Environmental campaigners say there is not much potential to increase Bedford's woodlands

Woodland cover in Bedford has little potential to increase, according to research by environmental campaigners.

Friends of the Earth and mapping consultancy Terra Sulis, funded by People’s Postcode Lottery, mapped existing and potential woodland in England.

And the environmental organisation is calling on councils to step up and grow more trees.

But Bedford Borough Council claims it already has an annual tree planting programme - and is working closely with the Forest of Marston Vale to explore options to enhance the area's woodlands.

Friends of the Earth's research shows there are only 146 hectares of land in Bedford which could be used for planting trees, without encroaching on high-value arable farmland, priority habitats, peat bogs or protected nature sites.

This would increase the amount of woodland in the area by 5 per cent.

According to the government’s National Forest Inventory, only 6 per cent of Bedford's 47,641 hectares of land are covered in woodland.

This does not include trees in urban areas such as parks and public gardens.

But a borough council spokesperson said: “Through Bedford Borough Council’s annual tree planting programme, and our successful bid to the Urban Tree Challenge Fund, we plan to plant over 2,550 trees this financial year across streets, local parks, country parks and local nature reserves.

“The mayor is also starting the planting of the first of new hedgerows this month as a part of our Bugs and Bees project.”

“The council is working with local partners such as the Forest of Marston Vale to explore options to enhance our woodlands while continuing to monitor and manage our existing woodlands.”

Nationally, Friends of the Earth claims there is potential to double woodland cover in England, from its current level of 10 per cent.

Danny Gross, tree campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: “Growing more trees would help us fight climate breakdown while enabling more people to access nature in their local area.

“We need more councils to step up and grow more trees, but it’s time that ministers in Westminster offer more funding for climate action at a local level.”

A spokesman for Defra said: “Tree planting remains at the heart of our ambitious environmental programme which is why we have committed to increase tree planting across the UK to 30,000 hectares per year by 2025."