Forestry Statistics 2026 now available

Forestry Statistics 2026 is an annual summary of forestry statistics compiled by Forest Research on behalf of the forestry authorities in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland and provides information on woodland area and cover, timber and wood products, imports and exports to economics, employment, woodland visits and the environment. 

Findings show: 

• The area of woodland in the UK at 31 March 2026 is estimated to be 3.30 million hectares; 1.42 million hectares (43%) are independently certified as sustainably managed. 

• 13.46 thousand hectares of newly created woodland were reported in the UK in 2025/26. 

• 10.4 million green tonnes of UK roundwood (softwood and hardwood) were delivered to primary wood processors and others in 2025, unchanged from the previous year. 

• Wood products imported into the UK in 2025 were valued at £9.1 billion and included 6.2 million cubic metres of sawnwood, 3.4 million cubic metres of wood-based panels, 9.8 million tonnes of wood pellets and 5.0 million tonnes of pulp and paper. 

• Over two thirds (70%) of respondents to the UK Public Opinion of Forestry Survey 2025 had visited forests or woodlands in the last few years. Of those, 32% reported an increase in the number of visits in the last 12 months. 

• The Business Register and Employment Survey reported average employment in 2023 of 24 thousand in forestry. 

• Gross Value added (GVA) in primary wood processing (sawmilling, panels and pulp & paper) was £2.43 billion in the UK in 2024. GVA in forestry was £0.97 billion. 

• The UK was the third largest net importer (imports less exports) of forest products in 2024, with net imports of US $8.1 billion. The largest net importer was China, with net imports of US $26.9 billion. 

Visit Forestry Statistics 2026 – Forest Research to view the report in full.

The UK Statistics Authority has designated these statistics as Accredited Official Statistics, in accordance with the Statistics and Registration Act 2007 and signifying compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics. For more information visit www.statistics.gov.uk