land area. This comprises 10% in England, 15% in Wales, 19% in Scotland and 8% in Northern Ireland (Table 1.2). 

percentage1 
Year 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
Northern 
Ireland 
UK 
10862 
~15 
.. 
.. 
.. 
.. 
c13502 
~10 
.. 
~4 
.. 
.. 
17thC2,3 
~8 
.. 
~4 
~1.5 
.. 
19053 
5.2 
4.2 
4.5 
1.1 
4.7 
1924 
5.1 
5.0 
5.6 
1.0 
5.0 
19473 
5.8 
6.2 
6.6 
1.7 
5.9 
1965 
6.8 
9.7 
8.4 
3.1 
7.4 
1980 
7.3 
11.6 
11.8 
4.9 
9.0 
1995-99 
8.4 
13.8 
16.4 
6.0 
11.3 
19984 
9.5 
14.4 
16.7 
6.0 
12.0 
20195,6 
10.0 
14.9 
18.7 
8.2 
13.1 

 
Source: Forestry Commission, Forestry England, Scottish Forestry, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, National Forest Inventory. Notes: 
1. Percentage of the total surface area excluding inland water. The total surface areas, excluding inland 

water, are taken from the UK Standard Area Measurements (published by the Office for National Statistics). 
2. Estimates for England and Scotland before 1905 come from a variety of sources, including the 
Domesday Survey of England, Scottish Woodland History (TC Smout ed, 1997) and Roy maps c1750. 
3. For Northern Ireland, 17th century figure is estimate for all Ireland, 1905 figure is estimate for 
Province of Ulster 1908, 1947 figure assumes no change from 1939-40 Census. 
4. 1998 figures shown for England, Wales and Scotland have been revised from those originally 
published to produce estimates that are consistent with subsequent data from the National Forest Inventory. 
5. Figures for England, Wales and Scotland are based on data obtained from the National Forest 
Inventory (NFI) and adjusted for new planting, but at present no adjustment is made for woodland recently converted to another land use. Further information on how the figures have been estimated is available in the Sources chapter. 
6. Figures for Northern Ireland are obtained from the Northern Ireland Draft Woodland Register. 7. .. Denotes data not available. 
These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 
 
Figure 1.1 shows woodland area by country since 1998.  Woodland area in the UK has risen by around 270 thousand hectares since 1998, an increase of 9% over the period. 

Source: Forestry Commission, Forestry England, Scottish Forestry, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, National Forest Inventory. Notes: 
1. Woodland areas for England, Wales and Scotland shown in this figure are based on data from the 

National Forest Inventory. The trends shown take account of areas of new planting and identifiable permanent woodland loss. Areas of woodland loss that are not yet identifiable (e.g. conversion of woodland for the restoration of open habitats) are not accounted for. Further information on the National Forest Inventory is available at https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-andresources/national-forest-inventory/. 
2. Figures for 1998 to 2009 for England, Wales and Scotland were revised from those initially published, 
to produce results that are consistent with the National Forest Inventory and enable comparisons over time. 

## 1.1.3 Woodland Area By Ownership

Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales and the Forest Service in Northern Ireland owned or managed 27% of the total woodland area in the UK in 2019 (Table 1.3). This proportion ranged from 16% of the woodland area in England to 55% in Northern Ireland. 

thousand hectares 
Ownership 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
NI 
UK 
FE/FLS/NRW/FS woodland1 
  
  
  
  
  
   2015 
215 
117 
478 
62 
871 
   2016 
215 
117 
470 
62 
864 
   2017 
214 
117 
469 
62 
863 
   2018 
215 
117 
470 
62 
864 
   2019 
215 
117 
469 
62 
863 
Private sector woodland2 
  
  
  
  
  
   2015 
1 091 
189 
954 
50 
2 283 
   2016 
1 091 
190 
965 
50 
2 295 
   2017 
1 092 
191 
968 
50 
2 301 
   2018 
1 092 
192 
976 
50 
2 310 
   2019 
1 093 
192 
988 
51 
2 325 
Total woodland 
  
  
  
  
  
   2015 
1 305 
306 
1 432 
112 
3 155 
   2016 
1 305 
307 
1 435 
112 
3 159 
   2017 
1 306 
308 
1 438 
112 
3 164 
   2018 
1 307 
309 
1 446 
113 
3 174 
   2019 
1 308 
309 
1 457 
113 
3 187 

 
Source: Forestry Commission, Forestry England, Scottish Forestry, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, National Forest Inventory. Notes: 
1. FE: Forestry England, FLS: Forestry and Land Scotland, NRW: Natural Resources Wales, FS: Forest 

Service (Northern Ireland). NRW estimates only relate to woodland formerly owned/managed by FC Wales. 
2. Private sector: all other woodland. Includes woodland previously owned/managed by the Countryside 
Council for Wales and the Environment Agency in Wales, other publicly owned woodland (e.g. owned by local authorities) and privately owned woodland. 
3. Figures for England, Wales and Scotland are based on data obtained from the National Forest 
Inventory (NFI) and adjusted for new planting, but at present no adjustment is made for woodland recently converted to another land use. Further information on how the figures have been estimated is available in the Sources chapter. 
4. Northern Ireland figures are obtained from the Northern Ireland Draft Woodland Register. 5. Areas as at 31 March.  

## 1.2 Certified Woodland Area

Certified woodland in the UK has been independently audited against the UK Woodland Assurance Standard. Forestry certification schemes are owned by international non-governmental organisations and exist to promote good forest practice. They offer product labels to demonstrate that wood or wood products come from well-managed forests. Figures for certified woodland areas are often used as an indicator of sustainable forest management. However, it should be noted that woodland that is not certified may also be managed sustainably. Most changes to the certified woodland area figures over time are a result of new areas being certified or certificates not being renewed upon expiry. Temporary changes can also occur if there is a time lag between expiry and renewal. 1.40 million hectares of woodland in the UK were certified in March 2019 (Table 1.4). This represented 44% of the total UK woodland area, 25% in England, 47% in Wales, 59% in Scotland and 58% in Northern Ireland. 

Ownership 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
NI 
UK 
FE/FLS/NRW/FS woodland1 
215 
117 
469 
62 
863 
Private sector woodland2 
110 
29 
395 
3 
538 
Total woodland area certified 
325 
146 
864 66 
1 400 

 
Source: Forest Stewardship Council, Forestry Commission, Forestry England, Scottish Forestry, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, National Forest Inventory. Notes: 
1. FE: Forestry England, FLS: Forestry and Land Scotland, NRW: Natural Resources Wales, FS: Forest 

Service (Northern Ireland). NRW estimates only relate to woodland formerly owned/managed by FC Wales. 
2. Private sector: all other woodland. Includes woodland previously owned/managed by the Countryside 
Council for Wales and the Environment Agency in Wales, other publicly owned woodland (e.g. owned by local authorities) and privately owned woodland. 
3. All certified woodland in 2019 is certified under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) scheme. Some 
of these woodlands are also certified under the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) scheme. 
4. The estimates are based on UK data published by FSC, supplemented by data from individual 
certificates and other sources.  Where possible, figures are for the woodland area certified, rather than the land area certified. 
5. All FE/FLS/NRW/FS woodland is certified. The FE/FLS/NRW/FS areas are the latest areas, as shown in 
Table 1.1, rather than the areas shown on the certificates. 
 Data: Longer time series of the above table are available from the Data Downloads webpage. 

 

Notes: 
1. All certified woodland is certified under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) scheme. Some of these 
woodlands are also certified under the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) scheme. 
2. The estimates are based on UK data published by FSC, supplemented by data from individual 
certificates and other sources. Where possible, figures are for the woodland area certified, rather than the land area certified. 
3. Figures for earlier years were revised for consistency with results from the National Forest Inventory. 

## 1.3 Land Use

Not all land that is owned or managed by Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales and the Forest Service in Northern Ireland is woodland; other land uses include agricultural land, mountain areas and moorland. The woodland areas and land areas shown for Natural Resources Wales relate to areas previously owned or managed by Forestry Commission Wales. They exclude any areas previously owned or managed by other parts of Natural Resources Wales, such as the former Environment Agency Wales and the former Countryside Council for Wales. Woodland accounted for 79% of all Forestry England/ Forestry and Land Scotland/ Natural Resources Wales/ Forest Service land in the UK at 31 March 2019 (Table 1.5). This proportion was highest in Wales (95%) and lowest in Scotland (74%). 


thousand hectares 
Year 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
Northern 
Ireland 
UK 
Woodland 
  
  
  
  
  
   2015 
215 
117 
478 
62 
871 
   2016 
215 
117 
470 
62 
864 
   2017 
214 
117 
469 
62 
863 
   2018 
215 
117 
470 
62 
864 
   2019 
215 
117 
469 
62 
863 
Other land2 
  
  
  
  
  
   2015 
38 
7 
171 
13 
229 
   2016 
38 
7 
170 
13 
228 
   2017 
39 
7 
169 
13 
227 
   2018 
39 
6 
169 
13 
227 
   2019 
38 
6 
165 
13 
223 
Total land area 

  2015 
253 
124 
649 
75 
1 100 
   2016 
253 
124 
640 
75 
1 092 
   2017 
253 
124 
638 
75 
1 090 
   2018 
253 
123 
639 
75 
1 090 
   2019 
253 
123 
634 
75 
1 085 

 
Source: Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service. Notes: 
1. FE: Forestry England, FLS: Forestry and Land Scotland, NRW: Natural Resources Wales, FS: Forest 

Service (Northern Ireland). NRW estimates only relate to woodland formerly owned/managed by FC Wales. 
2. "Other land" includes agricultural land and areas of moorland and mountain. 3. Areas as at 31 March. 

## 1.4 National Forest Inventory

This section contains interim results from the National Forest Inventory (NFI). The statistics are based on field survey data combined with information from the NFI woodland map, which is a spatial representation of woodland areas in Great Britain. Figures presented in this chapter are interim estimates at 31 March 2012, published in the NFI "50-year forecast of softwood timber availability" and "50- year forecast of hardwood timber availability" reports, released in April 2014. Both reports are available at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-andresources/national-forest-inventory/. The figures presented in Tables 1.6 to 1.9 (and Figures 1.3, 1.4a and 1.4b) relate to stocked areas. These differ from the woodland areas presented in earlier tables, as stocked areas exclude felled areas and (for private sector land) areas of integral open space. The figures on growing stock presented in Tables 1.10 and 1.11 form the basis for the softwood and hardwood availability forecasts (see Tables 2.4a and 2.4b). Further information on the National Forest Inventory is available at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/national-forest-inventory/. 

## 1.4.1 Woodland Area By Age: Conifers

Table 1.6 presents the area of conifers, broken down by age class, ownership and country. Sixty-one percent of the coniferous woodland area in Great Britain was occupied by stands of 40 years old or younger (Table 1.6). A further 9% of stands were aged over 60 years. 


thousand hectares 
Age class (years) 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
GB 
FE/FLS/NRW1 
  
  
  
  
0-20 
33 
24 
76 
134 
21-40 
38 
25 
145 
208 
41-60 
39 
25 
111 
176 
61-80 
12 
7 
25 
44 
81-100 
4 
1 
6 
11 
100+ 
1 
0 
3 
4 
All age classes  
128 
82 
367 
576 
Private sector2  
  
  
  
  
0-20 
17 
8 
126 
151 
21-40 
54 
22 
231 
306 
41-60 
83 
15 
116 
214 
61-80 
19 
1 
18 
38 
81-100 
3 
2 
6 
11 
100+ 
3 
1 
9 
12 
All age classes  
179 
47 
505 
732 
Total  
  
  
  
  
0-20 
51 
32 
202 
285 
21-40 
92 
46 
376 
514 
41-60 
123 
39 
227 
389 
61-80 
31 
8 
43 
82 
81-100 
7 
2 
12 
22 
100+ 
3 
1 
12 
16 
All age classes  
307 
129 
872 
1 308 

 
Source: National Forest Inventory: 50-year forecast of softwood availability (Forestry Commission, April 2014), (supporting data). Notes: 
1. FE: Forestry England, FLS: Forestry and Land Scotland, NRW: Natural Resources Wales. NRW 

estimates only relate to woodland formerly owned/managed by FC Wales. 
 

2. Private sector: all other woodland. Includes woodland previously owned/managed by the Countryside 
Council for Wales and the Environment Agency in Wales, other publicly owned woodland (e.g. owned by local authorities) and privately owned woodland. 
3. Stocked area only: excludes felled areas and (for private sector land) open space. 4. Areas at 31 March 2012. 
 
These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

## 1.4.2 Woodland Area By Age: Broadleaves

Table 1.7 presents the area of broadleaves, broken down by age class, ownership and country. Around one half (53%) of the broadleaved area was occupied by stands of 40 years old or younger (Table 1.7). More than one quarter (28%) of stands were aged over 60 years. 


thousand hectares 
Age class (years) 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
GB 
FE/FLS/NRW1 
  
  
  
  
0-20 
8 
7 
11 
25 
21-40 
6 
2 
5 
13 
41-60 
13 
2 
4 
19 
61-80 
13 
2 
4 
19 
81-100 
4 
1 
2 
7 
100+ 
10 
3 
5 
18 
All age classes  
54 
16 
32 
102 
Private sector2  
  
  
  
  
0-20 
217 
30 
84 
332 
21-40 
227 
33 
84 
344 
41-60 
145 
22 
58 
225 
61-80 
117 
15 
22 
154 
81-100 
92 
11 
9 
112 
100+ 
51 
10 
7 
67 
All age classes  
849 
121 
265 
1 235 
Total  
  
  
  
  
0-20 
225 
37 
95 
357 
21-40 
232 
36 
90 
357 
41-60 
157 
24 
63 
244 
61-80 
130 
17 
26 
173 
81-100 
97 
12 
11 
119 
100+ 
61 
12 
12 
85 
All age classes  
902 
137 
297 
1 337 

 
Source: National Forest Inventory: 50-year forecast of hardwood availability (Forestry Commission, April 2014), (supporting data). Notes: 
1. FE: Forestry England, FLS: Forestry and Land Scotland, NRW: Natural Resources Wales. NRW 

estimates only relate to woodland formerly owned/managed by FC Wales. 
 

2. Private sector: all other woodland. Includes woodland previously owned/managed by the Countryside 
Council for Wales and the Environment Agency in Wales, other publicly owned woodland (e.g. owned by local authorities) and privately owned woodland. 
3. Stocked area only: excludes felled areas and (for private sector land) open space. 4. Areas at 31 March 2012. 
 
These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

## 1.4.3 Woodland Area By Age: Summary

Figure 1.3 presents the age profile of woodland in Great Britain for conifers and for broadleaves. It shows that broadleaves are more evenly distributed across the age classes than conifers. 

Notes: 
1. Stocked area only: excludes felled areas and (for private sector land) open space. 2. Areas at 31 March 2012. 
 
These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

## 1.4.4 Woodland Area By Species: Conifers

Table 1.8 presents the area of conifers, broken down by principal species, ownership and country. Sitka spruce accounts for around one half (51%) of the conifer area in Great Britain (Table 1.8), followed by Scots pine (17%) and larches (10%). Sitka spruce is less dominant in England, accounting for just one quarter (26%) of the conifer area there. 


thousand hectares 
Principal species 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
GB 
FE/FLS/NRW1 
  
  
  
  
Sitka spruce 
49 
50 
225 
323 
Scots pine 
17 
2 
45 
64 
Corsican pine 
27 
2 
2 
30 
Norway spruce 
7 
5 
11 
23 
Larches 
10 
12 
26 
48 
Douglas fir 
10 
5 
5 
20 
Lodgepole pine 
4 
3 
49 
56 
Other conifers 
5 
3 
3 
11 
All conifers 
128 
82 
367 
576 
Private sector2 
  
  
  
  
Sitka spruce 
32 
27 
282 
341 
Scots pine 
45 
1 
109 
154 
Corsican pine 
14 
0 
1 
15 
Norway spruce 
21 
3 
15 
38 
Larches 
30 
8 
39 
78 
Douglas fir 
15 
3 
7 
25 
Lodgepole pine 
3 
1 
39 
44 
Other conifers 
19 
2 
8 
29 
All conifers 
179 
47 
505 
732 
Total 
  
  
  
  
Sitka spruce 
80 
77 
507 
665 
Scots pine 
61 
3 
154 
218 
Corsican pine 
40 
2 
3 
46 
Norway spruce 
27 
8 
25 
61 
Larches 
40 
20 
66 
126 
Douglas fir 
25 
9 
12 
46 
Lodgepole pine 
8 
4 
88 
100 
 
Other conifers 
24 
5 
11 
40 
All conifers 
307 
129 
872 
1 308 

 
Source: National Forest Inventory: 50-year forecast of softwood availability (Forestry Commission, April 2014). Notes: 
1. FE: Forestry England, FLS: Forestry and Land Scotland, NRW: Natural Resources Wales. NRW 

estimates only relate to woodland formerly owned/managed by FC Wales. 
2. Private sector: all other woodland. Includes woodland previously owned/managed by the Countryside 
Council for Wales and the Environment Agency in Wales, other publicly owned woodland (e.g. owned by local authorities) and privately-owned woodland. 
3. Stocked area only: excludes felled areas and (for private sector land) open space. 4. Areas at 31 March 2012. 
 
These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

## 1.4.5 Woodland Area By Species: Broadleaves

Table 1.9 presents the area of broadleaves, broken down by principal species, ownership and country. The most commonly occurring broadleaved species in Great Britain are birch (accounting for 18% of broadleaf woodland), oak (16%) and ash (12%) (Table 1.9). Birch is more dominant in Scotland, accounting for 43% of the broadleaf area there. 


thousand hectares 
Principal species 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
GB 
FE/FLS/NRW1 
  
  
  
  
Oak 
16 
3 
3 
21 
Beech 
13 
2 
1 
15 
Sycamore 
1 
0 
0 
2 
Ash 
3 
1 
0 
4 
Birch 
6 
2 
11 
19 
Sweet chestnut 
1 
0 
0 
1 
Hazel 
0 
0 
0 
1 
Hawthorn 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Alder 
1 
0 
1 
1 
Willow 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Other broadleaves 
14 
9 
15 
38 
All broadleaves 
54 
16 
32 
102 
Private sector2 
  
  
  
  
Oak 
151 
23 
23 
198 
Beech 
59 
5 
15 
78 
Sycamore 
74 
9 
21 
105 
Ash 
120 
18 
15 
153 
Birch 
90 
11 
116 
217 
Sweet chestnut 
28 
0 
0 
28 
Hazel 
64 
14 
8 
86 
Hawthorn 
57 
8 
8 
73 
Alder 
30 
10 
16 
56 
Willow 
41 
11 
13 
65 
Other broadleaves 
133 
12 
29 
174 
All broadleaves 
849 
121 
265 
1 235 
Total 
  
  
  
  
Oak 
167 
26 
26 
219 
Beech 
72 
6 
15 
94 
 
Sycamore 
75 
9 
22 
106 
Ash 
123 
19 
16 
157 
Birch 
96 
12 
128 
236 
Sweet chestnut 
28 
0 
0 
29 
Hazel 
65 
14 
8 
87 
Hawthorn 
57 
8 
8 
73 
Alder 
31 
10 
17 
58 
Willow 
41 
11 
13 
65 
Other broadleaves 
146 
21 
44 
212 
All broadleaves 
902 
137 
297 
1 337 

 
Source: National Forest Inventory: 50-year forecast of hardwood availability (Forestry Commission, April 2014). Notes: 
1. FE: Forestry England, FLS: Forestry and Land Scotland, NRW: Natural Resources Wales. NRW 

estimates only relate to woodland formerly owned/managed by FC Wales. 
2. Private sector: all other woodland. Includes woodland previously owned/managed by the Countryside 
Council for Wales and the Environment Agency in Wales, other publicly owned woodland (e.g. owned by local authorities) and privately owned woodland. 
3. Stocked area only: excludes felled areas and (for private sector land) open space. 4. Areas at 31 March 2012. 
 
These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

## 1.4.6 Woodland Area By Species: Summary

Figures 1.4a and 1.4b show that, whilst the conifer area is dominated by a small number of species (Sitka spruce and Scots pine together account for around two thirds of the conifer area), broadleaves are more varied. 

Notes: 
1. Stocked area only: excludes felled areas and (for private sector land) open space. 2. Areas at 31 March 2012. 
 
These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

Notes: 
1. Stocked area only: excludes felled areas and (for private sector land) open space. 2. Areas at 31 March 2012. 
 
These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

## 1.4.7 Growing Stock By Species: Conifers

Growing stock is the volume of timber in living trees. It is also often referred to as the standing volume. Table 1.10 presents the volume of coniferous growing stock, broken down by principal species, ownership and country. The total volume of coniferous growing stock in Great Britain in 2012 was 355 million m3 overbark standing (Table 1.10). Sitka spruce accounted for around one half (51%) of the conifer growing stock, followed by Scots pine (15%) and larches (10%). This largely reflects the distribution of species by area (see Table 1.8). 


million m3 overbark standing 
Principal species 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
GB 
FE/FLS/NRW1 
  
  
  
  
Sitka spruce 
8.9 
11.1 
52.1 
72.0 
Scots pine 
4.0 
0.5 
8.8 
13.3 
Corsican pine 
5.5 
0.6 
0.4 
6.4 
Norway spruce 
1.7 
1.5 
3.5 
6.7 
Larches 
1.7 
2.7 
4.8 
9.2 
Douglas fir 
2.7 
1.3 
1.4 
5.4 
Lodgepole pine 
0.8 
0.6 
8.2 
9.6 
Other conifers 
1.5 
1.1 
1.0 
3.6 
All conifers 
26.8 
19.4 
80.2 
126.4 
Private sector2 
  
  
  
  
Sitka spruce 
11.4 
9.5 
88.0 
108.9 
Scots pine 
14.7 
0.3 
24.5 
39.4 
Corsican pine 
4.7 
0.2 
0.3 
5.3 
Norway spruce 
7.1 
1.3 
5.9 
14.4 
Larches 
10.7 
3.3 
12.3 
26.3 
Douglas fir 
6.4 
1.6 
3.5 
11.5 
Lodgepole pine 
1.0 
0.3 
7.4 
8.7 
Other conifers 
7.6 
1.1 
3.0 
11.7 
All conifers 
63.7 
17.9 
146.7 
228.4 
Total 
  
  
  
  
Sitka spruce 
20.3 
20.6 
140.0 
180.9 
Scots pine 
18.6 
0.8 
33.3 
52.7 
Corsican pine 
10.2 
0.8 
0.7 
11.7 
Norway spruce 
8.8 
2.8 
9.4 
21.1 
Larches 
12.4 
6.0 
17.1 
35.6 
Douglas fir 
9.1 
2.9 
4.9 
16.9 
Lodgepole pine 
1.8 
0.9 
15.5 
18.3 
Other conifers 
9.1 
2.2 
4.1 
15.4 
 
All conifers 
90.5 
37.4 
226.9 
354.7 

 
Source: National Forest Inventory: 50-year forecast of softwood availability (Forestry Commission, April 2014). Notes: 
1. FE: Forestry England, FLS: Forestry and Land Scotland, NRW: Natural Resources Wales. NRW 

estimates only relate to woodland formerly owned/managed by FC Wales. 
2. Private sector: all other woodland. Includes woodland previously owned/managed by the Countryside 
Council for Wales and the Environment Agency in Wales, other publicly owned woodland (e.g. owned by local authorities) and privately owned woodland. 
3. Areas at 31 March 2012. 
 
These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

## 1.4.8 Growing Stock By Species: Broadleaves

Table 1.11 presents the volume of broadleaved growing stock, broken down by principal species, ownership and country. The total volume of broadleaved growing stock in Great Britain in 2012 was 245 million m3 overbark standing (Table 1.11). Oak (28%), ash (16%) and beech (12%) accounted for the majority of the broadleaved volume. To some extent, this reflects the distribution of species by area (see Table 1.9). 


million m3 overbark standing 
Principal species 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
GB 
FE/FLS/NRW1 
  
  
  
  
Oak 
3.3 
0.5 
0.6 
4.4 
Beech 
2.8 
0.4 
0.1 
3.4 
Sycamore 
0.1 
0.0 
0.0 
0.2 
Ash 
0.4 
0.1 
0.0 
0.5 
Birch 
0.5 
0.1 
1.7 
2.3 
Sweet chestnut 
0.1 
0.0 
0.0 
0.1 
Hazel 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.1 
Hawthorn 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
Alder 
0.1 
0.0 
0.1 
0.2 
Willow 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
Other broadleaves 
1.3 
0.8 
1.2 
3.3 
All broadleaves 
8.7 
1.9 
3.9 
14.5 
Private sector2 
  
  
  
  
Oak 
51.7 
7.7 
5.6 
65.0 
Beech 
19.8 
1.6 
5.2 
26.6 
Sycamore 
16.2 
2.4 
4.8 
23.4 
Ash 
30.1 
6.9 
2.8 
39.8 
Birch 
11.3 
1.2 
8.5 
20.9 
Sweet chestnut 
7.7 
0.2 
0.0 
7.9 
Hazel 
5.0 
0.9 
0.4 
6.4 
Hawthorn 
2.8 
0.4 
0.3 
3.4 
Alder 
6.8 
2.1 
1.9 
10.8 
Willow 
4.9 
0.8 
0.9 
6.5 
Other broadleaves 
16.0 
1.1 
2.6 
19.6 
All broadleaves 
172.3 
25.4 
32.9 
230.6 
Total 
  
  
  
  
Oak 
55.0 
8.1 
6.3 
69.4 
Beech 
22.6 
2.0 
5.3 
29.9 
 
Sycamore 
16.4 
2.4 
4.9 
23.6 
Ash 
30.5 
7.0 
2.8 
40.3 
Birch 
11.8 
1.3 
10.1 
23.2 
Sweet chestnut 
7.8 
0.2 
0.0 
8.0 
Hazel 
5.1 
0.9 
0.5 
6.5 
Hawthorn 
2.8 
0.4 
0.3 
3.4 
Alder 
6.9 
2.2 
1.9 
11.0 
Willow 
4.9 
0.8 
0.9 
6.5 
Other broadleaves 
17.2 
1.8 
3.8 
22.9 
All broadleaves 
181.0 
27.3 
36.8 
245.1 

 
Source: National Forest Inventory: 50-year forecast of hardwood availability (Forestry Commission, April 2014). Notes: 
1. FE: Forestry England, FLS: Forestry and Land Scotland, NRW: Natural Resources Wales. NRW 

estimates only relate to woodland formerly owned/managed by FC Wales. 
2. Private sector: all other woodland. Includes woodland previously owned/managed by the Countryside 
Council for Wales and the Environment Agency in Wales, other publicly owned woodland (e.g. owned by local authorities) and privately owned woodland. 
3. Areas at 31 March 2012. 
 
