§ Mr. BatisteTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to encourage the provision of trees in towns and community forests in England.
§ Mr. MacleanThe Government provide grant aid for planting, including grants from the Forestry Commission128W through the woodland grant scheme and the new community woodland supplement, and support from Task Force Trees—a special unit of the Countryside Commission which is allocating some £17 million in grant to replace trees in both urban and rural areas lost in the storms of 1987 and 1990.
We also provide assistance to voluntary and other bodies which are active in planting trees in towns and the urban fringe and fund an important programme of research and the provision of advice, placing emphasis on the practical care and maintenance of trees.
The Countryside Commission and the Forestry Commission are engaged in a joint initiative to create a number of community forests near major towns and cities. The Government have funded the establishment of project teams to explore means of implementing these forests and are currently considering proposed business plans for the three lead schemes: Thames Chase, Forest of Mercia and the Great North Forest.