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

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have asked the Tree Champion to intervene in the tree felling programme in Sheffield as a matter of urgency.

The Tree Champion’s appointment does not have any statutory powers. The Terms of Reference for the Tree Champion, published on 13 June, set out that Sir William Worsley will:

• Support the introduction of a new duty for local councils to consult before felling street trees;

• Support the Government to deliver its objective of planting 1m urban trees by 2022;

• Bring together Mayors, city leaders, and other key players across government to promote the value of trees and promote local authorities development of comprehensive Tree and Woodland Strategies;

• Explore how local authorities can improve their reporting on tree felling and re-planting, and

• Encourage more effective approaches to tree management that promote and preserve the benefits of street trees while managing the health and safety risks of diseased trees

  Since his appointment, Sir William Worsley has requested information from officials on tree felling in Sheffield.

  Separately, the Forestry Commission is currently investigating the tree felling being undertaken by Sheffield City Council as part of the Streets Ahead programme using powers to control tree felling as set out in Part II of the Forestry Act 1967. We are not able to provide any further information on this investigation whilst it is ongoing.