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2.7-2.7-1.2-2.7-2.7-2.7z"></path> </svg> </a> </div> </div> </header> <div class="govuk-width-container"> <header class="header" aria-label="blog name"> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <div class="blog-title govuk-heading-xl"> <span class="blog"><a href="https://www.blog.gov.uk/">Blog</a></span> <a href="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk">Forestry Commission</a> </div> <div class="bottom blog-meta"> <dl> <dt>Organisations:</dt> <dd><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/forestry-commission">Forestry Commission</a></dd> </dl> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third"> <div class="bottom search-container"> <form role="search" method="get" id="searchform" class="form-search" action="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/"> <label class="govuk-label govuk-label--m" for="s">Search blog</label> <div class="search-input-wrapper"> <input enterkeyhint="search" title="Search" type="search" value="" name="s" id="s" class="search-query"> <input type="submit" id="searchsubmit" value="Search" class="btn"> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> </header> <main id="content" class="govuk-grid-row" role="main"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds main-content"> <article class="govuk-clearfix post-1813 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-tree-planting category-woodland-creation"> <div class="visible-print"> <p>https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/2023/01/30/defras-trees-and-forestry-team-looking-back-at-a-busy-year/</p> </div> <header> <h1 class="govuk-heading-xl">Defra’s Trees and Forestry team – looking back at a busy year</h1> <div class="govuk-body-s"> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Posted by: </span> <a href="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/author/bella-murfin-and-naomi-matthiessen/" title="Posts by Bella Murfin and Naomi Matthiessen" class="author url fn" rel="author">Bella Murfin and Naomi Matthiessen</a>, <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Posted on: </span><time class="updated" datetime="2023-01-30T16:47:15+00:00">30 January 2023</time> - <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Categories: </span> <a href="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/category/tree-planting/" rel="category tag">Tree planting</a>, <a href="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/category/woodland-creation/" rel="category tag">Woodland creation</a></div> </header> <div class="entry-content"> <div class="highlight"> <p><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW46087665 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46087665 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" data-ccp-charstyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"3a438b00-11bd-4563-88f8-04cebf42dec0|61","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[469775450,"normaltextrun",201340122,"1",134233614,"true",469778129,"normaltextrun",335572020,"1",469778324,"Default Paragraph Font"]}"><img decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-1357" src="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2022/08/bella-e1660032792118-150x150.png" alt="Bella Murfin" width="66" height="75" /><img decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-1358" src="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2022/08/naomi-e1660035671374-150x150.jpg" alt="Naomi Matthiessen" width="66" height="84" />We’re Bella Murfin and Naomi Matthiessen, job share Directors for the Nature for Climate Fund Tree Programme in Defra</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46087665 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun">.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW46087665 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> </div> <p>We’re now into our third planting season since the Programme got off the ground, and we explored some of the build-up in <a href="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/2022/08/24/defras-trees-and-forestry-team-taking-stock-at-the-half-way-point-of-the-year/">our August blog</a>. This one looks back at the last 6 months delivering the Government’s commitment to treble tree planting in England by the end of 2025.</p> <figure id="attachment_1822" class="thumbnail wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 620px"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-1822" src="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog-2-6-620x420.jpg" alt="Bella Murfin (left) and Naomi Matthiessen (right) out and about" width="620" height="420" srcset="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog-2-6-620x420.jpg 620w, https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog-2-6-310x210.jpg 310w, https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog-2-6-768x520.jpg 768w, https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog-2-6.jpg 1059w" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" /><figcaption class="caption wp-caption-text">Bella Murfin (left) and Naomi Matthiessen (right) out and about</figcaption></figure> <p>Our fantastic team continue to make real progress towards tree planting targets and transforming the way that we create and manage woodlands in England. There have been some great highlights, including:</p> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">A £44.2 million fund to support our Community Forests and woodland creation partners. </span><br /> <span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="none">The first cohort of apprentices starting Forestry Commission’s Development Woodland Officer programme in September 2022.