The Government’s climate change and biodiversity targets will not be met without greater support for domestic tree production, according to a new report produced by the Woodland Trust, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), the National Trust and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

The Strong Roots report, published today (Tuesday 14 October 2025), suggests that the UK government’s Net Zero Strategy, which requires 40,000 hectares of trees to be planted annually by 2030, is likely to be held back by barriers to domestic tree production, such as the lack of a designated action plan and a shortage of skilled workers.

In 2023/24, Britain planted over 20,000 hectares of new woodland (the highest in 35 years), yet meeting future planting targets will require strategic support for domestic tree production, which is “the backbone of reaching targets to increase tree cover” according to the report.