Trees are a golden thread running through British history and our cultural identity,  from MacBeth and Robin Hood to Winnie the Pooh and Harry Potter. Whether its leaves and acorns, or the entire tree, the oak appears in symbols throughout our land, from the wreath adorning the mysterious Green Man to the Conservative Party’s own logo.

Our path towards net zero emissions by 2050 is lined with trees. Recognition of the sheer amount of timber products we will require is recognised in the UK’s carbon budgets, and the government has set out a plan to adopt it in its Timber in Construction Roadmap which was published in 2023 and warmly welcomed by the forestry sector.

Where mass afforestation is possible and environmentally appropriate, it should be incentivised. But sometimes trees are best integrated into the existing landscape, here and there, rather than everywhere.

At the core of conservatism are the twin values of fiscal responsibility and environmental stewardship. Fundamentally, they are values of fairness:

The public sector owns a significant amount of land in England - approximately eight percent. Local councils alone have been estimated to own four percent, around 1.3 million acres.

We may consider trees to be strong, hardy, and resilient, but in reality they are almost constantly at risk from pests, disease, and human interference.