Mary Creagh

The UK forestry and wood industry is experiencing a pivotal moment, described as a “Goldilocks moment” where conditions are “just right” to align industry aspirations with government policies, as highlighted during Confor’s annual Westminster conference. Stuart Goodall, CEO of Confor, expressed optimism about the industry’s potential to deliver on economic, environmental, and social priorities for the UK Government. … He voiced hope that the Labour Government would continue the positive trajectory established by Conservative ministers, particularly through initiatives such as the Timber in Construction Roadmap and the National Wood Strategy for England. … Mary Creagh MP, whose ministerial brief includes forestry, reiterated her commitment to expanding productive conifer planting and increasing the use of home-grown wood in construction. During her address, she praised the previous government’s efforts, noting that tree planting in England had scaled up to 4,500 hectares in 2023-24 as part of a broader UK total of just over 20,000 hectares—a generational high.