Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sylva Foundation @sylva.org.uk · Sep 1

If you own or manage woodland with spruce, you can help prevent establishment of the spruce bark beetle Ips typographus by joining a national monitoring project rung by Sylva Foundation and @forestresearchuk.bsky.social sylva.org.uk/help-prevent... #forestry #treehealth #research #takepart

Help prevent establishment of spruce bark beetle by joining national monitoring project

sylva.org.uk

3 7

Sylva Foundation @sylva.org.uk · Aug 26

We’re pleased to publish our trustees’ report and financial accounts for 2024-25. Our board and team expanded to new levels and our impact grew considerably. We're indebted to so many for their support and encouragement. sylva.org.uk/2024-25-trus... #charity #report #environment #forestry

We’re pleased to publish our trustees’ report and financial accounts for 2024-25.

We had a busy and productive year:

We welcomed three new trustees, expanding our board to a total of nine. We were particularly pleased to diversify age diversity among trustees, and to have achieved a majority female board for the first time
Our team of staff grew to 12; our largest number of employees to date
Income received was greater than any previous financial year, mostly due to the handling of grant income for the PIES project, subsequently paid out to subcontracted parties
As always, we benefited from a fantastic range of collaborators, partners, funders, donors, volunteers, advisors and others. Without your support we would not be able to deliver the level of public benefits we managed to achieve. Thank you to you all!

Innovating

Supported more than 10,000 land owners and managers in caring for their woodlands via myForest
200,000ha of woodland mapped in myForest
7,500ha of new woodland planned and created using myForest
Added insightful data layers to myForest to support decision making by land managers
Enhanced the Woodland Condition Assessment to support uplift in ecological conditions of woodlands and biodiversity net gain assessments
Helped channel £39M of funding to support environmental outcomes via the NatureBid platform
Attracted 500 respondents to the 2024 British Woodlands Survey exploring attitudes, experiences and actions among private land managers to public access in their woodlands
Started work developing new British Woodlands Survey for 2025 focussing on environmental change and resilience, creating a 10-year time series
Co-authored a peer-reviewed research article exploring forest manager attitudes towards pest and disease risks to oak in Britain

Collaborating

Concluded the PIES project, delivering advice to 146 land owners, supporting the sustainable management of 2,945ha of existing woodland wit…

1

Sylva Foundation @sylva.org.uk · Aug 20

Calling all woodland owners, agents, professionals, businesses, land-owning organisations - final week to complete British Woodlands Survey 2025 (BWS2025) exploring woodland resilience - take part before 31 Aug: sylva.org.uk/bws2025
#woodlands #trees #resilience #environmentalchange #research

BWS2025

sylva.org.uk

2 1

Sylva Foundation @sylva.org.uk · Aug 15

We're hiring! Delivery Manager (Environmental Digital Services). An exciting opportunity to make a significant contribution to the innovative digital services provided by a dynamic environmental charity. #jobs #career #digital #technology #deliverymanager Read more & apply: sylva.org.uk/jobs

Sylva Foundation is based in south Oxfordshire and is active across Britain transforming how we deliver technology and digital services to support a sustainable society, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and reduce biodiversity loss across the UK. We are looking for a Delivery Manager to fulfill a key business role for the organisation, involving elements of business analysis and project management.

1 3

Sylva Foundation @sylva.org.uk · Jul 9

The British Woodlands Survey 2025 (BWS2025) is now live - important for all woodland owners, agents, forestry professionals, businesses, land-owning organisations - take part: sylva.org.uk/bws2025 @forestresearchuk.bsky.social #woodlands #trees #resilience #environmentalchange #research

In this latest edition of the respected British Woodlands Survey, researchers want to hear from woodland owners and managers about their experiences, and of their hopes and fears for the future. Environmental change is already altering the ecology of our woodlands, affecting timber prices and productivity, impacting financial sustainability and more. Do you think some of these impacts may be positive as well as negative? Do you think you need better financial support or advice? What are biggest barriers you face in managing your woodland? Would you like to be better connected with others, could information technology support you better? This is your chance to have a say!

The British Woodlands Survey 2025 (BWS2025) is now live and remains open until end August. Taking part is important for all woodland owners, forestry and land agents, forestry professionals, businesses, land-owning organisations, and others.