These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

## 1.5 Area Of Farm Woodland

Agricultural Censuses run by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and the devolved administrations collect annual information on the land-use of farms. Table 1.12 below shows the area of woodland on farms. The area of farm woodland in the UK has increased from 0.7 million hectares in 2009 to 1.0 million hectares in 2018 (Table 1.12).  Slightly over one half (52%) of all farm woodland was in Scotland in 2018, with a further 37% in England, 10% in Wales and the remaining 2% in Northern Ireland. 

thousand hectares 
Year 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
Northern 
Ireland 
UK 
2009 
303.7 
60.8 
350.8 
10.3 
725.7 
2010 
295.3 
69.1 
399.8 
10.2 
774.0 
2011 
304.9 
44.2 
426.1 
10.8 
785.9 
2012 
308.4 
62.6 
445.4 
11.0 
827.5 
2013 
324.9 
63.4 
466.8 
10.3 
865.4 
2014 
331.3 
75.7 
479.4 
11.1 
897.5 
2015 
347.6 
78.0 
524.0 
11.1 
960.6 
2016 
370.5 
89.2 
502.4 
16.1 
978.2 
2017 
368.5 
92.8 
560.1 
15.8 
1 037.2 
2018 
371.7 
96.8 
531.5 
16.3 
1 016.3 

 
Source: June Agricultural Census - Defra, The Scottish Government, Welsh Government, Northern Ireland Executive. Notes: 
1. Changes in the area of farm woodland over time indicate a change in the area of farm land that is 

reported as woodland and do not necessarily indicate a change in woodland area. 
 
 
Source: June Agricultural Census - Defra, The Scottish Government, Welsh Government, Northern Ireland Executive. Notes: 
1. Changes in the area of farm woodland over time indicate a change in the area of farm land that is 

reported as woodland and do not necessarily indicate a change in woodland area. 

## 1.6 New Planting And Publicly Funded Restocking New Planting

New planting is the creation of new areas of woodland by planting trees on land that was not previously woodland. The statistics presented here also include new woodland that is created by natural colonisation of trees on land near existing woodland. Statistics on new planting are used to inform government policy and resource allocation and are used in producing annual estimates of woodland area. There are a number of factors that can affect the level of new planting in the UK. These include: 

- choices by landowners reflecting their own motivation and needs; - the costs and availability of land for conversion to woodland; - the availability of grants for new planting, the level of grant payments 
available and the awareness of grants among potential recipients;  
- the tax benefits available from owning woodland; - expected future markets for wood products such as timber and woodfuel; - income from payments for ecosystem services, particularly carbon 
storage;  
- national and local initiatives, for example on biodiversity, green 
infrastructure and water management.  

## Restocking

Restocking is the replacement of trees on areas of woodland that have been felled; this can be done either through replanting or natural regeneration. The statistics presented here include felled areas that have been restocked by both natural regeneration and replanting. As restocking takes place on woodland that has been previously harvested and it is a condition of most felling licences that the area is restocked, restocking rates are mainly driven by harvesting levels (with a time lag, usually of around 2 years, between harvesting and restocking). Figures for timber harvesting (wood production) are available in the UK-Grown Timber chapter. Economic factors, including grant rates, may have some effect on the species choice at restocking. In addition, the precise timing of restocking may be affected by weather conditions.  


This release only covers publicly funded restocking, that is: 

- restocking of Forestry England/ Forestry and Land Scotland/ Natural 
Resources Wales/ Forest Service Woodland and 
- grant aided restocking of private sector woodland. 
Grant support for restocking of conifers changed with the introduction of Rural Development Contracts in Scotland in 2008 and again with the introduction of the Forestry Grant Scheme in 2015.  This will have led to a reduction in the proportion of private sector restocking that is grant aided and therefore reported for Scotland. Grant support in England is now provided by the Countryside Stewardship scheme, which opened for applications in early 2016.  Funding for restocking under Countryside Stewardship is only available under limited circumstances (through the tree health grant).  The restoration (and restocking with native species) of PAWS (plantations on ancient woodland sites) is also supported by the HS2 Woodland Fund.  No estimate has been made for restocking in England that is no longer supported by grants and therefore restocking in England in recent years is under-reported in this release and other statistics. 

## 1.6.1 New Planting And Restocking By Forest Type

Thirteen thousand hectares of new woodland were created in the UK in 2018- 19.  In addition, 15 thousand hectares of publicly funded restocking were reported (Table 1.13). Conifers accounted for three fifths (60%) of the new planting area in 2018-19. 


thousand hectares 
Year  
(ending 31/3) 
Conifer 
Broadleaves 
Total 
England 


2014-15 
0.08 
2.35 
2.43 
2015-16 
0.00 
0.82 
0.82 
2016-17 
0.10 
1.05 
1.15 
2017-18 
0.24 
1.26 
1.50 
2018-19 
0.42 
1.00 
1.42 
Wales 
  
 
  
2014-15 
0.00 
0.10 
0.10 
2015-16 
0.04 
0.10 
0.14 
2016-17 
0.16 
0.23 
0.40 
2017-18 
0.13 
0.12 
0.24 
2018-19 
0.25 
0.27 
0.52 
Scotland 
  
 
  
2014-15 
2.48 
5.08 
7.56 
2015-16 
1.90 
2.73 
4.63 
2016-17 
3.22 
1.54 
4.76 
2017-18 
4.68 
2.46 
7.14 
2018-19 
7.27 
3.94 
11.21 
Northern Ireland 
  
 
 
2014-15 
0.02 
0.19 
0.21 
2015-16 
0.00 
0.05 
0.05 
2016-17 
0.08 
0.13 
0.21 
2017-18 
0.11 
0.10 
0.21 
2018-19 
0.10 
0.14 
0.24 
UK 


2014-15 
2.58 
7.72 
10.30 
2015-16 
1.94 
3.71 
5.65 
 
2016-17 
3.56 
2.96 
6.51 
2017-18 
5.15 
3.94 
9.09 
2018-19 
8.05 
5.35 
13.40 

 
Source: Forestry Commission, Forestry England, Scottish Forestry, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, grant schemes. Notes: 
1. Private sector new planting figures are based on grant-supported new planting and (where possible) 

with estimates for areas planted without grant aid. 
2. Figures for grant-aided planting relate to areas for which grants were paid during the year. 3. Estimates for areas planted without grant aid are believed to be under-reported and, as a result, the 
reported figures are likely to under-estimate the true level of planting activity.  For England, woodland planting funded by sources other than the Countryside Stewardship Woodland Creation Grant include planting supported by the Woodland Trust, by the Environment Agency, by Natural England and land acquired by the National Forest Company.  For Scotland, a small amount of new planting without grant aid was included for 2016-17 and 2018-19. 
4. The planting season lies both sides of 31 March, and the weather can cause planting to be advanced 
or delayed. 
5. Includes woodland formed by natural colonisation (where known). Data: Longer time series of the above table are available from the Data Downloads web page. 

thousand hectares 
Year  
(ending 31/3) 
Conifer 
Broadleaves 
Total 
England 


2014-15 
2.01 
4.39 
6.41 
2015-16 
2.17 
1.14 
3.31 
2016-17 
2.03 
0.97 
3.00 
2017-18 
1.58 
0.47 
2.04 
2018-19 
1.26 
0.39 
1.65 
Wales 
  
 
  
2014-15 
1.30 
0.64 
1.94 
2015-16 
1.20 
0.58 
1.78 
2016-17 
1.12 
0.55 
1.67 
2017-18 
1.00 
0.71 
1.71 
2018-19 
0.90 
0.54 
1.44 
Scotland 
  
 
  
2014-15 
6.58 
1.87 
8.45 
2015-16 
5.99 
1.83 
7.82 
2016-17 
9.09 
1.99 
11.07 
2017-18 
8.14 
1.52 
9.66 
2018-19 
9.12 
2.07 
11.19 
Northern Ireland 
  
 
  
2014-15 
0.94 
0.10 
1.04 
2015-16 
0.74 
0.07 
0.81 
2016-17 
1.15 
0.17 
1.31 
2017-18 
0.85 
0.08 
0.94 
2018-19 
0.72 
0.11 
0.83 
UK 

 
2014-15 
10.84 
7.00 
17.84 
2015-16 
10.10 
3.63 
13.73 
 
2016-17 
13.39 
3.67 
17.06 
2017-18 
11.57 
2.77 
14.34 
2018-19 
12.00 
3.11 
15.12 

 
Source: Forestry Commission, Forestry England, Scottish Forestry, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, grant schemes. Notes: 
1. No estimates are available for restocking without grant aid. 2. The planting season lies both sides of 31 March, and the weather can cause planting to be advanced 
or delayed. 
3. Includes woodland restocked by natural regeneration (where known). Data: Longer time series of the above table are available from the Data Downloads web page. 

## 1.6.2 New Planting And Restocking By Ownership

In 2018-19 most new planting (92%) took place on private sector land (Table 1.14).  

thousand hectares 
Year  
FE/FLS/ 
(ending 31/3) 
NRW/FS 
Private sector 
Total 
England 


2014-15 
0.00 
2.43 
2.43 
2015-16 
0.00 
0.82 
0.82 
2016-17 
0.02 
1.13 
1.15 
2017-18 
0.00 
1.50 
1.50 
2018-19 
0.03 
1.39 
1.42 
Wales 
  
  
  
2014-15 
0.00 
0.10 
0.10 
2015-16 
0.00 
0.14 
0.14 
2016-17 
0.00 
0.40 
0.40 
2017-18 
0.00 
0.24 
0.24 
2018-19 
0.00 
0.52 
0.52 
Scotland 
  
  
  
2014-15 
0.40 
7.16 
7.56 
2015-16 
0.71 
3.93 
4.63 
2016-17 
1.06 
3.70 
4.76 
2017-18 
0.87 
6.27 
7.14 
2018-19 
1.03 
10.19 
11.21 
Northern Ireland 
  
  
  
2014-15 
0.00 
0.21 
0.21 
2015-16 
0.00 
0.05 
0.05 
2016-17 
0.00 
0.21 
0.21 
2017-18 
0.00 
0.21 
0.21 
2018-19 
0.00 
0.24 
0.24 
UK 
  
  
  
2014-15 
0.40 
9.90 
10.30 
2015-16 
0.71 
4.94 
5.65 
 
2016-17 
1.08 
5.44 
6.51 
2017-18 
0.87 
8.23 
9.09 
2018-19 
1.06 
12.34 
13.40 

 
Source: Forestry Commission, Forestry England, Scottish Forestry, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, grant schemes. Notes: 
1. Private sector new planting figures are based on grant-supported new planting and (where possible) 

with estimates for areas planted without grant aid. 
2. Figures for grant-aided planting relate to areas for which grants were paid during the year. 3. Estimates for areas planted without grant aid are believed to be under-reported and, as a result, the 
reported figures are likely to under-estimate the true level of planting activity.  For England, woodland planting funded by sources other than the Countryside Stewardship Woodland Creation Grant include planting supported by the Woodland Trust, by the Environment Agency, by Natural England and land acquired by the National Forest Company.  For Scotland, a small amount of new planting without grant aid was included for 2016-17 and 2018-19. 
4. The planting season lies both sides of 31 March, and the weather can cause planting to be advanced 
or delayed. 
5. Includes woodland formed by natural colonisation (where known). Data: Longer time series of the above table are available from the Data Downloads web page. 

thousand hectares 
Year  
FE/FLS/ 
(ending 31/3) 
NRW/FS 
Private sector 
Total 
England 


2014-15 
2.25 
4.15 
6.41 
2015-16 
2.30 
1.02 
3.31 
2016-17 
2.39 
0.61 
3.00 
2017-18 
2.04 
0.00 
2.04 
2018-19 
1.57 
0.08 
1.65 
Wales 
  
  
  
2014-15 
1.56 
0.38 
1.94 
2015-16 
1.47 
0.32 
1.78 
2016-17 
1.44 
0.23 
1.67 
2017-18 
1.55 
0.16 
1.71 
2018-19 
1.22 
0.23 
1.44 
Scotland 
  
  
  
2014-15 
6.50 
1.95 
8.45 
2015-16 
6.55 
1.27 
7.82 
2016-17 
6.67 
4.41 
11.07 
2017-18 
5.78 
3.87 
9.66 
2018-19 
7.15 
4.05 
11.19 
Northern Ireland 
  
  
  
2014-15 
0.88 
0.16 
1.04 
2015-16 
0.75 
0.06 
0.81 
2016-17 
1.25 
0.06 
1.31 
2017-18 
0.86 
0.08 
0.94 
2018-19 
0.79 
0.04 
0.83 
UK 
  
  
  
2014-15 
11.20 
6.65 
17.84 
2015-16 
11.06 
2.67 
13.73 
 
2016-17 
11.74 
5.31 
17.06 
2017-18 
10.23 
4.11 
14.34 
2018-19 
10.72 
4.40 
15.12 

 
Source: Forestry Commission, Forestry England, Scottish Forestry, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, grant schemes. Notes: 
1. No estimates are available for restocking without grant aid. 2. The planting season lies both sides of 31 March, and the weather can cause planting to be advanced 
or delayed. 
3. Includes woodland restocked by natural regeneration (where known). Data: Longer time series of the above table are available from the Data Downloads web page. 


## 1.6.3 New Planting And Restocking: Time Series

Figure 1.6 shows areas of new planting by country since the year ending March 1976. Trends in new planting rates have been influenced by changes to the incentives available to land owners (in the form of grants and regulations). In recent years, areas of new planting in the UK have dropped to lows of under 6 thousand hectares in 2009-10 and in 2015-16 and have risen to highs of around 13 thousand hectares in 2011-12, 2013-14 and 2018-19.  These fluctuations are likely to have been influenced by changes in grant schemes across the UK. At 13.4 thousand hectares in 2018-19, the current level of new planting represents a 47% increase from the 9.1 thousand hectares achieved in the previous year and continues the increase from 2015-16.  This increase was largely in Scotland and was likely to have been influenced by the availability of grant funding and increased confidence in forestry arising from strong timber values.  For further information, see the New Planting and Restocking section of the Sources chapter. 


Notes: 
1. Private sector figures are based on grant-supported new planting and (where possible) with estimates 
for areas planted without grant aid. 
2. Figures for grant-aided planting relate to areas for which grants were paid during the year. 3. Estimates for areas planted without grant aid are believed to be under-reported and, as a result, the 
reported figures are likely to under-estimate the true level of planting activity.  For England, 
woodland planting funded by sources other than the Countryside Stewardship Woodland Creation 
Grant include planting supported by the Woodland Trust, by the Environment Agency, by Natural England and land acquired by the National Forest Company.  For Scotland, a small amount of new planting without grant aid was included for 2016-17 and 2018-19. 
4. The planting season lies both sides of 31 March, and the weather can cause planting to be advanced 
or delayed. 
5. Includes woodland formed by natural colonisation (where known). 
 
Figure 1.7 shows reported areas of restocking by country since the year ending March 1976. It indicates an increase in restocking rates during the period. Over the same period, there has been a general increase in UK wood production (see UK-Grown Timber chapter). The reported area of restocking fell significantly after a peak of 19 thousand hectares in 2006-07. This followed changes to grant support for restocking in Scotland, that resulted in some non-grant aided Sitka spruce restocking being excluded from the estimates. Results from the Forestry Commission's Nursery Survey (an annual survey of forest nurseries in Great Britain) indicate that, 
 
following a dip in the 2009/10 planting year, sales of Sitka spruce plants to Scotland have been relatively stable in recent years. The chart shows a dip in the area of restocking in 2015-16, following changes to grant schemes across the UK. Reported restocking has continued to fall in England, where grant aid is now only available in very limited circumstances. The reported area of publicly funded restocking in the UK in 2018-19 represents a 5% increase from the previous year, but remains below the level reported for 2016-17.  For further information, see the New Planting and Restocking section of the Sources chapter. 

Source: Forestry Commission, Forestry England, Scottish Forestry, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, grant schemes. Notes: 
1. Private sector figures are based on areas for which grants were paid during the year. 2. Estimates of areas planted without grant aid are also included (where possible) up to 2009-10, but no 
estimates are available since then. As a result, the reported figures are likely to under-estimate the true level of planting activity.  
3. The planting season lies both sides of 31 March, and the weather can cause planting to be advanced 
or delayed. 
4. Includes woodland restocked by natural regeneration. 5. Restocking by natural regeneration in non-clearfell areas may be under-represented. 

## 1.7 Felling Felling

Approval for the felling (cutting down) of trees in the UK is granted through felling licences issued by the Forestry Commission, Scottish Forestry, Natural Resources Wales or the Forest Service in Northern Ireland. Felling licences may be conditional (where felling approval is granted subject to replanting) or unconditional (where tree felling is approved without the requirement to replant). Unconditional licences are routinely issued for silvicultural thinning operations and in these cases no woodland loss takes place. However, an unconditional felling licence without the requirement to replant may be issued if there are overriding environmental considerations, for example to enable the restoration of important habitats. The removal of trees may also be authorised under planning regulations, to enable development (including for windfarms). In this case, a felling licence is not required. The removal of trees might also be required through a Statutory Plant Health Notice (SPHN). A SPHN may require the felling and destruction of infected trees or containment of infested material on site, and is issued by the Forestry Commission, Scottish Forestry, Natural Resources Wales or the Forest Service to prevent the spread of pests and diseases. Similar actions are also required within the public woodland estate managed by these organisations. There is no legal requirement for woodland to be restocked after felling under a SPHN. Since 2010/2011, SPHNs have mainly been issued to attempt to slow down the spread of Phytophthora ramorum, first found in the UK in 2002 on viburnum, and in 2009 on Japanese larch, a significant sporulating host resulting in a dramatic upsurge in the disease. Statutory felling of infected P. ramorum infected larch does not apply within the designated P. ramorum management zone in south west Scotland where the high levels of infection and proportion of larch in the area make this unfeasible. However, felling licences are still required, and movement licences are required to stop spread out of this area. In Wales' P. ramorum Core Disease Zone SPHNs are still served to contain material on site, but felling still requires a felling licence. Further information on felling and Statutory Plant Health Notices is provided in the Sources chapter. 

## Woodland Loss

Information on unconditional felling licences that do not relate to thinning may be seen as an indication of the level of woodland loss on land that is not owned or managed by Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales or the Forest Service. However, the data relates only to felling licences issued, so does not provide information on whether the felling actually took place (or the timing of the felling). In addition, felling licences do not cover woodland loss that is authorised under planning regulations. The National Forest Inventory report "Preliminary estimates of the changes in canopy cover in British woodlands between 2006 and 2015" (August 2016) has reported: 

- thousand hectares of observed permanent woodland loss between 2006 
and 2015;  
- a further 0.7 thousand hectares of ground under development and 0.2 
thousand hectares of newly established habitats;  
- 69% of the clearfelled area observed in 2006 had been restocked by 
2012, leaving around 33.9 thousand hectares of woodlands in transition and open areas;  
- 63% of the area observed as clearfelled between 2006 and 2009 had 
been restocked by 2012, leaving around 28.6 thousand hectares of woodlands in transition and open areas.   
These are interim estimates that are likely to underestimate the final position; updated estimates from NFI second cycle field survey are scheduled to be available by 2020. Further information is available in the report at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/national-forest-inventory/. 

## 1.7.1 Felling Licences

Table 1.15 shows the area covered by unconditional felling licences issued by the Forestry Commission, Scottish Forestry and Natural Resources Wales in the last 10 years. The figures do not include unconditional felling licences issued to permit thinning of woodlands. The table covers woodland in England, Scotland and Wales that is not owned or managed by Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland or Natural Resources Wales only; it does not cover felling that is exempt from felling licence approval (such as authorisations for felling under 
 
planning regulations, felling required under a Statutory Plant Health Notice or felling that is approved on condition that the area is restocked). A total of 0.7 thousand hectares of woodland in England and 0.1 thousand hectares in Wales was covered by unconditional felling licences (with no requirement to restock) in the year to March 2019. The level in Scotland was under 50 hectares. 

thousand hectares 
Year 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
GB 
2009-10 
0.5 
0.0 
0.2 
0.7 
2010-11 
0.5 
0.0 
0.1 
0.6 
2011-12 
0.6 
0.0 
0.1 
0.7 
2012-13 
0.3 
0.3 
0.2 
0.9 
2013-14 
0.4 
0.1 
0.1 
0.6 
2014-15 
0.2 
0.0 
0.1 
0.3 
2015-16 
0.2 
0.1 
0.2 
0.5 
2016-17 
0.2 
0.0 
0.0 
0.2 
2017-18 
0.2 
0.0 
0.0 
0.2 
2018-19 
0.7 
0.1 
0.0 
0.8 

 
Source: Forestry Commission, Scottish Forestry, Natural Resources Wales Notes: 
1. Felling licences issued in the period. Excludes areas exempt from felling licence approval and licences 

issued for thinning. 
 
These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 


## 1.7.2 Statutory Plant Health Notices

Table 1.16a shows the number of sites where a Statutory Plant Health Notice has been served in the UK since 2010-11 and Table 1.16b shows the area required to be felled under these Notices.  The tables cover all woodland, including sites owned or managed by Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales or the Forest Service in Northern Ireland. As Statutory Plant Health Notices are not issued in the Phytophthora ramorum management zone in south west Scotland, the figures presented here do not cover all felling of infected larch. A total of 842 sites were served with Statutory Plant Health Notices between April 2018 and March 2019. 

| Year     |   England  |   Wales  |   Scotland  |
|----------|------------|----------|-------------|
| Northern |            |          |             |
| Ireland  |            |          |             |
| UK       |            |          |             |
| 2010-11  |       114  |      46  |          1  |
| 2011-12  |       131  |      90  |         14  |
| 2012-13  |       168  |      89  |        123  |
| 2013-14  |       244  |     272  |         76  |
| 2014-15  |       140  |      71  |          9  |
| 2015-16  |        73  |      57  |         34  |
| 2016-17  |        75  |      53  |         71  |
| 2017-18  |        43  |     153  |         71  |
| 2018-19  |       136  |     215  |        491  |

 
Source: Forestry Commission, Scottish Forestry, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service. Note: 
1. The number of sites where infection of larch by Phytophthora ramorum has been confirmed, or where 

there is sufficient suspicion of infection, and a Statutory Plant Health Notice has been served on the landowner. 
2. Excludes felling within the Phytophthora ramorum management zone in south west Scotland, where 
Statutory Plant Health Notices are not issued. 
 
These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 



Areas requiring felling under Statutory Plant Health Notices totalled 3.8 thousand hectares in 2018-19.  Around one half (49%) of the area to be felled in 2018-19 was in Wales, 36% was in Scotland and 15% in England. 

thousand hectares 
Year 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
Northern 
Ireland 
UK 
2010-11 
1.2 
0.8 
0.0 
0.3 
2.3 
2011-12 
0.5 
0.5 
0.1 
0.1 
1.1 
2012-13 
0.5 
1.5 
0.4 
0.2 
2.5 
2013-14 
0.8 
4.6 
0.3 
0.5 
6.2 
2014-15 
0.3 
0.4 
0.0 
0.0 
0.7 
2015-16 
0.1 
1.5 
0.1 
0.0 
1.8 
2016-17 
0.3 
0.2 
0.2 
0.0 
0.7 
2017-18 
0.1 
1.3 
0.3 
0.1 
1.7 
2018-19 
0.6 
1.9 
1.4 
0.0 
3.8 

 
Source: Forestry Commission, Scottish Forestry, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service. Note: 
1. The area that is required to be felled within the Statutory Plant Health Notice. 2. Excludes felling within the Phytophthora ramorum management zone in south west Scotland, where 

Statutory Plant Health Notices are not issued. 
 
These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 


## Chapter 2: Uk-Grown Timber Introduction

This chapter covers the production of timber from woodland and the primary processing of harvested wood to give basic wood products. Estimates for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are included, in addition to UK totals, where possible. International comparisons of timber production are available in the International Forestry chapter.  Further information on the data sources and methodology used to compile the figures is provided in the Sources chapter. Timber originating from conifers is known as softwood and that from broadleaves is known as hardwood.  Please refer to the Glossary for a definition of other terms used in this chapter. Figures for 2018 were previously published in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2018 Provisional Figures", released on 16 May 2019.  Some figures have been revised from those previously published.  For further details on revisions, see the Timber section of the Sources chapter. A copy of all UK-grown timber tables can be accessed in spreadsheet format from the Data Downloads web page at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-andresources/statistics/data-downloads/. 


