The government has confirmed plans for two new national forests as part of a £1 billion investment package aimed at boosting green jobs, expanding access to nature and accelerating efforts
toward net zero.
A second national forest will be established in the Oxford–Cambridge corridor, following the creation of the Western Forest announced in March—the first new forest designated in three decades, stretching from the Cotswolds to the Mendips. Ministers will also open a competition in early 2026 to determine the location of a third national forest, expected to be sited in either the Midlands or the North of England.
The initiative forms part of a wider commitment to plant millions of trees over the coming years, with officials estimating that meeting planting targets across Great Britain could support more than 14,000 jobs. The forests are intended to support nature recovery, stimulate local economies and integrate green spaces more closely with new housing and infrastructure.
The announcement comes on the eve of the Prime Minister’s attendance at COP30, where the UK is expected to promote clean energy investment and highlight its updated climate goals, including a pledge made at COP29 to cut emissions by 81% by 2035.
Alongside the new forests, the government is exploring the creation of a Woodland Carbon Purchase Fund—potentially worth up to £250 million—which would offer upfront payments to landowners to plant carbon-rich woodlands, addressing one of the main financial barriers to large-scale tree planting. Additional investment in apprenticeships and training aims to bolster rural employment and develop skills for the growing green economy.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said the new forests deliver on a key manifesto promise and will “help unlock growth, restore nature and create green jobs for the future.”
Further details are expected in the forthcoming Environmental Improvement Plan, which will outline the next phase of the UK’s long-term nature recovery strategy. Photo by Walter Baxter, Wikimedia commons.