OVER 500 hectares will be planted with trees across England’s ten Community Forests, from Yorkshire to Somerset, backed by £12.1 million of investment, the government announced this week.

This will also build the pipeline of projects for community planting in future years.The new programme - Trees for Climate - will see trees planted in community forests across the country over the next five months. When mature, the trees will eventually store over 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, playing an important role in the meeting the government’s net zero emissions by 2050 target.

The project will also reduce flood risk, increase sustainable UK grown timber, provide more places for nature and biodiversity to thrive, and increase people’s access to and enjoyment of woodland. The funding will also create new jobs and secure existing ones within the forestry and environmental sector, helping to boost local economies as part of a green recovery.

Trees for Climate will help deliver against goals in the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan

Forestry Minister, Lord Goldsmith, said: "Through this exciting new programme we will build back greener, as more communities will have access to nature, with real benefits for health and wellbeing."