§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in planting the national forest; and what steps he is taking to involve local communities in the project. [7708]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe National Forest Company was established in April 1995 to implement the strategy for the forest. Six hundred hectares have been planted since the inception of the project in 1991. A further 224 hectares has been committed to planting through round 1 of the national forest tender scheme, introduced in 1995. The company encourages community involvement in all its work, and has established a local authority advisory group and a community projects working group to help develop community action.