Using Woodland Trust sites and data for research

Researchers may request access to our extensive portfolio of sites and existing citizen science datasets to include in their research proposals when applying for grant funding through our conservation research programme.

It is not however a pre-requisite to use Woodland Trust data or sites in your research.

If you wish to include the use of Woodland Trust sites or data in your research, you must contact us in advance of submitting your grant application. Proposed activities on our sites or using our data must be granted as feasible by the appropriate Woodland Trust colleague. This feasibility approval must be stated on your grant application form (in response to question 3k: ‘Woodland Trust Resource Requirements’).

Please ensure your access request is clear and specific.

How to request access to Woodland Trust citizen science data for research

We harness the efforts of dedicated volunteers to gather data on woods, trees and wildlife throughout the UK.

Nature's Calendar

Nature’s Calendar records provide scientists with crucial evidence about the effects of climate change on the timing of natural events, such as dates of budburst or dates of migrant bird arrival. The Nature’s Calendar website gives further information on the data available to researchers and on how to contact the team for access requests. Nature's Calendar is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Ancient Tree Inventory

The Ancient Tree Inventory maps the oldest and most important trees in the UK. Visit the Ancient Tree Inventory website for more information and to request access to the data using their contact form.

How to request access to Woodland Trust sites for research

The Woodland Trust owns more than 1,000 sites across the UK, covering tens of thousands of hectares. These sites are available for landscape-scale research or fieldwork if required. All our sites have a management plan, containing further information about the site, which are freely accessible via our visiting woods pages. Please refer to the site management plan before requesting specific research permissions on a specified site to research@woodlandtrust.org.uk.