The National Forest is meeting a historic milestone: 10 million trees planted since its creation in the early 1990s, with more than 150,000 new trees added over the 2024-25 planting season.
That means it has already topped 9.85 million trees.
They have captured an estimated 730,000 tonnes of CO₂e, which is roughly the same as taking 429,000 petrol cars off UK roads for a year. This is according to official government figures, which show that an average petrol car emits 1.7 tonnes of CO₂e annually.
The scale of environmental change across the 200 square miles of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire is striking:
National Forest Chief Executive, John Everitt, said this is not just about growing trees: "It’s about growing resilience, restoring nature and supporting people and places to thrive".
Much of the work has been backed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' (DEFRA) Nature for Climate Fund.
Dr Heather Gilbert, the Forest's Research and Evidence Manager, said the carbon impact of decades of planting was clear: "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".
With fewer than 150,000 trees remaining, the push is on to reach the 10 million mark. Everitt said: "Whether through planting, volunteering or funding, everyone has a role to play".
As the government looks to replicate this success in the new Western Forest across parts of the South West, the National Forest stands as a powerful blueprint for climate adaptation, biodiversity, economic growth and cleaner air. All made possible by trees.
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