Forest funding boost as two million trees planted — SkimNews
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- Forest for Cornwall received £8.7m from the government's Trees Programme to expand after surpassing two million trees planted since its 2019 launch aimed at helping the county respond to climate change.
- Cornwall Council said the funding supports its target of 8,000 hectares (19,768 acres) of new tree canopy by 2035 and contributes to England's wider goal of 16.5% canopy and woodland cover by 2050.
- Loic Rich, Cornwall's cabinet member for environment and climate change, said the scheme provides "much-needed shade during this prolonged period of heat," boosts farm resilience, and helps wildlife and rivers.
- The latest grant from Defra follows Storm Goretti in January, which brought 100mph gusts and destroyed hundreds of mature trees at St Michael's Mount near Penzance and Trewithen in Truro.
- Ben Thomas of Treveddoe Farm near Cardinham has planted 2,500 trees through the scheme, crediting its "knowledge, contacts and funding" for launching what he called a "brilliant agroforestry network."
Why it matters: The £8.7m from Defra's Trees Programme keeps Cornwall on track toward 8,000 hectares of new canopy by 2035 and feeds England's 16.5% woodland cover target for 2050, while directly funding on-the-ground planting on farms, in schools, and on streets that individual landowners like Ben Thomas say they could not have started without the scheme's support.
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