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TOO few trees are being planted, but significant progress was made last year. In the case of the UK, neither statement is mutually exclusive.

The UK did make great strides during the 2023/24 planting season, creating more than 21,000 hectares of new woodland, far greater than the 12,000 ha of the 12 months prior and the highest total for more than 30 years.

But, at the same time, this is still only a little over two-thirds of the recommended annual tally of 30,000 ha (and that's before we get into the lack of coniferous planting).

These two opposing but equally tree statements were thrust into the spotlight again last week with the publication of a new report into the UK's net-zero ambitions. Penned by the country's most senior climate advisors, it was pretty scathing.

The Climate Change Committee said woodland creation rates will need to "more than double" to get as close to the country's annual goal of 30,000 hectares (albeit this appears to be referring to the 2022/23 season).

Members of the CCC argued that more "effective delivery mechanisms, complete with required funding, support, and plans to unlock private finance" are "urgently needed". While forestry is devolved, the report noted that all four nations must provide "more effective" policies to step up woodland creation.

Stuart Goodall said the report highlighted the importance of forestry to the economy and climate

Writing in the report, officials argued: "Rates of tree planting and peatland restoration need to increase in the near term."

You'll struggle to find a forester who – despite the recent progress – disagrees.

"The latest CCC report is very timely and underscores what Confor has been advocating for years – that tree planting is a critical tool in our fight against climate change and that we’re not doing enough of it," is how Stuart Goodall, chief executive of Confor, summed it up. “Increased woodland creation will help deliver the Labour Government’s priority objective of growing the economy."

PREMIUM FEATURE EXTRACT: How Simon Archer swapped fine art for chainsaw carving

With a background in fine art, Simon Archer has always had an eye for detail – as he has proven time and time again across three decades of chainsaw carving.

SIMON Archer came to wood sculpting and chainsaw carving after having done quite a few different jobs, none of which were necessarily related to the one he does now.

“My first job at 16 was washing dishes and peeling potatoes at a local Italian restaurant. I then went on to work alongside countryside rangers as an estate worker. This was the first job that I actually enjoyed and would probably have set me on a path of nature conservation. Unfortunately, my contract ended due to lack of funding. I had a spell claiming unemployment benefit, and then went to London to make my fortune. That did not go to plan, so I came back home and got a job with a local landscape gardener.”

Several years of landscape gardening followed before, as he describes in his own words, he “became jaded with his career choices”. He was persuaded by an old mate, Stu, who found himself in a similar situation, to enrol on a fine art degree course as a 23-year-old ‘mature student’ at Coventry University. Art had been a subject that Simon had excelled in at school.

“It was when I was doing this degree that I discovered I had an eye for sculpture."

READ THE FULL FEATURE HERE

WHAT TO WATCH: Forwarders, harvesters and more! KWF Tagung 2024 walkabout

It is one of the world's largest forestry fairs - and after an eight-year wait, KWF Tagung was back with a bang.

For several days in June, forestry professionals headed into the German woods to see the latest innovations from many of the industry's biggest names.

From Ponsse to John Deere, Pfanzelt to Krpan, KWF certainly delivered.

Join us for a wander around the showgrounds.

WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERE

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