Cornwall Council has secured £8.7m in government funding to expand the Forest for Cornwall tree-planting scheme, which organisers say has now resulted in more than two million trees being planted since it began. The money comes from Defra's Trees Programme and is intended to help the authority reach its target of creating 8,000 hectares (19,768 acres) of new tree canopy by 2035.
The scheme was launched in 2019 as part of Cornwall's response to the climate emergency, with planting carried out in communities, on farms, in schools and along streets across the county. Council officials say the project also contributes to a wider national goal of raising England's canopy and woodland cover to 16.5% by 2050.
What is the Forest for Cornwall scheme?
It is a county-wide tree-planting initiative that began after Cornwall Council declared a climate emergency in 2019, forming part of a broader strategy aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, according to earlier reporting. The programme has grown steadily since then; by 2023 it had passed one million trees planted and was targeting 1,500 hectares by the following spring, according to a previous update. Defra also backed the project through a National Woodland Creation Partnership pilot announced on 19 March 2021, which included an initial £120,000 uplift from the Nature for Climate Fund, according to a government announcement.
Cornwall Council figures cited in local reporting suggest the scheme had reached over 1.6 million trees across 971 individual projects at the time of its most recent update, a more detailed breakdown than the round figure of two million trees now being celebrated, according to the council's own programme page. Separately, an earlier funding package was reported to support planting up to 385 hectares of new woodland and to establish two new support funds for farmers and landowners, according to the council's funding page.
How will the new funding be used?
Council records show the authority has formally accepted £8.76m from central government, with the aim of creating 2,000 hectares of new woodland by 2030, according to Cornwall Political Watch's record of council decisions. Loic Rich, Cornwall's cabinet member for environment and climate change, said the scheme improves local landscapes and wellbeing.
"Enhances our local landscape, towns and villages, bringing the beauty and benefits of trees to our doorsteps to improve our health and happiness, providing much-needed shade during this prolonged period of heat."
He added that the programme supports farmers and helps protect wildlife and water quality.
"By providing homes for birds, mammals and insects, helping keep our rivers and streams clean and cool, reducing run-off, and improving the health of our soils."
He said increased tree cover also helps guard against extreme weather.
"Reduce flooding in coastal towns and building resilience to a changing climate."
Why does resilience to storms matter now?
The renewed funding follows widespread storm damage in January, when Storm Goretti brought gusts of up to 100mph (160km/h) and destroyed hundreds of trees across the county, including mature specimens at St Michael's Mount near Penzance and at Trewithen in Truro.
Among those taking part in the scheme is Ben Thomas of Treveddoe Farm near Cardinham, who has planted 2,500 trees on his land.
"Without the knowledge, contacts and funding it would have been hard to find the time to get the project started. In the end we have ended up with a brilliant agroforestry network on the farm which is already delivering."
A separate report noted that the initiative has already distributed more than 15,000 free trees to local residents, according to a national broadcaster's coverage.
What happens next?
Cornwall Council has scheduled a series of free tree giveaway events over the coming months, including sessions in Newquay on 22 November 2025, Bodmin on 31 January 2026, Penzance on 17 January 2026, Redruth on 14 February 2026 and Truro on 21 February 2026, according to the council's published programme. Organisers say the £8.7m funding boost is specifically intended to help the authority hit its 8,000-hectare tree-canopy target by 2035, according to local radio reporting.
Key Facts
- Forest for Cornwall launched in 2019 following the council's climate emergency declaration.
- More than two million trees have now been planted, though council figures elsewhere cite 1.6 million trees across 971 projects.
- New £8.7m government funding aims to help create 2,000 hectares of woodland by 2030 and reach an 8,000-hectare canopy target by 2035.
- Storm Goretti destroyed hundreds of trees in January, including at St Michael's Mount and Trewithen.
- Free tree giveaway events are scheduled in Newquay, Bodmin, Penzance, Redruth and Truro through early 2026.
