Two million trees planted in Cornwall as new government funding pledged
Forest for Cornwall receives £8.76m to expand tree-planting efforts
More than two million trees have now been planted as part of the Forest for Cornwall initiative.
A recent government boost of £8.76m from Defra’s Trees Programme is set to further enhance tree-planting across the region over the next four years.
The programme aims to extend Cornwall's tree canopy by 8,000 hectares by 2035, aligning with the Grow Nature Action Plan set out by Cornwall Council.
Since its inception in 2019, the Forest for Cornwall has united residents, farmers, businesses, and organisations, transforming 2,025 hectares with new woodlands, orchards, agroforestry, urban trees, and hedgerows.
The initiative complements both the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Nature Recovery Strategy and Marine Nature Recovery Framework and has also benefited from previous funding through Defra’s Nature for Climate Fund.
Cllr Loic Rich, responsible for environment and climate change in Cornwall, emphasised the local and environmental benefits of the tree-planting efforts, stating:
“I want to thank you one and all for helping contribute to the Forest for Cornwall. This funding is a national endorsement of our accessible and flexible approach to supporting and financing tree-planting to benefit residents, businesses and farmers.”
The programme provides resources to farmers to diversify production through tree-planting. Ben Thomas from Treveddoe Farm near Cardinham utilised support from the Forest for Cornwall team to plant 2,500 trees.
He said: "Without the knowledge, contacts and funding it would have been hard to find the time to get the project started."
The approach also extends community engagement, as demonstrated by the Kehelland Trust in Camborne setting up a community tree nursery with help from the programme.
Horticultural coordinator Sally Pyner said: “We could not have done this without the funding from Forest for Cornwall. It’s meant that on site we can focus on our learner experience and at the same time we’ve got a lovely product we can share with the wider community.”