Natural Play: how can we enable children to benefit from nature?

There is increasing evidence that contact with nature provides a wide variety of benefits for children. These include physical, mental and social well-being benefits as well as a wide range of learning opportunities and the chance to develop an interest in and understanding of nature. At the same time, there is increasing global concern that […]

Community based forest enterprises in Britain: Two organising typologies

Business and enterprise models in community based forest enterprises in Britain In a paper published in the journal Forest Policy and Economics, Forest Research social scientists, Bianca Ambrose-Oji, Anna Lawrence and Amy Stewart, examine diverse community-based and social enterprise business models by using a systematic framework to organise evidence from 33 case studies across Wales, Scotland […]

Comparing the Costs and Revenues of Transformation to Continuous Cover Forestry for Sitka Spruce in Great Britain

Paper examines the economics of transforming a stand of Sitka spruce to Continuous Cover Forestry Recently continuous cover forestry (CCF) has become an accepted approach to forest management in Britain, but uncertainty about its economic consequences may be a barrier to its wider use. A study was carried out to examine the costs and revenues of […]

Forests as places of mental well-being for people with dementia

This Research Note is based on a PhD research study ‘Forests as places of mental well-being: the meaning and use of urban forests by people with early-stage dementia’. The study examines and develops ways for people with dementia (especially those in the early stages) to engage with nature, and with other people, in the context […]

Behavioural policy ‘nudges’ to encourage woodland creation for climate change mitigation

Evidence indicates that woodland creation is generally a cost-effective method of climate change mitigation, when compared with a range of alternatives. However, engaging landowners and land managers in woodland creation schemes can sometimes prove difficult, and this affects prospects for meeting national woodland planting targets and associated climate change mitigation objectives. Although reluctance to plant […]

We have stopped moving: Tackling physical inactivity – a role for the Public Forest Estate in England?

This briefing note outlines evidence on the role of the Public Forest Estate in helping to tackle physical inactivity. It draws on research into the health benefits of forests and also greenspace and green infrastructure in which trees are often an important or key component. It argues that the Public Forest Estate in England is […]

The Woodland Workout – Teachers’ Guide

The original Woodland Workout was a Forest Education Initiative project supported by Forestry Commission Scotland. The resource was developed by four teachers. The aim of the project was to produce a resource that could easily be used by teachers and enable them to offer a wide range of outdoor activities and exercises to their pupils. The activities […]

Tree Stories – a learning resource

The Tree Stories were created over a year and inspired by Highland Perthshire’s beautiful fauna and flora. Each story was created during the month with which its tree is linked in folklore.

WIAT Evaluation

Legacy socio-economic research relating to: Evaluation and appraisal WIAT Evaluation (PDF-233 KB) Access our current and recent socio-economic research.

Central Scotland Green Network 2010 Forestry Baseline Survey

Legacy socio-economic research relating to: Evaluation and appraisal FR_Edwards_CSGN_2010_Survey_Summary_2014.pdf (PDF-142 KB) Access our current and recent socio-economic research.

Policy ‘nudges’ to encourage woodland creation

Legacy socio-economic research relating to: Economic research Policy ‘nudges’ to encourage woodland creation (PDF-174 KB) Access our current and recent socio-economic research.

Behavioural Economics review

Legacy socio-economic research relating to: Economic research Behavioural Economics review (PDF-116 KB) Access our current and recent socio-economic research.