Forest Services as part of the Forestry Commission are the Government’s forestry experts. We advise nationally and locally on how to unlock the full potential of woodlands and support the forestry sector to protect, improve and expand England’s valuable woodland assets, ensuring that they continue to provide benefits to people, the environment and the economy.
Never has there been a more important time for trees and forests to help tackle the climate emergency and provide a much-needed sanctuary for people and wildlife. We aim to at least treble tree planting rates in England by the end of this Parliament, reflecting England’s contribution to meeting the UK’s overall target of planting 30,000 hectares per year by the end of this Parliament. This acceleration in current planting rates in England will contribute to meeting the net-zero by 2050 ambitions, and to government’s wider environmental targets.
Key priorities include the increased delivery of woodland creation to build the region’s natural capital, to help tackle climate change and to support an increase in the resilience and management of the existing woodland resource.
Post 1 – The Yorkshire and North East Area contains over 226,000 hectares of woodland ranging from important habitat networks of Ancient Woodlands through to large productive conifer forests. In the North East the predominant woodland type is conifer (64.5%) whereas in Yorkshire and The Humber broadleaves form the most significant component (41.5%). This diverse range of woodland types extends over 4 National Parks and 4 Areas of Outstanding National Beauty and through the urban woodland resource is also connected to Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle.
The Yorkshire and North East Area Team operates from the Defra Office (Kings Pool, Foss House) in York with a further office located with the Environment Agency (Tyneside House) in Newcastle. The Area Team is led by Crispin Thorn (Area Director) and currently operates with approximately 30 staff.
Post 2 – The North West and West Midlands Area contains over 239,000 hectares of woodland ranging from important Ancient Woodlands, large productive conifer forests and urban woodlands. The area has a population of over 13 million people. We work in partnership with numerous Local Authorities, our 4 Community Forests, NGOs such as rivers trusts, wildlife trusts and Cumbria Woodlands, as well as our designated landscapes National Parks (e.g., LDNP) and AONBs e.g., Shropshire Hills . The Area has an increasingly active woodland creation and woodland management scene; our regulatory and tree health duties are also increasing. The Area Team operates from 5 offices Penrith, Delamere in Cheshire, Ludlow, Cannock, and Worcester.
