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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what conversations her Department is having with relevant stakeholders in the North East to support local communities involvement in the management of tree planting.

Defra’s Nature for Climate Fund supports a range of work across these areas. This includes the Northumberland Woodland Creation Partnership, the North East Community Forest and Tees Community Forest. These partnerships engage and support communities, landowners and stakeholders to plant trees. They have proven successful and have good community involvement and engagement. In addition, the Forestry Commission provide support to these partnerships and carry out their own engagement.