The main findings for 2018 are (with percentage changes from 2017): Removals2 (harvesting) of UK roundwood: 

- 
11.4 million green tonnes of softwood (+4%);  
- 
0.8 million green tonnes of hardwood (+13%).  

## Deliveries1 Of Uk Roundwood To Wood Processors And Others:

- 
Total: 11.6 million green tonnes of roundwood (softwood and hardwood) (+3%), of which:  
- 
Sawmills: 6.5 million green tonnes (-2%);  
- 
Wood-based panels: 1.2 million green tonnes (+14%);  
- 
Integrated pulp and paper mills: 0.5 million green tonnes (+10%);  
- 
Woodfuel: 2.6 million green tonnes (+18%);  
- 
Other uses, including round fencing, shavings and exports of roundwood: 0.8 million green tonnes (-10%).  
Production of wood products in the UK included: 

- 
3.7 million cubic metres of sawnwood (-1%);  
- 
3.1 million cubic metres of wood-based panels (-3%);  
- 
3.9 million tonnes of paper and paperboard (+1%).  

## 2.1 Wood Production

Wood production (also referred to as removals) refers to the harvesting of roundwood (trunk and branch wood) from coniferous (softwood) and nonconiferous (hardwood) trees.  Figures are generally expressed here in green tonnes (weight when freshly felled). Removals should not be confused with deliveries, which are the quantities of UK-grown roundwood that is delivered to processors (mills) or for other uses (such as woodfuel and exports).  Deliveries statistics are presented in Tables 2.5 and 2.6.  A comparison of removals and deliveries of UK softwood roundwood is provided in the Sources chapter. The figures on removals of UK roundwood are used to monitor trends in the UK forest sector.  The data is also used alongside figures for standing volume (the volume of standing trees) and increment (the growth rate of standing trees) to compile natural capital accounts for inclusion in the UK Environmental Accounts released by the Office for National Statistics. The data are derived from a number of sources: 

- 
FE/FLS/NRW/FS figures are obtained from Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales and Forest Service administrative systems; 
- 
Private sector softwood figures are obtained from the Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey; 
- 
Total hardwood figures are estimated from hardwood deliveries 
figures, which are compiled from surveys of the UK-grown timber industry, trade associations and expert estimates. 

## 2.1.1 Summary: Wood Production

It is estimated that a total of 12.2 million green tonnes of roundwood was removed from UK woodlands in 2018. Softwood accounted for most (93%) removals from UK woodland and totalled 11.4 million green tonnes in 2018 (Table 2.1).  This represented a 4% increase on the previous year's figure. Hardwood removals totalled 0.8 million green tonnes in 2018. Private sector woodlands accounted for 60% of softwood production and 90% of hardwood production in 2018. 

FE/FLS/ 
Year 
NRW/FS1 
woodland 
2009 
5 126  
3 266  
8 392  
2010 
4 625  
4 633  
9 258  
2011 
4 870  
5 186  
10 056  
2012 
4 836  
5 259  
10 095  
2013 
5 084  
5 852  
10 936  
2014 
4 900  
6 627  
11 527  
2015 
4 691  
5 968  
10 659  
2016 
5 011  
5 734  
10 745  
2017 
4 862  
6 075  
10 938  
2018 
4 523  
6 827  
11 351  

FE/FLS/ 
Year 
NRW/FS1 
woodland 
2009 
5 126  
3 266  
8 392  
2010 
4 625  
4 633  
9 258  
2011 
4 870  
5 186  
10 056  
2012 
4 836  
5 259  
10 095  
2013 
5 084  
5 852  
10 936  
2014 
4 900  
6 627  
11 527  
2015 
4 691  
5 968  
10 659  
2016 
5 011  
5 734  
10 745  
2017 
4 862  
6 075  
10 938  
2018 
4 523  
6 827  
11 351  
thousand green tonnes 
Private sector2 
Total 
woodland 
softwood 
thousand green tonnes 
Private sector2 
Total 
woodland 
softwood3,4 

 

Notes (table 2.1a & 2.1b): 
1. FE: Forestry England, FLS: Forestry and Land Scotland, NRW: Natural Resources Wales, FS: Forest 
Service (Northern Ireland). 
2. Private sector: removals from all other woodland (including some publicly owned woodland). 3. Most hardwood production in the UK comes from private sector woodland; the figures are estimates 
based on reported deliveries to wood processing industries and others. 
4. The increase in hardwood removals between 2016 and 2017 is largely attributed to a revised 
estimate for deliveries of UK grown hardwood used for woodfuel (see Table 2.6).  This new estimate should not be interpreted as an increase in a single year.   
 Data:  Longer time series of the above table, including estimates by country (England/ Wales/ Scotland/ Northern Ireland) are available from the Data downloads web page at: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/data-downloads/. 

## 2.1.2 Origin Of Private Sector Softwood Removals

It is estimated that 74% of all softwood removals from private sector woodlands were harvested in Scotland, 17% in England, 9% in Wales and the remainder in Northern Ireland in 2018 (Table 2.2). There has been an overall increase in the level of UK private sector softwood removals in the last decade. 

thousand green tonnes 
Year 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
Northern 
Ireland 
UK 
2009 
533 
321 
2 388 
24 
3 266 
2010 
678 
427 
3 471 
57 
4 633 
2011 
738 
501 
3 894 
53 
5 186 
2012 
847 
611 
3 761 
40 
5 259 
2013 
929 
695 
4 205 
23 
5 852 
2014 
1 165 
739 
4 691 
33 
6 627 
2015 
1 052 
686 
4 203 
28 
5 968 
2016 
1 013 
643 
4 043 
34 
5 734 
2017 
961 
783 
4 295 
36 
6 075 
2018 
1 130 
628 
5 022 
47 
6 827 

 
Source: Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey 
 
Data: Longer time series of the above table, including estimates for hardwood removals and for removals from FE/FLS/NRW/FS woodlands are available from the Data Downloads web page at: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/data-downloads/. 

 

## 2.1.3 Origin Of Fe/Fls/Nrw/Fs Removals

Information on removals from Forestry England (FE), Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Forest Service (FS) woodlands is obtained from administrative systems. A total of 4.5 million green tonnes of softwood was removed from FE/FLS/NRW/FS woodlands in 2018, a 7% decrease from the 2017 figure (Table 2.3). Over one half (54%) of FE/FLS/NRW/FS softwood removals in 2018 occurred in Scotland, 23% in England, 15% in Wales and 7% in Northern Ireland. In comparison to private sector softwood removals (see Table 2.2), FE/FLS/NRW/FS softwood removals have been relatively stable over the last decade. 

thousand green tonnes 
Year 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
Northern 
Ireland 
UK 
2009 
1 213 
717 
2 773 
423 
5 126 
2010 
1 142 
644 
2 434 
405 
4 625 
2011 
1 185 
689 
2 566 
430 
4 870 
2012 
1 154 
663 
2 627 
392 
4 836 
2013 
1 188 
693 
2 819 
384 
5 084 
2014 
1 064 
722 
2 749 
365 
4 900 
2015 
1 023 
692 
2 644 
333 
4 691 
2016 
1 146 
778 
2 745 
343 
5 011 
2017 
1 087 
758 
2 668 
349 
4 862 
2018 
1 048 
696 
2 440 
339 
4 523 

 
Source: Forestry England (FE), Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), Natural Resources Wales (NRW), 
 
Data: Longer time series of the above table, including estimates for hardwood removals and for removals from private sector woodlands are available from the Data Downloads web page at: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/data-downloads/. 

2.1.4 Softwood availability forecast The National Forest Inventory "50-year forecast of softwood availability" and "50-year forecast of hardwood availability" were published in April 2014.  They are forecasts of potential availability rather than production, as they do not take account of management objectives, financial factors or the state of markets, all of which will affect the level of and timing of harvesting. More information on the forecasts and detailed breakdowns are available on the National Forest Inventory web pages at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/toolsand-resources/national-forest-inventory/. The forecasts are outside the scope of National Statistics, but are provided here to give more context to the data on wood production. As these forecasts were produced in 2014, they do not take into account any of the findings from the 'preliminary estimates of the changes in canopy cover in British woodlands between 2006 and 2015', released in August 2016. The key assumptions underpinning the headline softwood forecast scenario include: 

- 
Private woodland is managed in a way that maximises total production.  
- 
The estate of Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland and Natural Resources Wales is managed according to current management plans; note that Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland, and Natural Resources Wales intend to cap production below the level set out in Table 2.4a. 
Under the above scenario, softwood availability for Great Britain averages 15.2 million cubic metres a year over the 50-year period 2013 to 2061 (Table 2.4a). The majority (66%) of this softwood is projected to come from private sector woodland. 


thousand m3 overbark standing 
Annual average  
in the period 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
GB 
FE/FLS/NRW1 
  
  
  
  
2013 - 2016 
1 632 
1 082 
4 220 
6 933 
2017 - 2021 
1 330 
991 
3 658 
5 980 
2022 - 2026 
1 211 
895 
3 516 
5 622 
2027 - 2031 
1 159 
778 
3 789 
5 726 
2032 - 2036 
1 066 
934 
3 215 
5 216 
2037 - 2041 
1 013 
794 
2 936 
4 744 
2042 - 2046  
1 055 
531 
2 730 
4 316 
2047 - 2051 
1 014 
585 
3 280 
4 879 
2052 - 2056 
828 
495 
2 886 
4 209 
2057 - 2061 
1 250 
679 
2 339 
4 269 
Private sector2 


2013 - 2016 
2 945 
901 
5 708 
9 554 
2017 - 2021 
3 225 
949 
6 997 
11 171 
2022 - 2026 
2 903 
1 087 
7 830 
11 820 
2027 - 2031 
2 986 
775 
8 910 
12 671 
2032 - 2036 
2 850 
736 
8 847 
12 433 
2037 - 2041 
2 224 
679 
8 133 
11 035 
2042 - 2046 
1 848 
490 
6 527 
8 865 
2047 - 2051 
1 523 
521 
4 986 
7 030 
2052 - 2056 
1 431 
734 
5 679 
7 845 
2057 - 2061 
1 603 
694 
5 627 
7 924 
Total softwood 
  
  
  
  
2013 - 2016 
4 577 
1 983 
9 928 
16 487 
2017 - 2021 
4 555 
1 940 
10 656 
17 151 
2022 - 2026 
4 113 
1 982 
11 346 
17 442 
2027 - 2031 
4 145 
1 553 
12 700 
18 398 
 
2032 - 2036 
3 916 
1 670 
12 062 
17 649 
2037 - 2041 
3 237 
1 473 
11 069 
15 779 
2042 - 2046 
2 903 
1 021 
9 257 
13 181 
2047 - 2051 
2 537 
1 106 
8 266 
11 909 
2052 - 2056 
2 259 
1 229 
8 566 
12 054 
2057 - 2061 
2 853 
1 373 
7 966 
12 193 

 
Source: National Forest Inventory: 50-year forecast of softwood availability (Forestry Commission, April 2014)3 Notes: 
1. The estate of Forestry England (FE), Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) and Natural Resources Wales 

(NRW) is assumed to be managed according to current management plans; note that Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland and Natural Resources Wales intend to cap production below the level set out in Table 2.4a. 
2. Private woodland is assumed to be managed in a way that maximises total production. 3. More recent softwood availability forecasts, covering a 25 year period only, are available from the NFI 
web pages at: www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/national-forest-inventory/. 
4. An update to these figures is due to be published in 2020. 5. To convert softwood 'overbark standing' into green tonnes multiply by 0.818.  See the Sources 
chapter for more details on conversion factors.  
 These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

## 2.1.5 Hardwood Availability Forecast

The key assumptions underpinning the headline hardwood forecast scenario include: 

- 
In private woodland, harvesting is limited to areas with evidence of recent thinning activity.  
- 
The estate of Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland and Natural Resources Wales is managed according to current management plans.  
Under the above scenario, hardwood availability for Great Britain averages 1.6 million m3 a year over the 50-year period (Table 2.4b). The majority (89%) of this hardwood is projected to come from private sector woodland. If these woodlands were managed to maximise total production, the forecast would be much higher, as illustrated in the full National Forest Inventory report available at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/national-forest-inventory/. 


thousand m3 overbark standing 
Annual average  
in the period 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
GB 
FE/FLS/NRW1 
  
  
  
  
2013 - 2016 
126 
12 
9 
147 
2017 - 2021 
92 
11 
9 
111 
2022 - 2026 
110 
17 
10 
137 
2027 - 2031 
86 
12 
10 
108 
2032 - 2036 
99 
14 
15 
128 
2037 - 2041 
129 
19 
24 
172 
2042 - 2046  
189 
56 
31 
276 
2047 - 2051 
116 
19 
40 
175 
2052 - 2056 
134 
28 
45 
208 
2057 - 2061 
146 
28 
64 
237 
Private sector2 
  
  
  
  
2013 - 2016 
122 
20 
83 
225 
2017 - 2021 
333 
46 
139 
519 
2022 - 2026 
538 
77 
193 
808 
2027 - 2031 
720 
100 
233 
1 054 
2032 - 2036 
825 
115 
262 
1 202 
2037 - 2041 
1 047 
153 
367 
1 567 
2042 - 2046 
1 915 
243 
586 
2 743 
2047 - 2051 
1 678 
227 
675 
2 580 
2052 - 2056 
1 254 
198 
554 
2 006 
2057 - 2061 
645 
139 
343 
1 127 
Total hardwood 


2013 - 2016 
249 
32 
92 
373 
2017 - 2021 
425 
58 
148 
631 
2022 - 2026 
648 
94 
203 
945 
2027 - 2031 
806 
112 
244 
1 162 
 
2032 - 2036 
923 
130 
277 
1 330 
2037 - 2041 
1 176 
171 
391 
1 738 
2042 - 2046 
2 104 
299 
616 
3 019 
2047 - 2051 
1 795 
246 
715 
2 755 
2052 - 2056 
1 388 
227 
599 
2 214 
2057 - 2061 
791 
167 
406 
1 364 

 
Source: National Forest Inventory: 50-year forecast of hardwood availability (Forestry Commission, April 2014) Notes: 
1. The estate of Forestry England (FE), Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) and Natural Resources Wales 

(NRW) is assumed to be managed according to current management plans. 
2. In private woodland, harvesting is assumed to be limited to areas with evidence of recent thinning 
activity. If these woodlands were managed to maximise total production, the forecast would be much higher, as illustrated in the full National Forest Inventory report available at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/national-forest-inventory/. 
3. An update to these figures is due to be published in 2020. 4. To convert hardwood 'overbark standing' into green tonnes multiply by 0.900.  See the Sources 
chapter for more details on conversion factors.  
 These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 


## 2.2 Deliveries Of Uk-Grown Roundwood

Figures for deliveries relate to the quantity of UK-grown roundwood that is delivered to processors (mills) or for other uses (such as woodfuel and exports).  They are expressed in green tonnes (weight when freshly felled). Statistics on roundwood deliveries are used to monitor trends in the supply of, and demand for, UK-grown wood. Deliveries should not be confused with removals, which are the quantities of roundwood that is harvested from UK woodland. Removals statistics are presented in Tables 2.1 to 2.3.  A comparison of removals and deliveries of UK softwood roundwood is provided in the Sources chapter. The data are derived from a number of sources, including surveys of the UK- grown timber industry, trade associations and expert estimates. 

## 2.2.1 Softwood Deliveries

In 2018, deliveries of UK roundwood (softwood and hardwood) totalled 11.6 million green tonnes, a 3% increase from the previous year (Tables 2.5 and 2.6). Most UK roundwood deliveries (93%) were softwood and totalled 10.7 million green tonnes in 2018 (Table 2.5). 6.4 million green tonnes (60% of UK softwood deliveries) were used by sawmills, a 2% decrease from the previous year.  A further 1.9 million green tonnes were used for wood fuel (a 19% increase), 1.2 million green tonnes were used to produce wood-based panels (a 14% increase), 0.5 million green tonnes by integrated pulp and paper mills (a 10% increase), and 0.7 million green tonnes for other uses, including round fencing, shavings and exports of roundwood (an 11% decrease). The increase in softwood deliveries for woodfuel in recent years reflects an increase in wood use for heating and energy production in the UK (see the Sources chapter for further information). 


thousand green tonnes 
Wood-
Year Sawmills Pulp 
based 
Fencing **Wood** 
mills 
fuel1 
Other2 Exports 
Total 
panels 
2009 
5 133 
511 
1 135 
367 
650 
160 
347 
8 304 
2010 
5 616 
428 
1 375 
349 
900 
135 
467 
9 269 
2011 
5 859 
453 
1 417 
363 
900 
145 
585 
9 722 
2012 
6 073 
461 
1 269 
338 
1 000 
154 
535 
9 831 
2013 
6 407 
465 
1 263 
332 
1 250 
191 
640 10 547 
2014 
6 725 
465 
1 283 
317 
1 500 
176 
437 10 903 
2015 
6 168 
435 
1 334 
288 
1 600 
164 
276 10 265 
2016 
6 511 
423 
1 248 
277 
1 550 
178 
231 10 419 
2017 
6 572 
442 
1 059 
295 
1 600 
170 
331 10 468 
2018 
6 424 
486 
1 210 
273 
1 900 
174 
264 10 731 

 
Source: Industry surveys, industry associations. Notes: 
1. Woodfuel derived from stemwood, includes estimates of roundwood use for biomass energy. The 

figures are estimated by the Expert Group on Timber and Trade Statistics and make use of woodfuel data reported in the Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey. 
2. Includes shavings and poles. Quantities for some uses are estimates by the Expert Group on Timber 
and Trade Statistics. 


Source: industry surveys, industry associations. 

 

## 2.2.2 Hardwood Deliveries

There was a total of 0.8 million green tonnes of UK hardwood deliveries in 2018 (Table 2.6). The majority of UK hardwood deliveries (84% in 2018) were used for woodfuel. 

thousand green tonnes 
Wood-
Year Sawmills 
Pulp 
based 
Woodfuel 
Other 
Total 
mills 
panels 
2009 
76 
0 
1 
400 
59 
536 
2010 
75 
0 
1 
400 
59 
535 
2011 
81 
0 
1 
400 
59 
541 
2012 
75 
0 
2 
400 
57 
534 
2013 
74 
0 
0 
400 
58 
532 
2014 
77 
0 
0 
400 
60 
537 
2015 
76 
0 
0 
400 
91 
566 
2016 
75 
0 
0 
400 
122 
597 
2017 
66 
0 
0 
600 
71 
738 
2018 
67 
0 
1 
700 
66 
834 

 
Source: industry surveys, industry associations. Notes: 
1. Figures are based on processing industries' purchases of hardwood grown in the UK and estimates for 

woodfuel and other uses. 
 
2. Woodfuel reported here is derived from stemwood and includes estimated roundwood use for 
biomass energy. 
3. The apparent increase in woodfuel from 2016 to 2017 reflects a new estimate of the level of 
hardwood deliveries for woodfuel and should not be interpreted as an increase in a single year.   
4. Other includes round fencing and roundwood exports. 

Source: industry surveys, industry associations. Notes: 
1. Other includes round fencing and roundwood exports. 2. The apparent increase in woodfuel from 2016 to 2017 reflects a new estimate of the level of 
hardwood deliveries for woodfuel and should not be interpreted as an increase in a single year.   

## 2.3 Sawmills - All Mills

Data are collected by Forest Research in an annual Sawmill Survey. The following section includes summary results, covering number of mills, consumption and production are available for all mills. In addition, there are also more detailed figures for larger mills only.  The threshold defining larger mills was changed for the collection of 2016 data, from annual sawnwood production of 10 thousand m3 to annual sawnwood production of 25 thousand m3.  Further information on this change is provided in the section on Larger Mills within this chapter and in the Sawmill Survey section of the Sources chapter. Consumption units are given in green tonnes.  For production, the units used are m3 sawnwood.  For conversion factors between different units, see the Timber section of the Sources chapter. 

## 2.3.1 Summary: Consumption & Production

In 2018, sawmills in the UK consumed a total of 6.7 million green tonnes of softwood, a 1% decrease from 2017 (Table 2.7).  A further 0.1 million green tonnes of hardwood were consumed by UK sawmills in 2018.  Most of the logs, 6.4 million green tonnes softwood and 0.1 million green tonnes hardwood, were grown in the UK. A total of 3.7 million m3 of sawnwood was produced in the UK in 2018, a 1% decrease from 2017. There has been an overall increase in the levels of softwood consumption and sawn softwood production in the UK between 2009 and 2018. In addition to producing sawnwood, sawmills also generate other products. Further information on other products produced by larger mills are provided in Tables 2.18 and 2.18a. 


UK 
Imported 
Total 
grown 
Year 
soft 
soft 
soft 
wood 
wood 
wood 
2009 
5 133 
158 
5 291 
76 
19 
95 
2010 
5 616 
103 
5 719 
75 
19 
94 
2011 
5 859 
125 
5 984 
81 
20 
100 
2012 
6 073 
124 
6 198 
75 
17 
93 
2013 
6 407 
126 
6 532 
74 
13 
88 
2014 
6 725 
159 
6 884 
77 
14 
91 
2015 
6 168 
182 
6 350 
76 
14 
89 
2016 
6 511 
209 
6 720 
75 
17 
92 
2017 
6 572 
267 
6 838 
66 
13 
80 
2018 
6 424 
325 
6 749 
67 
13 
80 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey 
 

                  thousand m3 sawnwood 
Year Softwood production Hardwood production 2009 
2 809 
48 
2010 
3 053 
48 
2011 
3 227 
52 
2012 
3 361 
48 
2013 
3 536 
46 
2014 
3 716 
47 
2015 
3 451 
46 
2016 
3 624 
47 
2017 
3 721 
42 
2018 
3 674 
41 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey 

thousand green tonnes 
UK 
Imported 
Total 
grown 
hard 
hard 
hard 
wood 
wood 
wood 

## 2.3.2 Number Of Sawmills By Size

A total of 157 sawmills processed UK roundwood in 2018 (Table 2.8).  Most mills (82%) produced less than 25 thousand m3 sawnwood (softwood and hardwood) during the year. Over the past ten years, the number of active sawmills has reduced by 19%. Most of this decrease has occurred in the smallest size categories. 

| 5 -     | 50 -     |
|---------|----------|
| Year    | < 1      |
| 1 -     |          |
| <5      | <10      |
| 10 -    |          |
| <25     |          |
| 25 -    |          |
| <50     | <100     |
| 100+    | Total    |
| 2009    | 79       |
| 2010    | 75       |
| 2011    | 70       |
| 2012    | 69       |
| 2013    | 67       |
| 2014    | 69       |
| 2015    | 66       |
| 2016    | 61       |
| 2017    | 61       |
| 2018    | 60       |

 
Source: Sawmill Survey Notes: 
1. Categories are based on total sawnwood production (softwood and hardwood), in thousand m3. Data: Longer time series of the above table are available from the Data Downloads web page at: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/data-downloads/ 

## 2.3.3 Number Of Sawmills By Country

Around one half (53%) of the 157 active sawmills in 2018 were in England, around one third (33%) were in Scotland, 8% in Wales and 6% in Northern Ireland (Table 2.9). 

| Year     |   England  |   Wales  |   Scotland  |
|----------|------------|----------|-------------|
| Northern |            |          |             |
| Ireland  |            |          |             |
| UK       |            |          |             |
| 2009     |       101  |      17  |         68  |
| 2010     |        98  |      17  |         64  |
| 2011     |        96  |      16  |         63  |
| 2012     |        95  |      15  |         61  |
| 2013     |        92  |      15  |         59  |
| 2014     |        92  |      15  |         57  |
| 2015     |        92  |      15  |         55  |
| 2016     |        89  |      15  |         54  |
| 2017     |        88  |      14  |         53  |
| 2018     |        83  |      13  |         52  |

 
Source: Sawmill Survey Data: Longer time series of the above table, and for mills in England by region, are available from the Data downloads web page at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/data-downloads/. 


## 2.3.4 Number Of Sawmills By Type Of Wood Sawn

Around two thirds (66%) of the 157 active sawmills in 2018 processed softwood only (Table 2.10). A further 28% processed both softwood and hardwood, and the remaining 6% processed only hardwood. 

