Half a million trees to be planted in England in three years, says government

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Published: 2026-09-30T06:15:30.829Z • Permanent link

Environment secretary Angela Eagle is set to announce a groundbreaking pledge to plant half a million trees across England in the next three years. This ambitious initiative aims to bolster the country's defenses against extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, droughts, and heavy rainfall. The move is part of a broader effort to protect the nation's natural assets and mitigate the impact of climate change. According to sources within the government, the tree-planting program will focus on areas most vulnerable to extreme weather, with a particular emphasis on rural communities and areas prone to landslides.

The decision is expected to be backed by a range of stakeholders, including environmental groups, local authorities, and industry leaders. The British Forest Society has already expressed its support for the initiative, highlighting the critical role that trees play in maintaining biodiversity and preventing soil erosion. The government has also confirmed that it will be working closely with companies such as Ecological Land-Use Regeneration (ELUR) and Trees for Life, both of which have expertise in large-scale tree-planting projects.

The tree-planting program is set to be funded through a combination of public and private sources, with the government committing £10 million to the initiative. This funding will be used to support the planting of native tree species, including oak, ash, and hazel, which are well-suited to the UK's temperate climate. The program is also expected to create jobs and stimulate local economies, with many of the tree-planting operations being carried out by local communities and small businesses.

The tree-planting program has significant implications for the government's regulatory framework, particularly with regards to environmental policy and land use planning. The initiative is likely to influence the development of new planning policies and guidelines, which will need to balance the need to protect the environment with the need to support economic growth and development. Companies involved in the tree-planting program, such as ELUR and Trees for Life, will also need to ensure that their operations are compliant with relevant regulations and standards.

The program is also likely to have a significant impact on the research community, with many experts predicting that the initiative will lead to new discoveries and insights into the role of trees in mitigating the effects of climate change. The government has already confirmed that it will be working closely with researchers from institutions such as the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, both of which have expertise in climate science and environmental policy.

The tree-planting program is part of a larger pattern of government initiatives aimed at addressing the impacts of climate change. In recent years, the UK government has introduced a range of policies and programs designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable land use practices. These initiatives include the creation of new protected areas, such as the National Forest, and the introduction of new taxes on carbon-intensive activities, such as aviation and shipping.