A new cross-government initiative has seen 30,000 trees planted at a Defence Munitions site in Plymouth as part of a partnership between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Justice.
The project, which supports biodiversity and prisoner rehabilitation, involves high‐quality saplings sourced from the Ministry of Justice and grown under a His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service scheme.
The initiative is a key element of the Government’s Plan for Change, aiming to enhance the natural environment while providing prisoners with valuable skills and qualifications.
Defence Minister Luke Pollard MP took an active role by planting one of the first trees, noting, “I am delighted to see the MOD and MoJ working together to support the rehabilitation of prisoners and improve the biodiversity in Plymouth while keeping our nation safe.”
Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending Lord Timpson added, “This exciting collaboration is giving prisoners the opportunity to gain new skills, making them more employable while also contributing to the fight against climate change.”
The scheme not only offers environmental benefits but also plays an important role in cost-saving by supplying saplings at cost, thereby reducing taxpayer expense.
The project is aligned with the DE&S Nature Recovery Plan and the MOD’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy, with the selected tree species—including native broadleaves, conifers, Western Red Cedar, and Coastal Redwood—chosen to create a resilient woodland capable of withstanding climate change and environmental challenges such as fire and flooding.
Supported by a grant of up to £300,000 from Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest and Defra’s Nature for Climate fund, the project’s design was developed by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s Technical Services Forestry Team.
Companies Vivo and its subcontractor Pryor & Rickett Silviculture will carry out the planting and subsequent maintenance, with activities scheduled to continue into spring when mulch mat installation, mowing, and weeding will begin. The long-term ambition is to plant over 600,000 trees across the wider MOD estate, further protecting defence sites and contributing to sustainable local ecosystems.
I wonder which local businesses might have been under-cut by this?
I used to work for a police force that had a printing section.
They were allowed to vie for outside work yet they were immune from failing as a business.
I suppose in this prison case the public seems to get value for money but at what cost to private businesses?
It really depends if the work would ever get done if it was not for the partnership.
It’s like a far bit of the extra nice to have end of life support provided by hospice charities..the NHS supports and pays for them because essentially they are discounted services…if the NHS had to pay for them from the open market the cost would be to high for a nice to have.
I don’t suppose that many garden centers get an order for 30,000 trees very often.
Seems obvious to me to just plant more trees – far cheaper than any carbon capture technology.
Though if they really want to make a difference they should plough over all of Swindon and plant a forest there instead.
Come on, who’d honestly miss Swindon?!
I was going to say the same of Merthyr Tydfil, but where would they put “those” people?
You forgot Slough, oh, and Scotland.
Personally I would just do north London….easy make the whole place nice.