07/09/2026
Trees, woodlands and forests influence how water is captured, stored and released.
When rain falls on a woodland, trees intercept much of it before it ever reaches the soil. What does reach the ground tends to soak in rather than run off the surface, partly because tree roots loosen the soil and create channels for water to pe*****te.
Tree roots also anchor the soil and reduce erosion. From there, water makes its way back to the atmosphere through evapotranspiration, which is the combined process of evaporation from the soil surface and the moisture plants draw up and release through their leaves.
As a result, woodland creation and management play an important role in determining both water quantity and water quality across an entire catchment (the area of land where all surface water collects and drains to a single outlet).
The UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) places safeguarding the water environment at the heart of sustainable forest management. It recognises forest systems as integral parts of integrated catchment management, where land use must balance environmental protection with social and economic objectives.
In his recent blog, Chris Waterfield, our Carbon and Water Advisor, explains more about how you can apply UK Forestry Standards to create and manage woodlands to improve flood alleviation, water quality and aquatic habitats. Read it now: https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/2026/08/24/forests-for-water-applying-the-uk-forestry-standard-in-practice/
(Image shows an engineered willow logjam forming a living leaky woody dam for natural flood management.)
