Strong Roots – Shaping Britains Future

As the UK faces increasing climate and biodiversity challenges, the new Strong Roots report calls for urgent Government action to strengthen domestic tree production and safeguard our natural environment.

This week, Our Director, Steph Dunn James had the honour of attending the Strong Roots report launch. An evidence backed report calling for Government support to overcome barriers that are stopping Great Britain growing the trees it needs to sustain biodiversity, mitigate climate change and enhance public wellbeing. 

The collectively published report, produced by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), National Trust, Woodland Trust and Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), provides a powerful insight into the challenges faced by domestic tree growers and the urgent need for meaningful Government action.

At Frank P Matthews, trees are at the heart of everything we do. The benefits of planting more trees across our landscape are profound: improving air quality, creating habitats for wildlife, storing carbon, reducing flooding and supporting local economies. Every tree planted contributes to a healthier, more resilient future.

Yet, we see first-hand the challenges highlighted in the Strong Roots report. Growing high-quality, healthy trees isn’t a fast process, each one takes up to five years of grafting, nurturing and care before it leaves our nursery. Scaling up domestic tree production must not come at the expense of quality. It requires investment, long-term planning and supportive regulation to ensure the trees planted today thrive for generations to come.

The Strong Roots report recommends the following practical and strategic measures, all of which Frank P Matthews fully support:

Establish a GB Tree Procurement Unit.

Conduct a feasibility study on what percentage of imported material could be grown in Britain.

Develop an action plan for productive and ornamental trees.

Establish a tree production research group with research institutions. 

Create and promote a logo for British-grown trees.

Increase alignment between tree supply, demand, and planting grants.

Support landowners to contract-grow trees when using government planting grants.

Publish regular and clear data on imports of woody-stemmed species, such as trees, shrubs, topiary, and hedging.

Commit to the establishment and management of seed sources.

Sensitively revisit seed collection procedures on protected sites, including SSSIs (Sites of Special Scientific Interest), to open up the genetic resources of these sites.

Revise the current outdated seed provenance zones.

Support competition and diversification of seed supply.

Aid uptake of automation (specialised machinery) by funding bespoke innovations and bridging the gap between research and commercial application.

Ensure courses and apprenticeship opportunities meet current and future skills needs.

Embed tree production across the national curriculum as part of horticultural education.

Increase tree production skills using publicly owned facilities.

Launch a project on how impacts of climate change may affect tree production.

Provide accessible government funding for Community Tree Nurseries (CTNs) and other small nurseries.

Commit to sustained funding to support CTN networks.

This report is an important step forward and one that recognises the value of our nation’s growers and the critical role they play in tackling the environmental challenges we all face.

We’re proud to stand alongside the HTA, National Trust, Woodland Trust and RHS in supporting this vision for a thriving, sustainable and self-sufficient UK tree-growing sector.

You can read and download the full Strong Roots report here: Download the report
Learn more via the HTA, RHS, and Woodland Trust: