Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she had made of adequacy of funding for tree planting projects in England.

We have confidence that the Nature for Climate Fund (NCF) provides adequate funding for our tree planting ambitions over this Parliament. Last year in England, statistics show an almost 1000 hectare increase in woodland creation and planting of trees outside of woodlands compared to the previous year, with over 3600 hectares of tree planting. This represents the highest level of tree planting in England for over a decade, demonstrating there is adequate funding for our strong pipeline of projects. The England Trees Action Plan is transforming how we grow and manage trees and woodlands in England. Its delivery is supported by over £675 million of funding for woodland creation, management and tree planting under the £750 million NCF. Through this work, we aim to at least treble tree planting rates by the end of this Parliament.