[holding answer 22 February 2010]: Tree planting is normally recorded on the basis of area planted, and this is made up of a combination of new woodland creation and replanting after the harvesting of timber from existing woodland.
The area of planting and restocking over the last ten years is given in the following table.
Year ending 31 March New woodland creation Replanting of existing woodland Broadleaf Conifer Broadleaf Conifer 2000 5,200 700 1,400 2,500 2001 5,200 700 1,200 2,700 2002 4,700 700 800 2,600 2003 5,400 500 900 2,400 2004 4,400 200 900 2,300 2005 5,100 200 900 2,000 2006 3,600 100 1,100 2,100 2007 3,100 100 900 1,800 2008 2,500 100 1,500 2,000 2009 2,100 Nil 1,500 1,700
It is estimated that broad-leaved planting is at an average density of 1,500 trees per hectare, and conifer planting is at an average density of 2,200 trees per hectare, for both new woodland creation and replanting.