England launches 500,000-tree climate plan

September 30, 2026

England is set to plant around 500,000 trees over the next three years as part of a major government initiative designed to strengthen communities against floods, drought, extreme heat and other growing climate risks.

Environment Secretary Angela Eagle is expected to announce the programme at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, outlining £79 million in funding for tree planting and local nature restoration.

The initiative will give mayors, councils, charities and community organisations greater resources and responsibility to restore natural environments, including wetlands, riverbanks, meadows and urban green spaces.

These ecosystems can act as natural climate defences by storing water, slowing surface runoff, cooling urban areas and providing habitats for wildlife.

£53 Million for tree planting across England

Of the total funding package, approximately £53 million will support tree-planting projects, while another £26 million will go towards local nature recovery strategies.

The government says locally led environmental projects can help communities prepare for increasingly severe weather while improving access to green spaces.

England's recent drought has highlighted the role healthy ecosystems can play in climate adaptation. Areas with more vegetation and healthier soils can retain greater amounts of water during dry periods. Trees also provide shade during heatwaves and help absorb rainfall when storms return.

Eagle is expected to argue that communities should have greater influence over how nature restoration projects are designed and implemented, allowing local authorities and organisations to respond to environmental challenges specific to their areas.

Trees can help cities cope with extreme weather

Expanding tree cover could deliver significant environmental benefits, particularly in densely populated towns and cities.

Urban trees can reduce local temperatures by providing shade and cooling the surrounding air. A mature tree can also intercept thousands of litres of rainfall annually, helping reduce pressure on drainage systems and lowering the risk of surface-water flooding.

Beyond climate adaptation, trees can absorb some air pollutants, reduce noise and create important habitats for birds, insects and other urban wildlife.

The strategy reflects a broader effort to treat nature restoration as part of England's infrastructure for adapting to climate change rather than solely as a conservation issue.

Local communities to lead nature recovery

A central element of the programme will be transferring more responsibility for environmental restoration to local decision-makers.

The government plans to work with mayors, councils, charities and grassroots organisations on projects tailored to individual communities. Local nature recovery strategies will help identify priority areas for habitat restoration and determine where environmental investment could provide the greatest benefits.

The approach aligns with a wider localism agenda associated with Andy Burnham, with greater emphasis placed on decisions being made closer to the communities affected.

Supporters argue that local authorities often understand where flooding, overheating, habitat loss and other environmental pressures are most severe, but historically have lacked sufficient funding and authority to implement large-scale solutions.

Wetland restoration could strengthen flood protection

Wetlands are expected to play an important role in the nature recovery programme.

England has lost more than 90% of its wetlands over the past century, significantly reducing natural habitats capable of storing water and supporting biodiversity.

Restoring wetlands could help hold excess rainfall, slow the movement of water through landscapes and reduce downstream flood risks. They can also provide valuable habitats for wildlife while storing carbon and improving water quality.

Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, welcomed the announcement and argued that stronger investment in natural landscapes could improve Britain's long-term resilience.

He also called for significantly more wetland restoration across the country.

Nature investment seen as part of climate adaptation

Environmental organisations have increasingly called for nature restoration to be treated as essential infrastructure.

Richard Benwell, chief executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said investment in natural systems can help protect businesses and communities while supporting economic resilience.

Locally developed nature recovery plans, he argued, can ensure funding is directed towards projects capable of delivering both ecological and economic benefits.

Environmental groups are also calling for longer-term funding and greater contributions from industries that benefit from stronger climate resilience or contribute to environmental damage.

Farming funding remains under pressure

The tree-planting announcement comes as the government faces criticism over financial support available to farmers carrying out environmental improvements.

England's Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) recently reopened with a £253 million funding pot for farmers willing to adopt measures such as restoring wildlife habitats, improving soils and planting trees.

Demand dramatically exceeded the available funding, however. The entire allocation was reportedly exhausted within approximately six hours, leaving many farmers unable to secure support.

Environmental organisations say farmers will remain essential to restoring nature because agricultural land covers a large proportion of the English countryside.

They argue that funding for environmentally responsible farming should increasingly be viewed not only as agricultural spending, but also as investment in climate resilience, food security, biodiversity and national infrastructure.

Nature becomes a key defence against climate change

The planned planting of half a million trees represents part of a wider shift towards using natural ecosystems to help England prepare for more frequent extreme weather.

Trees, wetlands, meadows and healthier river systems cannot eliminate climate risks, but they can reduce their impact by storing water, providing shade, supporting biodiversity and making landscapes more resilient.

With £79 million in new funding and a greater role for local communities, the government aims to combine nature restoration with practical measures to protect homes, businesses and public spaces.

The programme could also demonstrate how investment in natural infrastructure can complement traditional flood defences and other climate adaptation measures as England prepares for a warmer and more unpredictable climate.