§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what funding for tree planting has been given following the hurricane of 15 and 16 October 1987; to which bodies it has been given; how many trees have been planted; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyIn the period to 1991–92, we are providing some 13 million for replacement planting of amenity trees following the storm. Most grants are being allocated through Task Force Trees, a special unit of the Countryside Commission; others are administered by English Heritage. The bulk of aid from Task Force Tees has been given to local authorities, either in respect of their own trees or to assist planting by landowners; Task Force Trees have also assisted conservation bodies. In the last planting season Task Force Trees estimated that some 500,000 trees were planted with their help, and surgery had been carried out on 30,000 trees. There is assistance from English Heritage for the restoration of parks and gardens of outstanding architectural or historic interest; grants for parks and gardens of special historic interest are available from Task Force Trees. Other programmes of aid for replacing trees destroyed in the storm are administered by the Forestry Commission and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.