GEORGE Eustice MP and Lord Zac Goldsmith recently received a letter from local authorities (supported by Friends of the Earth) calling for more ambition, and more funding, for woodland creation from central government.

Councillors in Bristol, Hackney, North Somerset, Lancaster, Wirral, and Oxford have written to demand that the upcoming English Trees Strategy includes a target for doubling tree cover in England. Councils are also calling for more local funding to help deliver this ambition.

Danny Gross, trees campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: “England is severely lacking in one of the biggest natural allies in the fight against climate breakdown - trees. Forward-thinking local authorities are leading the way in growing and maintaining new woodland, but where’s the support from government?

“At the moment the government stands to miss even its own scant manifesto commitment on trees. The upcoming English Tree Strategy is a big opportunity to turn this around – it must focus on boosting spending on trees in England. We know that England has the land to double tree cover, it’s just the political will that’s lacking.”

At least nine councils have set targets to double local tree cover, including Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, Cherwell, Hackney, Leeds, Oxford, South Gloucestershire, Wigan and Wirral. Many other councils would like to do the same but are hindered by a lack of financial incentives.

The letter reads:

Dear George Eustice MP and Lord Zac Goldsmith, 

We are writing on behalf of local authorities to ask you to set a target of doubling tree cover in the English Tree Strategy and announce more funding for councils to help deliver this ambition. 

At least nine councils have set targets to double local tree cover, including Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, Cherwell, Hackney, Leeds, Oxford, South Gloucestershire, Wigan and Wirral. Many other councils would like to do the same but are hindered by a lack of financial incentives.

Woodland cover in the UK is 13% of land area, compared to an EU average of 38%. Doubling woodland cover is both feasible and necessary to reach net zero emissions as early as possible.

Public concern about climate breakdown is higher than ever. Our councils are determined to tackle the climate and ecological crisis by helping to reforest the UK, but we cannot do this alone.

Currently, there is not enough Government funding for local authorities and other landowners to grow trees and woodlands. In 2018-19, only £20.5 million was spent on woodland grants in England, compared to over £50 million in Scotland. Also, there are no agroforestry grants available in England. County farms represent a big opportunity for local authorities to grow trees on their own land, but due to financial pressures, their extent has halved over the last 40 years.

To encourage landowners to grow trees and woodlands, the English Tree Strategy should guarantee that the upcoming Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMs) will provide much more funding for trees and woodlands, reflecting the many public benefits they provide. To be effective, this funding must compensate landowners and land managers for both the direct costs of creating and maintaining woodlands, as well as the opportunity costs of foregoing revenue from alternative land uses, including farming.

Moreover, ELMs will not start until 2024, with full implementation in 2027, so it is vital that the Government provides new funding during this parliament for native woodland creation (including by natural regeneration), street trees, agroforestry grants and support for county farms. The Comprehensive Spending Review will be vital for delivering this funding.

The Government should also enable councils to protect existing trees, including greater enforcement powers for breaches of Tree Preservation Orders.

In summary, we urge you to set a target to double tree cover in the English Tree Strategy and devise a strong plan to deliver it, including a large increase in government funding for trees and woodlands.

Yours sincerely,

Asher Craig, Bristol Council

Bridget Petty, North Somerset Council

Dave Brookes, Lancaster City Council

Elizabeth Grey, Wirral Council

Jon Burke, Hackney Borough Council 

Tom Hayes, Oxford City Council

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