The Stroud MP's weekly column.

I was really pleased to see the Government again commit to planting more trees across the UK this time with another round of the Urban Tree Challenge Fund.

Around 44,000 trees will be planted near schools and hospitals and in deprived areas as we look to meet our carbon emissions targets. There is much to do.

Woodland in the UK covers 13% of land when in Germany, for example, the area covered is 30%. To hit our net zero carbon target by 2050 we need to increase this cover to around 20%.

In Stroud, a lot of work is already taking place to do our bit to achieve the planting of more trees in addition to this fund. We are blessed with fantastic local experts who are constantly thinking about how to achieve greater tree coverage.

I am happy to work with local people and support applications to get as much government funding to our area. A few months ago, I got local organisations together for a Zoom meeting with the forestry minister Lord Goldsmith.

My big concern about a focus on mass tree planting is buying in trees from abroad, possibly introducing disease and not focusing on building up our own nurseries, while failing to look after the trees we have.

Luckily, the Gloucestershire Local Nature Partnership has one of the front running LNP plans in the country. This Government-backed organisation brings together over 30 public and private bodies and charities. It is behind exciting plans for the Gloucestershire Tree Strategy and the Gloucestershire Forest. It is mapping Gloucestershire’s natural capital and putting nature at the heart of decision making. Crucially, LNPs are recognised in the Government’s 25-Year environment plan.

The LNP identified that Stroud is only 11% woodland currently, which is below the national average.

Finding land will be a challenge but leaving the EU and having new regulations to replace the Common Agricultural Policy better focused on environmental good will help.

Another big player is the Stroud Valleys Project and it has an excellent reputation for protecting the five valleys. It engages people from all parts of the Stroud district to come together and increase awareness of environmental and biodiversity issues locally.

Stroud is also home to the home to the National Arboricultural Association. It represents 3,200 tree care professional members. The NAA is regarded as the focal point for world-class best practice in arboriculture so we literally have experts who live and breathe trees on our doorstep. I feel we can really achieve for Stroud and I look forward to working with these teams and others.

In other news, congratulations to Forest Green Rovers for making the League Two playoffs after their 3-0 win away to Oldham at the weekend. The best of luck to interim manager Jimmy Ball and the boys when they play Newport County AFC in the semi-final first leg on 18th May.