4 4

Sylva Foundation @sylva.org.uk · May 30

Announcing the launch of the UKFS Checker tool. UKFS Checker identifies good woodland management and areas for improvement. UKFS Checker is available to all myForest users, the UK’s foremost cloud-based woodland management platform, designed by foresters for foresters.
sylva.org.uk/launch-of-uk...

Launch of UKFS Checker tool in myForest

Sylva Foundation is delighted to announce the launch of the UKFS Checker tool. UKFS Checker is designed to enable woodland owners and managers throughout the UK to carry out a sustainability self-ass...

sylva.org.uk

1 3

Sylva Foundation @sylva.org.uk · May 23

An incubation workshop is available to rent from Sylva Foundation by a business connected with designing or making with wood. For details and to apply: sylva.org.uk/incubation-w...

Incubation Workshop Available from September 2025

sylva.org.uk

1

Sylva Foundation @sylva.org.uk · May 21

Super - thanks!

Royal Forestry Society @royalforestrysoc.bsky.social · May 21

👋 You might find some on our UK Forestry Starter Pack :)

Sylva Foundation @sylva.org.uk · May 21

We're keen to connect with more friends, partners and supporters on @bsky.app . Read more about our move from the other place and take advantage of our Starter Pack: sylva.org.uk/join-us-on-b... #environment #forestry #wood

Join us on Bluesky

Sylva Foundation is active on the social media platform Bluesky. Join us for debate and our latest news.

sylva.org.uk

5 3 8

Reposted by Sylva Foundation

Forest Research @forestresearchuk.bsky.social · May 15

The latest British Woodlands Survey—led by @sylva.org.uk and supported by Forest Research. Findings will help advance sustainable woodland management and inform future policy.

📘 Read the report: www.sylva.org.uk/bws

Research funded by Defra

1 2

Sylva Foundation @sylva.org.uk · May 15

Today we publish the report of the BWS2004 exploring views among private land managers to #public access in #woodlands, in collaboration with @forestresearchuk.bsky.social. c.500 respondents took part, responsible for 56% of privately-owned woodland area in Britain. www.sylva.org.uk/bws #research

BWS2024 Exploring attitudes, experiences and actions among private land managers towards public access in woodlands. Report of the British Woodlands Survey 2024

2 3

Reposted by Sylva Foundation

Forest Research @forestresearchuk.bsky.social · May 2

🌳 Woodland owners and managers – our oaks need you.

This summer, assess 5+ trees and share the data via Forest Lab to support research into Acute Oak Decline.

Sign up 👉 www.forestresearch.gov.uk/news/145159-...

Volunteers needed to help monitor health of oaks in new research project - Forest Research

www.forestresearch.gov.uk

8 6

Sylva Foundation @sylva.org.uk · May 8

We are delighted to celebrate a new collaboration with ercol which will result in an exhibition during London Craft Week at the ercol Chelsea store #furniture #art #craft #design #wood #London #sustainable
sylva.org.uk/ercol-x-sylv...

ercol x Sylva Foundation

We are delighted to celebrate a new collaboration with ercol which will result in an exhibition during London Craft Week at the ercol Chelsea store.

sylva.org.uk

2

Sylva Foundation @sylva.org.uk · May 8

This year marks 10 years since we founded the Sylva Foundation Wood Centre, home to the Sylva Wood School and a wonderful collection of woodworking small businesses. Come and visit us during Oxfordshire Artweeks 17/18 May: sylva.org.uk/sylva-wood-c... #furniture #trees #forestry #art #environment

Sylva Wood Centre taking part in Oxfordshire Artweeks 17th/18th May 2025

sylva.org.uk

1

Sylva Foundation @sylva.org.uk · Apr 25

We are delighted to announce a collaboration between Sylva Foundation and the Forestry Commission to support woodland creation across England. myForest now provides more information enabling users to consider the historic environment when developing their plans. tinyurl.com/2kkzet5m

Supporting woodland creation in myForest

We are delighted to announce a collaboration between Sylva Foundation and the Forestry Commission to support woodland creation across England. From today, myForest will provide access to more informat...

tinyurl.com

1 2

Sylva Foundation @sylva.org.uk · Mar 7

Congratulations to our Wood School Senior Tutor Phil Gullam on receiving the Master Certificate from The Furniture Makers Company! We are delighted Phil’s ongoing contribution to educating future generations of furniture makers has been recognised by the profession. sylva.org.uk/professional...

