Oak Trees

Environment Food and Rural Affairs written question – answered at on 22 May 2006.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mark Tami Mark Tami PPS (Rt Hon Dawn Primarolo, Paymaster General), HM Treasury

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to promote the planting of oak trees.

Photo of Barry Gardiner Barry Gardiner Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) (Biodiversity, Landscape and Rural Affairs)

In the Action Plan for our Statement of Policy for England's Ancient and Native Woodland we promote woodland creation which extends, buffers and links ancient woodland through both the Forestry Commission's English Woodland Grant Scheme and DEFRA's Environmental Stewardship grants. In order to respect the biodiversity values of ancient woodland much of this type of woodland creation will involve the use of native species including a significant proportion of oak.

Most new woodland planting and restocking that is carried out by private landowners is grant aided by the Forestry Commission. The incentives available favour the planting of native broadleaves and a large proportion of these will be oak.

In England the Forestry Commission has embarked on a programme to restore 15,000 hectares of ancient semi-natural woodland on the public forest estate by 2020 and this will include planting and regenerating native tree species, including oak. In addition most new planting by the Commission will be with native broadleaves and, where site conditions are suitable, oak will be well represented in these new woodlands.

Does this answer the above question?

Yes1 person thinks so

No0 people think not

Would you like to ask a question like this yourself? Use our Freedom of Information site.