The scheme will add another 9,323 hectares of woodland across England between now and 2030.
The National Trust, the Woodland Trust, Community Forests and Community Forest Trust have announced a new partnership which will ‘supercharge’ the UK Government’s existing Trees for Climate programme.
An additional £260 million will be delivered to the scheme through Defra’s national Trees Programme, with the collaboration adding 9,323 hectares of woodland across England. The four organisations combined can offer local and national level expertise in nature recovery, neighbourhood re-wilding, biodiversity restoration and opening access to green spaces.
‘Trees for Climate has always been about more than simply getting trees in the ground; it’s about creating resilient landscapes that communities can enjoy for generations,’ said James Russell, Co-Chair of England’s Community Forests network and Director of the Forest of Marston Vale. ‘By joining forces with the National Trust, the Woodland Trust and the Community Forest Trust, we are pooling our expertise to ensure these woodlands deliver deep, lasting benefits for people, places, and planet.’
Over the past 12 months, Defra’s programme has added more than 2.5 million trees and 182,000 metres of hedgerow to England’s landscapes, with 2,325 hectares of land committed to woodland. This is thanks to the efforts of 23,000 local volunteers, alongside engagement from schools and land managers. Since inception, the scheme has added 10 million trees nationally, accounting for 35% of all tree planting funded by government since the beginning of this decade.
‘This next phase of Trees for Climate is an important moment for community forestry in England. By bringing together the local knowledge and trusted relationships of England’s Community Forests with the national reach of the National Trust and Woodland Trust, we can accelerate woodland creation where it is needed most and ensure new trees deliver lasting benefits for people and nature,’ said Claire Morgan, Chief Executive of the Community Forest Trust.
‘By joining the next chapter of Trees for Climate, the Woodland Trust will build on longstanding collaboration with England’s Community Forests, the National Trust, the Community Forest Trust and Defra,’ added Nick Sellwood, Programme Director, Northern Forest at the Woodland Trust. ‘This relationship has so far helped us to achieve many important projects and programmes, including the Northern Forest.’
Image: Noah Buscher / Unsplash
More on UK tree planting:
Woodland project could shape future tree-planting across the UK
The tree-planting campaign supporting community nature restoration