A THREAD ABOUT THE ENGLAND TREE STRATEGY
The government is writing a new tree strategy for England This does sound a bit dull doesn't it? Even if you like trees a lot. I will try to convince you otherwise.

Writing a national strategy for anything is a big job. It doesn't happen often. The last tree strategy for England was published in 2013. This one runs until 2050.

About 10% of land in England is covered by trees. A bit more when you include all the trees outside woods - in hedges, gardens etc. Even counting this, tree cover levels are way below the European average (map below shows forest cover across Europe)

The Government has already committed to massively increasing tree cover in England. The Committee on Climate Change has set a UK goal of 30,000 hectares of new woodland each year. But current tree planting rates in England are lagging. And no one is counting natural regeneration.

Remember this from last autumn? The 2019 Conservative election campaign promised 30m new trees annually. The 2020 budget promised 30,000ha of new woodland by 2025. But there is little detail about how this would actually happen

And this is why a national tree strategy is important. Trees are popular. Pledging to plant millions of them is one thing. But finding the land (and money) for lots more trees – well that’s a bit harder. Quite a bit harder. But not impossible.

A strategy can get to grips with this task. It can set targets and policies for increasing the number of trees, create markets, promote sustainable forestry, help land managers and farmers to plant and let trees regenerate naturally. Find space for trees on government-owned land.

Government can create the conditions for a massive increase of trees in our landscapes – including urban areas. If it chooses to.

The strategy should also review and improve protection for our existing trees. From our mature shade-casting street trees to gnarly survivors in the countryside like this:

And this is where you come in. It’s essential the Government hears a loud message from the public and experts that we want more trees in England’s countryside & cities. And protection for our valuable existing trees. To fight climate change & help wildlife recover.

A public consultation on the England Tree Strategy is running until Friday 11 September. If you want more trees, and better protection for those we already have please respond – it’s vital that you do.

To respond you can either complete:
The Government’s online survey (40+ multiple choice questions!): https://consult.defra.gov.uk/forestry/england-tree-strategy/
or
A simple form we’ve set up on the @WoodlandTrust website: http://www.woodlandtru.st/ETmqf 
Take your pick

The @WoodlandTrust’s 4 key asks are:
1. Target for native woodland expansion
2. Target for native woods in an improving ecological condition
3. Mandatory local authority tree strategies
4. Govt tree planting contracts to stipulate trees sourced and grown in the UK

A quick look each of these

1) Annual target for native woodland expansion in England (18,000ha by 2025) – we need to radically increase the expansion of native woodland (alongside sustainable forestry). It starts with a target, then land and financial incentives. So let’s have a target. Big but achievable.

2) A target for % native woods in an improving ecological condition – just 10% of native woods are in good ecological condition now. Woodland birds and butterflies are in decline. We need a target and then action to bring native woodland into management to thrive.

3) Mandatory requirement for local authorities to have a tree strategy – I know, more strategies Trees are strategically important – involving highways, housing, parks etc. So a strategy should help give trees a significant role in local govt services & attract funding.

4) All Government tree planting contracts to stipulate trees sourced and grown in the UK – this would invest millions (of public money) into UK tree nurseries and reduce biosecurity threats from imports.

As well as listening to the public, it’s vital that the Government listens to experts like @ArbAssociation @TreeCouncil @AncientTreesATF @TDAG_TalkTree @WoodlandTrust and uses their offers of help to shape the final England Tree Strategy

So c’mon @ZacGoldsmith – give us a bold England Tree Strategy that will help to transform our landscapes with trees, scrub and bushes – soaking up carbon and bursting with wildlife. There’s no excuse not to now.

And finally, a reminder of what government strategies and policies are actually there for. This. #EnglandTreeStrategy