More than £260 million will be spent creating 9,323 hectares of woodland across England over the next four years under the next phase of the Trees for Climate programme.
The government-backed programme will bring together England’s Community Forests, the National Trust, the Woodland Trust and the Community Forest Trust. It will focus on creating woodlands that support nature recovery, capture carbon and help communities adapt to climate change.
Funding will come through Defra’s national Trees Programme. The partnership will use local knowledge and land management experience to identify where new trees can provide the greatest environmental and social benefits.
Trees will be planted in urban and rural areas with a particular focus on improving access to green space near towns and cities.
The programme is also intended to reduce flood risks, provide habitats for wildlife and support health and wellbeing.
Partners said the approach would ensure suitable trees were planted in suitable locations with new woodlands designed to provide lasting benefits rather than simply meeting planting targets.
James Russell, Co-Chair of England’s Community Forests network and Director of the Forest of Marston Vale said: “Trees for Climate has always been about more than simply getting trees in the ground; it’s about creating resilient landscapes that communities can enjoy for generations.
“By joining forces with the National Trust, the Woodland Trust and the Community Forest Trust we are pooling our expertise to ensure these woodlands deliver deep, lasting benefits for people, places and planet.”
The new funding follows the sixth year of Trees for Climate which delivered substantial planting across England’s 15 Community Forests during the 2025/26 season.
More than 2.5 million trees were planted alongside 182,000 metres of hedgerow. The programme also converted 2,325 hectares of land into woodland and created more than 87 kilometres of footpaths.
Almost 23,000 volunteers, schools and land managers took part in planting activities during the year.
Trees for Climate has now planted more than 10 million trees across England and accounts for over 35% of all government-funded tree planting since 2020. It is also supporting the expansion of the Northern Forest and Western Forest which aim to create connected landscapes that benefit wildlife, communities and local economies.
The government has committed £1 billion to tree planting and support for the forestry sector over this parliament.
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