England's 'dismal' woods come last in Europe survey

England and Northern Ireland have the smallest percentage of woodland in Europe, according to a survey by an environmental pressure group.

Only 8 per cent of land surface in England is covered by trees, and just 6.1 per cent in Northern Ireland, compared to 30 per cent in Germany. The Woodland Trust, which compiled the figures, said the picture they painted was dismaland called for an urgent increase in the planting of native tree species.

The trust is preparing a submission to the Government in which it says more native tree planting would protect indigenous species and bring social benefits for urban areas. It wants broad-leaved species such as oak to be planted around the remains of ancient woodlands that are threatened with extinction, and for woods to be started in suburban areas.

"We are very much at the bottom of the list. We think of England as this green and pleasant land, but when we look at the statistics we find there is very little of the most atmospheric part of it, which is these woodlands," said Nick Collinson, a conservation policy adviser with the trust.

England's 8 per cent compares to 28 per cent in France, 29 per cent in Spain, and 33 per cent in Italy and Greece.

The trust wants to develop broad-leaved trees such as oak because they support more species, from bluebells to skylarks, that are native to Britain. Its submission to the Government's woodland creation review will also call for money to be put into managing conifer timber plantations.

"If you plant native species there is much more biodiversity compared to conifers that have not evolved here. Oak has about 100 species," said Mr Collinson. "New planting will take 10 years before it starts to feel like a young woodland but we would expect other things to start happening quickly, like more butterflies and goldfinches.

"Biodiversity will build up quite quickly. From a social point of view you will see wildlife colonising new areas for people to enjoy." The trust argues that woods should be planted close to built-up areas because research showed they increased people's sense of well-being and created new recreational spaces.

A spokesman said research showed that hospital patients with a view of woods or trees recovered faster than those who did not. "We want the Government to recognise that woods can increase the health, happiness and well-being of people in England. It needs to look at the whole of England's landscape and social needs when discussing woodland creation. There is a need for natural green space close to where people live as well as the need for a more sustainable and wildlife friendly countryside."

The trust is drawing up a map of all publicly accessible woodland, which it will use to demonstrate which areas are most in need of tree planting. It has identified 30 areas of ancient woodland that could be enlarged by more planting, including in the Chilterns, the New Forest, the Wye Valley and Rockingham forest in Northamptonshire.

Mr Collinson said there had been no nationwide assessment of the location of accessible woods. "There is little opportunity to visit these rich areas for people living in many large centres of population."