Tree Planting

Mark Pritchard
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has for encouraging the planting of more trees by farmers.

Barry Gardiner
Incentives to promote the planting of trees in England are part of the Forestry Commission's English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS). Defra's Environmental Stewardship Scheme builds on past achievements by providing incentives for small-scale tree planting. Defra's Energy Crops Scheme has provided the option for farmers to plant short rotation coppice willow species, as part of the Government's support for diversifying resources for renewable energy initiatives.

In addition to these England-wide schemes there are various regional and local initiatives aimed at increasing tree cover; notably the National Forest in the Midlands and the 12 Community Forest partnerships based close to urban areas.