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Our story
Forest Carbon was founded on a pioneering spirit, a willingness to test new ideas, and the grit to keep going when others said it couldn’t be done. Twenty years on, having helped shape the UK’s voluntary carbon market at every critical juncture, we’re still guided by those same values. This is our story.
Back in 2006, the UK voluntary carbon market for nature-based solutions barely existed. There were no standards, no independent accreditors, and carbon purchases were far from mainstream. In fact, the first woodland carbon purchase contract we signed was likely the first of its kind in the UK.
The business itself grew out of an MBA dissertation, co-created by our founders, which explored whether carbon finance could support woodland creation in the UK. With early partners like Marks & Spencer, we proved it could work and that it could drive new tree planting at scale.
From there, we joined the steering group that created the Woodland Carbon Code, later doing the same with the Peatland Code, and managed the pilot projects that helped each standard take root.
The journey has had its share of sleepless nights, as breaking new ground often does. But there have been many highlights too: James’ OBE, becoming an employee-owned business, and the quieter moments when we consider the tally of trees planted or peatlands restored.
What has never changed is our approach: collaborative, practical, and rooted in the belief that the best way to make progress for nature is simply to get on with it.
“Forest Carbon has always believed in building a proper, functioning market to channel funding into nature; we’ve always widely and freely shared our opinions, knowledge, and advice with anyone working alongside us. Our mission, in this sense, has always been to support the delivery of nature restoration at scale across the UK and beyond.”
Forest Carbon through the ages
Steve's MBA Dissertation
This story starts with our founders, James and Steve, and a well-timed coincidence. James, then Director of a tree nursery, proposed a question to the Durham Business School MBA programme: could a carbon market for UK woodlands work? Steve picked it up, dug into how a voluntary carbon market might function, and the two soon found themselves exploring the idea in earnest.
The Handshake
Their first pitch to generate funding for a pilot woodland carbon project was to Marks & Spencer, and resulted in a purchase order. Equally surprised and buoyed, they shook hands at Paddington Station and decided to give it a proper go. Forest Carbon was born, and they got to work adapting international best practices to UK conditions and building a credible market for woodland carbon from the ground up.
Lacking Assurance
With over 40 woodlands and 800 hectares planted alongside early partners like Marks & Spencer and the Green Insurance Company, Forest Carbon’s work was gaining momentum. But it lacked a formal standard. So we joined forces with others to push for a UK woodland carbon code — something credible, transparent, and backed by government — to give confidence to buyers and legitimacy to the projects.
Building a Market
After two more years of development and pilot projects, the Forestry Commission launched the first version of the Woodland Carbon Code. Forest Carbon had been closely involved throughout, with Steve serving on the advisory board for the next 12 years. The Code gave the market a solid foundation: independent verification, clear rules, and public transparency.
The First of Firsts
Milton of Mathers, funded by the Green Insurance Company, became the first Forest Carbon project to be validated under the Woodland Carbon Code. It also happened to be the Code’s first-ever validation. A milestone for both the project, the standard and Forest Carbon!
Recognising Peatlands
With the Woodland Carbon Code up and running, attention turned to another vital, carbon-rich habitat: peatland. Between 2013 and 2015, we worked with Defra and other partners to build the business case for a Peatland Code, contributing through early project pilots and a seat on the Advisory Board.
Validating Peatland Restoration
Dryhope became the first peatland restoration project to be validated under the Peatland Code. Developed in partnership with Tweed Forum, it was piloted through the process by George, Forest Carbon’s third team member.
The Carbon Club
As interest in UK woodland and peatland projects grew, and terms like “carbon neutrality” started to gain traction, we found ourselves inundated with enquiries from individuals and small businesses. To make their support count, we launched the Carbon Club: a way to pool smaller contributions into something big enough to fund meaningful projects.
A Growing Market
Whether driven by rising climate awareness or looming regulation, interest in the UK voluntary carbon market surged. By this time, Forest Carbon had supported over 180 new UK woodlands, planting 10 million trees across an area the size of Manhattan, plus more in Ireland and internationally. We often covered project costs upfront, without knowing if credits would sell. That year, with a sharp rise in demand, the risk began to pay off.
Deserved Recognition
James received an OBE for “Services to Forestry and the Environment in Scotland.” By then, he had spent over 30 years in forestry and woodland carbon, co-founding Confor, contributing to the original carbon calculations for the Woodland Carbon Code, and shaping the early Peatland Code. He served as President of the Royal Scottish Forestry Society, chaired the River Tweed Forum, and in 2016 was made an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Foresters.
Also, at the end of 2023, Forest Carbon became an employee-owned business through an employee ownership trust.
Funding Nature+
Now a team of eight, we launched the Nature+ sponsorship model to support smaller projects that can’t justify the cost of WCC certification. These sites often struggle to get off the ground, despite strong potential for biodiversity. Nature+ gives them a chance, making it possible to restore even small pockets of unproductive land across the UK. We also won Sustainable Consultancy of the Year at the Sustainability Awards in 2024!