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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 February 2026 to Question 111640 on Western Forest, whether monitoring of tree survival has commenced; what data her Department holds on survival rates for newly planted trees in that forest; and when she plans to publish that data.

Following the first year of tree planting the Western Forest has agreed a standardised methodology for tree survival, and will carry out an assessment of tree survival from Spring 2027. Based on preliminary site surveys there is currently an estimated 30% mortality rate of Western Forest from the first year of planting. This estimate is above the 20% mortality rate factored into tree planting and reflects the challenging conditions nationwide in 2026. Trees lost will be restocked.