Frequently asked questions

Re-registration is required due to new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) guidelines that came into force on May 25 2018. We'd love to keep in touch with you about our news, appeals, campaigns, events, products and how you can get involved - re-registration makes sure we have the right details and the correct permission so that we can contact you in a way you wish us to.

Support from people like you makes a huge difference to our work helping woods and trees. We'd love to keep in touch with you about our news, appeals, campaigns, events, products and how you can get involved. We will keep your details safe and never sell them. Our online privacy statement explains all. However you can change the way you hear from us at any time – just email supporters@woodlandtrust.org.uk or call 0330 333 3300.

Yes (with the exception of personalised and perishable products), please visit our returns page to find out how.

Yes, please call 0330 333 3300 for telephone orders.

Unfortunately, recent changes to regulations mean we are currently unable to ship our trees and seeds to Northern Ireland. We are consulting with statutory bodies to try and resolve this issue and we will provide updates in due course. Please accept our apologies in the meantime.

More information on these guidelines can be found here

Though we have previously shipped to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, we no longer provide this service.

Unfortunately, we no longer accept postal orders. If you are unable to order online, is there a family member or friend you could ask to help you place an order?

We recommend you check our online shop for the most up-to-date products list and pricing information.

We usually issue and a Spring/Summer catalogue early March and an Autumn/Winter catalogue early September, this edition includes the Christmas range.

We will substitute stock if we are permanently out of stock or we expect the stock delivery to take more than 7 days to be delivered.

We hope you will be delighted with your purchase, but if not please return your goods within 30 days for a full refund to: Woodland Trust, Freepost, Admail 4126, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 6ZX.

Yes, you can. Return them within 30 days to Woodland Trust, Freepost, Admail 4126, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 6ZX.

Larger items are bulky and heavy so the standard postage charges will not cover the cost of sending these items.

Our online shop provides a way to dedicate woodland online. You can dedicate with a single donation by choosing the quarter acre, acre with bench, acre with a post or existing bench that you’re interested in. You can dedicate larger areas by selecting multiple quarter acres. These don’t have to be next to each other, but do have to be in the same grove.

Woodland dedications are available in many of our woods but because every wood is unique, not all dedications are available in all woods. The map shows all Woodland Trust woods that dedications are currently available in. Some woods have multiple groves for dedications so you are able to choose which grove as well.

Please note that on very rare occasions woods may become unavailable for dedication. We do apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. If this affects your choice, we will inform you as soon as possible and help you select an alternative wood.

Woodland dedications are only available in the designated woodland dedication groves. If you feel there is an area of the country where dedications should be available and they are currently not, please let us know.

Yes, the Woodland Trust offers a specific scheme for dedicating single trees in woodland sites around the UK.

We'll mark the quarter acre dedication on your detailed map which you will be able to use to find the dedicated area. No markers are placed within the woodland as we try to keep our sites as natural as possible.

All of our pre-installed benches are placed into one of three condition categories, which is then reflected in the dedication price. The three categories are: Excellent: As new; £2,000 Very Good: Some minor signs of wear; £1,750 Good: Visible signs of wear but still usable; £1,500. You will be made aware of a bench’s condition during the dedication process. Pre-installed benches are reviewed on an annual basis to ensure the stated condition is still correct.

The acre surrounding a pre-installed bench is not dedicated and will not be made available for dedication.

The acre surrounding a pre-installed bench is not available for dedication. If you would like to dedicate a bench and acre choose our bench and acre option.

New benches are only available for dedication with an acre. If you would like to dedicate a bench without an acre chose our pre-installed bench option. Pre-installed benches that are listed as being in excellent condition are almost as new.

Please note, new benches are crafted specifically for your dedication and normally take around 15 weeks to be installed in your chosen wood. Please be aware, our crafting and installation timescale has increased due to the current unprecedented circumstances. At this moment in time we are unable to confirm installation dates, but we will progress installations as soon as we are able, and will keep you updated on progress.

Please note, posts are crafted specifically for your dedication and normally take around 15 weeks to be installed in your chosen wood. Please be aware, our crafting and installation timescale has increased due to the current unprecedented circumstances. At this moment in time we are unable to confirm installation dates, but we will progress installations as soon as we are able, and will keep you updated on progress.

No. The woods we use for dedication purposes are already planted; indeed most of them are mature and we would not permit the planting of more trees. This is partly because we would be unable to nurture them in the vital first three years and also, spaces left in woods are usually left on purpose to provide meadows and grassy rides for both people and wildlife to enjoy and for natural regeneration. As many of our sites are ecologically fragile we also do not allow the planting of flowers or bulbs.

