Small & Farm Woodland of the Year Award 2025
Congratulations to Gold winner Moreton Woods and to Silver winner Devereux Wootton Farm.
Sponsored by FSC, the Small & Farm Woodland of The Year 2025 recognises and rewards smaller woods which have been actively managed in the last ten years, and is aimed principally at the hands-on woodland owner, including farmers.
Gold winner: Moreton Woods
"A deep understanding of the woodland eco-system, intelligent marketing, great out-reach work and sheer hard graft crown Joanna and Paul’s management of this woodland and make them worthy winners of this year’s award."
Moreton Wood claimed the top prize in the FSC-sponsored Small and Farm Woodlands category, where Joanna Callaghan and Paul Morton’s 16-hectare operation shows how sustainability and profitability can thrive together.
Twenty years of dedication have produced a zero-waste, fully utilised, self-sustaining woodland. Their mixed coppice rotation produces charcoal, firewood, faggots, hurdle rods, hedging materials and construction timber. These products are all processed on-site with a mobile mill and are sold locally thanks to Joanna’s intelligent approach to marketing and extensive network.
“We are passionate about woodland management and biodiversity,” said Joanna. “We have worked really hard for over 20 years to restore Moreton Wood and have loved every minute of it, despite the challenging nature of this type of work. It is so great to have this work acknowledged and celebrated by such a well-respected organisation.”
The operation’s educational outreach ranges from school visits to hosting forestry trainees. Paul and Joanna’s hands-on approach proves that smart management and hard work are key to a thriving woodland business.
Silver winners: Devereux Wootton Farm
Silver went to Devereux Wootton Farm, where Patrick Wrixon has added ten new plantations to his farm. Judges commended the well-established woodlands of birch, alder, cherry and oak which were carefully designed to blend with the landscape while providing important benefits to the local community.
“I am not a forester, but I am a farmer who loves trees and so I am equally surprised and delighted to receive this award,” said Patrick. “My prime reason for entering the competition was to highlight and promote the benefits of one of the alternative uses of woodland, namely the therapeutic value of the woodland environment to those suffering from mental trauma of some kind.”
Patrick Wrixon was another owner who has opened his Devereaux Wootton woodland for educational uses and is keen for his farm woodlands to be enjoyed by the wider community.
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