UK Forest Market Report 2020

The forestry market has had an ‘astonishing year’ with competitive bidding seeing average values rise significantly and the total value of the forestry investment market reach record levels, according to the latest edition of the UK Forest Market Report.

The 22nd edition of the annual report, produced by

John Clegg & Co and Tilhill, highlights that the forestry and woodland sector has a very positive outlook.

It is an investment which over many successive years has steadily outperformed many other asset classes and one which has a key role to play as we move to a low carbon economy.

The report shows that in 2020 a total of £200.18m of forestry properties traded, the highest value traded on record, with the average cost of a forest property more than doubling from £1.56m in 2019 to £3.28m in 2020.

Key findings:

• 39% increase in forestry values from £11,749 per stocked hectare in 2019 to £15,962 per stocked hectare in 2020
• 58% increase in total value of forestry market from £126.5m in 2019 to £200.18m in 2020
• 16,595 ha (gross) of forestry traded in 2020 (61 forests)
• Increase in average size of a property sold from 136ha in 2019 to 206ha this year
• Scotland provided largest share of commercial forest market at 69% by value
• England shows welcome increase in planting with 2,330ha, up from 1,420ha last year
• Wales planted 80ha, the lowest annual figure seen in 50 years.

The report also includes:

• An article by Ece Özdemiroğlu, founding director of eftec, on how to measure and value the natural capital benefits of forestry
• Guest contribution from Sir William Worsley, chairman of the Forestry Commission.

John Clegg & Co is the forestry division of Strutt & Parker. We can help with selling and buying forestry and woodland, forestry management, valuations and offer independent asset management advice. Visit the John Clegg & Co for further details.

Watch a recording of The Forest Market Report 2020 launch, which includes presentations from Ece Ozdemiroglu, founder of the Economics for the Environment Consultancy (EFTEC), Confor Chief Executive Stuart Goodall and Sir William Worsley