It is the Woodland Trust’s responsibility to ensure woods are maintained in a safe condition and where possible improve the structure for biodiversity and enhance their resilience. As part of this remit the Woodland Trust may have to carry out forestry works in woods available for dedications. We will endeavour to minimise the impact to dedicated areas wherever possible and ensure that any benches or posts will either be protected during operations or where these have to be removed will be well cared for and subsequently returned safely to the wood in the same location whenever possible.

The trees are already growing. Dedications are made available in woods of all ages but the majority of the woods available have trees aged from 10 years on.

The Woodland Trust already offers three choices of bench design in carefully selected woods at a price aimed to reflect the cost of both the bench and its installation, looking after the bench and the surrounding acre for the future, and maintaining the pathways leading to it. For this reason, and on safety grounds, we are unable to accept offers of benches or other furniture. As a conservation organisation our primary aim is to create new woodland and manage our existing woodland. In order to keep our woods as natural as possible we have to restrict the numbers of benches and grove posts, and at the same time raise funds to help us look after them and achieve our core aims.

If a dedicated bench or post is damaged within 10 years of installation so it is unusable we will replace it at our cost and inform you of such. If this happens 10 years after the installation date we will ask you for a donation to cover the cost of replacement. If you are unable, or do not wish to cover this cost the Woodland Trust reserves the right to remove furniture. We will return the plaque to you if wanted. If we do not hear from you, the plaque will be kept at our head office for a period of 1 year. Any areas that were dedicated alongside the bench or post will remain dedicated in perpetuity.

If a dedicated pre-installed bench is damaged to the point that it is unusable, we may replace it at our cost, depending on how many years have passed since the dedication was made. The associated time period varies depending on the condition of the bench at the time of dedication. The number of years (after date of dedication) for each grade are: Excellent: 8 years Very Good: 7 years Good: 6 years We will inform you should your bench be replaced. If your bench is damaged to the extent that is unusable outside of the above time periods, we will ask you for a donation to cover the cost of a replacement. If you are unable, or do not wish to cover this cost the Woodland Trust reserves the right to remove furniture. We will return the plaque to you if wanted - if not, we will keep it at our head office for a period of one year. Any areas that were dedicated alongside the bench will remain dedicated in perpetuity.

No, all dedications (including trees, benches and acre posts) are the property of the Woodland Trust. Any money paid by you is a donation and you do not own the dedication. Therefore no unauthorised customisation, modifications, repairs or removal may be undertaken on any dedications.

Woodland dedications are only available in woods currently shown on the online shop. All of our sites have been thoroughly reviewed for their dedications suitability. The woods made available for dedications have been selected based on the quality of visitor experience they provide and ease of access. We are making improvements across our sites and will potentially be making new woodlands available for dedication as soon as they are suitable.

Email certificates are sent as soon as you have submitted your online dedication, though due to circumstances beyond our control they may occasionally take several minutes or possibly even hours before they arrive in the recipient's inbox. If you or another intended recipient do not receive it, then please email us at dedications@woodlandtrust.org.uk or call us on 0330 333 3300 providing full details of your donation. A copy of your donation confirmation is always helpful.

The size of your email certificate depends on your printer settings. For best results we suggest printing as an A5 certificate.

All dedication donation packs are sent with free postage and packaging, but please be aware that any additional goods ordered alongside will be subject to our standard postage and packaging charges and may be dispatched separately.

We only print on the certificate the wording you enter for the dedication.

Please email us at dedications@woodlandtrust.org.uk or call us on 0330 333 3300 with your order details and tell us what you would like correcting. Regrettably we are unable to change any mistakes made on the personal message on the certificates.

Woodland Trust woods do not have a postal address as there is no building on the site. It is therefore not possible for us to provide this for you. We suggest using the nearest road name.

No, we do not put any signage on the roads giving directions. You will need to use the Ordnance Survey map and directions on the back of the wood information sheet that accompanies your certificate to help you locate the wood. You will see Woodland Trust signage on all gates and some entrances may also have Information Boards.

The Woodland Trust does not currently offer a woodland burial scheme. For details of local councils and other organisations that operate such schemes, you may wish to contact the Natural Death Centre which has a complete and regularly updated list of around 200 schemes available in the UK: The Natural Death Centre 12a Blackstock Mews Blackstock Road London N4 2BT Tel: 0871 288 2098 Email: contact@naturaldeath.org.uk www.naturaldeath.org.uk Otherwise, please contact your local authority direct.

