A new national forest for the UK
- caitlinduquemin
- Apr 14
- 2 min read
In promising news, 20 million trees will be planted and 2,500 hectares of new woodland created in west England, forming the first of three new national forests promised by the government, in order to help meet the UK's legal target of 16.5% woodland cover by 2050. With only 10% cover achieved so far, the aim is to plant 30,000 hectares of woodland each year - but this was not met in most recent figures, with only 21,000 hectares planted, with the vast majority of this in Scotland and only 5,500ha in England.
The Woodland Trust and Avon Trust both remarked on the significant progress made, but maintained that there was still a lot more work to be done, which relies on long term support from government funding. With £7.5m of public money committed to the Western Forest, covering Bristol, Swindon and Gloucester, the project will promote economic growth and create jobs in the region, as well as help the UKs ongoing drive towards net zero. Minister for Nature Mary Creagh noted that additional benefits include improving water quality, flood resilience and wildlife, as well as making nature more accessible for those living in the region.
The Western Forest will mark the first new national forest in 30 years in England since the original National Forest was created in Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire. Despite budget cuts, the next two planned national forests will be delivered by the end of this parliament alongside the exploration of other funding sources. Given that the UK is underforested compared to the rest of Europe and one of the most nature-depleted nations in the world, this is excellent news and a great move at a governmental level.
As the UK works toward achieving these ambitious woodland goals, understanding our individual impact and agency is just as crucial as what our governments do. Sign up for Carbon Literacy Training today, learn more about what we can do, and become a part of the solution. See the link to book here: Carbon Literacy Project - Guernsey Tickets, Tue 20 May 2025 at 09:00 | Eventbrite
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