Written question asked by Tom Levitt (Labour) on Monday, 24 January 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 1 February 2005. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Tuesday, 1 February 2005 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what Government initiatives exist to promote the planting of trees; and what assessment she has made of the effect they have had on tree numbers. - Inc figures.

Answer: Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what Government initiatives exist to promote the planting of trees; and what assessment she has made of the effect they have had on tree numbers. [211171] Mr. Bradshaw: New incentives to promote the planting of trees in England will be launched later this year. The Forestry Commission's English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) will combine and replace incentives for the establishment of new woodland that were available under the Commission's Woodland Grant Scheme (WGS) and Defra's Farm Woodland Premium Scheme (FWPS). Defra's Environmental Stewardship Scheme which is replacing Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Area Schemes will build on past achievements by providing incentives for small-scale tree planting. 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 twelve Community Forest partnerships based close to urban areas. Our target is to create 30,000 hectares of new woodland over the seven-year period, 2000-06, of the England Rural Development Programme. In the period 1 April 2000-31 March 2004, 24,198 hectares of new woodland had been planted with WGS and, where qualifying, FWPS support. The majority of trees planted under regional and local initiatives over the same period will have attracted WGS/FWPS support.

Secondary information