Nature Returns shows hedgerows rival woodlands for carbon

The Nature Returns programme, led by Natural England in partnership with the Environment Agency, Forestry Commission and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, has published results demonstrating nature-based solutions’ carbon and flood benefits.

• Programme achievements and interventions: Over four years the six Local Partnership Projects across England delivered 800 hectares of habitat created, 95,000 trees and shrubs planted, 16 km of hedgerow restored, 2.5 km of watercourses improved, and engaged over 7,000 people with 400 volunteer days. Projects trialled 3D laser scanning to measure hedgerow carbon (finding hedgerows can rival woodlands) and identified soil fungi as an indicator for soil carbon; practical interventions included leaky dams that reduced peak flows by 12% in Plymouth’s Seaton Valley.
• Funding, partnerships and monitoring: The programme was funded by HM Treasury’s Shared Outcomes Fund and Defra’s Net Zero R&D budget, and worked with partners to develop blended public-private finance models. Sites will be monitored for 10 years to track long-term carbon storage and biodiversity, with lessons feeding into England’s forthcoming Land Use Framework.