England to Plant Half a Million Trees in £79 million Nature-Recovery Push

Environment Secretary Angela Eagle will unveil a £79 million package aimed at planting half a million trees across England over the next three years. The scheme allocates £53 million directly to tree-planting and £26 million to “local nature recovery strategies” that will support wetlands, river edges and meadows. The funding will be channelled to mayors, local authorities, charities and grassroots groups, giving them new responsibilities for restoring natural landscapes.

The Guardian

The initiative follows a severe summer drought that highlighted the need for greater natural infrastructure. The policy outline states that trees can reduce urban air temperatures by up to 4 °C and that a single mature tree can intercept up to 15,000 litres of water each year, helping to curb flood risk and runoff during storms. Restoring wetlands and other “natural sponges” is presented as a way to absorb excess rainfall and protect communities without relying on extensive concrete works.

England to Plant Half a Million Trees Under £79m Nature Recovery Package

Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, called the plan “very encouraging” and said it signals a shift toward giving local authorities the power, money and political support they have long lacked. Richard Benwell, chief executive of the Wildlife and Countryside Link charity, argued that investing in critical nature infrastructure makes both economic and ecological sense, especially when guided by locally agreed restoration plans.

The Guardian

• “We need to make Britain wet again,” — Craig Bennett, the chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts

The Guardian

• “We could have tens of thousands of new wetlands.” — Richard Benwell, the chief executive of the Wildlife and Countryside Link charity

The Guardian