The National Forest has planted more than 150,000 trees during the 2024 to 2025 season, bringing the total number planted since its creation to over 9.85 million.
With the ten millionth tree now firmly in sight, the Forest is nearing another major milestone in a transformational journey spanning more than three decades.
During this time, the visitor economy across the area has increased by nearly 30 per cent, with the arts and recreation sector growing by 14 per cent over the past eight years.
The Forest now welcomes over 8.2 million visitors in a typical year, underlining its value not only for the environment but also for the regional economy and cultural offer.
National Forest plants more trees
Over that same period, woodland cover across the Forest area has increased from just six per cent to more than 25 per cent, transforming the landscape and delivering long-term environmental benefits.
The 2024 to 2025 planting season took place between November and March, covering the 200 square miles of the Forest, with more than a third of all trees planted delivered in collaboration with landowners and partners, highlighting the importance of joint working in expanding woodland cover. This included 89,689 trees planted on National Forest estate, and a further 53,509 delivered through funded partnerships with landowners. An estimated 6,000 more trees were planted through planning agreements.
Recently, the National Forest collaborated with Small World Consulting to highlight the Forest’s growing contribution to tackling climate change.
The analysis shows that since the early stages of Forest creation in the 1990s, trees and woodlands across the area, both newly planted and pre-existing, have captured 730,000 tonnes of CO?e.*
That’s roughly equivalent to taking around 430,000 petrol cars off the road for a year, showing how decades of woodland creation are making a measurable and lasting impact.
Dr Heather Gilbert, research and evidence manager at the National Forest, said: “These data provide robust evidence of the long-term environmental value of woodland creation.
“The trees planted in the National Forest are not only enhancing habitats and improving landscapes, but they are also locking away carbon year on year, helping us to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change.”
Much of this season’s programme was supported by Defra’s Nature for Climate Fund, which is helping to increase tree cover across England and support the UK’s Environment Act targets, improving the quality of our air and water, creating and restoring habitats, and supporting biodiversity to thrive.
The Forest’s approach focuses on planting the right trees in the right places for the right reasons, typically a diverse mix of native broadleaf species, to create woodlands that are ecologically resilient, adaptable to climate change and beneficial to wildlife.
Tree planting also brings a range of community benefits, from improving wellbeing to creating more attractive and accessible landscapes.
Increasingly, farmers are integrating trees alongside crops or using them to diversify less productive land.
The National Forest is continuing to offer new grant schemes to support agroforestry and sustainable land use.
John Everitt OBE, chief executive of the National Forest, said: “Every tree planted last season is a contribution to a greener, healthier future.
“This is not just about growing trees, it’s about growing resilience, restoring nature and supporting people and places to thrive.
“With fewer than 150,000 trees to go, we’re now calling on individuals, landowners and supporters to help us reach our ten millionth tree.
“Whether through planting, volunteering or funding, everyone has a role to play in writing the next chapter of the Forest’s story.”
Over 30 years, the National Forest has grown from a bold vision into one of the UK’s leading examples of large-scale environmental recovery, transforming a post-industrial landscape into a thriving forest where nature, people and enterprise grow together.
As the Forest nears this landmark moment, it stands as a powerful reminder that long-term, purposeful action can deliver meaningful change, for the biodiversity, economy and for future generations.
The National Forest covers 200 square miles of the counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire. Its creation began in the early 1990s, a radical vision to bring the benefits of trees, woodland and multi-use forestry to lowland England, where thousands of people live and work.
The Forest provides a national demonstration of the value of the natural environment to drive regeneration and showcase policy and practice, research and development in the heart of the country.
It was the first broadleaf forest to be created at scale in England for more than 900 years and is now seen as one of the boldest environmentally led regeneration initiatives in the country. It has transformed a post-industrial Midlands landscape – scarred by coal mining and heavy industry – from black to green.
Year by year, the National Forest has been steadily turning what was once one of the least wooded areas of England into a multi-purpose, sustainable forest. More than 9.85 million trees have been planted so far. Forest cover has increased from six percent to 25 percent, approaching double the national average for woodland cover. The aim is to reach around a third forest cover.
Trees have been the catalyst for change and transformation. The National Forest is a positive response to the climate crisis and is putting in place the building blocks to deliver mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Through partnerships the National Forest is working to create wildlife habitats, reduce flooding, improve air quality, store carbon and create space for outdoor education, supporting the health and wellbeing of communities and enabling Forest-related businesses to thrive.
The National Forest is also playing a key role in the development of the Western Forest, one of England’s new national forests. This ambitious initiative will be created across Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and the West of England, which includes Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire. It will build on the National Forest’s success by scaling up woodland creation and connecting landscapes to deliver greater environmental and community benefits.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the formation of the National Forest Company (charity no: 1166563), the charity leading the creation of the Forest, working in partnership with landowners, local authorities, businesses, and communities. It has strong support from government, politicians, and the public, and continues to be backed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Petrol cars equivalent
A typical petrol car in the UK emits around 1.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO?e) per year, based on an average annual mileage of 7,600 miles.
UK Government greenhouse gas reporting conversion factors (BEIS, 2023)
Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2023
730,000 tonnes CO?e ÷ 1.7 tonnes CO?e per car per year = approximately 429,411 cars
Small World Consulting are world-leading experts in measuring the carbon footprint and environmental impacts of organisations and landscapes, showing how they could thrive in a low-carbon future.
Defra’s Tree Planting Programme
Trees are at the forefront of Defra’s plans to connect communities with nature, support biodiversity and drive our work to tackle the climate crisis while creating thousands of new green jobs across the country.
- As part of our Plan for Change, we are investing up to 400m each year into nature schemes including tree planting. This is part of the largest investment into nature in history, with over £7 billion directed into nature’s recovery until 2028/29. This includes £816 million in tree planting. These investments will make a significant contribution to the Environment Act targets, including improving the quality of water, air, and spaces for wildlife so biodiversity can thrive.
- Find out more at: Put Down Roots – Woodland creation
See more breaking stories here.