We understand why people wish to scatter ashes in our beautiful woodland. Our woods are wonderful natural places for wildlife and people. We hope you understand and appreciate how important it is to protect our precious and vulnerable woodland. As the UK’s leading conservation organisation, our priority is to protect and enhance woodland habitats - many of which are delicate ecosystems, home to rare and vulnerable species. Ashes can change the soil chemistry and damage the fragile balance which is why we respectively ask that ashes are not scattered in ancient woodland or near ancient trees which are particularly sensitive and already under threat. We do have many lovely woodland sites which are not ancient and therefore less sensitive and we are happy for ashes to be scattered carefully in these. Please contact us and let us help you to find the right woodland for you. Phone: 0330 333 3300 Email: legacytrees@woodlandtrust.org.uk Post: Gifts in Wills Team, Woodland Trust, Kempton Way, Grantham, Lincs NG31 6LL. It would be very helpful if you could include the region or the name of the wood you are considering. We can then talk to our local colleagues who know our woods the best and we will come back to you with our recommendations within 2 weeks. We have also produced the following guidelines to help ensure that your chosen woodland continues to thrive naturally and be a beautiful resting place. We ask that you please scatter thinly over a wide area away from main pathways. Do not mark the ground in any way e.g. with flowers, crosses or large stones. Do not plant any bulbs/flowers or trees. Choose a quiet moment when fewer people are likely to be around. We do not charge for scattering of ashes and are very grateful to those who people kindly donate or choose to remember our work in their will. There are other ways to remember a loved one at our woods. We offer a range of personalised, lasting tributes through our Dedicate a Tree and Woodland Dedication options, as well as our in-memory urns and ash keepsake jewellery range. If you would like to discuss one of the products in our in-memory range or a dedication in memory of a friend or family member, then please feel free to contact us.

We apologise for the delay in progressing the fulfilment of your dedication, but due to our recent system outage we were unable to organise the manufacture and installation of benches and posts for a short time. The good news, however, is that we’re back on track and are working our way through these orders.

We will shortly be contacting all supporters who have an outstanding bench or post dedication, to reassure them that the fulfilment process is definitely on the move again. Once the bench or post has been installed, we will contact everyone again to confirm the dedication has been completed.

Email certificates are sent as soon as you have submitted your online dedication, though due to circumstances beyond our control they may occasionally take several minutes or possibly even hours before they arrive in the recipients inbox. If you or another intended recipient do not receive it, then please email us at dedications@woodlandtrust.org.uk or call us on 0330 333 3300 providing full details of your donation. A copy of your donation confirmation is always helpful.

The size of your email certificate depends on your printer settings. For best results we suggest printing as an A5 certificate.

We aim to dispatch postal Dedicate a Tree packs within 3 working days of receipt of donation by 2nd class post. Please note that occasionally, circumstances beyond our control could affect delivery times. If your dedication is time-sensitive, you may want to check the despatch date with our customer service team at the time of making your donation. We are unable to fulfil requests for same-day delivery.

All tree dedications are sent with free postage and packaging, but please be aware that any additional goods ordered alongside will be subject to our standard postage and packaging charges and may be dispatched separately.

We only print on the certificate the wording you enter for the dedication.

You can dedicate any number you wish, whether online through this shop, or over the phone by calling 0330 333 3300 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. If phoning, please have your words of dedication ready.

No, all the trees in each dedication are linked to one dedication, certificate, and wood. You will need to make three separate transactions for single tree dedications if you require separate certificates.

We have a wide selection of woods which are advertised in our current leaflet and on our online shop. Areas for dedication include both recently planted and mature woodlands. Some Woodland Trust woods have multiple tree dedications groves in which you can choose to dedicate trees.

No, tree dedications are only available in the designated tree dedication groves.

In order to keep our woods as natural as possible, trees are not marked or labelled in any way, nor is the area of dedication marked on the ground. However, we provide wood information sheets for each of our specially selected dedications woods, and these include a map of the wood showing the area where the trees are dedicated.

No, in order to keep our woods as natural as possible we do not mark the individual trees therefore it is not possible to be specific with regard to the species of tree dedicated for you. Our woods contain a wide variety of native broadleaf trees and the grove descriptions may give you further detail about the species within. With your certificate you will also receive a wood information sheet for your selected wood that will detail some of the species planted.

It is the Woodland Trust’s responsibility to ensure woods are maintained in a safe condition and where possible improve the structure for biodiversity and enhance their resilience. As part of this remit the Woodland Trust may have to carry out forestry works in woods available for dedications. We will endeavour to minimise the impact to dedicated areas wherever possible.

Yes, Woodland Trust woods are open free of charge for the public to enjoy.