</span><br /> <span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Funding to support communities in planting trees across the country, in honour of the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth through a national tree planting initiative The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC).</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">The new Tree and Woodland Cover target has moved through Parliament and is nearing Royal Assent, which becomes law today. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></li> </ul> <p>To learn more about these highlights and what the Trees and Forestry team have been up to, read on!</p> <figure id="attachment_1823" class="thumbnail wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 620px"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-1823" src="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog5.png-620x413.jpg" alt="Young trees with wooden stakes around them" width="620" height="413" srcset="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog5.png-620x413.jpg 620w, https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog5.png-310x207.jpg 310w, https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog5.png-768x512.jpg 768w, https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog5.png-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog5.png-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" /><figcaption class="caption wp-caption-text">With lots of funds and initiatives in the works, 2023 is looking to be a promising year for getting more trees in the ground.</figcaption></figure> <h2>Summer’s seeds of change</h2> <p>In August we launched a <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-expansion-of-woodlands-for-communities-across-england">£44.2 million fund to support our Community Forests and woodland creation partners</a>. This will support the creation of more diverse and innovative woodlands, designed to increase resilience to climate change and flood risks as well as provide habitat cover for nature and offset biodiversity loss.</p> <p>England’s 13 Community Forests will benefit from the funding. Work also started to select two more Community Forests to add to the network, and once these are up and running, they too will benefit from this funding.</p> <p>In September, Defra helped to organize the world’s first ever<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/worlds-first-international-plant-health-conference-to-set-global-agenda-on-biosecurity-and-address-challenges-in-plant-health"> International Plant Health Conference (IPHC)</a> in London, attended by around 500 policymakers, academics and experts from over 74 countries. By sharing knowledge and research across a range of issues such as pests, diseases and invasive species, the conference has fostered a level of international collaboration that will strengthen global biosecurity standards and international plant health for generations to come.</p> <p>Later in September we announced a <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/domestic-tree-seed-production-to-be-ramped-up-with-new-grant">£1.2m Seed Sourcing Grant</a> to boost domestic tree seed production, create green jobs and meet the increased demand for trees in line with our planting targets. It’s so important to be growing and developing every part of the story when it comes to trees, from seeds to trees to people.</p> <h2>Our new Forestry Apprentices put down roots</h2> <p>And on the people front, we saw the first cohort of 15 Development Woodland Officers starting their apprenticeships in forestry management at the University of Cumbria. This exciting scheme will help to upskill and diversify the forestry sector workforce, which in turn will expand the workforce capacity for the long-term, supporting the Government’s tree planting and woodland creation ambitions over the coming years. It’s a great example of the transformational work of the Nature for Climate Tree Programme, alongside getting trees in the ground.</p> <p>Apprentices will undertake a placement in Forestry Commission host teams across England to receive additional on-the-job training. We’ve been hearing about why apprentices have joined the scheme, like Charlotte Heslop who has talked about how she wants to develop a foundation of knowledge that will support her future career, and help others to get informed, interested, and passionate about forestry in the UK.</p> <figure id="attachment_1824" class="thumbnail wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 620px"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-1824" src="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog3.jpg-620x413.png" alt="2022 Forestry Apprentice Charlotte Heslop" width="620" height="413" srcset="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog3.jpg-620x413.png 620w, https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog3.jpg-310x207.png 310w, https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog3.jpg-768x512.png 768w, https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog3.jpg.png 1020w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" /><figcaption class="caption wp-caption-text">2022 Forestry Apprentice Charlotte Heslop</figcaption></figure> <div class="highlight"> <p>Join the 2023 Development Woodland Officer programme!</p> <p>Learn more about the programme with the <a href="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/2023/01/25/apply-now-for-the-forestry-apprenticeship-2023/">'Apply now for the Forestry Apprenticeship 2023' blog post</a>, or head to <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-forestry-apprenticeship">Apply for a Forestry Apprenticeship - GOV.UK</a> to find out if you are eligible.</p> <p>The deadline to apply is 26th February 2023.