On 23 March, the National Audit Office published its latest report on the Nature for Climate Fund. The report reviews progress across both tree planting and peatland restoration, examines how the programme was established and delivered, and considers the key barriers that remain.
The Institute was pleased to contribute evidence to this review and welcome the publication of the report.
Key findings
The NAO highlights a number of important outcomes from the programme:
- The programme led to a substantial increase in tree planting and peatland restoration activity in England
- From 2020–21 to 2024–25, 15,268 hectares of tree planting were funded, compared with 7,750 hectares in the previous five-year period
- Over the same period, 23,526 hectares of peatland restoration were directly funded
- In 2024–25, 6,324 hectares of tree planting were directly funded – 84% of the annual target
- Total planting in England in that year reached 95% of the overall target
- The programme is forecast to deliver over 6,000 hectares of tree planting in 2025–26, against a target of 5,495 hectares
The report also notes analysis from Defra which indicates that:
- Community Forests delivered benefits worth £4.40 for every £1 spent
- The England Woodland Creation Offer delivered £8 for every £1 spent
The report recognises the positive role of stakeholder engagement in improving delivery over time. In particular, Natural England, the Forestry Commission and Defra are noted for their collaborative approach in working with the sector to identify issues and refine the programme.
Recommendations
The report also identifies areas for improvement as future programmes are developed. These include:
- Strengthening monitoring and evaluation
- Reducing uncertainty for delivery partners
- Making better use of available policy levers to prioritise activity
There is more to do. Increasing tree planting rates, improving woodland management, unlocking green finance, reducing barriers for landowners, and strengthening research and monitoring will all be critical in the years ahead.
We look forward to continuing to work closely with partners across the sector to support these aims and to build on the progress that has been made to date.
