PROJECTS that could increase tree cover in communities across England will receive a share of over £2 million in government funding. 

The second phase of the Trees Outside Woodland Research and Development programme will fund projects testing the effectiveness of tree-planting methods and approaches in non-woodland areas. 

This will help increase tree cover in non-woodland areas so that more, healthier trees can be planted in these areas in future, improving people’s health and wellbeing by giving them access to more nature and helping to mitigate the effects of climate change.

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Forestry Minister Trudy Harrison said: “Further investment in the programme will build on previous successful work and help government deliver on our ambitious tree planting targets.”

Non-woodland treescapes have been badly affected by tree pests and diseases and other issues, so finding ways to boost their numbers effectively will help to meet the aims of the England Trees Action Plan and Government ambitions to treble tree planting rates by the end of this Parliament, ministers say.

At the time of writing, England remains well short of its planting goals, failing to meet even half of its 7,000 hectares/year target in the 12 months prior to the end of March 2022. Government officials were also criticised last year for reducing their own legally binding tree cover ambition by a third. 

Research from the first phase is already beginning to have an impact, as successful approaches piloted will be rolled out in an England-wide grant scheme later this year. 

Research projects funded by the second phase will: 

  • Test how to sustainably improve the capacity and biosecurity of locally grown tree planting stock, to ensure more trees can be planted closer to where people live. 
  • Research the most cost-effective and biosecure ways to plant, establish, and promote trees outside woods, enabling increases in non-woodland tree canopy cover.
  • Focus on sharing this knowledge with Local Authorities to enable enhanced local delivery of healthy and thriving treescapes.
  • In the long term, help to increase tree cover within our local communities and deliver on commitments set out within the Environmental Improvement Plan to level up people’s access to nature and improve our mitigation and adaptation to climate change.  

Jon Stokes, director of trees, science & research at the Tree Council, said: “Historically undervalued, the 4.3 per cent of England that is covered with non-woodland treescapes - such as hedges, scrub, trees on farms, parks, and in urban settings – is now recognised among our most important treescapes. 

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"This funding is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about growing and protecting these precious trees."