England’s Community Forests plant record 3.1 million trees to boost woodland creation across the country - England's Community Forests

• Over 2,500 hectares of new woodland and hedgerows have been planted across England’s Community Forests in the 2024/25 planting season – equivalent to 3,500 football pitches.

• 19,159 local people engaged across over 896 different projects.

• Over 8 million trees have now been planted across England’s Community Forests since the Trees for Climate programme began – that’s 35% of all government-funded tree planting since 2020.

• £8 worth of economic benefit for every £1 invested by Defra into England’s Community Forests, with over 641,000 households provided access to nature and 608,089 m3 of flood water storage capacity every year.

England’s Community Forests have taken another major step forward in creating new woodland across the country, with over 3.1 million trees planted during the 2024/25 season under the Defra supported Trees for Climate programme. This effort forms part of a long-term national commitment to expand tree cover and deliver the wide-ranging benefits that woodlands provide to people, nature and the economy.

Established in 2020, Trees for Climate is supporting local delivery of tree planting by Community Forests and other partners across England. The programme not only contributes to the UK’s net zero and nature recovery targets but also provides direct benefits to local communities, landowners and farmers.

From the rural landscapes of Cumbria to the urban fringes of Bristol, new woodland projects have created places where communities can connect with nature, enjoy improved health and wellbeing, and benefit from more resilient local environments. Trees planted this year are already beginning to improve air quality, reduce flood risks, and provide essential habitats for wildlife.