Nine thousand hectares of new woodland were created in the UK in 2017-18.  In addition, 14 thousand hectares of woodland restocking were reported (Table 1.13). Conifers accounted for over one half (56%) of the new planting area and 81% of the reported restocking area in 2017-18.

Table 1.13 New planting & publicly funded restocking by forest type

^{Source: Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, grant schemes.}

^Notes:

^{1.  Private sector figures are based on areas for which grants were paid during the year and, for England, includes new planting supported by The Woodland Trust, by Natural England and by the Environment Agency, and land acquired by the National Forest Company.  Figures for grant-aided planting under Rural Development Contracts in Scotland relate to calendar years.}

^{2.  A small amount of new planting without grant aid in Scotland in 2016-17 has been included.  No other estimates of areas planted without grant aid are included.  As a result, the reported figures are likely to under-estimate the true level of planting activity.  Restocking figures cover restocking that took place on FC/NRW/FS land, and restocking that took place on private sector land with public funding.}

^{3.  The planting season lies both sides of 31 March, and the weather can cause planting to be advanced or delayed.}

^{4. Includes natural colonisation and natural regeneration.}

^{5. Restocking by natural regeneration in non-clearfell areas may be under-represented in the above table.}

^{6. 2017-18 publicly funded restocking grants in England are limited to FE woodlands and private woodlands where landowners applied for grants to assist the restocking of stands felled due to tree health issues (e.g. Phytophthora in Larch and Chalara in Ash).}

^{Data: Longer time series of the above table are available from the Woodland Statistics web page.}

Additional resources

Sources chapter: New planting & restocking