Key facts
- Half a million trees will be planted in England over the next three years.
- The government will allocate £79 million for nature restoration initiatives.
- £53 million of the package is designated for tree planting.
- £26 million will fund local nature recovery strategies.
- The plans aim to enhance natural flood management and drought resilience.
- The announcement was made by Environment Secretary Angela Eagle at the Labour party conference.
Environment Secretary Angela Eagle will announce plans to plant half a million trees across England within three years, supported by a £79 million package aimed at improving the country's resilience to extreme weather. The initiative, to be detailed at the Labour party conference in Liverpool, includes £53 million for tree planting and £26 million for local nature recovery strategies.
Eagle is expected to highlight the urgent need for increased tree cover and natural landscape protection, citing this summer's drought as evidence. She will state that flourishing natural landscapes, including wetlands and river edges, can help manage floods and mitigate drought severity. Trees can also reduce urban temperatures, absorb air pollution, and decrease noise pollution.
The plans echo the localism agenda, emphasizing community involvement in nature restoration. Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, welcomed the announcement, suggesting a potential shift in government policy towards prioritizing nature. Richard Benwell, chief executive of the Wildlife and Countryside Link, supported the investment in nature infrastructure as economically and ecologically sound, but called for further scaling up of investment and for businesses and polluters to contribute.
The announcement comes after criticism regarding the management of the Sustainable Farming Incentive, where a £253 million fund for environmental improvements was exhausted within six hours of opening for applications, leaving many farmers disappointed.