12 Policy Ideas to Help Future Forests Grow

Wood for the Trees, a series of films about the future of Britain’s forests by Vastern Timber Managing Director Tom Barnes, and film-maker & forest school leader Charly Le Marchant released a video with experts from different backgrounds and perspectives  suggesting 12 policy ideas to help future UK forests grow for the UK government ahead of COP26.

Future Trees Trust, Head of Research, Dr Jo Clark offers policy suggestions.

 

This five minute film summarises these 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 (Dr Jo Clark, Future Trees Trust)

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

 

Policy suggesters include:

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, Small Farm Future & Vallis Veg

Vastern Timber is a supporter of Future Trees Trust Sycamore trials.