October 27, 2021

Wood for the Trees, 12 ideas to help Britain’s forests grow

Wood for the Trees is a series of films about the future of Britain’s forests, from our MD Tom Barnes, and film-maker Charly Le Marchant. In these films, experts from different backgrounds and perspectives talked about their hopes and fears and suggested one policy for the UK government.

This five minute film summarises those policy suggestions.

1. Create a coherent plan to support nature across government

2. Bring agriculture and forestry together into one ecological unit

3. Deliver funding to turn policy into practice

4. Value productive woodlands in creating good quality timber

5. Grown in Britain policy for all timber used in public buildings

6. Funding for 19% canopy cover by 2050

7. Control grey squirrel numbers to protect young trees

8. Implement a carbon tax to incentivise local production

9. Always plant improved trees when planting trees for timber

10. All school age children to have access to forest school

11. Prioritise woodland restoration over tree planting

12. All funded tree planting to be accompanied by a long term management plan

Many thanks to our guests:

Dr Jo Clark, Future Trees Trust,

Dr Gabriel Hemery, Sylva Foundation

Jez Ralph, Timber Strategies

Doug King Smith, the Hillyfield Woodland Farm

Alastair Driver, Rewilding Britain

Dougal Driver, Grown in Britain

Suzi Martineau, Tree Sisters & The Tree Conference

Graham Taylor, Pryor & Rickett Silvaculture

Chris Smaje & Cordelia Rowlatt, Small Farm Future & Vallis Veg

For more information and to watch the whole series, visit woodforthetrees.uk