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The government has announced two thousand hectares of new woodland will be created through the planting of four million trees as part of a £30 million investment in the next financial year.

Two hundred thousand hectares of existing woodland will also be protected or improved as part of the investment.

This will support landowners, including charities, local authorities and businesses, in their commitment to planting and maintaining the country’s woodland.

Forestry minister Dan Rogerson said: "Forests are a cherished national resource, which provide precious habitats for wildlife and natural spaces for generations to enjoy.

"Planting 4 million trees over the coming year will help us to extend woodland cover which will benefit wildlife, improve the environment and help grow the economy.

"New forests hold economic, as well as environmental and social benefits, enabling the forestry businesses to create more jobs and play an increasing role in the nation's economic recovery."

This investment will be split between £6 million on new planting in 2014/15, £24 million on woodland management, including maintaining the benefits of past woodland creation projects.

Hilary Allison, of the Woodland Trust, welcomed the news but said more needs to be done by the government.

"The commitment to plant just 2,000 hectares of woodland still falls far short of the 5,000 hectares per year needed to reach the 12% aspiration mentioned today and detailed within the government’s Forestry Policy for England", said Hilary Allison.

"It also means planting rates will fall to a ten year low. Nonetheless, we are very encouraged by the possibility that Defra will reopen for new planting applications in 2014 – indicating that they have listened to our calls backed by 30,000 supporters.

"At just 10%, England still has one of the lowest rates of woodland cover in Europe. It faces huge threats from disease and development with even the government’s current planning policy guidelines and its high speed rail project undermining protection for irreplaceable ancient woodland."