This report was commissioned by the Forestry Commission to better understand the current woodland social enterprise sector in England. It provides evidence of a fledgling but very diverse sector with significant innovation. It discusses the definition of “woodland social enterprise”, the potential size of this sector, and suggests indicators for measuring future growth.

The report was commissioned by Forest Research, and reviews the data available on the management of woodlands by local authorities in England. The report focuses on the extent to which community groups and social enterprises are involved in their management.