The Government needs to boost domestic production of trees | Express Comment | Comment

We’re urging the Government to continue support for UK tree nurseries, to counter the threat posed by spiralling tree imports.

Figures just out show that 128 million trees and shrubs were imported into the UK last year and that is rising – it’s up from 126 million the previous year.

International trade of plants and trees presents a risk of introducing new pests and pathogens which threaten our woods and trees – and the many thousands of species that live on them. 

Our research from our State of Woods and Trees report showed that a new pest or pathogen has been found in the UK every 1.4 years since the year 2000.

For example, ash trees are severely threatened by a disease called ash dieback, impacting the 955 species that call this tree home. Ash dieback was brought into the UK on imported trees, which has had a huge impact on ash woodlands, with up to 85% of ash trees in some woodlands wiped out. 

These diseases bring with them the need for either eradication or control. 

This results in huge losses of trees as landowners and the authorities try to contain the disease. The latest Forestry Statistics show that since 2014, 21,000 hectares of larch trees have been felled due to the introduced pathogen Phytophthora ramorum. 

The Woodland Trust itself has spent hundreds of thousands of pounds removing larch due to this disease.

These introductions are costly, not only to our wildlife but also the UK economy. 

It’s predicted that ash dieback will cost £15 billion over the next 100 years. 

Additionally, a recent study revealed that six introduced tree pests and pathogens alone cost the UK economy £920 million annually.

Growing the trees we need, right here in the UK, is one of the best ways to ensure we do not introduce any new tree diseases into our landscape. 

We have some fantastic tree nurseries across the UK which grow the trees that the Woodland Trust and many others need.  While the Trust runs the UK and Ireland Sourced and Grown scheme, there are still far too many trees being imported from elsewhere.

Currently, the Government – through DEFRA – provides funding for tree nurseries to help them grow more trees domestically, but this support is due to end in early 2025. 

So, we are urging the new Government to recommit to boost our domestic production of trees.

If millions of trees continue to be lost due to imported pests and diseases, it will have a huge knock-on impact not only on the native wildlife that relies on trees but also our enjoyment of the UK countryside.

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