About Heartwood Forest

Size matters – big is beautiful!

At 858 acres* this site is our biggest challenge yet.

It’s big for wildlife
It’s big for people
It’s very big for the Woodland Trust

Located near Sandridge just three miles north of St Albans in Hertfordshire, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform the site into the largest new continuous native forest in England.

Incredibly, it takes just 12 years to turn bare land into flourishing native woodland, complete with a diverse range of wildlife and towering trees.

The site contains four small remnants (44 acres) of precious ancient woodland, our equivalent of the rainforest, which now sadly makes up only two per cent of UK landcover.

Why?

Why it’s BIG for wildlife

Large areas of woodland are better than small fragments in helping species adapt in the face of climate change. This site will be the flagship in an unprecedented national tree planting campaign.

Why it’s BIG for people

Getting out and active in woodland is great way for adults and children to connect with nature. Over 2 million people live within 15 miles of the site which can be accessed via public transport, and we want everyone to come and take part.

Why it’s BIG for the Trust

This is the Trust’s most exciting and ambitious tree planting opportunity in England, creating the largest new native forest for millions of people to enjoy for free, forever.

Located within the London Greenbelt, a Biodiversity Priority Area and within the Chilterns ancient woodland concentration, this land near Sandridge is an unmissable large-scale tree planting opportunity.

Ancient woodland at Heartwood Forest

There are three pockets of ancient woodland on the site. Ancient Woodland are not just places of timeless beauty and tranquillity but by being continuously planted since 1600AD, ancient woodland offer stable, natural conditions for wildlife. In fact they are home to more threatened species than any other habitat in the UK making them a valuable resource that need protecting.

Watch our biggest challenge video

*347 hectares

28 Comments »

28 Responses

on February 21, 2009 at 9:20 pm Miles Newman

I can find no details as to how one might volunteer for planting and maintaining the new woodland.
on February 23, 2009 at 6:03 pm Al Crosby

The website – http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/heartwood has lots of useful information, including how you can register to receive the Woodland Trust newsletter which will keep you up to date with all our events.

We’re currently undergoing a long Environmental Impact Assessment and consultation process and hope to start planting in November/December this year. Community planting events will be advertised nearer the time – there is lots to do so we will definitely be needing all the volunteer planters we can find!
on October 25, 2009 at 9:20 am Rob Mew

I dont want to miss any tree planting dates at heartwood forest! There’s none on this page yet. Looking forward to it,
Rob.
on December 21, 2009 at 2:32 pm treeoclock - Arbtalk.co.uk | Discussion Forum for Arborists

[...] a trip if your in the vicinity, I'll be going back with my two younguns to carry on the planting. About Heartwood Forest The largest new native forest in England Over 20,000 trees planted in 60 minutes… The largest new native forest in England . [...]
on March 21, 2010 at 2:06 pm Karen Pudney

Please would you send me information with regard to The Gruffalo walk as advertised in this weekends(20/3) Daily Mail magazine
Thank you
on March 22, 2010 at 6:28 pm Louise Neicho

Hi Karen
You can see the Gruffalo trail in Langley Wood at Heartwood. Head up the bridleway from Sandridge Village until you come to the wooden gate into Langley Wood on the left. You’ll come to the first Gruffalo post and then you need to turn right staying on the path to the right.

Be sure to print off the willow creature spotter sheet before you go which I’ve just included on our home page. Have fun!
on March 23, 2010 at 4:25 pm Sam

Hi

I have been advised that the Gruffalo Walk is work-in-progress…can you advise me if it is finished and how long it is …is it suitable for a buggy?

Thanks very much
Sam
on March 23, 2010 at 8:42 pm mollie parkus

Please let me have further information on the Gruffalo Walk mentioned in Mail on Saturday this week. It sounds interesting and is it similar to the walk at Aldenham Winnie the Pooh and friends?
on March 29, 2010 at 5:45 pm Louise Neicho

Hi Sam and Mollie
Please see my previous post on the Gruffalo walk. It is a simple trail with information about the Gruffalo. Along the way you can spot our willow creatures. It is fairly dry in Langley Wood at the moment so I think it should be fine for a buggy but some of the paths are quite narrow.

I’m afraid I haven’t seen the Aldenham walk so can’t say if it’s similar, however have a look on the home page of this blog and see the willow creature spotter sheet. It should give you some idea of what it’s like. Print it out before you go and I think your little ones will enjoy spotting all the animals.

Let us know how you get on,
Louise
on March 30, 2010 at 12:27 pm marion knight

Dear all

Can you tell me if the Gruffalo walk is open next week as we would like to take our grandsons. Also is it possible to download a map to us as we do not know the area.

Thank you

Marion Knight
on March 30, 2010 at 7:21 pm heather burgess

i am also interested in bringing my grandchildren to the Gruffalo walk and would like to know if it is still open.
on April 3, 2010 at 5:48 pm Kate

We visited the Gruffalo trail today with my 2 year old son and I can confirm that it definitely is a work in progress! It was nice to see the animals featured on the sheet but my son was disappointed that there was no actual Gruffalo, snake or mouse.

