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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the environmental merits of biodegradable alternatives to hard plastic tree guards.

The Department recognises the need to reduce the environmental impact of plastics in forestry, including tree guards. Forestry England is part of the UK Forest Industry Plastics Working Group, which focuses on reducing single-use plastics and exploring alternatives in woodland creation. Trials of bio-based tree shelters have produced mixed results, so conventional guards remain in use where necessary, with removal and recycling in line with UK Forestry Standard requirements.

Forest Research is conducting an independent evaluation of alternatives, funded by Defra and Forestry England. Results, expected in two years, will assess effectiveness, and inform more sustainable solutions.