We understand why people wish to scatter ashes in our beautiful woodland. Our woods are wonderful natural places for wildlife and people. We hope you understand and appreciate how important it is to protect our precious and vulnerable woodland. As the UK’s leading conservation organisation, our priority is to protect and enhance woodland habitats - many of which are delicate ecosystems, home to rare and vulnerable species. Ashes can change the soil chemistry and damage the fragile balance which is why we respectively ask that ashes are not scattered in ancient woodland or near ancient trees which are particularly sensitive and already under threat. We do have many lovely woodland sites which are not ancient and therefore less sensitive and we are happy for ashes to be scattered carefully in these. Please contact us and let us help you to find the right woodland for you. Phone: 0330 333 3300 Email: legacytrees@woodlandtrust.org.uk Post: Gifts in Wills Team, Woodland Trust, Kempton Way, Grantham, Lincs NG31 6LL. It would be very helpful if you could include the region or the name of the wood you are considering. We can then talk to our local colleagues who know our woods the best and we will come back to you with our recommendations within 2 weeks. We have also produced the following guidelines to help ensure that your chosen woodland continues to thrive naturally and be a beautiful resting place. We ask that you please scatter thinly over a wide area away from main pathways. Do not mark the ground in any way e.g. with flowers, crosses or large stones. Do not plant any bulbs/flowers or trees. Choose a quiet moment when fewer people are likely to be around. We do not charge for scattering of ashes and are very grateful to those who people kindly donate or choose to remember our work in their will. There are other ways to remember a loved one at our woods. We offer a range of personalised, lasting tributes through our Dedicate a Tree and Woodland Dedication options, as well as our in-memory urns and ash keepsake jewellery range. If you would like to discuss one of the products in our in-memory range or a dedication in memory of a friend or family member, then please feel free to contact us.

Trees are only available to be dedicated in woods currently shown on the webshop.

Please contact our team on dedications@woodlandtrust.org.uk or 0330 333 3300 with your query and order details and they will advise if they are able to help. Regrettably we are unable to change any mistakes made on the personal message on the certificates.

Woodland Trust woods do not have postal address as there is no building on the site. It is therefore not possible for us to provide this for you. We suggest using the nearest road name from the map provided.

No we do not put any signage on the roads giving directions. You will need to use the Ordnance Survey map and directions on the back of the wood information sheet that accompanies your certificate to help you locate the wood. You will see Woodland Trust signage on all gates and some entrances may also have Information Boards.

The biodegradable urn is designed specifically for planting with a sapling to create a lasting memorial. As it starts to biodegrade, the ashes combine with the fertile soil and the urn’s organic compounds. This generates nutrition for the tree allowing it to grow.

You may bury the urn on any land that is owned by you but we do not permit urns to be buried on Woodland Trust land. You may be allowed to bury the urn in cemeteries – please contact the cemetery owner for permission. Any soil type will suit the urn. Essentially, the soil type must be suited to the tree species and the same soil must be used both inside and outside the urn along with the ashes.

Urns cannot be buried on Woodland Trust land. In order to protect and maintain the natural state of our woods we do not allow anything to be permanently installed in our woods without prior Woodland Trust approval. This includes the burial of urns.

If you would like to bury the urn on other privately-owned land, please contact the land owner directly.

You can buy the urn at any time. However, the best time to plant trees is mid-November to late-March in most of the UK, depending on the season. In higher and more northern climes, you may be able to plant into May. We plant in winter because this is when the tree roots are dormant and most able to cope with being moved. The urn can also be used to start new tree life inside a conservatory during the colder months.

Arrange to plant the urn within 12 months of purchase but store the urn correctly in a cool, dry environment and leave the urn within its packaging. The urn will start to degrade almost immediately after burial. The period of time that it takes to completely biodegrade is between 3 weeks and 3 months as this depends on the moisture content on the soil. If it is planted in desert conditions it will take several months.

The urns are made from binding plant organic substrate, fibre, golden sand and plant extracts. They are 100% biodegradable and are processed in such a way that any potentially environmentally harmful material is destroyed.

The jewellery pieces are made from sterling silver, with gold and glass diamanté embellishments on some pieces.

The urns are manufactured in Spain and the jewellery is manufactured in Sri Lanka. All products have passed the Woodland Trust risk assessment procedure to ensure ethical supply and manufacture.

Some funeral directors may have these urns available to buy. If you would like to know if your funeral director carries these products, or would like to suggest they do, please contact them directly.

We recommend against transferring the ashes to the urn yourself. This should be carried out by a funeral professional. We are unable to recommend individual professionals to do this.

Yes, instructions are included with each item, but we do not recommend transferring the ashes yourself. This should be carried out by a funeral professional.

The urns are designed to hold one person’s ashes only.

You may be able to fit more than one pet’s ashes into a large urn, but recommend against this.

Unfortunately we are unable to offer personalised or bespoke urns or jewellery.

We would be very grateful if you wish to include an urn in your will. For more information and to discuss this further, please contact our Support Services team.

Yes. These urns have been cleared by customs in Spain, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, France and Australia. If you are thinking of transporting an urn to any of these countries or any others, please contact us first. The urn will pass through any airport x-ray system well as it is made of natural substances. If you are transporting this to out of the UK with the ashes inside, we recommend that it travels with you as hand luggage. It must travel with at least the Certificate of Cremation and perhaps also the Death Certificate. It is always best to contact the airline concerned to notify them that you are travelling with the urn in order to make sure that you abide by additional requirements. Unfortunately we do not offer international shipping for urn purchases.