Further growth at UK’s largest forest management company
The UK’s largest forest management company has recorded a significant rise in profits and turnover after expanding the group through a significant acquisition.
Scottish Woodlands Ltd, headquartered in Riccarton, Edinburgh, reported turnover of £143.74 million for the year ending 30th September 2025, up from £118.16m the previous year. Operating profit was £5.99 million, up from £4.54m.
The company is involved in a wide range of forestry operations, from tree planting to timber harvesting, and also has a strong utilities and infrastructure team.
Managing Director Ian Robinson said: “While the results include the impact of acquiring RTS Forestry, the underlying performance of the parent company was very strong.”
RTS Forestry, headquartered in Crieff, Perthshire and with offices in Inverurie, Inverness and Hexham, Northumberland, was acquired in December 2024. The headcount of the combined business after the acquisition, is now over 280 - with staff based in 19 Scottish Woodlands offices across Scotland, as well as Northern Ireland, England and Wales. The company trades as Flintshire Woodlands in Wales and parts of the west of England.
The company is 80% owned by its employees (and 20% by sawmiller James Jones & Sons) and has run its own successful Graduate Development Programme for the last decade to address industry skills challenges.
Mr Robinson said: “We’ve continued to grow our own future leaders through the highly successful graduate programme, which has brought some fantastic new talent into all areas of the business."
“We have seen some difficult market conditions but shown great strength and resilience across what is now a highly diversified company.”
Mr Robinson said the Utilities and Infrastructure division - which includes woodland clearance from wind farm sites - continued to expand. He added: “Our bespoke service allows us to deliver complex projects on time and to budget. The division works very closely with regional forestry teams on timber marketing and compensatory planting, helping to develop stronger work programmes in all operational areas.”
The work of the projects team was highlighted in this recent video showcasing the company’s collaboration with Fred Olsen Renewables on the Windy Standard III project in Dumfries & Galloway. Another video shows the experience of new graduates coming into the business.
In 2025 Scottish Woodlands planted 2750 hectares of new woodland in Scotland, one-third of the total planted. Whilst the total area planted in Scotland in 2026 is expected to be down Scottish Woodlands expect to plant a similar proportion.
Mr Robinson said: “New woodland creation in Scotland is challenging at present, and we are working with industry body Confor to try to remove some of the barriers to greater woodland creation - which is vital to hit a range of policy targets on climate change, housebuilding and more."
“The diversified nature of the business means we have seen continued strong performance - and we expect this to be enhanced with the wide-ranging and complementary services that RTS brings to the group, especially its industry-leading wood-fuel business and infrastructure team.”
The strategic report released with the annual results says: “The company is well-placed to not only meet the requirements of improving markets and increasing demand, but also to deliver new productive forests, which are greatly needed to reduce the UK reliance on imported timber.”
For more information, please contact David Lee, PA Cooperative, on 07802 206695, or david@pacoop.co.uk.
The attached pictures show….
Eoghan Anderson’s winning picture in the annual Scottish Woodlands staff photography competition for an atmospheric shot of Glenforsa forest, Mull.
Three of Scottish Woodlands recent graduates, Amauta Halvorsen, Yolanda Piotrowicz, and Lewis Taylor.