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Branching Out: a manifesto for our trees, woodlands, and forests

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Trees are firmly rooted in our country’s natural heritage. However, the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world and is missing out on the benefits trees provide our wildlife, our mental wellbeing, and protecting and improving local areas. Trees are once again becoming pivotal to our economy, supporting industries like construction to decarbonise. But a lack of tree planting has left the UK as the third biggest importer of timber in the world.

 

This latest manifesto, ‘Branching Out’, puts forward a series of bold and pragmatic policies to revive trees, woodland, and forests across the UK, boosting nature, carbon storage, and timber security. This realistic but ambitious approach is designed to boost our timber security, restore nature across Britain, support industries critical to delivering net zero emissions by 2050, and add well-paying jobs along the supply chain.

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The manifesto addresses five key areas to help unlock new forests and tree planting: protecting trees we have; boosting our timber security; integrating trees into the farmed landscape; reviewing our consumption of wood products for bioenergy; and leading by example in the public sector.