Year 
Softwood 
only 
Hardwood only 
Both 
Total 
2009 
130 
10 
55 
195 
2010 
122 
10 
56 
188 
2011 
120 
10 
54 
184 
2012 
118 
11 
51 
180 
2013 
118 
11 
46 
175 
2014 
115 
9 
49 
173 
2015 
112 
9 
50 
171 
2016 
110 
9 
48 
167 
2017 
110 
10 
44 
164 
2018 
104 
9 
44 
157 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey 

## 2.3.5 Consumption Of Softwood By Size Of Mill

Despite accounting for only 18% of all sawmills (see Table 2.8), those with total annual sawnwood production of 25 thousand m3 or more accounted for 86% of the total softwood consumed by sawmills in 2018 (Table 2.11). 

thousand green tonnes 
5 -  
50 -  
Year 
< 1 
1 -  
<5 
<10 
10 -  
<25 
25 -  
<50 
<100 
100+ 
Total 
2009 
35 
201 
145 
664 
670 
1 323 
2 253 
5 291 
2010 
35 
194 
147 
744 
537 
1 373 
2 689 
5 719 
2011 
32 
188 
148 
685 
615 
830 
3 486 
5 984 
2012 
33 
185 
175 
539 
738 
1 133 
3 395 
6 198 
2013 
36 
185 
169 
578 
702 
777 
4 085 
6 532 
2014 
36 
167 
156 
588 
731 
1 090 
4 117 
6 884 
2015 
31 
168 
196 
553 
795 
801 
3 805 
6 350 
2016 
29 
155 
191 
588 
372 
1 117 
4 270 
6 720 
2017 
29 
173 
152 
671 
339 
1 352 
4 122 
6 838 
2018 
32 
152 
117 
626 
585 
1 102 
4 134 
6 749 

  
Source: Sawmill Survey Notes: 
1. Categories are based on total sawnwood production (softwood and hardwood), in thousand m3. Data: Longer time series of the above table are available from the Data downloads web page at: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/data-downloads/  

## 2.3.6 Consumption Of Softwood By Mills In Each Country

Mills in Scotland consumed around one half (51%) of the 6.7 million green tonnes of softwood delivered to UK sawmills in 2018 (Table 2.12).  A further 30% was consumed by mills in England, 10% in Wales and 9% in Northern Ireland. 

thousand green tonnes 
Year 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
Northern 
Ireland 
UK 
2009 
1 548 
538 
2 672 
532 
5 291 
2010 
1 694 
583 
2 913 
528 
5 719 
2011 
1 726 
634 
3 082 
543 
5 984 
2012 
1 821 
654 
3 195 
528 
6 198 
2013 
1 879 
702 
3 420 
532 
6 532 
2014 
1 982 
711 
3 661 
530 
6 884 
2015 
1 917 
655 
3 247 
531 
6 350 
2016 
1 984 
737 
3 441 
558 
6 720 
2017 
2 086 
691 
3 479 
583 
6 838 
2018 
2 030 
656 
3 423 
640 
6 749 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey Data: Longer time series of the above table, and for mills in England by region, are available from the Data downloads web page at: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/datadownloads/  

## 2.3.7 Production Of Sawn Softwood By Size Of Mill

UK sawmills produced a total of 3.7 million m3 of sawn softwood in 2018, a 1% decrease from the 2017 figure (Table 2.13). Sawmills with total annual sawnwood production of 25 thousand m3 or more accounted for 86% of the total sawn softwood produced by sawmills in 2018. 

| 5 -     | 50 -     |
|---------|----------|
| Year    | < 1      |
| 1 -     |          |
| <5      | <10      |
| 10 -    |          |
| <25     |          |
| 25 -    |          |
| <50     | <100     |
| 100+    | Total    |
| 2009    | 20       |
| 2010    | 20       |
| 2011    | 18       |
| 2012    | 18       |
| 2013    | 20       |
| 2014    | 20       |
| 2015    | 18       |
| 2016    | 17       |
| 2017    | 17       |
| 2018    | 19       |

 
Source: Sawmill Survey Notes: 
1. Categories are based on total sawnwood production (softwood and hardwood), in thousand m3. Data: Longer time series of the above table, are available from the Data downloads web page at: 
https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/data-downloads/  

## 2.3.8 Production Of Sawn Softwood By Mills In Each Country

1.9 million m3 (51%) of sawn softwood was produced by sawmills in Scotland in 2018 (Table 2.14).  A further 31% was produced by mills in England, 9% in Wales and the remaining 10% in Northern Ireland. Over the last 10 years production of sawn softwood in the UK has increased by 31%.  For mills in England, Wales and Scotland, most of this increase has occurred in the earlier part of this period, whilst there has been a more recent increase in Northern Ireland. 

thousand m3 
Year 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
Northern 
Ireland 
UK 
2009 
860 
267 
1 413 
268 
2 809 
2010 
927 
291 
1 560 
275 
3 053 
2011 
954 
316 
1 666 
291 
3 227 
2012 
1 001 
326 
1 747 
288 
3 361 
2013 
1 026 
349 
1 873 
289 
3 536 
2014 
1 091 
354 
1 985 
286 
3 716 
2015 
1 056 
324 
1 787 
284 
3 451 
2016 
1 093 
366 
1 871 
294 
3 624 
2017 
1 156 
319 
1 920 
326 
3 721 
2018 
1 122 
313 
1 888 
351 
3 674 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey Data: Longer time series of the above table, and for mills in England by region, are available from the Data downloads web page at: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/datadownloads/  

## 2.4 Sawmills - Larger Mills

The following, more detailed, tables are available for larger mills (those producing at least 25 thousand m3 sawnwood annually) only. These larger mills are estimated to account for 86% of all sawn softwood produced in 2018 (see Table 2.13).  In order to provide consistent time series, data presented in this section for 2014 and 2015 is also restricted to sawmills that produced at least 25 thousand m3 sawnwood in the relevant year. The tables cover the following topics: 

- 
Source of softwood logs;  
- 
Sawn softwood product markets;  
- 
Other softwood products; and  
- 
Sawmill employment.  

## 2.4.1 Softwood Consumption And Production

Total softwood consumption by the 28 sawmills covered by the detailed sawmill survey in 2018 was 5.8 million green tonnes (Table 2.15).  Sawn softwood production by these mills was 3.2 million m3 and other softwood products (chips, bark, sawdust, etc) amounted to 2.8 million tonnes. Sawmills in Scotland accounted for over one half (52%) of all softwood consumption by larger mills. A further 29% was consumed by mills in England, 9% in Wales and the remaining 10% in Northern Ireland. 

 
England Wales Scotland Northern 
Ireland 
UK 
Number of mills 
 10  
 2  
 14  
 2  
28 
Consumption (thousand green tonnes) 
 1 682  
 520  
 3 024  
 596  5 821 
Sawnwood production (thousand m3) 
 934  
 239  
 1 656  
 328  3 157 
Other products (thousand tonnes) 
 621  
 275  
 1 672  
 255  2 823 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed) Notes: 
1. Sawmills producing at least 25 thousand m3 sawnwood (softwood and hardwood). 

## 2.4.2 Source Of Softwood Logs

Of all softwood sawlogs consumed by larger sawmills in 2018, 58% came from Scotland, 19% from England, 12% from Wales and 4% from Northern Ireland (Tables 2.16 and 2.16a).  The remaining 6% were imported from other countries.  This was similar to the breakdown by source in previous years. 97% of softwood sawlogs used by Scottish mills in 2018 came from Scotland. The corresponding proportions of mills' log use coming from within the same country were 58% for England, 76% for Wales and 44% for Northern Ireland. 

thousand green tonnes 
Source 
England Wales Scotland Northern 
Ireland 
UK 
England 
981 
44 
99 
0 
1 124 
Wales 
333 
393 
0 
0 
726 
Scotland 
368 
83 
2 925 
11 
3 386 
Northern Ireland 
0 
0 
0 
260 
260 
Total UK logs 
1 682 
520 
3 024 
271 5 496 
Other countries 
0 
0 
0 
325 
325 
Total log consumption 
1 682 
520 
3 024 
596 5 821 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed) Notes: 
1. Sawmills producing at least 25 thousand m3 sawnwood (softwood and hardwood). 


Other 
Year 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
Northern 
Ireland 
countries 
Total 
2014 
20 
13 
60 
4 
3 
100 
2015 
19 
13 
60 
4 
3 
100 
2016 
20 
14 
59 
5 
4 
100 
2017 
20 
14 
57 
4 
5 
100 
2018 
19 
12 
58 
4 
6 
100 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed) Notes: 
1. Sawmills producing at least 25 thousand m3 sawnwood (softwood and hardwood). 

## 2.4.3 Sawn Softwood Product Markets

In 2018, 36% of sawn softwood produced by larger sawmills was used for fencing, 33% for construction, 24% for packaging and pallets, and the remaining 7% went to all other markets (Tables 2.17 and 2.17a). 

per cent of total softwood product markets 
Product market 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
Northern 
Ireland 
UK 
Construction 
18 
20 
42 
43 
33 
Fencing 
54 
27 
28 
33 
36 
Packaging/ pallets 
24 
41 
22 
18 
24 
Other 
4 
12 
9 
6 
7 
Total 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 

per cent of total softwood product markets 
Year 
Construction 
Fencing 
Packaging/ 
pallets 
Other 
Total 
2014 
28 
35 
31 
6 
100 
2015 
27 
36 
30 
6 
100 
2016 
28 
35 
30 
7 
100 
2017 
32 
36 
24 
8 
100 
2018 
33 
36 
24 
7 
100 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed) Notes: 
1. Sawmills producing at least 25 thousand m3 sawnwood (softwood and hardwood). 

 

## 2.4.4 Other Softwood Products

Sawmills were asked to estimate the quantity of other products (excluding sawnwood) that they generated from softwood and sold to different industries. The figures presented below are based on these estimates. Other softwood products amounted to 2.8 million tonnes in 2018 (Table 2.15). Around one third (34%) of other softwood products were sold to wood processing industries in the form of chips and 12% were sold to these industries in sawdust and other formats (Table 2.18). A further 24% of other products were sold to bio-energy (including pellet manufacturers), 25% were sold to others and 5% were used internally for heat or energy. 


per cent of total other softwood products 
Destination and type of 
product2 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
NI 
UK 
Sold to wood processing industries 


Wood chips 
32 
56 
36 
0 
34 
Bark 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Sawdust & other 
14 
22 
12 
0 
12 
Total 
46 
78 
48 
0 
46 
Sold to bio-energy (incl pellet manufacturers) 


Wood chips 
9 
6 
13 
64 
16 
Bark 
0 
0 
0 
10 
1 
Sawdust & other 
0 
0 
8 
21 
7 
Total 
10 
6 
20 
95 
24 
Other sales 


Wood chips 
20 
0 
10 
1 
10 
Bark 
7 
11 
7 
1 
7 
Sawdust & other 
11 
4 
9 
2 
8 
Total 
37 
15 
25 
5 
25 
Internal use for heat/energy 


Wood chips 
6 
0 
4 
0 
4 
Bark 
0 
1 
2 
0 
1 
Sawdust & other 
0 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Total 
7 
2 
6 
0 
5 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed) Notes: 
1. Sawmills producing at least 25 thousand m3 sawnwood (softwood and hardwood). 2. The table does not show sales of firewood and other products disposed of as waste, which together accounted for less than 0.5% of other softwood products. 



The proportions of other products that were reported as sold to wood processing industries has reduced over the last five years, whilst other sales have increased (Table 2.18a). 

per cent of total other softwood products 
Sold to bio-
Sold to wood 
energy 
Year 
processing 
(incl pellet 
industries 
manufacturers) 
2014 
59 
22 
17 
3 
100 
2015 
60 
21 
17 
2 
100 
2016 
58 
21 
19 
2 
100 
2017 
56 
22 
19 
3 
100 
2018 
46 
24 
25 
5 
100 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed) Notes: 1. Sawmills producing at least 25 thousand m3 sawnwood (softwood and hardwood). 2. Total includes sales of firewood and other products disposed of as waste. 


Internal use 
Other 
for heat/ 
Total2 
sales 
energy 

## 2.4.5 Sawmill Employment

There were estimated to be 2.9 thousand full-time equivalent staff employed directly by sawmills producing at least 25 thousand m3 of sawnwood in 2018 (Tables 2.19 and 2.19a). 

full-time equivalents 
Employment type 
England Wales Scotland Northern 
Ireland 
UK 
Direct 
  
  
  
  
  
Line & production workers 
810 
165 
1 151 
313 
2 439 
Managerial & administrative staff 
165 
28 
124 
112 
429 
Haulage of logs to the mill 
58 
0    
16 
2 
76 
Total direct employment 
1 033 
193 
1 291 
427 
2 944 
Others2 

 
Line & production workers 
12 
0 
64 
0 
76 
Managerial & administrative staff 
0 
0 
3 
0 
3 
Total contract employment 
12 
0 
67 
0 
79 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed) Notes: 
1. Sawmills producing at least 25 thousand m3 sawnwood (softwood and hardwood). 2. 'Others' refers to others undertaking work for the sawmill, including contractors and their employees. 3. The results exclude any employment on harvesting, and any employment at the site not directly 

related to the sawmill (e.g. exclude work producing pallets or other wood products from sawn wood). 
4. Excludes haulage employment on contract. 

full-time equivalents 
Line & 
Managerial & 
Haulage 
Total 
Employment 
production 
administrative 
of logs to 
employment 
workers 
staff 
the mill 
Direct 
  
  
  
  
2014 
2 422 
385 
43 
2 850 
2015 
2 341 
394 
44 
2 779 
2016 
2 456 
384 
45 
2 885 
2017 
2 369 
428 
79 
2 875 
2018 
2 439 
429 
76 
2 944 
Others2 
  
 
  
  
2014 
124 
1 
.. 
125 
2015 
58 
0 
.. 
58 
2016 
50 
2 
.. 
52 
2017 
76 
3 
.. 
79 
2018 
55 
2 
.. 
57 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed) Notes: 
1. Sawmills producing at least 25 thousand m3 sawnwood (softwood and hardwood). 2. Excludes haulage employment on contract. 3. .. Denotes data not available. 

## 2.5 Pulp & Paper

Statistics on inputs to the pulp & paper industry only cover the integrated pulp & paper mills in the UK that use UK roundwood.  There were four such mills until 2003, three from 2004 and two from spring 2006.  Figures on inputs are provided by the Confederation of Forest Industries (Confor). Figures on production of pulp and paper are provided by the Confederation of Paper Industries, and cover all paper production in the UK, not just from mills using UK roundwood. 

## 2.5.1 Inputs For The Integrated Pulp & Paper Mills

The integrated pulp & paper mills in the UK consumed a total of 0.5 million tonnes of material (all softwood) in 2018, an 8% increase from the 2017 total (Table 2.20). UK roundwood represented 90% of the inputs for the integrated pulp & paper mills in 2018, with the remaining 10% coming from sawmill products. 

thousand green tonnes 
Year 
UK roundwood2 
Sawmill products 
Total 
2009 
511 
120 
631 
2010 
428 
98 
526 
2011 
453 
99 
552 
2012 
461 
79 
540 
2013 
465 
83 
548 
2014 
465 
97 
562 
2015 
435 
101 
536 
2016 
423 
82 
505 
2017 
442 
61 
503 
2018 
486 
55 
541 

 
Source: Confor Notes: 
1. Excludes inputs of recycled paper and cardboard. All inputs are softwood. 2. UK roundwood derived from stemwood. 

 
 
Source: Confor 
 

## 2.5.2 Production Of Paper

Figures for the production of paper (Table 2.21) are provided by the Confederation of Paper Industries.  They cover all paper production from UK mills, not just those using UK roundwood.  Most UK paper production uses recovered waste paper or imported pulp. A total of 3.9 million tonnes of paper and paperboard was produced in the UK in 2018, an increase of 1% from the previous year.  Packaging materials accounted for 49% of the total UK paper production in 2018, graphic papers (including newsprint) for 25%, and sanitary and household papers for 19%. 

thousand tonnes 
Graphic 
Sanitary & 
Total paper 
papers 
Packaging 
Year 
household 
& 
(incl 
materials 
Other 
papers 
paperboard 
newsprint) 
2009 
1 609 
736 
1 702 
246 
4 293 
2010 
1 637 
729 
1 640 
294 
4 300 
2011 
1 669 
766 
1 600 
307 
4 342 
2012 
1 616 
795 
1 798 
271 
4 480 
2013 
1 636 
802 
1 851 
272 
4 561 
2014 
1 544 
768 
1 801 
284 
4 397 
2015 
1 053 
772 
1 894 
251 
3 970 
2016 
897 
730 
1 800 
250 
3 677 
2017 
918 
734 
1 935 
270 
3 858 
2018 
962 
738 
1 904 
291 
3 894 

 
Source: Confederation of Paper Industries 

## 2.6 Wood-Based Panels

Wood-based panels include oriented strand board (OSB), wood chipboard and cement bonded particleboard (which are all types of particleboard), and medium density fibreboard (MDF) and other fibreboard (which are both types of fibreboard). Statistics on wood-based panels are provided by the Wood Panel Industries Federation (WPIF). 

## 2.6.1 Inputs For Wood-Based Panel Products

Table 2.22 and Figure 2.4 show the inputs to mills that produce wood-based panels in the UK.  The mills used a total of 3.8 million tonnes of material in 2018, representing a 1% increase from 2017.  The inputs in 2018 comprised 1.2 million green tonnes of roundwood (32%), 1.6 million green tonnes of sawmill products (42%), 0.9 million tonnes of recycled wood fibre (23%) and 0.1 million tonnes (3%) of imports. 

| Year    | UK roundwood     |
|---------|------------------|
| 1       |                  |
|         | Sawmill products |
| 2       |                  |
|         |                  |
| 2009    | 1 135            |
| 2010    | 1 375            |
| 2011    | 1 417            |
| 2012    | 1 269            |
| 2013    | 1 263            |
| 2014    | 1 283            |
| 2015    | 1 334            |
| 2016    | 1 248            |
| 2017    | 1 059            |
| 2018    | 1 210            |

 
Source: Wood Panel Industries Federation Notes: 
1. UK roundwood derived from stemwood. 2. Imports include roundwood, wood products and products from imported wood. 


thousand green tonnes 
Year 
UK roundwood1 
Sawmill products 
Imports2 
2009 
1 
0 
0 
2010 
1 
0 
1 
2011 
1 
0 
0 
2012 
2 
0 
0 
2013 
0 
0 
0 
2014 
0 
0 
0 
2015 
0 
0 
5 
2016 
0 
0 
29 
2017 
0 
0 
22 
2018 
1 
0 
74 

 
Source: Wood Panel Industries Federation Notes: 
1. UK roundwood derived from stemwood. 2. Imports include roundwood, wood products and products from imported wood. 

 

thousand green tonnes 
Year 
Softwood 
Hardwood 
Recycled wood 
fibre1,2 
2009 
2 570 
1 
1 065 
2010 
3 013 
2 
1 120 
2011 
3 196 
1 
952 
2012 
3 120 
2 
909 
2013 
2 972 
0 
853 
2014 
3 092 
0 
812 
2015 
3 033 
5 
852 
2016 
3 007 
29 
838 
2017 
2 785 
22 
923 
2018 
2 806 
75 
877 

 
Source: Wood Panel Industries Federation Notes: 
1. Recycled wood fibre is wood fibre recovered from both pre- and post-consumer wood waste for use in 

woodbased panel production.  It comprises wood originally grown in the UK and wood originally grown in forests outside the UK. 
2. Quantities are as delivered, with an assumed average moisture content of 25%.  To convert to green 
tonnes (assuming moisture content of 52%), multiply by 1.56. 
 
 
Source: Wood Panel Industries Federation. Note: 
1. Recycled wood fibre data not available before 1999. 


## 2.6.2 Production Of Wood-Based Panel Products

Total production of wood-based panels in 2018 was 3.1 million m3, a 3% decrease from 2017 (Table 2.23).  Over three quarters (76%) of wood-based panel products produced in the UK in 2018 were particleboard (including oriented strand board (OSB)). The marked decrease between 2011 and 2012 largely results from the closure of a panel mill in 2012. 

thousand m3 
Year 
Particleboard1 
Fibreboard2 
Total 
2009 
2 370 
660 
3 030 
2010 
2 594 
776 
3 370 
2011 
2 625 
759 
3 384 
2012 
2 215 
788 
3 003 
2013 
2 276 
756 
3 032 
2014 
2 319 
749 
3 068 
2015 
2 324 
756 
3 080 
2016 
2 349 
684 
3 033 
2017 
2 501 
675 
3 176 
2018 
2 355 
724 
3 079 

 
Source: Wood Panel Industries Federation Notes: 
1. Includes Oriented Strand Board (OSB). 2. Includes Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF). 3. Changes in the mix of materials used and type of product produced can result in apparent 

discrepancies between the trends for inputs (Table 2.22) and production. 

## 2.7 Miscellaneous Products Softwood

Data for softwood fencing are obtained from the Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers.  Figures for other uses are reported by manufacturers or are estimated by representatives of the wood processing industries. 1.9 million green tonnes of UK softwood were estimated to have been used directly for woodfuel (including biomass energy) in 2018, an increase of 19% from the previous year (Table 2.24).  A further 273 thousand green tonnes of UK softwood were consumed by round fencing manufacturers and 174 thousand green tonnes for other uses in 2018. 

thousand green tonnes 
Year 
Fencing 
Woodfuel1 
Other2 
Total 
2009 
367 
650 
160 
1 178 
2010 
349 
900 
135 
1 384 
2011 
363 
900 
145 
1 408 
2012 
338 
1 000 
154 
1 492 
2013 
332 
1 250 
191 
1 773 
2014 
317 
1 500 
176 
1 992 
2015 
288 
1 600 
164 
2 052 
2016 
277 
1 550 
178 
2 006 
2017 
295 
1 600 
170 
2 064 
2018 
273 
1 900 
174 
2 347 

 
Source: Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers, industry associations. Notes: 
1. Woodfuel derived from stemwood. Includes estimates of roundwood use for biomass energy. The 

figures are estimated by the Expert Group on Timber and Trade Statistics and make use of woodfuel data reported in the Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey. 
2. Includes shavings and poles. Quantities for some uses are estimates by the Expert Group on Timber 
and Trade Statistics. 

## Hardwood

An estimated 700 thousand green tonnes of UK hardwood were used for woodfuel (including biomass energy) in 2018.  A further 30 thousand green tonnes were estimated to have been consumed by round fencing manufacturers and 36 thousand green tonnes for other uses, including exports. 

## 2.7.1 Softwood Round Fencing Manufacturers

There were 48 active round fencing manufacturers in 2018 (Table 2.25). Around two thirds of round fencing manufacturers (65%) consumed less than 5 thousand green tonnes of softwood annually. 

|   Year  |   < 1  |   1 - < 5  |   5 - < 10  |   10 +  |   Total  |
|---------|--------|------------|-------------|---------|----------|
|   2009  |    22  |        26  |         13  |      7  |      68  |
|   2010  |    21  |        24  |         13  |      6  |      64  |
|   2011  |    21  |        24  |         10  |      8  |      63  |
|   2012  |    21  |        21  |         11  |      7  |      60  |
|   2013  |    20  |        22  |         11  |      7  |      60  |
|   2014  |    18  |        21  |         10  |      7  |      56  |
|   2015  |    15  |        19  |         10  |      6  |      50  |
|   2016  |    17  |        16  |         11  |      6  |      50  |
|   2017  |    16  |        17  |          9  |      8  |      50  |
|   2018  |    15  |        16  |          9  |      8  |      48  |

 
Source: Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers Notes: 
1. Categories are based on total softwood consumption, in thousand green tonnes. 

 

## 2.7.2 Roundwood Purchased By Softwood Round Fencing Manufacturers

A total of 294 thousand green tonnes of softwood (UK grown and imported) was purchased by softwood fencing manufacturers in 2018 (Table 2.26).  This represents a decrease of 8% from the 2017 total of 319 thousand green tonnes. 

thousand green tonnes 
Year 
< 1 
1 - < 5 
5 - < 10 
10 + 
Total 
2009 
7 
66 
82 
239 
394 
2010 
7 
63 
86 
213 
369 
2011 
8 
65 
60 
250 
383 
2012 
8 
57 
69 
226 
360 
2013 
7 
57 
79 
204 
346 
2014 
7 
54 
74 
201 
335 
2015 
6 
46 
79 
185 
316 
2016 
7 
41 
78 
177 
303 
2017 
6 
45 
71 
197 
319 
2018 
6 
39 
60 
188 
294 

 
Source: Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers Notes: 
1. Categories are based on total softwood consumption, in thousand green tonnes. 2. This table includes purchases of both UK grown and imported softwood, whereas table 2.24 relates to UK grown softwood only. Data: Longer time series of roundwood purchased by round fencing manufacturers, by size category and by country (England/ Wales/ Scotland/ Northern Ireland) are available from the Data downloads web page at: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/data-downloads/.  

## 2.8 Exports

UK softwood exports in 2018 consisted of 67 thousand green tonnes of industrial roundwood (excluding sawlogs) and 197 thousand green tonnes of sawlogs, giving a total of 264 thousand green tonnes of roundwood (Table 2.27).  The quantity of softwood roundwood exports decreased by 20% between 2017 and 2018. The UK also exported 112 thousand tonnes of softwood chips in 2018, a 22% increase from the previous year. 

thousand green tonnes 
Roundwood 
Total 
Chips 
Year 
Industrial 
roundwood1 
sawlogs 
roundwood 
2009 
244 
104 
347 
125 
2010 
301 
166 
467 
136 
2011 
415 
171 
585 
158 
2012 
405 
130 
535 
142 
2013 
379 
260 
640 
126 
2014 
228 
209 
437 
151 
2015 
75 
202 
276 
86 
2016 
48 
183 
231 
51 
2017 
124 
207 
331 
92 
2018 
67 
197 
264 
112 

 
Source: industry associations Notes: 
1. Includes all roundwood other than sawlogs. 


## 2.9 Certification

Forest certification assesses forest management practices against an agreed standard and awards a label to those forest products that meet the standard. In order for products to achieve certification, both forest management practices and the Chain of Custody, which tracks timber from forest to retail outlet, must be assessed. The following tables provide information on the level of certified wood produced in the UK (Table 2.28) and the number of sawmills and round fencing manufacturers holding Chain of Custody certificates (Table 2.29).  Information on areas of certified woodland is provided in Chapter 1. 

