Cornwall Plants 2 Million Trees, Gets £8.7M to Plant More

Cornwall just proved that big environmental wins start with millions of small roots taking hold.

The Forest for Cornwall scheme celebrated planting its two millionth tree this week, five years after launching in 2019. The project just received £8.7 million in government funding to expand its reach across the county.

The money will help Cornwall Council reach its ambitious goal of 8,000 hectares of new tree canopy by 2035. That's roughly 19,768 acres of new green space spread across communities, farms, schools, and streets throughout the region.

The trees are doing more than just looking pretty. Loic Rich, Cornwall's cabinet member for environment and climate change, says the new forests provide much-needed shade during heat waves and improve local health and happiness by bringing nature closer to people's doorsteps.

For farmers like Ben Thomas from Treveddoe Farm near Cardinham, the program has been transformative. He planted 2,500 trees on his property with support from the scheme. "Without the knowledge, contacts and funding it would have been hard to find the time to get the project started," he said. "In the end we have ended up with a brilliant agroforestry network on the farm which is already delivering."

The timing of this funding boost is especially meaningful. Storm Goretti destroyed hundreds of mature trees across Cornwall in January, including historic trees at St Michael's Mount near Penzance and Trewithen in Truro. The new investment helps replace what was lost while building toward the future.

The Ripple Effect

Cornwall's forest isn't just helping one county fight climate change. The project supports England's national goal of reaching 16.5% tree canopy and woodland cover by 2050.

The environmental benefits ripple outward in surprising ways. The trees provide homes for birds, mammals, and insects while keeping rivers and streams clean and cool. They reduce runoff that can pollute waterways and improve soil health on farmland. In coastal towns, increased tree cover helps reduce flooding and builds resilience against changing weather patterns.

The scheme makes it easy for communities to participate by providing knowledge, contacts, and funding that might otherwise be out of reach. What started as an ambitious climate response has become a community-building effort that delivers results people can see and touch every day.

Two million trees down, millions more to go.