Is Britain becoming deforested?
 The Woodland Trust is calling for more new woodland to be created. Photo: Woodland Trust NATIONAL tree planting figures released recently show a continuing decrease in the rate of woodland creation, while trees and woods are being lost across the UK.
Forestry Commission tree figures show the rate of woodland creation in the UK continues to fall despite recent calls for increasing woodland cover from within and outside government. From more than 12,000 ha of new planting in 2004, levels had halved to less than 6000 ha last year and have fallen further to 5000 ha in the last planting season.
Sue Holden, chief executive of the Woodland Trust, which is now encouraging planting on other people's land, said: "There is an urgent need to compensate for these losses with large scale woodland creation elsewhere, and we are doing our bit by supporting the planting of native woods and trees through innovative schemes such as MOREwoods and through partnerships
with companies, schools
and communities.
"We want to help government achieve its ambitious plans, but we need to see real commitment to support woodland creation."
Meanwhile there is evidence of significant loss of trees outside woods in hedgerows and fields, as old trees die or are felled for safety reasons, but
not replaced.
Forestry Commission research has shown that between 1980 and 1997 England suffered a 64 per cent decline in individual trees.
Forestry Commission plan to protect English landscapes
MAKING sure that trees, woods and forests are playing their part to protect and improve English landscapes is at heart of a five year action plan is published by the Forestry Commission.
It will support the Government to meet its commitments under the European Landscape Convention (ELC).
Through this plan the Forestry Commission will have a better idea how well woodland landscapes are planned and protected on the land it manages on behalf of the public. It will also establish what needs to be done to improve policies, guidance
and standards as well as improving practical knowledge and skills across the whole forestry sector.
The plan aims to make sure that the role of trees in our important environmental and cultural landscapes are properly considered and genuinely involve local people and communities in decisions that will affect what they will see around them every day for decades to come.
Factors that impact on the future of our woodlands include adapting to the needs of wildlife, the effects of climate change on our landscape and the changing recreational requirements, such as cycling, concerts and other organised events.
Roger Worthington, a landscape architect for the Forestry Commission, said: "The Forestry Commission already has a lot of experience of considering how trees affect the countryside at a landscape-scale.
“They are prepared to create multi-purpose forestry for the future and plan for managing recreation, productive timber, and protecting ancient woodlands and open habitats such as heathland.”
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