## 2.9.1 Volume Certified

Respondents to the industry surveys run by Forest Research were asked to report on volumes of wood that is certified.  71% of private sector softwood removals in 2018 were from certified sources (Table 2.28).  The percentage of private sector softwood removals that are certified has fluctuated over recent years; industry experts have indicated a general reduction in the level of certification amongst smaller estates and an increase in production from larger estates. As nearly all removals from Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales and Forest Service woodland are certified, this equates to around 82% of all softwood removals in 2018 from certified sources. 64% of sawmills' roundwood consumption in 2018 was certified.  For round fencing manufacturers, 54% of total softwood consumption was certified. 


| Softwood    | Total softwood    |
|-------------|-------------------|
| removals    | removals          |
| from        | (including all    |
| Year        |                   |
| Private     | removals from     |
| sector      | FE/FLS/NRW/FS     |
| 2           |                   |
|             |                   |
| woodland    | woodland)         |
| 2009        | 68                |
| 2010        | 73                |
| 2011        | 72                |
| 2012        | 70                |
| 2013        | 76                |
| 2014        | 72                |
| 2015        | 69                |
| 2016        | 66                |
| 2017        | 75                |
| 2018        | 71                |

 
Source: Forestry England (FE), Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), Natural Resources Wales (NRW), Forest Service (FS) and industry surveys Notes: 
1. The accompanying data tables include a country breakdown of certified softwood removals for 2018. 

These are currently Experimental statistics. 


per cent certified volume 
Consumption 
Consumption 
(softwood 
(softwood) by 
and 
round fencing 
hardwood) 
manufacturers 
by sawmills 

## 2.9.2 Chain Of Custody Certificates

Sawmills and round fencing manufacturers were also asked whether they held a Chain of Custody certificate.  72% of sawmills for which the certification status was known held a Chain of Custody certificate in 2018 (Table 2.29). This proportion varied with size of mill, from 39% for mills producing less than 5 thousand m3 sawnwood to 100% for those producing 25 thousand m3 sawnwood or more.  One half (50%) of round fencing manufacturers for which the certification status was known held a Chain of Custody certificate. 

| Mills         | Mills       | Certification    |
|---------------|-------------|------------------|
|               |             |                  |
| holding       | without     | status not       |
| 1             |             |                  |
|               |             |                  |
| certificate   | certificate | known            |
| Sawmills      |             |                  |
| 2             |             |                  |
|               |             |                  |
| (size of mill |             |                  |
| 3             |             |                  |
| )             |             |                  |
|               |             |                  |
| < 5           | 7           | 11               |
| 5 - < 25      | 9           | 5                |
| 25 +          | 26          | 0                |
| All sawmills  | 42          | 16               |
| Round fencing |             |                  |
| manufacturers |             |                  |
| 8             | 8           | 32               |

 
Source: industry surveys Notes: 
1. Includes non-respondents to survey in current year. 2. For large sawmills (those producing at least 25 thousand m3) that did not report whether or not they 

held a certificate or did not respond to the 2018 survey, the certification status was obtained from the FSC database, where possible. 
3. Categories are based on total sawnwood production (softwood and hardwood), in thousand m3. 

## 2.10 Woodfuel And Pellets

Wood from various sources can be used for fuel, including roundwood, chips and sawdust from wood processing, specific products such as pellets and briquettes, and recycled wood. The following pages provide data on: 

- 
recycled wood used for woodfuel (Table 2.30 below);  
- 
woodfuel supply by sawmills and round fencing manufacturers (Table 2.31); and  
- 
wood pellet production (Table 2.32) and feedstock (Table 2.33).  
In addition, estimates of roundwood used directly for woodfuel are provided in tables 2.5 and 2.6.  

## Recycled Wood Used For Woodfuel

Estimates of recycled wood used for woodfuel have been obtained from the Wood Recyclers' Association. In 2018, it is estimated that around 2.1 million tonnes of recycled wood were used for woodfuel, an increase of 24% from the 2017 estimate of around 1.7 million tonnes. 


Year2 
Total3 
2011 
0.59 
2012 
0.76 
2013 
0.83 
2014 
1.34 
2015 
1.45 
2016 
1.55 
2017 
1.66 
2018 
2.10 

 
Source: Wood Recyclers Association Notes: 
1. Post consumer recovered wood, comprising wood originally grown in the UK and wood originally 

grown in forests outside the UK. 
2. Figures for 2014 to 2018 relate to capacity, rather than consumption. 3. Quantities are as delivered, with an assumed average moisture content of 25%.  To convert to green 
tonnes (assuming moisture content of 52%), multiply by 1.56. 

## These Figures Are Outside The Scope Of National Statistics. 2.10.1 Woodfuel Supply By Sawmills And Round Fencing Manufacturers

An estimated 797 thousand green tonnes (mainly softwood) of woodfuel were supplied by sawmills in 2018 and a further 72 thousand green tonnes were supplied by round fencing manufacturers (Table 2.31).  80% of the total woodfuel supplied was sold to bioenergy. 

thousand green tonnes 
Used 
Sales as 
internally 
 
Sales to 
Total 
bioenergy 
firewood 
for 
heat/energy 
Sawmills 


2014 
676 
27 
72 
775 
2015 
614 
12 
45 
671 
2016 
583 
14 
65 
661 
2017 
623 
15 
96 
734 
2018 
638 
7 
152 
797 
Round fencing manufacturers 


2014 
55 
5 
1 
61 
2015 
51 
7 
2 
60 
2016 
57 
7 
1 
65 
2017 
55 
7 
3 
66 
2018 
58 
9 
5 
72 

 
Source: Sawmill Survey, Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers Notes: 
1. Material reported as sales/use for woodfuel but may have been used for other purposes. 


## 2.10.2 Wood Pellet Production

Wood pellets and briquettes are processed wood products that can be made from roundwood, sawmill products and/or recycled wood.  Some of the wood used to make wood pellets and briquettes will be accounted for elsewhere in this release (e.g. in Tables 2.30 and 2.31).  Wood pellets and briquettes are often used for woodfuel, but pellets may also be used for other purposes (such as horse bedding or cat litter). A total of 279 thousand tonnes of wood pellets and briquettes are estimated to have been produced in the UK in 2018. This represents a 3% decrease from the 2017 estimate of 287 thousand tonnes. 

  thousand tonnes 
Year2 
Total3 
2009 
118 
2010 
197 
2011 
244 
2012 
278 
2013 
301 
2014 
354 
2015 
343 
2016 
329 
2017 
287 
2018 
279 

 
Source: Survey of UK Pellet and Briquette Production 

## 2.10.3 Wood Pellet Feedstock

A total of 679 thousand tonnes of feedstock was used to produce wood pellets in the UK in 2018 (Table 2.33). Roundwood accounted for around two thirds (67%) of the feedstock. 

thousand tonnes2 
Year 
Roundwood 
Sawmill products1 
Total 
2014 
393 
306 
699 
2015 
332 
290 
621 
2016 
377 
320 
697 
2017 
354 
295 
648 
2018 
453 
226 
679 

 
Source: Survey of UK Pellet and Briquette Production Notes: 
1. May also include wood from other sources (e.g. energy crops, arboriculture arisings and recycled 

wood). 
2. Tonnes as delivered. 

## Chapter 3: Trade Introduction

This chapter contains information about UK imports and exports of wood products, and about the level of apparent consumption estimated from data for UK production, imports and exports. Information on imports and exports mainly comes from the Overseas Trade Statistics compiled by HM Revenue & Customs.  Estimates are provided at a UK level only. International comparisons of apparent consumption are provided in the International Forestry chapter.  Further information on the data sources and methodology used to compile the figures is provided in the Sources chapter. Figures for 2018 were previously published in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2018 Provisional Figures", released on 16 May 2019.  Some figures for 2018 and earlier years have been revised from those previously published.  For further details on revisions, see the Trade section of the Sources chapter. A copy of all trade tables can be accessed in spreadsheet format from the Data Downloads web page at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-andresources/statistics/data-downloads/. 


The main findings are: UK imports: 

- 
7.2 million cubic metres of sawnwood in 2018, a 6% decrease from the 2017 figure;  
- 
3.9 million cubic metres of wood-based panels in 2018, a 2% increase from 2017;  
- 
8.0 million tonnes of wood pellets in 2018, a 16% increase from 2017;  
- 
5.5 million tonnes of paper in 2018, a 2% decrease from 2017.  
- 
The total value of wood product imports in 2018 was £8.3 billion, representing a 5% increase from 2017; of which £4.1 billion was pulp and paper.  
- 
Sawn softwood, particleboard, fibreboard, and paper and paperboard were overwhelmingly imported from EU countries in 2018.  
- 
Sawn hardwood and wood pulp imports originated from a range of both EU and non-EU countries in 2018.  
- 
The vast majority of UK imports of plywood and wood pellets in 2018 came from countries outwith the EU.  
- 
Apparent consumption of wood in the UK was 56.4 million m3 WRME underbark in 2018, representing a 1% decrease from the previous year. 
UK exports: 

- 
The total value of wood product exports in 2018 was £1.8 billion, a 3% decrease from 2017; of which £1.6 billion was pulp and paper. 

## 3.1 Apparent Consumption Of Wood In The Uk

Apparent consumption is the amount of timber used as wood and wood products by people and industries in the United Kingdom.  It is calculated as total United Kingdom production plus imports, minus exports.  Apparent consumption differs from actual consumption by the extent of changes in the level of stocks.  It is not practical to collect information on actual consumption. As table 3.1 covers a broad range of products (including secondary processed wood products), volumes are expressed in wood raw material equivalent (WRME) underbark.  WRME volumes represent the amount of wood that would have been required to make the product. UK production of roundwood totalled 11.3 million m3 WRME underbark in 2018 (Table 3.1).  A further 49.0 million m3 WRME underbark of wood and wood products were imported to the UK and 3.9 million m3 WRME underbark were exported, giving apparent consumption of 56.4 million m3 WRME underbark. This represented a 1% decrease in apparent consumption from the previous year.  These figures exclude recycled wood and recovered paper (see Table 3.3 for statistics on recovered paper). Imports accounted for 81% of all wood (production + imports) in the UK in 2018. 


| Year        | UK production   |
|-------------|-----------------|
| 2           |                 |
|             | Imports         |
| Apparent    |                 |
| Consumption |                 |
| 2009        | 8.6             |
| 2010        | 9.6             |
| 2011        | 10.0            |
| 2012        | 10.1            |
| 2013        | 10.8            |
| 2014        | 11.2            |
| 2015        | 10.6            |
| 2016        | 10.8            |
| 2017        | 10.9            |
| 2018        | 11.3            |

 
Source: Industry surveys, industry associations, UK overseas trade statistics (HM Revenue & Customs) and conversion factors to Wood Raw Material Equivalent (WRME). Notes: 
1. Excludes recovered paper. 2. UK production of roundwood is estimated from deliveries to wood processing industries and others, as 

in tables 2.5 and 2.6. 
Source: Industry surveys, industry associations, UK overseas trade statistics (HM Revenue & Customs) and conversion factors to Wood Raw Material Equivalent (WRME). Notes: 
1. Excludes recovered paper. 2. 2. UK production of roundwood is estimated from deliveries to wood processing industries and others, 

as in tables 2.5 and 2.6. 

## 3.2 Apparent Consumption Of Wood Products In The Uk

Table 3.2 provides volumes of UK production, trade and apparent consumption in selected wood products.  It differs from table 3.1 in terms of both coverage (table 3.1 covers a wider range of wood and wood products, including secondary processed products) and in terms of units (wood raw material equivalents in table 3.1, volumes of product in table 3.2). UK production accounted for 35% of the UK sawnwood market, 46% of the UK wood-based panel market and 45% of the UK paper market in 2018 (Table 3.2). 


Product 
UK 
production Imports Exports 
Apparent 
consumption 
Sawnwood3 (thousand m3) 


Coniferous 
3 674 
6 626 
218 
10 082 
Non-coniferous 
41 
587 
20 
608 
Total 
3 715 
7 213 
238 
10 690 
Wood-based panels (thousand m3) 


Veneer sheets 
0 
30 
2 
28 
Plywood 
0 
1 598 
79 
1 519 
Particleboard 
2 355 
1 328 
159 
3 524 
Fibreboard 
724 
922 
55 
1 591 
Total 
3 079 
3 878 
295 
6 662 
Paper & paperboard (thousand tonnes) 


Graphic papers 
962 
2 887 
367 
3 482 
Sanitary & household papers 
738 
391 
33 
1 096 
Packaging materials 
1 904 
2 212 
355 
3 760 
Other paper & paperboard 
291 
36 
16 
311 
Total 
3 894 
5 525 
771 
8 648 

 
Source: Industry surveys, industry associations, UK overseas trade statistics (HM Revenue & Customs). Notes: 1. Excludes other wood products, e.g. fuelwood and round fencing. 2. Excludes roundwood and intermediate products (e.g. sawmill products, pulp and recovered paper) to avoid double-counting. 3. Includes sleepers. 


## 3.3 Flow Of Recovered Paper

UK production of recovered paper (the amount recovered from businesses and households in the UK) totalled 7.5 million tonnes in 2018 (Table 3.3) a decrease of 3% from 2017.  Imports increased by 12% and exports decreased by 4% between 2017 and 2018, resulting in a 1% fall in apparent consumption over this period (Table 3.3). 

thousand tonnes 
Year 
UK  
production 
Imports 
Exports 
Apparent  
consumption1 
2009 
8 155 
94 
4 444 
3 805 
2010 
8 003 
115 
4 388 
3 730 
2011 
8 036 
177 
4 479 
3 733 
2012 
8 099 
160 
4 447 
3 812 
2013 
7 901 
184 
4 248 
3 837 
2014 
8 014 
136 
4 436 
3 714 
2015 
7 912 
305 
4 881 
3 336 
2016 
7 825 
125 
4 932 
3 018 
2017 
7 772 
107 
4 733 
3 147 
2018 
7 547 
120 
4 540 
3 127 

 
Source: Confederation of Paper Industries, UK overseas trade statistics (HM Revenue & Customs). Notes: 
1. Apparent consumption of recovered paper refers to use of recycled paper pulp in the UK. 


## 3.4 Uk Import Quantities By Product

Wood imports to the UK in 2018 included 7.2 million cubic metres of sawnwood (a 6% decrease from the previous year), 3.9 million cubic metres of woodbased panels (2% increase) and 8.0 million tonnes of wood pellets (16% increase) (Table 3.4a & Table 3.4b).  A total of 5.5 million tonnes of paper was imported into the UK in 2018, a decrease of 2% from 2017. 

thousand m3 
Wood-based 
Other 
Year 
Sawn 
wood4 
panels3 
wood2 
2009 
5 240 
2 500 
821 
2010 
5 699 
2 701 
1 071 
2011 
4 936 
2 827 
985 
2012 
5 179 
2 650 
965 
2013 
5 488 
2 964 
1 267 
2014 
6 425 
3 260 
1 329 
2015 
6 323 
3 215 
1 378 
2016 
6 794 
3 410 
1 121 
2017 
7 663 
3 800 
1 379 
2018 
7 213 
3 878 
1 766 

 
Source: UK overseas trade statistics (HM Revenue & Customs), industry associations Notes: 
1. There are reliability concerns for some of these figures, particularly for individual products (see 

Sources chapter). 
2. Includes roundwood, wood charcoal, chips, particles, residues and from 2017, includes recovered 
wood. 
3. Includes veneer sheets. 4. Sawnwood includes sleepers from 2017. 

thousand tonnes 
Total pulp   
Year 
Wood 
pellets 
Paper 
Pulp 
Recovered 
paper 
& paper 
2009 
45 
7 018 
940 
94 
8 052 
2010 
551 
7 254 
1 094 
115 
8 462 
2011 
1 015 
6 887 
1 009 
177 
8 073 
2012 
1 487 
6 631 
1 021 
160 
7 812 
2013 
3 432 
5 929 
1 100 
184 
7 213 
2014 
4 773 
5 949 
1 234 
136 
7 319 
2015 
6 573 
6 032 
1 223 
305 
7 560 
2016 
6 782 
5 876 
1 092 
125 
7 092 
2017 
6 885 
5 610 
1 081 
107 
6 798 
2018 
7 992 
5 525 
1 066 
120 
6 711 

 
Source: UK overseas trade statistics (HM Revenue & Customs), industry associations 
1. There are reliability concerns for some of these figures, particularly for individual products (see Sources chapter). 

## 3.5 Uk Export Quantities By Product

A total of 5.3 million tonnes of pulp and paper (including recovered paper) was exported from the UK in 2018 (Table 3.5a & Table 3.5b), representing a 4% decrease from 2017. 

thousand m3 
Wood-based 
Other 
Year 
Sawn 
wood4 
panels3 
wood2 
2009 
203 
451 
657 
2010 
195 
509 
1 029 
2011 
162 
546 
1 430 
2012 
141 
597 
1 779 
2013 
167 
432 
1 267 
2014 
175 
404 
1 083 
2015 
187 
286 
1 018 
2016 
193 
314 
810 
2017 
218 
374 
638 
2018 
238 
295 
595 

 
Source: UK overseas trade statistics (HM Revenue & Customs), industry associations Notes: 
1. There are reliability concerns for some of these figures, particularly for individual products (see 

Sources chapter). 
2. Includes roundwood, wood charcoal, chips, particles, residues and, from 2017, includes recovered 
wood.  
3. Includes veneer sheets. 4. Sawnwood includes sleepers from 2017. 

thousand tonnes 
Total pulp   
Year 
Wood 
pellets 
Paper 
Pulp 
Recovered 
paper 
& paper 
2009 
12 
896 
22 
4 444 
5 361 
2010 
60 
926 
35 
4 388 
5 349 
2011 
38 
974 
32 
4 479 
5 485 
2012 
54 
1 102 
36 
4 447 
5 585 
2013 
106 
1 119 
23 
4 248 
5 390 
2014 
98 
1 010 
21 
4 436 
5 467 
2015 
88 
807 
24 
4 881 
5 712 
2016 
21 
760 
7 
4 932 
5 700 
2017 
126 
788 
7 
4 733 
5 528 
2018 
63 
771 
15 
4 540 
5 326 

 
Source: UK overseas trade statistics (HM Revenue & Customs), industry associations Notes: 
1. There are reliability concerns for some of these figures, particularly for individual products (see 

Sources chapter). 

## 3.6 Uk Import Values By Product

Wood product imports in 2018 were valued at a total of £8.3 billion, a 5% increase from 2017 (Table 3.6a & Table 3.6b). Pulp and paper (including recovered paper) imports were valued at £4.1 billion in 2018 (almost half of the total value of wood product imports).  Sawnwood imports were valued at £1.7 billion in 2018, wood-based panels at £1.2 billion and wood pellets at £1.1 billion. 

£ million 
Wood-based 
Other 
Year 
Sawn 
wood4 
panels3 
wood2 
2009 
953 
677 
104 
2010 
1 199 
781 
110 
2011 
1 080 
838 
79 
2012 
1 084 
791 
75 
2013 
1 180 
882 
88 
2014 
1 420 
936 
80 
2015 
1 311 
957 
88 
2016 
1 423 
1 010 
85 
2017 
1 636 
1 155 
90 
2018 
1 743 
1 201 
122 

 
Source: UK overseas trade statistics (HM Revenue & Customs), industry associations Notes: 1. There are reliability concerns for some of these figures, particularly for individual products (see Sources chapter). 2. Includes roundwood, wood charcoal, chips, particles, residues and, from 2017, includes recovered wood. 3. Includes veneer sheets. 4. Sawnwood includes sleepers from 2017. 


£ million 
Total pulp 
Year 
Wood 
pellets 
Paper 
Pulp 
Recovered 
paper 
& paper 
2009 
7 
3 635 
425 
11 
4 071 
2010 
69 
3 997 
593 
17 
4 607 
2011 
129 
4 049 
613 
34 
4 696 
2012 
185 
3 727 
519 
21 
4 266 
2013 
412 
3 644 
500 
21 
4 165 
2014 
547 
3 667 
509 
19 
4 196 
2015 
780 
3 711 
642 
23 
4 375 
2016 
915 
3 434 
557 
13 
4 003 
2017 
961 
3 418 
572 
14 
4 004 
2018 
1 117 
3 415 
639 
21 
4 075 

 
Source: UK overseas trade statistics (HM Revenue & Customs), industry associations Notes: 1. There are reliability concerns for some of these figures, particularly for individual products (see Sources chapter). 


## 3.7 Uk Export Values By Product

Wood product exports from the UK were valued at a total of £1.8 billion in 2018, a 3% decrease from the 2017 total (Table 3.7a & Table 3.7b). Total exports of wood products in 2018 comprised 88% pulp and paper (mainly paper), 6% wood-based panels, 4% sawnwood and 2% other wood. 

£ million 
Wood-based 
Other 
Year 
Sawn 
wood4 
panels3 
wood2 
2009 
41 
104 
20 
2010 
47 
113 
35 
2011 
41 
128 
50 
2012 
34 
130 
51 
2013 
37 
109 
47 
2014 
43 
107 
39 
2015 
44 
75 
35 
2016 
50 
91 
26 
2017 
55 
109 
41 
2018 
64 
103 
41 

 
Source: UK overseas trade statistics (HM Revenue & Customs), industry associations Notes: 1. There are reliability concerns for some of these figures, particularly for individual products (see Sources chapter). 2. Includes roundwood, wood charcoal, chips, particles, residues and, from 2017, includes recovered wood. 3. Includes veneer sheets. 4. Sawnwood includes sleepers from 2017. 


£ million 
Total pulp 
Year 
Wood 
pellets 
Paper 
Pulp 
Recovered 
paper 
& paper 
2009 
2 
1 010 
10 
342 
1 362 
2010 
7 
1 068 
18 
524 
1 610 
2011 
3 
1 044 
11 
595 
1 650 
2012 
4 
1 048 
10 
531 
1 589 
2013 
5 
1 017 
8 
494 
1 519 
2014 
2 
997 
7 
476 
1 480 
2015 
1 
901 
7 
534 
1 441 
2016 
0 
838 
4 
465 
1 307 
2017 
6 
997 
5 
649 
1 651 
2018 
5 
1 022 
5 
570 
1 597 

 
Source: UK overseas trade statistics (HM Revenue & Customs), industry associations Notes: 1. There are reliability concerns for some of these figures, particularly for individual products (see Sources chapter). 


## 3.8 Origin Of Wood Imports

Table 3.8 presents data on the source of selected wood products that have been imported into the UK in 2018. Sawn softwood, particleboard, fibreboard, and paper and paperboard were overwhelmingly imported from EU countries in 2018 (Table 3.8): 

- Sweden (41%), Latvia (17%) and Finland (14%) provided the majority 
of imports of sawn softwood to the UK. 
- Most particleboard imports to the UK came from Germany (20%), France 
(17%), Ireland and Belgium (both 14%). 
- Ireland (31%), Germany (18%) Spain (11%) and Belgium (10%) were 
the principal sources of fibreboard imports. 
- Most paper and paperboard imports came from Germany (18%), Finland 
and Sweden (both 17%). 
Sawn hardwood and wood pulp imports originated from a range of both EU and non-EU countries in 2018: 

- The USA (16%), Estonia (14%) and France (10%) provided around two 
fifths of sawn hardwood imports to the UK. 
- Sweden (29%) and Brazil (18%) provided almost one half of wood pulp 
imports to the UK. 
The vast majority of UK imports of plywood and wood pellets came from countries outside the EU in 2018: 

- China (39%) and Brazil (16%) were the principal sources of plywood 
imports to the UK. 
- The USA (61%) and Canada (19%) provided the majority of wood pellet 
imports to the UK. 

per cent of total UK imports (volume) in each category 
Paper 
Sawn1 
Sawn1 
Ply 
Particle 
Fibre 
& 
Source 
soft 
hard 
-wood 
board 
board 
Pellet 
Wood 
pulp 
wood 
wood 
paper
board 
Sweden 
41 
1 
1 
0 
1 
0 
29 
17 
Germany 
7 
4 
1 
20 
18 
0 
4 
18 
Finland 
14 
1 
8 
0 
1 
0 
7 
17 
Latvia 
17 
8 
2 
12 
8 
11 
0 
0 
France 
0 
10 
1 
17 
1 
0 
0 
8 
Netherlands 
0 
3 
0 
0 
0 
0 
13 
4 
Ireland 
6 
3 
0 
14 
31 
0 
0 
1 
Italy 
0 
8 
1 
3 
0 
0 
0 
4 
Austria 
0 
1 
2 
1 
0 
0 
12 
3 
Belgium 
1 
1 
1 
14 
10 
0 
0 
3 
Portugal 
0 
0 
0 
8 
1 
3 
1 
2 
Spain 
0 
0 
1 
5 
11 
0 
3 
1 
Estonia  
2 
14 
0 
0 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Other EU-28 
4 
7 
1 
5 
6 
0 
0 
3 
Total EU-28 
94 
61 
19 
99 
90 
18 
70 
81 
USA 
0 
16 
0 
0 
0 
61 
4 
4 
Canada 
1 
3 
1 
0 
0 
19 
0 
2 
China 
0 
0 
39 
0 
2 
0 
0 
1 
Brazil 
0 
1 
16 
0 
3 
0 
18 
1 
Russia 
5 
1 
8 
1 
3 
2 
0 
1 
Norway 
0 
6 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
4 
Malaysia 
0 
3 
5 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cameroon  
0 
5 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Other non-EU 
0 
5 
12 
0 
2 
0 
6 
6 
Total non-EU 
6 
39 
81 
1 
10 
82 
30 
19 

 
Source: UK overseas trade statistics (HM Revenue & Customs), industry associations. Notes: 1.  Sawnwood imports in this table exclude sleepers. 



