The UK’s woodlands are under pressure like never before, as habitat loss, management change and invasive species take their toll.
A new report offers a path to recovery, one that could increase the country's biodiversity from the mid-2040s onwards.
Forests of oak, ash and birch stretching across England are part of a £1 billion vision to boost the country’s biodiversity.
A new report from The Woodland Trust calls on the government to begin a vast programme of work in order to boost forests across the country. These include proposals to ensure that an area the size of Wales is planted with native trees, restoration of ancient woodland, and increase funding to Natural England, the country’s nature advisor.
Dr Darren Moorcroft, The Woodland Trust’s CEO, says, ‘The health of our communities and the places we live in is intertwined with the presence of nature, woods and trees, and green space. It’s a barometer of the health of the places where we’re raising our families. This report sets out what needs to be done and we hope there is an appetite amongst political leaders to deliver what’s urgently needed.’
Dr Chris Dixon, Curator of British and Irish seed plants at the Museum, adds, ‘This report is quite ambitious, and while it might not be achieved in full, it draws attention to our underappreciated woodlands. The more that can be done to help them, the better.’
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Posted On: 29/06/2023