Professional recognition for senior tutor Phil Gullam

Congratulations to our Wood School Senior Tutor Phil Gullam on receiving the Master Certificate from The Furniture Makers Company!

sylva.org.uk

Sylva Foundation @sylva.org.uk · Jan 23

Want to join our community of wood based businesses at the Sylva Wood Centre? Our start-up bench spaces are designed to help establish new businesses, providing making space and access to machinery. Visit our blog for details:
sylva.org.uk/start-up-ben...

#wood #furniture #woodworking #woodcentre

Start-Up Bench Space available

We have a Start-Up bench space becoming available from 10th February. Apply now.

sylva.org.uk

1

Sylva Foundation @sylva.org.uk · Jan 17

Applications are open for our new 6-week workshop experience, as part of our Woodworking and Gender Project.
Offering hands-on training, technical skills, and support to build your confidence towards a career in furniture.

Full details on our blog.

Woodworking and Gender Project: 6-Week Workshop Experience

Ready to take your first steps into the furniture-making industry? This 6-week course offers hands-on training, technical skills, and the support you need to build your confidence and pursue a career ...

sylva.org.uk

1

Reposted by Sylva Foundation

Forest Research @forestresearchuk.bsky.social · Jan 7

💡 What does it take to select a new generation of Douglas fir trees that will be adapted to the British climate and have good timber properties?

🥾 We went to Mortimer Forest, where experimental trials were first set up over 30 years ago, to find out.

🔗 www.forestresearch.gov.uk/news/142575-...

Homegrown seed that will kickstart a new breeding generation of British Douglas Fir trees - Forest Research

www.forestresearch.gov.uk

1 4 4

Sylva Foundation @sylva.org.uk · Dec 5

We are really delighted to welcome Dr Eleanor Tew to our trustee board. Eleanor is currently Head of Forest Planning at Forestry England. sylva.org.uk/about-us/#ch... #charity #environment #trustees #forestry

Dr Eleanor Tew, Sylva Foundation trustee

2 12

Sylva Foundation @sylva.org.uk · Dec 4

Are you part of the woodworking or furniture-making industry: employer/employee/educator/student? If so, we want to hear from YOU! We have launched a national survey to help us deliver our Woodworking and Gender Project #furniture #woodworking #education #genderequality forms.gle/RZNxH1ZVxkb3...

Gender Equality in the UK Furniture Industry 2024

This survey is run by Sylva Foundation, an environmental and education charity. We are seeking to understand the current nature of gender equality in the UK furniture industry (primarily wood) from th...

forms.gle

1 2

Sylva Foundation @sylva.org.uk · Nov 29

We're excited to launch a new website for our Woodworking and Gender Project at the Sylva Wood School, made possible with funding from National Heritage Lottery and other wonderful supporters. Check it out here: gender-project.sylva.org.uk #wood #furniture #woodworking #equality #gender

The homepage of the new website for the Woodworking and Gender Project run by Sylva Foundation

2 4

Reposted by Sylva Foundation

Wildlife and Countryside Link @wclnews.bsky.social · Nov 27

The UK made a welcome commitment at COP29 to support nations including Indonesia to tackle deforestation🌳

But how do we make sure this (& older pledges) become real action for forests in the UK & globally?🌎

Read more👇

www.wcl.org.uk/cop-forest-p...

COP promises on forests must be delivered, at home and overseas

Lisa Manning, Policy Officer at Wildlife and Countryside Link reflects on the promises to limit deforestation made at COP29 and looks ahead to what the UK Government must do to ensure that this ambiti...

www.wcl.org.uk

1 3

Reposted by Sylva Foundation

Wildlife and Countryside Link @wclnews.bsky.social · Nov 15

Hello Bluesky👋

Wildlife and Countryside Link is the largest environment and wildlife coalition in England, bringing together 86 organisations for the protection of nature🌱

We'll be sharing news on environmental policy & how this can make a difference to people, wildlife & our cherished spaces🏘️

The Dorest coastline, with a natural causeway going out to sea

14 47

Reposted by Sylva Foundation

International Union of Forest Research Organizations - IUFRO @iufro.bsky.social · Nov 28

🥳 New #TreeMortality webinar with Paloma Ruiz Benito taking place on
🗓️3 December, 🕓4:00 pm CET

'Forest dynamics under global change: temporal perspectives with observational approaches'

Register here: ➡️https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ajd8RjAPSU-Ytx_tOkuPbw

#ForestScience #ForestResearch

3 7