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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what safeguards will be put in place to ensure that the creation of the third national forest does not adversely affect agricultural land use and food production in the selected region.

The winning bidder for the third national forest will work with the National Forest Company to ensure that woodland creation does not adversely affect agricultural land use and food production.

Woodland creation will meet the UK Forestry Standard. The new forest will also use the principles set out in the Land Use Framework published on 18 March 2026.

All tree planting that will take place will be with the permission and assent of landowners, with whom information will be shared on regular and ongoing basis.