on the face of it, it is great to see the government backing a charity like the woodland trust with thisso supporting the government is also supporting the loss, the substantial loss, of our ancient woodland, the most precious that we have, because of the routing of hs2. so, there is irony in the fact that the government is backing with a bit of money is a plan to restore nature, if you like, and at the same time backing plans to destroy it. what should they be doing? well, we need our ancient woodlands and new forests. we need to restore the condition of our land, so trees and woodlands do many things for us, holding back floodwaters, supporting wildlife of all sorts. they are great places for people to visit, for children to run two, get them backin for children to run two, get them back in touch with nature, which i think is definitely the way forward. why do we have to choose between that, restoring and having new woodlands, and ancient woodlands which are there, part of their heritage, the fabric, the history of this nation is? and we're driving hs2 and road schemes through it. it d

the woodland trust is running the project, which will cost £500 million over 25 years.self. our correspondent roger harrabin has more. the bare hills of the north. one of the most denuded parts of a country which itself has less woodland than almost anywhere in europe. the land stripped over centuries fortimberand farming, scarred by industry, overgrazed by sheep farming. at smithils near manchester, things will be different. planting has begun for what will be known as the northern forest. we think the northern forest will be a pathfinder for extending forest and woodland right across country. we think trees and woods can add value in many different landscapes. we just want to do it here first and do it big. it isn't really a forest. the project will create new woods near towns, and plant river valleys liable to flooding. but money is tight, and many of these hills will look just as bleak in 25 years. what's more, the woodland trust expects some of their cash to come from environmental funds linked to the hs2 rail line. the supreme irony is that the government is givin

the woodland trust will run the project, costing £500 million over 25 years.y will need to be raised by the charity itself. roger hayden has more. the bare hills of the north. one of the most denuded parts of a country which itself has less woodland than almost anywhere in europe. the land stripped over centuries fortimberand farming, scarred by industry, overgrazed by sheep farming. at smithils near manchester, things will be different. planting has begun for what will be known as the northern forest. we think the northern forest will be a pathfinder for extending forest and woodland right across country. we think trees and woods can add value in many different landscapes. we just want to do it here first and do it big. it isn't really a forest. the project will create new woods near towns, and plants for river valleys liable to flooding. but money is tight, and many of these hills will look just as bleak and 35 years. what's more, the woodland trust expects some of their cash to come from environmental funds linked to the hs2 rail line. the supreme irony is

environmentalists across the uk were delighted with the announcement of cooperating with the woodland trust to develop the new northern forest but will the prime minister give assurances that plans to create new landscapes will not obscure the need to protect existing areas of outstanding national beauty and will she confirm the commitment to protect the children of omb for the government's economic and housing developments? >> i say first of all i would like to congratulate her on this, very well deserved. i can assure her we are committed to maintaining protection for areas of outstanding national beauty and other designated landscapes. i would like to say i enjoy walking myself. and that particular environment and we are committed to protecting a omb. >> thank you, mister speaker. as a head teacher for 4 years, i speak on behalf of thousands of teachers and support staff when i ask the prime minister. in light of the recent announcement before the training affectation numbers. will the government listen to professionals and fully and fairly fund our schools and colleges and the toxic cul

but the woodland trust expect some of their cash to come from environmental funds linked to the hs2 raile h52 rail line. that infuriates environmentalists. the supreme infuriates environmentalists. the supreme irony is the government is giving with one hand on taking with the other. i am referring to the routing of hs2 from birmingham to leeds. why can't the government give with both hands on stop threatening oui’ with both hands on stop threatening our ancient forests? here is what some ambitious planting can do. this is the national forest in the midlands, begun in the 1990s, now delighting local people. acorns grow. it was one of the most scientific breakthroughs. it is hoped this gene and can help thousands of nhs patients. we would have been impossible without families taking part. this is you in your incubator. for19 part. this is you in your incubator. for 19 years, doctors treated alex's symptoms without knowing what caused them. medics thought it was one rare condition, but genetic tests proved otherwise. alex has had 28 operations. every time we went to see a doctor, the paedia

absolutely delighted with the announcement of corporation with the -- of cooperation with the woodland trust to develop the new forest. the prime minister give assurances that plans to create new landscapes will not obscure the need to protect insisting areas of outstanding natural beauty? will she confirm a commitment to ,rotecting the chilton's aomb pursuing the latest development plans? p.m. may: i say to my right honorable friend, congratulations on becoming a dame. it is a very, very well-deserved honor. irish are you that we are committed to maintaining the best protection for beautiful landscapes. i dogarding the chilton's, enjoy walking there myself. a the value of that particular environment, and we are committed to protecting aombs. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i am a teacher, and have been a head teacher for 34 years, so i know i speak on behalf of thousands of teachers and support staff when i asked the of theinister, in light recent development of falling numbers, will the government anden to professionals fully and fairly fund our schools and colleges, ending the toxic culture of

