FW Thorpe PLC has set out a clear, asset-backed approach to corporate carbon management: a new 146-acre woodland at Brook Farm in Herefordshire. Funded through the England Woodland Creation Offer, the scheme will plant 124,400 mixed broadleaf and conifer trees and deliver public access, flood risk reduction, nature recovery and, in time, timber. The Forestry Commission profiled the project in a case study published on 28 November 2025.

For a mid-cap manufacturer, this is practical ESG. The London-listed lighting group (ticker: TFW) has Science Based Targets initiative validated net-zero goals to 2040, while Thorlux has been carbon neutral since 2012 through reductions and verified afforestation offsets. Having Group Marketing Manager Kate Thorpe front the Herefordshire project keeps delivery inside the business rather than outsourcing the story.

EWCO matters for the numbers. The grant can cover standard capital items up to £10,200 per hectare, with optional additional contributions where projects deliver public benefits such as biodiversity, water quality or community access. There is also a £400 per hectare annual maintenance payment for 15 years and, where eligible, an extra £1,100 per hectare on low-sensitivity land. Combined, these features lower establishment risk and create predictable maintenance income in the early years.

EWCO also smooths the path into carbon markets. Registration with the Woodland Carbon Code before planting is encouraged and opens the door to the Woodland Carbon Guarantee, which provides a government-backed floor price for verified units sold at auction. Applicants can opt out of some additional contributions if they prefer to pursue private carbon finance, giving corporates flexibility over funding mix and future upside.

This is a risk management play as much as a climate one. Public access builds goodwill, woodland design supports flood mitigation along local watercourses, and a mixed species plan spreads exposure to pests and drought while supporting a future timber stream that can offset management costs later in the rotation.

Delivery is already visible. FW Thorpe reported that 82,000 saplings were planted in spring 2025 as phase one at Brook Farm, supported by an EWCO grant of up to £1.3 million. After an unusually dry summer, the company said around 75% of those saplings had survived, with replanting planned where needed - a reminder to budget for establishment risk and contingency watering.

For finance teams planning a similar move, timing matters. Aim to file EWCO applications by 31 May to secure an agreement for the next planting season, and allow roughly 12 to 20 weeks for a funding decision once a valid application is lodged. That window is tight but workable if surveys and stakeholder engagement are lined up early.

Brook Farm is being set up for community use as well as carbon and timber. FW Thorpe plans paths, signage and seating to open the site to visitors - the sort of visible benefit that customers and local residents recognise quickly. As the woodland matures, thinning and selective harvesting can provide modest timber income alongside verified carbon receipts.