</p> </div> <h2>Celebrating all things trees with National Tree Week</h2> <p>November and December were busy months for Team Trees as we supported both COP27 and National Tree Week. At COP, we announced the appointment of <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/update-on-the-big-nature-impact-fund">Federated Hermes and Finance Earth as fund managers</a> for the ground-breaking Big Nature Impact Fund, after a rigorous procurement exercise. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/environment-secretary-calls-for-action-to-protect-and-restore-nature-at-cop27">Defra’s seed investment was announced alongside other key funding</a> at the COP27 summit, where Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey called on countries to come together to tackle nature loss.</p> <p>The UK government will commit £30million of seed finance into the Big Nature Impact Fund, unlocking private investment for potential projects such as tree planting or restoring peatlands, supporting habitat creation, carbon sequestering and improving air and water quality.</p> <p>National Tree Week kicked off with the <a href="https://deframedia.blog.gov.uk/2022/11/28/daily-express-coverage-of-20-million-funding-for-woodlands/">announcement of £20 million for three different funds</a> that facilitate tree planting, timber production and woodland innovation and resilience. The Woods into Management Forestry Innovation Funds, Tree Production Innovation Fund and the Woodland Creation Accelerator Fund, will support local authority tree planting initiatives in communities across England.</p> <p>To celebrate National Tree Week, our delivery partners <a href="https://www.nationalforest.org/">The National Forest</a> teamed up with Aardman Animations' famous Sean the Sheep, to help get to their 10 millionth planted tree. We sadly didn’t get to meet Sean ourselves (much to our children’s disappointment!) but Minister for Environment Trudy Harrison did when she visited the NCF funded Minorca Woods site on November 29th and helped to plant a native oak tree.</p> <figure id="attachment_1826" class="thumbnail wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 620px"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-1826" src="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog-1-11-620x413.jpg" alt="Minister Harrison (right) alongside Lucy Wendover (Marketing Director at Aardman) and John Everitt (National Forest Company CEO" width="620" height="413" srcset="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog-1-11-620x413.jpg 620w, https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog-1-11-310x207.jpg 310w, https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog-1-11-768x512.jpg 768w, https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog-1-11.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" /><figcaption class="caption wp-caption-text">Minister Harrison (right) alongside Lucy Wendover (Marketing Director at Aardman) and John Everitt (National Forest Company CEO</figcaption></figure> <p>It was during National Tree Week that analysis on the extent of <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/forestry-commission-chair-calls-for-change-in-approach-to-tree-planting-as-last-years-winter-storm-damage-revealed">damage caused to trees from last year’s winter storms</a> was published. Forest Research assessments showed around 12,750 hectares of trees were lost as result of winter storms, with most of the damage being attributed to Storm Arwen in November 2021. Over 90 percent of trees which fall as a result of storm damage will be replanted, meaning only a small percent of forest is lost in the long term where it is not possible to restock.</p> <p>More diverse tree species and better designed woodlands are key to creating resilient woodland in the face of climate change, namely stronger gales, severe weather, drought in the summer and emerging pests and diseases.</p> <figure id="attachment_1827" class="thumbnail wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 620px"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-1827 size-large" src="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog4-e1675096957885-620x421.jpg" alt="damaged and snapped trees in a snowy woodland" width="620" height="421" srcset="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog4-e1675096957885-620x421.jpg 620w, https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog4-e1675096957885-310x211.jpg 310w, https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog4-e1675096957885-768x522.jpg 768w, https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog4-e1675096957885-1536x1044.jpg 1536w, https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/226/2023/01/blog4-e1675096957885-2048x1392.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" /><figcaption class="caption wp-caption-text">Storm damage caused to woodland during last year’s winter storms. The damage equated to around 0.2% of England’s woodland area. (Image credit: Richard Pow, Forestry Commission</figcaption></figure> <p>National Tree Week concluded with the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/funding-for-tree-planting-projects-to-honour-her-majesty-queen-elizabeth-announced">announcement of funding to plant trees in communities across the country in honour of the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth</a> through The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) initiative. Almost half a million pounds will be used to plant trees across England and engage communities with limited access to nature and green spaces.