Tom’s Wood lies just outside the village of Foston in North Yorkshire. Planted in 2020 as a transition away from arable farming, the woodland is already playing a vital role in enhancing local biodiversity and improving habitat connectivity by joining up with neighbouring woodland areas.

The project was developed with a clear vision: to create a native woodland that not only locks up carbon but also looks beautiful, supports wildlife, protects soils, and makes a meaningful contribution to climate mitigation. Species were carefully selected to reflect local ecology, while buffer zones were left intact to protect nearby watercourses and maintain natural hydrological processes.

As heavy rainfall events become more frequent, the woodland’s dense canopy and root systems help reduce erosion and improve water retention across the site. It also strengthens ecological networks, offering new shelter and foraging opportunities for local species, from birds and pollinators to mammals.

According to our Woodland Carbon Code-validated calculations, Tom’s Wood is expected to sequester 14,114 tonnes of CO₂ over 100 years. Crucially, the carbon finance generated made the transition from marginal agricultural land financially viable and enabled the project to go ahead.

This woodland highlights how carbon-backed projects can support land use change that benefits both nature and climate. Our thanks go to everyone who supported Tom’s Wood and helped bring this vision to life.