The continued existence and wellbeing of the UK’s vibrant ecosystem and the natural environment worldwide largely depend on global leaders like ourselves. With this in mind, I would like to wholeheartedly voice my support of the Government’s commitment to protect our environment.
It is further important to note that environmental and economic progress are not just compatible: they depend on each other. The Government is committed to being the UK's greenest ever. Thus, I personally believe that our woods and forests are an invaluable national asset and I am proud of the Government's record of action to preserve and extend British woodland. I am pleased to say that over 11 million trees were planted in the last Parliament and the Government has pledged to plant a further 11 million in this one. England's woodland cover is now expanding at a rate that has not been seen since the fourteenth century.
I am especially proud to have welcomed the Woodland Capital Grants programme which provided necessary funding to encourage farmers, land managers and foresters to create new woodland, while protecting existing woodland and restoring tree health. From 2016 these grants have been incorporated into the Countryside Stewardship scheme, which supports improvements to woodland over a period of years, as well as a range of capital items, including woodland infrastructure.