FW Thorpe PLC has backed a new 146-acre woodland at Brook Farm in Herefordshire, planting 124,400 mixed broadleaf and conifer trees as part of the company’s carbon strategy. Supported by the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO), the project has been profiled by the UK Government as a case study and is designed to deliver more than carbon figures alone: public access, reduced flood risk and nature recovery are built into the brief.

Kate Thorpe of FW Thorpe says the aim is to cut emissions inside the business first and then invest in credible nature projects for the residuals. Locating the woodland in the UK keeps the benefits local and visible, turning an accounting line into a living site that employees, neighbours and schools can visit.

The planting design prioritises resilience. A diverse mix of broadleaves creates layered habitat for birds and pollinators, while carefully selected conifers provide year-round structure and a future timber crop. This mirrors Forestry Commission guidance on spreading risk from pests, diseases and drought as the climate warms, without sacrificing biodiversity.

Public access is central to the design. As paths establish alongside young trees, Brook Farm shifts from ‘corporate offset’ to shared community space. For Herefordshire, where outdoor access supports wellbeing and tourism, that civic value is as tangible as any carbon metric.

Flood mitigation is a key co-benefit. Tree roots bind soils, leaf litter increases infiltration and canopy cover slows surface run-off. Environment Agency research indicates these natural processes can help lower peak flows when deployed across a catchment, complementing hard defences rather than attempting to replace them.

The timber element is intentionally modest and long-term. Sensitive thinning and selective harvesting can supply local markets, storing carbon in long-lived products and generating income to fund careful management. Done well, that creates a self-sustaining cycle in which the woodland pays its way while biodiversity strengthens.

Nature recovery depends on connected habitats as much as hectares planted. By stitching new woodland into existing hedgerows and field margins, Brook Farm can create corridors for wildlife to move and feed. Natural England’s local nature recovery priorities emphasise this kind of joined-up habitat as a practical route to reversing species declines.

EWCO provides the capital spark, but success rests on decades of stewardship. Establishment care, protection from browsing, replanting any failures and proactive drought planning are the unglamorous essentials that lock in permanence. Transparent reporting helps communities see progress and holds everyone to the original promise.

For other firms, the blueprint is clear. Tackle operational emissions first, then invest in high-quality, UK-based woodland that delivers community access and biodiversity alongside carbon. In practice, that means working to Forestry Commission standards and using recognised UK frameworks such as the Woodland Carbon Code to account for sequestration without over-claiming.

Brook Farm is not a silver bullet; it is a serious piece of a wider plan. With 146 acres and 124,400 trees underway, FW Thorpe has chosen a route that pairs climate action with public benefit. If more corporate strategies looked like this - local, transparent and built for the long term - England’s net zero and nature goals would both move faster.