Meeting of the Parliament 04 March 2026 [Draft]
As I hope I was able to outline in my initial response to Annie Wells, the intention is very much to focus on the cities and areas in which there is less tree cover and where more can be done. We are constantly looking at our support and how we can better provide it. I mentioned the Clyde climate forest, which we have invested in.
I also want to emphasise that the Government has worked with local authorities for more than 20 years to expand and manage urban woodlands. That has included funding project officers to try to identify where the opportunities are and then to go on and deliver them. We are also providing support through the woods in and around towns grants, which are under the forestry grant scheme.
Annie Wells raises an important point. We are always striving to do more and to consider how we can use funding mechanisms in a way that ensures that we are expanding the benefits of our trees and woodlands to urban parts of Scotland, too.