Figure 3.2 shows the main sources of imports of sawn softwood to the UK since 1962.  The total level of sawn softwood imports has fluctuated between around 5 million m3 and 10 million m3 from 1962 to present.  Imports to the UK from Canada have reduced substantially since the early 1990s.  In contrast imports from the Baltic States increased between 1992 and 2003 and, although there was some decline between 2003 to 2012, imports from the Baltic States to the UK have started to increase again in recent years.  Since 1993 Sweden has consistently been the principal country of origin for UK sawn softwood imports. 

Notes:  
1. Sawn softwood imports in this chart exclude sleepers. 

## Chapter 4: Carbon Introduction

This chapter contains information on: 

- 
carbon in forests;  
- 
the Woodland Carbon Code; and  
- 
public attitudes to forestry and climate change.  
Estimates for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are included, where possible, in addition to UK totals. International comparisons of carbon stocks are provided in the International Forestry chapter. Further information on the data sources and methodology used to compile the figures is provided in the Sources chapter. All of the statistics presented in this chapter have been previously released. A copy of all carbon tables can be accessed in spreadsheet format from the Data Downloads web page at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-andresources/statistics/data-downloads/. In addition to the statistics presented here, information on UK forests and climate change is available from "Combating Climate Change - a role for UK forests" (The Read Report), an independent assessment of the science published in November 2009 and available at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/documents/2062/SynthesisUKAssessmentfinal.pdf. This chapter previously included statistics on net annual changes in carbon in UK woodlands.  No update is currently available, and this data will be updated in Forestry Statistics 2020.  Previous results can be accessed from Forestry Statistics 2018 at https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-andresources/statistics/forestry-statistics/forestry-statistics-2018/uk-forests-andclimate-change/carbon-sequestration/. 


The main findings are: 

- 
The total carbon stock in UK forests is estimated to have increased between 1990 and 2015, and to continue increasing to 2020.  
- 
A total of 187 projects had been validated to the Woodland Carbon Code at 31 March 2019, covering almost 8,300 hectares and projected to sequester 3.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over their lifetime.  
- 
In 2019, 88% of the UK public agreed with the statement "a lot more trees should be planted" in response to the threat from climate change. 

## 4.1 Forest Carbon Stock

Forest carbon stock is the amount of carbon that has been sequestered from the atmosphere and is now stored within the forest ecosystem, mainly within living biomass and soil, and to a lesser extent also in dead wood and litter. Table 4.1 presents estimates of UK forest carbon stock that were compiled in 2018 for submission to international organisations.  The total carbon stock stored within UK forests is estimated to have increased between 1990 and 2015, and to continue increasing to 2020 (Table 4.1).  The carbon stored in forest soils accounts for around 70% of total forest carbon stock. 

million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent 
  
1990 
2000 
2010 
2015 
2020  
Carbon in above-ground biomass 
376 
482 
586 
630 
674 
Carbon in below-ground biomass 
135 
174 
211 
227 
242 
Carbon in dead wood 
130 
138 
143 
147 
149 
Carbon in litter 
165 
175 
182 
188 
190 
Soil carbon 1, 3 
2 366 
2 533 
2 629 
2 726 
2 761 
Total forest carbon 
3 172 
3 502 
3 750 
3 918 
 4 016 

 
Source: Forest Research Notes 1.  Carbon in soil depth 0 to 100 cm. 2.  To convert tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) to tonnes carbon (C), multiply by 12/44. 3.  Changes in soil carbon stocks over the period can be attributed to changes in UK forest area. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 


## 4.2 Woodland Carbon Code

The Woodland Carbon Code is a voluntary standard, initiated in July 2011, for woodland creation projects that make claims about the carbon they sequester (take out of the atmosphere). All projects must be placed on the UK Woodland Carbon Registry.  Their claims about potential carbon sequestration are validated by an independent certification body.  Validated projects are then verified on a regular basis to confirm the progress of carbon sequestration. Further information on Woodland Carbon Code projects is provided in the Sources chapter and at www.woodlandcarboncode.org.uk/. Table 4.2a provides annual data on projects registered under the Woodland Carbon Code.  The table provides information on the number of projects, area of woodland covered by the projects and the total projected carbon sequestration over the lifetime (up to 100 years) of the projects. A total of 187 projects had been validated (including those that had also been verified) to the Woodland Carbon Code at 31 March 2019, covering almost 8,300 hectares and projected to sequester 3.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over their lifetime. Of the validated projects, 70 were also verified by the end of March 2019. These projects cover around 2,400 hectares and are projected to sequester 1.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over their lifetime. A total of 266 projects were registered under the Woodland Carbon Code at 31 March 2019, covering around 17,400 hectares of woodland and projected to sequester 6.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. 


Awaiting 
 
Verified Validated 
only 
validation 
Total 
Number of projects 


March 2013 
0 
36 
69 
105 
March 2014 
0 
67 
135 
202 
March 2015 
0 
100 
99 
199 
March 2016 
1 
121 
108 
230 
March 2017 
3 
140 
107 
250 
March 2018 
37 
119 
83 
239 
March 2019 
70 
117 
79 
266 
Area of woodland (hectares) 


March 2013 
0 
1 488 
2 073 
3 561 
March 2014 
0 
2 824 
12 576 
15 401 
March 2015 
0 
3 322 
12 063 
15 385 
March 2016 
5 
4 749 
11 087 
15 841 
March 2017 
148 
4 993 
11 028 
16 170 
March 2018 
1 578 
3 680 
10 868 
16 125 
March 2019 
2 404 
5 856 
9 134 
17 394 


Projected carbon sequestration2 (thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) 
March 2013 
0 
655 
1 137 
1 792 
March 2014 
0 
1 323 
4 364 
5 687 
March 2015 
0 
1 588 
4 091 
5 679 
March 2016 
2 
2 278 
3 519 
5 799 
March 2017 
79 
2 385 
3 476 
5 940 
March 2018 
713 
1 790 
3 285 
5 788 
March 2019 
1 093 
2 331 
2 760 
6 184 

 
Source: Provisional Woodland Statistics: 2019 Edition Notes: 
 

1. Projects can be validated/ verified individually or come together as part of a group. The statistics 
presented here show the number of projects validated or verified whether they were put through the process individually or as part of a group. 
2. Figures for carbon sequestration indicate the total projected sequestration of the projects over their 
lifetime of up to 100 years, and include the amount claimable by a project plus the amount allocated to a shared "buffer" in case of unanticipated losses. 
Awaiting validation: is when a project or group is undergoing assessment by a certification body. Validated: is the initial evaluation of a project or group against the requirements of the Woodland Carbon Code. Upon completion a project/group will receive a 'Validation Opinion Statement'. The project/group will then be certified for a period of up to 5 years. Verified: Verification is the evaluation of a project as it progresses to confirm the amount of CO2 sequestered to date as well as that it continues to meet the requirements of the Code. 

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

Together, all validated (including verified) projects were predicted to sequester 2,458 thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide in Scotland, 838 thousand tonnes in England, 118 thousand tonnes in Wales and 11 thousand tonnes in Northern Ireland over their lifetime (Table 4.2b). 

 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
NI 
UK 
Number of projects 


Awaiting validation 
18 
33 
28 
0 
79 
Validated only  
51 
9 
55 
2 
117 
Verified 
27 
3 
40 
0 
70 
Total validated 
78 
12 
95 
2 
187 
Total 
96 
45 
123 
2 
266 
Area of woodland (hectares) 


Awaiting validation 
313 
300 
8 520 
0 
9 134 
Validated only 
1 207 
128 
4 498 
22 
5 856 
Verified 
286 
52 
2 066 
0 
2 404 
Total validated 
1 494 
180 
6 564 
22 
8 261 
Total 
1 807 
480 
15 085 
22 
17 394 


Projected carbon sequestration2 (thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) Awaiting validation 
153 
106 
2 501 
0 
2 760 
Validated only 
672 
85 
1 563 
11 
2 331 
Verified 
165 
33 
895 
0 
1 093 
Total validated 
838 
118 
2 458 
11 
3 424 
Total 
991 
224 
4 959 
11 
6 184 

Source: Provisional Woodland Statistics: 2019 Edition Notes: 
1. Projects can be validated/ verified individually or come together as part of a group. The statistics 
presented here show the number of projects validated or verified whether they were put through the process individually or as part of a group. 
2. Figures for carbon sequestration indicate the total projected sequestration of the projects over their 
lifetime of up to 100 years, and include the amount claimable by a project plus the amount allocated to a shared "buffer" in case of unanticipated losses. 
 Awaiting validation: is when a project or group is undergoing assessment by a certification body. Validated: is the initial evaluation of a project or group against the requirements of the Woodland Carbon Code. Upon completion a project/group will receive a 'Validation Opinion Statement'. The project/group will then be certified for a period of up to 5 years. Verified: Verification is the evaluation of a project as it progresses to confirm the amount of CO2 sequestered to date as well as that it continues to meet the requirements of the Code. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 


## 4.3 Public Opinion Of Forestry - Climate Change

Forest Research has conducted similar surveys of public attitudes to forestry and forestry-related issues every two years since 1995.  The most recent set of separate surveys was conducted in 2019 (in Northern Ireland, Wales, and across the UK as a whole) and 2017 (in Scotland).  The full results are available on our website at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-andresources/statistics/statistics-by-topic/public-opinion-of-forestry/. In the UK survey in 2019, questions were asked to gauge the public's agreement on climate change issues, including on the management of UK forests in response to the threat of climate change (Table 4.3).  Some of the public views presented below do not reflect expert opinion. There were high levels of agreement (respondents stating that they agreed or strongly agreed) with the statements: 

- 
"A lot more trees should be planted", supported by 88% of the UK public in 2019; and  
- 
"Different types of trees should be planted that will be more suited to future climates", supported by 78% in 2019.  
- 
Conversely, there were much lower levels of agreement with the statements: 
- 
"No action is needed, let nature take its course", supported by 26% in 2019; and  
- 
"Trees should not be felled under any circumstances, even if they are replaced", supported by 29%.  

percent of respondents who agree or strongly agree 
  
2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 
A lot more trees should be planted 
90 
86 
80 
84 
88 
74 
71 
67 
76 
78 
Different types of trees should be planted that will be more suited to future climates Trees should not be felled in any circumstances, even if they are replaced 
21 
22 
25 
26 
29 
No action is needed, let nature take its course 
21 
18 
22 
24 
26 

 
Source: UK Public Opinion of Forestry Surveys. Notes: 
1. Figures are based on all respondents: weighted totals = 2011 (2,068), 2013 (1,927), 2015 (1,804), 

2017 (2,113), 2019 (2,174). 
2. The range of uncertainty around any result should be no more than ±3.5% in any of the years 
shown.  To compare results over time, a difference of at least 5 percentage points is required to indicate that there is a significant difference. 
 These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 


## Chapter 5: Environment Introduction

This chapter presents a range of information about the woodland environment, mostly using sources that are outside the scope of National Statistics.  They are included to provide additional context to the topic. Estimates for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are included, where possible, in addition to UK or GB totals.  Further information on the data sources and methodology used to compile the figures is provided in the Sources chapter. All of the statistics presented in this chapter have been previously released. The statistics on the populations of wild birds (Table 5.1 and Figure 5.1) have been revised since "Forestry Statistics 2018".  For further details on revisions, see the Environment section of the Sources chapter. A copy of all environment tables can be accessed in spreadsheet format from the Data Downloads web page at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-andresources/statistics/data-downloads/. 

The main findings are: 

- The UK woodland bird index has remained relatively stable since the 
early 1990s, following a period of long-term decline.  Most of this decline has occurred in woodland specialist species.  
- In 2019, 85% of the UK public agreed with the statement "action should 
be taken by authorities and woodland managers to protect trees from damaging pests and diseases". 

## 5.1 Populations Of Wild Birds

Bird populations provide a good indication of the broad state of wildlife in the UK.  This is because they are a well-studied taxonomic group, enabling a more informed interpretation of observed changes, who occupy a range of habitats while still responding to the same environmental pressures that also operate on other groups of wildlife. Indices of wild bird populations in the UK are produced annually by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in conjunction with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), and cover a range of species that are native to the UK.  This data has been produced since the early 1970s for the majority of habitat groups, meaning there is considerable long-term data available on the changes in bird populations, which aids in the interpretation of more short-term variation. The latest statistical release on Wild Bird Populations was published in November 2018 and includes data to 2017. The index for woodland birds was expanded in 2007 to cover 38 species.  A further change in 2015 resulted in a reduction to 37 species, of which 12 are generalists and 25 are woodland specialists (those that breed or feed mainly or solely in woodland). Since the early 1990s, when the majority of species group indices stabilised, the UK woodland bird index has generally been about 20 per cent below the level of the early 1970s, with the decline predominantly in woodland specialist species (Figure 5.1). Causes for the long-term decline in the woodland bird index may include a lack of diversity in habitats and food sources, loss of habitats and food sources through damage caused by increasing deer populations, and a reduction in some migratory species following pressures in other parts of the world. 


    index (year 2000 = 100) 
Total 
Farmland 
Woodland 
Woodland 
Year 
breeding 
birds 
Seabirds Woodland 
birds 
generalists 
specialists 
birds 
2008 
100.4 
92.2 
83.5 
102.4 
105.0 
99.1 
2009 
95.9 
89.5 
89.4 
89.8 
98.0 
83.8 
2010 
97.4 
86.9 
86.5 
100.6 
101.9 
97.6 
2011 
95.8 
86.5 
80.8 
103.2 
98.8 
103.3 
2012 
96.9 
87.3 
78.0 
104.6 
102.2 
103.7 
2013 
89.6 
79.1 
76.9 
90.5 
89.7 
88.6 
2014 
96.4 
80.4 
84.3 
100.4 
103.3 
96.9 
2015 
99.5 
85.2 
81.6 
100.9 
105.3 
96.6 
2016 
96.3 
77.6 
.. 
95.5 
102.8 
90.2 
2017 
97.5 
80.6 
.. 
92.8 
104.0 
85.7 

 
Source: British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). Notes: 
1. Based on data in Wild Bird Populations in the UK, 1970-2017 statistical release (Defra, November 

2018). 
2. .. Denotes data not available.    
Source: British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). Notes: 
1. Based on data in Wild Bird Populations in the UK, 1970-2017 statistical release (Defra, November 

2018). 

## 5.2 Public Opinion Of Forestry - Tree Health

Forest Research has conducted similar surveys of public attitudes to forestry and forestry-related issues every two years since 1995. The most recent surveys were conducted in 2019 (with separate surveys in Wales, Northern Ireland and across the UK as a whole) and in 2017 (in Scotland).  Full results are available within the Public Opinion of Forestry reports available on our website at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/statisticsby-topic/public-opinion-of-forestry/. Respondents to the UK survey in 2019 were asked their views on a range of statements relating to tree health.  The highest level of agreement was seen with the statement "action should be taken by authorities and woodland managers to protect trees from damaging pests and disease", with 85% of UK respondents agreeing (agree or strongly agree) (Figure 5.2 and Table 5.2). This compares with only 23% agreeing with the statements "there is very little that anyone can do to prevent the spread of damaging tree pests and diseases". 

 
 
visiting woodlands to help prevent the spread of damaging tree pests If I buy an imported tree, it is more likely to carry tree pests and diseases than a tree grown in the I am aware that possible tree pests and diseases can be reported using the Tree Alert app or website Source: UK Public Opinion of Forestry Survey 2019. Base: 2,000 UK respondents. Notes: 
1. The range of uncertainty around any result should be no more than ±3.2%. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

Percent of respondents who agree or strongly agree 
 
2015 2017 2019 
75 
85 
85 
Action should be taken by authorities and woodland managers to protect trees from damaging pests and diseases 
57 
74 
74 
Everyone should take action when visiting woodlands to help prevent the spread of damaging tree pests and diseases 
55 
65 
65 
I would be willing to look out for and report sightings of pests and diseases on trees, if appropriate information and advice was available to me If I buy an imported tree, it is more likely to carry tree pests and diseases than a tree grown in the UK 
42 
48 
46 
I am aware that possible tree pests and diseases can be reported using the Tree Alert app or website 
22 
23 
25 
There is very little that anyone can do to prevent the spread of damaging tree pests and diseases 
21 
23 
23 

 
Source: UK Public Opinion of Forestry Surveys. Note: 
1. Figures are based on all respondents: weighted totals = 2015 (1,804), 2017 (2,113), 2019 (2,174). 2. The range of uncertainty around any result should be no more than ±3.5% in any of the years shown.  To compare results over time, a difference of at least 5 percentage points is required to indicate that there is a significant difference. 


## 5.3 Woodland Fires

The Home Office and Devolved Administrations produce estimates of the number and area of wildfires each year, using data recorded by Fire and Rescue Services using the Incident Reporting System.  These figures were previously produced by the Department for Communities and Local Government. By analysing the wildfire data with the National Forest Inventory woodland map, it has been possible to produce estimates of fires that occur within woodlands in Great Britain. No update is currently available, so the results shown below are as published in Forestry Statistics 2018. Table 5.3a shows the number of woodland fires in 2010-11 to 2016-17.  There has been some fluctuation in the number of woodland fires in Great Britain over this period, with a high of around 9 thousand fires in 2011-12 and a low of around 2,500 in 2012-13.  Most fires occurred in England. The total number of woodland fires in Great Britain in 2016-17 (around 4,200) represents 4% of the total of around 119,000 outdoor fires in Great Britain in 2016-17 (Home Office, Welsh Government, Scottish Government). 

| Financial year    | England    |   Wales  | Scotland    | GB    |
|-------------------|------------|----------|-------------|-------|
| 2010-11           | 6 182      |     618  | 1 186       | 7 986 |
| 2011-12           | 7 238      |     620  | 1 059       | 8 917 |
| 2012-13           | 1 794      |     176  | 484         | 2 454 |
| 2013-14           | 3 899      |     383  | 776         | 5 058 |
| 2014-15           | 2 360      |     288  | 490         | 3 138 |
| 2015-16           | 3 333      |     345  | 1 389       | 5 067 |
| 2016-17           | 2 570      |     193  | 1 423       | 4 186 |

 
Source:  Fire & Rescue Service Incident Recording System, National Forest Inventory. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 



Table 5.3b shows the area covered by woodland fires between 2010-11 and 2016-17.  There was a peak of around 8,700 hectares burnt in 2011-12, with the vast majority of this area occurring in Scotland. Around 800 hectares of woodland in Great Britain were burnt in 2016-17. 

hectares 
Financial year 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
GB 
2010-11 
979 
167 
129 
1 276 
2011-12 
278 
416 
7 982 
8 675 
2012-13 
48 
107 
268 
423 
2013-14 
101 
1 089 
318 
1 508 
2014-15 
81 
38 
762 
881 
2015-16 
117 
757 
536 
1 410 
2016-17 
29 
93 
682 
804 

 
Source:  Fire & Rescue Service Incident Recording System, National Forest Inventory. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 


## Chapter 6: Social Introduction

This chapter contains statistics on: 

- the number and profile of visits to all woodlands from household 
surveys; and 
- the number and profile of visits to Forestry England/ Forestry and Land 
Scotland/ Natural Resources Wales/ Forest Service woodlands from onsite surveys and administrative sources.  
Geographical coverage for recreation statistics varies. Estimates are presented at country level and, where possible, UK or GB totals are included. Further information on the data sources and methodology used to compile the figures is provided in the Sources chapter. Most of the statistics presented in this chapter have been previously released by other organisations. The latest year figures for day visitors to Forest Service sites in Northern Ireland are published for the first time in this release. Figures for earlier years have not been revised from those previously published. For further details on revisions, see the Recreation section of the Sources chapter. The frequency with which the estimates in this chapter are updated varies depending on the data sources used.  Whilst some of the information presented is now several years old, it represents the latest available data and has been included to provide a more rounded picture of forest recreation in the UK. Further information on the advantages and disadvantages of household surveys and of on-site surveys is provided in the Recreation section of the Sources chapter. A copy of all social tables can be accessed in spreadsheet format from the Data Downloads web page at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-andresources/statistics/data-downloads/. Previous editions of Forestry Statistics have also included statistics on public access to woodland in this chapter, using data from the Woodland Trust's Woods for People and Spaces for People projects.  As no new data is available, this section has now been excluded; the latest results can be accessed from Forestry Statistics 2018 at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-andresources/statistics/forestry-statistics/forestry-statistics- 2018/recreation/public-access-to-woodland/. 

The main findings are: 

- There were an estimated 437 million visits to woodland in England in 
2017-18. (Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment 2017- 18).  
- There were an estimated 117 million visits to woodland in Scotland in 
2017-18. (Scotland's People and Nature Survey 2017/18).  
- "Health and exercise" and "fresh air or to enjoy pleasant weather" were 
important reasons for visits to woodlands in Wales. (National Survey for Wales, 2016-17 and 2017-18).  
- Over three fifths (63%) of the UK population have visited woodland in 
the last few years. (UK Public Opinion of Forestry Survey 2019).  
- Around 532 thousand people visited Forest Service sites where a charge 
is made in Northern Ireland in 2018-19. 

## 6.1 Visits To Woodland - Household Surveys

The information shown below in Table 6.1 has been obtained from the following general population household surveys. 

- 
UK Day Visits Surveys (1994, 1996, 1998) 
- 
GB Day Visits Survey (2002/3) 
- 
Scottish Recreation Survey (2004 to 2012)  
- 
England Leisure Visits Survey (2005)  
- 
Welsh Outdoor Recreation Survey (2008, 2011, 2014)  
- 
Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (England, 2009- 10 onwards)  
- 
Scotland's People and Nature Survey (2013, 2017/18)  
It is likely that differences in survey design and methodology have contributed to a considerable proportion of the differences in results between these surveys. The figures in Table 6.1 should not be interpreted as time trends but instead as separate results from each survey. Further information on the differences between surveys is provided in the Recreation section of the Sources chapter. In common with all sample based surveys, the results from each survey are subject to the effects of chance, depending on the particular survey method used and the sample achieved, thus confidence limits apply to all results from these surveys. 

Results from the Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment 2017-
18 estimate a total of 437 million visits to woodlands in England (Table 6.1). This is not significantly different from the 2016-17 figure. The Welsh Outdoor Recreation Survey 2014 estimates a total of 68 million visits to woodlands by Welsh residents. This is a statistically significant decrease from the estimated total of 86 million in 2011, but similar to the 2008 estimate (64 million). Scotland's People and Nature Survey 2017/18 reports an estimated total of 117 million visits to woodlands in Scotland. This is a statistically significant increase from the 2013 estimate of 90 million visits. 


million visits 
Year 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
GB 
1994 
273 
12 
18 
303 
1996 
308 
11 
26 
346 
1998 
321 
11 
22 
355 
2002 
222 
12 
18 
252 
2004 
.. 
.. 
70 
.. 
2005 
170 
.. 
62 
.. 
2006 
.. 
.. 
76 
.. 
2007 
.. 
.. 
72 
.. 
2008 
.. 
64 
62 
.. 
2009 
317 
.. 
57 
.. 
2010 
326 
  .. 
63 
.. 
2011 
358 
86 
65 
.. 
2012 
357 
.. 
62 
.. 
2013 
378 
.. 
90 
.. 
2014 
417 
68 
.. 
.. 
2015 
446 
.. 
.. 
.. 
2016 
439 
.. 
.. 
.. 
2017 
437 
.. 
117 
.. 

 
Sources: 1994, 1996, 1998: UK Day Visit Surveys, carried out by National Centre for Social Research (not available online); 2002: GB Day Visits Survey 2002-03, carried out by TNS Travel & Tourism; England 2005: England Leisure Visits Survey (ELVS), carried out by Research International; England 2009 on: Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (MENE), carried out by TNS; Wales 2008, 2011, 2014: Welsh Outdoor Recreation Survey carried out by IPSOS-MORI (2008) and by TNS (2011, 2014); Scotland 2004 - 2012: Scottish Recreation Survey (ScRS), carried out by TNS; Scotland 2013, 2017: Scotland's People and Nature Survey (SPANs), carried out by TNS. Notes: 
1. The UK and GB Day Visits Surveys collected data about day trips from home, for all countries of GB. 

The 1994, 1996 and 1998 surveys covered calendar years; the 2002-03 survey covered a 12-month period starting in March 2002.  
2. ELVS and MENE covered trips taken in England, including those from holiday bases, by respondents 
living in England. ELVS ran for 12 months from February 2005. MENE results relate to 12 month periods from March to February. 
 
3. The Welsh Outdoor Recreation Survey totals shown are for trips with woodland as the main 
destination.  
4. The Scottish Recreation Survey ran from July 2003 until December 2012. It was replaced by 
Scotland's People and Nature Survey that ran from March 2013 to February 2014 and from May 2017 to April 2018. Both surveys covered visits to the outdoors for leisure and recreation in Scotland by people living in Scotland. The total shown is for all trips that included a visit to woodland. 
5. In each survey, visits to overseas destinations are excluded. 6. .. Denotes data not available. 
 
