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

To ask His Majesty's Government why they closed the Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund; and what plans they have to ensure that there are enough trained tree surgeons and arborists to meet demand and to deal with the number of urban trees planted in the past 50 years.

The Government recognises forestry skills as vital for achieving environmental targets, enhancing biodiversity, and supporting the economy through sustainable woodland management and green job creation. The Government is facing a very challenging wider fiscal context. This has meant that Defra has had to make difficult decisions about funding which has included not to continue with the Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund in 2025/26. The Forestry Commission is collecting feedback from course attendees and will be working with key stakeholders throughout 2025/26 to deliver the Forestry Sector Skills Plan. There are new technical, higher technical and professional education routes being developed into the forestry sector, and work is underway to improve links with allied sectors such as arboriculture, agriculture and horticulture.