A woodland management social enterprise is moving its headquarters.

Living Woods CIC, which creates, cares for, and connects with woodlands across northern England, is relocating to Legion House in Beaufront Park, Hexham.

The not-for-profit community interest company will now oversee its operations from the new HQ, supervising hundreds of conservation volunteers.

Living Woods director, Mark Shipperlee, said: "Hexham is an ideal base for us.

"There’s a lot happening in this area.

"We are focusing on getting small woodlands into management as well as producing material to make products which can be sold in different markets to help to make this work sustainable."

Mr Shipperlee comes from a background in countryside management.

He is passionate about local, regional and global sustainability and resilience, and also about bringing woodlands back into sustainable management in the region.

The company works with land managers and communities to place 'the right tree, in the right place, for the right reason,' creating diverse, productive habitats for people and wildlife.

They look after existing woodland, working with managers and custodians to care sustainably for their woodlands and orchards.

They also run a project called Rekindle, producing sustainable local firewood, charcoal, and coppice products such as hurdles, besoms, and bows.

Mr Shipperlee, who has been based in the North East since 2003, noted that the new office's proximity to the Egger (UK) chipboard factory presents a significant opportunity.

He said: "There’s a lot of waste wood available in this area."

Living Woods operates coppicing and woodland management at its own site at Horsley Woods, further east along the Tyne Valley.

Volunteers join in tree planting days, orchard harvesting, seed growing, and apple grafting, along with coppice work and charcoal making.

Mr Shipperlee said: "We are always pleased to welcome new people onto the team.

"You can commit to as much or as little time as you wish.

"But there’s always a lovely atmosphere working in woodland."

The team recently worked with volunteers at Hagg Bank, near Prudhoe, protecting young saplings and learning tree identification skills.

For more information see living-woods.org.uk/what-we-do/