We embrace our responsibility for the environment
Over 80% of the land Forest Holidays occupies is managed for conservation. Protecting the environment is about understanding how our actions today will impact on the future. That’s why careful planning and a long-term biodiversity enhancement strategy are so important. We’re passionate and proud about the work we’re doing.
Deeply rooted in nature
We're passionate and proud about the work we're doing. We believe in the principle of 'biodiversity net gain' which means that our presence in the forest should go further than simply ensuring that biodiversity is unaffected. Instead, we enchance habitats to increase biodiversity and make nature-positive decisions that bring long-term benefits to the forest.
The forest's future is ours, too
We want to reduce our carbon footprint, and look at new ways to conserve and protect land and wildlife. We work closely with our local partners, Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland and Natural Resources Wales to help forests thrive, so that they're better than ever for future generations.
A grounded approach
We look after 244.5 hectares of land through our land management plans and record the wildlife at our locations. The work our teams, incredible Forest Rangers and partnerships do to protect wildlife is core to our holiday experience and fundamental to our long-term partnerships.
Our biodiversity commitments
Becoming a B Corp doesn’t mean we can stop and admire the view. We’re committed to enhancing habitats in each of our locations to increase biodiversity. It’s a step toward nature recovery and a goal many businesses now share alongside net zero:
- 15% biodiversity net gain for all new locations.
- Delivery of land and woodland management plans.
- Programme of ecology monitoring and surveys.
- Engagement activities for our customers and teams.
- Dedicated Conservation Fund to support projects with Forestry England and other organisations
We look after what we love
We’ve always done business differently. At each of our locations, we make sure we only add good things and take nothing away.
We’re unique in our commitment to sustaining the nation's forests, ensuring long-term positive benefits to the woodlands, surrounding areas and communities while carefully balancing purpose with profit. But we know we can, and want to, do better.
Follow our progress so far and read our positive impact report.
Supporting conservation projects
Our Conservation Fund was created to support nature conservation projects across the UK. We’ve supported 10 projects over the last five years, from a butterfly enhancement project to the reintroduction of beavers, surveying long-eared owls and protecting veteran oak trees.
Most recently, we’ve partnered with Forestry England and Cheshire Wildlife Trust to support nationally important habitats within the Delamere Forest meres and mosses basin. Delamere’s meres and mosses are nationally important for the species they support and the ecosystem services they provide and particularly, for the survival of the reintroduced population of white-faced darter dragonfly.
The once extinct white-faced darter is rare in England and therefore work around this species is of national importance and interest. This project covers tree and scrub control; eradication and control of invasive species; heathland management to maintain open habitats and corridors; and maintenance of dams, bunds and pipes to ensure correct water levels within the mosses.
Our conservation fund in action
Butterfly enhancement project
Blackwood Forest, Hampshire: In partnership with Forestry England and Butterfly Conservation. The project in Basing Wood, Hampshire, has enhanced access for the local community, expanded wildlife habitat and improved public understanding of, and engagement with, wildlife conservation.
Species supported: The project encourages a mix of butterflies, including the white-letter hairstreak, white admiral, purple emperor and grizzled skipper.
Our work includes:
- Tree felling and scrub management along butterfly and moth wildlife corridors
- Creating small glades within the woodland
- Management of forest meadows
- Disease-resistant elm planting to benefit the white letter hairstreak
- Ongoing monitoring of butterflies
- Re-energising the local conservation volunteer network
Veteran tree protection
Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire: In partnership with Forestry England and local volunteers. Veteran trees provide valuable habitat that has existed for centuries and their protection is vital.
Species supported: Parts of Sherwood Forest contain some of the oldest oak trees in the country. This project is prolonging the health and vigour of the veteran oak trees and their associated and important saproxylic invertebrate populations within the Birklands Forest NNR & SSSI, approximately one mile from our Sherwood Forest location.
Our work includes:
- Re-haloing veteran trees
- Re-tagging every veteran tree
- Tree health assessments of the most at-risk veteran trees to identify arboricultural work needed
- Carrying out arboricultural work on veteran oaks –phased over the next five years
- Removing invasive turkey oak
- Re-energising the local conservation volunteer network
Case Study – Blackwood Forest
Since opening in 2013, Forest Holidays has been helping to manage a rich woodland of mixed age and species, through:
- Creating rides, glades and woodland enrichment areas
- Woodland edge augmentation planting
- Removing conifers, reducing the density of beech plantation and planting native trees to restore the woodland to a semi-natural condition
- Moving to a traditional coppicing regime
- Meadow mowing and management to restore these areas to biodiversity rich grassland meadows, creating ideal habitats for reptiles, invertebrates and rare flora, including slow worm, butterflies and greater butterfly orchid chamomile
- Creating additional dormouse habitats and introducing nest boxes for birds and bats
- Leaving standing dead wood and creating ‘habitat piles’
- Ranger-led education activities
We're committed to a programme of ecology monitoring and surveys
The rare species of the long-eared owl is thought to have declined significantly in the past century, but now fuding from Forest Holidays' Conservation Fund is supporting Forestry England and the Hawk and Owl Trust in a major survey of the birds across South West forests.
Find out more about the project and the work being done to educate people about these rare species and their surroundings.