ENGLAND'S “overly complex and bureaucratic” system for woodland creation has brought planting to a modern-day low, according to forestry trade body Confor.

Based on current 'woeful' planting rates, Confor calculates that even the modest Westminster target of planting 11 million trees during the 2015-2020 parliamentary term will not be hit until summer 2027 – and called on the Forestry Commission to "return to its roots" by being given responsibility to reverse the tree planting crisis now threatening to deforest England.

The recent report on Forestry in England published by the EFRA committee was highly critical of the current regime, and suggested that the Government “reinstate a one-stop shop for forestry grants on day one of the UK’s exit from the European Union”.

Confor backed that call, but asked the Government to start the process now, giving the Forestry Commission full responsibility for the process, and for hitting the planting targets.

“We have an overly complex system involving three bodies – Natural England, the Rural Payments Agency and Forestry Commission England – and it is simply not working,” said Confor chief executive Stuart Goodall.

“It is bureaucratic, confusing for applicants and – as I told the EFRA inquiry – not fit for purpose. The proof of policy failure is the disastrous year for tree planting in 2106 – the worst on record. 2017 looks little better and we face a real prospect of deforestation – something we associate with the Amazon, not England.

“The solution is to hand full powers for approving and funding new tree planting schemes to the Forestry Commission," said Mr Goodall. "It was set up in 1919 to plant trees and before it celebrates its 100th birthday, we need it to go back to its roots and get trees planted. That includes taking full responsibility for planting targets.”

Mr Goodall highlighted the better system north of the border: "Scotland has a much more straightforward system and has taken further steps to streamline the application process. Its target is 10,000 hectares of new woodland every year, which it could hit in 2017, compared to England’s target of 1000 hectares.

Mr Goodall said the Government should immediately set up a pilot project for the Forestry Commission to take back full powers in the north of England, where there was 'substantial opportunity' for new planting.