How to create a thriving forest, not box-checking 'tree cover'

clock • 5 min read
Credit: iStock
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Credit: iStock

The UK is set to plant 20 million trees to form a new 'national forest' in the west of England.

A Chinese proverb says that the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, and the second best time is today. But it's not easy to ensure the trees of today actually become the healthy, functioning forests...

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