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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to increase tree planting.

The England Trees Action Plan, funded by over £675 million of the Nature for Climate Fund, is transforming England’s tree planting and woodland management. We have set a statutory target to increase tree canopy and woodland cover of England to 16.5% by 2050. Last year, over 3,600 hectares of trees were planted (4.7 million trees) - the highest planting rate for nearly a decade – a massive boost to a sector that employs over 33,000 people across the UK. The framework is now in place with the plan to further increase tree planting and treble planting rates in England by the end of this parliament. We’re also securing and growing nursery capacity to boost the supply of healthy seeds and trees.