Farming union leaders issued a “talk to us” message to forestry bosses as the Welsh Government’s call for a massive tree-planting programme came under the spotlight.
Forestry Commission Wales is urging farmers throughout the country to plant trees on their land in a bid to achieve the Welsh Government’s target of creating 100,000 hectares of new woodland in the next 20 years.
A new tree-planting grant developed by FC Wales offers farmers and other land owners up to £9,000 per hectare under the Glastir woodland creation scheme and includes income foregone payments for taking land out of agriculture.
Since the new grant was launched in October 2010, FC Wales Director Trefor Owen said more than 300 applications had been received and more than 100 had been approved.
“Although we have got off to a good start, we are not resting on our laurels and are working hard to make the scheme as effective and efficient as possible,” he told a reception for woodland creation project officers at the Royal Welsh Show.
Mr Owen said the success of the Welsh Government’s tree-planting aim hinged on building trust and ensuring that tree planting fits in with other aspects of the farm business – a theme which was echoed by Rhys Evans, chairman of the Welsh Young Farmers Club’s rural affairs committee.
If more trees were to be planted on farmland, it was essential to involve the 6,000-plus members of the Welsh Young Farmers Club, he said.
“Farming is about making the most of what the land can give you,” said Mr Evans.
“People expect a lot from farmers. Farmers have had to adapt many times over recent years and will have to change again – change is inevitable.”
He told an audience that included representatives of groups such as Confor, Coed Cymru and the Woodland Trust that the 100,000ha target was “certainly a challenge”, especially at a time when the price of beef and lamb was at an all-time high.
“Is 100,000 hectares do-able? Yes. Is it realistic? Perhaps not. I believe we can plant more woodlands and produce livestock for the industry, but to achieve this we must work together.
“There is benefit to establishing new woodland. Young farmers are land managers – talk to us and we will work together.”
Under the new scheme, landowners do not need to have applied for the Glastir All-Wales element and it will not have any effect on any future application to Glastir or the single farm payment.
It includes an establishment grant over three years, a fencing grant and a payment of £300 per hectare for 15 years to compensate the landowner for the loss of agricultural income.
The NFU’s farm policy adviser, Dafydd Jarrett, told the gathering at the Royal Welsh Show that it was essential the grant was “correctly incentivised and easy to access”.
“It’s a huge decision for farmers to commit to planting woodland. Farmers must be assured that the single farm payment will not be affected,” he said.
“We talk about new planting, but collectively we already have 68,000ha of farm woodland in Wales and there is much that can be done on managing this.
“Integration and complementarity of woodland with land which has the ability to produce food is what must be sought after, not a straight replacement.”
Mr Jarrett added there could be some opportunities for expansion on bracken-infested land, but any new plantings should be a mix of conifer and broadleaved trees.
Andrew Gurney, Land Use Policy Officer for the FUW, said the scheme had to recognise income foregone and the loss of land for agriculture.
“The achievability of the 100,000ha target will become clear with time. As a union, we look forward to working with you towards this target,” he said.
The woodland creation scheme aims to help fulfil the commitment to create more native and mixed woodland and is available to all landowners in Wales who have more than 0.25ha of suitable land available for planting new woodlands.
For more information on grants for new planting, please ring 0300 068 0300 and ask for the Forestry Commission Wales Glastir Woodland team, e-mail [email protected] or see www.forestry.gov.uk/glastirwoodland.
