In woods, thanks sweetheart providing anticipation (9)
I believe the answer is:
foretaste
'anticipation' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'in woods thanks sweetheart' is the wordplay.
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'woods' becomes 'forest' (synonyms).
'thanks' becomes 'ta' (UK informal version of 'thank you').
'sweetheart' becomes 'e' (the heart/centre of 'sweet').
'forest' placed around 'ta' is 'foretast'.
'foretast'+'e'='FORETASTE'
'providing' is the link.
(Other definitions for foretaste that I've seen before include "Appetiser" , "Preview" , "trailer" , "Sampler" , "Advance sample" .)