On Thursday, 23 November 2023, Forest Research hosted Rebecca Pow, MP, at our Alice Holt site in Hampshire. The visit coincided with her appointment as the new Forestry Minister. Announcing our £16 million Defra funding from the Nature for Climate Fund (NCF), Minister Pow learned about the different projects in progress at our world leading research centre.

As well as demonstrating the breadth of projects to be covered by the funding, she also had a tour of the Holt Laboratory. She also discovered how insect pests may enter the country from Dr Max Blake, Head of Entomology, and took a rare opportunity to enter the contained area of the Holt Lab to see first-hand the pests that could threaten our trees and forests.

With a helping hand from silviculturist, Chris Reynolds, the Minister planted a specimen hop hornbeam tree – Ostrya virginiana (USA) – in the grounds. This species is known for its hardiness and drought tolerance and could be one of many alternative tree species considered for use in the future.

We look forward to working with the new Minister in the future.