Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of increased urban tree cover on(a) heatwaves, (b) flooding and (c) drought in areas with low levels of existing tree cover.

Lower urban tree cover often correlates with higher socioeconomic deprivation. The Government supports urban tree planting through the Trees Outside Woodland Fund in partnership with the Tree Council, and England’s Community Forests. Both plant trees in and around urban areas to improve wellbeing, tackle climate change and create places for nature. The Community Forests planted over 1,800 hectares in 2025/26. Forest Research have estimated the value of the UK’s non-woodland trees based on the multiple benefits provided.

The recently announced £53 million Community Trees Fund will plant and establish up to 500,000 new trees outside woodlands, including on streets and in parks. We are considering how areas of deprivation or low tree cover could be further supported.