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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support the Forestry Commission to achieve its target of improving the semi-natural score of plantation in ancient woodland sites by at least one class by 2044.

Defra is providing support to expand training, monitoring, and on-the-ground restoration work. Targeted Defra funding of £5.9m for 2026–2029 is accelerating PAWS restoration on the Public Forest Estate, with progress closely monitored and a target to work towards doubling the recent restoration rate.