environmentalists across the uk were absolutely delighted with the announcement of cooperation with the woodland trustommitment to protect the children‘s as we pursue the government‘s economic and housing plans? i would like to congratulate her on becoming a dame in the new years honours. it is well—deserved. i can assure her we are committed to protecting areas of outstanding beauty and designated landscapes. as regards the chill turns a landscapes. as regards the chill turnsa b, landscapes. as regards the chill turns a b, i enjoy walking there and i recognise the value of that area. thank you. i was a teacher and head teacherfor thank you. i was a teacher and head teacher for 34 years, so thank you. i was a teacher and head teacherfor 34 years, so i know i speak on behalf of thousands of teachers and support staff, when i ask if the government will listen to professionals and fully fund our schools and colleges, end the toxic culture of top—down tests and return the joy of teaching and learning back to our classrooms? can i say to the honourable lady that we are putting record sums of money into our

nature to be working with our partners, the northern forest, will work with community forests and woodlands truste have made clear is in leaving the european union we want our regulations, we inherit all we have today, but we want to make sure we have better regulation, often tougher regulation, as we see improving qualities and things like water, but also pollutants in our air, reducing those, on a further trajectory, and we will be called something again on environmental principles on which the whole government will operate —— we will be consulting again on environmental printable is, as well as the environmental body holding the government to account fulfilling this 25 year plan. in terms of development of housing and infrastructure, there are things we re infrastructure, there are things were again the principal of net environmental gain, that is what the prime minister also said today, so a lot is about practical action and where we want regulation and where we need it, we will certainly press on with it. ok, therese coffey, environment minister, thank you very much. two teenage boys have be

trust for the next generation. and we have a responsibility to protect and enhance it. but it's a crowded island we live on. woodlandsin kent, have been decimated over the decades. this is the uk's prime site for nightingales, but the local council wants to build much—needed houses on part of it. if housing development was to go ahead at lodge hill, it would constitute the biggest destruction of one of our finest wildlife sites for 25 years. and at a time when the government has clearly expressed a commitment to restoring nature, it seems madness to conceive, let alone to consent to such a development. a walk in the woods is good for your mental and physical health. the government's acknowledged that. it wants to increase woodland cover, especially near where people live. it wants to bring back wildflower meadows and improve rare habitats like heathlands. but the pressure's on for development. we have a housing target we have to meet of 29,500 between now and 2035 — huge demand in medway and in north kent for housing, affordable housing and a whole housing mix, and those houses have to go somewhere. there's pressure

trust for the next generation. and we have a responsibility to protect and enhance it. but it's a crowded island we live on. woodlands kent, have been decimated over the decades. this is the uk's prime site for nightingales but the local council wants to build much—needed houses on part of it. if housing development was to go ahead at lodge hill, it would constitute the biggest destruction of one of our finest wildlife sites for 25 years. and at a time when the government has clearly expressed a commitment to restoring nature, it seems madness to conceive, let alone to consent to such a development. a walk in the woods is good for your mental and physical health. the government's acknowledged that. it wants to increase woodland cover, especially near where people live. it wants to bring back wildflower meadows and improve rare habitats like heathlands. but the pressure's on for development. we have a housing target we have to meet of 29,500 between now and 2035, huge demand in medway and in north kent for housing, affordable housing and a whole housing mix, and those houses have to go somewhere. there's pressure on t

something which collectively we hold in trust for the next generation, and we have a responsibility to protect and enhance it. but it's a crowded island we live on. woodlands decimated over the decades. this is the uk's prime site for nightingales, but the local council wants to build much—needed houses on part of it. if housing development was to go ahead at lodge hill, it would constitute the biggest destruction of one of our finest wildlife sites for 25 years. and at a time when the government has clearly expressed a commitment to restoring nature, it seems madness to conceive, let alone to consent, to such a development. a walk in the woods is good for your mental and physical health. the government's acknowledged that. it wants to increase woodland cover, especially near where people live. it wants to bring back wildflower meadows and improve rare habitats like heathlands. but the pressure's on for development. we have a housing target we have to meet of 29,500 between now and 2035 — huge demand in medway and in north kent for housing, affordable housing and a whole housing mix, and those houses have to go somewhere. there's pressure on the natural wo