These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

## 6.1.1 England

Household surveys in England In March 2009 fieldwork commenced on the Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (MENE) survey, which includes collecting information on visits to the outdoors in England. Further information on the survey, including copies of annual reports and online data viewers to access more detailed results, is available at www.gov.uk/government/collections/monitor-ofengagement-with-the-natural-environment-survey-purpose-and-results. Table 6.2 shows the main characteristics of visits to woodlands over the most recent 5 years. In 2017-18, walking was the main mode of transport for around one half (52%) of visits to woodland. Over one half (56%) of visits to woodland were within 2 miles. 


per cent of respondents 
2014-
2015-
2016-
2017-
 
2013-
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
Main mode of transport 
  
  
  
  
 
On foot 
62 
60 
60 
54 
52 
Car/ van 
33 
 36 
36 
42 
44 
Bicycle 
3 
2 
2 
2 
1 
Distance travelled (one way) 
  
  
  
 
 
Less than 1 mile 
36 
39 
32 
28 
29 
1 to 2 miles 
27 
25 
31 
28 
27 
3 to 5 miles 
22 
19 
20 
21 
23 
6 to 10 miles 
7 
9 
8 
11 
11 
Over 10 miles 
8 
9 
10 
12 
10 

 
Source: Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (MENE), carried out by TNS, for Natural England and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). Notes: 
1. All trips that included a visit to woodland. 2. .. Denotes data not available. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

## 6.1.2 Wales

Household surveys in Wales The National Survey for Wales began in March 2016 and replaced a number of separate surveys of households in Wales, including the Welsh Outdoor Recreation Survey (WORS). The survey is completed by around 12,000 people each year and covers a wide range of topics. Further information on the survey, including copies of reports and data, is available at https://gov.wales/national-survey-wales. Table 6.3 shows the reasons provided for their visit to the outdoors by respondents who stated that the main destination of visit was woodland.  
 
"Health and exercise" and "fresh air or to enjoy pleasant weather" were important reasons for visits to woodlands in Wales. 

per cent of respondents 
Reasons for visit 
2016-17 
2017-18 
For health or exercise 
47 
55 
For fresh air or to enjoy pleasant weather 
50 
47 
For pleasure / enjoyment 
42 
42 
To spend time with family 
39 
41 
To relax and unwind 
34 
41 
To enjoy scenery and wildlife 
38 
39 
To exercise the dog 
38 
30 
For peace and quiet 
22 
29 
To spend time with friends 
16 
22 

 
Source: National Survey for Wales (Welsh Government). Notes: 1.  Visits where the main destination was woodland. 2.  Respondents were able to select more than one option, so results do not sum to 100%. 3.  Excludes other reasons for visiting, each reported by fewer than 20% of respondents in 2017-18. 

 

## 6.1.3 Public Opinion Of Forestry Survey - Woodland Visitors

The Public Opinion of Forestry Survey is carried out every two years and obtains people's attitudes to forestry and forestry-related issues, including visits to woodland. Copies of reports and detailed data tables are available at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/statistics-bytopic/public-opinion-of-forestry/. The results shown in Tables 6.4 and 6.5 and Figure 6.1 have been taken from the UK and country reports on the latest surveys in 2019 and from surveys in earlier years. The reports also include other recreation-related results, such as whether the woodlands visited were in towns or the countryside and any reasons given by survey respondents for not visiting woodlands. In the UK 2019 survey, over three fifths (63%) of respondents said that they had visited woodland in the last few years for walks, picnics or other recreation (Table 6.4). 

per cent of respondents 
Year 
England 
Wales 
Scotland 
Northern 
Ireland 
UK 
2003 
66 
62 
64 
77 
67 
2005 
65 
69 
50 
67 
65 
2007 
76 
79 
75 
62 
77 
2009 
77 
.. 
57 
.. 
77 
2010 
.. 
.. 
.. 
72 
.. 
2011 
68 
68 
75 
.. 
67 
2013 
65 
64 
76 
.. 
66 
2014 
.. 
.. 
.. 
75 
.. 
2015 
55 
64 
78 
.. 
56 
2017 
62 
72 
84 
.. 
61 
2019 
63 
77 
.. 
78 
63 

 
Source: UK/GB, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Public Opinion of Forestry Surveys Base: UK/GB = 4,000 respondents (2003 to 2007), 2,000 respondents (2009 to 2019); Scotland and Wales = 1,000 respondents each; Northern Ireland = 120 respondents (2003), 1,000 respondents (all other years). Notes: 
1. Those stating that they had visited woodland in the last few years. 2. The range of uncertainty around any result should be no more than ±3.5% (for surveys with around 

2,000 respondents) and ±4.7% (for surveys with around 1,000 respondents).  To compare results over time, a difference of at least 5 percentage points (for surveys each with around 2,000 respondents) and at least 7 percentage points (for surveys each with around 1,000 respondents) is required to indicate that there is a significant difference. 
3. .. Denotes data not available (survey not run that year or question not asked) 
 
These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. Survey respondents were asked how frequently they had visited during the previous summer and winter. Figure 6.1, which presents aggregated UK results for the 2015 to 2019 surveys, shows that respondents visited much more often during the summer, with 44% of respondents visiting at least once a month in the summer compared to around one quarter (27%) in the winter. 

 These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

## 6.1.4 Public Opinion Of Forestry Survey - Woodland Visitors By Age Group

In the UK 2019 Public Opinion of Forestry survey, 71% of respondents aged 35 to 54 said that they had visited woodland in the last few years for walks, picnics or other recreation (Table 6.5). This compares with around three fifths (61%) of respondents aged 16 to 34 and 56% of those aged 55 or over. 


per cent of respondents 
Year 
Aged 16 to 34 
Aged 35 to 54 
Aged 55 and over 
Total 
1999 
73 
74 
55 
67 
2001 
75 
77 
63 
72 
2003 
71 
72 
60 
67 
2005 
66 
74 
56 
65 
2007 
79 
82 
69 
77 
2009 
78 
84 
69 
77 
2011  
65 
74 
63 
67 
2013 
62 
75 
60 
66 
2015 
54 
62 
53 
56 
2017 
60 
68 
55 
61 
2019 
61 
71 
56 
63 

 
Source: UK and GB Public Opinion of Forestry Surveys, 1999 to 2019. Base: 2,000 respondents (1999, 2001, 2009 to 2019); 4,000 respondents (2003 to 2007). Notes: 1. Those stating they had visited woodland in the last few years. 2.  The range of uncertainty around any result should be no more than ±3.5% (for surveys with around 2,000 respondents) and ±2.3% (for surveys with around 4,000 respondents).  To compare results over time, a difference of at least 5 percentage points (for surveys each with around 2,000 respondents) is required to indicate that there is a significant difference. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 


## 6.2 Visits To Woodland - On-Site Surveys

The previous section provided information on visits to all woodlands (regardless of ownership), based on data from household surveys.  This section provides information on visits to Forestry England/ Forestry and Land Scotland/ Natural Resources Wales/ Forest Service woodland only, based on data from on-site surveys and administrative sources. The information provided in this section covers: 

- 
Visits to the National Forest Estate in Scotland (Forestry and Land Scotland woodlands) from the All Forests Scotland surveys run from 2004 to 2007 and in 2012-13.  An updated estimate of total visits in 2016 is also provided. 
- 
Day visitors to Northern Ireland Forest Service sites where an admission charge was made.  
Further information on these and other sources of on-site visit data are available from the Sources chapter and from the recreation statistics web pages at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/statisticsby-topic/recreation-statistics/. 

## 6.2.1 Scotland All Forests Survey

All Forests surveying in Scotland has been undertaken on two occasions. The first All Forests Survey in Scotland was carried out across a three-year period from June 2004 to June 2007, with over 5,000 hours of fieldwork undertaken over 1,158 days, achieving almost 2,700 face to face interviews. The study estimated that around 8.2 million visits are made annually to Forestry and Land Scotland woodland. An estimated 150-200 thousand visits to events in forests and around 300 thousand visits during the hours of darkness (when fieldwork was not undertaken) were also made, giving an overall total of around 8.7 million visits per year. The second All Forests Survey was carried out from November 2012 to October 2013.  The survey made greater use of data from automatic counters, but also achieved over 400 days of fieldwork and 1,970 face-to-face interviews. The 2012-13 survey estimated an annual total of 9.1 million visits (including visits to events and in the hours of darkness) to Forestry and Land Scotland woodland. This represents a 5% increase on the estimated overall total of 8.7 million visits from the 2004-2007 survey. 

 
The estimated number of visits has been updated using data from 224 automatic counters at 165 sites.  For sites without counters, estimates have been produced using the results from the 2012-13 All Forests Survey and advice from local managers.  This gives an overall estimate of 10.2 million visits to Forestry and Land Scotland woodland in 2016, a 12% increase from 2012-13. Table 6.6 provides a summary of the key characteristics and results obtained from the Scotland All Forests surveys and appears to show some change in visit characteristics over time, with a general trend towards longer, more distant and less frequent visits. From the 2012-13 survey, around two thirds of visitors to Forestry and Land Scotland woodlands were on a day trip from home. Walking (with or without a dog) was the main activity undertaken by around three quarters of visitors. Over four fifths travelled to the site by car or van and around one third travelled more than 15 miles to get to the site. Around one third of visitors were on short trips, spending one hour or less in the forest. Around one half of respondents visited the site at least monthly. 

 per cent of respondents 
Woodland visit characteristics 
2004-2007 
2012-13 
Type of trip 
  
  
Day trip 
82 
67 
Overnight trip 
18 
 33 
Main activity during visit 
  
  
Dog walking 
50 
43 
Other walking 
29 
29 
Cycling 
11 
8 
Main transport 
  
  
Car / van 
78 
85 
Walked 
18 
11 
Cycled 
2 
2 
Distance travelled (one way) 
  
  
Less than 6 miles 
58 
43 
6 to 15 miles 
19 
25 

 

| 16 to 25 miles                           | 10    | 12    |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|
| Over 25 miles                            | 12    | 20    |
| Duration of visit (time spent in forest) |       |       |
| Up to 1 hour                             | 59    | 35    |
| Over 1 hour, up to 2 hours               | 24    | 36    |
| Over 2 hours, up to 3 hours              | 10    | 16    |
| Over 3 hours                             | 7     | 13    |
| Frequency of visit to site of interview  |       |       |
| More than once a day                     | 7     | 3     |
| Once a day                               | 13    | 9     |
| 1 to 3 times per week                    | 25    | 22    |
| 1 to 3 times per month                   | 17    | 14    |
| 1 to 3 times per year                    | 17    | 18    |
| Less often                               | 5     | 7     |
| First ever visit                         | 16    | 27    |

 
Source: Scotland All Forests Survey 2004-2007 and All Forests Survey 2, carried out by TNS. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

## 6.2.2 Northern Ireland Forest Service Day Visitors

Information on visitors to Forest Service sites in Northern Ireland is provided by the Forest Service and relates only to sites where an admission charge is made. In Northern Ireland in 2018-19, 532 thousand people visited those Forest Service sites where an admission charge was made (Table 6.7).  This represented a 5% increase from the previous year, but remained lower than the peak in 2016-17. 


| Year    |   Visitors to Forest Service sites  |
|---------|-------------------------------------|
| 2009-10 |                                473  |
| 2010-11 |                                468  |
| 2011-12 |                                430  |
| 2012-13 |                                340  |
| 2013-14 |                                364  |
| 2014-15 |                                397  |
| 2015-16 |                                432  |
| 2016-17 |                                584  |
| 2017-18 |                                509  |
| 2018-19 |                                532  |

 
Source: Forest Service Notes: 1. Number of people visiting sites where an admission charge was made, excluding campers. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 


## Chapter 7: Employment & Businesses Introduction

This chapter contains information on: 

- employment in forestry and wood processing; - health & safety; and - numbers of businesses.  
All of the statistics presented in this chapter relate to UK totals. Further information on the data sources and methodology used to compile the figures is provided in the Sources chapter. Most of the statistics presented in this chapter have been previously released. Some of the figures in this chapter have been revised since Forestry Statistics 2018. For further details on revisions, see the Employment section of the Sources chapter. A copy of all Employment & Businesses tables can be accessed in spreadsheet format from the Data Downloads web page at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/data-downloads/. 

The main findings are: 

- The Annual Business Survey reported average employment1 in 2017 of 
16 thousand in forestry and 27 thousand in primary wood processing. 
- There was estimated to be a total of 7.7 thousand full time equivalent 
staff employed1 by primary wood processors in the UK in 2018, a 2% decrease from the total for 2017. 
- Accident rates in forestry and wood products have tended to decline in 
recent years but are still higher than the averages in agriculture and manufacturing respectively.  
- There were 213 establishments in the primary wood processing 
industries in the UK using UK-grown roundwood in 2018. 

## Note:

Business Survey (ABS) and the full time equivalent figures obtained from the annual surveys of the UK timber industry run by Forest Research (FR).  In particular, the ABS figures cover employment by all businesses in the relevant sectors that pay VAT and/ or PAYE.  This will include businesses that do not use UK grown timber.  The FR surveys include businesses below the VAT and PAYE thresholds, 
but exclude businesses that do not use UK grown timber. 

## 7.1 Employment: Annual Business Survey (Abs)

The Annual Business Survey (ABS), carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), includes statistics on employment broken down by Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007). In wood processing, SIC 16 (wood products) and SIC 17 (pulp, paper and paper products) have a much wider scope than the data on employment in primary wood processing (Table 7.2), as they include primary processing of imported material and also some secondary processing. The latest ABS survey was published in May 2019 and includes data to 2017. It recorded average employment in 2017 of 16 thousand in forestry and 27 thousand in primary wood processing (sawmilling, panels and pulp & paper) (Table 7.1). 

thousands 
Standard Industrial Classification 
(SIC)1 
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 
Forestry 
14 
16 
17 
17 
16 
Wood products 

    Sawmilling 
8 
9 
8 
9 
9 
     Panels 
5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
     Secondary products 
51 
65 
56 
67 
60 
     Total 
64 
79 
69 
81 
74 
Pulp, paper & paper products 

    Pulp & paper3 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
     Articles of paper & paperboard 
41 
44 
43 
43 
42 
     Total 
54 
57 
56 
56 
55 
Total wood processing 
118 
136 
125 
137 
129 
Total primary wood processing 
26 
27 
26 
27 
27 

 
Source: Annual Business Survey - average employment in year (Office for National Statistics, May 2019) Notes: 
1. Categories are based on the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) categories. Further 

details on the SIC codes used are provided in the Sources: Employment and businesses page. 
2. Excludes other wood-using industries. 3. Pulp and paper breakdowns for 2013 to 2017 have been suppressed in the figures released by ONS. 
The figures shown here are estimated from 2008 figures. 

## 7.2 Employment In Primary Wood Processing

Information on employment in primary wood processing is obtained annually via the sources used to collect data on UK-grown timber (presented in Chapter 2). There was estimated to be a total of 7.7 thousand full time equivalent staff employed by primary wood processors in the UK in 2018 (Table 7.2), a 2% decrease from the total for 2017. Over one half (57%) of the total employment in 2018 worked in sawmills and over one quarter (28%) worked in wood-based panel mills. 

Full-time equivalents 
Year 
Sawmills 
Pulp & paper 
Wood-based 
panels 
Fencing 
Total 
2014 
4 382 
703 
2 091 
407 
7 583 
2015 
4 319 
702 
2 100 
361 
7 483 
2016 
4 450 
697 
2 250 
388 
7 785 
2017 
4 593 
700 
2 110 
427 
7 830 
2018 
4 411 
693 
2 175 
402 
7 681 

 
Source: industry surveys, industry associations. Notes: 
1. Some businesses operate sawmills and round fencing mills. Employment for such businesses may be 

recorded under sawmills, round fencing manufacturers or shared between the two categories. 

## 7.3 Health & Safety

Accidents involving absence from work of at least seven days are required to be reported to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). Prior to this time, reporting was required for absences of at least three days. The latest major accident rates for Great Britain, covering 2017-18, show an increase from the previous year for the forestry sector and a decrease for the wood products sector.  Over the longer term, the rates for both sectors have generally declined, but they continue to remain higher than the averages in agriculture and manufacturing respectively (Table 7.3 and Figure 7.1). 


Standard 
Number of 
accident4 
Industrial 
major 
rate rate/ 
Classification 
accidents4 
(SIC)2 
employees 
Forestry 
  
  
  
  
2013-14 
51 
3.8 
116 
8.6 
2014-15 
26 
1.7 
101 
6.5 
2015-16 
34 
2.0 
111 
6.5 
2016-17 
31 
1.9 
120 
7.3 
2017-18 provisional  
38 
2.3 
95 
5.8 
Wood products 


2013-14 
155 
2.9 
523 
9.6 
2014-15 
136 
2.4 
510 
8.9 
2015-16 
129 
2.5 
561 
10.9 
2016-17 
149 
3.0 
557 
11.1 
2017-18 provisional  
125 
2.4 
514 
9.7 


Pulp, paper & paper products 2013-14 
85 
1.5 
322 
5.8 
2014-15 
75 
1.3 
303 
5.4 
2015-16 
67 
1.4 
284 
6.1 
2016-17 
71 
1.5 
257 
5.5 
2017-18 provisional  
60 
1.1 
245 
4.3 

 
Source: Health & Safety Executive. Notes: 1. Employees only; excludes self-employed. 2. Categories are based on the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) categories. Further details on the SIC codes used are provided in the Sources: Employment and businesses page. 3. Excludes other wood-using industries. 4. Major accidents include fatal accidents, which averaged around 1 per year for forestry and 2 per year for wood processing.  There were no fatal accidents in the period shown for pulp, paper and paper products. 


| Major     | Total      |
|-----------|------------|
| Total     |            |
| reported  |            |
| number of |            |
| accident  |            |
| reported  |            |
| 1000      | rate/ 1000 |
| accidents |            |
| employees |            |

 
Source: Health & Safety Executive. Notes: 1. Employees only; excludes self-employed. 2. Categories are based on the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) categories. Further details on the SIC codes used are provided in the Sources: Employment and businesses page. 3. As a result of a change in reporting requirements, data from 2012-13 is not directly comparable with previous years. 


## 7.4 Establishments In The Primary Wood Processing Industries

Table 7.4 shows the number of primary wood processors, according to the sampling frames used for Forest Research surveys of establishments using UK timber. The figures in Table 7.4 do not correspond with the VAT and PAYE registration information given in Table 7.5.  The figures here count establishments (sites) rather than businesses and include those that do not need to register for VAT or PAYE.  They also have a different basis for classification, so some businesses that are excluded from Table 7.5 because of their VAT/PAYE classification are included in this table (typically businesses where primary wood processing is a small part of their total activity), and some businesses included in Table 7.5 are excluded here (usually because they do not use UK-grown timber). The number of establishments in the primary wood processing industries using UK-grown roundwood has reduced from 273 in 2009 to 213 in 2018, a 22% decrease. 

| Wood-based    | Round fencing    |
|---------------|------------------|
| Year          | Sawmills         |
| Pulp &        |                  |
| paper mills   | panel mills      |
| Total         |                  |
| 1             |                  |
|               |                  |
| 2009          | 195              |
| 2010          | 188              |
| 2011          | 184              |
| 2012          | 180              |
| 2013          | 175              |
| 2014          | 173              |
| 2015          | 171              |
| 2016          | 167              |
| 2017          | 164              |
| 2018          | 157              |

 
Source: industry surveys, industry associations Notes: 1. A single mill may be recorded twice, as a sawmill and a round fencing manufacturer. 


## 7.5 Vat And/Or Paye Registered Businesses

Table 7.5 shows the number of VAT and/or PAYE registered businesses classified under forestry and primary wood processing. The headings shown potentially include businesses not traditionally regarded as forestry or primary wood processing, and some businesses traditionally included in forestry and primary wood processing are excluded as they are classified to other headings of the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC). A total of 4,150 forestry businesses, 540 sawmilling businesses, 130 woodbased panel businesses and 240 pulp & paper businesses were registered for VAT and/or PAYE purposes in the UK in 2018. There has been an overall increase in forestry businesses over the last ten years, whilst sawmilling and pulp and paper businesses have declined. 

Year 
Forestry 
Sawmilling 
Panels 
Pulp & paper 
2009 
3 100 
685 
130 
270 
2010 
3 095 
640 
135 
255 
2011 
3 170 
605 
135 
250 
2012 
3 375 
585 
135 
255 
2013 
3 505 
560 
130 
240 
2014 
3 685 
555 
130 
230 
2015 
3 925 
555 
125 
230 
2016 
4 050 
550 
125 
225 
2017 
4 060 
540 
120 
240 
2018 
4 150 
540 
130 
240 

 
Source: UK Business: Activity, Size and Location: 2018 (Office for National Statistics, October 2018). Notes: 

## Chapter 8: Finance & Prices Introduction

This chapter contains statistics on: 

- 
timber prices;  
- 
gross value added (GVA);  
- 
Government expenditure on forestry; and   
- 
grant schemes.  
Estimates for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are included, where possible, in addition to UK or GB totals.  Further information on the data sources and methodology used to compile the figures is provided in the Sources chapter. Most of the statistics presented in this chapter have been previously released. Some of the figures for earlier years have been revised since Forestry Statistics 2018.  For further details on revisions, see the Finance & Prices section of the Sources chapter. A copy of all Finance & Prices tables can be accessed in spreadsheet format from the Data Downloads web page at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-andresources/statistics/data-downloads/. Previous editions of Forestry Statistics have also included statistics on financial returns from forestry investment in this chapter, from the Investment Property Databank (IPD) UK Forestry Index.  As no new data is available, this section has now been excluded; the latest results can be accessed from Forestry Statistics 2018 at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-andresources/statistics/forestry-statistics/forestry-statistics-2018/financeprices/financial-return-from-forestry-investment/. 


The main findings are: 

- 
The Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index for Great Britain was 26.8% higher in real terms in the year to March 2019, compared with the previous year.  
- 
The Softwood Sawlog Price Index for Great Britain was 32.5% higher in real terms in the 6 months to March 2019, compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.  
- 
Gross value added (GVA) in primary wood processing (sawmilling, panels and pulp & paper) was £1.48 billion in the UK in 2017.  GVA in forestry was £0.70 billion.  
- 
Net expenditure on public forests by Forestry England and by Forestry and Land Scotland totalled £27 million in 2018-19.  A further £97 million was spent by the Forestry Commission and Scottish Forestry on other activities.  
- 
A total of £76.6 million was paid in grants by the Forestry Commission, Scottish Forestry and the Welsh Government in 2018- 19. 

## 8.1 Timber Prices

Timber Price Indices are based on sales of softwood (conifers) by Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland and Natural Resources Wales and are released every 6 months. The Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index monitors changes in the average price received per cubic metre for timber that Forestry England/ Forestry and Land Scotland/ Natural Resources Wales sold standing, where the purchaser is responsible for harvesting. The Softwood Sawlog Price Index monitors changes in the average price received per cubic metre of sawlogs (roundwood with a top diameter of 14 cm or more, destined to be sawn into planks or boards) sold at roadside by Forestry England/ Forestry and Land Scotland/ Natural Resources Wales. Standing timber and sawlogs are distinct markets, and may show different price movements. The data are averages for historic periods, so may be slow to show any turning points. These indices are used to monitor trends in timber prices and to provide information on the state of the UK timber industry. They are also used by the UK timber industry, alongside other economic indicators, in contract reviews. There is little other information currently available on wood prices before primary processing and no price index is available for broadleaves. Prices for outputs of primary wood processing are collected by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in the Producer Price Indices (PPIs), and these are available in the MM22 dataset which gives detailed PPIs monthly. Table 8.1 presents the coniferous standing sales and sawlog price indices for Great Britain to March 2019. The coniferous standing sales price index for Great Britain was 26.8% higher in real terms in the year to March 2019, compared with the previous year (Table 8.1).  The softwood sawlog price index was 32.5% higher in real terms in the 6 months to March 2019, compared with the corresponding period in the previous year. 


index (period to September 2016 = 100) 
Standing sales3 
Standing sales3 
Sawlog index 
Sawlog 
Year 
in nominal 
index in real 
in nominal 
index in real 
terms3 
terms4 
terms3 
terms4 
2012 
83.9 
89.7 
88.2 
94.6 
2013 
78.6 
82.4 
97.9 
102.8 
2014 
90.9 
93.6 
109.5 
113.1 
2015 
108.8 
110.6 
103.2 
106.0 
2016 
98.5 
99.4 
97.1 
98.6 
2017 
110.0 
108.5 
110.8 
109.4 
2018 
143.5 
138.7 
133.9 
129.6 
2019 
185.5 
175.9 
180.6 
171.7 

 
Source: Timber Price Indices: data to March 2019 Notes: 
1. The price indices are constructed from information on sales by Forestry England/ Forestry and Land 

Scotland/ Natural Resources Wales only. 
2. The standing sales index uses the Fisher method with 5 year chain linking to take account of changes 
in the size mix over time. 
3. Nominal prices are the actual prices at that point in time. 4. Real terms values are obtained by using the GDP deflator to convert to "constant prices" (in this case 
prices in 2016). This allows trends in timber prices to be tracked without the influence of inflation. 
5. The standing sales index excludes sales by Natural Resources Wales from April 2017. 6. Sawlog prices in Wales in the year to March 2018 include long term contract rates for the clearance 
of infected larch. 
Source: Timber Price Indices: data to March 2019 Notes: 
1. The price indices are constructed from information on sales by Forestry England/ Forestry and Land 
Scotland/ Natural Resources Wales only. 
2. The standing sales index uses the Fisher method with 5 year chain linking to take account of changes 
in the size mix over time. 
3. Real terms values are obtained by using the GDP deflator to convert to "constant prices" (in this case 
prices in 2016). This allows trends in timber prices to be tracked without the influence of inflation. 
4. The standing sales index excludes sales by Natural Resources Wales from April 2017. 5. Sawlog prices in Wales in the year to March 2018 include long term contract rates for the clearance 
of infected larch. 