</p> <p>Planting plans are already underway, with The Tree Council planning to plant 69,000 whips and create 14km of hedgerow in up to 50 locations, which will be chosen to increase biodiversity, local nature recovery and future flood alleviation. Trees for Cities will extend their “Forgotten Places” programme across five areas that are nature-deprived, planting a total of over 5,000 trees and Earthwatch will plant 1,800 trees to create three “Tiny Forests” (a dense, fast-growing native woodland the size of a tennis court) in urban areas with low woodland cover.</p> <p>To close this blog, we want to highlight just <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/economic-value-of-the-uks-individual-trees-revealed-for-first-time">how much trees are already worth to the economy</a>, estimated by Forest Research at the end of the year. Single trees (defined as trees outside of woodlands in urban and rural areas) have been valued at an incredible £3.8 billion. This valuation takes in to account the role trees play in mitigating climate change and damage caused to infrastructure and the public as result of flooding and other extreme weather. Other benefits include temperature regulation as our summers get hotter and drier, as well reducing noise and air pollution in urban areas. It’s an absolute privilege to be helping that number to grow.</p> <p>What a year it’s been! With even more funding and projects to look forward to in the year ahead, we’re optimistic about what we can all achieve in 2023.</p> <div class="highlight"> <p>Interested in planting? If you’re a landowner, forester, or farmer we urge you to <a href="https://woodlandcreation.campaign.gov.uk/">look at what’s on offer to create woodland and find out if you’re eligible to apply</a>.</p> </div> </div> <div class="footer single"> <div class="related-posts"> <p class="govuk-body">You may also be interested in:</p> <ul class="govuk-list govuk-list--bullet"> <li><a href="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/2022/08/24/defras-trees-and-forestry-team-taking-stock-at-the-half-way-point-of-the-year/">Defra’s Trees and Forestry team - taking stock at the half way point of the year</a></li> <li><a href="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/2021/12/29/helping-people-put-down-roots-with-woodland-creation/">Helping people put down roots with woodland creation</a></li> <li><a href="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/2021/06/23/might-oaks-from-little-acorns-grow/">Might oaks from little acorns grow…?</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </article> <nav class="page-numbers-container page-navigation" aria-label="Pagination"> <div class="previous"> <a href="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/2023/01/25/apply-now-for-the-forestry-apprenticeship-2023/" rel="prev">Apply now for the Forestry Apprenticeship 2023</a> </div> <div class="next"> <a href="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/2023/02/03/how-morrisons-are-supporting-farmers-to-plant-trees/" rel="next">How Morrisons are supporting farmers to plant trees</a> </div> </nav> <h2 class="govuk-visually-hidden">Sharing and comments</h2> <div class="icons-buttons"> <h3>Share this page</h3> <ul> <li> <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer&url=https%3A%2F%2Fforestrycommission.blog.gov.uk%2F2023%2F01%2F30%2Fdefras-trees-and-forestry-team-looking-back-at-a-busy-year%2F&text=Defra%E2%80%99s+Trees+and+Forestry+team+%E2%80%93+looking+back+at+a+busy+year" class="twitter">Twitter</a> </li> <li> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fforestrycommission.blog.gov.uk%2F2023%2F01%2F30%2Fdefras-trees-and-forestry-team-looking-back-at-a-busy-year%2F" class="facebook">Facebook</a> </li> <li> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforestrycommission.blog.gov.uk%2F2023%2F01%2F30%2Fdefras-trees-and-forestry-team-looking-back-at-a-busy-year%2F" class="linkedin">LinkedIn</a> </li> <li> <a href="mailto:?subject=I wanted to share this post with you from Forestry Commission&body=Defra’s Trees and Forestry team – looking back at a busy year https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/2023/01/30/defras-trees-and-forestry-team-looking-back-at-a-busy-year/" class="email">Email</a> </li> </ul> <div class="govuk-clearfix"></div> </div> <section id="comments" class="comments"> <h3 class="govuk-heading-m">1 comment</h3> <ol class="media-list"> <li id="comment-962" class="comment even thread-even depth-1 media comment-962"> <div class="media-body"> <p class="govuk-body media-heading"> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Comment by</span> <span class="author">Patrick Wells</span> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">posted on </span> <time datetime="2023-02-05T17:11:04+00:00">05 February 2023</time> </p> <div class="comment-body"> <p>This is really great article. We really need to protect our forestry. We do a lot of this at <a href="http://www.boothexhibits.com" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.boothexhibits.com</a></p> <div class="comment-links"> <a href="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/2023/01/30/defras-trees-and-forestry-team-looking-back-at-a-busy-year/#comment-962" rel="external nofollow">Link to this comment</a> </div> </div> </div></li> </ol> </section> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third sidebar-contain"> <div class="sidebar"> <h2 class="govuk-heading-m govuk-visually-hidden">Related content and links</h2> <section class="widget text-2 widget_text"><div class="widget-inner"><h3>Forestry Commission</h3> <div class="textwidget"><p>The Forestry Commission is responsible for protecting, expanding and promoting the sustainable management of woodlands.</p> <p><a href="https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/about-us/">Read more about us</a></p> </div> </div></section><section class="widget categories-4 widget_categories"><div class="widget-inner"><h3>Blog 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