The UK government has announced a major £1 billion investment to expand tree planting and boost green jobs through the creation of new national forests. Communities across England will gain from improved access to nature, as these initiatives aim to restore the environment, create thousands of jobs, and support national net zero goals. A new national forest is confirmed for the Oxford-Cambridge corridor, while a competition will launch in early 2026 to select the location of a third forest in the Midlands or North of England.
This announcement delivers on the government’s manifesto commitment to create three new national forests. The first, the Western Forest—revealed in March—marks the first new forest in 30 years and will stretch from the Cotswolds to the Mendips. Together, these large-scale projects are part of a broader plan to allocate over £1 billion during this Parliament to tree planting and support for the forestry sector. Meeting these goals could generate and sustain more than 14,000 green jobs across Great Britain.
The initiative aligns with the UK’s global climate leadership, as the announcement comes ahead of the Prime Minister’s participation at COP30. The UK continues to advance ambitious climate targets, including an 81% reduction in emissions by 2035. In addition, the government plans to explore a Woodland Carbon Purchase Fund worth up to £250 million, which would provide upfront payments to landowners to encourage the planting of carbon-rich woodlands, tackling one of the main barriers to large-scale tree planting.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds emphasized that woodlands play a vital role in regulating the climate, supporting biodiversity, and improving access to nature. She highlighted that the new forests—in the West Country, between Oxford and Cambridge, and an upcoming one in the Midlands or North—will drive growth, restore nature, and create sustainable green jobs. The Ox-Cam forest will be designed with input from local partners to integrate nature recovery with new housing, jobs, and infrastructure.
The government’s upcoming Environmental Improvement Plan will provide further details on the next phase of the UK’s nature recovery strategy. Alongside forest creation, new investments in apprenticeships and training programs will equip communities with the skills needed for the growing green economy, ensuring long-term benefits for both people and the planet.