## 8.2 Gross Value Added

Gross value added (GVA) measures the contribution to the economy of each individual producer, industry or sector in the United Kingdom.  It is the difference between the value of outputs and the value of intermediate consumption, so mainly comprises employment costs and profits. The Annual Business Survey (ABS) carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) includes statistics on gross value added for different industries, classified using the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007).  Further information on the ABS is available from the ONS website. Table 8.2 shows that, in 2017, GVA in primary wood processing (sawmilling, panels and pulp & paper) was reported to be £1.48 billion and GVA in forestry was £0.70 billion. 

£ million 
Standard Industrial Classification  
2013 
2014 2015 2016 2017 
(SIC)1 
Forestry 
504 
540 
658 
596 
701 
Wood products 

 
Sawmilling 
518 
356 
474 
413 
437 
Panels2 
267 
436 
323 
316 
363 
Secondary products 
1 797 1 955 2 477 2 850 2 597 
Total 
2 582 2 747 3 275 3 579 3 397 
Pulp, paper & paper products 

 
Pulp & paper 
578 
596 
738 
610 
682 
Articles of paper & paperboard 
3 115 3 197 2 749 2 786 2 554 
Total 
3 693 3 793 3 487 3 396 3 236 
Total wood processing 
6 275 6 540 6 762 6 975 6 633 
Total primary wood processing 
1 363 1 388 1 535 1 339 1 482 

 
Source: Annual Business Survey (Office for National Statistics, May 2019) Notes: 

 
2. The 2013 to 2016 figures for panels have been suppressed in the figures released by ONS, so the 
figures here cover both panels and the manufacture of assembled parquet floors (SIC 16.22) for those years.  Panels accounted for 99% of the total of SIC codes 16.21 (panels) and 16.22 in 2017. 
3. Excludes other wood-using industries. 
 

## 8.3 Government Expenditure On Public Forests

Table 8.3 provides information on net expenditure on public forests by Forestry England and by Forestry and Land Scotland.  This covers expenditure less income for land that is owned or managed by Forestry England/ Forestry and Land Scotland.  Other expenditure by the Forestry Commission and Scottish Forestry is covered in Table 8.5. Figures for Wales on a comparable basis are currently unavailable. Net expenditure on public forests by Forestry England/ Forestry and Land Scotland in 2018-19 totalled £27 million. This comprised £15 million in Scotland and £12 million in England. Recreation, conservation & heritage accounted for £70 million of the total expenditure in 2018-19, harvesting & haulage for £43 million and other expenditure on public forests for £111 million. Timber sales generated a total income of £131 million in 2018-19.  Recreation, conservation & heritage accounted for a further £32 million and other income from public forests for £35 million. 

£ million 
2015-
2016-
2017-
2018-
 
2014-
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
GB 
  
  
  
  
  
Harvesting & haulage 
36.6 
37.9 
35.9 
36.8 
42.6 
Recreation, etc4 
70.2 
67.8 
70.9 
72.8 
70.2 
Other 
81.9 
89.2 
89.0 
96.5 
111.3 
Timber 
-103.1 
-99.1 
-104.3 
-111.3 
-131.2 
Recreation, etc4 
-24.3 
-24.8 
-29.6 
-32.1 
-31.5 
Other 
-25.1 
-26.8 
-27.7 
-23.1 
-34.7 
Net expenditure 
36.2 
44.2 
34.2 
39.6 
26.7 
 
England 


Harvesting & haulage 
9.8 
10.6 
10.6 
11.3 
14.0 
Recreation, etc4 
41.8 
45.0 
49.7 
49.4 
49.4 
Other 
24.5 
29.2 
31.3 
32.9 
38.3 
Timber 
-37.3 
-36.7 
-38.9 
-43.4 
-53.2 
Recreation, etc4 
-18.3 
-21.1 
-26.2 
-28.3 
-27.8 
Other 
-11.1 
-9.3 
-8.6 
-5.8 
-8.8 
Net expenditure 
9.4 
17.7 
17.9 
16.1 
11.9 
Scotland 
  
  
  
  
 
Harvesting & haulage 
26.8 
27.3 
25.3 
25.5 
28.6 
Recreation, etc4 
28.4 
22.8 
21.2 
23.4 
20.8 
Other 
57.4 
60.0 
57.7 
63.6 
73.0 
Timber 
-65.8 
-62.4 
-65.4 
-67.9 
-78.0 
Recreation, etc4 
-6.0 
-3.7 
-3.4 
-3.8 
-3.7 
Other 
-14.0 
-17.5 
-19.1 
-17.3 
-25.9 
Net expenditure 
26.8 
26.5 
16.3 
23.5 
14.8 

 
Source: Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland Notes: 
1. Expenditure by Forestry England and by Forestry and Land Scotland only. Excludes expenditure 

incurred by other departments. 
2. Excludes notional cost of capital and any surplus/deficit on sale of properties. 3. Excludes gain on revaluation of biological assets and value of timber felled. 4. Recreation, etc includes conservation and heritage. 

## 8.4 Other Government Expenditure On Forestry

Table 8.4 provides information on other expenditure (excluding public forests) by the Forestry Commission and Scottish Forestry.  It includes expenditure by National Offices in England and Scotland as well as expenditure on GB level functions.  Figures for Wales on a comparable basis are not currently available. Expenditure on land that is owned or managed by Forestry England/ Forestry and Land Scotland is covered in Table 8.3. In addition to expenditure on public forests, the Forestry Commission/ Scottish Forestry spent a total of £97 million on other activities in 2018-19 (Table 8.4). £63 million was used by the national offices in England and Scotland for grants and partnership funding and a further £12 million for policy, regulation & administration in 2018-19.  At a GB level, £22 million was used for international & GB support services and £12 million for research. 

£ million 
2015-
2016-
2017-
2018-
 
2014-
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
GB 
  
  
  
  
  
Grants and partnership funding3 
82.0 
57.2 
61.6 
57.6 
62.9 
Policy, regulation & administration 
11.9 
13.1 
12.2 
11.9 
12.1 
Research - GB funded4 
8.6 
8.4 
9.6 
10.5 
11.8 
International & GB support services4 
32.5 
32.1 
28.4 
25.4 
21.6 
-20.3 
-20.7 
-16.1 
-13.0 
-11.3 
Less recovery of support service costs from countries Total 
114.7 
90.1 
95.7 
92.4 
97.1 
England 


Grants and partnership funding3 
37.4 
24.8 
24.0 
13.8 
8.3 
Policy, regulation & administration5 
2.0 
1.8 
2.2 
1.9 
0.7 
 
Total 
39.4 
26.6 
26.2 
15.7 
9.0 
Scotland 

 
Grants and partnership funding3 
44.6 
32.4 
37.6 
43.8 
54.6 
Policy, regulation & administration5 
9.9 
11.3 
10.0 
10.0 
11.4 
Total 
54.5 
43.7 
47.6 
53.8 
66.0 

Source: Forestry Commission, Scottish Forestry Notes: 
1. Forestry Commission/ Scottish Forestry expenditure only.  Excludes expenditure incurred by other 

departments. 
2. Excludes miscellaneous income. 3. EU co-financing not subtracted from grant expenditure. In England authority for the Rural 
Development Programme for England (RDPE) grant scheme rests with Defra. 
4. The estimates for GB funded research exclude work by Forest Research funded by external 
organisations.  The increase in "Research - GB funded" and corresponding decrease in "International & GB support services" from 2015-16 to 2016-17 largely reflect organisational change within the Forestry Commission, with the transfer of some functions into Forest Research in April 2016. 
5. Country costs for "policy, regulation & administration" include shares of GB support service costs. 
 

## 8.5 Grant Schemes

Private sector woodland in Great Britain is supported by a range of grants for creating new woodland and managing existing woodland.  The Woodland Grant Scheme (WGS) was introduced in 1988, at the same time as tax relief was phased out.  In Scotland, WGS was replaced by the Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme (SFGS) in 2003, by Rural Development Contracts in 2006 and has now been replaced by the Forestry Grant Scheme.  The English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) was launched in July 2005 and has now been replaced by Countryside Stewardship.  Better Woodlands for Wales (BWW) was launched in December 2005 and has now been replaced by Glastir (administered by the Welsh Government). Because of the differences between these schemes, it is increasingly difficult to provide comparable statistics across the three countries.  The following tables provide information relating to planting and grants: 

- 
Table 1.14 for total areas of new planting and restocking;  
- 
Table 8.4 for expenditure by the Forestry Commission/ Scottish Forestry on grants and partnership funding;  
 
- 
Table 8.5 (below) for grant expenditure by the Forestry Commission (including grant expenditure managed by the Forestry Commission on behalf of Defra), by Scottish Forestry and by the Welsh Government.  
Table 8.5 presents information on grant money paid in 2009-10 to 2018-19.  A total of £76.6 million was paid in grants in 2018-19, a 37% increase from the total for the previous year. At a country level, £50.2 million was paid in grants in Scotland in 2018-19 (an increase of 32% from the previous year), £20.5 million was paid in England (a 52% increase) and £5.9 million in Wales (an increase of 27%). 

£ million 
 
England1 
Wales2 
Scotland3 
GB 
2009-10 
24.4 
2.9 
5.7 
33.0 
2010-11 
28.7 
3.8 
18.9 
51.4 
2011-12 
32.5 
5.4 
34.2 
72.1 
2012-13 
32.8 
5.0 
32.3 
70.1 
2013-14 
33.9 
4.1 
35.5 
73.5 
2014-15 
32.4 
1.8 
39.2 
73.4 
2015-16 
23.0 
3.6 
27.5 
54.1 
2016-17 
23.8 
3.3 
30.5 
57.5 
2017-18 
13.5 
4.7 
37.9 
56.1 
2018-19 
20.5 
5.9 
50.2 
76.6 

 
Source: Forestry Commission, Scottish Forestry, Welsh Government Notes: 
1. England includes grant scheme expenditure managed by the Forestry Commission on behalf of Defra. 2. Wales relates to grant paid by the Welsh Government. 3. Scotland includes grants paid under the Forestry Grant Scheme and legacy schemes (including Rural 

Development Contracts). 
 
The total grant money paid in Great Britain has fluctuated over recent years, with levels often dipping around the times that new grant schemes are introduced, followed by a sharp recovery. 

 

Source: Forestry Commission, Scottish Forestry, Welsh Government Notes: 
1. England includes grant scheme expenditure managed by the Forestry Commission on behalf of Defra. 2. Wales relates to grant paid by the Welsh Government. 3. Scotland includes grants paid under the Forestry Grant Scheme and legacy schemes (including Rural 
Development Contracts). 

## Chapter 9: International Forestry Introduction

This chapter contains information about world forestry, presenting global figures by region alongside data for the UK and the EU. Topics covered include woodland area, carbon stocks, wood removals, production and apparent consumption of wood products and international trade in forest products. The data are produced by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Further information on the data sources and methodology used to compile the figures is provided in the Sources chapter. All of the statistics presented in this chapter have been previously released by the FAO. For further details on revisions, see the International Forestry section of the Sources chapter. Data for the European Union (EU) relate to all 28 current EU members, including the UK, for all of the years shown.  Data for Europe cover 27 of the EU members (excluding Cyprus), the Russian Federation and a number of other European countries, including Norway, Switzerland, Serbia and Ukraine. A copy of all International Forestry tables can be accessed in spreadsheet format from the Data Downloads web page at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/data-downloads/. 


The main findings are: 

- At around 13% forest cover in 2015, the UK is one of the least densely 
forested countries in the European Union. This compares with 38% for the EU as a whole and 31% worldwide.  
- The global forest area reduced by around 3.3 million hectares (0.1%) per 
year between 2010 and 2015. 
- Carbon stocks in forest living biomass have increased in both Europe and 
North & Central America between 2010 and 2015, but have decreased at a global level.  
- A total of 3.8 billion m3 underbark of wood was removed from global 
forests in 2017, of which around one half (50%) was for use as woodfuel and the remainder was industrial roundwood (for use by wood processors).  
- Global production of wood products in 2017 totalled 486 million m3 of 
sawnwood, 404 million m3 of wood-based panels and 414 million tonnes of paper & paperboard.  
- Europe consumed around one quarter (24%) of all sawnwood, around 
one fifth (20%) of the world's wood-based panels and around one fifth (22%) of all paper and paperboard in 2017.  
- The UK was the second largest net importer (imports less exports) of 
forest products in 2017, with net imports of US $7.6 billion. The largest net importer was China. 

## 9.1 Forest Cover: International Comparisons

The FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) is a collation of forest data undertaken by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) at the global level every five years. The UK is one of the least densely forested countries in the European Union with around 13% of its total land area covered in forest in 2015 (Table 9.1, Figure 9.1). This compares with 38% for the EU as a whole and 31% worldwide.  

Total land area 
Country 
Forest area 
(million ha) 
(million ha) 
Forest as % 
of land area 
Europe 
  
  
  
United Kingdom 
3 
24 
13 
Denmark 
1 
4 
14 
Finland 
22 
30 
73 
France 
17 
55 
31 
Germany 
11 
35 
33 
Ireland 
1 
7 
11 
Italy 
9 
29 
32 
Spain 
18 
50 
37 
Sweden 
28 
41 
68 
Other EU 
50 
148 
34 
Total EU-281 
161 
424 
38 
Russian Federation 
815 
1 638 
50 
Total Europe2 
1 015 
2 214 
46 
Africa 
624 
2 987 
21 
Asia 
593 
3 118 
19 
North & Central America 
751 
2 134 
35 
Oceania 
174 
850 
20 
South America 
842 
1 747 
48 
World 
3 999 
13 049 
31 

 
Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015. Notes: 
1. Cyprus is included in EU-28 total but is part of FAO's Asia region. 2. The Europe region covers 27 EU countries (excluding Cyprus), the Russian Federation and other 

countries, including Norway, Switzerland, Serbia and Ukraine. 
These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

 
 
Source: FAO. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

 

## 9.2 Forest Area By Country

Figure 9.2 shows the countries with the largest forest areas.  Around one half (49%) of the total forest area of 3,999 million hectares in 2015 is located in four countries (the Russian Federation, Brazil, Canada and the USA). These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

 

## 9.3 Annual Changes In Forest Area

The global forest area has reduced from around 4,128 million hectares in 1990 to 3,999 million hectares in 2015.  This represents a decrease of around 7.3 million hectares (0.2%) per year between 1990 and 2000, of around 4.0 million hectares (0.1%) per year between 2000 and 2010 and of around 3.3 million hectares (0.1%) per year between 2010 and 2015 (Table 9.2). The forest area has reduced in most regions since 1990, except for Europe (where the area increased in each time period) and Asia (where the area reduced between 1990 and 2000 but has increased by more between 2000 and 2015). 

percentage change in forest area 
Region 
1990-2000 
2000-2010 
2010-2015 
Europe 
  
  
  
UK 
0.6 
0.3 
0.5 
EU-281 
0.5 
0.3 
0.2 
Total Europe 
0.1 
0.1 
0.0 
Africa 
-0.5 
-0.5 
-0.4 
Asia 
0.0 
0.4 
0.1 
North and Central America 
-0.1 
0.0 
0.0 
Oceania 
0.0 
-0.3 
0.2 
South America 
-0.4 
-0.4 
-0.2 
World 
-0.2 
-0.1 
-0.1 

 
Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015. Notes: 
1. Cyprus is included in EU-28 total but is part of FAO's Asia region. 2. UK figures for 2015 are 2013-based estimates.  Revised estimates (from Chapter 1) suggest that Table 9.2 slightly under-estimates the change in forest area in the UK in the most recent time period. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. Between 2010 and 2015, the largest decrease in forest area was in Brazil (1.0 million hectares per year on average) and the largest increase was in China (1.5 million hectares per year on average) (Figure 9.3). 

 
Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015. Notes: 1. Countries with changes of at least 0.3 million hectares per year only. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 


## 9.4 Forest Carbon Stocks

Carbon stocks in forest living biomass have increased in Europe and North & Central America between 2010 and 2015, but have decreased at a global level, reflecting continuing trends since 1990 (Table 9.3). The overall decrease has mainly been driven by declines in South America and Africa, where forest areas have decreased. Carbon stocks in biomass also declined slightly in Asia, where carbon sequestered in new plantations is not yet able to balance out carbon losses from areas of deforestation. 

giga tonnes of carbon 
Region 
1990 
2000 
2005 
2010 
2015 
Europe 
41.4 
42.5 
43.2 
44.4 
45.5 
Africa 
66.5 
63.5 
62.1 
60.8 
59.7 
Asia 
38.1 
37.7 
37.2 
36.8 
36.3 
North and Central America 
33.9 
34.9 
35.3 
35.6 
35.9 
Oceania 
16.1 
15.9 
15.9 
15.9 
15.7 
South America 
111.5 
107.8 
105.5 
104.0 
103.1 
World 
307.6 
302.3 
299.2 
297.6 
296.2 

 
Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015. Notes: 1. 

A giga tonne is a thousand million tonnes (109 tonnes). These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 


 
Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 


## 9.5 Wood Removals

A total of 3.8 billion m3 underbark of wood was removed from global forests in 2017, of which around one half (50%) was for use as woodfuel and the remainder was industrial roundwood (for use by wood processors) (Table 9.4). North & Central America and Europe together accounted for around three fifths (59%) of all industrial roundwood removals in 2017. Globally, removals of industrial roundwood increased by 3% between 2015 and 2017, resulting from increases in all regions. Three quarters (74%) of woodfuel removals in 2017 took place in Asia and Africa. Globally, removals of woodfuel increased by 2% between 2015 and 2017. 

million m3 underbark 
Region 
1990 
2000 
2010 
2015 
2017 
Industrial roundwood 
  
  
  
  
  
Europe 
  
  
  
  
  
UK 
6 
8 
8 
9 
9 
EU-281  
317 
344 
338 
351 
362 
Total Europe 
517 
521 
531 
579 
599 
Africa 
61 
71 
72 
75 
74 
Asia 
268 
269 
370 
389 
405 
North & Central America 
595 
632 
485 
516 
523 
Oceania 
34 
47 
58 
63 
70 
South America 
110 
147 
198 
217 
231 
World 
1 585 
1 688 
1 713 
1 840 
1 903 
Woodfuel 
  

 
Europe 
  

 
UK 
0 
0 
1 
2 
2 
EU-281  
68 
79 
98 
109 
119 
Total Europe 
138 
103 
136 
157 
170 
Africa 
445 
551 
643 
679 
693 
 
Asia 
897 
808 
764 
735 
725 
North & Central America 
162 
129 
129 
136 
153 
Oceania 
9 
13 
11 
10 
10 
South America 
162 
185 
162 
171 
169 
World 
1 814 
1 789 
1 845 
1 889 
1 920 
Total roundwood 
  

 
Europe 
  

 
UK 
6 
8 
10 
11 
11 
EU-281 
385 
423 
435 
460 
481 
Total Europe 
655 
624 
667 
736 
769 
Africa 
506 
623 
715 
754 
767 
Asia 
1 166 
1 077 
1 134 
1 125 
1 130 
North & Central America 
757 
761 
613 
652 
676 
Oceania 
43 
60 
68 
73 
80 
South America 
272 
332 
359 
388 
400 
World 
3 399 
3 477 
3 557 
3 729 
3 823 

 
Source: FAO. Notes: 1. Cyprus is included in EU-28 total but is part of FAO's Asia region. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 


## 9.6 Production Of Wood Products

Global production of wood products in 2017 totalled 486 million m3 of sawnwood, 404 million m3 of woodbased panels and 414 million tonnes of paper & paperboard (Table 9.5). Europe produced around one third (34%) of all sawnwood in 2017 (mainly in EU countries), with around one quarter (28%) in Asia and a further quarter (27%) produced in North & Central America.  Overall, sawnwood production increased by 7% between 2015 and 2017, driven by increases in most regions. Wood-based panels were more commonly produced in Asia, accounting for around three fifths (60%) of global production in 2017.  Around one fifth (22%) were produced in Europe (mainly EU countries) and 12% in North & Central America.  At a global level, wood-based panel production increased by 4% between 2015 and 2017, driven by increases in all regions. Asia also accounted for almost one half (48%) of paper and paperboard production in 2017, with around one quarter (26%) in Europe and a further 21% in North & Central America. At a global level, paper and paperboard production increased by 2% between 2015 and 2017. 


| Region                       | 1990 2000 2010 2015 2017    |
|------------------------------|-----------------------------|
| Sawnwood (million m          |                             |
| 3                            |                             |
| )                            |                             |
| Europe                       |                             |
| UK                           | 2                           |
| EU-281                       | 82                          |
| Total Europe                 | 149                         |
| Africa                       | 8                           |
| Asia                         | 105                         |
| North and Central America    | 129                         |
| Oceania                      | 6                           |
| South America                | 22                          |
| World                        | 419                         |
| Wood-based panels (million m |                             |
| 3                            |                             |
| )                            |                             |
| Europe                       |                             |
| UK                           | 2                           |
| EU-281                       | 36                          |
| Total Europe                 | 48                          |
| Africa                       | 2                           |
| Asia                         | 27                          |
| North and Central America    | 44                          |
| Oceania                      | 2                           |
| South America                | 4                           |
| World                        | 126                         |
| Paper & paperboard (million  |                             |
| tonnes)                      |                             |
|                              |                             |
| Europe                       |                             |
| UK                           | 5                           |
| EU-281                       | 63                          |
| Total Europe                 | 74                          |
 
Africa 
3 
4 
4 
4 
3 
Asia 
57 
95 
170 
191 
197 
North and Central America 
92 
111 
94 
89 
88 
Oceania 
3 
4 
4 
4 
4 
South America 
8 
11 
15 
15 
16 
World 
235 
325 
392 
406 
414 

 
Source: FAO. Notes: 1. Cyprus is included in EU-28 total but is part of FAO's Asia region. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

## 9.7 Apparent Consumption Of Wood Products

Apparent consumption (defined as production + imports - exports) of wood products around the world totalled 481 million m3 sawnwood, 398 million m3 wood-based panels and 413 million tonnes of paper and paperboard in 2017 (Table 9.6). 

Two fifths (40%) of all sawnwood in 2017 was consumed in Asia and around one quarter each in North & Central America (26%) and in Europe (24%). Reflecting the increased production of sawnwood (see Table 9.5), apparent consumption of sawnwood increased by 8% overall between 2015 and 2017. This was driven by increases in apparent consumption in most regions. Asia consumed around three fifths (59%) of the world's wood-based panels in 2017, around one fifth (20%) was consumed in Europe and 15% in North & Central America.  Apparent consumption of wood-based panels worldwide increased by 4% between 2015 and 2017, largely resulting from increased demand in Europe. One half (50%) of all paper and paperboard in 2017 was consumed in Asia, around one fifth (22%) in Europe and a further one fifth (21%) in North & Central America. At a global level, apparent consumption of paper and paperboard increased by 3% between 2015 and 2017. 


Region 
1990 2000 2010 2015 2017 
Sawnwood (million m3) 
  
  
  
  
 
Europe 
  
  
  
  
 
UK 
13 
10 
9 
10 
11 
EU-281 
96 
100 
90 
89 
95 
Total Europe 
158 
121 
110 
107 
114 
Africa 
10 
10 
17 
19 
17 
Asia 
112 
78 
116 
169 
192 
North and Central America 
119 
143 
95 
119 
126 
Oceania 
6 
8 
8 
8 
9 
South America 
20 
27 
26 
25 
24 
World 
426 
387 
372 
447 
481 
Wood-based panels (million m3) 
  
  
  
  
 
Europe 
  
  
  
  
 
UK 
5 
6 
6 
6 
6 
EU-281 
40 
51 
53 
56 
63 
Total Europe 
52 
57 
67 
73 
81 
Africa 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
Asia 
25 
50 
139 
233 
237 
North and Central America 
44 
64 
48 
56 
60 
Oceania 
2 
2 
3 
3 
3 
South America 
3 
6 
12 
14 
13 
World 
127 
181 
272 
382 
398 
Paper & paperboard (million tonnes) 
  
  
  
  
 
Europe 
  
  
  
  
 
UK 
9 
12 
11 
9 
9 
EU-281 
62 
84 
85 
80 
81 
Total Europe 
71 
90 
95 
91 
92 
 
Africa 
4 
5 
7 
8 
8 
Asia 
62 
103 
178 
197 
206 
North and Central America 
88 
110 
91 
86 
87 
Oceania 
3 
5 
5 
4 
4 
South America 
8 
12 
16 
16 
16 
World 
236 
325 
391 
403 
413 

 
Source: FAO. Notes: 1. Cyprus is included in EU-28 total but is part of FAO's Asia region. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 

## 9.8 World Trade In Forest Products

Figures 9.6 and 9.7 show the largest net importers and exporters (by value) of forest products in 2017.  This covers trade in roundwood, sawnwood, woodbased panels, wood pulp and paper and paperboard, but excludes trade in secondary processed wood (e.g. furniture made from wood).  Values are expressed in US dollars (the units reported in the data published by FAO). The UK was the second largest net importer (imports less exports) of forest products in 2017, with net imports of US $7.6 billion (Figure 9.6). The largest net importer in 2017 was China (US $36.6 billion) and Japan was the third largest net importer (US $7.1 billion). 



Source: FAO Notes: 1. Excludes trade in secondary wood products. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter. 



The largest net exporters (exports less imports) of forest products in 2017 were Canada (with net exports valued at US $18.5 billion), Finland (US $11.4 billion) and Sweden (US $11.0 billion) (Figure 9.7). 

Source: FAO Notes: 1. Excludes trade in secondary wood products. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter.