Environment Secretary Michael Gove has appointed a "tree champion" to boost planting rates and prevent unnecessary felling of street trees.

The move, part of the pledges in the Government's 25-year environment plan, comes amid a controversial tree-felling programme in Sheffield which has seen police deployed and protesters arrested, while campaigners have warned that tree-planting in England is at its lowest rate for a generation.

Sir William Worsley, who is chairman of the National Forest Company which oversees the National Forest, has been appointed to support Government promises to plant 11 million trees, plus a further one million in towns and cities.

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