There has been positive coverage of our announcement that we are launching a new coastal community forest in Cumbria, on the first day of National Tree Week (Monday 29 November - Sunday 5 December) in the Daily Mail, News and Star, the North-West Evening Mail, Forestry Journal, Horticulture Week and Cumbria Crack.. Coverage notes how 370 acres of trees, woodlands and forests will be planted over the next five years, expanding to over 12,000 acres in the next 25 years.
The Daily Mail carries a supportive quote from Paul Nolan, Chairman of England's Community Forests organisation and quotes from Lord Goldsmith are carried in the Horticulture Week, Forestry Journal and News and Star coverage.
Forestry Commission chair Sir William Worsley was interviewed by BBC Look North (NE & Cumbria), Heart Radio (North Lancashire and Cumbria)/Smooth Radio (Lake District), CFM and BBC Radio Cumbria. He discussed the economic and social reasons why Cumbria was chosen, and how this community forest will factor into wider Government net zero ambitions.
There is also positive regional coverage of our second National Tree Week announcement about projects receiving funding to plant hundreds of thousands more trees through various funds in the Evening Standard, Yorkshire Post (p. 2) and the Gazette. Over £12 million will be allocated to the successful applicants to four funds supporting tree planting efforts for future generations: 260,000 trees will be planted outside of woodlands as a result of this funding announcement
Forestry Minister, Lord Goldsmith, said:
Trees are at the heart of our ambitious environmental programme, as we work to deliver on the promises we made at COP26 and treble tree planting rates by the end of this Parliament."
Forestry Commission Chair, Sir William Worsley said:
These inspiring initiatives will help to stem the tide of biodiversity loss and promote resilient tree growth and management across the UK, whilst helping to futureproof our natural world amidst a changing climate.
Defra and the Forestry Commission have a variety of flexible grants which offer strong financial incentives for planting trees where they are most needed. The grants cover different areas - from support to plan new woodlands, making urban areas greener, developing carbon markets, and to increase domestic planting stock - and are targeted at different audiences - including farmers and landowners, communities, eNGOs, local authorities, and individuals.