FACTCHECK: Some images that claim to be examples of HS2 tree planting are actually “staking and tubing” on the site earlier this winter, prior to the actual planting of the trees. Here’s a photo of the same site today, with 6,000 saplings now planted:

Also during prolonged periods of rain, it can happen that the ground around saplings floods. It is not a problem, although in extreme cases saplings do die; but we guarantee: 7 million HS2 trees will mature and thrive. Find out more in this thread:

When HS2 says its world leading ecologists are going to plant 7 million trees, it means 7 million trees that will last. Bad weather or seasons can be tough on young saplings but if any fail within 10 years we will replant. Beware misinformation and images found online.

Claims HS2 plants saplings and walks away are completely untrue. Woodland habitats created for the purposes of ecological mitigation and compensation are to be monitored for up to 50 years with yearly reports reviewed by an independent Ecological Review Group.

This winter HS2 is planting 300,000 #trees, bringing the total along our London – West Midlands route to over 730,000 planted. That’s well ahead of the 7 million target for our Green Corridor.

Watch and find out more about those 7m trees and HS2 Green Corridor. It will run alongside the railway, creating a network of bigger, better-connected, climate resilient habitats for wildlife and new green spaces for people to enjoy.

For example, on this site, we’ve planted 50,000 trees and 6 hectares of wildflower meadows on agricultural land. It's between two ancient woodlands, linking them to create richer and more diverse habitat.

It was arable land offering "very little habitat opportunity for nature", according to ecologists. The tree planting between the ancient woodlands "made it a really perfect opportunity and location for enhancing and creating a future woodland."

It was planted in 2018 and the trees are now at various heights depending on their normal growth cycle for different species. Within a 25 year window it will be an established woodland. It will also benefit the local community thanks to new footpaths.

We're creating and enhancing 33 sq km of new and existing wildlife habitat. This is an area over 7 times bigger than Sherwood Forest Nature Reserve. An increase of around 30% compared to what is there now. Progress so far includes 60 new wildlife habitats being created.

There will be 40 native species specific to each location amongst the 7 million trees and shrubs we will planted as part of our Green Corridor vision. Find out more about HS2’s Green Corridor, and the funding opportunities for local communities it offers https://www.hs2.org.uk/building-hs2/hs2-green-corridor/

And, new low carbon rail is good for the long term health of our country. HS2 will get millions of people out of cars and domestic flights and freight lorries off our roads. New public transport which will reach 30m people, better connecting our country https://www.hs2.org.uk/why/carbon/ 

For anyone tempted to claim HS2 is destroying 108 Ancient Woodlands… read our thread here to see that claim is yet another myth that needs correcting: https://twitter.com/HS2ltd/status/1357679107824304128?s=20