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Western Forest

Asked by Dan NorrisIndependentDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 4 June 2026UIN 5854

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps were taken to protect the newly establishing trees in the Western Forest during May’s heatwave.

Answered by Mary Creagh

The Western Forest has used a range of measures to mitigate unseasonal weather. This includes early-season planting, using mulch mats, and planting resilient cell-grown saplings that are matched to local conditions. Defra and the National Forest Company are supporting Western Forest with these decisions.

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