The England Trees Action Plan 2021–2024 sets out the UK Government’s strategy for expanding, protecting and managing England’s trees, woodlands and forests as part of national efforts to address climate change, biodiversity decline and wider environmental goals. The Plan emphasises that tree cover must increase significantly and that woodland creation should be undertaken in line with the UK Forestry Standard to ensure environmental, social and economic benefits. It outlines the intention to treble woodland creation rates by 2025, supported by more than £500 million from the Nature for Climate Fund, and to move towards a long‑term target of at least 12% woodland cover by mid‑century. The Plan promotes a shift towards native broadleaf planting, while recognising the continued role of mixed and coniferous woodlands. It aims to ensure that new woodlands support carbon sequestration, nature recovery, water quality improvement, flood resilience and public access. The document also highlights the need to strengthen nursery capacity, grow the domestic forestry workforce, enhance woodland resilience to pests, diseases and climate impacts, and reform regulatory processes to enable effective and biosecure tree establishment. Existing woodlands, including ancient and long‑established sites, receive particular attention, with commitments to improve their ecological condition and expand protections. The plan further seeks to integrate trees into urban environments, farms, degraded land and community landscapes. It underscores the importance of private investment, natural capital markets, and long‑term monitoring to secure sustained woodland expansion and ensure that England’s treescapes contribute meaningfully to national environmental, economic and social objectives.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland · 2021-05-01