Hill Holt Wood (HHW) is a 14 hectare deciduous woodland situated on the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire border. Its owners (Karen and Nigel Lowthrop) who bought the woodland in 1995 have developed a social enterprise that currently employs fourteen people including the owners themselves. The social enterprise primarily provides vocational training for young people (who have been excluded from school or are unemployed) and it has contracts for this with statutory agencies. Through the education and training provided HHW are able to address wider issues relating to youth crime, dysfunctional behaviour and educational exclusion.

Hill Holt Wood is a living wood with the founders living on site and plans for five eco-houses for employees has been submitted to North Kesteven District Council. This 'Living Wood' approach to woodland management attracts people to the site who may otherwise be concerned with accessing woodlands alone, such as women and families. The wood is used extensively by the local community and hosts a variety of social and educational activities.

The work being carried out at HHW while appearing to be unique as a whole package within England is relevant to a range of current national and regional issues. Policies focusing on education, health, youth justice, rural development social enterprise as well as direct woodland and countryside management are relevant to the work being carried out at HHW.

What is significantly different about HHW is that it is a small woodland in which a large number of people are being employed through income primarily generated by working with excluded, at risk or unemployed young people. HHW is situated in a rural location within a rural county. Over 67 per cent of businesses in Lincolnshire employ less than five people (Lincolnshire County Council, 2002). HHW is one of a relatively small number of businesses in the county employing over 10 people.