We were absolutely delighted to participate in the first ever parliamentary reception for England’s Community Forests, held on 2 March 2026 at the House of Commons Terrace Pavilion. It was an inspiring occasion and a proud moment for the White Rose Forest as we stood alongside our fellow Community Forests to celebrate the collective achievements of the network and share our vision for the future.
More than 120 partners from across the woodland sector came together with the Directors of England’s Community Forests, host Andrew Cooper MP, Baroness Hayman (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and guest speaker Dr Anusha Shah, to celebrate two major achievements of the network:
- The publication of 25-year forest plans for each of the 15 Community Forests,
- The remarkable impact from the first six years of the national Trees for Climate programme.
Since 2020, England’s Community Forests have planted over 8 million trees across the network — representing 35% of all government-funded tree planting. You can watch the latest highlights from the 2024/25 planting season to see the positive difference these projects are making for local communities and nature.
A moment of reflection and ambition
For the White Rose Forest, the evening was an opportunity to reflect on our journey so far:
- the partnerships we’ve built
- the communities we’ve supported
- the woodlands and green spaces we’ve brought to life across North and West Yorkshire
It was also a chance to look forward as we collectively prepare for the next phase of the Trees for Climate programme. Through our place-based approach, the White Rose Forest will continue delivery where it matters most and at the same time help meet national woodland creation targets as set out in the revised Environmental Improvement Plan 2025.
Putting communities first
While new woodlands are the most visible result of our work, our purpose goes far beyond tree planting. As part of England’s Community Forests, the White Rose Forest is focused on the people who live in and around our region’s towns and cities, in places where tree cover is often lowest and community need is highest. By creating accessible green spaces close to where people live, we support:
- health and wellbeing
- outdoor education
- nature recovery
- flood alleviation and improved water quality
- skills development and green jobs
- sustainable local economic growth and opportunity
A forest plan tailored to North and West Yorkshire
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to community forestry and that’s one of our strengths. Our newly published White Rose Forest Strategic Plan 2025-2050 outlines a long-term, locally-focused vision to create a vast, varied and connected treescape across North and West Yorkshire and protect and restore more of the woodland we already have. It responds to the specific landscapes, communities, economic conditions and needs of North and West Yorkshire, ensuring that we are planting the right tree in the right place.
Growing national impact through local action
The White Rose Forest and our fellow Community Forests are uniquely positioned to support Government ambitions to accelerate tree planting across England. We have the infrastructure, the expertise and, most importantly, the trusted local partnerships needed to create woodlands that communities will value and help sustain. Research from More in Common (2025) shows that green spaces are amongst the greatest sources of local pride for communities, cutting across political backgrounds. The community forestry model embodies this sentiment, empowering people as long-term custodians of the places they love.
Looking ahead
Our 25-year Strategic Plan showcases the White Rose Forest’s ambition to create a greener, healthier and more climate-resilient Yorkshire. To date, close to 3 million trees have been planted and thousands of local projects delivered so we are well prepared to achieve even more in the years ahead.
The next five years represent a crucial transition period in which we will strengthen the foundations required to sustain our impact well beyond the current Trees for Climate funding stream. Our forthcoming 2026-2031 Action Plan sets out a framework for a strong, collaborative and financially resilient partnership, one that continues to lead long-term landscape transformation across North and West Yorkshire and delivers lasting benefits for people, nature and place.