Sylva Foundation

Sylva Foundation is a United Kingdom environmental charity focused on trees, forests, forestry, and the wider social and economic value of wood. Established in 2006 by Sir Martin Wood and Dr Gabriel Hemery, the organization works as a national charity supporting sustainable forest management and encouraging better connections between woodland owners, researchers, educators, policymakers, craftspeople, and the public. It was registered as a charity in England and Wales in 2009 and with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator in 2010. The foundation's work is organized around four broad areas: Forestry, Education, Science, and Wood. In forestry, it supports woodland owners and managers through myForest, a web-based service intended to help users map, measure, and manage woodland resources. The service reflects Sylva's practical approach to sustainable forestry: combining accessible digital tools with knowledge-sharing and links among organizations involved in woodland management. The foundation also acts as a catalyst and intermediary, seeking to encourage innovation and cooperation across the forestry sector. Its science work is represented particularly by Forestry Horizons, a forestry think tank operating at national and international levels. Forestry Horizons aims to contribute to forest science and policy, including through the British Woodlands Survey series, a national survey of British woodlands undertaken with partner organizations. This work gives Sylva a role beyond direct land management by helping document woodland conditions, attitudes, and management challenges that can inform public discussion and policy. Education is another central part of the foundation's identity. Its OneOak project, launched in 2009, uses the life story of a single oak tree to explore woodland ecology, forestry, timber, craftsmanship, and the relationships between trees and people. The project provides an accessible way to connect scientific and environmental themes with the journey of wood from living tree to finished material. The foundation's work in wood became especially visible after it received 20 hectares of land near Long Wittenham in 2013. In 2016, Sylva moved its main office to the site and established the Sylva Wood Centre. The centre serves as a hub for small businesses and craftspeople who design, innovate, or make products in wood. It provides workspace, equipment, business units, and incubation-oriented facilities intended to support both established enterprises and emerging wood-related businesses. In 2017, the foundation created the Wittenhams Community Orchard and Future Forest on its land, adding a community and long-term landscape dimension to its activities. Sylva Foundation is associated institutionally with the charitable network established by Sir Martin Wood and Lady Audrey Wood. It is described as a sister charity of Earth Trust, formerly known as the Northmoor Trust, and the Oxford Trust. Rather than operating as a consumer brand, Sylva functions as a mission-led environmental organization whose public-facing identity is built around practical forestry support, research, education, community land projects, and the responsible use of wood.

Sylva Foundation was established in 2006 by Sir Martin Wood and Dr Gabriel Hemery as an organization concerned with trees, forests, and the sustainable use of woodland resources. Its institutional development followed a charitable model connected with other Oxfordshire-based initiatives associated with Sir Martin Wood and Lady Audrey Wood, including Earth Trust, formerly known as the Northmoor Trust, and the Oxford Trust. Sylva became a registered charity in England and Wales in 2009 and obtained registration with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator in 2010. The foundation developed a portfolio spanning four related fields: forestry, education, science, and wood. Its forestry work has included myForest, an online service designed to help woodland owners and managers map and measure their woods and organize management information. Through this and related activities, Sylva has sought to improve practical forest management while connecting landowners with wider forestry knowledge and sector networks. Its scientific and policy role is expressed through Forestry Horizons, a think tank intended to advance forest science and contribute to forest policy nationally and internationally. Sylva has also been involved as the lead partner in the British Woodlands Survey series, which gathers information about British woodlands and the people and organizations responsible for them. The survey work complements the foundation's practical programs by providing evidence about woodland conditions, management, and sector priorities. Education became a prominent part of the foundation's work with the launch of OneOak in 2009. The project follows the life and use of one oak tree to communicate ideas about ecology, forestry, timber, design, and craftsmanship. It presents forestry as a connected system rather than solely as a question of tree planting or timber production. A major change in the foundation's physical base occurred in 2013, when 20 hectares of land near Long Wittenham were gifted to the charity. In 2016, Sylva relocated its main office to the site and created the Sylva Wood Centre. The centre was conceived as a place for small businesses and craftspeople working with wood, offering workspace, equipment, business units, and support for business incubation. It broadened Sylva's role from forestry and education into the development of practical wood-based enterprise and craftsmanship. In 2017, Sylva established the Wittenhams Community Orchard and Future Forest on its land. This project added community participation, long-term landscape planning, and local environmental engagement to the organization's program. The Long Wittenham site consequently became a physical expression of the foundation's combined interests in trees, woodland futures, education, and the cultural and economic uses of wood. Sylva Foundation remains a United Kingdom environmental charity rather than a commercial product company. Its activities combine applied tools for woodland management, independent or collaborative forest research, public and educational engagement, and facilities for people developing wood-related businesses. Its work is primarily national in scope, while its forest-science and policy activities can operate in international contexts.

• 2017

  Wittenhams Community Orchard and Future Forest created

  [1]Sylva Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The foundation created a community orchard and future-forest project on its Long Wittenham land.

• 2016

  Sylva Wood Centre established

  [1]Sylva Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Sylva moved its main office to the gifted site and established the Sylva Wood Centre as a hub for wood-related businesses and craftspeople.

• 2013

  Land gifted near Long Wittenham

  [1]Sylva Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The charity received 20 hectares of land near Long Wittenham, Oxfordshire.

• 2010

  Registration in Scotland

  [1]Sylva Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Sylva Foundation registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.

• 2009

  Charity registration in England and Wales

  [1]Sylva Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The organization became a registered charity in England and Wales.

• 2009

  OneOak launched

  [1]Sylva Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Sylva launched OneOak, an educational project using the life story of one oak tree to explain forestry, ecology, timber, and woodcraft.

• 2006

  Foundation established

  [1]Sylva Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Sylva Foundation was established by Sir Martin Wood and Dr Gabriel Hemery to support trees, forestry, and sustainable woodland management.

A practical, knowledge-led forestry charity connecting sustainable woodland management, forest science, environmental education, and wood-sector innovation.

• Forestry management service

  myForest

  A web-based service supporting woodland owners and managers with tools for mapping and measuring their woods. It forms part of Sylva Foundation's practical effort to make forest-management information more accessible and to encourage better planning and collaboration across the British forestry sector.

• Forestry science and policy think tank

  Forestry Horizons

  Sylva's forestry think tank, operating at national and international levels to advance forest science and contribute to forest-policy discussion. Its activities include work connected with the British Woodlands Survey series and broader efforts to link research, evidence, and forestry practice.

• Environmental education project · 2009

  OneOak

  An educational project launched in 2009 that follows the story of a single oak tree. OneOak uses that tree's life and eventual uses to explain woodland ecology, sustainable forestry, timber production, design, and craftsmanship to a broad audience.

• Wood-sector enterprise and incubation centre · 2016

  Sylva Wood Centre

  A Long Wittenham hub for small businesses and craftspeople who design, innovate, or make in wood. The centre provides dedicated space, equipment, business units, and an environment intended to support both established wood-related enterprises and business incubation.

• 2017Wittenhams Community Orchard and Future Forest

  Long Wittenham · United Kingdom

  A land-based community and environmental project created on Sylva Foundation's Long Wittenham site, combining an orchard with longer-term future-forest planning.

  Outcome. Expanded the site's role as a community, educational, and long-term woodland resource.

  Source
• 2009OneOak

  United Kingdom

  An education and public-engagement project built around the life story of one oak tree, linking science, forestry, timber, and wood craftsmanship.

  Outcome. Established a recognizable educational framework for explaining the connections between trees, forest management, and wood products.

  Source

1. 1Sylva Foundationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Sylva Foundation official websitesylva.org.uk