Should the UK government increase woodland creation to meet the 30,000-hectare annual target? | refnation

EnvironmentNational26 Jun → 27 JunClosed · Final

Should the UK government increase woodland creation to meet the 30,000-hectare annual target?

Yes 46%No 54%28 votes cast

UK woodland creation fell to under 13,500 hectares in the year to March 2026, below the previous year's 15,700 ha and the 30,000 ha target. Planting dropped in every nation and is about a third lower than the 2023/24 peak. Industry leaders say the shortfall threatens future timber supply, green jobs and climate goals.

Sourceforestryjournal.co.uk

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No prevailed by the narrowest of margins, 15 votes to 13, on a question that on paper looks unarguable — England is missing a government tree-planting target by more than half — yet failed to command a majority among the 28 voters with a profile on record.

The split by age was thin everywhere except one bracket: the 25-34s, who supplied 17 of the 28 votes and broke 41% yes to 59% no. Every other age group was either tied or too small to read with confidence, which means this result is really a verdict from Britain's under-35s more than the nation at large.

The sharper fracture was gender. Men split close to even, 53% yes, while the 7 women who voted went 29% yes — a gap that echoes a familiar pattern on environmental spending questions, where headline support for green goals often thins out once the question becomes "should government now act, and pay for it".

A target missed by more than half, and a vote that could not muster even a bare majority to demand it be chased.