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 nat...