Treemendous! 20m set for new national forest

TWENTY million trees will be planted to create the first new national forest in more than 30 years.

- By Tom Bevan

Woods will run from the Cotswolds to the Mendips, taking in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Bristol, helping to boost wildlife, tackle climate change and create jobs.

The Western Forest will support the Government's net-zero commitment as part of a vow to create three forests this Parliament and will help England hit a target of increasing woodland cover to 16.5% of the land by 2050.

Helping to plant the first sapling, nature minister Mary Creagh said: “We will plant 20 million trees in the Western Forest to bring nature closer to people, prevent flooding and support wildlife.”