On the way back to the car we walked down past the fields of horses and my son then received a nasty electric shock from the unmarked yet electrified fences! If this trail is aimed at pre-school children, I would think that at the very least the electrified fences on the way to the entrance should have warning signs to inform parents of the danger!
on April 6, 2010 at 8:52 am Louise Neicho

Just to clarify the Gruffalo trail was designed by their PR company to launch the release of the DVD. They were looking for a woodland to do this and we already had willow animals installed at Heartwood and they thought it would be a nice place to do this. It’s not designed to be a permanent feature, however, our willow animals are.

Kate, I’m assuming the horse paddocks you’re referring to are the ones near Sandridge village, at Pound Farm. If so then this is not our land and very difficult for us to do anything about the lack of signs. We do not keep horses or cattle at Heartwood Forest and therefore have no need for electric fencing. However, I will endeavour to speak to the land owner about the lack of signs when the opportunity arises.

I also understand that it can often be difficult to find Heartwood if you don’t know the area. The Heartwood project is a new project for the Woodland Trust and many elements are still be implemented such a car park, appropriate signage, further walks, children’s play areas etc.

I do hope you’ll visit again and see this exciting project develop over the coming months and years.
Louise
on July 17, 2010 at 1:37 pm Joyce Stubbs

The local Soroptimists, of which I am a member, is interested to learn more about treee planting at Heartwood. Please email me with your upcoming events. Thanks
on July 18, 2010 at 3:46 pm Linda Cooper

Please could you tell me if the Gruffalo Walk is still there. We are hoping to take our young grandsons at the end of July.
Many thanks
on July 22, 2010 at 9:50 am Louise Neicho

Hi Linda

Unfortunately the Gruffalo walk is now finished at Heartwood, it was a temporary instalment to promote the release of the DVD. We are however hoping to have another trail soon, watch this space for details!

Heartwood Forest is still an interesting place to visit, take a stroll through the ancient woodland looking for our willow animals – http://heartwoodforest.wordpress.com/2010/03/22/our-willow-family/, discover Heartwood on your bike – http://heartwoodforest.wordpress.com/2010/07/06/discover-heartwood-on-your-bike/ or get wild in the woods – http://heartwoodforest.wordpress.com/2010/06/29/want-to-get-wild-in-the-woods/.
Hope this helps,
Louise
on July 22, 2010 at 9:52 am Louise Neicho

Hi Joyce
That’s great that you;re already thinkning about planting trees with us. You will find all our tree planting dates on the blog soon but if you’d like to email me direct please do – heartwood@woodlandtrust.org.uk.
Many thanks,
Louise
on November 21, 2010 at 11:09 am Tallu

Um, could you put a map. before 23rd november 2010 please? sorry for the short notice, i need it for my homework. by the way, do NOT email me back please.
on January 3, 2011 at 10:39 am Jani Franck

What a wonderful project! Sadly I’m too far away to volunteer for the tree planting, but will keep updated via the web.
on August 9, 2011 at 10:47 am Suzanne

Hi I have planted trees at Heartwood a couple of times and want to do again this autumn/winter, Please can we have some tree planting dates so we can include them in our diaries
Ta
To all the Woodland Trust – continue your wonderful work at the forest
Suzanne
on August 9, 2011 at 4:10 pm Louise Neicho

Hi Suzanne

Glad to hear you’re already thinking about planting trees with us. There’s a post about future dates on the home page but I can tell you that we’ll be having events on 20th November, 4th December and 17th march 2012. Look out for full details coming soon. Hope you can make it,

Louise
on November 27, 2011 at 8:12 pm Lucifer

We, dog and I, visited today and what a transformation! Whereas before there were signs; “keep out”, “no trespassing”, barbed wire and fences, today we were made to feel really welcome. We will come back in 10 or 20 years time (if Old Nick is still alive!), if not sooner.
on March 31, 2012 at 11:15 am lea ann

could you please tell me how and how much it would be for me to buy and plant a tree for a very special person thank you lea ann
on April 2, 2012 at 11:21 am Louise Neicho

Hi Lea Ann

That’s great that you’d like to plant a tree for someone special. You can plant a tree at Heartwood for £15, have a look on the website for more information – http://www.woodlandtrustshop.com/plant-a-tree/plant_a_tree. If you need further info do let us know.

Thanks,
Lou
on October 23, 2012 at 8:51 am Rolly

is there some of attraction for this half term!?
on October 30, 2012 at 10:33 am John FOSTER

Louise, I had to change my e-mail, because I got virused (by a former lecturing colleague, rather than by an ex-student!). I sent you some thoughts on recording and management. Here are some more. You have recorded in the supposed layers of a natural woodland. There are two problems with this. 1). In the long term, excessive growth in one or more layers will damage the one below. 2). It ignores historical management. Hence our bluebell woods (so much a feature of Hertfordshire) will be gone in a couple of centuries
on December 10, 2012 at 9:45 pm aqsa

this is a pupil from foxdell .I would just like to thank u for being couragful because threre are not many trees.
on December 10, 2012 at 9:48 pm aqsa

this is a pupil from foxdell .I would just like to thank u for being couragful because threre are not many trees.and althogh the trip did not come out to plan we still did enjoy the trip. thanku for the souvereniers. and please mind my spellings